Rajya Sabha TV – Science Monitor (18 Oct 2014)

Weekly update on all the happening in Science & Technology, in and around the nation;

Headlines/Highlights

1. MOM geared up to capture Comet

MOM orbiting the red planet 25 days – spacecraft send pictures which further our knowledge about Mars – ready to capture the comet siding spring; Distance between the Mars & Comet will be 82K miles, MOM will be 400 Kms from the surface of the Mars and 140,000 Kms form the Comet; Spectacular cosmic event – comet will leave behind debris & dust particles – hazardous to the sensitive electronic parts of the MOM - The orbit of MOM was altered to save it from the impact – Orbit was shortened to 72,200 km from about 78,000km; Now MOM will move behind the Red planet – will be protected in the shadow of the red planet;

2. ISRO successfully launches IRNSS Satellite (IRNSS 1C using PSLV-C26)

3^rd Series in the series IRNSS- from Satish Dhawan Space Centre – Indian Regional Satellite Navigation System – aims to provide navigational & security services – Satellite Initially put in to sub-synchronous Geo orbit and then lifted to the Geosynchronous Orbit; Spacecraft weighs more than 1400 kg – IRNSS 1C – third in the series of 7 satellite constellation of IRNSS; Space & Ground Segment and User Receiver system are developed in India; Unlike GPS, it could be fully in the control of GoI; Purpose: Marine & Terrestrial Navigation, Disaster Management, Vehicle tracking, flight Management; Dual purpose: firstly Standard positioning for civilian use and  restricted service for military purpose; IRNSS is similar to US’s GPS, Russia’s Glosnass, Europe’s Galileo, China’s Biedo, Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System; The Entire IRNSS Constellation to be completed by 2015;

3. Student builds an innovative Bio-Converter @ 4^th DST INSPIRE

Unique feature of Bio Converter – Hermetia Sanitizer Bio Converter – Novel type of compost Unit developed by 10^th class Zuleika Juliet Antao – for Bio degradable wastes; based on breeding of Black Soldier flies (Hermetia Illucens) – Unit is affordable & environment friendly; Remarkable speed of decomposition & absence of rotting smells;

4. Plants absorbs more carbon than predicted by the climate model

Research by Oak Ridge National Labs, US; The amount of Co2 absorbed by plants underestimated and the Growth rate of Carbon in the atmosphere overestimated; used the Mesophyll Diffusion Process – Analyzed how Co2 spreads slowly inside leaves; Research helps to understand the future impacts of Global warming;

5. DRDO – 2^nd International Conference in Feb 2015 – Theme “ IT Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” following the success of last year’s Role of Science & Technology in the progress of the world;
6. Cyclone Hudhud (IN FOCUS)

Timely & Accurate prediction by the IMD have helped in the evacuation of the large population which in turn saved thousands of life; why these cyclones are so devastating;

Atmosphere is made of unique combination of elements with unique property – makes it hospitable & habitable planet;

Cyclones are very strong thunderstorms – Minimum wind speed of cyclones is 74 mph – Wind carries the moisture & is in closed circular motion - Cyclones are a combined action of ocean water & air;

Formation: during summer – due to heat- warm moist air over the ocean rises up from near the surface – because warm air is lighter than cold air – as it move upward – it creates a low air pressure below (cold air form High pressure area pushed to fill the gap) – sooner the air gets heated and rises too – the cycle continues – as the storm-system rotates faster – very low pressure area called eye forms in the centre – creating the eye turbulent;

Cyclones rotates in the same direction as the earth – Speed of a cyclone is measured in a unit called Knots

Different names across the world: Cyclone if originates in Indian ocean, Hurrican if orginated in Atlantic, Typoon in pacific;

How Cyclones are name? Hudhud, Phailin, Nilofar, Nilam…? (UPSC Mains 2013) Actually WMO (World meteorological Organisation) maintains a list of names for the Cyclones – practice of naming started in Atlantic region few hundred years ago – they were name after the Catholic Saints; Formula for Indian Ocean Region generated in 2004- under the scheme 8 countries (Ind, Bang, Pak, Sri, Myan, Maldive, Oman, Thai) comes under the Indian Ocean Region – contributed list of 64 names (8 names from each country); Recent cyclone Hudhud, named by Oman- India is constantly hit by Tropical cyclones - 7 coastal states in India are most affected in cyclones;

Alphabetically arranged list of name;

India contributed: Agni, Akash, Bijli, Leher, Megh

Pakistan contributed: Nilam, Nilofar, Titli

Srilanka contributed: Mahasen

Thailand contributed: Phailin

Oman contributed: Hudhud

Familiar cyclones hit India – Onil 2004, Nisha & Khaimuk 2008, Jal 2010, Nilam 2012, Helen, Lehar, Phailin 2013, Hudhud 2014;

Indian coastline densely populated - life of the people here largely affected by these cyclones – large scale life & property loss;

IMD constantly improving itself, it has high level skills, expertise & tools; Timely & accurate prediction – helps in major way of managing natural disaster;

IPCC and MOEFCC have warned about the likelihood of increase in cyclone in Eastern coast - Coastal cities with climate resistant infrastructure is need of the hour; TERI done a study on Infrastructure for Disaster Management;

7. History of Science
1. Indian Origin American Scientist S. Chandrashekar – Born Oct, 1910 – biggest contribution to science is Chandrashekar Limit – as the maximum mass of the White Dwarf star – according to this the stars that reach the mass 1.4 times the mass of the sun, become black hole;
2. British Physicist – Born in Oct, 1891 – Nobel prize in physics in 1935 for discovering neutron;
3. Swedish Scientist – Alfred Bernhard Nobel – Born in Oct, 1833 – instituted highest award for science- invented Dynamite & gelignite;
4. American Bio Chemist – Charles Glen King – Born in Oct, 1896 – independently discovered ascorbic acid or Vitamin C – which is vital for  the treatment of Scurvy;
5. Indian Geologist – Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia – Born in Oct, 1883 – First Indian Scientist to be employed by the GSI – Dehradun based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology renamed in his honour;
8. S & T activities (Science Express)
1. Cities for All – XI Metropolis World Congress – Hyderabad – Oct 2014 – keynote address by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – Stress up on the needs of Carbon free cities – Urban areas should be the place of peaceful living – carbon neutral & fossil free urbanization;
2. Non Alcoholic party level of disease – cause of more carbohydrate foods - no visible symptomes Recent Study by Dr. Dinesh Jyothi and Dr. Mohammed Rela;
3. NASA activated Earth sensing observatory ISS RapidScat – measure ocean wind from space;
4. Deadly Ebola passes quickly to US & Europe;

Watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0EAAoUc7h4&index=15&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzpd3_Iz7J-81Vh4QqU-ZGA9