Indian Science in Indian Media...State University have discovered for the first time signals from...

Indian Science in Indian Media

Highlights of India Science Wire (ISW) stories

March 2018

India Science Wire - highlighting Indian science in Indian media

The coverage of science and technology particularly relating to research done in

Indian research institutions, is generally very poor in Indian media. There are

several reasons for this situation, one of them being the lack of credible and

relevant science content. In order to bridge this gap, Vigyan Prasar launched a

unique initiative - India Science Wire (ISW) – in January 2017.

The news service is dedicated to developments in Indian research laboratories,

universities and academic institutions. Almost all news stories released by this

service are based on research papers by Indian scientists published in leading

Indian and foreign journals. All news stories and features are written and edited by

a team of professional science journalists with decades of experience in science

journalism.

News stories based on happenings in Indian research labs are released to media

houses on a daily basis. These stories are also uploaded on ISW website and are

simultaneously promoted though social media – Twitter and Facebook. At present,

the service is available in English and Hindi.

Reach out ISW Editor with story ideas, comments and suggestions at

[email protected]

ISW website: http://vigyanprasar.gov.in/isw/isw.htm

mailto:[email protected]://vigyanprasar.gov.in/isw/isw.htm

ISW stories released and published in March 2018

Total number of stories released: 47

S.No. Story title Date of

release

Name of the writer

1 Astronomers detect for first time light from very first stars of universe

March 3 T V Venkateswaran

2 बाल-मन को लुभाते हैं विज्ञान के ये अनूठे प्रयोग March 3 Navneet Kumar Gupta

3 Harappans had knowledge of hydraulic engineering, Dholavira reveals

March 5 Vaishali Lavekar

4 Study of ancient eclipses can unveil past climate trends

March 5 TV Venkateswaran

5 हड़प्पा के लोगोों को हाइड्र ोवलक इोंजीवनयर ोंग में

थी महा त

March 5 Vaishali Lavekar

6 Indian scientists find asthma drug useful

in TB as well

March 6 Dinesh C Sharma

7 टीबी के इलाज में का ग हो सकती है अस्थमा

की दिा


8 Monsoon modeling is not like the ‘blind men and elephant’ story

March 7 Raghu Murtugudde

9 Scientists unravel mechanism of stress tolerance in tomato

March 8 Aditi Jain

10 Squirrels are using plastic to build their nests

March 8 Monika Kundu

Srivastava

11 Looking to fruit flies to understand biology of taste

March 9 Ratneshwar Thakur

12 CSIR lab licenses out diagnostic technology for rare genetic diseases

March 9 Sunderarajan

Padmanabhan

13 Book on inspiring moments of great scientists released


Padmanabhan

14 भा तीय िैज्ञावनकोों के जीिन के अनछुए पहलुओों

को उजाग क ती पुस्तक

March 13 Umashankar Mishra

15 Stephen Hawking – the guru of cosmology March 14 Joseph Samuel

16 Researchers decipher antibacterial mechanism of naturally occurring chemical


Padmanabhan

17 Invasive marine sponge found in Gulf of Mannar


18 प्रिाल-वभवियोों को नष्ट क हे हैं समुद्री स्पोंज March 14 Shubrata Mishra

19 Indian Science Congress set to begin on Friday

March 15 Jyoti Singh

20 विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के वलए तैया है इोंफाल, प्रधानमोंत्री

क ें गे उद्घाटन


21 Redefine R&D as research for development: PM


22 प्रयोगशाला से जमीनी स्त तक पहोंचे शोध कायों

का दाय ा: प्रधानमोंत्री

March 16 Navneet Kumar Gupta

23 Children’s Science Congress promotes scientific way of thinking


24 कैसी होगी भविष्य की दुवनया, भािी िैज्ञावनकोों प

वनभभ


25 Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship opens at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday

March 18 India Science Wire

26 Women in STEMM encounter bias March 18 Jyoti Singh

27 विज्ञान प्रौद्योवगकी के्षत्र में मवहलाओों की

वहसे्सदा ी उम्मीद से कम


28 Creative ideas and innovations on display at Rashtrapati Bhawan


29 New database on Indian medicinal plants may ease drug discovery

March 19 Manu Moudgil

30 Science centres in villages can help spread science literacy


31 गाोंिोों में खुलेंगे साइोंस सेंट तो वमलेगी विकास को

गवत


32 Frugal, yet high tech, innovations that can change your lives


33 BIRAC completes six years of its services to biotech industry

March 20 SunderarajanPadman

abhan

34 Science expo a big draw at science congress in Manipur


35 प्राइड् ऑफ इोंवड्या एक्स्पो में वदखी देश की

िैज्ञावनक क्षमता की झलक


36 Distributed incubation may help promote grassroots innovations


37 Scientists develop bio-fortified maize to address ‘hidden hunger’

March 22 Aditi Jain

38 Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum celebrates Foundation Day


Padmanabhan

39 Meteorologists celebrate World

Meteorological Day


Padmanabhan

40 Speciality rice varieties of Kerala are

storehouse of nutrition : study

March 23 Monika Kundu

Srivastava

41 ाष्टर ीय ाजमागों प िाहनोों के भीत भी प्रदूषण

का खत ा (फीच )

March 26 Shubrata Mishra

42 पहले स्वदेशी मौसम पूिाभनुमान मॉड्ल के वनमाभता

(फीच )

March 26 Navneet Kumar Gupta

43 Extreme rainfall events in India linked to

man-made emissions: study


44 New guar gum based hydrogel may help

save drought-hit crops

March 27 Manu Moudgil

45 CSIR scientists working on new vaccine for malaria


Padmanabhan

46 Eggshell-derived nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery

March 28 Shikha T Malik

47 जलिायु अनुकूलन के वलए जरू ी जन-भागीदा ी March 28 उमाशोंक वमश्र

Indian student in team detecting light from first stars of universe INDIA SCIENCE WIRE 3 March 2018, 19:57 IST

(C. KILPATRICK (UC SANTA CRUZ) AND CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE, LAS CAMPANAS OBSERVATORY,

CHILE/COURTESY)

A team of astronomers, including an Indian graduate student Nivedita Mahesh from Arizona

State University have discovered for the first time signals from 'cosmic dawn' -- the moment

when the universe's earliest stars emerged, making a significant breakthrough in our

understanding of the evolution of cosmos.

The discovery, if confirmed, physicists say, could upturn our knowledge of the nature of still elusive

‘dark matter’.

When the universe was formed in the Big Bang event 13.8 billion years ago there was no sun, no

stars, no light, it was a dark place. After 3,70,000 years, the Big Bang first atoms, primordial

hydrogen was formed. Only when the universes cooled sufficiently for attractive force of gravity

to overcome the repulsive thermal force the first stars emerged. When did the first stars shine?

http://www.catchnews.com/author/india-science-wire-2186.htmlmailto:?subject=Indian student in team detecting light from first stars of universe&body=https://goo.gl/REYorThttp://www.catchnews.com/science-technology/indian-student-in-team-detecting-light-from-first-stars-of-universe-101487.html#commentVuukle

The findings by a team led by Judd Bowman, an astronomer at Arizona State University in

Tempe, published in journal Nature on 28 February, tell us that the first stars were born around

13.62 billion years ago in what astronomers call as ‘cosmic dawn’ when the whole universe was

awash with ultraviolet rays, and first stellar death- explosions in supernovae, formation of stellar

black holes, took place around 13.55 billion years ago. For comparison, Sun and Earth formed

around 4.6 billion years ago.

“The first signs of the signal were seen when I had just joined the group as a graduate student in

August 2016. We wanted to carry out a lot of confirmation tests. I knew right from my first

semester that I would be involved in something really big. I am super excited,” Nivedita recalled

while speaking to India Science Wire.

Cosmologist came up with an ingenious idea to find when the early stars emerged. First stars rich

in hydrogen were massive, tens and thousands time massive than our Sun. Massive stars live fast

and burn out fast.

