Editorial The pain and pleasure of making science films ow can you faithfully communicate has to achieve a high level of appreciation of Hyour ideas and thoughts? By writing the skills and emotional characteristics of these down, which was the classical these sensitive artists. Most directors prefer method; or by making a film, which has to use a limited set of actors with whom they E-mail: [email protected] emerged as a contemporary method. Over have built a relationship of mutual trust. TV films with updation, if necessary, for a the past century we have witnessed how Skilled technicians are, similarly, rare, always second screening on the same or some other this audiovisual medium has evolved with in demand and therefore very busy. channel. significant technical breakthroughs on the From the design and preparation of the The investment in science films one hand and how the art of telling a story in sets, to completing the editing – each vital depends on graphics and animations that an engaging way has emerged on the other. step calls for creative planning, coordination, are increasingly needed to make the story Films on science subjects, both feature and and control. The director stakes his career interesting and understandable. The success documentary, have benefitted immensely with every assignment since he is valued by of natural history films depends crucially from these developments. his latest offering. on capturing rare and difficult events and The producer is an important entity Commencing with search for a good this needs multiple camera teams stationed who besides raising material resources selects story the challenge includes writing an at difficult sites. Raising finances for such his team. He should be able to express his interesting script, shooting the film, and projects is not easy although critical acclaim vision with adequate clarity and after that displaying rough cuts. Each stage can witness may be bestowed. allow space for creativity. Monitoring should a return to the drawing board or revisiting Non-fiction science films are often not result in interference and only production some segments by the producer. With many hybrids in their approach and finish. Social decisions should be referred to him. government departments as also in Vigyan representation with some honorable exceptions The director needs to spend Prasar a committee of experts (mostly is a key differential from entertainment or considerable time on pre-production external) has to recommend the acceptance. commercial films. Programmes for television, research and in understanding the script. With sponsorship and phased release of funds on the other hand, are often formatted as The work should be accepted only when linked to clearing each stage, the director has game shows and incorporate elements of there is clarity of action on all significant to defend each shot and angle. competition. Serials are often made and issues. The understanding arrived at at this The above is not to scare prospective telecast because of several factors that are not stage will ensure that the final product meets film makers. The art and craft of science always based on viewership demand. the requirement of the producer. Selecting film making can be very satisfying. Creative A number of young people are the teams both technical/production and for inputs at every stage, reinforced with positive interested in science film making and this acting is a critical step. feedback of the producer, help the director is a healthy trend. The lack of patronage Readers are aware that making go the extra mile. Where alternative and notwithstanding, many short films are programmes for television and for screening back up tactics have been worked out there being made in media schools and by newly in cinema halls calls for different approaches is little deviation in schedule and therefore established companies. This needs to be and the creative teams have to design the the budget remains in control. Major upsets acknowledged and encouraged. Vigyan format accordingly. The grammar and can occur if schedule begins to slip, which Prasar has created a platform in the Annual composition are unique to both media and result in adverse pressure from the sponsors. Session of the Indian Science Congress the quality of the message(s) in the final Distribution of science films is another for showcasing such talent and this can, product reflects poorly if liberties have been aspect that needs addressing. Most of these optimistically, provide a major step up for taken. are with institutions that use it for building a science films and film makers. Using professional actors, if demanded reference library and screening at opportune by the script, is a challenge for a director who times. There are some efforts at repackaging o Anuj Sinha

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39 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Justus von Liebig The greatest chemical educator of his time Subodh Mahanti “Liebig was remarkable for the wide range of his work. There were greater chemists in the E-mail: [email protected] 19th century but none who worked with such authority over such an enormous field.” A Dictionary of Scientists, Oxford University Press, 1999. Justus von Liebig was born on 12 May 1803 in Darmstadt, Germany. His father “I would...establish the conviction that Chemistry, as an independent science, offers one was a dealer in drugs, dyes, and associated of the most powerful means towards the attainment of a higher mental cultivation; that chemicals and he experimented in his private the study of Chemistry is profitable not only inasmuch as it promotes the material interests laboratory to improve his products. Davy’s of mankind, but also because it furnishes us insight into those wonders of creation which early interests in chemistry was due to the immediately surround us, and with which our existence, life and development are most fact that he was allowed to play with the closely connected.” chemicals in his father’s private laboratory. Justus von Liebig (Familiar Letters on Chemistry, 1843) Liebig was apprenticed to an apothecary named Gottfried Pirsch (1792-1870) in ustus von Liebig’s reputation as a chemist be great inspiration to others. Liebig argued Heppenheim. Jwas so great that he was regarded as the that carbohydrates and fats are the fuel of the He attended the University of Bonn, final authority in chemical matters. In the animal body. where he studied under Karl Wilhelm 18th century chemistry was the monopoly Liebig was the greatest chemical Gottlob Kastner. Incidentally Kastner was of France. However, Liebig changed the educator of his time. He developed the also his father’s business partner. When scenario and the 19th century chemistry modern laboratory-oriented teaching Kastner moved to the University of Erlangen, became the monopoly of Germany. method. His laboratory at the Giessen Liebig also accompanied him. Liebig received Liebig greatly helped to systematise his PhD degree from Erlangen. organic chemistry, biochemistry, agricultural In 1822, Liebig went to Paris. This chemistry and chemical education. He was possible by a grant from Hessian developed a quick and accurate method for Government, which he received because analysing organic compounds. Using this of Kastner’s recommendation. In Paris he method Liebig and his students analysed submitted a paper based on his investigations hundreds of organic compounds. Their on silver and mercury fulminates, earlier results were the basis for the great advances carried out at Erlangen, to the Academie des to be made in organic chemistry after about Sciences. Liebig’s paper attracted the attention 1850. It was Liebig who first demonstrated of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) the existence of free radicals. He also helped who arranged for Liebig to work with Joseph to understand the properties of acids in Gay-Lussac, who had a private laboratory greater details. of his own. Liebig’s work on fulminates also Liebig changed the very nature of led to the discovery of the phenomenon of scientific agriculture. His views moved isomerism. But then it was possible because agriculture towards chemistry. In fact, he of Wohler’s work on silver cyanate. It was is regarded as the founder of the discipline Justus von Liebig found that the composition of silver cyanate agricultural chemistry. He is also regarded as worked out by Wohler was same to that of the father of fertiliser industry. University was the first modern laboratory Liebig’s silver fulminate. The works of Liebig Liebig argued against any hard and fast where students could be trained in chemical and Wohler demonstrated that two chemical distinction between living (physiologically analysis and to become independent research compounds with entirely different properties produced) and dead chemical (laboratory investigators. could have the same elementary composition. produced) processes. He said: “...the The Liebig condenser is a device for This was a case of isomerism and it happens production of all organic substances no vapour condensation. Such a device existed because the elements in the two compounds longer belongs just to the organism. It long before Liebig began his research, but are arranged in different manner. The term must be viewed as not only probable but it was named so because he popularised it “isomerism” was proposed by Berzelius. It as certain that we shall produce them in among chemists. He invented the process was derived from Greek word “isomeros” our laboratories. Sugar, salicin (a white of silvering (1835). This invention made meaning “composed of equal parts.” While crystalline glucoside), and morphine will be possible to substantially improve the utility in Paris, Liebig also came in contact with artificially produced.” Liebig’s idea proved to of mirrors. Georges Cuiver (1769-1832). Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 38 History of Science

