Our bodies make roughly 20,000 different kinds of proteins, from the collagen in our skin to the haemoglobin in our blood. Some take the shape of molecular sheets. Others are sculpted into fibres, boxes, tunnels, even scissors. A proteins particular shape enables it to do a particular job, whether ferrying oxygen through the body or helping to digest food.

Scientists have studied proteins for nearly two centuries, and over that time they have worked out how cells create proteins from simple building blocks. They have long dreamed of assembling those elements into new proteins not found in nature. But they have been stumped by one great mystery: how the building blocks in a protein take their final shape.

David Baker, director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, USA, has been investigating that enigma for a quarter-century. Now, it looks as if he and his colleagues have cracked it. Thanks in part to crowdsourced computers and smartphones belonging to over one million volunteers, the scientists have figured out how to choose the building blocks required to create a protein that will take on the shape they want.

Building proteins

In a series of papers published in 2017, David and his colleagues unveiled the results of this work. They have produced thousands of different kinds of proteins, which assume the shape the scientists had predicted. Often, those proteins are profoundly different from any found in nature. This expertise has led to a profound scientific advance: cellular proteins designed by humans, not by nature.

"We can now build proteins from scratch from first principles to do what we want," David said. Scientists soon will be able to construct precise molecular tools for a vast range of tasks, he predicts. Already, his team has built proteins for purposes ranging from fighting flu viruses to breaking down gluten in food to detecting trace amounts of opioid drugs. William DeGrado, a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the recent studies by Baker and his colleagues represent a milestone in this line of scientific inquiry. "In the 1980s, we dreamed about having such impressive outcomes," he said.

Every protein in nature is encoded by a gene. With that stretch of DNA as its guide, a cell assembles a corresponding protein from building blocks known as amino acids. Selecting from 20 or so different types, the cell builds a chain of amino acids. That chain may stretch dozens, hundreds or even thousands of units long. Once the cell finishes, the chain folds on itself, typically in just a few hundredths of a second. Proteins fold because each amino acid has an electric charge. Parts of the protein chain are attracted to one another while other parts are repelled. Some bonds between the amino acids will yield easily under these forces; rigid bonds will resist.

The combination of all these atomic forces makes each protein a staggering molecular puzzle. When David attended graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, no one knew how to look at a chain of amino acids and predict the shape into which it would fold. Protein scientists referred to the enigma simply as the folding problem. The folding problem left scientists in the Stone Age when it came to manipulating these important biological elements. They could only use proteins that they happened to find in nature, like early humans finding sharp rocks to cut meat from bones.

We have used proteins for thousands of years. Early cheese-makers, for example, made milk curdle by adding a piece of calf stomach to it. The protein chymosin, produced in the stomach, turned liquid milk into a semi-solid form. Today, scientists are still looking for ways to harness proteins. Some researchers are studying proteins in abalone shells in hopes of creating stronger body armour, for instance. Others are investigating spider silk for making parachute cords. Researchers also are experimenting with modest changes to natural proteins to see if the tweaks let them do new things.

To David and many other protein scientists, however, this sort of tinkering has been deeply unsatisfying. The proteins found in nature represent only a minuscule fraction of the protein universe - all the proteins that could possibly be made with varying combinations of amino acids. "When people want a new protein, they look around in nature for things that already exist," David said.

Collective knowledge platform

In the late 1990s, the team at the University of Washington, USA turned to software for individual studies of complex proteins. The lab decided to create a common language for all this code so that researchers could access the collective knowledge about proteins. In 1998, they started a platform called Rosetta, which scientists use to build virtual chains of amino acids and then compute the most likely form they will fold into. A community of protein scientists, known as the Rosetta Commons, grew around the platform. For the past 20 years, they have been improving the software and using it to better understand the shape of proteins - and how those shapes enable them to work.

In 2005, David launched a programme called Rosetta@home, which recruited volunteers to donate processing time on their home computers and, eventually, Android phones. Step by step, Rosetta grew more powerful and more sophisticated, and the scientists were able to use the crowdsourced processing power to simulate folding proteins in greater detail. Their predictions grew startlingly more accurate.

The researchers went beyond proteins that already exist to proteins with unnatural sequences. To see what these unnatural proteins looked like in real life, the scientists synthesised genes for them and plugged them into yeast cells, which then manufactured the labs creations. "There are subtleties going on in naturally occurring proteins that we still dont understand," David said. "But weve mostly solved the folding problem."

These advances gave Davids team the confidence to take on an even bigger challenge: they began to design proteins from scratch for particular jobs. The researchers would start with a task they wanted a protein to do, and then figure out the string of amino acids that would fold the right way to get the job done. Recently, Davids team presented one of its most ambitious projects: a protein shell that can carry genes. The researchers designed proteins that assemble themselves like Legos, snapping together into a hollow sphere.

Gary Nabel, chief scientific officer at Sanofi, said that the new research may lead to the invention of molecules we cannot yet imagine. "Its a new territory, because youre not modelling existing proteins," he said. For now, David and his colleagues can only make short-chained proteins. That is due in part to the cost involved in making pieces of DNA to encode proteins. But that technology is improving so quickly that the team is now testing longer, bigger proteins that might do more complex jobs.

For efficient hydrogen production

A joint research team, affiliated with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, has introduced the Hybrid-Solid Electrolysis Cell (Hybrid-SOEC) system with highest reported electrochemical performance in hydrogen production.

The proposed system has attracted much attention as a new promising option for cost-effective and highly-efficient hydrogen production. A solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) consists of two electrodes and an electrolyte that are all in solid state. They are strongly desired as candidates for the hydrogen production as there is no need to replenish lost electrolytes.

The research team reported their findings by exploring a SOEC base on a mixed-ion conductor that can transport both oxygen ion and proton at the same time, which is denoted as Hybrid-SOEC. In comparison to other SOECs, the proposed system demands less electricity for hydrogen production, while exhibiting good electrochemical performance with stability. Also, the Hybrid-SOEC exhibits no observable degradation in performance after continuous use.

Waters unusual properties

Using X-ray lasers, researchers at Stockholm University have been able to map out how water fluctuates between two different states when it is cooled. Many more properties such as compressibility and heat capacity become increasingly strange as water is cooled. Now, with the help of ultra-short X-ray pulses at X-ray lasers in Japan and South Korea, researchers have succeeded in determining that water reaches the peak of its strange behaviour at -44 °C.

Water is unique, as it can exist in two liquid states that have different ways of bonding the water molecules together. It is this ability to shift from one liquid state into another that gives water its unusual properties.

Novel antimicrobial peptides developed

Scientists from CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi have now synthesised hybrid protein sequences with antimicrobial properties, by using a mixture of natural and synthetic analogues of amino acids. Various multicellular organisms produce short sequences of proteins called antimicrobial peptides that are capable of acting as natural antibiotics against a host of pathogens.

