An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — asymmetric organocatalysis — has won this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry. An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — … Continue reading Nobel Prize for simple but brilliant discovery of asymmetric organocatalysis
Environment
Dust aerosol responsible for snowmelt at higher elevation in western Himalayan Region
While black carbon has a large effect on snow darkening and resultant melting of snow, dust particles transported from as far as Saudi Arabia that gets deposited in the Western Himalayan Region has a large role to play in melting of snow, particularly at higher elevations.
Presence of colistin-resistant bacteria of food origin in the gut is cause for worry
A small study has found evidence of colistin-resistant bacteria in the gut. 77% of such bacteria were found to be food-acquired. There is a possibility of colistin resistant food Klebsiella to spread to human Klebsiella in the gut. A small study involving 65 stool samples taken from patients from a single hospital in Chennai found … Continue reading Presence of colistin-resistant bacteria of food origin in the gut is cause for worry
IIT Bombay team removes heavy metals from water with greater efficiency
IIT Bombay researchers have fabricated a carbon-based nanostructure that is capable of simultaneously adsorbing with very high efficiency four heavy metals — arsenic, chromium, cadmium and mercury — from wastewater. The nanostructure can be recycled and reused multiple times. Simultaneously removing heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium and mercury from waste water with very … Continue reading IIT Bombay team removes heavy metals from water with greater efficiency
Painting cows with zebra stripes cuts insect attacks
Instead of using pesticides, painting cows with zebra-like stripes led to 50% reduction in the number of biting flies. As a result, cows painted with white stripes showed 20% reduction in fly-repelling behaviour. Painting cows with zebra-like stripes may be a simple strategy to keep biting flies at bay. There was over 50% reduction in … Continue reading Painting cows with zebra stripes cuts insect attacks
Brazilian researchers remain anonymous on research paper
Due to fear of losing their job, researchers from Brazil have preferred to remain anonymous in a paper on Amazon forest fire. The acknowledgement section of the paper published last month carries the message. There have been several instances when authors of scientific papers have tucked in their marriage proposal in the acknowledgement section. One … Continue reading Brazilian researchers remain anonymous on research paper
IIT Jodhpur fabricates a highly sensitive device for lead detection
Researchers at IIT Jodhpur have fabricated a portable sensor for detecting lead in water. It can detect lead even when present at extremely low concentration of 0.018 ppb, much lower than the WHO limit of 5 ppb for drinking water. A highly sensitive, portable device that can detect the presence of lead in water even … Continue reading IIT Jodhpur fabricates a highly sensitive device for lead detection
IIT Bombay’s sensor detects zinc in sweat, soil
IIT Bombay researchers have fabricated a sensor that can detect zinc over a wide concentration range — 0.1-500 ppm. The electrochemical sensor can be used for detecting zinc in the soil even in the presence of other elements and also at minute levels as seen in human sweat. A highly sensitive sensor that can detect … Continue reading IIT Bombay’s sensor detects zinc in sweat, soil
IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants
IISER Pune researchers have converted the highly unstable perovskite into a ultra-stable photocatalyst that can decompose toxic organic pollutants commonly present in water. The photocatalyst was synthesised by encapsulating nanocrystals of organic-inorganic perovskite inside a metal-organic framework (MOF). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have successfully converted the highly … Continue reading IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants
IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
IIT Madras researchers have demonstrated an eco-friendly way to degrade a few types of plastics. All that is required to degrade the plastics into molecules is continuous stirring of the plastic in water containing glucose and metal ions for about 15 days at 70 degree C. Three years ago researchers from the Indian Institute of … Continue reading IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
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