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November 2012 Vol. 15 No. 2 Rs. 5.00

s ic at em h at 2 01 M 2 al r n ea io Y A Tale of at N Two Digits

Editorial: Remembering 39 Ruchi Ram Sahni

A Tale of Two Digits 38

An Evergreen Revolution: Myth 35 or reality

The Third Pole: Must Be 32 Protected

Dizziness: Causes and Cures 27

Recent developments 24 in science and technology

VP news 21 Editorial Remembering Ruchi Ram Sahni he year 2013 will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Ruchi Ram to all the sea ports in the region. TSahni who was one of the pioneers who established a tradition In 1887, Sahni came back to the of modern science in India. Sahni was a multi-faceted personality. Government College, Lahore as a member He was a scientist, an innovator, an enthusiastic educationist, a fierce of its faculty. He took active interest Dr. Subodh Mahanti patriot, and a devoted social worker. Sahni’s research activities and in upgrading the standard of science particularly his pioneering science popularisation efforts remained teaching at the college. He demonstrated as many experiments as mostly unknown. He has been referred to mostly in the context possible to the students. Realising the dearth of good science books at of his son, Birbal Sahni—the renowned Indian palaeobotanist. In the college library, he himself built a personal library for the benefit of the early 1990s the National Council for Science and Technology the students. Sahni helped poor but brilliant students in their pursuit Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science and Technology, of higher studies and research. Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, who Government of India took initiative in making people aware of later became the founder of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Sahni’s contributions. Narender K. Sehgal, then Head, NCSTC, Research (CSIR), was one of his favourite students at Lahore. Sahni wrote a two-part article in NCSTC Communication (November 1991 managed to get Bhatnagar a scholarship to go abroad for doctoral and January 1992 issues) on Sahni’s science popularisation work. It research. was Nandan Kudhyadi, a film-maker, who got hold of a copy of the In 1914, Sahni at the age of 51 left for Europe to conduct unpublished manuscript of Sahni’s autobiography in September 1990 investigations in the emerging field of radioactivity. He went to while doing research work for a video programme for NCSTC on Germany to work in the laboratory of Dr. Kasimir Fazans, an authority Birbal Sahni whose birth centenary was to be celebrated in 1991. in the field of radioactivity. However, he could not continue his work Kudhyadi brought the manuscript to Sehgal. Following the initiative in Fazan’s laboratory because the First World War started in Europe. taken by Sehgal the edited and abridged version of the manuscript Sahni left Germany and reached England. In England, he worked of Sahni’s Memoirs was published in 1994 by Vigyan Prasar. The in the laboratory of Lord Ernest Rutherford at Manchester where volume was titled Memoirs of Ruchi Ram Sahni: Pioneer of Science Niels Bohr was his research colleague. Sahni undertook the study of Popularisation in Punjab. alpha scattering in radioactive/cosmic ray emissions. The results of his Ruchi Ram Sahni (RRS) was born on 5 April 1863 at Dera investigations were communicated by Rutherford himself and they Ismail Khan, a small town and a riverine port on the Indus in were published in the Philosophical Magazine. the Punjab of undivided India. He got his early education in his One of the major achievements of Sahni was to translate hometown and stood first in his middle school examination in the science in the language of the common populace. In this mission he province. He passed high school examination from Lahore under the was greatly influenced by the model of the Indian Association for the Calcutta Board, securing a position among top ten. He passed the BA Cultivation of Science (IACS) was established in 1876 in Kolkata examination from Government College, Lahore in 1884, securing the by Mahendralal Sircar. The Punjab Science Institute was established top position in Punjab University. He joined the Government College, in 1885 in Lahore, Punjab of the undivided India. The idea of Lahore for his MA degree in physics and chemistry. However, before establishing an organisation for popularising science at Lahore was completing his degree he joined the India Meteorological Department first conceived by J. C. Oman of the Government College, Lahore. as Assistant Reporter and moved to Kolkata (then Calcutta). While in However it was Sahni who was instrumental in establishing the Punjab Kolkata he attended classes at the Presidency College for completing Science Institute and he admitted that he was greatly influenced by his MA degree. At Kolkata he came in contact with many eminent the example of IACS. He wrote in his Memoirs: “the idea of the personalities including J. C. Bose, P. C. Ray, Ashutosh Mookerjee. Institute originated with Professor J. C. Oman of the Government From Kolkata he moved to Simla, the then headquarters of India College, when I was yet in the M.A class at the college and before I Meteorological Department, and worked under Sir H. F. Blanford, had proceeded to Calcutta. We used to discuss the need and scope of FRS, and the first meteorologist who did extensive studies of the such an institution. But it was only in the summer of 1885 to say after Indian rainfall. Sahni was a very keen observer of atmospheric changes I returned from Calcutta and explained to Professor Oman what I had and made a remarkable forecasting of a storm in the Bay of Bengal and saved many ships from destruction by sending a timely warning Continued on page 33