Drawing inspiration from the antimicrobial peptides, scientists have been trying to come up with artificial varieties of such proteins in order to help develop new antibiotics against specific microbes. One such strategy employed is the use of beta- and gamma-amino acids. For the study, the researchers synthesised several hybrid antimicrobial peptides by using a mixture of alpha, beta and gamma amino acids.

The researchers then studied their properties further and found that a particular hybrid peptide made up of alpha and gamma amino acids was very effective against the pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They also tested the peptides effect on human cells and found that it was one of the least harmful peptides among the hybrid peptides they had synthesised.

How hard can you bite?

Scientists from Indian Institute of Science have developed a novel device made of a fibre Bragg grating (FBG) to measure the force exerted with a bite. The force is a result of three components: muscle of mastication, the jaw and teeth. The measure of force is considered as a good indicator of the state of the masticatory system. To measure the force, the scientists made use of the FBG, a device which acts as an optical filter allowing certain wavelengths of lights to pass through, while blocking others. Sensors made of the FBG can be used to measure the differences in force. The novel Bite Force Measurement Device (BMFD) consists of a non-invasive intraoral device, which when bit into, can transfer the bite force into strain variations on a metal plate.

Neutrino: Measuring the Unexpected

The neutrinos are the core mysteries which have enticed and confounded physicists throughout time. How has the sun managed to burn and illuminate for so many millions of years? Early on, our universe was made up of equal parts of matter and antimatter, yet very little antimatter exists in our world today.

Why? The answers could lie in the study of the neutrino. In the documentary, Neutrino: Measuring the Unexpected, directed by Javier Diez, a trio of physicists take us on a guided tour through a series of experiments that uncover the true nature of the neutrino. To watch the documentary, visit www.bit.ly/2zBlGs3.

A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single point at the top and has a quadrilateral base. The most well known are the three pyramids in Giza, outside of Cairo. The two bigger ones are the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre. They were constructed around 2500 BC. These pyramids also have several secret chambers, which were used to keep bodies of important people like the Pharaoh.

These large chambers were discovered in the 9th century AD and explored extensively by archaeologists in the 19th century. Speculations were rife for decades that the pyramids may have secret chambers built at that time but not known to the later generations.

The Alvarez experiment

Since the presence of such hidden secret chambers would be of interest to historians and archaeologists, the Egyptian government agreed to a proposal of an American particle physicist to look for these chambers. Luis Alvarez, a physicist, proposed to see whether there are secret chambers inside pyramids by looking for particles called muons. When muon was discovered, there was a lot of confusion about the role of these particles in the larger scheme of nature. Today, it is recognised as part of a family of particles called leptons, which along with quarks, are recognised as the fundamental constituents of matter.

The source of muons on earth is the primary cosmic ray particles which impinge on the top of atmosphere from all directions. These particles interact continuously in the atmosphere creating many electrons and muons. Compared to electrons, muons traverse long distances without appreciable scatter.

In the 1950s, it was found that they are able to traverse rocks and were the only particles found inside deep mines. Several scientific groups across the world studied these particles as a function of depth. It was found that the number of muons decreased as the equipment was taken deeper. The number of muons inside a mine varies with the amount of rock above the observation site. If there is more rock, the number of muons is less. This property of muons is what made Alvarez curious to look into the mysteries inside a pyramid.

Alvarez used simple particle detectors like the scintillation counter and spark chamber to do the experiment. The scintillation detector had an area of four square metres and the spark chamber could record the path of particle from all directions. The was done at the Pyramid of Khafre. The detectors were first tested with the known chambers and it showed that the method was feasible.

The experiment was done for several months in 1965. The rate of the cosmic ray events as a function of the direction was plotted and as expected, there was a lot of fluctuation at the corners. The extrapolation of the muon rate clearly showed the distinctive appearance of the pyramid. The detailed study finally concluded that there are no unknown chambers in the pyramid similar to the known ones.

This experiment introduced the method, muon tomography, to the world as a method to study the integrity of ancient structures. This method could be thought of as X-ray imaging the structure.

The latest discovery

Despite being one of the oldest and largest monuments on earth, there is no consensus about how the pyramids were built. To better understand its internal structure, a mission called the ScanPyramids was started. This is a joint programme between Cairo University and the French non-profit HIP Institute, with guidance from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. Scientists from those institutions teamed up with Japanese physicists from Nagoya University and started imaging the pyramid using muons. They tested the method first by locating an already known chamber.

Later, in December 2015, physicists from Nagoya University placed several detectors inside the Queens chamber of the Great Pyramid. After running for several months, they noticed that there were more muons coming from a particular direction. This pointed to a void in the pyramid.

To check the result, two other teams of physicists also joined the enterprise. Nuclear emulsions used initially had shown the effect but later scintillator detectors confirmed it. All three teams observed a large, unexpected void in the same location above the Grand Gallery, a passage to the royal burial chambers in the Great Pyramid. Their results were reported in the journal Nature on November 2, 2017.

A study of some of the worlds most obscure marine life suggests that the central nervous system evolved independently several times - not just once, as previously thought. The invertebrates in question belong to families scattered throughout the animal evolutionary tree, and they display a diversity of central-nerve-cord architectures.

The creatures also activate genes involved with nervous-system development in other, well-studied animals - but they often do it in non-neural ways, report the authors of the paper, published on December 13, 2017 in Nature. "This puts a stake in the heart of the idea of an ancestor with a central nerve cord," said Greg Wray, an evolutionary-developmental biologist at Duke University, USA. "That opens up a lot of questions we dont have answers to - like, if central nerve cords evolved independently in different lineages, why do they have so many similarities?"

In 1875, German zoologist Anton Dohrn noted anatomical similarities between the central nerve cord that runs length-wise through the bodies of annelids and the nerve cord in the spine of vertebrates. He proposed that the groups ancient common ancestor had a nerve cord that ran along its belly-side, as seen in annelids. He also suggested that this cord flipped to the back of the body in a more recent animal that gave rise to all vertebrates.

More than a century later, evolutionary-developmental biologists revisited Antons theory when they discovered that the same genes involved in the development of vertebrates central nerve cords are also activated in the nerve cord of the fly Drosophila melanogaster and of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. Similar gene expression underscored the concept that the cords could be traced back to a common ancestor.

Developmental debate

But researchers questioned the theory in 2006, after looking at the expression of a suite of those genes - including the one named bmp - in acorn worms. They found that bmp is activated in these animals early in their development, well before they form two nerve cords that run along the sides of their bodies. The scientists suggested that bmp helps to provide coordinates for cells in the developing embryo. But rather than do away with the idea that bmp unites the nerve cords of disparate species, many biologists suggested that acorn worms might be an exception in using the gene in a different way. After all, they had unusual, dual nerve cords.

Andreas Hejnol, an evolutionary-developmental biologist at the Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology in Bergen, Norway and senior author of the Nature paper, was fascinated. "I thought, you should not call an animal weird," he said. "Let the animals tell you who is weird." In search of creatures with diverse nervous systems, Andreas team explored fjords in Sweden and Norway by boat. They sifted through sludge dredged up from the sea floor, and probed the guts of sea cucumbers to find parasites buried within. The scientists also scoured the rocky shores of islands off Washington, USA.

