Deadly deficiency

MALARIA claims over a million lives each year. Primaquine is the key drug for the eradication of the devastating disease. However, the drug can cause severe complications in patients lacking glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme. A study published in PLOS Medicine on November 13 has found that over 450 million people across the globe are deficient in this enzyme.

No wood is waste

ACROSS the globe hundreds of tonnes of wood enters the waste stream daily. Some of it finds use in the renewable energy sector, pulp and paper industry, wood-based boards and animal bedding; the rest goes into landfills. Indian researchers have now found a new use for waste wood—as a vehicle for delivering nutrients to plants.

Frequency check

TRAFFIC noise is more than just a nuisance. It is a health hazard that can lead to several health problems over a period of time. Different nations have set different legal standards for monitoring noise pollution. But one thing is common: all these standards are based on noise intensity, measured in decibels (dB).

Secret of sensitivity

Science and Technology - Briefs

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Finned polluter

Indicator of doom

THE WORLD, as we know it, changes often. Established ecosystems can become incapable of supporting life, a phenomenon known as ecosystem collapse. This is worrisome.

Sound track of the earth

TO PROBE THE innards of the earth, scientists no longer need to bore holes into the crust. According to Pierre Poli and his colleagues at the Institute of Earth Science in France, seismic noise can unravel the mysteries of the earth.

Pesticide guard

PESTICIDES, used to increase yields by protecting plants against a number of diseases, have been known to be harmful for humans. But even plants are not spared from the ill effects of these chemicals. Pesticides sometimes give rise to substances that damage proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and the DNA of plant cells.

Poison on the plate

Science and Technology - Briefs

PHYSICS Solar steam Steam is used for producing electricity, preparing food, purifying water and sterilising medical equipment. But boiling water for generating steam requires energy.