EditorialEditorialEditorial Harnessing the Power of Biotechnology Responsibly for All People

umans have been trying to use things,: i) provide more and healthier foods; potential to address diseases such as Hnature’s own processes to advance ii) reduce dependence on fossil fuels; iii) Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, heart their conditions, to make life safer, healthier offer more effective cures for diseases; and disorders, spinal cord injuries or for and more productive. This process, which create positive environmental effects. development of in vitro assay system for started from the time when humans first The future challenge for meeting the drug discovery and toxicity or for appeared on the Earth, is continuing till need of food, feed and fiber is really understanding basic developmental process. today and it can be safely said that this will daunting. It has been estimated that the Biotechnology has dramatically improved continue in future also. In this unending world will need to produce more food, feed diagnostic capabilities. Today genetic testing human endeavor biotechnology has and fiber during the next 50 years than it is available for many rare disorders. emerged in recent years as the Biotechnology is also solving the most productive and powerful VIGYAN PRASAR WISHES ITS READERS problem of antibiotic resistance. tool. The very term Biotechnology alone “biotechnology” connects A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS cannot solve complicated health knowledge to practice that is, problems. It is essential to have science to technology. The impact supportive health care of biotechnology on everyday life 2010 infrastructure in place. Cultural, is all-pervasive. In fact many economic, and political barriers believe that biotechnology will surpass the has in the entire history of humankind. to change must be overcome through a information and communication Biotechnology, if properly harnessed, has concerted drive aimed at educating the technology (ICT) revolution in terms of the potential to achieve this goal. masses who are the potential recipients of being the prime driver for economic, Biotechnology is playing an the benefits of biotechnology. political and cultural change. What is more important role in preventing disease. Today The field of nanobiotechnology is this is going to happen in not-so-distant there are over 100 recombinant drugs and bursting with promise. In near future it future. vaccines in use today. Developments in will be possible for nano bio-devices to While far-reaching and beneficial biotechnology have made it possible to repair body parts, to rejuvenate the skin, outcomes are anticipated, some aspects of produce much safer vaccines than enhance human capabilities, harness the biotechnology research have raised social, traditional vaccines. Biotechnologists are unlimited solar energy and achieve many economic and ethical issues. Today the trying to produce genetically engineered other feats. society is divided on issues like human plants so that vaccines can be delivered Biotechnology is making a substantial dignity, ownership of life, indigenous rights, through food instead of the more-invasive contribution to the energy area. Recent animal welfare and the intrinsic value of the injections. Plant-derived vaccines will be advances in biotechnology have made it environment. There is an ongoing conflict orally administered and they will also be possible to use inexpensive cellulases to between industry, public authorities and much cheaper. Gene therapy is another area convert cellulose to simple sugar, which in other interested groups on the evaluation of great promise. Stem cell research is a turn can be fermented into fuel such as of risks and benefits of biotechnology. still another important research activity. ethanol. If it is used appropriately and The applications of stem cells go beyond Today genetically modified (GM) responsibly biotechnology can, among other medical imagination. These have the bugs are generating a lot of interest. (Contd. on page...22)

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fofofo P V iziziz 35 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 Arno A. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson Discoverers of the Cosmic Background Radiation  Subodh Mahanti E-mail: [email protected]

“Cosmology is a science which has only a few observable facts to work with. The discovery of the cosmic background radiation added one—the present radiation temperature of the . This, however, was a significant increase in our knowledge since it requires a with a source for the radiation at an early epoch and is a new probe of that epoch. More sensitive measurements of the background radiation in the future will allow us to discover additional facts about the universe.” Robert W. Wilson in his Nobel Lecture delivered on 8 December 1978.

“Throughout most of recorded history, matter was thought to be composed of various combinations of four basic elements; earth, air, fire and water. Modern science has replaced this list with a considerably longer one; the known chemical elements now number well over one hundred. Most of these, the oxygen we breathe, the iron in our blood, the uranium in our reactors, were formed during the fiery lifetimes and explosive deaths of stars in the heavens around us. A few of the elements were formed before the stars even existed during the birth of the universe itself.” Arno A. Penzias in his Nobel Lecture on 8 December 1978.

rno Allan Penzias was born on 26 years old. Later, in his autobiographical toward the end of December 1939 on the AApril 1933 in , . note prepared for the Nobel Foundation Cunard liner Georgic—using tickets that With the rise of Hitler, Jews were forced he wrote: “In the late spring of 1939, my father had foresightedly brought in shortly after my sixth birthday, my parents put their two boys on a train for England; we each had a suitcase with our initials painted on it, as well as a bag of candy. They told me to be sure and take care of my younger brother.” Six months later his parents also fled the country. Describing the situation Penzias wrote: “My mother received her exit permit about a month later (just a few weeks before the war broke out) and was able to join us in England. My father had arrived in England almost as soon as the two of us, but we hadn’t seen him because he was interned in a camp for alien men. The only other noteworthy event in the six or so months we spent in England, awaiting passage to America, occurred one morning in a makeshift schoolroom. At that moment, I suddenly realised that I could read the open page of the (English) school to leave the country or face persecution. book I had been staring at.” Germany a year and a half earlier. This ship The situation was such that his parents had The Penzias family did not stay in provided party hats and balloons for the to send their two small children to England for long. They went to America. Christmas and New Year’s parties, as well England. At the time Arno was barely six To quote Penzias: “We sailed for America as lots of lifeboat drills. The grey three-