The intense ultraviolet light from them would ionise the gas enveloping the stars. The ionised

hydrogen gas would absorb the cosmic microwave background radiation, the afterglow of the

Big Bang at a characteristic wavelength.

“This intense ultraviolet light from the first stars could then interact with the hydrogen gas in the

Universe, lowering its temperature below that of the ambient CMB radiation. This lets us see this

hydrogen gas as a shadow against the brighter CMB in a particular frequency range. This causes

dips in the brightness of CMB radiation in characteristic wavelength,” explained Saurabh Singh,

Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru.

As stars aged and ultimately died in violent explosions resulting in exotic neutron stars or black

holes they emitted intense X rays which further ionised primordial hydrogen atoms. Highly

ionised gas cloud would have fully muted the wavelengths.

By looking for the dip in the brightness astronomers could infer when the first light dawned in

the universe and by identifying when the characteristic wavelength was muted they can pinpoint

when the first stars began to die.

In what is described as ‘searching needle-in-a-haystack’ operation, researchers intensely scanned

the sky to detect even minuscule variation in the strength of the CMB radiation. The dips were

seen to occur at wavelengths between 65 megahertz (MHz) and 95 MHz.

Further booming signals emanating from natural sources in Milky Way galaxy were drowning

out the measurement. The noise from other sources was about thousand to 10,000 times brighter

than the signal.

“It is like being in the middle of a hurricane and trying to hear the flap of a hummingbird's

wing,” as Peter Kurczynski, the NSF program director, put it.

The researchers used a table top-sized radio telescope called Experiment to Detect the Global

Epoch of Reionization Signature (EDGES), based at the Murchison Radio-astronomy

Observatory in the middle of Western Australian desert.

Located far from cell phone towers, television and FM radio signals, this is one of the best ‘radio

quiet’ places in the world. EDGES could capture faint signals from the outer reaches of the

universe. After the strenuous search, researchers found, the dip, just 0.1% drop in the radiation at

roughly the frequency they expected.

Before the first stars, the universe had just hydrogen and some helium atoms. Heavier elements

like carbon, oxygen and so on were cooked inside the stellar crucible subsequent to comic dawn.

Life as we know is carbon-based and understanding the ‘cosmic dawn’ is crucial to understand

our cosmic evolutionary ladder.

“The signal that we have observed from the first stars is at a frequency we expect but the strength

of the signal happens to be twice as big as the standard models predict. This means that the

neutral gas was colder than what was expected and predicted,” says Nivedita.

If the universe was colder than the estimates, then it means that the elusive dark matter cannot be

‘weakly interacting massive particles’ which is current fad of physicists. These results suggest a

new form of interaction between ordinary matter and dark matter.

“This dip they find is more than twice as much as predicted. This is a puzzle for theorists to

understand and solve in the years to come”, says Somnath Bharadwaj of IIT Kharagpur.

“This is two kills with one stone,” says Nivedita. “The study not only establishes the time scale

of Cosmic Dawn phase of the evolution of the cosmos but also gives us clues as to the

mysterious dark matter, about which we are literally groping in the dark,” says Nivedita.

Astronomers are excited but cautious. They are looking for a second opinion. Although Bowman

and his team detected the signals in 2016 itself, they waited for two years to make sure that the

signals were not instrumental error or noise. They even built a second antenna and scanned

different patches of the sky to test.

“The reduction in brightness that they measure is as small as 1 part in 4,000. The researchers

have done extensive tests to rule out any errors and mistakes in their equipment. Hence

astronomers around the world are now racing back to their labs to try and confirm and duplicate

this result, including in India”, says Shiv Sethi of Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru.

Extraordinary claims in science also require extraordinary evidence. “RRI has built a sensitive

instrument with which in a few months we will be able to refute or confirm this claim” says N

Udaya Shankar, Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, astronomers around the world are proposing to train the Hydrogen Epoch of

Reionization Array, an international radio-telescope project based in South Africa’s Karoo

desert, and the LOFAR (Low-Frequency Array), a large system of radio antennas spread over

five European countries to get an independent verification.

“The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near Pune operated by the National Centre for Radio

Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) is well suited to detect these variations,” Tirthankar Roy Choudhury

of NCRA-TIFR said.

Besides Bowman and Nivedita Mahesh from Arizona State University's School of Earth and

Space Exploration the research team included Alan Rogers of the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology's Haystack Observatory, Raul Monsalve of the University of Colorado, and Thomas

Mozdzen of ASU.

Harappans had knowledge of hydraulic engineering, Dholavira reveals

Vaishali Lavekar Mar 05, 2018 18:38 PM IST

Indian researchers have found buried archeological features at Dholavira, one of the important sites of

Harappan civilisation in India. A team of archeologists at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar,

conducted a survey of an unexplored area of around 12,276 square meter at Dholavira using Ground

Penetrating Radar (GPR) technique which helps scanning of the ground and reveals objects buried

underground.

The GPR data suggests existence of a set of small and shallow reservoirs possibly connected with the

existing Eastern Reservoir. The depth of these reservoirs has been estimated to be around 2.5 meter below

the present ground level. In addition, some structures have been found containing rubble with some

features. These findings suggest the possible existence of check dams in the past, which may have

collapsed due to flash floods in Manhar river.

The studied area is surrounded by Manhar river flowing from east to west. The overall site is gently

sloping towards west, thus during floods the overflow water could have only flowed towards the area

which may have caused damage in some of the structures, researchers have pointed out.

“The presence of the grand East Reservoir and a series of reservoirs excavated earlier suggests that the

Harappans had a good water-harvesting system.The studied area is expected to have similar kinds of

reservoirs, bunds, check dams, channels, drains and water tanks,” the study has noted. Moreover, the

https://www.firstpost.com/author/vaishali-lavekar

observed features in the GPR data are of large dimension and resemble reservoir-type of structures, unlike

residential structures of smaller size.

The present study provides evidence that the Harappans had an excellent knowledge of hydraulic

engineering. Check dams were built to control flow of water during floods while small reservoirs

protected the East Reservoir.

This investigation suggests that check dams and small reservoirs may have sustained partial damage due

to a major flood at some point of time, but most of the East reservoir could still survive. Therefore, the

study says, the purpose of engineering design behind these structures was well served under extreme

conditions too.

Dholavira is one of the largest and the most prominent archaeological sites of Harappan civilization in

India situated at Khadirbet in Bhachau taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat. The site is surrounded by salt pans

of the Great Rann of Kutch and consists of the ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization.

The city existed from about 3000 to 1700 BCE, in an area of around 100 ha with 48 ha under fortification.

There were several unexplored areas inside the city space which may contain ruins of the ancient city.

“The buried structures in Dholavira are probably made of stones and bricks, which is why there is low

contrast between objects and medium. Such weak radar signals were analyzed using special processing

tool developed by us. This tool can pinpoint objects better by magnifying the signals at local level by

looking at it in time-frequency domain.

The structures are mostly broken and therefore resulted into indistinct or uncommon reflection patterns.

We then correlated our findings with the structures seen in exposed part of the site," Dr. Amit Prashant,

who led the study team, told India Science Wire.

The radar data will assist archaeologists to plan further excavations without damaging the underground

structures. The study has been published in journal Current Science. The research team included Silky

Agrawal, Mantu Majumder, Ravindra Singh Bisht and Amit Prashant

Published Date: Mar 05, 2018 18:38 PM | Updated Date: Mar 05, 2018 18:38 PM

Study of ancient eclipses can unveil past climate trends T V Venkateswaran Monday 05 March 2018

Climate scientists can infer the average sea level that may have happened many lakhs of

years ago from measurements of radioisotopes derived from ice cores, sediments and rock

cores

Ancient eclipse records in epigraphical inscriptions can help us understand climate change in historical time scales. Credit:

Lara/Flickr

For a long time now, historians have been using epigraphy to infer political and economic aspects of the past.

In recent times, astronomers have come to realise that it can be a potent tool to also understand the history of

astronomy as well as for inferring minute changes in the motion of Earth.