Some of the tiniest worms the team collected belong to an ancient lineage in the animal evolutionary tree called Xenacoelomorpha, and they possess a plethora of nervous systems. For instance, Xenoturbella bocki has no central nerve cord, but rather a net of nerves similar to those in jellyfish, Isodiametra pulchra has eight nerve cords, and Meara stichopi has a nerve cord running along its back, as vertebrates do.

As in the acorn worms, these itty-bitty worms activated bmp before nerve cords formed, early in embryonic development. Moreover, Andreas blocked the protein pathway and found that the animals nerve cords still developed. The result suggests that they are constructing their nerve cords differently than mice, flies and other well-studied animals.

In lampshells, Andreas group found that other genes previously associated with the central nerve cord switched on as the lampshells developed, even though the creatures have no central nerve cord. The discordance continued in the wheel-bearers, the nemerteans and other odd animals. Andreas concluded that genes found to underlie the central nerve cord in vertebrates, flies and some annelids functioned differently in an early ancestor, and were instead integrated into the nervous system at different points in time as disparate animal lineages evolved central nerve cords of their own.

Decrease in Himalayan glaciers

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology and National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee have found that the number of glaciers has decreased in a span of 35 years. The findings were published in 2017 in the journal Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. The study warns of a long-term decline of water resources and impending flash floods due to the glacial lake outburst as warming climate may accelerate the glacial recession in the area.

The researchers studied changes to glaciers in the Baspa basin in the western Himalayan region. Due to their massive size, remote and harsh locations, glaciers are not easy to monitor, the Baspa Basin being no exception. The researchers used a combination of satellite data to demarcate the changes in the glacier area, its length, and how much of it is covered with loose rock material, also called debris cover.

The researchers delineated 109 glaciers having a minimum size of 0.01 km2 in the glacier inventory for the year 2011. To assess glacier changes, they selected glaciers larger than 0.10 km2 in size to reduce inaccuracies in glacier mapping. They found that the number of glaciers had gone down from 103 to 97 and a total area of 41.2 ± 10.5 km2 was lost between 1976 and 2011. The study showed that factors like glacier size and topography influence glacier changes.

A feathered dinosaur

Perhaps it was soft, even fuzzy. But it was also very much a dinosaur. Anchiornis was a four-winged birdlike species that lived about 160 million years ago, and many fossil specimens have been found in China. A number of them were discovered with preserved feathers, but until recently the feathers had not been described in detail. Anchiornis (the name means near bird) was about 14 inches long from its beak to the end of its tail, barely larger than a pigeon but much more impressive. It had long feathers on its four wings, and appendages ending in claws. Anchiornis did not, however, have the reverse toe that lets modern birds perch. It climbed trees, clinging with all four feet.

A recent study in Palaeontology takes a close look at its feathers. Anchiornis had small bushy plumes covering its back and neck, unlike its straighter wing and tail feathers. These short feathers provided insulation and may have been water-repellent. But they were not as efficient at either task as the feathers of modern birds. Anchiornis probably glided down from trees, like a flying squirrel, but more likely was incapable of powered flight. The feathers on the wings and tail lacked the curved aerodynamic structure that allows for flight.

"Palaeontologists got excited when we learned that birds are dinosaurs," said the lead author, Evan T Saitta, a doctoral student at the University of Bristol in England. "But we have to remember that these things are much older and more primitive than birds. Feathers dont evolve overnight. These are steppingstones on the way to modern birds."

Ticks trapped in amber

Palaeontologists have found entombed in amber a 99-million-year-old tick grasping the feather of a dinosaur, providing the first direct evidence that the tiny pests drank dinosaur blood. Immortalised in the golden gemstone, its last supper is remarkable because it is rare to find parasites with their hosts in the fossil record. The finding, which was published in a paper that appeared the journal Nature Communications, gives researchers tantalising insight into the prehistoric diet of one of todays most prevalent pests.

David Grimaldi, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History and an author of the paper, was inspecting a private collection of amber from northern Myanmar when he and his colleagues spotted the eight-legged stowaway. Upon further inspection, he and his colleagues concluded that the tick was a nymph, similar in size to a deer tick nymph, and that its host was most likely some sort of fledgling dinosaur no bigger than a hummingbird, which David referred to as a nanoraptor.

Galapagos: Realm of Giant Sharks

Darwin Island, a remote oceanic region on the outskirts of the Galapagos Archipelago, is home to a growing population of great whale sharks. All of them are pregnant, about to give birth. What has drawn them here? Where are they going? The documentary, Galapagos: Realm of Giant Sharks (directed by Thomas Lucas), finds out what lures the sharks to the island by following a group of researchers, headed by world-renowned naturalist and photographer Jonathan Green, that has travelled out to Darwin Island to decode the mystery.

In an exciting blend of science and natural history filmmaking, Galapagos: Realm of Giant Sharks draws audiences into the world of one of the oceans largest and least understood creatures. It also provides illuminating insights on the growing dangers currently threatening the great whale shark population, and efforts underway to protect the species. To watch the documentary, visit www.bit.ly/2lgxqej.

In a first of its kind effort, researchers from all over the world have quantified soil erosion due to rainfall by collecting data from 63 countries to prepare a rainfall erosivity map of the world. The study, published in Scientific Reports, is a joint effort of 31 scientists from over 20 countries all over the world.

Erosivity is the tendency of rainfall to cause soil erosion. Displacement of soil from its original place is called erosion. Rainfall, rapidly flowing water like streams and rivers, wind, or even mass movement of land like landslides or avalanches can cause erosion. Rainfall alone causes more than 50% of soil erosion in the world. Erosion takes away the nutrient-rich topsoil from the erosion site, and in the long run, leads to desertification. The other side of erosion is eutrophication - excessive richness of nutrients - caused by the eroded soil being deposited as sediments in water bodies like lakes and rivers, choking them in the process. This excess of nutrition in the water causes the unabated growth of vegetation and algae, resulting in reduced dissolved oxygen in the waterbody.

The erosivity factor

Erosion causes a lot of ecological damage too and impacts economies dependent on local resources. "When the water of the flooded Brahmaputra flows downstream in Bengal, it disrupts the fishing reservoirs of the region. The local fishermen, thus, lose their means of livelihood," says Dr Nabansu Chattopadhyay of the Indian Meteorological Department, Pune, and a co-author of the study.

Erosivity of soil is the combined effect of the duration of rainfall, its magnitude and intensity. "For example, if a place gets 100 cm rainfall in 24 hours, but it is quite uniformly divided, such rain may not cause soil erosion. However, suppose there is 10 cm rainfall in a mere one hour, then soil may get washed away," points out Nabansu. To determine erosivity, it is also essential to take into account the previous erosivity events that have occurred over a long period of time. Erosion is more likely to happen when the soil is already saturated with water and a heavy downpour occurs. Water can no more be absorbed into the soil, and soil then flows downstream with water.

