Rajya Sabha TV – Science Monitor (24 Jan 2015)

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

Headlines

1. Fourth Satellite of the IRNSS to be launched in March

Fourth in the seven satellite constellation of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System – India’s Indigenous system being developed by ISRO; to be launched by PSLV-C27 rocket – scientists developing cryogenic propulsion systems;

2. Tiger population of the country increased by 30% - Status of Tiger in India Report 2014

Tiger population increased from 1706 (in 2010) to 2226 (in 2014) – Karnataka has the highest number of tigers, followed by Uttarkhand; MoEFCC – initiative to conserve tiger along with forest management & community participation – declaration on Jan 2015; India has 70% of the world’s Tiger population; number estimated under 3^rd round of country level tiger assessment – finest technologies like double sampling using camera traps;

3. IIT Madras develop an eco-friendly low cost  building system

By Research team of IITM - Using pre-fabricated panel- made from the waste of fertilizer industries (gypsum & glass fibre) – efficient & sustainable buildings; Building based on Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum Technology (GFRGT) - Building cost is as low as Rs.1250 per square foot – Technology allows for building up to 8 stories - Technology may help in affordable housing projects;  

4. Death due to Non Communicable Disease in India is High : Report by WHO

60% of the total mortality in India during 2014 was due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – 4 main NCDs – probability of death among 30 & 70 years age group high in India – Heart, Cancer, Diabetes & Respiratory disease; WHO recommend ban on all forms of Tobacco product, Alcohol advertisements, Reducing use of salt content, Replacing Trans Fat with Poly unsaturated fat, promoting & protecting breast feeding, early detection & treatment of High BP, preventing cervical cancer through periodical screening;

5. ESA spacecraft Beagle-2 found on Mars

After 11 years, being considered to be lost by the researchers - UK lead ESA’s Beagle2 – found in the mars by NASA’s Mars Reconisance orbiter; ‘Beagle’ named after HMS  Beagle in which Charles Darwin travelled; Technology Miniature eyes used in the  Beagle 2 is technological marvel – it is to be used in future projects like EXOMARS 2018 Rover;

6. Migratory Birds (IN FOCUS)

Months of December & January - India sub-continent host for Variety of exotic bird species – Moderate climate & rich biodiversity play catalyst;

These birds flock around water bodies – these are migratory birds travel thousands of mile to escape & to survive the harsh winter at native breeding grounds – they undergo elaborate preparation in order to migrate – they stock energy by consuming more food before migration- 40% of the bird living in Europe & Asia are migratory in nature; it is complex biological & ecological phenomenon; these birds are genetically designed to migrate – bigger flight muscle – extra power with natural steroids;   

Migration is too risky and prove Survival of the fittest – threat of human attack, competition for food & resources, shore oil leaks, structures like transmission towers, long distance travelling; some birds fly in the altitude of 50 m where the density of the air is much lesser than at the sea level – they glide using the wind & wave pressure for dynamic soring;

More than 2000 years ago, Aristotle probably first explained the Bird Migration; He noted cranes travel form steppes of Scythia to the marshes of the head water of Nile;

Some Migratory birds coming to India in winter season: Siberian crane, Greater Flamingo, Black wing stilt;

Some Migratory birds coming to India in summer season: Asian koel, black crown night herone, Eurasian golden oriole, comb duck, cuckoos;

7. History of Science Segment
1. Anglo-Irish Chemist Robert Boyle – Born in Jan 1627 – Known for Boyle’s Law – Describe the relationship between absolute pressure and volume of gas if the temperature is kept constant in a closed system;
2. American Physicist of German origin Polykarp Kusch – Born in Jan 1911 -  awarded Nobel prize in physics in 1955 – for the determination of magnetic moment of the electron is greater than its theoretical value;
3. Indian Scientist Raja Ramanna – Born in Jan 1925 – known for his leadership in directing the Indian Nuclear Programme – India’s First Nuclear Device was tested under his supervision in Pokhran 1974 – held important positions like Secy, Dept of Atomic Energy and DG of DRDO;
4. Cannadian Chemical Engineer – Lewis Urry – Born in Jan 1927 – invented the alkaline Battery & Lithium Battery – For this he used Manganese oxide and Zinc powder in an alkaline medium - the batteries worked 40 times longer than the zinc carbon battery;
5. South African Virologist Max Theiler – Born in Jan 1899 – developed a powerful vaccine against yellow fever – was awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology / Medicine in 1951;
6. American Chemist – William Richards – Born in Jan 1868 – Methods for determining the Atomic weight of many chemical element – helped in the research on Isotopes Awarded with the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 1914;
8. Science Express – S & T Activities
1. Indian fast growing largest user of Mobiles in the world – Report on Mobile Internet – Internet & Mobile Association of India (IMAI) and IMRB international;
2. NASA and NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.) Research – 2014 as Earth’s Hottest year on record – sore in temperature due to expulsion of GHG by burning fossil fuels;
3. Symposium on Transforming Mountain Forestry – by Dehradun based Mountain research Institute and ICIMOD (Kathmandu) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – developing conducive boundry politically and institutionally to protect the forest ecosystem in the Hindukush Himalayan Region; Addressing the inaugural, Minister invited more Trans boundary cooperation;
4. Harsh Cold Wave – Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Bihar – steps to create warmth to protect animals;
5. World Economic Forum 2015 – Dr. David Nabarro, (US) invited - $1 Bn initiative to fight deadly disease Ebola in the African continent;

Watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sveUMPTgXes&index=1&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzpd3_Iz7J-81Vh4QqU-ZGA9