Binayak Dasgupta
Binayak reports on information security, privacy and scientific research in health and environment with explanatory pieces. He also edits the news sections of the newspaper.
Articles by Binayak Dasgupta
Covid: South African, Brazilian strains raise new fears on vaccines, immunity
UPDATED ON JAN 21, 2021 04:57 AM IST
The first major mutation of the Sars-Cov-2 virus was reported from the UK in the so-called B.1.1.7 variant (also called VOC202012/01) ; authorities said in December that it was more infectious, and it was later seen as a factor in leading to the country’s worst wave yet.
SA, Brazil strains raise new fears on vaccines, immunity
By Binayak Dasgupta, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON JAN 21, 2021 12:09 AM IST
Mutations of the Sars-Cov-2 virus found in South Africa and Brazil have begun worrying authorities and scientists who say that these – they are distinct from the new variant first found in the UK – could trigger more re-infections, even reduce vaccine efficacy, though more tests are underway
Experts warn against partial immunity, mutation risks
By Binayak Dasgupta, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON JAN 17, 2021 02:47 AM IST
The two experts also said that it is important to ensure that immunisation programmes avoid controversy that could fuel vaccine scepticism. For instance, the approval to a vaccine without efficacy data “was not a good idea”, according to John P Moore.
At stake, the future of democracy
PUBLISHED ON JAN 10, 2021 09:24 PM IST
The roots of the attack on the Capitol can be traced to an alternative, fact-free, conspiracy theory based narrative, fuelled by technology
Large-scale study in UK finds new strain could be tougher to control
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 03, 2021 05:20 AM IST
The variant has 23 changes in its genetic code, with some that experts say makes it more transmissible. Its outbreak forced several countries to stop travel to and from the UK in the days leading to Christmas.
2021: Year of the shot in the Arm
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 01, 2021 03:17 AM IST
The experiences in the US, the UK, and several European countries over 2020 have demonstrated that the factory-to-syringe process can throw up several challenges, and that even the most resourceful of nations can struggle with a process that can be as labyrinthine as it needs to be precise.
Reading the clues from Covaxin early trial data
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 25, 2020 04:59 AM IST
Bharat Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine candidate, jointly developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), passed the two crucial tests in clinical trials – showing it was safe and triggered an immune response – according to early stage analysis released on Wednesday.
Covid-19: Learning to beat a virus
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON DEC 24, 2020 11:40 PM IST
The world, scientifically and technologically, has never been better prepared to deal with a pandemic than it is right now and our efforts to tackle Sars-CoV-2 capitalise on decades of advances.
What we know so far about the new coronavirus strain
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 22, 2020 04:57 AM IST
There is, however, no evidence yet to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness, or that vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant
Don’t create a world of immunity haves and have-nots
UPDATED ON DEC 02, 2020 01:09 PM IST
Governments and businesses must chart a path out of this pandemic that minimises inequities.
Symptomatic patients four times more likely to spread virus: Study
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 29, 2020 06:36 AM IST
The study was based on a meta-analysis – a uniform statistical review – from 45 contact-tracing studies from around the world published till mid-July.
AstraZeneca plans new vaccine trial as efficacy questioned
By Binayak Dasgupta and Rhythma Kaul | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi:
UPDATED ON NOV 27, 2020 05:36 AM IST
The announcement comes days after the vaccine developers said their two-shot inoculation was 70% effective in preventing Covid-19 in an interim analysis of their clinical trial, with a particular regimen in which the first shot was at half-strength showing a higher 90% efficacy.
Test frequency, not accuracy, may be key to controlling outbreak: Study
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 23, 2020 01:08 AM IST
The findings hold significance for a city like Delhi where the proportion of tests turning positive has consistently been higher than the acceptable limit of 8% for weeks now.
Govt to regulate OTT, online news platforms
By Amandeep Shukla and Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 12, 2020 06:39 AM IST
The change was made through the amendment of Allocation of Business Rules and announced through a gazette notification dated November 9 by the Cabinet secretariat.
Pfizer says its Covid vaccine 90 per cent effective
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON NOV 10, 2020 03:16 AM IST
Eight months into the crisis, the preliminary results pave the way for the companies to seek an emergency-use authorisation from regulators if further research shows the shot is also safe. The vaccine may be available by the end of the month.