Erosivity factor, evaluated based on the duration of rainfall, its magnitude and its intensity, is essential for assessing the extent of soil erosion by water. This also helps in calculating the risk of floods and preventing natural disasters. Suitable mitigation measures can then be taken to prevent losses to lives and property. The researchers of this study collected data from 3,625 precipitation stations all over the world and created a Global Rainfall Erosivity Database (GloREDa). The data came from rain gauges spread over different continents, in different climatic conditions, during different time periods and of different accuracies. Rainfall measurements at short duration, once every 30 minutes, was taken for evaluation.

The number of years for which data was available also had a large variation; some gauges had only 10 years of data, a duration much shorter than the 22 years recommended for evaluation of erosivity. The researchers had to interpolate this data suitably in the framework used for this assessment. Uncertainty is also introduced in erosivity values due to the variability of rainfall, its duration, its magnitude and its intensity in areas lying between different climatic zones.

The final map that the researchers came up with indicates that the highest erosivity values are located in Southeast Asia, Central Africa, South America, Central America and the Caribbean islands. The lowest erosivity was found in Siberia, West Asia, Northern Africa, Canada and Northern Europe. The researchers observed that spatial pattern of erosivity values corresponds to the extreme rainfall events observed in those areas. An analysis by the climate zone indicated that the tropical climate group that included tropical rainforest and monsoon climatic types showed highest erosivity. The cold climate group, that includes the subarctic region had lowest erosivity values.

Mitigation measures

Another major achievement of this study is the setting up of a global erosivity dataset with a spatial resolution of about one km that is now available. The researchers credit this to the availability of rainfall measurement at short duration, the growing computing power and the development of sophisticated geostatic models. "We acknowledge that this achievement was only feasible through the scientific cooperation between scholars from all over the globe," say the authors. The global erosivity map is now publicly available, and researchers can use it to model soil erosion at a national, continental or global level. This can certainly help plan erosion mitigation measures.

One way to conserve what is left of the soil is to increase the time of concentration of the runoff or reduce the velocity of the runoff. This allows more water to sink into the soil, and prevents it from carrying the soil along. Building terraces and bunds are one way to prevent the runoff at a smaller scale. On a larger scale, dams and retention reservoirs could also be planned, opine the researchers. Biological measures include planting vegetative strips, protective bushlands and forests in regions prone to increased soil erosion. Certain agricultural practices like contour ploughing, where the land is ploughed across a slope following its elevation contour lines, and mixed cropping, where two or more of plants are grown simultaneously in the same field, could also help.

For a country like India that is largely dependent on agriculture, soil plays a very important role in driving the economy. So what are implications do the findings of this study have? The researchers believe that soil conservation efforts in India can hugely benefit from the erosivity map. "The Ministry of Agriculture in India undertakes multiple soil and water conservation projects. With a view to better monitor rainfall, installation of automatic rainfall measurement gauges is planned," shares Nabansu. With more such systematic measures, perhaps soil erosion could be a thing of past.

(The author is with Gubbi Labs, a
Bengaluru-based research collective)

In a city where working out on a daily basis is becoming important, there are plenty of workouts that one can opt to do. And in order to achieve those, a good workout partner is important. The interesting thing is that you dont really need another human being as your workout buddy. It can be a pet or a bottle of beer in your hand. Oh yes, fitness enthusiasts are all about experimenting these days.

Chaitra Ramu, a business development professional, has been working out for a couple of years and she believes that exercise is a combination of mind and body. She says, "The expansion and variations of todays fitness workouts are mind-blowing. The new concept of beer yoga and workouts with pets is trending and exciting. For those who chose to workout in their own space, exercising with pets is a great stress buster."

"I would love to workout with pets. Nothing can keep ones mind more active than a pet while working out. Exercising is all about focus, so if you dont let you your pet take that away, itll be a lot of fun," she adds.

Muthu Kumar, a fitness enthusiast, also agrees that this social media trend of promoting exercising in non-traditional ways is quite cool. But he does hope that it doesnt catch on. He explains, "Its great that people are finding new ways to amuse themselves while working out, predominantly with beer and working out with pets. Its a good way to get one pumped up, especially if they think that the traditional way of exercising is too tedious. So the more you work out the lighter way, the more youll realise how much fun it is to exercise and then opt to do more of traditional ones later on."

With beer being an unhealthy drink, Muthu says that its best not to use it as a prop while exercising. "Drinking and having other junk food is generally avoided when youre working out so why have it now? To be honest, the trend of beer yoga is an oxymoron. But if that gets people to join the healthy lifestyle wagon, maybe you can give it a try," he adds. For freelance CrossFit level 2 instructor Prashanth Ponnappa, sticking to traditional methods is enough. "I dont think you need a bottle in your hand or a pet to work out with. Comedian Sanjay Manaktala made a spoof of beer yoga calling it biryani yoga. This is just a gimmick and people who are promoting this someone watching them work out. There was a group who wanted to start beer yoga in the city but the event had to be cancelled last minute," he says.

"Having said that, youngsters are more inclined to this kind of workouts. Someone somewhere is always finding a way to innovate the methods of exercising and attract the crowd. You have to realise that works for you and start working towards that. So the goal is to think why you started when you feel like quitting and stick to the healthy lifestyle," says Prashanth.

The influx of good content in digital space has already lured Hollywood biggies and now Bollywood stars have started embracing the trend with names like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Rajkummar Rao exploring the medium.

While Shah Rukhs production house Red Chillies Entertainment and streaming giant Netflix are working on a series based on the book, Bard of Blood penned by Indian author Bilal Siddiqi, Saif would be making his debut in the space with original series titled Sacred Games.

The web series directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane is based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Indian author Vikram Chandra.

The series produced in partnership with Phantom Films, is set in Mumbai, and it touches upon the world of crime, corruption, politics and espionage that lie beneath Indias economic renaissance.

Rajkummar, made his foray into the medium with Bose Dead/ Alive. The actor played Subash Chandra Bose in the series by Ekta Kapoors ALT Balaji. "The digital medium is the future and I am glad to be part of this new revolution. This is the platform where filmmakers will be telling their stories on, in future."

"It is a new medium. Your material is there for posterity and is not subjected to the weekend game or the Monday test or all the parameters that the box office has created, " Hansal Mehta, creative producer of Bose Dead/ Alivei said. Another actor who was seen in a ALT Balaji original series was Nimrat Kaur. She starred in The Test Case.

Amazon Prime Video released their first Indian original series in collaboration with Farhan Akhtars Excel Entertainment. Titled Inside Edge, the series marked the web debut of actors Richa Chaddha and Vivek Oberoi.

Bollywood actor Ashmit Patel started his career as an assistant director and worked with Vikram Bhatt. He made his acting debut with Vikram Bhatts Inteha in 2003. He is known for movies like Murder, Nazar and Silsilay.

He was also seen as a host in television shows, Superdude. In a chat with Surupasree Sarmmah, Ashmit talks about his journey in the industry.