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 34 V iziziz History of Sciecne inch gun on the aft deck was a great operations. On Saturday mornings I often pigeons nesting on the dish. They cleaned attraction for us boys.” went with him to visit the company shop. the dish and removed the pigeons. The Penzias family settled in the I puttered around the machine, electronics However, the pigeons kept returning. They Garment district of New York in January and automobile shops while he carried on set up the instrument for a wavelength of 1940. Arno and his brother joined his business. Both of my parents are 7.35 centimetres because they thought that Brooklyn Technical High School. Their inveterate do-it-yourselfers, almost no task the ’s gaseous halo would be parents initially worked as superintendents being beneath their dignity or beyond their practically invisible at this wavelength. of an apartment building, where they were ingenuity. Having picked up a keen interest A highly sensitive solid-state given free accommodation in the in electronics from my father, I used to fix detected the waves received by the antenna. basement. Subsequently his mother took radios, and later television sets, for fun and The device detected a microwave noise for up a sewing job in a coat factory and his spending money. I built my own hi-fi set which Penzias and Wilson had no father became a carpenter in the carpentry and enjoyed helping friends with their explanation. They found that it was far less shop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. amateur radio transmitters, but lost energetic than the radiation given off by Arno graduated from the High interest as soon as they worked.” the Milky Way and it was isotropic; that School in 1951 and then joined City is, came from all directions with equal College of New York from where he strength. Assuming that their device was received a bachelor’s degree in 1954. In the subject to interference from terrestrial college he first joined the chemical sources, they initially assumed that the engineering course but soon he discovered radio noise emanated from . his interest in . So he switched his However, they rejected their assumption “major” from chemical engineering to after scrutinizing the possibility. They physics. He spent two years in the US continued to look for any possible source Army Signal Corps before he got a research of the faint background radiation for assistantship in the Radiation Laboratory almost a year without finding any. Penzias of the . He did his was advised by one of his colleagues to Ph.D. under the supervision of C. H. discuss the matter Robert Dicke, a Towens. His Ph.D. work involved building Professor of Physics at the Princeton a maser amplifier in a radio-astronomy University. experiment Prof. Dicke and one of his After completing his Ph.D. work, Charles Hard Towens postdoctoral students, James Peebles made Arno Penzias went to Bell Laboratories, detailed calculations to find out the Holmdel, New Jersey in search of a Like Arno Penzias, Robert Wilson also radiation that should have permeated the temporary assignment because he thought went to Bell Laboratories. He wrote: “I universe soon after the . They it would be an ideal place to complete the joined Bell Laboratories at Crawford Hill argued that because of the expansion of observations that he had began during his in 1963 as part of A. B. Crawford’s Radio the universe, the originally produced short- Ph.D. work. However, after having been research department in R. Kompfner’s wavelength photons should become long- persuaded by Rudi Kompfner, then laboratory. I started working with the only wavelength photons, in the microwave Director of Radio Research Laboratory of other radio , Arno Penzias, who region of the electromagnetic spectra. Bell Laboratories, he took up a permanent had been there about two years.” Further they argued that such photons assignment and remained there for 37 Engineers working at the Bell should now form a radiation field years. At the Bell Laboratories he met Laboratories had built a radio antenna encompassing the entire universe. The Robert Woodrow Wilson. Their which was used in the early 1960s to situation is such that it can be assumed collaboration led to the discovery of the transmit and receive radio signals to and that the radiation is emitted by a cosmic microwave background radiation. from Telstar satellites. When the antenna blackbody and its temperature can be Wilson was born on 10 January was made available for research purpose, estimated from the Plank’s radiation law. 1936 in , Texas, USA. His father Penzias and Wilson planned to use it to After discussing with Prof. Dicke, Penzias worked in oil well service company in examine whether the gaseous halo realised that the mysterious radiation was Houston. Robert attended a public school surrounding the Milky Way galaxy was actually left-over, cooled-down radiation in Houston. While in school he took piano made up of glowing radio waves. Their of the Big Bang. The theory of the Big lessons for several years. Influenced by his initial task was to calibrate the instrument Bang was originally proposed by George father, he developed a keen interest in to eliminate its noise. Gamow and Ralph Alpher. The term electronics. He wrote: “During my pre- They took the device apart. They “Big Bang” was coined by Fred Hoyle. college years I went on many trips with checked the dish and all other connections. my father into the oil fields to visit their While checking the device they found (Contd. from page...30)

fofofo P V iziziz 33 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 Revolutionary optical technologies  Biman Basu E-mail: [email protected]

uring recent years, information refractive index could prevent light loss by properties. Later, in a paper published in Dtechnology has revolutionised our facilitating improved total internal 1961, Kapany described the theory of light daily life – be it high-speed broadband reflection. (Total internal reflection is an propagation into fibres. By combining the networks for Internet or the ubiquitous optical phenomenon that occurs when a ray fibre bundle technology with cladding, digital camera. This has been some applications, in particular possible to a large part due to the the gastroscope (an optical development of advanced instrument used for inspecting the electronic and optical devices and interior of the stomach), soon systems that brought sea change went all the way to industrial to the fields of high-speed production. communication and imaging Kao’s contribution has been technology. The in mainly in studying in detail the Physics for 2009 has been jointly fundamental properties of optical awarded to three scientists, fibres with respect to optical Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle Charles K Kao Willard S. Boyle George E. Smith communication. His research and George E. Smith, in recognition of their of light strikes a medium boundary at an concerned the study of the attenuation roles in shaping the modern information angle larger than the critical angle with (weakening) coefficient of silica as a technology. Kao receives half the prize respect to the normal to the surface. If the function of wavelength. His most important money for initiating the search for and the refractive index is lower on the other side finding was that losses in media development of the low-loss optical fibre of the boundary no light can pass through, were mostly caused by absorption and presently used in optical fibre scattering He discovered that communication systems, while on the short wavelength side, Boyle and Smith share the other attenuation is due to Rayleigh half for inventing the charge- scattering (scattering of light coupled device (CCD) presently by particles much smaller used in many digital cameras and than the wavelength of the in advanced medical and light, which may be scientific instruments. individual atoms or molecules), while on the long Fibres as light pipes wavelength side, it is due to The first ideas of applications of absorption in molecules. This glass fibres (i.e. extremely thin meant that fibres with glass glass rods) for guiding light date of higher purity could be a from the late 1920’s. They were all about image transmission good candidate for optical through a bundle of fibres. Bare communication. In glass fibres were, however, quite particular, Kao’s research inefficient, as much light escaped showed that fused silica Schematic cross-section of an optical fibre through the sides and only a (SiO2) had the purity small part could be transmitted. so effectively all of the light is reflected.) At required for optical communication. An Each time the fibres touched each other, or intense worldwide search with the aim to when the surface of the fibres was scratched, about the same period, Indian-born produce glass fibres with low losses began, light was led away from the fibres, leading Narinder Singh Kapany and H.H. to loss of light. Hopkins at Imperial College in London stimulated by Kao’s work. A breakthrough came in the early successfully constructed a bundle of several Subsequently research by other 1950’s when it was demonstrated that thousand fibres 75 centimetres long and workers succeeded in making glass fibres of cladding the fibres with glass of lower demonstrated good image transmission fused silica with the low losses that Kao had

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schemes for colour photography were also explored during the 19th century. Gabriel Lippman was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physics for his colour photographic process based on interference effects. But the invention of digital imaging in the 1980s changed the technique of photography like never before. At the heart of digital imaging is a solid-state device called the charge-coupled device, or CCD in short. The CCD was an accidental invention. When the inventors, and George Smith, started their work on CCD, imaging was not their goal. Their aim was to create a better electronic memory, but as a memory device the CCD is now forgotten. Instead it has become an indispensable part of modern imaging technology. Fibre optic endoscopy image of the stomach of a healthy person The imaging technique makes use of envisioned using a clever chemical method image on a bitumen-coated metal plate in the photoelectric effect, which was first called CVD (chemical vapour deposition). 1826 using a camera obscura with an 8-hour theorised by and earned him To make a core and a cladding with very exposure time. Since then, photography has the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. The effect close refractive indices, titanium was used come a long way. The roll of film was occurs when light hits a silicon plate and to dope the fused silica core, and pure fused invented 1887 by a priest, H. Goodwin, knocks out electrons in the photocells. The silica was used in the cladding, which and explored by George Eastman. The larger the amount of light, the larger is the substantially improved the quality of light Eastman Kodak box camera for roll film number of electrons that are liberated. Just transmission by the fibres. appeared on the market in 1888. Different like many other devices in the electronics Global communication, and in particular internet and long-distance telephony, is now based primarily on optical fibre technology. The main advantage of using light compared to radio waves in communication is the high frequencies that allow high data transmission rate. Nowadays, several terabits (1012 bits) per second can be transmitted in a single fibre which represents an increase by a factor of one million to what could be achieved fifty years ago with radio signal transmission. Moreover, light beam is not affected by electrical or magnetic disturbances that often caused disruption in electric signals passing through wires. Naturally, the number of optical fibre cables being installed all over the world is increasing rapidly. Fibre optics has also brought in a revolution in a huge number of other applications, in medicine, laser technology, and sensors.