Editor : Subodh Mahanti Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements/opinions expressed Associate editor : Rintu Nath and photographs used by the authors in their articles/write-ups published Production : Manish Mohan Gore and Pradeep Kumar in “Dream 2047” Distribution : Harish Goyal Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may be freely Expert members : Biman Basu and Devendra Mewari reproduced with due acknowledgement/credit, provided periodicals in Address for Vigyan Prasar, C-24, which they are reproduced are distributed free. correspondence : Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 016 Published and Printed by Dr. Subodh Mahanti on behalf of Vigyan Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 Prasar, C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed e-mail : [email protected] at Aravali Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in Phase-II, New Delhi-110 020 Phone: 011-26388830-32.

39 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 A Tale of Two Digits

t was a Friday evening. It was also a relaxed “He was involved with struggle for Ievening for me. There was no rush for the India’s independence” homework to finish for next day’s school. I “Yes.” Rintu Nath was trying to decipher some puzzles from a “He was behind the non-violent civil E-mail: [email protected] book. My Uncle was going through the day’s disobedience movement,” I tried to focus on newspaper for the last time. a target. “Googol, if you have nothing to do “Yes.” system,” Uncle replied. now, let’s play Botticelli,” Uncle told me. “He led in the Salt Satyagraha, Non- “I have heard about the binary “What type of game a ‘Botticelli’ is?” I cooperation movement and Quit India numbers, but I do not have a clear idea about gave a puzzled look at Uncle. movement’ what they signify. Please explain this to me.” “Botticelli is a guessing game in which “Yes, I think that you got it now.” “Before that, here is a riddle for you. players guess the identity of a person based “Mahatma Gandhi,” I said What is the link between Mahatma Gandhi on his or her biographical details using ‘yes’ emphatically. and binary numbers?” or ‘no’ replies.” “Well done, Googol,” said Uncle It must be one of those characteristic “That sounds very interesting though as he showed me the unfolded paper with riddles from Uncle. I was perplexed and did the name of the game is a bit strange!” ‘Gandhiji’ written on it. I smiled. not have a clue. “The name was given after Sandro “There must be similar games like this “Well, here is another clue. The Botticelli who was an Italian painter of the one where players have to guess things other link is hidden in the Gandhi Jayanti and Early Renaissance. The game takes its name than the famous persons,’ I was curious to International Day of Non-violence.” to suggest that the famous person has to be know. “I know that. Gandhiji’s birthday, i.e., at least as famous as Sandro Botticelli. ” “You are right. There are several the second of October is commemorated as “Hmm, I did not know about Botticelli flavours of games similar to Botticelli. For Gandhi Jayanti in India and world-wide as until now; it seems that I might not be very example, ‘Vermicelli’, in which the thing to the International Day of Non-violence.” good at this game,” I confessed. be guessed is a food; ‘Vespucci’, in which the “And if you write down the date using “The game of Botticelli has different thing to be guessed is a place; and ‘Webster’, a date format, what will you get?” variants. But the common theme is that one a challenging variant in which the thing to “It will be the second of October, or person or team thinks of a famous person, be guessed can be any word.” 2/10.” reveals his or her initial letter, and then “Oh, that’s a good range of games “Exactly, I hope that you can see answers ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to different statements indeed. We can play all those games for a full the link now. The word ‘binary’ means allowing other players to guess the identity.” day!” the number system is represented by two “I got it now, let’s play the game.” “Yes, we may give them a try some numeric values and these two numbers are 1 “Well, we will play it a bit slightly day.” and 0. Moreover, binary representation of 2 differently. I’ve written the name of a person “The framing of the statements is is 10. So the date ‘2/10’ in essence captures on this paper and I’ll not give you any hint crucial to this game and one needs to have the concept of binary number.” through the initial. You will tell me the a good biographical knowledge too. Only a “Oh yes, I can see the link now. Uncle, statements, and I will give you a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer would lead to the solution, please tell me why the binary number system reply.” Uncle explained showing me a folded that’s quite interesting!” is so important for us.” piece of paper in his hand. “Well, here’s another thought. Did “The binary numbers form the basis “I understand now,” I replied. you realise that at times literature and for the operation of computers and all digital “Well, then let’s start,” my Uncle was mathematics converge? Can you tell me the circuits. As I mentioned earlier, any number quite eager to know how I play the game of connection of these words with the number can be represented in a binary number Botticelli. system: yes/no, true/false or presence/ system using different combinations of two “The gender of the person is male,” absence?” numeric symbols, 0 and 1.” I said. “These are opposites in meaning and “That sounds very interesting − any “Yes,” Uncle replied. representing two states of an event.” number can be formed by using only two “He is an Indian.” “That’s a good interpretation, Googol. numeric symbols.” “Yes.” Mathematically, we can define them as two “Tell me, how many symbols do we “He is still living with us.” states of a binary variable. In the mathematical use in the decimal number system, i.e., the “No.” world, we can also translate those words into number system that we generally use for “During his lifetime, his activities two numeric values, 1 and 0.” writing numbers?” Uncle wanted to know. spanned around the post-Independent “So, the numbers 1 and 0 represent a “Ten symbols – zero to nine,” I India.” special type of number system.” answered. “No” “Yes, this is also called binary number “That’s right. The decimal number Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 38 National Mathematics Year 2012