Over 31 million exposed to Covid in Karnataka: Sero study projections
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 10, 2020 03:03 AM IST
The researchers collected samples from close to 3,000 households in 20 districts in the state from mid-June through August 2020 and also swabbed respondents for RT-PCR tests to determine active infections.
In new online abuse menace, AI bot turns women’s photos into nudes
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 21, 2020 10:40 AM IST
Deepfake tracking agency discovers bot used generated over 100,000 nude images of women from regular photographs
1 vaccine may have reached initial efficacy test
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 03, 2020 03:57 AM IST
Pfizer’s is among half a dozen experimental vaccines being tested in large scale (Phase 3) human trials and, according to science informatics and analytics company Airfinity, it is projected to have had enough Covid-19 cases in the trial for its first interim analysis.
Racist machines? Twitter’s photo preview problem reignites AI bias concern
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi:
UPDATED ON SEP 21, 2020 06:11 AM IST
The problem was first discovered when education tech researcher Colin Madland posted about how video-calling software Zoom cropped the head out of a black person on the other side of a call, seemingly unable to detect it as a human face.
Zhenhua Data case: How to think about Chinese surveillance
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON SEP 15, 2020 09:09 PM IST
Zhenhua Data, the reports claimed, put together a database with the personal information of over two million people of public interest — politicians, celebrities, business leaders, prominent military officials and academics
Twitter handle linked to PM’s portal hacked
By Binayak Dasgupta and Smriti Kak Ramachandran | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 04, 2020 01:58 AM IST
A Twitter spokesperson confirmed that the page -- @narendramodi_in – associated with the PM’s website narendramodi.in, was compromised.
Hacked PM Modi’s Twitter account to make a point on PayTM Mall breach: Hackers
By Binayak Dasgupta and Smriti Kak Ramachandran | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 03, 2020 12:23 PM IST
On August 30, cyber security firm Cyble reported that a hacking group identifying itself as John Wick “was able to gain unrestricted access to the entire databases” of PayTM Mall
Antisocial media: Why Facebook’s missteps threaten internet and society
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 03, 2020 05:20 AM IST
Experts say company has wielded policies opaquely, pushing the case of regulator role that could change the nature of the internet.
Virus spreads in aircraft but transmission risk low: Study
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 22, 2020 06:18 AM IST
Closed indoor spaces have become a particular worry for the spread of the Sars-Cov2, which can linger on as aerosols; people usually breathe out microscopic viral particles even when they speak but the volume increases drastically if someone coughs or sneezes.
Why Delhi sero survey findings do not mean you’re safe
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 21, 2020 05:29 AM IST
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said the findings indicate the city was inching towards the herd immunity threshold, but cautioned that a resurgence of the coronavirus disease cannot be ruled out.
New immunity insights a boost against Covid-19
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 19, 2020 04:00 PM IST
In a study, the researchers tested 15 people who had Covid-19, once between the first 20 days since they had the disease and for a second time around 86 days later, when the researchers found stable levels of B and T memory cells.
Antibodies can ward off second infection: Study
By Binayak Dasgupta, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 17, 2020 08:21 AM IST
People recovered from Covid-19 protected from virus, finds study
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 17, 2020 03:10 AM IST
The findings are significant since they are the closest confirmation yet that the world’s main strategy of using vaccines to trigger immune response could indeed work to stop the coronavirus pandemic.
Report on Facebook’s leniency to BJP members’ communal posts causes row
By Binayak Dasgupta , Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Sunetra Choudhury | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 16, 2020 08:31 AM IST
In an article published late on Friday, the Wall Street Journal cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to claim that the company’s senior India policy executive Ankhi Das intervened in internal content review processes to stop a ban on BJP’s Telangana MLA T Raja Singh, who made communally charged posts targeting the Muslim community.
Dial-up dreams to Wi-Fi wonderland
By Binayak Dasgupta | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 14, 2020 12:25 AM IST
Today, internet connectivity is at least 4,000 times as fast, and costs a fraction of what it did 25 years ago. It had in 1995 all of 23,500 websites (compared to 1.8 billion now, according to Internet Live States).