Rajya Sabha TV – Science Monitor (13 Dec 2014)

Transcription of Rajya Sabha TV Science Monitor

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

Headlines

1. Nobel prizes for the year 2014 awarded in Oslo.

Physics: Dr.Isamu Akasanki, Dr.Hirosi Amano & Dr.Shuji Nakamura – for Blue light emitting diode;

Physiology/Medicine: John O’Keefe and May-Britt Moser & Edvard Moser – Technique of positioning system in brain;

Chemistry: Eric Betzig, Willia Moerner, Stefan Hell – for development of super-resoled microscopy technique;

Literature: Patrick Modiano – Book “ for the art of memory”

Peace prize: Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzi – struggle against separation of children & young people - right of child education;

2. Manoeuver of GSAT-16 successfully performed;

Communication satellite – 48 transponders – placed on its orbit after 3 orbit raising maneuvers – GSAT-16 is the 11^th Indian Communication satellite – aims to enhance the satellite based telecommunication – Also to improve television, radio & internet services in India;

3. Global mortality due to malaria considerably reduced since 2000;

Recent WHO report – Malaria Report 2014 – 43 lakh people could be saved form malaria during the past 12 years - scale up technology to effectively control malaria, political commitment, regional surveillance, International economy & raising awareness among public – resulted in considerable decline in the malaria mortality; Malaria mortality rate decreased by 47% worldwide; In the African region deaths reduced by 54%; Refer: Parasite Plasmodium – vector borne – female anopheles mosquito; Disease, a major threat in developing countries – India – Tribal dewellers are vulnerable – state like Orissa, Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, NE India; In 2013 – Azerbaijan & Srilanka – reported zero indigenous cases on Malaria;   

4. New class of potent antimalarial drugs found;

Molecule showed high level potency against human malaria parasites in animal trails – increase sodium level in the RBC -  US Drexel University Team include Indian Origin scientist Akhil B.Vaidya;

5. New research to produce safer drinking water – IIT Madras;

Currently Silver ions are used in the water purification as they are antibacterial & virucidal in properties; Team led by Prof.T. Pradeep/IITM- Developed a combination of silver with carbonate ions – reduce the bacteria by 1,00,000 times in water; Working: Sand size Carbonate particle size of sand – remove the peripheral protein of microbial cells while Nano size silver destroys the integrity of cell membrane damage DNA – thus killing the Bacteria/Virus;

6. Institutes working in the area of renewable energy (IN FOCUS)

Urgent need to resort to eco-friendly, renewable source of Energy – Need of hour to discover altenative source of Energy; Research in the area of Renewable energy resources crucial; Recent Report by IPPC – warning – calling for the immediate ban on fossile fuel (considering effect on the environment);

Eco-friendly renewable energy – Hydro, Geo-thermal, Wind & solar energy;

India – Ministry of New & Renewable Energy promoting research – Renewable energy projects installed at different states (aggregate capacity of 33,200 MW – 66% Wind energy, 8% solar, 12% Bio energy & 12% of Small hydro ) – Rs.500 crore allocated for R&D in the sector in 11^th FYP – Provision to increase budget to Rs.910 Crore in 12^th Plan period;

Institutions

·         National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) – 1982 – Gurgaon/Haryana – implementing JN Solar Mission – research focus on solar photovoltaic, photo-thermal, energy storage;

·         National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) – Chennai/Tamil Nadu – developing technology to harness wind energy – collaborate with National & International institutions;

·         Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy - Kaburthala/Punjab – in the design of development & implementation of Renewable Energy Technology – Biomass Energy;

7. History of Science
1. Margaret Mead – American Anthropologist – born 16 Dec 1901 – known for studies in development of the non-literate people of Oceania;
2. First Indian Statistical Institute was setup in Kolkata - 17 Dec 1931 – Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis – useful for the progress of the Nation;
3. The world’s first communication satellite was launched on 18 Dec 1958- Project SCORE – US Army– Tape recorder was sent to broadcast a recorded Christmas greeting;
4. On 20^th Dec 1890 (Prague) – born, the Renowned scientist Jaroslav Heyrovsky – awarded nobel prize in chemistry – discovery & development in the field of Polarography;
8. S & T activities across India & Abroad – Science Express Segment
1. 50^th foundation day – Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore – 3 day international workshop on S&T – on free electron laser technology – Refer: Indian synchrotron facility;
2. Indo-Japan Joint working group on ICT – cooperation in cyber security – Green ICT;to develop: Green Mobile Base, ICT for Disaster Management; ICT Use in disaster-affected areas project; ICT Application for Social and Economic Challenges; and National ID Application and Utilization Platform project. Also, both India and Japan will focus on Japan-India Combat Spam project, Cooperative project for detecting symptoms and planning quick response to cyber-attacks;
3. To promote Solar Energy – Roof Top solar scheme – Grid Connected Solar system – Rs.24 per watt capacity – include 1 kw range to 50 kw range;
4. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hagari, Bellary – technological assistance & funding – establishing new krishi kendras 5730 crore – envisage continuation of KVKs – new scheme to promote ICT & Agri Tech ;
5. Rivers once flowed in the Mars – gale crater - Mount Sharp – enable microbial life; Note:  Gale Crater is a fascinating place to explore because of the mountain of layered materials in the middle. On Earth, this mound would be a mountain 5 kilometers (3 miles) high! The layers tell a story about what Mars was like in the past, perhaps spanning much of the history of the red planet.

Watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZUyrU_eDRE&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzpd3_Iz7J-81Vh4QqU-ZGA9&index=13