numbers are formed,” I wanted to know. system uses ten symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Quotient Remainder 7, 8, and 9 to represent any number. These “In the binary number system, there symbols are called digits. This system is used are only two symbols 0 and 1. Or you can 12/2 6 0 worldwide as the most convenient system say that we use only two digits (0 and 1) of 6/2 3 0 to represent numbers. You may remember the decimal number system. These are called 3/2 1 1 that we talked about this earlier. Rules for binary digits or bits. Hence, the base of the operation of 'zero' were given by Indian binary number system is 2. The positional 1/2 0 1 mathematician Brahmagupta during AD values are in 2n form, where n can be positive Binary equivalent of 12 is 1100 600. The invention of ‘zero’ made it possible or negative integers. For example, the decimal to write numbers with positional values.” equivalent of the binary number 101 is: “What is a positional value?” I wanted 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20 = 5. The decimal on how the binary number system was to know. equivalent of the binary number 101.11 is: developed.” 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20 + 1 × 2–1 + 1 × 2–2 = “The Indian scholar Pingala (2nd Decimal number: 2 3 5 5.75.” centuries BC) developed the mathematical 2 × 102 + 3 × 101 + 5 × 100 concepts for describing poetry, and thus Decimal Binary Octal Hexadecimal = 200 + 30 + 5 presented the first known description of a 0 0 0 0 = 235 binary numeral. He used binary numbers 1 1 1 1 in the form of short and long syllables (long Binary number: (1 0 1)B 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20 2 10 2 2 syllables is equal to two short syllables), = 4 + 0 + 1 3 11 3 3 making it similar to the Morse code,” Uncle 4 100 4 4 said. = ( 5) D 5 101 5 5 “I have heard that the Morse code is “When we write a decimal number, 6 110 6 6 used to transmit information using short say 235, then 2, 3 and 5 are not merely 7 111 7 7 and long pulses of sound or light. Does it symbols. Each position of the number has 8 1000 10 8 follow the binary number system?” a positional value, for example, the first 9 1001 11 9 “If the information can be coded place has a positional value of 1; the second 10 1010 12 A using two distinct states, it is indeed a binary place has a value of 10; the third place of 11 1011 13 B system. Hence, the Morse code is a binary 100 and so on. The digits are multiplied by 12 1100 14 C code.” the positional values and then added up to 13 1101 15 D “Like many other mathematical represent a number. Hence the number 235 14 1110 16 E discoveries, the binary number system was signifies: 2 × 100 + 3 × 10 + 5 × 1 = 235, ” 15 1111 17 F also developed in India – I feel very proud of Uncle explained. 16 10000 20 10 being Indian.” “Yes, I got it now, any number in the “That’s right. In his Sanskrit classic decimal system can be written according to “It does not look very difficult! Can we Chhanda Su-tra, Pingala described a method the positional value of each symbol.” convert a number from the decimal system to assign a unique value to each line, “Now, if you look into the above to the binary system? ” something very similar to the binary number expression closely, you will notice that all the “Yes. For that you have to keep system. This is perhaps the oldest description positional values can be represented as 10n dividing the decimal number by 2 till you of something similar to the binary number.” form, where n is any positive integer. Like, get a quotient 0. Note, each time you divide “Please tell me what happened after 100 = 1, 101 = 10, 102 = 100 and so on. For a decimal number by 2, you will get the that.” example, the above expression of 235 can remainder 0 or 1. Now write all the remainder “During the 11th century, the also be written as: 2 × 102 + 3 × 101 + 5 × in reverse order and this will give you the Chinese scholar and philosopher Shao Yong 100 = 235.” binary equivalent of a decimal number. For developed a system similar to modern binary “Is it due to the fact that there are ten example, consider a decimal number 12. number system. Shao Yong’s work influenced symbols in the decimal number system?” Now, 12 / 2 = 6 (quotient) and the remainder the German mathematician and philosopher “That’s a good observation, Googol. is 0. Next, divide the quotient 6 by 2. This Leibniz in the 17th century in formulating Yes, you are right. For the decimal number will be 6 / 2 = 3 and the remainder is 0. the binary arithmetic.” system 10 is called the base as there are ten Next, 3 / 2 = 1 and the remainder is 1. Next, “Was Shao Yong’s work influenced distinct symbols. However, note that n can 1/2 = 0 and the remainder is 1. Now write by Pingala’s Chhanda Su-tra?” I wanted to also be a negative integer. When we write a all the remainders in the reverse order, which know. number with decimal point, say 273.45, the is 1100. Therefore the binary equivalent of “It appears that during the 10th positional values at the right hand side of the 12 is 1100.” century, another Chinese scholar Yang decimal point will be 10–1, 10–2 and so on. “I will try to convert a few numbers Hsiung developed a number system with Therefore, 273.45 = 2 × 102 + 7 × 101 + 3 × from the decimal to the binary and also the the base 3. Shao Yong was influenced by this 100 + 4 ×10– 1 + 5 × 10–2.” binary to the decimal system later using the number system and developed the number “Please explain to me how the binary above strategies. Now, please tell me more system with base 2.”