When did you realise you wanted to take up acting as a career?

To be honest, I was not someone who always wanted to be an actor. In fact, I was a huge fan of Sunil Gavaskar and wanted to become a cricketer. It was only later in life when my sister joined the film industry, I got exposed to this world of cinema and actually thought that acting can be a career. Prior to that, being the only son, I was all geared up to take on the family business.

Was there any pressure on you on the work front considering Ameesha Patel is your sister?

There was no pressure as such but of course, people compared her success and mind, but it didnt really affect me or bothers me.

Which was one of the most challenging roles you have done?

I would say Banaras. Every time I read the script, there would be something new popping up. It is a very spiritually and metaphysically evolved film with a lot of layers. And at that time, I was just 24 and not as spiritual as I am now, so, everything used to bounce over my head. Every time, I read the script, a new question would arise. My characters growth in the film is a growth in his spirituality and awakening.

You are also into fitness, who was your motivation to pursue fitness?

I was always into fitness. I was a sportsperson back in school and played every possible sport. I was also my schools rugby captain until I hurt my knee and that was when I was introduced to gymming. Along the way, a lot of people have helped me. Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan helped me immensely.

Who is that one actor you would like to work with?

My list is very long both in Hollywood and Bollywood. But to pick one, it will be Akshay Kumar.

What would you have been, if you were not an actor?

Well, I am DJing as well right now. It has been my childhood dream. If not that, I would have definitely been an environmentalist.

You have also worked as an assistant director in a couple of movies, tell us about that experience!

It was a great actually. After I finished my acting course, I was a bit lost and didnt know what to do. Thats when Hrithik Roshan suggested this to me as he did the same. I approached Vikram Bhatt and worked with him for a couple of films. So, I got to do the post-production of Raaz, the shooting of Awara Paagal Deewana and Aitbaar and the pre-production of Footpath simultaneously. In a span of six months, I got to work on every aspect of filmmaking like a crash course.

Any advice that changed your life?

Dont take any advice. Make your own choices.

Name three public figures you follow on Twitter?

Barack Obama, Elon Musk and of course Maheck Chahal (laughs).

What is on your bucket list for this year?

I love travelling but last year was not great in terms of travelling. So, this year, I am looking forward to more nature travels like Bhutan and Cambodia and indulge myself in adventure activities like trekking and white-water rafting. This apart, I want to get my scuba diving licence and learn to play guitar.

What do you do when you are not working?

Travelling, DJing and reading. I also spend a lot of time with my parents and watch movies.

Any movies in your basket as of now?

Yes, I have two of my movies releasing on January 19,
Nirdosh and Hamara Tiranga.

They say travelling is like taking a journey into yourself. No one knows this better than the travellers themselves, who are busy charting out their itineraries for the coming months while the rest of the world is busy making resolutions and setting goals for the year ahead.

Says Divya H N, project manager of a biopharma company, "I believe that one should see their country first before going anywhere else. My destination for this year will be Northeast India, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Divya explains her modus operandi thus, "Once we decide the destination, we book tickets as soon as possible. We do many trips in a year so money is important. Accommodation is sorted next and its usually close to places that we want to see so that we dont have to spend much on taxis and cabs. However, we ensure that the room has a good view."

Shrinidhi Hande, the associate manager at Accenture, has already planned out his travel calendar for the coming year. "I am planning to go to Cambodia this month, Myanmar in August, New Zealand in October and Gold Coast in November. I booked the tickets in 2017 with Air Asia so it was super cheap. I am looking to book some trips to Korea and Japan this year for travel in 2019."

Northeast India figures on the schedule of Mounika Pothineni as well, in the form of a bike trip to Arunachal Pradesh no less.

Apart from this, the founder of Gutsytribe is also looking forward to organising a couple of international backpacking trips this year.

"People are more than willing to travel these days. Its not about the money, its about the experiences. Even for occasions like New Year, people have stopped partying in cities and are looking for quick getaways. We organised a New Year camp at Sakleshpur and people came from as far as Gujarat," she says.

Asked about travel trends for the coming year, their opinions vary and converge. While Divya feels that the Middle East will attract many explorers in 2018 ("Places like Oman and Abu Dhabi are becoming popular. I think everyone is bored of seeing Europe"), Shrinidhi is rooting for places like Bali, Vietnam, Japan and Philippines.

"Thanks to the disruption caused by the volcano, Bali will be cheaper to visit in early 2018. Vietnam is a relatively unexplored territory by Indians while Japan has many unique experiences to offer like sumo wrestling, bullet trains, cherry blossoms and more. The Philippines is another affordable destination and many one-stop flights go to the various islands there now," he says.

Says Sharat Dhall, COO(B2C), Yatra.com, "The trend of frequent travelling by taking advantage of the long weekends will continue to grow. Be it a weekend break, destination wedding or a second honeymoon, individuals will be seeking out newer destinations and newer experiences. Travellers now want to get active, stay healthy and really immerse themselves in a destination."

"Wellness tourism is seeing a spurt. Travellers are also opting for a gastronomic holiday in Goa, Kerala, Lucknow, Thailand and Italy," he adds.

The online travel agency lists Norway, Jerusalem, Ireland, Iceland, Georgia, Peru and Tunisia among the international destinations to watch out for while Hampi, Alleppey, Gokarna, Munnar and Spiti Valley make it to the list of domestic favourites.

When it comes to travelling preferences, Shrinidhi expects the UDAAN scheme to attract more flyers to smaller destinations in the country while Mounika sees people moving away from solo trips to group ones.

"Group discounts, economies of scale and more fun are some of the reasons why people are opting to travel in large groups now," she says.

Having lived in the Northeastern part of the country for most of their lives, Biswatosh Bhattacharjee and his wife Evan A Shangpliang were clear about which city to move when they had to relocate. Bengaluru was their natural choice because they knew its weather and culture is similar to what it is back home.

It has been two years since the couple shifted to the city and they say that every day has offered them interesting insights and experiences. They feel that they have settled in the city and have adapted to its culture pretty well.
"Bengaluru is the city of opportunities and is the best for those who are career-driven and ambitious. The warmth of the people, good infrastructure, active nightlife, the presence of a large biking community and security were some of the factors that prompted us to choose this city," says Biswatosh.

The first few months in every new city throw up a host of challenges and Biswatosh says that he too had his share of problems. "There are plenty of job opportunities here but it is hard to find them unless there is a vacancy. It is also a challenge to spot the right kind of job. Only those who are competent will find good jobs," observes Biswatosh. He also says that he had a tough time moving around the city.

The couple is impressed with the cosmopolitan culture of the city. "You find people from across the world living here and the localities are more than welcoming to migrants. This culture makes it easier for the migrants to adapt to everything here and feel at home," he adds.

Weekends are reserved for exploring the citys gourmet culture and for short trips. "The city has good eating joints and a vast biking community. I am a Bengali, so I am always on the look for Bengali food and I am never disappointed," says Biswatosh.