was renamed, first as Justus Liebig’s Annalen der Chimie und Pharmacie and then Justus Liebig’s Annalen der Chemie. The journal’s name again changed to Liebig’s Annalen der Chemie and then Liebig’s Annalen in 1995. The journal lost its independent existence in December 1997, when it was absorbed into the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. In 1840, Liebig published his Chemistry in its Applications to Agriculture and Physiology. From the response it evoked it was obvious that it was one of the most important books in scientific agriculture. It was translated into many languages and ran through several editions. The book was a comprehensive compilation of findings of earlier investigators on the subject. Liebig The young Liebig—1843 lithograph also used his own findings to decide between Joseph Gay-Lussac after an 1821 drawing alternative theories. Through this book of cultivation the mineral contents of a In 1824, Liebig was appointed Liebig wanted to attract the attention of particular piece of land can get diminished extraordinary professor in the Philosophical botanists and physiologists to the importance to an extent that it no longer can support Faculty at the University of Giessen. At the of chemistry in their subjects. Before Liebig agriculture. But then it was also known time of his appointment he was just 21 years the only serious attempt to apply chemistry that if no crops were grown on a particular old. It is said that while appointing Liebig, the to agriculture was made by Humphrey Davy piece of land it replenishes itself with Grand Duke bypassed the election process (1778-1829). Davy’s Elements of Agricultural minerals and becomes productive again. The of the faculty. After a year Liebig succeeded Chemistry in a Course of Lectures for the Board process of natural replenishment is rather to the Chair of Chemistry. It is believed of Agriculture (which was based on his series slow. Liebig suggested that the process of that Alexander von Humboldt played an of lectures given at the Royal Institution replenishment could be augmented by use important role in Liebig’s appointment. in London in 1813) was the only standard of mineral fertilisers containing potash and Liebig remained at Giessen until 1852 before work before Liebig’s publication. Liebig phosphates. However, Liebig believed that he moved to the University of Munich. believed that green plants supported all mineral fertilisers should be added to the It was Liebig’s laboratory at Geissen life and the plants themselves sustained on soil in insoluble state otherwise they would that the teaching and research of modern inorganic elements found in air and in the be washed away by rainwater. Liebig was chemistry began in a systematic way. soil. According to him green plants received proved wrong. Plants needed these mineral Liebig’s laboratory could be considered as carbon from carbon dioxide in the air and in soluble state and the soil is capable the first modern laboratory of chemistry. nitrogen from ammonia. He also believed of holding these minerals irrespective of The laboratory was established to train that ammonia was a component of rainwater. rainfall. Liebig might not have achieved new pharmacists. Liebig demonstrated But he was proved to be wrong and later he desired success with chemical fertilisers but how organic analysis could be successfully advocated the use of some ammoniacal salts he showed the way for other researchers. It taught and how students could be trained to in plant fertilisation. can definitely be said that modern fertiliser undertake chemical research independently. Based on his detailed analysis, Liebig industry is result of Liebig’s ideas. In fact, it was Liebig who established the demonstrated the presence of chemical In 1842, Liebig published his much independent and scientific status of chemists. elements like potassium, calcium, sodium discussed publication, Animal Chemistry Liebig’s method of training scientists was and phosphorus in plants. He believed that or Organic Chemistry in Its Application to adopted as a model in Germany and other these elements must come from the soil Physiology and Pathology.The book became parts of the world. itself. However, mineral content of soils highly popular. Soon after its publication Liebig’s association with publishing cannot remain same forever. After years the book was translated into English, French began when a Heidelberg pharmacist named and Dutch and attracted both admiration Phillip Lorenz Geiger (1785-1836) made and criticism. Otto Kohlrausch (1811- him co-editor of Magazin fur Pharmacie. 1854), a Hannover physician, commenting Geiger wanted Liebig to verify the papers on the book wrote: “Liebig shows us a path submitted for publication for their factual which if properly followed can lead to the correctness. The name of the journal most fundamental method of observation in changed to Annalen der Pharmacie in the entire field of medicine.” This statement 1832. After Geiger’s death Liebig renamed could be considered as the most constructive the journal as Annalen der Chemie und criticism. Many thought that Liebig’s ideas Pharmacie. After Liebig’s death, the journal German postage stamp on Liebig (1953) were not based on available experimental 37 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 History of Science