Images become digital It was in 1826 that the French inventor A charge-coupled device (CCD) uses charges generated via the Joseph Nicephore Niépce captured the first photoelectric effect to create digital images

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industry, the CCD is the image capacity of the sensor is obtained. made out of silicon. The Thus a CCD with 1280 × 1024 pixels yields size of a stamp, the silicon a capacity of 1.3 megapixels (1.3 million plate holds millions of pixels). photocells sensitive to The advantages of the electronic light. image sensor quickly became evident. In When a voltage is 1970, just about a year after the invention, applied to the CCD array, Smith and Boyle demonstrated a CCD in the content of the their video camera for the first time. The individual photocells can first camera with built-in CCD appeared be progressively read out; on the market in 1981. Five years later in row by row, the electrons 1986, the first 1.4 megapixel image sensor slide off the array onto a arrived, and a further nine years on in kind of a conveyor belt. 1995, the world’s first fully digital For example, an array of photographic camera appeared. Camera 100 × 100 image points manufacturers around the world were is transformed into a quick to catch on, and today the market is 10,000-point- long flooded with ever smaller and cheaper chain. In this manner the products including mobile phones with CCD transforms the built-in digital cameras. Working of a CCD can be compared to buckets on conveyor optical image into electric Without the CCD, the development belts catching falling rain, to represent photons of light. signals that are of digital cameras would have taken a much Each bucket (packet) contains a different amount of water subsequently translated slower course. Without the CCD we would (charge), depending on how much rain fell on that part of into digital ones and not have seen the astonishing images of the array. The buckets are shifted in an orderly fashion to zeros. Each cell can then space taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, a collecting row, then to a final measuring device at the be recreated as an image or the images of the red desert on our front. In this way the quantity of water in each bucket is point, a pixel. When the neighbouring planet Mars. And without the counted. In a typical CCD this can happen very fast: about width of a CCD, CCD the almost-instantaneous global 30 times per second for every one of millions of “buckets” expressed in pixels, is coverage of events by the international (pixels) on the CCD multiplied with its height, media would have been impossible. Contd. from (page...33) cosmic microwave background radiation 6. Pannekoek, K., A History of Astronomy. was clinching evidence in favour of the New York : Dover Publications, Inc., Later Alpher and argued Big Bang theory. 1989. that if there was really a Big Bang then Guyana has issued a stamp in 7. Seeds, Michael A. Foundations of the accompanying radiation should still honour of Robert W. Wilson. Antigua Astronomy, Pacific Grove, CA: be present today, though it would have and Barbuda has issued a stamp in honour Thomson Learning Academic Resource lost energy as the universe expanded. It of Arno Penzias. Centre 2003. was this idea of a left-over radiation that 8. The Cambridge Dictionary of Scientists, was further elaborated by Prof. Dicke References : Cambridge : Cambridge University and his group. Press 2004. 1. A Dictionary of Astronomy, Oxford : Penzias and Wilson published their 9. Available sources on the Internet. Oxford University Press, 1997. findings in the Astrophysical Journal 2. A Dictionary of Scientists, Oxford : (The article is a popular presentation of (1965). In the same issue of the journal, Oxford University Press, 1999. the important points on the life and work of Dicke and his colleagues argued that the 3. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, New Arno Allan Penzias Robert Woodrow Wilson radiation studied by Penzias and Wilson York : Chambers, Harrap Publishers available in the existing literature. The idea is was actually the remnant of the Big Bang. Ltd., 1997 to inspire the younger generation of know more After the pioneering observations made 4. Dardo, Mauro, Nobel Laureates and about Arno Allan Penzias Robert Woodrow by Penzias and Wilson, in Twentieth-century Physics, Cambridge: Wilson . The author has given the sources con- different parts of the world carried out Cambridge University Press. sulted for writing this article. However, the sources on the Internet are numerous and so similar measurements and all of them 5. Heilbron, J.L. (Ed.), The Oxford they have not been individually listed. The au- came to the same conclusion that Companion to the History of Modern thor is grateful to all those authors whose works radiation as ‘frozen remnant’ of the Big Science, Oxford : Oxford University have contributed to writing this article). Bang really exists. The discovery of the Press, 2003.

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 30 V iziziz Mediscape Retreat from Reality Schizophrenia  Dr. Yatish Agarwal When a man says that he is Jesus or Napoleon, or that the Martians are after him, or e-mail: [email protected] claims something else that seems outrageous to common sense, he is labelled psychotic and locked up in a madhouse. Freedom of speech is only for normal people. —Thomas Szasz in The Second Sin Schizophrenia support is robust, the outcome is even chizophrenia is a devastating mental of the mind’ or even ‘living death’ because better as the sufferer is not able to totally Sillness. It imprisons the human the person was totally lost to the ‘normal’ withdraw into his or her inner fantasy consciousness in cobwebs of absurdity. world. With modern treatment and world—the real world never loses its hold The person loses contact with reality, and management this is no longer true of the on the person. the thinking apparatus goes haywire. majority. With thought processes going awry, the Modern anti-psychotic medications Genesis and History mind becomes a prisoner of private can limit the symptoms of schizophrenia Strangely though, the name fantasies. Emotional expressiveness gets quite effectively. More than 60 per cent schizophrenia is a misnomer. Its origin blunted, behaviour becomes odd, actions people with schizophrenia can return to goes back to a Greek word which means turn bizarre, the person becomes ‘split mind’. However, contrary limited in his or her ability to to the popular belief, a person interact with other people and with schizophrenia does not have often withdraws from the outside split or multiple personalities. world. Rather, the illness is a disorder Of all the mental illnesses, of the thinking apparatus. A schizophrenia is probably the most person with schizophrenia has difficult to understand for difficulty in telling the difference everyone involved. The first signs between real and unreal of illness typically emerge in experiences, logical and illogical adolescence or young adulthood. thoughts, and appropriate and Most people suffer the illness inappropriate behaviour. It is as throughout their lives, thereby if the electrical circuitry of the losing opportunities for careers and brain has gone haywire and relationships. Due to a lack of wrong or random cross public understanding about the connections result in odd illness, people with schizophrenia fragmented thinking. These often feel isolated and stigmatised, characteristics were first noted by and are reluctant or unable to talk Eugene Bleuler, a Swiss about their illness. This psychiatrist, who wrote a classic secretiveness comes as a major paper on the subject, giving the shock to families and friends. They illness its modern name. feel acutely distressed and confused to see normal and lead active fruitful lives. Schizophrenia is not a disease of the effects of the illness on their relative, There are a number of people, including the new age. It merits description in who they remember as being active and some rich and famous and some who have several of the ancient texts, some as old lively person before being taken ill. The given much to the world, who have flown as 1400 BC. The founder of modern economic burden and social stigma over the cuckoo’s nest. The famous psychiatry, German psychiatrist Emil associated with supporting such a person mathematician, John K Nash, who gave Kraepelin, who devised the first scientific can also complicate the situation, and the framework of the Game Theory and system to identify and classify mental family members may try to deny the received the Nobel prize in 1994, is just disorders, gave it the name of ‘dementia existence of the illness. Earlier on, this one of the many such success stories. In praecox’, which means premature illness was sometimes described as ‘cancer societies where the family network and dementia, in 1899.