Addressing a workshop on ‘Ancient eclipses’ held at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium at Bengaluru on Saturday,

Kiyotaka Tanikawa from the National Astronomical Observatory, Japan, noted that “Ancient eclipse records in

epigraphical inscriptions can help us understand climate change in historical time scales.”

Explaining the underlying science, he said, “It had to do with the fact that the total angular momentum cannot

change. Hence, during ice ages, when the Earth is compact with more water frozen at the poles, it rotates faster

making the length of the day shorter by several seconds. Conversely, during warm periods, more water melts

and the sea level rises resulting in sluggish rotation of the Earth making the day length to increase. The imprint

of perturbations in Earth’s rotation, called delta T, can be deciphered from records of ancient eclipses.”

Climate scientists can infer the average sea level that may have happened many lakhs of years ago from

geochemical measurements of radioisotopes derived from ice cores, sediment, rock cores, coral growth rings

and tree rings. However these methods utterly fail to guess the sea level during the historical times, say during

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/t-v-venkateswaran-252http://www.downtoearth.org.in/

Gupta period or Vijayanagara dynasty. “Study of ancient eclipses and occultations can help us decipher

climate change in last thousand to five hundred years,” Tanikawa said.

Researchers are also studying ancient eclipse to understand the movement of moon. Currently, the moon is

moving away from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 cm per year. Researchers are studying whether or not the

Moon’s tidal acceleration has been constant since ancient times.

Mitsuru Soma, also from National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, said, “Our study of ancient records of

solar eclipses between 198 and 181 BC in China and in Rome show that the lunar tidal acceleration is

consistent with the current rate”.

He also noted that records of lunar occultation of Venus and Saturn in AD 503 and 513 in China are useful for

our studies of the Earth’s rotation.

Balachandra Rao, Honorary Director of Gandhi Centre for the Study of Sciences and Human values, referred

to the practice of some epigraphists to dismiss inscriptions which do not fit the ephemeris as irregular and said

this was not correct

“While copper plate inscriptions may have some spurious interpolations, epigraphical records of eclipses are

invariably true and reliable. The mismatch is most likely due to our wrong interpretation. In India, we follow

hundreds of calendars. We need to check the data carefully with various calendrical traditions before we

dismiss the epigraphical claim,” he said.

BS Shylaja, visiting scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bengaluru, who had organised the

workshop, said that their team had undertaken an extensive survey of Kannada inscriptions and identified

hundreds of solar and lunar eclipses as well as astronomical phenomena like solstices, equinoxes and

occultation of Moon with bright stars like Rohini.

She said, “Epigraphical inscription mentioning total solar eclipses clearly imply that in ancient times people in

that area witnessed the cosmic event. We can compare the predicted path of the totality with the place at which

it was actually visible from the location of the epigraphy. The difference would indicate the perturbations in

the motion of Earth”.

She further pointed out that, “The survey we undertook covered only 10% of available epigraphy. Inscriptions

in various Indian languages await extensive study from this perspective. Such a study worldwide would

provide us with much better understanding of historical climate change and contribute to our understanding of

the history of astronomy.”

(India Science Wire)

Lab notes: Asthma drug can help treat TB and counter antibiotic resistance

The drug targets metabolic pathways essential for survival of the TB pathogen.

School students participate during a programme to raise awareness on tuberculosis on World TB Day at Chennai Railway

Station | IANS

Dinesh C Sharma

In their search for new drugs against tuberculosis which is increasingly becoming resistant to presently

available drugs, researchers are exploring all options. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science in

Bangalore have found that an existing anti-asthma drug is effective against tuberculosis and can help

address the problem of drug resistance as well.

The researchers, through extensive studies, have found that the drug Pranlukast destroys a specific

metabolic pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, which is crucial for its

survival in human cells. And it does so without causing any damage to host cells. The pathway was till

now not known as a drug target for TB.

Traditionally, drugs are used to prevent ability of bacteria to replicate in their host – human body – but

this has adverse effects on host cells. In order to overcome this problem, researchers looked for an agent

that targets metabolic pathways essential for survival of the TB pathogen. They found that the pathogen

used a mechanism called arginine biosynthesis is essential for its survival, and if it is inhibited the

pathogen would die. Pranlukast fitted this role.

“Our approach involves targeting tuberculosis in a two-fold manner. We have discovered that Pranlukast

acts as a potent inhibitor against M tuberculosis, and have demonstrated that it works by directly targeting

the pathogen as well as subverting its strategies to conquer within the host,” said Archita Mishra, who did

the work as part of her PhD under Professor Avadhesha Surolia.

The drug targets a unique arginine biosynthesis enzyme which is exclusive to Mtb, thereby impeding its

arginine production. It also targets the pathogen pro-survival pathways in the host, directly reducing

intracellular survival of the TB bacteria.

https://scroll.in/author/13557

Since Pranlukast is an FDA approved molecule and is already being used as an anti-asthmatic drug in

various parts of the world, it has the potential to be included directly into the therapeutic regime against

TB. “Our work proposes a combination of Pranlukast with the standard-of-care therapy drugs, to be

highly efficient against TB pathogen, thereby providing an opportunity to use this novel drug

combinations for TB therapeutics,” explained Surolia. The results of the study have been published in

journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

The work also demonstrates how new drug discovery cycle can be shortened. “In contrast to conventional

drug discovery methods, we employed the ‘drug repurposing’ approach wherein FDA-approved drug

datasets are used for screening. This significantly shortens the screening timeline and also suggests

human safety of such drugs molecules,” explained Mishra.

The combinations tested have shown that smaller concentrations of standard TB drugs would be needed

when used along with Pranlukast. The results have also not shown any side effects in animal studies. The

drug is already in market as an anti-asthmatic drug and is safe for human consumption.

“We are further exploring the detailed mechanism of action of Pranlukast to get deeper insights in pre-

clinical models. Since it is an FDA approved drug we are also planning to engage with clinical

collaborators for trials in future,” Surolia added.

The study is supported by grant from Department of Science and Technology and partially from the

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Medical Research , and Department of

Biotechnology.

The research team included Archita Mishra, Ashalatha S Mamidi, Raju S Rajmani, Ananya Ray, Rajanya

Roy and Avadhesha Surolia.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.15252/emmm.201708038/full/

Monsoon modeling is not like the ‘blind men and elephant’story

March 7, 2018

Courtesy: India Science News

Feature M4PNews | Pune

In a few weeks from now monsoon forecasts will begin. These forecasts are based on calculations made by

computer modeling. The amazing advances in modeling of weather and climate is evident in the fact that given

energy from the sun arriving at the top of the atmosphere, a model’s mathematical representation of the atmosphere,

ocean and land, is able to generate the weather and climate as seen in nature.

These include the monsoons, El Niño’s, cyclones, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), winds, currents,

and so on. Just as even a new car is not perfect, these models are not perfect. When people read different

descriptions of the Indian monsoon based on models, it may feel like the allegory of blind men describing the

elephant.But in reality, all weather models are working synergistically towards improving monsoon simulations,

predictions and future projections.

Nearly all models display a so-called “dry monsoon” bias – they tend to produce a monsoon in the borealor Northern

Hemisphere summer but the amount of rain projected by the models tends to be less than observed. Research groups

from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Bombay),

University of Maryland(UMD), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been trying to

figure out why this dry bias exists.

As the IITB-UMD study showed, the monsoon pours over 200 lakh crore buckets of water on the Indian

subcontinent. Moisture is trucked in from the far reaches of the Indian Ocean. Moisture is carried over the Western

Ghats or circuitously over to the Bay of Bengal and curved back to the central plains of India. As the winds twist

and turn along the way, some moisture is squeezed out over the ocean as rainfall. In fact, the so-called southwest

monsoon winds (coming from the southwest over the Arabian Sea towards the northeast onto India) begin to occur

around March-April and much of the moisture falls as rain over East Africa during this time. Only during late May,

the Indian landmass warms up enough to demand sustained moisture supply by firing up atmospheric convection.

http://vigyanprasar.gov.in/isw/isw.htmhttp://www.media4pillar.com/

The heat source created by the latent heat release associated with condensation of the moisture keeps up this supply

chain till sun’s heating begins to diminish in September.