The many friends the couple has made over the last one year have helped them feel one with the city. "I am an avid biker but I am a reserved person. So joining RD 350 Club helped me break out of my shell. There are so many biking enthusiasts here and I have managed to make friends with some like-minded people," he says.

Biswatosh and Evan enjoy the breakfast rides with the group and sometimes ride to the outskirts of the city. "We have covered almost all the restaurants in and around South Bengaluru and are still looking at completing a couple more," he adds.

Every Bengalurean has to deal with never-ending traffic jams and Biswatosh feels a well-planned infrastructure is a key to solving the citys traffic snarls. "The traffic management must be improved because it is tough to move around the city during peak hours."

Is there a place that the couple enjoy riding to? "We enjoy our rides to Nandi Hills because it is free of potholes and we also love this place because we can watch the sunrise," Biswatosh signs off.

Actor-director M G Srinivas is busy as ever. He, who was last seen on screen in Srinivasa Kalyana has been busy with the shoot of the first part of The Birbal Trilogy. Srinivas took time off his busy schedule to share with Tini Sara Anien about how the film is shaping up and his expectations from 2018.

How is the Birbal trilogy progressing?

We started the shoot of Finding Vajramuni, the first one of the series, a few months back. Almost 50 percent of the shoot has been completed. The movie is progressing really well and the cinematography has turned out better than I expected.

Tell us about Finding
Vajramuni.

The movie gets its name from Vajramuni, one of the finest actors in the Kannada film industry who used to play negative characters. People like me grew up on his films and were intrigued by his performance. The movies plot revolves around finding the antagonist. The story is about solving a murder mystery which happened eight years ago.

You are playing a lawyer in the film. Can you tell us about your role?

I play Mahesh Das (Birbals real name), a lawyer and I am investigating the murder mystery. I had to work a lot to get into the character. I visited the courtroom a lot of times and met many lawyers to help me get into the skin of the character. From understanding the differences between each section in the IPC to realising why each legal procedure takes the time it does, I learnt about many things.

How close are you to your character?

Mahesh is a witty, intelligent and hardworking person. I am very close to the character as I do not like to give up easily. I try till I succeed.

Will trilogies work with todays movie fans?

Sequels and trilogies will work as long as the central character of the movie leaves a big impact or the climax of the film leaves the audience wanting more. I am hoping to be able to excite our film lovers that way.

Can you narrate an interesting incident from the set?

There are so many! We shared many laughs on the sets. Actor Sujay who played a role in Srinivasa Kalyana is a part of this project and is a dear friend. In a particular scene, he had to stab me and he was shivering throughout. We had to do many retakes and I almost yelled at him. It was too funny.

Another incident was when we had to show a big fish eating small fish (this scene was supposed to have a symbolical meaning). We brought a piranha that had been fed the previous night and put it in the aquarium with some small fish.

The piranha refused to eat the other fish as it wasnt hungry. The wait seemed endless. We had to finally shoot the scene the next day.

You are acting in the film and directing it. How challenging has it been?

Honestly speaking, the process is easier than I expected, since I already have experience from Srinivasa Kalayana.

The challenge arises when I have to act in a particular scene and analyse it as the director later. To judge my own performance as the director has been quite interesting.

Any resolutions for 2018?

I want to work harder and in an organised manner. I am going to train to get six-pack abs! I am hoping the film will shape smoothly. I have my fingers crossed.

Kannada movie lovers would have noticed her for her performance in Paru Wife of Devdas, Daksha, Titlu Beka, Vardhana and Thippaji Circle. The bubbly Neha Patil who made her debut with Police Story 3, has always tried to keep her roles varied. With her movie Hulidurga soon to hit the screens, the actor is hopeful that 2018 will be a positive one.

In a candid chat with Tini Sara Anien, she talks about movies and more.

How did you get interested in acting?

As a child, I remember watching films and wondering how I would look with all the makeup and on screen. The interest in show business has been on my mind since then. I was pursuing my college education when I got my first project and since then I have not looked back.

Was it challenging to get into films?

It can be really difficult to make an entry in the film industry and establish oneself there. I didnt have any family members working in the industry. I worked in a TV serial for a while and it helped me learn the nuances of acting. It also helped me pick up the minutest details of enacting a character better. There was no one to coach me either but I have learnt a lot from other artists in the industry.

Tell us about Hulidurga.

The movie has a cute love story and I play a middle-class traditional college girl in it. The movie shows conflicts in love.

Was your role difficult to portray?

I have played different characters in varied films. In this movie, after the interval, there is an incident which requires me to emote differently and that was quite challenging.

The team of Hulidurga includes a lot of fresh talent. Is it different to work with such a team?

I love working with new talents. The director had a fresh outlook on everything which made it an interesting journey.

Some things you want to learn and change about yourself...

I am still learning about how one can use social media for their work. I was in a dance reality show recently and realised how important social media is nowadays. Just a few words or lines about a new development in your career posted online can change a lot of things for an artiste. I am also working on my style statement.

How important is the fashion to an actor?

It is very important to be stylish. Many actors sport new hairstyles or outfits and the audience follow suit. I want to set trends too.

What are you hoping for in 2018?

Cinema is a learning ground. I want to perfect my acting skills and prove myself as an actor in 2018. I am hoping that I will get projects from big banners and be cast opposite superstars soon.

The New Year looks good for actor Meghana Raj. She has three projects on hand and is considering signing a couple more. The actor who last appeared in Jindaa, will be seen in the role of a career-driven and ambitious woman in Iruvudellava bittu and is pitched opposite actor Darshan in Kurukshetra.

She will also portray the life and journey of a Mangalorean girl in MMCH. She points out that she has something new and interesting to learn from every role. More than the quantity of the projects, the actor wishes to concentrate on working on good quality films.

What made you accept Iruvudellava bittu?

For the first time in my career, I am playing the role of a career-oriented, ambitious corporate woman. My character is called Poorvi. She is full of herself and is always ready to put her career before all else.

Could you connect with the character?

At first, I found it very difficult to relate to the character because I found her to be a very selfish person. However, I enjoyed transforming into someone I am not in real life.

Whats your character in Kurukshetra?

Darshan plays Duryodhana and I play his wife Bhanumati. It was brilliant working with Darshan. I found him to be very genuine and hardworking. The character of Duryodhana is shaping up well because of him.

How was it to play the character of Bhanumati?

Bhanumati and Duryodhana are two powerful characters who strongly believe and cling on to their own ideologies and beliefs. Carrying off the role wearing heavy costumes and jewellery was a challenge in itself.

How was it to work with a huge cast?

Opportunities to don important characters and work with a stellar cast doesnt always come by. I was thrilled to share screen space with Ambareesh, V Ravichandran and Arjun sir. The Kannada film industry hasnt had such a big film made with such a whopping budget in a long time.

What changes do you want to see in your career in the New Year?

I want to work more because I dont believe in taking a break. I dont mind working every day of the year.

Ever worked with your father?