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time. In some people the symptoms may • Thought insertion and thought only last for a brief period, disappear, and broadcasting (the person feels that then appear again in a cyclical fashion for a his thoughts are not his own, that few years. The illness may then stop other people put thoughts into his recurring and leave no residual effect. This mind or withdraw them and make is called the schizophreniform disorder. them public in some way, that In most people the disease runs a long other people can read his and continuous course. The severity of thoughts, or that his thoughts are symptoms and the functioning of a person being said aloud or broadcast on may however wax and wane. The disease radio or TV) may erupt and become severe, but may • Incoherent bizarre behaviour again become placid. Some people, as they • Incoherent, disjointed, or rambling grow older, are fortunate to experience a speech gradual decline in symptoms. About 25 per • Abnormal posturing or movement cent people with schizophrenia become symptom-free in their later lives. • Difficulty in coping with home and The illness is marked by a variety of work-related responsibilities symptoms. The most prominent features are: Schizophrenia causes an enormous disordered thinking—thinking becomes cost to society, both in terms of treatment incoherent, disjointed and rambling; and lost productivity. Those who suffer from emotions get unrelated to the situation, the illness occupy the largest number of beds actions and utterances become impulsive, in psychiatric wards. During an acute phase and hallucinations overtake—the person of the illness they may require begins to hear voices, often of unfriendly hospitalisation because of the danger they kind, or see objects that do not exist. Bizarre pose to themselves. Some 40 per cent people delusions are another common feature. The with schizophrenia try to commit suicide movements may become strange. Most and 15 per cent end their lives this way. people with schizophrenia cannot recognise With nobody to take care of them, that their mental functioning is disturbed or many people with schizophrenia wander that they need help. They often do not around, homeless. The need in their case is understand that medication is a necessity for the treatment of the illness, rather than them and this worsens their suffering. letting them slip away.

One in a Hundred Common Handicaps in Schizophrenia affects between one and two Schizophrenia Associated Difficulties per cent of people during their lifetime. The • Obsessive thinking illness is found all across the world and the Core Difficulties • Compulsive secret rituals rates are also rather similar. Race and culture • Disorderly thinking • do not affect the numbers, and men and Prolonged anxiety, tension or • Incongruity of emotion worry women are at equal risk. Whereas most men • Impulsive actions and utterances face the onset of the illness between 16 and • Fidgeting, pacing, or hyperactivity • Bizarre delusions (with little or no 25 years of age, women frequently develop • Depressed mood appreciation of why the ideas are not the symptoms between the ages of 25 and • Irritability or hostility 30. There are other differences as well acceptable to the people around) • Feeling worthless or guilty between the two sexes. The illness generally • Paranoid thoughts (the belief that one takes a less severe course in women than in is surrounded by hostile forces which • Unexplained physical tiredness men—they need fewer hospitalisations than keep a close watch and secretly • Poor concentration intervene to harm) men, and function better socially in the • Sleeping problem • Hallucinations (hearing threatening or community. • Appetite or eating problem unfriendly voices, where none exists) • Diminished sexual interest Symptoms • Passivity feelings (the person is • Overly dependent behaviour The illness usually develops slowly over convinced that his actions are months or years, and can surface at any controlled by an alien power) • Poor physical health

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meaningless ways or make up new words. In addition, they may show ‘poverty’ of speech, in which they talk less and more slowly than other people, fail to answer questions or reply only briefly, or suddenly stop talking in the middle of a conversation.

Bizarre Behaviour A person with schizophrenia may behave bizarrely. He may appear markedly dishevelled, may dress in an unusual manner (for example, wear multiple shirts, coats, scarves and gloves or use inappropriate makeup), may talk to himself, may shout or swear without provocation, may walk backward, laugh suddenly without explanation, make funny faces, or may display clearly inappropriate sexual behaviour. In rare cases, he may maintain a Difficulties when the illness is severe has replaced them with someone else’s rigid, bizarre pose for hours on end, or may engage in constant random or repetitive • Difficulties in money management; organs without leaving any wounds or scars. movements. excessive spending He may also believe that aliens are • Severe distrust or acute tendency for controlling his thoughts or that his own thoughts are being broadcast to the world Social Withdrawal suspicion so that other people can hear them. A person with schizophrenia may experience • Compromised learning ability several negative symptoms, the most • Poor memory Hallucinations characteristic of them being social • Physical violence People with schizophrenia may also withdrawal. The person may thus begin to • Risk of harming self experience hallucinations (false sensory avoid others or act as though others do not • Poor grooming and hygiene perceptions), and may see, hear, smell, feel, exist. He may show decreased emotional or taste things that are not really there. expressiveness, and may talk in a low, To develop a clearer understanding of Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing monotonous voice, avoid eye contact with the illness, let us take a closer look at its voices when no one else is around, are others, and display a blank facial expression. characteristic symptoms: especially common in schizophrenia. He may also have difficulty in experiencing These hallucinations may include two or pleasure and may not feel up to taking part Delusions more voices conversing with each other, in any work or social activities. This lack of Delusions are false ideas or beliefs that voices that continually comment on the volition stops him from initiating and obviously appear untrue to other people. person’s thoughts or behaviour, or voices pursuing goal-directed activities. People with schizophrenia experience that command the person to do delusions of many kinds and are unable to something. These are fairly characteristic Other Symptoms of the illness. These hallucinations must appreciate why their ideas are unacceptable People with schizophrenia may face occur when the person is clearly awake to those around them. Sometimes, these difficulties with memory, attention span, and not at the time when he is about to delusions are extremely grandiose. A person abstract thinking, and planning ahead. They fall asleep or is waking up. with schizophrenia thus may believe that commonly suffer from anxiety, depression, he is the king, prime minister, or president and suicidal thoughts. They may experience of a country! Often, the delusions are Disorganized Thinking and physical tiredness for no valid reason, may persecutory in nature. He may believe that Speech oversleep or find difficulty in sleeping, suffer people are plotting against him, and are out Since the thought process get disorganised a loss of sexual interest, become overly to get him, or that he is being spied on. in people with schizophrenia, they may talk dependant, and face problems in money This condition is known as paranoia. The in an incoherent or nonsensical way and management. delusions may also be bizarre. A person with may jump from topic to topic or string schizophrenia may thus believe that a together loosely associated phrases. They (Read about the Causes and Cures stranger has removed his internal organs and may also combine words and phrases in of Schizophrenia in this column next month)

