Rajya Sabha TV – Science Monitor (08 Nov 2014)

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

Headlines

1. Complete ban on fossil fuels required to combat climate change;

UN’s Intergovernmental panel IPCC – meeting at Copenhagen – IPCC – Released the 5^th Assessment report on Climate Change; complete ban on fossil fuel by the end of this century (Carbon emission increasing the global temperature); Investment in low-carbon electricity proposed; 1983-2012, the warmest 30 year period in last 1,400 years; Global poverty can be reduced only by stopping Global warming; coming decades, there may be 5 degree raise in the temperature in the pre-industries level by the end of this century; rise in investment in low carbon electricity, energy efficiency along with the technologies like carbon capture;  

2. Scientists develop novel super capacitor – using waste paper & leaves – CSIR NCL;

NCL – National Chemical Laboratory – CSIR – Pune based Lab; Note: Capacitor – small device – in electric circuits – to store energy using electric field – release energy quickly; Innovative project – Super capacitor- turns waste paper into a super-spongy battery – forms of porous carbon – suck of current quickly;

3. New vaccine developed against Dengue fever

Millions of Indian suffer from dengue every year – Pharma Giant SANOFI pasture – world’s first vaccine – it gives 95.5% protection against severe dengue – clinical study conducted over 31,000 participant across 10 countries;

4. Air Pollution adversely affects the productivity of crops

India also facing yield loss because of soot & ozone in air – In 2010 yield of wheat was up to 36% low – Uttar Pradesh & Uttarkhand – wheat yield falls by 50%; Wheat yield in Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Bihar & Jharkhand also greatly affected by Air pollution; Rice yield reduced in UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, WB;

5. Pulmonary hypertension – Lung disease – Uncontrolled cell division in blood vessel walls – thicken the vessel wall;
6. 7 New Species of Frogs discovered –WG & Srilanka - Professor, Delhi University
7. Diabetes… it causes & Cure (IN FOCUS)

Non-communicable epidemic – It is a metabolic with high blood sugar due to inadequate insulin level in the body - 80% of the world diabetes reported in India – Diabetic capital of the world – Changing Industrial climate of the world and rapid urbanization in recent years – introduced change in life style & practice – Diabetes – serious threat to life & longevity; Diabetes – 7^th leading cause of death by the year 2030 – awareness & precaution is very important; Nov 14 every year – World Diabetes Day – created in the year 1991 by International diabetes federation & WHO – theme for 2014-16 is “Healthy living and diabetes”;

Two major forms of diabetes:

·         Type 1 – lack of insulin production by Pancreas – Juvenile diabetes – early on set – age below 40 years – whole life the patient is subjected to insulin intake;

·         Type 2 – non  insulin dependent - when the body not able to use the insulin secreted to metabolize glucose;

·         Gestational Diabetes – during pregnancy

Diabetics prone to develop infections of the bladder and skin; fluctuation in the blood glucose level lead to blurred vision;

Symptoms:

·         Hyper glycaemia (elevated blood sugar level);

·         Frequent urge to urinate;

·         Intense thirst & hunger;

·         Unusual weight loss or weight gain;

·         Fatigue, sleeplessness, numbness, tingling sensation;

8. History of Science
1. American Astrophysicist Carl Sagan – born on 9^th Nov, 1934 – known for his TV series Cosmos – aimed at popularizing astrophysics among masses;
2. Maverick scientist Paracelsus – born on 11^th Nov, 1493 – known for making drugs & cures from chemicals – he stressed that medical experimentation must be based on observation;
3. NASA’s Mariner 9 – first interplanetary space voyager – entered the mars orbit in 13 Nov 1971;
4. Indian fossil scientist – Birbal Sahani – born on 14^th Nov 1891 – studied rare fossil from India & Neighboring countries;
9. S & T activities across India & Abroad – Science Express Segment
1. Mass awareness about Vitamin D deficiency (80% people in India) – Glenmark Pharma & AIIMS;
2.  NASA –Rapid Acquisition Spectrograph Experiment – images from active regions of the sun – to study solar flare & solar spots are created;
3. World Association of Zoos &  Aquarium – WAZA 2014;
4. Erach Barucha (Director of Bharati Vidya peeth University/Pune) – selected as Earth Hero – by RBS;
5. PM council on Climate change – coordinate the National Action plan – Assessment, Adaptation and mitigation of climate change;

Watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il6zCLAbYps&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzpd3_Iz7J-81Vh4QqU-ZGA9&index=20