took place because of the transmission of vibration from the violently moving particles in the mixture. He refused to belief that yeast was a living organism. That yeast is a living organism was proved in 1836 by Charles Cagniard de Latour (1777-1859) and was independently confirmed by Theodor Ambrose Hubert Schwan (1810-1882) and Friedrich Traugott Kutzling (1807-1893). At the end it was Pasteur who proved to be right. He demonstrated beyond any doubt that fermentation was caused by living organism such as yeast cells. It is interesting to note that in 1839, Liebig and Friedrich Wohler published a satirical caricature role of the yeast in fermentation. They visualised yeast as animal eggs that hatch at tremendous John Stuart Mill Alexander von Humboldt speed into innumerable small animals that evidence; rather they were mere wishful consumed sugar and excreted alcohol and He was made a Baron (Freiherr) in 1845. He thinking and highly speculative. Berzelius carbonic acid. died on 18 April 1873 in Munich, Bavaria. wrote: “The easy kind of physiological Liebig’s promotion of science-based He was buried in the Alter Sudfriedhof in chemistry is created at the writing desk, agriculture and his role in the publication Munich. and is the more dangerous, the more genius of John Stuart Mill’s Logic in Germany The University of Giessen, Liebig’s goes into its execution, because most readers influenced the process of reforming politics alma mater, was renamed after him, will not be able to distinguish what is true in the German states. Liebig liked Mill’s Justus-Liebig-Universitat Giessen. Liebig’s from mere possibilities and probabilities, Logic because it highlighted the importance laboratory at Giessen University, which and will be misled into accepting as truths of science as a means to social and political survived the destruction of Giessen in the probabilities that will require great effort to progress. It may be noted that Mill quoted Second Wold War, has been converted into eradicate after they have become imbedded several examples of Liebig’s research to prove a museum. In 1953, a postal stamp was in physiological chemistry. To the extent that his point. issued in his honour by the West German it is easy in this manner to do physiological Liebig, jointly with George Giebert, postal department to mark his 150th birth chemistry, which has many chemical facts a Belgian engineer, perfected an efficient anniversary. with great possibility of combination, method of producing beef extract from it is likely that the aspiration to the first carcasses. The extract was a cheap, nutritious References to bring this probability-physiology to alternative to real meat. To market their 1. Spangenburg, Ray and Diane K. Moser, market will produce conflict over priority, product they established the Liebig Extract The History of Science in the Nineteenth Century, Hyderabad: Universities Press to the detrimental of science.” Incidentally of Meat Company in 1865. Later in 1899 (India) Limited, 1999. Liebig dedicated the book to Berzelius, but the product was trademarked “Oxo”. 2. Harwood, Richard, Chemistry, Cambridge: apparently it had no effect on the latter. Liebig was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1837. Cambridge University Press, 1998. Liebig’s Animal Chemistry highlighted the 3. Matthews, Philip, Advanced Chemistry importance of incorporating chemistry (Cambridge Low Priced Edition), into physiology and clinical medicine. His Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ideas were responsible for pushing empirical 1996. medicine to the new scientific medicine. 4. The Cambridge Dictionary of Scientists Liebig was not in agreement with (Second Edition), Cambridge: Cambridge Berzelius on how fermentation takes place. University Press, 2002. Berzelius believed that fermentation was 5. A Dictionary of Scientists, Oxford: Oxford caused by a catalytic force and the yeast was University Press, 1999. nothing but a non-living catalyst. Liebig 6. Available sources on the Internet. himself came forward with a mechanistic (The article is a popular presentation of the important explanation for fermentation. While points of the life and work of Justus von Liebig available explaining the process of fermentation, in the existing literature. The idea is to inspire the Liebig entered into long dispute with Louis younger generation to know more about Justus von Pasteur. Contrary to Pasteur’s observation, Liebig. The author has given the sources consulted for writing this article. However, the sources on the Internet Liebig considered fermentation simply as are numerous and so they have not been individually a chemical reaction independent of living listed. The author is grateful to all those authors whose organisms. Liebig thought fermentation Georges Cuiver works have contributed to writing this article.) Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 36 We spot talent and nurture tomorrow’s scientists agadis Bose National Science Talent National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), PN: We have a fully air conditioned JSearch (JBNSTS), Kolkata is an Kolkata in motivating and nurturing 120-seat auditorium, a 60-bed dormitory Autonomous Registered Society promoted students towards science education. Here are (15 beds separately for girls), and two rooms by the Government of West Bengal and excerpts of the interaction. for visiting faculty members. There are administered by a Governing Body with Dream 2047: The educational scenario laboratories, library and space for creative representatives from the State Government, is evolving rapidly. There are far reaching work. We have a solar powered ope- air Academics and Industry. Conceptualised in activity terrace and a water harvesting 1958 by visionaries such as Dr. B C Roy and structure in the backyard. There are facilities Sir Jehangir Ghandy, JBNSTS was initiated of a kitchen, dining space and of course to commemorate the Birth Centenary office space for the centre. Celebration of India’s first modern scientist, Dream 2047: Bright students find Acharya J C Bose. The programme was mathematics daunting. While there have inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. been developments in teaching/ learning Prof. Papiya Nandy, Honorary. high school maths, what efforts has JBNSTS Director of JBNSTS, is a scholar from the made in reinforcing concepts and principles first batch of this institute. Her objective of math teaching/ learning? is to make JBNSTS a vibrant and dynamic PN: No, this is covered as part of our institute to motivate, identify and nurture Prof. Papiya Nandi, Director, JBNSTS regular programmes. I find that the scholars young talented science students and establish are generally very good in both science the base for scientific enquiry and culture of developments at the national and regional and maths. Often we take the participants tomorrow. levels. You have been at the helm of the to BITM Mathematics Gallery to create Prof. Papiya Nandy received her Jagdish Bose National Science Talent Scheme renewed interest in this discipline. Master’s degrees from Calcutta University (JBNSTS) for several years. What have been Dream 2047: The effort to support and University of California, Santa Barbara. the recent developments in JBNSTS? scholars from the northeastern states was Her Ph.D. work on liquid crystal was PN: Established in 1958 as a modest a pioneering step. There has been lack conducted at the Liquid Crystal Institute talent search institute in West Bengal, of sponsorship for this recently. How do of Kent State University, USA under Prof. JBNSTS has come a long way and now has a you propose to extend your reach in NE Wilbur M. Franklin and Prof. Alfred Saupe. presence on the national scene. Some recent states and what are the strategies to further She switched to the field of experimental developments are – increase in the number improve it? biophysics when she joined the group of of scholarships from 10 to 32, increase in the PN: Since 1991, JBNSTS had Prof. Erich Sackmann at the Max Planck amount of annual scholarship from Rs 6,000 been conducting talent spotting in the Institute fur Biophysikalische Chemie at to Rs 12,000 and moving to a new premises northeastern states. The programmes were Gottingen, Germany, which was continued in October 2005. designed to motivate students to pursue later at University of Ulm, Germany. Dream 2047: What are the facilities at a career in science through thematic After returning to India she was at Bose this centre? workshops and identify talented students Institute for a brief period as Pool Officer, through multiphase Junior Talent Search CSIR and then joined the Physics Tests. The programme was initially Department of Jadavpur University. sponsored by Ministry of Human There, besides teaching in the Resource Development and then for science and engineering faculties, the last year by Ministry of North she is in charge of several research Eastern Region, Govt. of India. Due projects and has established herself to some changes in the policy of these as a recognised expert in membrane Ministries, these programmes had to biophysics. be abandoned. Er Anuj Sinha, Director, Vigyan However, the Department of Prasar and Consultant, Department Science and Technology provides of Science & Technology, Govt. of some project grant to conduct one/ India interacted with Prof. Nandy two sensitisation workshops every on the country’s educational scenario year in these states. I am optimistic especially in science and technology that the value of the work done by education and role of Jagadis Bose Students' activity in a science camp at JBNSTS JBNSTS over the last two decades will 35 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Interview be realised and either our institute or some feeling among the INSPIRE-JBNSTS other competent body will be requested to scholars could not be built up. encourage the talented students of this Dream 2047: Dr Nandy you have region. spent several years in Jadavpur University Dream 2047: Developments in the and the past deacde as Honorary Director fields of mass communication and the digital JBNSTS. Do you have any regrets or a sense revolution warrant an improvement in the of satisfaction on the professional front? new generation of scholars. Have there been PN: I and incidentally even Dr Nandy significant changes in quality of scholars/ (we married later) were part of the first batch students and any trends that you have of scholars. Teaching and guiding scholars observed in their levels of creativity? Henry Ortiz of Los Angeles conducting has become our life. PN: This is a complex question and I a science camp at JBNSTS The accomplishments of my students would like to answer this in parts. give me a lot of satisfaction irrespective of (a) The knowledge base of the scholars/ links with scholars from every batch their current affiliations in India or abroad. students has improved, but there is no and they form a great foundation for I have consciously attempted to network my significant rise in the level of creativity. our activities. scholars with each other. Even as research There could be reasons that need to be (c) INSPIRE should conduct evaluation grants in current times remain competitive, explored and addressed; of its activities and impact on a regular I think more emphasis should be given for (b) more students are inclined to pursue a basis. There will be academic criticism encouraging team spirit. Modern research career in basic sciences. This displays a and independent evaluation but DST requires working with wide range of experts trend that can yield interesting insights should set in place its own mechanism and this requires fundamental social skills. to policy makers; and to give early feedback and take corrective Dream 2047: In view of your vast (c) more students are opting for job/research action. experience in teaching and research in leading opportunities in India itself, reflecting Dream 2047: What are your views on institutions in India and abroad what are development of a healthy ambience INSPIRE and its impact on JBNSTS? Please your suggestions for improving satisfaction for research in our universities and analyze both positive and negative aspects. levels in careers in scientific research and laboratories. PN: INSPIRE is a well-thought out teaching? Dream 2047: Can you describe initiative launched recently. It addresses PN: Largely I view this from a personal some important lessons from JBNSTS for the concerns of the scientific community angle. One must with a lot of deliberation INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit by spotting talent very early and providing decide what one values in life. If material for Inspired Research) which is a young encouragement till a scholar establishes success is a criterion then teaching and programme although in terms of scale will himself or herself. JBNSTS has remained research may not be the best route to adopt. be very much larger? exclusive for the region and today is I know you will have examples of some PN: We commenced our activities over a recognised and coveted scholarship. very successful researchers but they are the five decades back and have internalised many Having said this I feel that the effect of exceptions. For those who find satisfaction lessons over the years. Many of our scholars INSPIRE on JBNSTS is positive in terms in struggling with imponderables, are have stayed in touch and they give valuable of awareness created about JBNSTS in all creative while observant, and can put in long inputs periodically. Some components of the announcements and the role that we can hours of work in laboratories, research will INSPIRE will address the same group of have for the region. As INSPIRE-JBNSTS be satisfying. Genuine encouragement in scholars that JBNSTS has been reaching scholars cannot be brought under the same term of publicity and recognition in the peer albeit at a national level. I suggest that: umbrella as JBNSTS, there is little scope for group should be given for innovative works. (a) INSPIRE should provide more follow up. I also suspect that the fraternity Dream 2047: Have you observed opportunity for interaction major differences in career among its scholars and the Core programme choices between boys and girls of Institute that guides and The Core Programme (Senior Scholarship Programme) of Jagadis Bose similar talents? nurtures them. The stories National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) for undergraduate students PN: The board examination of success by young scholars is as old as the institution itself. Since the first batch of scholars were results (both CBSE and the are very inspiring and kids selected in 1960, more than 45 batches of scholars of basic sciences, State) reflect very encouraging relate to these more than engineering and medicine, have been identified and nurtured throughout performances by girls both from with achievements of very their formative academic years. This programme is being supported by urban and rural areas. Many of senior scientists. the Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal the girls do pursue science in (b) INSPIRE should play the form its inception. The accumulated expertise and experience acquired their college years. However, role of a mentor for its through these years have given the institution a reputation that reaches very few girls come forward to scholars and should not far beyond the boundaries of West Bengal. Department of Science & appear in the talent search tests. reduce itself to a scholarship Technology, Govt. of India and several other agencies have contributed This perhaps is a reflection of the disbursing machinery. towards extending the activities of this institute. attitude of the parents because JBNSTS has retained its the same families encourage Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 34 Interview