fofofo P V iziziz 27 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 water, and other compounds represent Recent Development in potential resources that could sustain future lunar exploration. LCROSS was launched on 18 June Science and Technology 2009 as a companion mission to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO.  Biman Basu After separating from LRO, the LCROSS e-mail: [email protected] spacecraft held onto the spent Centaur upper stage rocket of the launch vehicle and went into orbit around the Earth LCROSS finds water on concentrated on data from the satellite’s in preparation for the Moon impact. The spectrometers, which provide the most Centaur and LCROSS separated on fi- Moon definitive information about the pres- NASA’s Lunar CRater Observation and nal approach to the Moon on 9 Octo- ence of water. At a press conference on ber, and travelling as fast as a speeding Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, has indeed 13 November, researchers revealed pre- found water on Moon. Analysis of data bullet, the Centaur rocket stage crashed liminary data from LCROSS, indicating on the lunar surface, with LCROSS mak- that water exists in a per- ing a spectral analysis of the resulting manently shadowed lunar plume of debris with its onboard instru- crater. An infrared spec- ments. The plume itself grew to 6-8 km trometer on LCROSS had across some 15 seconds after impact. Ap- recorded absorption proximately four minutes of data was bands of water vapour at collected before the LCROSS itself wavelengths of 1.4 and crashed on the Moon. 1.85 microns. Another spectrometer registered ultraviolet emission at Farthest object in the universe 309 nanometres, a telltale detected sign of hydroxyl (OH) Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are flashes radicals created when wa- of gamma rays associated with ex- ter molecules break apart tremely energetic explosions in distant in ultraviolet radiation galaxies. They are the universe’s most from the Sun. Earlier, luminous explosions. Most occur when Plume of debris thrown up by the impact of the ISRO’s Chandrayaan had massive stars run out of nuclear fuel. LCROSS Centaur upper stage in the Cabeus cater near provided evidence of wa- The current theory, which is now sup- the Moon’s south pole. ter on the lunar surface. ported by observational evidence, is Scientists have long that these massive stars evolved ex- from the satellite, which studied the dust speculated about the source of vast tremely rapidly in the early universe, plume created by the impact of Centaur quantities of hydrogen that have been as massive stars tend to do, and then upper stage rocket before it crashed into observed at the lunar poles. The died in a sudden and extremely violent the permanently shadowed region of LCROSS findings are Cabeus cater near the Moon’s south pole shedding new light on the on 9 October 2009, showed telltale sig- question of water, which nature of water. The impact created by scientists now believe the LCROSS Centaur upper stage rocket could be more widespread created a two-part plume of material and in greater quantity from the bottom of the crater. The first than previously sus- part was a high-angle plume of vapour pected. Besides, the per- and fine dust and the second a lower manently shadowed re- angle ejecta curtain of heavier material. gions of Moon’s polar re- This material has not seen sunlight in gions could hold a key to billions of years. the history and evolution Since the impacts, the LCROSS of the solar system, much science team has been working almost as an ice core sample nonstop analysing the huge amount of taken on Earth reveals data the spacecraft collected. The team ancient data. In addition, The Swift satellite

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 26 V iziziz New Horizons

nal Science (18 September time after the Big Bang, it does not be- 2009) and Nature (29 long to the first generation of stars, October 2009). which means stars have been forming Launched in No- and dying much earlier than it was hith- vember 2004, Swift is a erto believed. It also throws new light first-of-its-kind multi- on the evolution of the universe. wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of Antimatter detected in light- gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Its three instru- ning storms ments work together to In particle physics, antimatter is sup- observe GRBs and after- posed to be composed of antiparticles in glows in the gamma ray, the same way that normal matter is com- X-ray, ultraviolet, and posed of particles. For example, an anti- optical wavebands. electron (a positron, an electron with a The red shift of 8.2 positive charge) and an antiproton (a pro- of the new GRB means ton with a negative charge) could form that it went off a mere an anti-hydrogen atom in the same way 625 million years after that an electron and a proton form a nor- This image of GRB 090423 (centre) combines data the Big Bang, when the mal hydrogen atom. Furthermore, it is from Swift’s ultraviolet/optical (blue, green) and X-ray universe was less than 5% also known that mixing matter and anti- (orange, red) telescopes. No visible light accompanied of its current age. The matter would lead to the annihilation of the burst, which hints at great distance. (Credit: photons it spewed into both in the same way that mixing anti- NASA/Swift/Stefan Immler) space travelled for more particles and particles does, giving rise to than 13,000 million years high-energy photons (gamma rays) in the manner when their hydrogen and he- before reaching Earth. According to the process. It is these tell-tale signs of mat- lium fuel was exhausted. researchers, not only did the newly dis- ter-antimatter annihilation that were re- Most observed GRBs are believed covered source, named GRB 090423 cently detected by the Fermi Gamma-Ray to be a narrow beam of intense radia- (after the date it was detected), shatter Space Telescope, a joint venture of NASA, tion released during a supernova event, the previous record for the farthest ob- the U.S. Department of Energy and in- as a rapidly rotating, high-mass star col- ject seen – a galaxy at a distance of stitutions in France, Germany, Japan, lapses to form a black hole. 12,800 million light-years, discovered in Italy and Sweden, in lightning bolts dur- have recently imaged GRB from the 2006 – but it also proved that the uni- ing thunderstorms. most distant object ever seen – a star verse came alive with stars collapsing into a black hole more than within a few hundred mil- 13,000 million light-years away. The lion years of the Big Bang. resulting burst of gamma rays was de- Researchers are inter- tected by NASA’s Swift satellite in April ested in spotting and study- 2009. Within three hours of the detec- ing such distant objects be- tion by Swift, astronomers at the Uni- cause they provide a win- versity of Leicester in UK had detected dow on the early universe. an infrared source at the same position Theoretical models predict using the Infrared that blobs of gas began col- Telescope (UKIT) on Mauna Kea, Ha- lapsing into massive stars waii. It was also observed by astrono- within a few hundred mil- mers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Cen- lion years of the Big Bang. ter for Astrophysics, along with col- These stars burned for a leagues elsewhere in the while before exploding as and the United Kingdom, using ground- supernova. But the infor- based telescopes. Collapse of massive mation obtained from the stars also generates short-lived afterglows spectra of GRB 090423 re- in other wavelengths, which ground- veals an interesting fact. based telescopes can observe. Reports of Despite the source star be- the discovery were published in the jour- ing born within a short Antimatter has been detected in lightning storms.