It is not fully understood how much moisture is supplied voluntarily by the ocean and how much is actually

demanded by the monsoon heat source itself. It is also likely that the models are misrepresenting this supply-demand

equation and hence projecting more rain on the ocean and bringing less moisture onto land. But deciphering the

cause-and-effect in the climate system which is highly nonlinear and fully-coupled between the atmosphere, ocean

and land, can be tricky if not impossible. Small errors in one component of the system can affect the other, and the

two together can then amplify the original small error into a serious deficiency.

The main pathways of these feedbacks are two-fold. One occurs at the surface as ocean-atmosphere interactions

where warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) heat the air and the rising air demands surface convergence of air to

replace the rising air. Warm SSTs also favor evaporation and the rising water vapor condenses when the moist air

expands and cools as it rises. Small errors in SSTs or in surface winds can get amplified by the wind-evaporation-

SST feedbacks.

The other pathway is in the middle of the atmosphere.Air can rise dynamically due to warm SSTs or forced to rise

due to winds running into a mountain like the Western Ghats or the Himalayas. The resulting condensation of

moisture and the heating drive a dynamic response by accelerating winds and fueling more moisture transport.

Moisture content of the atmosphere increases exponentially with temperature – warmer air holds much more

moisture than colder air. If air is rising in one location, it must sink somewhere else and the sinking air is

compressed and warmed up.

The monsoon circulation over the Indian Ocean and Indian subcontinent is such that when the air rises over the

ocean, it tends to sink over the land and vice versa. This is one reason why the monsoon tends to be in the active or

wet phase for a few weeks when air is rising over land giving us rain. There are weeks of monsoon break or dry

period when it is raining over the ocean and the air is sinking over India. This seesaw of rising and sinking air is

connected by propagating low pressure systems and depressions. The models tend to be deficient in representing the

propagation speed and moisture content of these so-called Monsoon Intra-seasonal Oscillations or MISOs – intra-

seasonal referring to periods shorter than a season.

A series of papers by the groups from IITM, IIT-B, UMD and NOAA have diagnosed the details of model

shortcomings in the two pathways – the ocean-atmosphere interactions and the atmospheric heating/circulation

dynamics. IITM studies have highlighted the circum-global nature of the dynamic feedbacks while the UMD-NOAA

studies have emphasized the ocean-atmosphere coupling as an amplifier of wind errors. One IITB studyhas pointed

out that an improved representation of the land surface improves evaporation and moisture recycling over the Ganga

basin which is argued to be a significant contributor to the late-season rainfall.

Another study from IITB points out that the monsoon onset tends to be delayed in the model used at IITM for

monsoon forecasting.This delay is associated with a less than observed moisture supply from the Arabian Sea. The

dry bias during the season is then consistent with the observed relation as reported by an UMD study – a delayed

onset leads to dry monsoon season in nature as well. This means the model’s monsoon dynamics is consistent with

that in nature and if the onset can be improved then the seasonal monsoon rainfall will be improved as well.

Yet another recent study from IITM reports that the monsoon onset may be predictable nearly six months in advance

due to its dependence on large-scale dynamics which are generally predictable at longer lead times. IITM is also

advancing active/break period forecasts at up to 20-days lead time which can prove critical for the farmers in terms

of managing the crop calendar. IITM also reports that a better representation of the ocean at the beginning of the

season in terms of its similarity to the real world tends to reduce the dry bias in the forecasts.

It is clear that seemingly disparate insights into the model imperfections are all related to the intricacies of the

monsoon dynamics itself and the models capture the most salient features of this complex dynamics. A combination

of model improvements and enhanced observations is most likely to bring us accurate monsoon simulations,

predictions and projections in the near future.

08 MARCH 2018 Last Updated at 4:14 PM SOCIETY INDIA SCIENCE WIRE

Scientists Unravel Mechanism of Stress Tolerance In Tomato

This has pushed scientists to better understand the mechanisms of drought tolerance in tomato

so that they can develop sturdier tomato plants which can tolerate adverse climate conditions.

O U T L O O K W E B B U R E A U

Tomato, a vegetable crop grown worldwide, is facing significant losses in productivity due to

environmental factors like drought, floods, salinity and heat. This has pushed scientists to better

understand the mechanisms of drought tolerance in tomato so that they can develop sturdier

tomato plants which can tolerate adverse climate conditions.

A group of scientists from the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi have

studied the role and mechanism of action of a key molecule, proline, in enhancing stress

tolerance in tomato. Proline, primarily an amino acid required for protein formation in tomato,

has attracted researchers since discovery of its role in combating stress. Proline can either be

incorporated in proteins to form Proline-rich proteins or in its free form it act as osmoprotectant

helping the plant to overcome stress.

IIVR researchers have found that the expression of SlPRP, a gene involved in the formation of

proline-rich protein declines when tomato plant is subjected to drought stress in all the plant

parts such as leaves, roots and flowers. They further showed that when the expression of this

https://www.outlookindia.com/websitejavascript:void(0);https://www.outlookindia.com/website/section/society/25https://www.outlookindia.com/people/outlook-web-bureau/4005https://www.outlookindia.com/

gene decreases, proline levels increase in the plant. Based on these results, scientists concluded

that the plant reduces the expression of this gene under drought stress in order to avoid the use of

free prolines for synthesis of protein. This way proline can effectively act as osmoprotectant and

mitigate the effects of drought on plant survival till de novo synthesis of proline begins.

“This study contributes in understanding the mechanism of regulation of cellular proline

concentration under drought stress and opens up the new strategies to manipulate plants for

developing drought stress tolerance”, explained Suhas G. Karkute, a member of the research

team.

Tomato, an antioxidant-rich vegetable, is commonly used curry ingredient in Indian kitchens.

Over the years, there have been episodes of a surge in tomato prices due to crop failure on due to

adverse climatic conditions. More such instances are predicted to be recurrent in the scenario of

climate change, thus, making stress tolerant crops is a research priority.

Squirrels now use plastic to build their nests Monika Kundu Srivastava Thursday 08 March 2018

Plastics have invaded our environment like never before. Now scientists have discovered that squirrels in

urban areas are using plastic waste as a building material for their nests.

Indian palm squirrels (Funambuluspalmarum) are using plastic bags, plastic threads and cigar butts along

with natural materials in urban areas as nesting materials instead of leaves, twigs, shredded bark, mosses

and other soft materials.

Dr. Mewa Singh and K Mohanat the Bio-psychology Laboratory and Institute of Excellence, University

of Mysore, have made this observation in female palm squirrels in Mysuru, and have reported their

findings in the latest issue of journal Current Science.

Researchers observed that squirrels collected a long plastic sheet from a small dump yard, carefully

checked it and tore it into the appropriate size and shape. Thereafter, the female squirrel rolled the entire

plastic material into her mouth and carried it to the nesting site where she spread the snipped pieces of

plastic and built her nest.

Two more nests which were built using similar plastic material at the same location were also found. In

another place, which was also located near a dump area, it was discovered that only one of the four nests

on the tree was built completely with natural materials.

All shelters, whether they are houses made by humans or nests by birds or squirrels are mainly for the

protection. Nests, like houses, differ in shape, size and materials used to build them. The type of nest, the

materials used and the architectural design provide important insights into the life of a species and

upbringing of young ones.Just as humans make houses using locally available material, the Indian palm

squirrel too is doing so in urban areas where trees are scarce but plastic material is not.

“The proportion of anthropogenic (artificial) material used in nest building is directly related to the extent

of urbanization. Although Indian palm squirrels usually build nests using natural materials, these squirrels

appear to be adapting themselves to changes in habitat by using plastic material to survive. The use of

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/monika-kundu-srivastava-107492http://www.downtoearth.org.in/

plastic for nest building by the palm squirrel is a typical example of the struggle for existence in altered

habitats,” the research study has explained.

