Scientific India - November - December 2021

In this issue

COVER STORY: Microplastics in the marine environment

FEATURES: Fish exposed to Microplastics pollution since 1950s

NEWS: Bedtime linked with heart health

ARTICLE: Era of large air purifiers

NEWS: World's biggest snake

Plastic and microplastic in marine environment

Modern lifestyles and Malmost all product categories incorporated plastic. It is one of the most widely used materials on earth. In contrast to metals, plastic is lightweight, strong, malleable material that is cheap. As useful as these characteristics are when plastics are used in everyday life, they can also be very hazardous when they are discarded into the environment. Because plastics are nearly indestructible and contain toxic material, plastic can seriously damage the environment (UNEP, 2005).

3 mins

Visiting Viruses

Are viruses good or bad? Should we really visit one? AWell, given the present times, the instant answer would be: viruses are bad and there is definitely no need to visit them. There is a reason why we are urgently following social distancing. The evidence? SARS-CoV-2, of course! We all know that this virus causes the novel coronavirus disease, wreaking havoc across the world since the end of 2019. It has turned our lives upside down because of its rapid infection spree. Not only COVID-19, but viruses also cause illnesses like Ebola, smallpox, influenza, SARS, MERS, and dengue. But, did you know that if it was not for some viruses, there would be no humans? They probably played a crucial role in human evolution. For the last few years, scientists around the world have been exploring these agents of change to unravel several mysteries associated with them.

4 mins

Use of Insects as a protein source for broiler production under Indian conditions

Poultry meat contributes more than 50% Pof total meat market in India (DAHD, 2019).

4 mins

Fish exposed to Microplastics pollution since 1950s

Plastics is an avoidable thing for modern Pcivilization, it is impossible to picture a future without it. Plastics are ubiquitous and it is included in food packaging, automobiles, clothes, fishing gear, and medical devices. Plastics are highly used because of its features such as lightness, strength, durability, and low cost, among other alternatives. Plastics benefits are overshadowed by their drawbacks, such as their strong resistance to deterioration and the real fact that they get accumulate in nature due to poor management of waste in many parts of the world. This can be particularly noticeable on beaches and in oceans, where currents and wind carry plastic trash.

4 mins

Mushroom Consumption May Lower Risk Of Depression

Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one's risk of cancer and premature death, but new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also reveals that these superfoods may benefit a person's mental health.

2 mins

Egg: good source of choline supplement

The egg is one Cof the rich sources of choline. The importance of choline is tremendous in the body during the different physiological processes. Choline is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells in our body.

3 mins

PUSA spray: a breakthrough to reduce air pollution in Delhi NCR

Bengaluru-based firm “nurture.farm” is providing technology to aid farmers to spray decomposers over an unprecedented 5 lakh acres which proves to be a boon to the National Capital Region (NCR). The firm is offering a microbial bioenzyme “Boom spray” developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) to help farmers across India to dispose stubble (crop residue) on their farms responsibly. The company is giving free service to farmers where spraying the bioenzyme, named “Pusa Decomposer”, and gets converted into manure, thereby improving the quality of soil. A technologyled solutions provider for sustainable agriculture, has signed up with more than 25,000 farmers, mostly in Punjab and Haryana, covering an area of over 5,00,000 acres. Thanks to IARI and nurture.farm for this innovative solution to poor air quality index.

6 mins

The Importance of Evidence in Medicine

Experience is a person's biggest asset. Often in our Edaily life, our actions are dictated by the way our previous decisions panned out. With experience, we can estimate the consequences of our actions, making it easier to decide the manner in which we carry out a certain task. While two people can have similar experiences, identical experiences are hard to come across. There is always a variation in the way different people carry out their tasks, which is owed to the difference in their experiences. Therefore, while one person may be able to carry out a task perfectly, the other may make errors causing a delay in completion of the task. This is where 'science' or 'evidence' becomes crucial.

5 mins

Era of large air purifiers

Pollution is nothing but some un-wanted or un-acceptable level of Pan item. Pollution in all its forms in air, water and land have reached to alarming levels and people are feeling its harmful health effects. Though, sound pollution, corruption, loss of humanity due to changing thoughts/mind sets, growing population, growing unemployment, increasing hunger/malnutrition, widening economical, academic & digital divide/gap of society, and many more are no way less than air, water and land pollution which are affecting the mankind severely. The present way of civilization/modernization based on technology is said to be the root cause of all these various types of pollution. Though, we all at individual level are responsible for each type of pollution but we always prefer to point fingers towards others and rest hope on others to find the solution for all the evils including pollution. Developing technology to tackle or control pollution is way behind than the need to “nip the evil in the bud”. Thus, there is great need to control, minimize or stop all such activities which leads to the generation of pollution but without scarifying our comforts based on technological development, we want to develop pollution control solutions either towards post mitigation of pollution or making pollution controlled technological assisted development.

6 mins

Bedtime Linked With Heart Health

Going to sleep between 10:00 and 11:00 pm is associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease.

2 mins

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Scientific India Magazine Description:

Scientific India Magazine is a bimonthly magazine published by the Scientific Planet Society in India. It is a leading science magazine in India, providing readers with information on the latest scientific discoveries and research.

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