fofofo P V iziziz 25 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 New Horizons

scientists known as the ‘Horse Genome Project’ with the objective of exploiting genomic technologies for the benefit of equine health. The group has now come out with the genome sequence of the do- mestic horse. To generate a high-quality genome sequence, the researchers analysed DNA from an adult female thoroughbred named Twilight. The horse’s DNA was sequenced using capillary DNA se- quencing technology (known as Sanger Fermi Gamma Ray Telescope sequencing) to reveal a genome that is roughly 2,700 million “letters”, or While carrying out its normal rou- Genome of domesticated nucleotides, in size. It was found to be tine of scanning corners of the universe, horse sequenced slightly larger than the genome of the the Fermi telescope detected signatures domestic dog and smaller than both the As one of the earliest domesticated spe- of antimatter in lightning strikes dur- human and cow genomes. cies, the horse, equus caballus, has played ing severe thunderstorms on Earth. The Subsequent analyses suggest that an important role in human exploration the horse genome is highly repetitive: 46 orbiting telescope picked up as many as and colonisation of the world. For cen- percent of the assembly contains repeti- 17 gamma-ray flashes that occurred just turies, horses have been close human tive sequences. In contrast, less than one before, during and right after lightning companions. The animals were first do- percent of the genome is comprised of strikes during two thunderstorms. What mesticated 4,000 to 6,000 years ago and segmental duplications (segments of was surprising was that the gamma-ray were harnessed primarily for power and DNA with near-identical sequence). emissions were of a particular energy transportation. Over time, as machines Likewise, the genome contained rela- that could have been produced only by became the chief sources of agricultural tively few large rearrangements. In fact, the decay of energetic positrons, the and industrial muscle, those roles have the team found that more than half of antimatter equivalent of electrons, in- shifted to mainly sports and recreational horse chromosomes – 17 of 32 – had dicating that lightning can produce an- activities. similar gene sequences as found in hu- timatter. Humans and horses share an evo- man chromosomes. Gamma-ray flashes have been ob- lutionary history that has implications The horse genome is already prov- served in lightning flashes before, as for the health of both species. Like other ing useful for comparative genomic and mammals, the two species share much energetic electrons moving toward ob- population studies of the horse. It also of the same DNA. Moreover, horses suf- servational spacecraft slowed down, but reveals similarities between the horse fer from more than 90 hereditary dis- the unique signature found by Fermi has and other placental mammals, such as researchers puzzled. According to eases that show similari- Michael Briggs of the University of Ala- ties to those in humans. bama, who announced the puzzling Recognising the need findings on 5 November at the ‘2009 for genomic tools to Fermi Symposium’ in Washington D.C., foster biomedical re- the unusual positron signature seen by search on horses as well Fermi suggests that the normal orienta- as humans, a research tion for an electric field associated with consortium led by sci- entists at the Broad In- a lightning storm somehow reversed. stitute of Massachusetts For now, the discovery raises more Institute of Technology questions than it answers. For instance, (MIT) and Harvard how did the orientation of the electric launched a project three field get turned on its head? What does years ago to decode the the existence of antimatter particles in horse’s genetic blue- lightning mean? Researchers are trying print. The effort was to work out exactly what happens dur- based on ten-year col- ing the lightning strikes to reverse the laboration among an electric field. international group of Twilight, the mare whose genome was sequenced

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 24 V iziziz New Horizons the hoofed group including goats, bison chusetts Institute of Technology, the new and cattle. According to co-author Kerstin drug called SAHM1 targets NOTCH and Letters to the Editor Lindblad-Toh, of the Broad Institute at MIT, works by preventing the assembly of the com- horses and humans suffer from similar ill- plex needed to activate NOTCH genes – the Spreading scientific temper nesses, so identifying the genetic culprits in NOTCH transcription factor complex. (Na- horses promises to deepen our knowledge of ture, 12 November 2009). I have been reading the magazine disease in both organisms. The work, pub- The NOTCH transcription factor Dream 2047 for the last three years and lished in the journal Science (6 November regulates cell-to-cell communication in the found it quite useful for popularising 2009), may also shed light on how horses NOTCH signalling pathway, a system gov- science and inspiring teachers and were domesticated. erning cell growth and development. The students of science. Your editorials are In addition to sequencing the genome NOTCH complex is of tremendous interest thought-provoking, very informative of a thoroughbred horse, the researchers also because of its role as a master developmental and make interesting reading. You examined DNA from a variety of other horse regulator of gene transcription. Inappropri- touch upon the latest happenings in breeds. The team surveyed the extent of ge- ate activation of the NOTCH complex of science and technology, which is very netic variation both within and across breeds transcription factors is directly implicated in useful for all those involved in teaching to create a catalogue of more than one mil- the causation of several diseases, including of science. The articles are very lion single-letter genetic differences in these T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a type informative and appear to be specially breeds. Till date, scientists have also se- of blood cancer. Mutations in the transcrip- written to encourage students and quenced the genomes of the platypus, mouse, tion factor can result in uncontrolled cell teacher community and motive them rat, chimpanzee, rhesus macaque and, of growth, often causing cells to turn cancer- to work in fundamental science. You course, humans. ous. Ordinarily, drugs have no effect on tran- have been doing a commendable job in scription factors because they work by form- spreading the scientific temper in the New drug target for cancer ing complexes with multiple proteins, leav- country. ing no open binding sites for small drug M.Sudurshan In the field of molecular biology, a transcrip- molecules to fit into. To get around the prob- Lecturer in Biological Science tion factor is a protein that binds to specific lem the researchers designed novel synthetic, Nehru College of Education DNA sequences and thereby controls the cell-permeable, stabilised á-helical peptides Pillaiyarkuppam Village transfer (or transcription) of genetic infor- that disrupt protein-protein interactions in Puducherry-605 502 mation from DNA to messenger RNA NOTCH. The hydrocarbon-stapled peptide E-mail: [email protected] (mRNA). If we compare human physiology called ‘SAHM1’ is a promising NOTCH an- to a puppet show, then transcription factors tagonist. Rendering yeoman’s service pull the puppet strings. They bind to DNA The really distinctive aspect of this new and turn genes on or off,setting in motion class of drug, according to the researchers, is We had an opportunity to go through genetic processes that control how normal its remarkable ability to penetrate cells. De- the editorial of Dream 2047 (December cells grow and develop. They also help main- spite being much larger than most small 2009). We are much impressed and we tain tumour growth, underscoring their im- molecule drugs, SAHM1 can still get into portance as cancer drug targets. Inactivating cells, unlike a biological drug. The peptides do appreciate that Vigyan Prasar is a key transcription factor could be a simple are taken up by an active transport mecha- rendering yeoman’s service to the nation way to stop the growth of tumours. Yet tran- nism into compartments called endosomes, in promoting scientific temper amongst scription factors are counted among the most from which they can reach their target. people and to transform our nation into difficult molecules to neutralise with a drug The researchers tested the stapled pep- a scientifically thinking one through – in fact, no such drugs are currently avail- tides on human T-cell acute lymphoblastic Dream 2047 and also its science able. leukaemia and found that the drug inhib- programs aired from Doordharshan and Now there is hope. A team of scien- ited cell proliferation associated with the AIR. Ours is a residential school tists has recently developed a new drug that NOTCH transcription factor, but did not promoting quality education blocks a transcription factor – previously block the growth of cells that are not regu- predominantly for the rural area thought to be impossible to block – that has lated by NOTCH. This led them to believe children having a total strength about been linked to leukaemia and several other that the peptides were effectively targeting 3,000 students from K.G. to XII std. cancers of the lungs, ovaries, pancreas, and the transcription factor complexes in the right We would be grateful if you could gastrointestinal tract. The drug potently spot. The researchers also found that mice kindly arrange to include our school’s blocks a signalling pathway called NOTCH, injected with leukaemia cells and treated with name in your mailing list. known to be active in various cancers. De- the stapled peptides showed lower leukaemia M. Selvaraj veloped by a US team led by Greg Verdine counts in the bone marrow and spleen than Principal, Aditya Vidhyashram at Harvard University and James Bradner at those that went untreated. 5, New Saram (Near Avvai Thidal), the Broad Institute of Harvard and Massa- Puducherry-605 013

