Science & Technology - Briefs

PHYSICS Insects vs humans

Heavy-duty battery

need to sponge out heavy metals from industrial wastewater? Try seaweeds. Two researchers at the Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has found that certain sea plants found along the Gulf of Mannar coast may not only help remove heavy metals such as cadmium and lead but also allow their recovery.

Deep distress

global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are altering ocean chemistry and threatening marine organisms, including coral reefs, claims a us report released recently.

A pioneer in many ways

B D Nagchaudhuri who passed away on June 24, 2006, was among the pioneers of nuclear and environmental sciences in India. Handpicked by the illustrious Meghnad Saha to do a PhD at Berkeley, Nagchaudhuri was among the first Indians to study at that institution. He returned to India, after completing his doctoral research to set up the country's first cyclotron -- an apparatus for accelerating charged atomic particles revolving in a magnetic field in an electrical field.

Separately purified urine is environment friendly

collecting and purifying urine separately is more environment friendly and cost-effective than simply allowing it to flow into the sewer, claims a Dutch study. Conducted by Jan Wilsenach of the Delft University (du) in the Netherlands, the study says the measure would save electricity and chemicals used at sewage treatment facilities.

Is aluminium safe?

can aluminium, commonly used to make utensils, be a health hazard? The long-standing question was revived recently with researchers suggesting a possible role of the versatile metal in the death of a British woman. Carole Cross of Camelford village in Cornwall died of Alzheimer's disease 16 years after an industrial accident caused aluminium contamination of drinking water.

Nitrogen threatens biodiversity

increasing atmospheric concentration of nitrogen threatens plant species in sensitive ecosystems in the developing world, claims a recent study. The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka are likely to be the worst affected.

Hot air

Biogas, an ecofriendly alternative to fossil fuels, has been criticised for releasing methane, a greenhouse gas that is 20-25 times worse than carbon dioxide in causing global warming. It was believed that if methane emissions exceed 5 per cent of biogas produced, then the use of fossil fuels would be preferable.

Restore wetlands

restoring lost and degraded wetlands could reduce the threat of bird flu pandemics, claims a study commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (unep).

Gender bender

oxygen depletion in oceans, caused mainly by agricultural run-off and pollution, creates dead zones where sea creatures can suffocate. A recent study claims that dead zones can also lead to male-dominated fish population, which can drive a species to extinction.