PN: I give a very definite support to your hypothesis. The minds of rural kids are not inhibited by substandard coaching and tuition classes and thus they can think independently and innovatively. There communication skills are often weak but that can be developed. Dream 2047: What are your suggestions for overhauling school syllabus and board examination system? Henry Ortiz, US Consul General, PN: Many expert committees have Dr. S. Kulkarni (a former deliberated and given comprehensive JB-Scholar and currently Counsellor, recommendations. Some states and US Embassy) and Director, JBNS examination boards have incorporated far reaching changes based on such their sons to appear for such tests. I may be comprehensive reports. In general, I would deemed partial, but I think girls develop into like to say that better research scientists than boys. (a) Science syllabus should be more Dream 2047: What are your experiment oriented, suggestions and ideas for improving the (b) Board examinations should not be Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru awarded image of research centers and universities? abolished, Papiya (nee Sengupta) Nandi with PN: Setting up new engineering, (c) Syllabus load should be reduced, and JBNSTS Scholarship 1960 at medical science and basic science institutions (d) Science club/ eco clubs in schools should Rajbhavan on 11th April, 1961 has been neglected for many years. The be encouraged. recent investments in new educational institutions are therefore very encouraging. PN: It varies from person to There will be teething problems including person. I was very influenced by the life searching good faculty. and achievements of Marie Curie in my A large number of research institutes youth. It could be one’s teacher or even a with all the infrastructural facilities are neighbour who can be an inspiration. being built in areas of agriculture, medicine Dream 2047: What skills are and fundamental science. There is private needed in a student to emerge as an active sector interest also, particularly in IT. There researcher? Can we help imbibe the right is, however, not much effort to upgrade skills while they are still in high school? the university research facilities, where the A good researcher has to be ready students have their first initiation into the for hard work including long hours in world of research. Teachers' Training Program at JBNSTS libraries, odd timings in laboratories and Dream 2047: What are your field visits to difficult places. Satisfaction suggestions for improving coverage of Dream 2047: Who are the role models will be in terms of unraveling some new facet, science in the mass media and how would beyond Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for the youth understanding some process, developing a you describe the responsibilities of editors/ in the field of science or technology? new product or even none of these. Students journalists? therefore need: PN: Some coverage is given on an Aims and objectives (a) More exposure to motivational lectures, irregular basis, especially in some of English of JBNSTS (b) more interaction with scientists, dailies. This is generally based on inputs from Aims and objectives of Jagadis Bose (c) frequent visits to science research abroad. Indian science gets noticed only National Science Talent Search laboratories, when some sensational, generally negative, (JBNSTS), Kolkata are to motivate (d) more opportunities to do hands-on development occurs. Achievements of young students to realise the importance experiments and see how science is scholars and students, work on society related of excellence in the scientific world happening, and issues and different science motivational and try to cultivate this in their own (d) life and stories of discoveries by scientists programmes are very rarely highlighted. lives as students of science; to identify in their syllabus. If science needs icons, the media has to be talented students of science, engineering Dream 2047: Thank you very much harnessed into service. See how sports and and medicine who shall develop into for sharing your insights with our readers. cinema develop such role models. scientists and technologists of very high Thanks you for giving me an Dream 2047: Dr Nandy, I foresee that abilities; and to nurture them through opportunity to put my views across. The time rural India will provide the next generation enrichment programmes to develop was most opportune since we are reviewing of scientists. Please comment. their talents. JBNSTS. 33 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Dinosaur dung and evolution of grass

nce upon a time there were no flowers, days cockroaches were as big as house cats Ono roses, no tulips to hold out to your and dragonflies were with the wingspans of T V Venkateswaran love; no daffodils to adorn your hedge; no modern hawks. Angiosperms appeared rather Email: [email protected] jasmine to deck your hair; nor any ponds suddenly in the fossil record, just around the pigments like chlorophyll. They convert this crammed with lotus and lilies. Indeed flowers cretaceous period (about 145 million years energy into sugar, starch, and other foods are so much a part of our daily lives that we ago). It implies the birth of flowering plants that plants need to survive. Some fossils that take them for granted. Long long ago, the could have occurred anytime between 140 appear to be from plants date back to the 488 world consisted of monotonous cold dark million and 350 million years ago. million years ago (Ordovician), but the first green vegetation possessing no other colour. Sure, botanists can narrow that unquestioned occurrences of plant fossils A short time before the close of the Age of gap by providing more serious clues and are from the 400 million years ago (Late Reptiles, at some wayward part of the Earth, Silurian). Gnetophytes seed-bearing plants there occurred a revolution first ever flowers that can grow as shrubs, trees, or vines and bloomed; soon the flowering plants became share similarities with both gymnosperms dominant in the landscape on the four and angiosperms evolved subsequently. corners of the Earth; and the world was a From whence did flowering plant riot of colours. come? How were flowering plants able to Today angiosperms, or flowering diversify so much and spread so rapidly all plants, constitute the dominant vegetation over the world? How did flowering plants of the Earth's surface. Flowering plants get to be so different from "primitive" land outnumber the non-flowering by twenty plants, such as mosses, ferns and conifers? The to one. Angiosperms are found in varied sudden appearance of flowering plants and environments. These are found in any land Dino dung its rapid colonisation of the entire world is area, be it freezing poles or blistering desert. an enigma that goaded even Charles Darwin These occur abundantly in the shallows of evidences; yet the mystery of flowering to grant it as ‘an abominable mystery’. In rivers and fresh-water lakes, and in small plants remains. In fact mosses were the first fact the puzzle remains as controversial today numbers in salt lakes and in the sea. One plants to emerge on land some 425 million as ever. should hasten to add that such aquatic years ago, followed by firs, ginkgoes, conifers Quite naturally one should turn to angiosperms are not, however, primitive and several other varieties of non-flowering fossils for clues; take your shovels, pickaxe forms, but are derived from immediate types the gymnosperms. In fact, the Plantae, and microscopes. land-ancestors. The range of angiosperms is or plants, are one of the most abundant and also wide  from familiar duckweed with no diverse groups of organisms on Earth. With Fossils evidence discernable stem or leaf but with simple root more than 2,50,000 species known, they What we have is scanty fossils evidence left system, to towering trees with canopy which are second only to arthropods. Plants have a from the past to reconstruct at least a partial can host a small village meeting. In between rigid cell wall around each cell and produce history of the flowering plant. In fact even the two extremes is every conceivable their own food by capturing light energy in today the evolutionary history of flowering gradation, embracing aquatic and plants is poorly known, represented terrestrial herbs, creeping, erect or by remnant fossils only weakly climbing in habit, shrubs and trees, identified as angiosperms. Some of and representing a much greater the earliest types of the flowering variety than is to be found in the plants seem to have emerged about other subdivision of seed-plants, 130 million years ago, although the gymnosperms. some palaeobotanists have claimed Palaeobotanists believe that fossil evidence as far back Jurassic sometime before 140 million while others have identified years ago, flowering plants, i.e., fossilised parts of the earliest angiosperms, diverged from non- flowering plants or angiosperms flowering seed plants known in 220 million-year-old Triassic as gymnosperms. Fossils of sediments. Until recently, fossil gymnosperms, such as pine trees evidences of early angiosperms and other evergreens, go back at were based on vegetative materials least 350 million years. In those Look at the landscape; no grass is depicted and pollen. None of these fossils, Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 32 Natural History however, showed the presence of ovules or plants could not. Since grass was a flowering seeds enclosed in carpels, the true distinction plant, its seeds were protected. And, the of the angiosperm lineage. However, recently, shorter roots could take up the water before scientists have discovered in China the other plant roots could absorb it. Obviously, oldest, most complete flowering plant fossil grass had a tremendous effect on mammalian yet, with seeds enclosed in the carpels. The evolution. 125-million-year-old specimen belongs to a new plant family and provides clues as to Clue from the dino dung how now extinct species gave rise to modern The conventional wisdom was challenged flowering plants. The study suggests that and yet another piece in the jigsaw puzzle of angiosperms the dominant vegetation in the evolution was found when Vandana Prasad world today perhaps evolved from aquatic, and her co-workers found phytoliths in the weedy herbs. fossilised dung of sauropods that lived in From what is available today as fossil central India about 65 to 71 million years record it appears that flowering plants ago. Caroline Strömberg of the Swedish abruptly appeared out of nowhere about 130 Museum of Natural History, Habib million years ago during the Jurassic period Alimohammadian and Ashok Sahni of Birbal (203-135 million years ago). Based on Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow current evidence, it seems that the ancestors working with Vandana has turned the clock of the angiosperms and the gnetophytes back for grasses. Perhaps grass was there even diverged from one another during the late during the age of reptiles after all. Triassic (220-202 million years ago). Fossil Run your finger along the edge of plants with some identifiable angiosperm grass and feel razor sharp edge. Phytoliths characteristics appear in the Jurassic and are what make a blade of a grass razor sharp. early Cretaceous era (135-65 million years Phytoliths are microscopic silica bodies found ago), but in relatively few and primitive inside the cells of stems and leaves of grasses. forms. Inferring from the rich fossil record Depending on the species of grass, they we do know that by the late Cretaceous range from 5 to 100 micrometres in length. era, angiosperms appear to have become Because they are made of a crystalline form the predominant group of land plants. The of silica called opal, they are very durable and angiosperms underwent a rapid radiation retain their characteristic shapes over millions and by the end of the Cretaceous (65-70 of years. Different genera of grasses have million years ago) most flowering plant phytoliths with unique shapes, including families had evolved. In fact it is during this square, rectangular, oblong, bilobed, and time that many fossil plants recognisable as wavy with undulate margins, butterfly and belonging to modern families (including dumb-bell shaped. Like microscopic pollen beech, oak, maple, and magnolia) appear in grains and diatoms, the phytoliths remain the fossil record. At that time, there was an perfectly preserved in spaces between soil almost exponential increase in angiosperm particles. Phytoliths discovered in dinosaur diversity, and there does not appear to dung (called coprolites), by Vandana go to have been any major extinction of groups establish that these enormous prehistoric in between. Despite the large numbers of herbivores fed on grasses. Specific shape of the phytolith gives the taxa that are known from rather early in Phytoliths have been an important grass blade its characteristic sharpness this diversification, there is no indication of factor in the evolution of grazing herbivores where the taxa are coming from. that feed exclusively on grasses. During the most macrofossils and pollen from grasses lifetime of an animal that consumes large appear long after the demise of dinosaurs at quantities of grasses, its molars gradually Origin of grass the end of the Cretaceous Period (65 million Take a look at pictures and illustrations wear down. These animals have evolved years ago). depicting dinosaurs. You might find a lush high-crowned teeth that in some cases Fossil records indicate that after the forest of ferns, cycads and conifer but the continue to grow from the base as the KT event (impact of meteor on Earth that land itself would be barren. Watch closely. crowns are worn away. Thus evolution of killed dinos), grasses became widespread. The landscape is without grass, evoking grass shaped / mediated the evolution of Barren land became lush with grass. There eerie feeling. Yes, until recently, based on grazers. It is also pertinent to note that the were many reasons that grass became so fossil records, grasses were thought to have phytoliths Dr. Vandana found in the dino’s successful. First of all, its roots protected the evolved around 55 million years ago, after dung were similar to rice and bamboo; topsoil from blowing or being washed away the age of dinosaurs. Grasses are considered indicating perhaps Indian land mass was the by the forces of nature. It was able to take relatively advanced flowering plants, and site of origin of these plants. advantage of sunlight where trees and taller n 31 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Ways to win over the Common annoyances of pregnancy

“Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.” Dr Yatish Agarwal —Carl Jung in The Transcendent Function e-mail: [email protected]

Minor difficulties are a common everyday during early pregnancy definitely play a event during pregnancy. Almost all pregnant major role. mothers must pass through them. The key is not to let annoyances get the better of you. What to do Overcoming the problems is easy provided To find relief, try the following suggestions: you know the cause and ways to handle l Eat small meals within short gaps, them. instead of the usual three meals a day. You must also learn to recognise the Many mothers feel well with this small red flags: when a minor problem threatens change in routine. to loom large, it requires medical attention. l If you feel worst first thing in the At any time in the pregnancy, and for any morning, eat a dry toast or plain biscuit reason, if you feel worried about something, before you get up. the best course is to check with your doctor. l Avoid foods and smells that make you feel worse. If you are cooking for the Nausea and morning family, choose menus that will suit you sickness as well as them. For yourself, eat foods Nausea in the early weeks of pregnancy is a that make you feel better and are equally common occurrence. It affects eight in 10 good for health. pregnant women. But fortunately, less than l Try cold foods because they have less 40 per cent mothers complain of vomiting. aroma than hot foods—the sense of Heartburn is more than just The symptoms can begin as early as in the smell is very acute during pregnancy. indigestion. It is a strong, burning pain in fourth week, but generally disappear by the l Wear comfortable clothes. Tightly the chest caused by the abnormal relaxation 12th to 14th week. However, some mothers bound clothing around the waist can of the valve between your stomach and the are not that lucky and continue to suffer make you feel worse. food pipe. This allows the stomach acid to right up to the 20th week. l Distract yourself as much as you can pass into the food-pipe. Over 50 per cent of The intensity and pattern of symptoms — often nausea worsens the more you all pregnant women suffer from heartburn. varies in each person. While some simply feel think about it. The reasons are twofold: one, the growing overcome with nausea, others cannot digest l Severe vomiting is rare. If it is persists, baby pushes the stomach upwards, and two, anything and begin to throw up. Some feel you run the risk of dehydration and the hormone of pregnancy (progesterone) the symptoms in the mornings; some at electrolyte imbalance. Contact the relaxes the valve. other times; some all day long. The exact doctor. If necessary, she can arrange for a mechanism of this symptom is not clearly short stay in hospital to correct the fluid What to do known but the hormonal changes that occur imbalance. It may also be necessary to l Heartburn is often brought on by large exclude a urinary tract infection. meals or lying flat. It, therefore, makes l If you develop nausea towards the end sense to try and break you meal into of pregnancy, visit your doctor for blood smaller, more manageable portions. pressure and urine check-up. You must also avoid lying flat or bending down after having a meal. Sit Indigestion and heartburn in a comfortable upright position, so During pregnancy many women discover that the food can progress to the small that foods they normally enjoy now give intestine. Also sleep well propped up, them indigestion. One obvious solution is to with the head of the bed raised. avoid foods that cause the trouble. But make l Drinking milk can also help. Keep a sure that your diet is still well balanced. In glass of milk by your side in case you general, try eating smaller meals more often, wake with heartburn in the night. and sit straight while eating. This takes l You may also try simple antacid pressure off your stomach. mixtures or tablets such as magnesium Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 30 Mediscape

