News on Science, Technology and Research in India
The population of the saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has increased in the water bodies of Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas in Kendrapara district, with forest officials counting 1,757 individuals in this year’s annual reptile census on January 3, 2020.
The polymer Chitosan is being increasingly used in the treatment of wounds. Among other things, it has anti microbial properties and promotes tissue growth. However, its use in wound management is limited since it has poor mechanical properties.
If the observation made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the inaugural ceremony of the 107th Indian Science Congress at Bangalore last Friday is any indication, Chennai is set to emerge as the country’s hub for deep sea missions akin to its feats in Space explorations. While ISRO has started training astronauts for space faring, the country’s aquanauts are being trained for deep sea missions.
Astronomers at the National Center of Radio Astrophysics ( NCRA) spotted galaxy AGC 203001 using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune. They found that even though the galaxy had a ring of hydrogen gas around it — there were no new stars being born. This is despite the fact that the ring is 380,000 lightyears wide, much bigger than the galaxy itself.
Under the Rs 400-crore NETRA’ project, an early warning system is being set up in space to detect debris and other hazards that could pose a danger to Indian space assets like satellites and experimental platforms. Like other space powers, NETRA will give the country its own capability in space situational awareness.
The chute, which is designed using fire resistant Kevlar polymer and aluminium alloy rings, can hold up to five tonne weight, and can extend to 50 metres in height, said Mahipal Meena, a scientist and deputy director of Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory based out of New Delhi.
The suit transfers signals pertaining to the health parameters of the astronauts from the spacecraft to the mission control room, said Vinoth P, scientist and member of DEBEL team at the 107th Indian Science Congress under way in Bengaluru.The signals will be analysed by doctors from Bengaluru-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM).
Indications from ISRO are that at least four more will follow quickly in a year or so, with the fifth one, RISAT-2BR2, likely to be announced fairly soon.
“By this technology we can lower down the cost of the sapling production by 2 rupees per sapling which earlier used to be 35 rupees. This can help farmers to earn more with low input cost in Geranium cultivation” said Dr Singh.
The presence of endangered Cheer Pheasant at Chirbatiya in district Ruderprayag has thrilled the forest department and bird experts. The remote Chirbatiya, located 40 kms from the district headquarters, recently hosted a bird festival. Earlier the sighting of Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii), also known as Wallich’s pheasant, was limited to few locations in Uttarakhand. But, now Chirbatiya has got added in the list.