fofofo P V iziziz 23 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 transplantation, embryo research and biotechnology by the society is required so Editorial (Contd. from page...35) surrogate motherhood. that the benefits are maximized and negative Scientists are working to develop a broad It is to be noted that issues of concern effects are minimized. People are not per se array of insects with new characteristics that are not same in every area of biotechnology. for or against biotechnology. They are also could make them useful in fighting the For example, the ethical issues assume far not so naïve to think that any new spread of infectious diseases, controlling greater importance in medical technology will have zero risk. They are noxious weeds and insect pests, and biotechnology in areas such as human aware of the fact that their lives are full of producing pharmaceuticals. cloning. We need to develop ‘a risks. What we need to learn is to optimally It is anticipated that like information disaggregated’ approach to analyse the issues balance the risks against each other and technology, biotechnology has the potential involved in various areas of biotechnology weigh it against potential benefits. for improving army readiness and soldier research. It is to be underlined that the effect survival. It has been projected that Reasons behind strong opposition to of information and knowledge is very much biotechnology can offer some of the most GM foods are not very well understood and dependent on how they are interpreted or immediate solutions for fighting climate often these vary from one region to another. selected by pre-existing attitudes, rather change. Surveys have revealed that in advanced than on factual content itself. This The apprehensions relating to countries the lack of information is not the phenomenon is very much culture- biotechnology are not simply related to their primary reason for opposition to GM foods. dependent and it varies from country to effects on human health, environment or However, in developing countries the lack country. ethical issues. There are issues relating to of knowledge and awareness is playing a It has to be ensured that new control of biotechnology research and also significant role in whipping up the passion knowledge and technologies are not used issues relating to access, such as implications against the introduction of GM foods. It is to discriminate inappropriately against of intellectual property rights. Today many not simply the concerns about health and individuals and groups. are concerned about the control of global safety but also social and political values that To overcome the people’s concerns food security falling into the hands of a few are responsible for the opposition to GM about biotechnology an ongoing dialogue multinational corporations. The advances foods. between scientists, policy makers, opinion in biotechnology have posed new ethical Certainly many applications of leaders, educators and the public needs to dilemmas. These need to be addressed biotechnology carry risks that need to be be established. Such dialogue needs to be though they are not simple issues to deal adequately addressed through regulatory open and well informed. Such a dialogue with. and safety measures. Fears raised in people’s will be possible only if we can create public Many countries including India are minds need to be removed. We should awareness and understanding on issues actively reviewing the safety and ethics of remember that biotechnology does not exist relating to biotechnology in local languages/ biotechnology research and its applications. in vacuum. A technology evolves by human media. And here lies the role of science Strict guidelines have been established for efforts and is shaped by social, cultural and communicators. monitoring work on embryo political climates. Regulation of  Subodh Mahanti

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 22 V iziziz Sky Map for January 2010 Moon - Last Quarter North New Moon

7 January 15 January West East

Full Moon Moon - First Quarter

South 30 January 23 January

The sky map is prepared for viewers in Nagpur (21.090 N, 79.090 E). It includes constellations and bright stars. For viewers south of Nagpur, constel- lations of the southern sky will appear higher up in the sky , and those of the northern sky will appear nearer the northen horizon. Similarly, for viewer north of Nagpur, constellations of northern sky will appear higher up in the sky, and those of the southern sky will appear nearer the southern horizon. The map can be used at 10 PM on 1 January, at 9 PM on 15 January and at 8 PM on 31 January.

Tips to use sky Visibility of Planetsl (IST) Sky Event Date IST Event map: 01 01:21 Partial Lunar Eclipse Rising Setting In the Zodiac 02 03:06 Moon Perigee (1) Choose a place away Mercury 05:26 16:36 Sagittarius 03 03:29 Perihelion from city lights/street Venus 06:55 18:03 Sagittarius-Capricorns 05 01:32 Mercury Inferior Conjunction lights. (2) Hold the sky- Mars 19:23 08:23 Leo-Cancer 12 03:04 Venus Superior Conjunction map overhead with North Jupiter 08:58 20:30 Capricorns-Aquarius 15 13:37 Annular Solar Eclipse in the direction of Polaris. Saturn 22:53 11:01 Virgo 17 08:10 Moon Apogee 27 11:29 Mercury at greatest Elongation (3) Use a pencil torch for Uranus* 10:17 22:11 Aquarius-Pisces 30 01:41 Mars Opposition reading the sky map. (4) Neptune* 08:42 20:11 Capricorns Try to identify constella- 30 15:33 Moon Perigee tion as shown in the map lTime shown is subject to vary (± 1 hr) from place to place.  Arvind C. Ranade one by one. *Not naked eye object E-mail : [email protected]

fofofo P V iziziz 21 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 Your Opinion

YOUR OPINION Dream 2047 has been inviting your opinion on a specific topic every month. The reader sending the best comments will receive a popular science book published by VP. Selected comments received will also be published in Dream 2047. The comments should be limited to 400 words. This month's topic: “Can nuclear power reduce global warming?”