trisilicate. Avoid the regular heartburn to catch up on your rest during the l If you detect pain while passing urine, tablets such as cimetidine, ranitidine day. or pass blood, you may have a urinary and famotidine which are absorbed into infection. It is common to have cystitis the bloodstream and are therefore, not Fatigue in pregnancy. See your doctor about it. safe during this period. In the early months of pregnancy you may feel not just tired but desperately exhausted. Abdominal pain Dizziness It can be hard to handle—especially with Often abdominal pains up the sides of the Pregnant women often feel faint. Bouts of young children or a tiring job. womb are due to stretching of the ligaments. dizziness can occur if you stand still after These are not serious. Some women walking briskly or if you get up from a low What to do experience a severe discomfort just in front chair or get out of bed in a hurry. They can Try and rest as much as you possibly can. of the bladder where the pubic bones meet also occur when you are lying on your back. Sometimes tiredness is the result of worry. in the mid-line. Usually these bones are If you know that you are worrying about held together tightly by a strong ligament, What to do something, it will help to talk about it–with but in pregnancy this softens and stretches l If you feel dizzy while standing, sit down your spouse, doctor, or a friend. to make more space in the pelvis. This may quickly and wait for the spell to pass. be discomforting, particularly while walking l If you are lying on your back, turn onto Breathlessness or exercising when the pubic bones tend to your left side. This particularly applies It is common to feel breathless during move in relation to each other. when the pregnancy is in the later stages. pregnancy. That is because your body has Turning to one side takes the pressure to breath harder in order to eject the carbon off the big vein (inferior vena cava) and dioxide that your baby produces and passes produces immediate relief by increasing into your bloodstream via the placenta. In blood circulation. late pregnancy, the uterus also pushes the diaphragm up allowing less room for the Headaches lungs to expand. With some pregnant women, headaches are a common complaint. This happens because What to do of the hormonal changes in the body. l If you have breathlessness, accompanied by cough, chest pains, or episodes What to do What to do of fainting, it is best to consult your This will spontaneously settle after pregnancy. l Avoid hot, stuffy surroundings. Rest and doctor. A caution: if the abdominal pain is severe or relax. Drink plenty of liquids. Bathe l If you have asthma, make sure that it is accompanied by spotting or bleeding, you regularly and enjoy the coolness of water is well controlled. Inhalers can be used must consult a doctor immediately. in any form. If the headache persists, quite safely all through the pregnancy. you can take an ordinary paracetamol In contrast, a bad asthma attack might Cramps tablet, but not aspirin. Paracetamol is reduce the baby’s oxygen supply and Cramps are very common during pregnancy, safe and does not harm the baby. can be dangerous. and they can be very painful. They occur l If the headaches are frequent and bad, usually at night, in the legs or feet. The tell your doctor. During late pregnancy Excessive urination cause is not really known, but may be caused this may be a sign of high blood pressure Needing to pass urine often is an early by lack of calcium. You may therefore need or some other complication. sign of pregnancy and for some women calcium supplements. this condition can last until delivery. It is Insomnia not known exactly what causes it in early What to do Sometimes in late pregnancy, it can be pregnancy, but later it is the result of the l Rub the muscles hard. difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The womb pressing on the bladder. l It also helps to bend your foot upwards discomfort is too much. Some women may with your hand. Your spouse could do have very vivid dreams during this period. What to do this for you if you cannot manage it. Some of these dreams are rather unpleasant. l In early pregnancy you can do little l It may also help to go for a short walk or except putting up with it. If it disturbs exercise your legs and feet in some other What to do you and you have to get up during the way just before going to bed to get the l You should never let the bad horrible course of the night, try drinking less circulation going. dreams prey on your mind. Recall fluids past 7 pm. pleasant events and think positive. l Some women may find it helpful to [This column is primarily intended to educate the l Use lots of pillows. Try lying on one rock backwards and forwards while on reader about the basics, and the do’s and don’ts side with a pillow under your tummy the toilet seat. This eases the pressure of in a medical situation, and not as a substitute and another under your top leg. If you the womb on the bladder and you are for professional medical advice. Before starting any form of treatment, please consult your cannot sleep well during the night, try more likely to empty it properly. physician.] 29 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Two mathematics conferences ICWM and ICM-2010 he month of August had a sort of The first day’s deliberations of ICWM Mathematics Festival in Hyderabad. In concluded with a round-table seminar T S.P. Deshpande a way it was a treat for the public, in general, on “Women mathematicians around the Email: [email protected] and budding mathematicians, in particular, world” The seminar was chaired by Beatrice especially for those engaged in mathematical Pallone. Eight speakers from developed and 1932), a Canadian mathematician, founded research. The year 2010 has been very developing countries presented their views this prize, but he died in 1932 and the prizes exciting for the mathematical community effectively by supplementing the statistical came in force from ICM 1936. Until 1958 in India because it marks the centenary of data. The sum and substance of their two medals were awarded at every ICM, the Indian Mathematical Society together presentation was that the number of women but from 1962 up to the maximum of 4 with the Silver Jubilee year of Ramanujan in mathematics research or at the university medals are awarded. This year’s winners are Mathematical Society. To add to this level is scanty Vera Sipadel of Argentina (i) Elon Lindenstrauss, Professor in Hebrew jubilation, two international congresses, mentioned that there is a total absence of University; (ii) Neg Bao Chau, Professor, namely, the International Congress of women mathematicians in the National Chicago University, USA; (iii) Women Mathematicians (ICWM) and Universities. In India, the percentage of Stanislav Smirnov, Professor, Geneva International Congress of Mathematicians women in the institutes of higher strata like University, Switzerland; and (iv) Cedric (ICM-2010) were organised in Hyderabad IIT, TIFR, etc., varies from 10 to 15%. Villani, Professor, Ecole Normale Supereure during 17-27 August 2010. The reasoning behind this Delyon, France. The International Congress of Women disproportion, as pointed out by the speakers, Besides Fields Medals three more prizes Mathematicians (ICFWM) was held on 17- included (i) no role models before aspiring were awarded at the opening function. 18 August at Hyderabad Central University. girls; (ii) lack of motivation at the early age; l The Rolf Nevanlinna Prize The conference was attended by nearly 200 (iii) male heads of department discouraging (commemorating Rolf Harman delegates out of whom 50 were foreigners. girls from choosing mathematics at the Nevanlinna, a Finish mathematician of Prof Syed Hasnain, the vice chancellor graduate level; (iv) selection committees not repute) for work in mathematical aspects of HCU inaugurated the conference by being impartial while selecting the faculty; of computer science was awarded to traditional lighting of the lamp. Those who (v) prejudice and bias against women Daniel Spielman, Professor of Applied graced the occasion included Prof Ulrike mathematicians. Mathematics and Computer Science at Tillman (Oxford, UK), chair, the scientific The convention of ICM 2010, the Yale University, USA. committee of International Congress of most prestigious quadrennial event was held l The Gauss Prize (commemorating the Mathematicians; Prof S.G. Dani, Tata for the first time in India in over 100 years well known German mathematician Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai of ICM’s existence. This meet attracted a Karl Fredrik Gauss) for outstanding and Chair, National Board for Higher large gathering of 3,000 delegates from over mathematical contributions having Mathematics (NBHM), among others. Prof 90 countries together with about 1,000 significant applications outside Tillman expressed her joy to have ICWM in Indians from different research institutions mathematics was awarded to Yves India on the sidelines of ICM. Prof Dani, universities and colleges. Meyer, Emeritus Professor at Ecole one of the key persons behind ICWM, talked The convention was inaugurated by Normes Superure Delyon, France. about NBHM and further highlighted the Smt. Pratibha Patil, the President of India, l The Chern Medal (commemorating fact that we have now reached a stage where on 19 August. . In her inaugural address she S.S. Chern, a Chinese mathematician women can be counted as major contributors stressed the need of studying mathematics, who was a towering figure in geometry to mathematics. Prof Hasnain recalled the as it has spread its wings in various branches in the 20th century) was awarded for contribution of women mathematicians of of science and technology. She further the first time at Hyderabad to Louis ancient times like Hypatia and more modern added that India could make tremendous Nirenbery, Emeritus Professor Courant ones, like Sofia Kovalevskya. There were also development in post-independence era Institute of Mathematical Science, New topical lectures of colloquium style delivered because of science. The most significant York, USA. by eminent speakers coming from France, part of the opening ceremony was the All these prizes were given away by UK, USA, Sweden, Denmark, China and announcements of the Fields Medals Smt. Pratibha Patil. India. The poster sessions organised in awarded to young scholars below 40, who Leelavati Prize named after 12th between the lecture sessions received a good have made valuable contribution. The century mathematical treatise Leelavati by response from the delegates. About 25 to 30 Fields Medal is considered to be the highest Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya was posters involving mathematical principles/ recognition for achievement in mathematics; awarded to Simon Singh, a well-known modifications were displayed two of them almost as good as winning a Nobel Prize in physicist-turned British author, journalist worth point out happen to be: mathematics. John Charles Fields, (1863- and TV producer, who specialises in

Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 28 Nobel Prizes 2010 The Nobel Prizes in science for 2010 2010 has been awarded jointly to Richard The Nobel Prize in Physiology or have been shared by six scientists for their F. Heck of University of Delaware, Newark, Medicine for 2010 was awarded to Robert achievements in different fields. The Nobel USA; Ei-ichi Negishi of Purdue University, G. Edwards, now professor emeritus at the Prize in Physics for 2010 was awarded jointly West Lafayette, USA; and Akira Suzuki University of Cambridge, UK, “for the to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, of Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, development of in vitro fertilization”. The both of the University of Manchester in “for palladium-catalysed cross couplings in technique of in vitro fertilisation, or IVF,

Andre Geim Konstantin Novoselov Richard F. Heck England, “for groundbreaking experiments organic synthesis”. This chemical tool has which involves fertilisation of the ovum regarding the two-dimensional material vastly improved the possibilities for chemists outside the body using the husband’s sperms, graphene.” Graphene is a transparent, to create sophisticated chemicals, especially has changed the life of thousands of infertile flexible and strong material made of single organic chemicals that form the basis of life couples around the world who had had the

Ei-ichi Negishi Akira Suzuki Robert G. Edwards layers of carbon atoms that conducts and is responsible for numerous fascinating joy of having their own babies using the new electricity, making it an attractive material natural phenomena such as colour in flowers, technique. for a number of electronics applications. snake poison and bacteria-killing substances [Details of the prizewinning works will The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for such as penicillin. be published in the forthcoming issues.] popularising mathematical and scientific was given away by Prof. Syed Hasnain, VC, other experts in specific areas describing topics through his writings. In 1990 he joined Hyderabad Central University at the closing recent important developments. On the BBC’s ‘Science and Features’ department and ceremony of ICM 2010. sidelines of there was a chess match in which in 1996 directed a BAFTA Award winning At the ICM some 200 invited the world champion Vishwanathan Anand documentary ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’. The talks by outstanding experts were delivered. played against 40 mathematicians. Also there were about 20 plenary lectures Leelavati Prize was instituted by India for (S.P. Deshpande is retired professor of Mathematics. outstanding contributions to public outreach on diverse mathematical areas and sectional He has written several booksand articles on in mathematics by an individual. This prize talks by outstanding experts addressed to Mathematics.) n 27 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 Recent developments in science and technology