My father and I have worked in Jindaa and we will be working together again in MMCH. I share an emotional scene with him in the movie and I am most comfortable working with him.

Will we see you and Chiranjeevi act together?

If somebody offers us a really good script where we are the central characters then why not.

Behind the deceivingly ordinary blue shutters on the Old Taluk Cutchery Road lies a quiet treasure-trove of machinery and artefacts. Since 1872, the workplace of V B Soobbiah & Sons, Printers & Publishers, has been accumulating a wide assortment of rare and ancient machines, cars, tools, and other antiques.

The company was established in 1872 by V B Soobbiah and has since been passed down four generations to V B Viswanath and his son, Raghunath, who currently run the business. V B Soobbiah & Sons was the first press to be established in Bengaluru.

It was initially located near the Tipu Sultan Fort and has been shifted around a few times before finally settling down in its current location on OTC Road.

In the 146 years since these Printers & Publishers set up shop, printing technology has advanced immensely. Like all others in the business, Soobbiah and his sons have had to keep pace with the changes, which it has done, as it continues to screen and offset printing. It has, however, remained rooted in its origins.

As one enters the shop, two vintage cars catch the eye. The vehicles have been painstakingly well-maintained and make appearances in the occasional car shows and rallies.

Even after some of the older machinery have been rendered obsolete, they still remain in the press as silent survivors of ages long gone. A Golden Jobber, an embossing machine; a Super Egeria, and a Japanese printing and cutting machine from 1872 are among the old machines still in the shop.

Old photographs, clocks, furniture, and tools like hand-punching machines and jump clips also lie in the place. "Its a family passion to preserve everything. Nothing here ever gets lost or is discarded," says Raghunath.

Among the long list of customers are distinguished persons like politician Veerappa Moily, who used to get his poems published here.

There has been no lack of appreciation for the work done here. V B Sreekantaiah, who took over the business from his father Soobbiah, was once sent a gold medal by the Maharaja of Mysore for the service rendered by him.

However, Sreekantaiah refused the medal, saying he had just done his job and nothing more. Along with the business, every generation has passed down the family values and tradition, ensuring that the proud name lives on.

Happy New year everyone!

Hope you still remember the resolutions you have made for 2018? Im asking because, by the end of January, most of them are usually sidelined as we nosedive into lifes goings-on all over again. Well, Im going to add to that list today.

Yes, yes! I know whats going on in your head, "I can barely live up to the goals I have set for myself and now I have to deal with yet another one." But hey, this one is easy... lets put it this way, its not a goal, its a mindset shift which I believe will only enrich our lives further.

Lets befriend the art of giving! And Im not talking about donating to charitable organisations, we all do that in our own minuscule or generous way. I am talking about sharing with those who may not necessarily be a part of our inner circle.

The more I look around, I feel that despite growing incomes, the act of being able to spend on others as easily or as happily as one does on oneself is diminishing. Its easy to indulge ourselves with gifts and extravagant meals, but when it comes to spending on others, we often clamp up.

When I turned 40, my mother reminded me that when I started working and earning around the age of 18, I often remarked that "I will only feel rich when I can spend as much if not more on others as I like to spend on myself."

My mom confessed that on hearing this she was mighty worried about the future of my financial security but was proud to be proven wrong eventually. She said, "With your selfless attitude, you have only got richer in every possible way! After all, you have been compounding interest not only on your earned money but also on the blessings you have accumulated over the years."

Yes, I feel safe today and secure in my knowledge that I came into this world with nothing and will clearly leave with nothing. While we work hard primarily to engender personal growth, we also work towards leaving behind enough wealth to provide the necessary opportunities for our children.

However, money will be a disabler and not an enabler if we bequeath so much that our children are not driven to work hard enough. Hence, more than money, what we should strive to leave behind are memories that are always reminisced with fondness and a smile.

So whilst spoiling our immediate family members, lets simultaneously and graciously also indulge our out of town guests, siblings, aunts/uncles, cousins, friends children (if even they cant reciprocate our generous act), our staffs family (maybe pay for their education), neighbours (send them a portion of some new dish you tried cooking at home), helpers who carry our shopping bags from point A to point B or our watchmen who help us park our car every day (who wont mind a little extra cash), the workers who do repair work for our homes (a simple snack with some tea is enough to bring a smile to their face). Well yes, the list does go on, but trust me, when God sees that giving hand, he makes sure it is never empty!

Think about this. And let 2018 be the year when you consciously work at increasing the size of your heart and not just your bank balance.

A slight positive change of attitude is all that it will take to know that money will only buy you things that will make you feel safe for the moment, but giving will buy you that blanket of security that will not only last you for this lifetime but perhaps the next one as well.

(Television personality and chef)

Coming from a family that loves nothing more in life than food, its absolutely no surprise that I seem to be so interested in the culinary world.

Ever since I was a kid, I used to be so fascinated by the delicious aromas that would come from the kitchen at home, where both my mother and grandmother would spend hours making the most amazing food for us, be it authentic Bangalorean food or Mangalorean food. Although I have no professional training in culinary arts, I still wanted to pursue a career in this field. I would always be stuck in the kitchen for hours, experimenting with various cuisines.

This passion of mine led me to start a small food blog which then, in the future, helped me establish my own catering business in Bengaluru called Dawat Ki Biryani, which so far has been received quite well by the city.

Another person that can be blamed for my obsession with food would be my
father -- a man who loved and cherished two things the most in life, travel and food.

He would visit all these amazing places like Taiwan, Japan, UAE, Iran and come back home and make us all these dishes, that we hadnt even heard of before. I remember as a kid seeing burgers on a television show and cribbing all day that I wanted to eat those burgers.

Back then, we didnt have McDonalds or Burger King, so my dad decided to experiment and make burgers for me at home and let me tell you those were the most amazing burgers Ive ever eaten in my whole life.

In my opinion, no matter how successful or famous you become, no matter which part of the world you shift to, no one can ever forget the taste of their mothers cooking, its just something that stays with you forever. My recipe today for authentic Bangalorean koftas, is a recipe that was passed down to me by the mother.

These koftas used to be my favourite dish to eat as a child and now they are my sons favourite dish.

Ingredients

*1/2 kg minced meat

* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

* 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste

* 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder

* 2 teaspoon red chilli powder

* 1/4 teaspoon garam masala

* 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder

* Juice of half a lemon

* 2 tablespoons coriander leaves (chopped)

* 2 tablespoons chana masala powder

* Salt to taste

Method

* Mix all the ingredients with the minced meat and grind the mixture till it forms a smooth paste.

* Using the mixture make small balls and press the ends with your fingers.

* In a shallow pan add some oil and let it heat for a few minutes.

* Next add the koftas to the pan, close the pan and cook on low heat.

* Keep the pan shut and let the koftas steam completely for approximately 20 minutes.

* Once the koftas are ready, you can serve them hot with dal and chawal and relish the preparation.

(As told to Asra Mavad)

Happy New Year fashionistas! A new year calls for new fashion choices and shopping!

