Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 30 June 2026

Indian and Japanese Researchers Discover Brachybacterium netajii in Hooghly River

Exam-focused facts from the 30 June 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • Indian and Japanese researchers discovered a new bacterium named Brachybacterium netajii in the waters of the Hooghly River.
  • The bacterium was isolated by scientists from Netaji Mahavidyalaya, the University of Burdwan, Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU), and Hiroshima University.
  • The species was named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to honour his legacy.
  • The microbe can degrade p-nitrophenol, a hazardous compound used in dyes and pesticides, into harmless by-products.
  • The bacterium is halotolerant and can survive in the presence of heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

View this story in the full daily briefing

Earlier coverage selected by topic similarity to help connect developments over time.

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