News on Science, Technology and Research in India
The NIOT study found that immobilized bacterial cells had better oil degrading capacity than the free bacterial cells. It was found that they could remove 84% of the oils within 10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a maximum of 60% of the crude oil at optimized conditions. These findings evince their efficacy in treating accidental bulk discharge of oil in marine environment through nontoxic clean-up technology.
ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan indicated that the Indian human space flight is set for August 2022, although some small shift may take place owing to disruptions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Scientists are constantly working to find new ways to control various crop diseases. A recent study, conducted by the researchers at the New Delhi based National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), has discovered that modulating the functions of pathogen responsible for sheath blight, could be a game changer in the fight against the menacing rice disease.
Decentralised Waste Management technology developed by CSIR-CMERI can result in drastic reduction of expenditure related to Transportation Logistics and can help reductions in CO2 emissions, by reducing fossil fuel usage. The Scientifically Decentralised Waste Processing Hubs will help multiply outreach for various locations and will also boost the manufacturing potential for the residents of the region.
Scientists have developed a synthetic material that mimics the dynamic capability of living organisms to adapt to new environments by utilizing simple natural design principles to create complex networks. The new materials developed opens new avenues for smart materials because of their dynamic and adaptive nature. Hence, they would be useful as recyclable polymers for the energy and biotechnology sector.
Explaining their work, the leader of the team, Prof. Umakanta Tripathy, said that Coronavirus, like any other virus, uses the proteins on its surface to enter into the cells of the human body. He and his team looked for natural compounds that could bind to these proteins and stop the virus from entering human cells. They used computer-based cutting edge techniques such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to hunt for potential inhibitors.
n an unprecedented development, an Indian law student of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has received both the Indian and the US Patent for a technology he invented entitled ‘Method and System for Managing the Usage of a Plurality of Battery Units to Power an Electric Vehicle’. This technology aims to make the usage of electric vehicles more practical, flexible and economical in India and other developing countries. Mr. Devansh Manoj Jalan is currently pursuing his law degree at the Jindal Global Law School.
Such a break is common among Indian women who prioritise family over their career due to various circumstances, which are usually typical to the gender. The Women Scientist Scheme (WOS A) fellowship of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) provides opportunities to women scientists and technologists who had a break in their career but desired to return to the mainstream.
India’s human space flight rocket will have multiple redundancies/backup systems as a matter of safety and the necessary hardware for building the rocket are coming in, said a senior official.
The Indian space agency is working towards launching its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) before December 2020, said a senior official.