We bring you the top three fashion trends of 2018 which you need in your wardrobe to keep the fashionista tag.

Fringe calling

Get the Boomerang app ready! 2018s fashion forecast begins with an extremely fun trend. When done right, fringes are really cool, adding dimension and texture in all the right ways. So what are the best ways to incorporate fringes into your look? Thats the fun part. There are no rules! Go crazy with colourful fringe skirts, dresses, fringe lined on satin slip dresses, fringe coats, thick leather fringe on mules, and big fringes on earrings.

Replace your everyday basic outfit with some fringed element to be trendy in 2018. Think The Great Gatsby. Over the top is your keyword here.

If you are worried that fringe adds too much bulk to your outfit, keep all the elements in the same colour family to streamline your overall silhouette and downplay the extra texture. Fringing comes in all lengths and styles, so whether you go short and subtle or long and eccentric, there are plenty of ways to make this flexible trend work for your fashion persona.

Life in plastic

Chanel set the theme for 2018 with the PVC-dominated collection. From boots, coats to bags- everything came in clear plastic. From coloured vinyl to PVC â€" plastic is in!

Dont worry about looking like a raincoat even while not wearing one.

The translucent take on PVC updated with colours and prints makes it big this year. Pair statement vinyl pants with a chunky knit or mix masculine and feminine element- wear latex with ruffles. If you are afraid to put on an all-plastic outfit, start with a heel or bag.

The trick is to pick a single element in PVC and complement it with simple and sophisticated pieces.

And the fanny pack is back...

Gone are the days when fanny packs brought fear of being reprimanded by the fashion police.

The once ugly travel companion has made a comeback in a cooler avatar. Spotted on Rihanna, Bella Hadid and Kendal Jenner, the fanny pack is back with a bang.

Instead of securing the bag around your waist, turn it into a crossbody by tossing it across your chest. You might have noticed several of fashions it girls already doing this.

The best part about the cross body fanny pack is that its a trend that will make any and every outfit look ten times better.

Want to upgrade your usual white T-shirt and jeans uniform? Throw a fanny pack over one shoulder.

Need to add an unexpected twist to a ladylike dress? You cant go wrong rocking a dainty belt bag to one side.

It is super stylish, extremely versatile and will keep your hands free all day long.

So what are you waiting for? Get dressed to rock 2018!

Actor Avantika Shetty has just returned from a holiday in her hometown in Mangaluru. The actor has completed shooting for her third Kannada film, Rajaratha. She is thrilled to have been a part of a project that has offered her an interesting character. The actor feels that she has a lot to look forward to after working on RangiTaranga and Kalpana 2. These two projects have given her a definite idea of how the film industry works. She is also glad that her contribution to all the projects so far has been more than just acting. In an interview with Nina C George, Avantika shares her experience of working on Rajaratha.

Any unforgettable experiences when shooting for the film?

Nirup and I can put together a list of all the falls that we had during the making of Rajaratha. There was another time when we were shooting in a hot weather and I had a tough time because the gown that I was wearing weighed 15 kg and had many layers to it. I remember that my body would ache after shooting that sequence.

On working with Nirup...

Nirup and I were able to perform well despite shooting in extreme weather conditions only because of the good rapport that we share. I sailed through the most challenging portions of the film only because I had a good co-star in Nirup.

What is your role? Could you connect with it?

I go by the character name of Megha in the film and it was tough for me to relate to her at first.

Was it easy for you to dub in Kannada and Telugu, almost simultaneously?

I am still learning Kannada, so you can imagine what my situation would have been when I had to render the dialogues in two languages. I worked very hard to get my diction right in both languages.

On sharing screen space with some of the biggest stars...

It was nice to work with some of the biggest names because they never came with the baggage of their personality and star status.

Any interesting memories when shooting for Rajaratha?

I celebrated my birthday with the team of RangiTaranga last year and this year again, I celebrated it with the team of Rajaratha. I was treated to some memorable surprises on both occasions.

What next?

I am contemplating doing a Spanish film. I dont want to sign any other project till I am convinced about role and script.

Music courses

Global Music Institute (GMI) has opened applications for its spring 2018 courses. The last date to apply is January 8, 2018. For more details, visit www.globalmusicinstitute.in.

Super 30

Super 30, which is an IIT JEE entrance coaching centre, is now being offered by iScholar Education Services through their i30 programme. The course curriculum will include 150 hours classes for Physics and Mathematics and 120 hours of Chemistry. For more details, visit www.i30jee.com/super30.

Graduate scholarships

The Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar invites applications from graduates enrolling in the MA programme for Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship 2018. The last date to apply is January 15. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2CuAZZT.

Social Media internship

Sofa Clinic is hiring interns for Social Media marketing profile in Bengaluru. Students with knowledge of Adobe Photoshop can apply by January 13. The stipend is Rs 8,000 per month. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/DH-199.

ICSE scholarship

Trio World School has announced the ICSE scholarship programme for the academic year 2018-2019. The scholarship test will be held on January 20, 2018. For more details, call 080-40611222.

Content writing internship

Sideways 6 is hiring interns for content writing profile in Bengaluru. Students with knowledge of blogging can apply by January 11. The stipend is Rs 10,000-15,000 per month. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/DH-200.

All India essay contest

The Council for Youth Development and Research Foundation invites entries for All India Online Essay Competition 2018 at the junior and senior level on the occasion of 69th Republic Day of India from students of Class 9 to 12 and university students. The last date to submit is January 10. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2qdDtpT.

WOS-C 2018

Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India invites applications for Women Scientists Scheme (WOS-C) 2018 from women scientists and technologists who are in the age group of 27-45 years. This is specially meant for women who have their qualifications in science/ engineering/ medicine or allied areas. The last date to apply is January 19. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2Cvr7zf.

DRDO robotic competition

DRDO Robotics and Unmanned Systems Exposition (DRUSE) invites applications for DRDO Robotic Competition 2018 from engineering students pursuing UG or PG courses. The objective of this competition is to identify and develop novel ideas in different parts of our country. The last date to register is January 15. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2DwgPvC.

Clarendon scholarships

The University of Oxford is offering Clarendon scholarships to students who are applying for graduate study. The last date to apply is January 8. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2fCUPrq.

City Meet â€" Nexus

IMI-New Delhi invites students to its first ever City Meet â€" Nexus on January 13, 2018 at the BHIVE Workspace, HSR Layout, Bengaluru.The meet will also happen in New Delhi and Chandigarh on January 13 and in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Trivandrum on January 20. The agenda of the meet is to address the common doubts that the students have during their pre-college search phase. For more details, visit www.events.imi.edu/nexus2018.

Operations internship

Treebo Hotels is hiring interns for operations profile in Bengaluru. Students can apply by January 5. The stipend is Rs 10,000 per month. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/DH-197.

CIS scholarship

The Canadian International School (CIS), Bengaluru has announced scholarships for outstanding students in IB and IGCSE for the August 2018 academic batch.For more information, +91 9008607755 or email scholarships@cisb.org.in.