Dr Mewa Singh, has been a recipient of J C Bose Fellowship awarded by Science and Engineering

Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Research Stash

CSIR Lab Licenses out Diagnostic Technology for Rare Genetic Diseases

Diagnosis of genetic diseases could now become easier. The Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research’s Delhi-based Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) has decided to

commercialize a set of 27 genetics tests it has developed over the years.

The Institute has entered into an agreement with Dr. Lal PathLabs, which has a large network of network

of diagnostic centers across the country, for licensing of the genetic tests. These tests are expected to be

launched in phases over the year.

Though individually rare, genetic diseases cumulatively affect a large number of individuals. It is

estimated that over 70 million Indians are affected. In the majority of the cases, an appropriate diagnosis

is not arrived at mainly due to lack of access and high-cost of appropriate genetic diagnostic services,

apart from lack of lack of general awareness on genetic diseases.

Apart from helping in providing immediate relief to those suffering from genetic diseases, a better

diagnostic infrastructure could also potentially help prevent transmission of genetic diseases to future

generations through counseling, prenatal genetic diagnostics, and other measures.

With its rich expertise in the area of genomics and a wide network of clinical partners across the country,

IGIB has also embarked on a unique outreach programme. Called GOMED (Genomics and

other Omics technologies for Enabling Medical Decision), the programme provides a platform for

clinicians to tap into the rich and varied expertise of CSIR-IGIB in disease genomics to solve clinical

problems.

Through this effort, over 14,000 genetic tests have been carried out, benefiting about 4,000 patients

through a clinical network encompassing over 25 major medical centers spanning the length and breadth

of the country. These tests cover a variety of diseases/disorders including Movement Disorders, Motor

Neuron Disease, Mitochondrial Disorders, the Developmental and Inborn error of metabolism, and

Leukodystrophies. The project is funded through the Fast-Track Translation (FTT) Research Programme

of CSIR.

Dr. Girish Sahni, director general, CSIR, said the council was focusing on R&D pertaining to affordable

health care through the development of drugs, formulations, and diagnostics. “The genetic tests licensed

would provide the much-needed support system to doctors in diagnosing identified genetic disorders and

would thus help the patients”, he said. (India Science Wire)

https://www.igib.res.in/https://www.lalpathlabs.com/http://gomed.igib.in/http://gomed.igib.in/http://www.csir.res.in/dr-girish-sahni

'Indian Scientists: The Saga of Inspired Minds' is a book that seeks to bring out the moments of inspiration of scientists

Sunderarajan Padmanabhan Mar 13, 2018 23:11 PM IST

The greatest of advances, discoveries, inventions and innovations in science rarely follow a linear logic. A

number of scientists and technologists in several spheres have beautified the landscape of science and

technology-led development in India. These people personified excellence along with dedication and

wisdom.

What was their moment of inspiration? What made them achieve what they did?

A new book, Indian Scientists: The Saga of Inspired Minds, released on 12 March seeks to reveal

important facets of development of science and technology from the perspective of inspiration and

tenacity of purpose demonstrated by 54 of the top scientific minds of the past. The book, published by

Vigyan Prasar, was formally released by Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan. Family

members and associates of a few of the scientists featured in the book were also present at the function.

The initiative is unique as the book seeks to bring out moments of inspiration of scientists. While

biographies of several scientists have been published over the years, few have solely focused on inspiring

moments. The scientists featured in the book include Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Baba, Shanti Swarup

http://www.firstpost.com/author/sunderarajan-padmanabhanhttp://www.firstpost.com/tag/science%20and%20technology

Bhatnagar, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendra Nath Bose, S. Chandrasekhar, Satish Dhawan, Salim Ali,

Harish Chandra, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Hargobind Khurana, T.R.Seshadri, Vainu Bappu, Anna Mani and

Y.Subbarow.

While releasing the book, Dr Harsh Vardhan said he would request the Ministry for Human Resource

Development to include the book in school curriculum or ensure that it was made available to students all

over the country.

“The lives of the scientists figuring in the book are glowing examples of triumph over adversity, which

will enthuse Indian youth who aspire to embark on the path painstakingly laid by them. Citizens from all

walks of life too will be inspired by the leadership and vision of the scientists covered in this publication,

for inclusive development,” the minister said.

“This publication also serves a very important purpose of science communication. It is designed to create

awareness about the wealth of insights on the forms and functions of science and technology as tools for

inclusive growth”, he added while reading out a few passages from the book.

Dr Harsh Vardhan also interacted with associates and relatives of some of the scientists featured in the

book. Those present included Mr. Kartikay V. Sarabhai, founder director of Ahmedabad-based Centre for

Environment Education and son of Vikram Sarabhai; Dr Krishna Mishra, honorary professor, Indian

Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, who was a research scholar of Dr. T. R. Seshadri; Dr.

Tushar Purushottam Prabhu from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, a student of astronomer Dr Vainu

Bappu; Arun Bhatnagar, former IAS officer and grandson of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar; and S.P.K Gupta,

biographer of Y Subbarow.

On this occasion, the minister also released a compendium of science news articles syndicated by India

Science Wire (ISW) during 2017. The compendium included 425 original news stories in English and

Hindi produced by India Science Wire and published in Indian media outlets. These news articles

highlight some of research work done in Indian research laboratories, academic institutions and

universities. Another compendium of research highlights of winners of Ramanujam Fellowship awarded

by the Department of Science and Technology was also released.

The book on scientists has been co-authored by Biman Basu, Subodh Mahanti, Dinesh C Sharma, Hasan

Jwaid Khan, Sukanya Datta, T V Jayan, T V Venkateswaran and Rintu Nath.


http://www.firstpost.com/tag/India%20Science%20Wire

JOSEPH SAMUEL @INDIANSCINEWS

Stephen Hawking (January 8, 1942 - March 14, 2018) died in the early hours of March 14, leaving behind

a rich intellectual legacy that will dominate theoretical physics for years to come. Coincidentally, March

14 is Albert Einstein's birthday and January 8 was the day Galileo Galilei died in Arcetri, Italy. Hawking

held the Lucasian chair of Mathematics at Cambridge, a position once filled by Isaac Newton. It is indeed

fitting that these names are all strung together in the same paragraph and mentioned in the same breath.

They are the giants who transformed theoretical physics into the shape that it has taken today.

Hawking's early work (in collaboration with Roger Penrose) was on singularity theorems in Einstein's

general theory of relativity. This work showed decisively that Einstein's theory predicted singularities:

regions of space and time where our theories no longer hold. Einstein's general relativity seemed to

predict its own demise. There was new physics beyond general relativity.

Another seminal work of Hawking's concerns the areas of black holes. He showed that the area of a black

hole always increases with time. This suggested an analogy with entropy and the second law of

thermodynamics, which predicts that disorder of a closed system always increases. This analogy was

initially not taken seriously because it seemed so far-fetched and, indeed, flawed.

(January 8, 1942 - March 14, 2018)

https://www.dailyo.in/user/14034/indianscinewshttps://www.dailyo.in/user/14034/indianscinewshttps://twitter.com/indianscinews

However, Jacob Bekenstein, an Israeli physicist, persisted with the analogy, despite the obvious flaw that

black holes absorb light and do not let it escape, whereas black bodies in thermal physics emit as well as

absorb light. Hawking's striking insight was to realise that black holes were indeed thermodynamic

objects which have a temperature and emit radiation - now called Hawking radiation.

This brilliant insight nailed the analogy and has led to deep relations between gravitation, quantum

mechanics and statistical mechanics, which are still being explored today. Hawking has made many

seminal contributions to cosmology, black holes and the relationship between geometry, gravitation and

quantum theory, too numerous and technical to mention here.

Hawking brought to the subject a style of mathematical physics that used subtle methods from differential

geometry and differential topology to bear on the physics of black holes and cosmology. There is a strong

Indian connection here. The idea of a black hole had its roots in the work on the stability of white dwarf

stars by S Chandrasekhar, an American physicist of Indian origin. Hawking's analysis of singularities and

the area theorem relied crucially on an equation discovered by Amal Raychaudhuri, an Indian physicist

whose name is perhaps better known abroad than in his native land. The classic book by Hawking and

Ellis on the large scale structure of space time summarises some of these developments in a rigorous

mathematical way.