Liver cells created University of Kyoto in Japan first succeeded from skin cells in reprogramming mammalian somatic cells Liver diseases kill lakhs of people in India to behave like embryonic stem cells. They Biman Basu every year. Hepatitis B alone accounts for used four transcription factors, namely e-mail: [email protected] an estimated 50 million chronic carriers Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 to make who are at high risk of progressing towards adult mouse cells behave like embryonic stem In the present study, the Cambridge a permanently damaged liver and cancer. cells. Later, two teams of researchers – Kyoto group used the same set of four factors Finding cure for liver disorders is extremely University’s Yamanaka and James Thomson to turn human skin cells into induced difficult because liver cells (hepatocytes) of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, pluripotent cells, which have similar cannot be grown in the properties as embryonic stem laboratory. Despite 40 years of cells. The researchers used the trying, scientists have so far never reprogrammed cells to generate been able to grow liver cells in a liver cells which mimicked the lab, making research into liver broad range of liver diseases in disorders extremely difficult. Now the patients the skin cells were a team of scientists of Cambridge taken from. They also used University led by Tamir Rashid the same technique to create have managed to create liver cells “healthy” liver cells from the in a lab for the first time using control group. By making reprogrammed cells from human diseased liver cell available, the skin. They were able to use stem research paves the way for the cells produced by reprogramming potential development of new to model a diverse range of treatments for liver diseases that inherited disorders, which paves Human liver cells kill lakhs each year. the way for new liver disease research and possible cell-based therapy. USA – reported creation of ‘induced Synthetic cornea created The research was reported in the Journal pluripotent cells’ (iPCs) from human skin to restore vision of Clinical Investigation in August (J Clin cells by using the same technique (Science, The cornea is a thin transparent layer of Invest doi:10.1172/JCI43122). 23 November 2007). The transformed cells collagen and cells that acts as a window into Normally, only embryonic stem cells are indistinguishable from embryonic stem the eyeball. It must be completely transparent are pluripotent; that is, endowed with the cells in morphology, proliferation, and gene to allow the light to enter and it also helps capacity to grow into any of the different expression. with focus. However, damage to the cornea types cells found in the body. But and corneal disease, often make the research on and use of embryonic cornea cloudy or opaque and are stem cells have been banned in major causes of blindness globally. most countries on ethical grounds. Corneal blindness can be cured Other types of cells of the body are by replacing the damaged cornea all differentiated cells that have lost and corneas from human donors the capacity to develop into other are used to replace damaged types. For example, under normal tissue and treat corneal blindness, circumstances skin cells can grow but there is a severe worldwide into only skin cells and not into shortage of donor corneas. A few any other type of cell. But the years ago a team of researchers Cambridge researchers were able from USA, Canada and Sweden reprogramme skin cells and turn – May Griffith, et al. – developed them into pluripotent stem cells biosynthetic corneas for trial on using a technique developed four human patients. Now, two years years ago and grow them into liver after implanting them into patients, cells. the synthetic corneas appear to In 2006 a team of researchers Dr. May Griffith displays a biosynthetic cornea that can be be safe and have helped several led by Shinya Yamanaka of the implanted into the eye to repair damage and restore sight. people see more clearly (Science Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 26 New Horizons

and were sensitive to touch. After two years, and arrived at very similar conclusions. The six of the patients’ vision had improved, and re-accretion scenario is further strengthened when fitted with contact lenses, their vision by the measurements of high porosity of was comparable to that of someone who had Phobos by the instrument called ‘Mars received a real human cornea transplant. Radio Science Experiment’ (MaRS) on According to the researchers, this study board Mars Express. The results of these is important because it is the first to show studies were presented by Marco Giuranna that an artificially fabricated cornea can of Italy’s Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica and integrate with the human eye and stimulate Pascal Rosenblatt of the Royal Observatory regeneration. Griffith and her colleagues are of Belgium at the European Planetary planning a larger study with what they hope Science Congress held in Rome from 19-24 will be better implants that do not require September 2010. sutures. Previous observations of Phobos A biosynthetic cornea, shown here two had suggested the possible presence of years after implantation, which allowed Origin of Martian moon carbonaceous chondritic meteorites – nerves in the eye to regenerate over time carbon-rich materials commonly associated making the eye look normal. (Credit: Phobos revealed Mars has two small moons – Phobos and with asteroids. But the new thermal infrared Per Fagerholm and Neil Lagali) Deimos. The two moons are so small that observations from the Mars Express do not Translational Medicine, 25 August 2010 | their origin has been a long standing puzzle. support this; instead they back up the ‘in-situ’ DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3001022). It has been proposed that both moons may theory; that is, an origin within Mars. For the Griffith and her colleagues began be asteroids formed in the outer part of first time presence of a type of mineral called developing biosynthetic corneas in Ottawa, the main asteroid belt (between Mars and phyllosilicates was found on the surface of Canada, more than a decade ago, using Jupiter) and were subsequently captured by Phobos. (Phyllosilicates, or sheet silicates, are recombinant human collagen produced Mars’ gravity. But recent studies provide firm an important group of minerals that includes in the laboratory and moulded into the indications that Phobos was formed relatively the micas, chlorite, serpentine, talc, and the shape of a cornea. (Recombinant human near its current location through re-accretion clay minerals.) Other observations appear collagen is a viable replacement for naturally of rocky material blasted into Mars’ orbit by to match the types of minerals identified on occurring human collagen that does not some catastrophic event. (The Earth’s Moon the surface of Mars rather than objects from have the limitations of human donor tissue is also believed to have been formed by re- other relatively remote locations in the solar or animal-sourced collagens, such as risk accretion of impact debris when a planetary system, indicating that material of Phobos of disease transmission and availability of body with roughly one-tenth the mass of must have come from the surface of Mars. donor supply.) After extensive laboratory Earth collided with our planet – commonly According to the researchers, the highly testing, Griffith began collaborating with known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis.) porous interior of Phobos, as observed by Per Fagerholm, an eye surgeon in Sweden, to Two teams of researchers carried out the MaRS team, further supports the re- provide the first-in-human experience with compositional analyses of thermal infrared accretion formation theory. A highly porous biosynthetic cornea implantation. Together, spectra of Phobos using ESA’s Mars Express asteroid would have probably not survived if they initiated a clinical trial in ten Swedish and NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor missions, captured by Mars. patients with advanced keratoconus (a degenerative disorder of the eye affecting New light on Moon’s the cornea which causes substantial geological past distortion of vision). Each patient had In the past couple of years there have been the damaged corneal tissue in one eye several new discoveries about the Moon surgically replaced with a biosynthetic the most important being the finding of cornea made from synthetically cross- water on the Earth’s only natural satellite. linked recombinant human collagen. Three papers published the journal Over two years of follow-up, Science (17 September 2010) throw new it was observed that cells and nerves light on the Moon’s geological past. They from the patients’ own corneas had show that the Moon was bombarded by grown into the implant, resulting in a two distinct populations of asteroids or “regenerated” cornea that resembled comets in its youth, and its surface is normal, healthy tissue. The patients in more complex than previously thought. the trial did not experience any rejection The conclusion is based on data from the reaction or require long-term immune ‘Diviner Lunar Radiometer’ Experiment suppression, which are complications aboard NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance that sometimes occur when human tissue Orbiter (LRO), an unmanned mission is transplanted. The biosynthetic corneas launched in 2009 to comprehensively behaved just like natural human corneas Martian moon Phobos map the entire Moon. The spacecraft has 25 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 New Horizons

history. According to the While the interior of the moving plates remain researchers, these findings essentially undeformed, their boundaries are will help geologists in subject to extreme pressures and are the sites better understanding of the where violent processes like earthquakes and meteorite bombardment volcanic eruptions occur. Where two plates history of Earth. collide the resulting pressure is often so great In the other two that it deforms the surface into folds leading Science papers, researchers to formation of high mountain ranges. describe how data from Recent seismic studies by a team of the Diviner Lunar scientists at the GFZ German Research Radiometer Experiment Centre for Geosciences has revealed that instrument on LRO during the collision of India with the reveal the complexity of Eurasian continent some 50 million years the geological processes ago, the Indian plate was pushed about 500 that forged the lunar kilometres under Tibet, reaching a depth surface. The data have Roughly 900 kilometres across, the large multi-ringed basin of 250 kilometres. The result of this largest revealed previously unseen collision in Earth’s history is the world’s Orientale stands out dramatically in this topographic map created differences in composition highest mountain range, the Himalayas, and by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter. (NASA / LOLA team) in the crustal highlands, the Tibetan Plateau. As the plates collided, and have confirmed the it created a series of long, parallel folds in been circling about 50 kilometres above the presence of anomalously silica-rich material the Earth’s crust, and in this stupendous Moon’s surface for the past year. in five distinct regions. The silica-rich upthrust was created a mountain range Now a team led by Brown University minerals include quartz, potassium-rich, that contains all the world’s mountains planetary geologists, using data from the and sodium-rich feldspar – minerals that over 7,000 metres in height. The recurring Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), are only ever found in association with rocks catastrophic earthquakes in China are also one the instruments on-board LRO, has that have undergone extensive magmatic caused by this collision of two continents. produced the first uniform, comprehensive processing. According to the scientists, the The entire Indian sub-continent has been catalogue of large craters on the Moon that detection of silicic minerals at these locations moving continuously north over millions of could shed light on the full-scale, planetary is a significant finding, as they occur in areas years and has moved two metres below Tibet bombardment that characterised the inner previously shown to exhibit anomalously in the last 50 years alone. solar system more than 4 billion years ago. high abundances of the element thorium. The researchers used a new seismic The team identified and mapped 5,185 The LRO data also confirmed that the 2,500- method to investigate the collision process craters that are 20 kilometres in diameter or kilometre diameter South Pole Aitken Basin, by following the route of the approximately larger. The new data reveal previously unseen which lies between the Moon's south pole, is 100-kilometer-thick Indian continental differences in composition in Moon’s crustal the Moon’s oldest impact structure. plate beneath Tibet. To achieve this, a series highlands where most of the craters are of large seismic experiments was carried found. The LRO data have also confirmed New facts about Himalayan out in Tibet, during which the naturally the presence of material surprisingly high in origin revealed occurring earthquakes were recorded. By silica – a compound containing the chemical The Earth’s surface (lithosphere) is known evaluating weak waves that were scattered to be composed of a set of large and small elements silicon and oxygen (SiO2) – in five at the lower edge of the continental plate, distinct lunar regions. continental plates, that rests on and slides the researchers were able to make this edge The first paper in Science describes over an underlying, softer layer of partially visible in detail. Analysis of the results results obtained from a detailed topographic molten rock known as the asthenosphere. showed that the boundary between the rigid map of the entire lunar surface created lithosphere and the softer using LRO’s LOLA instrument, which asthenosphere was much clearly bring out the difference between more pronounced than older highland impactor population and was previously believed. the younger population in the lunar ‘maria’ According to the researchers, – giant impact basins filled with solidified the large international lava flows. According to James Head, lead seismic experiments in Tibet author of the paper, the greater density of have generated quality data large craters compared to smaller ones in the in large quantities and have highlands, implies that the earlier population led to a much improved of impactors (objects which collide with understanding of the another body) had a proportionally greater collision of two continental Formation of the Himalayas by collision of the number of large fragments than the plates and their resulting Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. population that characterised later lunar deformations. n Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 24 Sky map for November 2010 North Moon-Last Quarter New Moon