Response should contain full name; postal address with pincode and email ID, if any; and should be accompanied by a recent passport size photograph. Response may be sent by email ([email protected]) or by post to the address given below. If sent by post, "Response: Dream 2047 January 2010" should be clearly written on the envolope. Vigyan Prasar A-50, Institutional Area, Sector-62, NOIDA 201 307 Phone: 91-120-240 4430/35 Fax: 91-120-240 4437 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vigyanprasar.gov.in

Winners of “Your Opinion” contest for October 2009. Topic: “Does the heavy pressure of studies and homework deprive today’s children of adequate physical activity, thus affecting their healthy growth?” “Childhood is the stage that lays the foundation of good health 1. Tapata Sahoo in later life. Today’s teachers and parents want their children to Bhandaripokhari High School PO Bhandaripokhari put their head in study materials and curricular framework 24×7. District – Bhadrak But it is worth remembering that a “sound mind resides in a sound PIN – 756120 body” and vice-versa. Health does not only mean physical health but a mixture of mental and social health. So, for a sound physical health adequate physical activity is necessary. If children are always flooded with excessive homework and study pressure they would be in danger of delayed growth”.

“Today without a good percentage in the exams, a student can 2. Mr. Rajkumar Garg neither get entry in reputed higher centres of learning, nor has 74-87/3, D.L. Road, any future prospects for success. When the question arises of Dehradun – 248001 deprivation of today’s children of adequate physical activity due Uttarakhand. to more studies and homework, I think most children today are not only excelling in academics, but they are also attending health clubs and gymnasiums regularly, thus promoting amongst themselves, not only a good health, but also keeping abreast of the latest changes and developments in science and commerce. In fact, the peer-pressure faced by children at schools and colleges is far more trustful. It draws its power from the innate desire of a today’s child to be a successful and talented person”.

“In my opinion there is indeed effect on healthy growth of a 3. Dongare Ashok Kalyan child due to heavy pressure of studies and home work. The study 7, Ramkrishna Apartment, and home work keep the child totally busy. Their parents’ Shivaji Nagar. attention is mainly towards the study and diet, but no attention Beed – 431122 (M.S.) is paid towards health in term of play, exercise, yoga and physical exertion, which is essential for good health”.

The winners will receive a copy of VP Publication

fofofo P Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4 20 V iziziz Science for All : Quest for Excellence (A brief report on 6th International Conference on Hands-on Science) he 6th International Conference on Around 200 papers were presented During the conference Vigyan Parasar THands-on-Science-2009 was held at during the conference through three parallel organised an exhibition along with several Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad from 27- sessions and each session was chaired by activity-based corners. Several resource 31 October 2009. This was the first occasion distinguished scientists, communicators, and persons/experts on different hands-on when this meet was held in India. The science journalists from India and abroad. activities were invited from different parts of conference was organised jointly by the Scientists, communicators, science activists, the country to display their activity and International Network on Hands on Science teachers and professors from different conduct workshops for the participants and (HSCI, Network), International Centre for countries like Portugal, USA, Brazil, Korea, the general public. Some of the activity Science Communication, National Council France, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, Taiwan, corners which caught the imagination of the for Science and Technology Communication China, and Qatar participated in the participants as well as the general public were (NCSTC), New Delhi, Vigyan Prasar conference. “Joy of chemistry”, “Origami”, “Making of (VP),Noida (UP), Gujarat Council of Science City (GCSC), Ahmedabad, Institute of Management and Advance Studies (IMAS), and Science Technology and Development Initiative (STAD), Lucknow (UP). The main objective of the conference was furthering the culture of innovation and experimentation. Primarily, it offered a common platform for different groups – science communicators, scientists, researches, universities, students and common man – to be together in India and directly interact with the similar experts from across the world. This interaction was through sharing of knowledge Dr. V.B. Kamble, Director VP delivering a lecture during Valedictory in the form of presentation of views, session in ICHS-2009 experiences, research papers, surveys, data analysis, live demonstrations of activities and a The main attraction of the conference folk toys based on scientific principles”, series of workshops covering different areas of was the series of talks given by eminent “Rocketry”, “Robotics”, “Observing nature science and technology communication. scientists on the path-breaking efforts based through handmade equipment” besides Besides, there was a component of invited talks, on the experiences of the speakers in the area demonstration and explanation of so-called exhibition, activity corners, display and of hands-on science. All the talks generated miracles. The “Fun with mathematics”, posters as well. a lot of interest and curiosity in the minds puzzles and activity kits were added attraction The Hands-on-Science Network is of participants, specially the students. In this at the exhibition. Vigyan Prasar also displayed maintained in the form of an international series, talk on “Ideas and innovations” by its books, posters, activity kits, and CD association with the objective to promote N.K. Sharma, “Use of drama as a living ROMs during the conference. experimental teaching of science as a way of strategy” by Richard Pinner, “New US Software developed by Vigyan Prasar improving science education in school and report of learning science in informal were appreciated by both Indian and foreign science literacy in society. Last year this environments” by Bruce V. Lewenstein, participants, especially from Portugal, Turkey, conference was organised in Brazil on theme “Between question and clarity” by Dr. V.B. who explored the possibilities of having some “Hands-on science – formal and informal Kamble, Director Vigyan Prasar, and collaboration with Vigyan Prasar, specially for science education”. “Experience from Science Express” by Er the demonstration of kits. B.K. Tyagi, The conference started on 28 October Anuj Sinha, Head, NCSTC were well Scientist-D, Kapil Tripathi, Scientist-D, 2009 with the inaugural function. Focal theme appreciated by all. Navneet Gupta and Chander Pal from Vigyan of the conference was “Science for all: Quest Padam Vibhushan, Dr. Saroj Ghose, Prasar participated to coordinate the for Excellence” with following sub themes: President NCSM/ICM was the chief guest exhibition and workshops during the i) Science innovation and hands-on at the inaugural function. Dr. D. conference. science Balasubramanian, Director L.V. Prasad Eye A major outcome of HSCI-2009, ii) Science communication through hands- research Institute, Hyderabad and well- among others, was the “Hands-on Science on activities known science writer graced the occasion at India Declaration - 2009, which is a road map iii) Experience in science – fun living the valedictory function and his talk on for chalking out a coordinated effort in iv) Hand-on science – evolution of modern “History of genetics – Past and present” was achieving the goal of “Science for All: Quest knowledge enjoyed by all. Shri Anuj Sinha presented the for Excellence”. v) Promotion of scientific and draft resolution of the recommendations of technological temper the conference HSCI-2009.

fofofo P V iziziz 19 Dream 2047, January 2010, Vol. 12 No. 4