The Theory of Everything.

Hawking has captured the public imagination both for the boldness of his ideas and the trying

circumstances they were developed in. His bestselling book A brief history of time, and its sequels, have

drawn lay public into the esoteric realms of space, time and black holes.

Hawking is very much a part of popular culture. He has appeared on The Big Bang Theory, a popular

television serial that pokes gentle fun at the arcane mysteries of theoretical physics and the curiously

warped personalities and personal lives of the cerebral and self-absorbed people behind the science.

Hawking is featured in The Simpsons, another popular and satirical television cartoon show. He has also

been sensitively portrayed by Eddie Redmayne in the movie The Theory of Everything.

What is most remarkable and has captured the public imagination is the circumstances in which Hawking

did his seminal work. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a

degenerative disease (also referred to as motor neuron disease). His doctors gave him two years to live.

They were off by about fifty - 50 more years in which Hawking continued to defy the odds and leave his

eternal mark on the theories of black holes and cosmology.

(Courtesy India Science Wire.)

Lab notes: Researchers decipher antibacterial echanism of naturally occurring chemical

The discovery can aid development of new antibiotics.

Mar 15, 2018 · 05:30 am Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, have found out the mechanism that underlies

antibacterial properties of a natural compound called chlorogenic acid which occurs in several plants

including coffee.

They have shown that the compound binds itself to an enzyme called chlorismate mutase in bacteria,

thereby inhibiting its growth and causing its eventual death. The enzyme is in Shikimate pathway, which

is one of the most essential metabolic pathways in any bacteria. It provides amino acids essential for

survival of bacteria.

The shikimate pathway is present in microorganisms, plants, and apicomplexan parasites, but is absent in

higher eukaryotes, which makes the enzymes of this pathway promising targets for the development of

antibiotics, herbicides and pesticides.

Dr Pravindra Kumar of the Department of Biotechnology at the Institute said, “Based on biochemical and

structural findings, we have shown that chlorogenic acid, a structural analogue of chorismic acid, is an

inhibitor of chorismate mutase. Biochemical and binding assays have shown the inhibitory activity of

chlorogenic acid against chorismate mutase type II.”

The researchers claim that molecular mechanism of antibacterial properties of chlorogenic acid has been

deciphered for the first time. “The overall structural blueprints obtained from our work can be exploited

to produce a more efficient new class of antibiotics. The atomic resolution structural snapshot of the

Chlorogenic Acid binding with Chlorismate Mutase enzyme provides information, which can be used to

tweak the chemical structure of Chlorogenic Acid to make a more potent inhibitor,” Kumar added. The

first results of the study were published in Scientific Reports last year.

The research team included Dr.Shivendra Pratap, Dr Aditya Dev, Dr Vijay Kumar, Dr Ravi Yadav, Dr

Manju Narwal and Dr Shaily Tomar.

https://scroll.in/author/13904

Invasive marine sponge found in Gulf of Mannar Umashankar Mishra Wednesday 14 March 2018

An invasive and deadly marine sponge species is growing aggressively over live coral colonies in Van Island in

the Mannar Bay

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu are facing a new threat. Researchers have found that an

invasive marine sponge species, Terpioshoshinota, is growing aggressively over live coral colonies in Van

Island in the Mannar Bay, which could prove fatal for coral reefs there.

The researchers found the sea sponge growth in coral colonies at the depth of a metre during a routine

underwater coral monitoring survey in September 2015. Terpioshoshinotawas first reported in Guam in

western Pacific ocean, with subsequent reports from Japan, Taiwan, American Samoa, Philippines, Thailand,

Australia, Indonesia and Maldives. It has recently also been reported in the Indian reefs from Palk Bay.

“Invasion of Terpioshoshinota has proved devastating for corals, as this sponge can outcompete and kill coral

colonies. The present observation of it in Gulf of Mannar poses a significant new threat to the corals in the

area,” said K Diraviya Raj, Assistant Professor at Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin,

Tamil Nadu and a member of the research team, while speaking to India Science Wire.

The Gulf of Mannar is known for the high level of diversity and productivity of its reefs. A large population of

fishermen depends directly on coral reefs for their livelihood and any loss in the productivity of the system

would be of huge concern.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/umashankar-mishra-106617http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/coral-killing-sponge-terpios-hoshinota-invades-corals-gulf-mannar-southeast-indiahttp://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/coral-killing-sponge-terpios-hoshinota-invades-corals-gulf-mannar-southeast-indiahttp://www.downtoearth.org.in/

Earlier the area faced the problem of rampant coral mining. The government had banned coral mining in 2001

and it was stopped in 2005. After this, corals in the area seemed to be recovering gradually. However,

persistent threats such as bleaching, diseases, destructive fishing and pollution are already causing significant

damage to the corals of Gulf of Mannar. Now, the new threat of growth of the invasive sponge marine has

added to the problems.

“Further studies are needed to determine the extent of the invasion of sponge species on reefs in the Gulf of

Mannar and the rate of progression over live coral colonies,” Raj noted.

Generally dead coral skeletons host high numbers of sponge species than live corals. However, there are few

species of sponge, which can overgrow live corals and eventually kill them. Terpios hoshinota is such a sponge

species that aggressively overgrows live coral and can undergo outbreaks causing significant declines in live

coral cover.

The Tuticorin institute conducted the study in collaboration with University of Hawaii. In addition to Raj, the

research team included M. SelvaBharath, G. Mathews, Greta S Aeby and J K Patterson Edward.The study has

been published in the journal, Current Science.


Indian Science Congress set to begin on March 17

JYOTI SINGH IMPHAL, MARCH 15

Imphal, capital of Manipur is all set to host the annual session of the Indian Science Congress for the first

time. The Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the 105th session of the congress

on Friday. Manipur University will host the science congress.

The focal theme for 2018 Science Congress is “Reaching the Unreached through Science and

Technology”. This year the spotlight will be on translational science for promoting affordable sustainable

innovation. During the five-day program the focus will be on various scientific disciplines and how they

can connect with the society.

Nobel laureates, Field Medal winners in mathematics and leading scientists will be among those slated to

address different sessions at the annual event. Young Scientists Awards will also be conferred during the

function. A technology based start-up conclave also will be showcased inviting top innovators and

entrepreneurial researchers.

The highlights of the program include children’s science congress which will be inaugurated on March 17

and Women's science congress to be held on March 18 and 19. In addition, there will be a Science

Communicator’s Meet on March 19.

It is expected that around 5,000 delegates from all over the country will participate in the event including

students, academicians, members of science and engineering academies, officials promoting science and

technology and representatives of national science academies of different countries.

The 104th Indian Science Congress was held in Tirupati and the theme was “Science & Technology for

National Development”.

Last year Prime Minister in his inaugural speech had observed that “some of these important challenges

are in the key sectors of clean water & energy, food, environment, climate, security, and healthcare... and

need to keep an eye on the rise of disruptive technologies and be prepared to leverage them for growth...

clearly assess the challenges and opportunities for our technology readiness and competitiveness.”

This year as the theme suggests the congress is set to take these thoughts to the next level.

The 105th science congress was scheduled to take place in Hyderabad this year in January but postponed.

Osmania University, which was supposed to host the event, had expressed its inability to hold it. (India

Science Wire)

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/profile/author/Jyoti-Singh-16948/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

बुधिा , माचभ 28, 2018

विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के वलए तैया है इोंफाल, प्रधानमोंत्री क ें गे उद्घाटन

िषभ 1914 से भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस एसोवसएशन, विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का आयोजन वकया जा हा है Umashankar Mishra Updated On: Mar 15, 2018 06:57 PM IST

मवणपु की ाजधानी इोंफाल 105िें भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के आयोजन के वलए पू ी त ह तैया है. शुक्रिा को

प्रधानमोंत्री न ेंद्र मोदी विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का उद्घाटन क ें गे.

भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस दुवनया भ के विज्ञान से जुडे़ पेशेि ोों का सालाना समा ोह है. इस बा मवणपु विश्वविद्यालय

इसका आयोजन क हा है. विज्ञान काोंगे्रस 16 माचभ शुरू होक 20 माचभ तक चलेगी. इसकी थीम इस बा ' ीवचोंग टू

अन ीच्ड् थू्र साइोंस एों ड् टेक्नोलॉजी' खी गई है.

मवणपु विश्वविद्यालय के उप-कुलपवत आद्या प्रसाद पाोंडे्य के अनुसा 'मवणपु विश्वविद्यालय पहली बा भा तीय

विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का आयोजन क हा है. इस बा विज्ञान काोंगे्रस में नोबेल पु स्का विजेता, देश-विदेश के िैज्ञावनकोों,

विद्वान औ कॉ पो ेट अवधकार योों सवहत क ीब 5,000 प्रवतवनवध शावमल हो हे हैं.'

दुवनया की अवधकाोंश ाष्टर ीय विज्ञान अकादवमयोों समेत भा त की विज्ञान औ इोंजीवनयर ोंग अकादवमयाों भी विज्ञान

काोंगे्रस में भाग ले ही हैं. भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के दौ ान िैज्ञावनकोों का व्याख्यान, मवहला विज्ञान काोंगे्रस, बाल

विज्ञान काोंगे्रस, विज्ञान सोंचा क समे्मलन सवहत विज्ञान के विवभन्न विषयोों प समाोंत सत्रोों का आयोजन वकया जाएगा.

https://hindi.firstpost.com/author/umashankar-mishra/https://hindi.firstpost.com/

क्या है कार्यक्रम?

विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के दूस े वदन, 17 माचभ को बाल विज्ञान काोंगे्रस शुरू होगी. इसका समापन 18 माचभ को होगा. जबवक,

मवहला विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का उद्घाटन 18 माचभ को होगा औ अगले वदन इसका विदाई सत्र आयोवजत वकया जाएगा.

विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के दौ ान विवभन्न मुद्ोों प विशेष सत्र आयोवजत वकए जाएों गे, वजनमें वटकाऊ इनोिेशन, जल, स्वच्छता,

जलिायु पर ितभन, सभी के वलए भोजन, अोंतर क्ष प्रौद्योवगकी, िनोों से सोंबोंवधत प्रौद्योवगकी, वड्वजटल सोंचा औ

अोंतर क्ष विज्ञान शावमल हैं.

िषभ 1914 से भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस एसोवसएशन, विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का आयोजन वकया जा हा है. भा त में आधुवनक

विज्ञान को आगे बढ़ाना एिों समाज के विकास के वलए इसका उपयोग क ना इस सोंस्था की स्थापना का प्रमुख उदे्श्य

है. इस सोंस्था के आ ोंभ से ही भा त के शीषभ िैज्ञावनक, वशक्षाविद् एिों ाजनेता से इससे जुडे़ हे है.

105िी ों विज्ञान काोंगे्रस इस साल जनि ी में हैद ाबाद में होने िाली थी, प वकन्ी ों का णोों से इसका आयोजन िहाों प

नही ों वकया जा सका. पूिोि भा त में दूस ी बा विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का आयोजन वकया जा हा है. इससे पहले िषभ 2009

में 96िी ों विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का आयोजन मेघालय की ाजधानी वशलाोंग में वकया गया था.

(इोंवड्या साइोंस िाय )

Indian to the Core

Redefine R&D as research for development: Modi

Written by Dinesh C Sharma

The 105th session of the Indian Science Congress began in the capital of Manipur with Prime Minister

Narendra Modi calling upon scientists to work for solving societal problems. Time has come, he said, to

redefine Research and Development (R&D) as ‘research for development’.

“The time is ripe to redefine ‘R&D’ as research for the development of the nation – that is ‘R&D’ in the

real sense. Science is after all, but a means to a far greater end – of making a difference in the lives of

others, of furthering human progress and welfare,” Mr Modi said while inaugurating the congress being

hosted by the Manipur University. He said science and technology could help facilitate ‘ease of living’ for the people.

Referring to the focal theme of this year’s congress – “Reaching the Unreached through Science and

Technology”, he said scientific knowledge should be applied to solve day to day problems in various sectors such as housing, malnutrition, clean energy and elimination of diseases.

Innovative ideas can bring about change. For instance, he said, Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor from

Madurai has developed a method to reuse plastic waste in construction of roads and has given it for free

to the government. This technology has already been used to lay over 5000 kilometers of roads across 11

states. In the same way, scientist Arvind Gupta is inspiring students to learn science through toys made

out of waste. Chintakindi Mallesham has developed a machine that significantly reduces time and labour required to weave sarees.

The Prime Minister said the country’s scientific achievements need to be actively communicated to

people, in order to help inculcate scientific temper among the youth as well as to attract them to careers in

http://www.indusscrolls.com/author/dinesh/http://www.indusscrolls.com/

science. “We have to throw open our national institutions and laboratories to our children. I call upon

scientists to develop an appropriate mechanism for interaction with school-going children. I also urge

them, to spend 100 hours every year, with 100 students of classes 10,11 and 12 discussing various aspects of science and technology,” he added.

At the same time, India is moving ahead in high science. Chandrayan-2, to be launched soon, will include

landing and travel on the surface of the moon by a rover. Indian scientists have also played a key role in

the international Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Collaboration. The third

LIGO detector is coming up India. “It will expand our knowledge in basic sciences in areas of lasers, light

waves and computing,” Mr Modi said.

There should be greater coordination within the S&T sector. For example, he said, ISRO uses one of the

best battery systems to run its satellites in space. The same technology can be used by other institutions to

develop cost effective and efficient battery systems for mobile phones and electric cars. India should

become a major player in developing technologies, devices, standards and manufacturing for 5-G broadband networks by 2020.

He said the government would like to develop Clusters of Excellence in Science in Cities, around

important scientific institutions. These clusters will bring together science and technology partners from

academia, research institutes, industry and startups to help promote new discoveries, and create globally competitive research hubs.

“The Indian economy is on a high growth trajectory. But we rank low in Human Development Indicators.

One of the important reasons for this inconsistency is major inter-state and intra-state disparity,” Mr Modi

said. In order to address this, he said, the government had launched a programme to improve the

performance of over 100 ‘aspirational districts’ with focus health and nutrition, education, agriculture and

water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and infrastructure. He wanted scientific institutions to catalyze creation and diffusion of appropriate technologies in these districts.

About 5000 Indian and foreign delegates are participating in the five-day annual event, which was earlier

scheduled to take place in Hyderabad in January.

प्रयोगशाला से जमीनी स्त तक पहोंचे शोध कायों का दाय ा: प्रधानमोंत्री भारतीर् विज्ञान काांगे्रस आरांभ

निनीत कुमा गुप्ता, @NavneetKumarGu8

इांफाल, 16 मार्य (इांविर्ा साइांस िार्र) : भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस का 105 िाों सत्र मवणपु की ाजधानी में शुरू हआ, वजसमें

प्रधान मोंत्री न ेंद्र मोदी ने िैज्ञावनकोों को सामावजक समस्याओों को हल क ने के वलए काम क ने का आह्वान वकया। उन्ोोंने कहा,

‘विकास के वलए शोध’ के रूप में अनुसोंधान औ विकास को वफ से पर भावषत क ने के वलए समय आ गया है।

प्रधानमोंत्री ने कहा वक विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी के माध्यम से अनेक जवटल समस्याओों को हल क ने में विज्ञान के विवभन्न के्षत्रोों का

समन्वय महत्वपूणभ भूवमका वनभा सकता है। इस बात को उन्ोोंने कृवष मौसम पूिाभनुमान सेिाओों का उदाह ण देक समझाया।

मौसम की सवटक जानका ी कृवष सवहत अनेक के्षत्रोों में लाभदायक सावबत हो ही है।

उन्ोोंने िैज्ञावनकोों से सामावजक आवथभक समस्याओों का समाधान क ने की अपील क ते हए विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी के द्वा ा