06 November 13 November West East

Moon-First Quarter Full Moon

South 21 November 28 November

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, constellations 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 November, at 9 PM on 15 November and at 8 PM on 30 November.

Tips to use sky map Visibility of planets** (IST) Sky event Date IST Event (1) Choose a place away from Rising Setting In the Zodiac city lights/street lights. 01 Venus begins a dawn apparition Mercury 07:41 18:29 Libra- Scorpius-Sagittarius 02 Mercury begins an evening apparition (2) Hold the sky-map Venus 04:36 15:59 Virgo 03 22:22 Moon at perigee overhead with North in Mars 07:58 18:47 Scorpius-Sagittarius the direction of Polaris. 15 Jupiter near the Moon Jupiter 14:18 02:13 Aquarius 15 21:47 Moon at apogee (3) Use a pencil torch for Saturn 03:13 15:25 Virgo reading the sky map. 18 00:52 Leonid shower Uranus* 14:26 02:27 Pisces 19 Conjunction of Mars and Mercury (4) Try to identify constellation Neptune* 12:48 00:13 Capricornus as shown in the map one **Time shown is subject to vary (± 1 hr) from place to place. Arvind C. Ranade by one. *Not naked eye object E-mail : [email protected] 23 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 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 the standard of school education be raised by adopting a single curriculum for the entire country?” 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 November 2010” should be clearly written on the envolope.

Vigyan Prasar A-50, Institutional Area, Sector-62, Noida 201 307 (U.P.) 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 August 2010 Topic: “Can battery operated vehicles provide a viable alternative to petrol or diesel driven vehicles in view of the rising cost of fuel?”

V. Sridharan used to operate vehicles, which at present mostly run on fossil fuels. PGT Physics Battery-operated vehicles can provide low-cost and pollution-free Govt. Hr. Sec. School, alternatives to fossil fuel powered vehicles. At present battery- Sembakkam 603 108 (T.N.) operated vehicles have high initial cost, but in long run they will Since the efficiency of battery operated cars is less in terms of be economical owing to their low maintenance cost. Improved load and distance ratio, they are being used for shorter distances batteries for vehicles can reduce our dependence on conventional or with less commuters. We can overcome the increasing cost of fuels such as petrol and diesel, which are becoming costlier by the fossil fuels and related energy crisis, if we increase public awareness, day. and availability of government loans with moderate interest for one ***** time initial investment on battery operated vehicles. This can also be achieved by restricting the number of vehicles that use petrol or Varad Pradeep Bende diesel in a locality and making some minimum number of battery Std X, Sadhna High School, Degloor operated vehicles mandatory for every sector. Dist- Nanded 431717, Maharashtra ***** e-mail: [email protected] Battery operated vehicles can provide a Abhay Bhisikar, viable alternative to petrol or diesel driven PHPMS, G-16, ADL Building, vehicles view of rising costs of the fuel. RRCAT, PO: CAT, The option of battery operated vehicles Indore – 452 013 (MP) is affordable both from economical and Today the cost of fossil fuels such as environmental point of view. While petrol and diesel are rising day by day vehicles driven by petrol or diesel emit pollutants like carbon owing to the rising demand for these fuels monoxide and nitrogen oxides, battery operated vehicles do not worldwide. Researchers have found the emit any polluting gases and provide a cleaner alternative. alternatives for these fuels. Batteries can be *****

Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2 22 VP News Regional workshop on Innovative Experiments in Physics igyan Prasar has planned five regional Shri B. K. Tyagi gave a presentation on in Physics’ developed by VP was given to all Vworkshops on Innovative Experiments Vigyan Prasar’s programmes and activities the participants. in Physics during 2010–11. The first to the participants and explained how they Dr. V. B. Kamble gave a talk on three day workshop was organised for could be associated with different initiatives emergence of modern physics. Dr. Kamble the northern region in Chandigarh, in of Vigyan Prasar. He also gave a presentation and Shri Rintu Nath demonstrated the association with Punjab State Council for on VIPNET science clubs and explained ‘Modern Physics Kit’. All participants were Science and Technology (PSCST) during how to form a Science Club. given one kit and they performed all the 14–16 September 2010. Forty-three teachers Shri Rintu Nath and Dr. M. S. Marwah activities during the demonstration. from northern states of India attended the conducted the workshop and demonstrated Shri Rintu Nath performed a few workshop. about 80 innovative activities/experiments experiments based on the PC interface

Participants doing hands-on activities Demonstration of innovative physics activities One of the participants demonstrating innovative activities developed by him Prof Satya Prakash, President, Indian during the three days. Participants did Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) was hands-on activities during the workshop. developed by Vigyan Prasar and explained the chief guest at the inaugural function. Each participant assembled one kit to how new projects can be designed using the Other dignitaries present were Professor K. perform innovative activities. Using the kit. K. Bhutani, Director, National Institute of kit about 20 activities can be performed. In one session, a set of questions were Pharmaceutical Education and Research After each session participants interacted given to all the participants. The possible (NIPER); Dr V. B. Kamble, Ex-Director, with resource persons, shared their opinion answers were discussed and written by Vigyan Prasar, and Dr. Neelam Gulathi and performed the activity shown by the the participants. The experiments, based Sharma, Associate Director, PSCST. Shri resource persons. In one session participants on the questions were performed after Rintu Nath, Scientist, and Shri B. K. Tyagi, demonstrated innovative activities developed that and participants were allowed to do Scientist represented Vigyan Prasar. by them. A CD on ‘Innovative Experiments the experiments. The participants wrote their observations after the experiments. “Medini Puraskar” Participants, in general, felt that hands-on activities/experiments help in understanding The Minister of State for Environment the concepts better and make the subject and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh interesting. presented the “Medini Puraskar” to Shri Navneet Kumar Gupta, Project Officer (EduSat), VP, for his book’s Dr N.K Sehgal, former Director, Vigyan Global Warming Ka Samadhan: Prasar, have 91 books on physics which Gandhigiri at the ‘International he would like to donate to interested Ozone Day’ celebrations in New school/college/ libraries. List of books Delhi on 16 September 2010. He was can be seen on Vigyan Prasar’s website: awarded the first prize, which carries www.vigyanprasar.gov.in. Rs.31,000 in cash and a citation. The Interested schools/colleges can select "Medini Puraskar Yojana" was started Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for the books and may contact on kapil@ by the Ministry of Environment and Environment and Forests presenting the Medini vigyanprasar.gov.in. The mailing cost Forests to promote original Hindi Puraskar to Shri Navneet Kumar Gupta of VP will require to be borne by the interested book writing on environment and related subjects like forests, wildlife, pollution, and parties. water resources.

21 Dream 2047, November 2010, Vol. 13 No. 2