समाज के समक्ष उत्पन्न होने िाली नई चुनौवतयोों का समाधान प्रसु्तत क ने को कहा वजससे समाज के ग ीब औ िोंवचत िगभ को

भी विकास का लाभ वमल सके।

उद्घाटन सत्र को सोंबोवधत क ते हए प्रधानमोंत्री ने कहा वक िैज्ञावनकोों को एक िषभ में सौ घोंटे विद्यावथभयोों के साथ वबताना चावहए

औ उन्ें विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी के महत्व से अिगत क ाते हए समग्र विकास में विज्ञान की भूवमका से अिगत क ाना चावहए।

इससे िैज्ञावनक दृवष्टकोण का भी समाज में प्रसा होगा वजससे जनमानस में विज्ञान एिों प्रौद्योवगकी का समग्र उपयोग जीिन स्त

में सुधा का माध्यम बनेगा।

प्रधानमोंत्री ने 105िी ों भा तीय विज्ञान काोंगे्रस के केन्द्रीय विषय “विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी के माध्यम से समाज के ह िगभ औ ह

के्षत्र तक पहोंच बनाना” की स ाहना क ते हए कहा वक अनेक ऐसे लोग हैं जो इसी उदे्श्य के साथ कायभ क हे हैं। उन्ोोंने

2018 में पद्म श्री से सम्मावनत मदु ई के प्रोफेस ाजगोपालन िासुदेिन का उदाह ण वदया, वजन्ोोंने सड़क के वनमाभण में

प्लास्टिक की बबाभदी का पुन: उपयोग क ने के वलए एक अवभनि विवध विकवसत औ उसे पेटेंट क ाया। इस पद्धवत का

उपयोग क ते हए सड़कोों को अवधक वटकाऊ बनाया जा सकता है। प्रधानमोंत्री ने बताया वक यह तकनीक पहले से ही 11 ाज्ोों

में 5000 वकलोमीट से अवधक सड़कोों के वनमाभण वलए इसे्तमाल की जा ही है।

इसी त ह, उन्ोोंने प्रवसद्ध विज्ञान स्टखलोने वनमाभता एिों 2018 में पद्म श्री से सम्मावनत अ विोंद गुप्ता का वजक्र वकया जो छात्रोों को

निाचा ी त ीके से स्टखलोनोों के माध्यम से विज्ञान में पे्रर त क क हे हैं।

http://www.spandanfeatures.com/http://www.spandanfeatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/31564-pm-modi-sciencecong-pib.jpg

प्रधानमोंत्री ने िैज्ञावनकोों से अपने शोध कायों को प्रयोगशाला से जमीनी स्त तक पहोंचाने का आह्वन वकया। उन्ोोंने आबादी के

बडे़ वहसे्स को प्रभावित क ने िाली सामावजक-आवथभक चुनौवतयाों के समाधान में विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी के उपयोग की आशा

व्यक्त की। भा त को साफ, ह ा औ समृद्ध बनाने में विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी की आिश्यकता है। प्रधानमोंत्री ने कुपोषण से

मुस्टक्त, घ ोों के वनमाभण, नवदयोों को प्रदूषण मुक्त क ने में अवभनि प्रौद्योवगकीयोों के उपयोग प जो देने को कहा।

प्रधानमोंत्री ने विज्ञान के के्षत्र में चल हे अोंत ाभष्टर ीय शोध कायों में भा तीय िैज्ञावनकोों के योगदान की स ाहना क ते हए जलिायु

पर ितभन जैसी समस्याओों के प्रवत भा त की प्रवतबद्धता भी व्यक्त की। निाचा कायभक्रमोों एिों अोंत ाभष्टर ीय सौल गठबोंधन में

भा त की भूवमका के साथ ही प ोंप ागत ज्ञान विशेषक उि -पूिी ाज्ोों के सोंबोंध में, के सों क्षण एिों सोंिधभन के वलए शोध कें द्र

की स्थापना प भी विचा व्यक्त वकए। उन्ोोंने इसके वलए उि -पूिी ाज्ोों में “एथनो मेवड्वसनल र सचभ सेंट ” की स्थापना की

बात कही।

उि -पूिी ाज्ोों में ाज् जलिायु पर ितभन कें द्र की स्थापना को महत्वपूणभ बताते हए प्रधानमोंत्री ने जलिायु पर ितभन के बा े में

जन जागरूकता बढ़ाने की बात भी कही। स का द्वा ा ‘बाोंस’ को िृक्ष प्रजावतयोों के अलग क के इसे “घास” के रूप में

िगीकृत क के दशकोों पु ाने वनयम में बदल क इसके उत्पादन में िृस्टद्ध की आशा की। ाष्टर ीय बाोंस वमशन के अोंतगभत वकए जा

हे कायों से उि -पूिी ाज्ोों को हो हे लाभ का भी वजक्र प्रधानमोंत्री ने वकया।

केन्द्रीय विज्ञान औ प्रौद्योवगकी एिों पृथ्वी विज्ञान मोंत्री ड्ा. हषभ िधभन ने भा तीय विज्ञान सोंस्थानोों के उन्नत प्रदशभन का वजक्र क ते

हए विज्ञान एिों प्रौद्योवगकी को देश के समावजक एिों आवथभक विकास की धु ी बनाने की बात कही। उन्ोोंने िैज्ञावनक सामावजक

वजमे्मदा ी के साथ ही सामावजक-पयाभि णीय वजमे्मदा ी की बात कही वजसके द्वा ा जलिायु पर ितभन जैसी समस्याओों को हल

में सभी योगदान दे सकें ।

(इांविर्ा साइांस िार्र)

Children’s Science Congress promotes scientific way of

thinking Jyoti Singh @ashajyoti11 Saturday 17 March 2018

The objective is to let children exhibit their creativity and innovation to solve problems they

experience locally using the method of science

Children's Science Congress is a unique opportunity for students to improve scientific treatment and expand their innovative

talents in the field of science. Credit: Sobhapati Samom

The annual session of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) provides a forum to young researchers and university

students to listen to scientists and scientific leaders on various subjects. It is also an occasion for school going

children to show their creativity and develop an interest in science by participating in the Children’s Science

Congress held along with ISC.

Around 7,000 children are participating in the Indian Science Congress this year. For the first time, Indian

Science Congress Association (ISCA) has introduced science model competition for the children participating

in Children Science Congress, Prof. Gangadhar, General Secretary, ISCA, told India Science Wire. He said

“ISCA encourages young scholars and provides them opportunities to showcase their contributions in

science”.

The primary objective of the Children’s Science Congress is to let children from both formal school system as

well as from out of school to exhibit their creativity and innovation to solve problems they experience locally

using the method of science. It prompts them to apply scientific method to solve problems identified by them.

The forum encourages a sense of discovery.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/jyoti-singh-108099https://twitter.com/ashajyoti11http://www.downtoearth.org.in/

Nagaland Governor P B Acharya, who inaugurated the congress, said “knowledge should be used to help the

society find solutions and to progress. Your education must empower the society and reach to the unreached”.

Prof.Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University, said the theme of this year’s ISC was

“reaching the unreached through science and technology”, and it would help participants think in terms of

applying science to societal needs and problems. Mr AK Saxena, President, ISCA, told India Science Wire that

this year the association had invited more children to attend science congress and excellent models were

showcased in the exhibition. The purpose of children science congress is to encourage children to involve in

science and to inculcate scientific temper among them.

During the function tenInfosys-ISCA travel awards were also given to children. TanneruYuraj from Rajiv

Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Basar, Telangana, received the award for writing an article on

application of research in areas ranging from agriculture to space.. He said “I want to talk to scientists here on

application of research in different areas.”Another winner, Yashi Gupta from Seth Anandram Jaipuria School,

Kanpur said that she has written on plastic-eating worms that could solve pollution problem. Her teacher, Dr

Anupma Srivastava, said her school had been coming to the science congress for the past five years.

The Children’s Science Congress popularly known as Rashtriya Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan is organised

every year along with Indian Science Congress. It is a unique opportunity fo

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