37 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 National Mathematics Year 2012

“How did Leibniz develop the binary carried out on the binary numbers,” Uncle to the binary number system? ” I wanted to arithmetic?” I wanted to know. replied. know. “Leibniz was aware of the work of “Please tell me something about the “The octal number system uses base Shao Yong on the binary numerals. He Boolean algebra.’ 8 and the hexadecimal number system uses noted that the hexagram used by Shao Yong “In 1854, the British mathematician base 16. Note that both 8 and 16 can be corresponded to the binary numbers from George Boole published a landmark paper represented as 2n, where n = 3 in the octal 0 to 111111 and this mapping is one of that described arithmetic operations on the and n = 4 in the hexadecimal system. It is the major milestones in formulating binary binary numbers. The Boolean algebra is therefore clear that both are related to the number system. Leibniz also used 0 and 1 as quite similar to the algebra you do on the binary number system.” binary numerals.” decimal numbers. ” “If the binary number system is “How was binary number system “Uncle, how does a computer take a everything for a computer, then what is the introduced in the computer?” decision?” need for other number systems?” I wanted “Computer is based on the digital “As I mentioned earlier, a computer to know. system. The digital system is based on the cannot take decisions as a human does. “That’s a good question. Let me binary logic, having two distinct states, TRUE Computers can only check whether a clarify. We, humans, use decimal system and FALSE. Therefore we can conclude that condition is TRUE or FALSE – called because positional value based on 10n is the binary number system actually triggered logical operation. Based on a series of logical easier to comprehend and calculate, and we the development of computer. ” operations, a computer analyses the data and have 10 distinct symbols. Higher order base “It is very interesting – please tell me provides an output. ” will need more distinct symbols; moreover, more on this.” “What is the logical operation?” I it would make calculations difficult. A “Any computer system works on the wanted to know. computer system uses the binary number binary logic – logic 0 or FALSE and logic “In a logical operation, a computer system as it needs only two distinct states 1 or TRUE. Logic 0 and 1 are two distinct verifies some conditions. If the condition is (electrical signals) to represent any character. states, represented by two voltage levels, 0 TRUE, it performs some operations, else it The octal and hexadecimal number systems volt and 5 volts respectively. You can imagine performs some other operation. For example, are just the extensions of binary number without the binary logic, it would have if a is greater than b then add a system for easier representation been very difficult to generate and decipher and b, else (i.e. if a is less than of binary numbers, so that we can multiple voltage levels to store and interpret or equal to b), subtract a from b. represent larger binary numbers information. Remember, the computer is The entire computer operation with smaller octal or hexadecimal not a human – it recognises data differently is based on the execution of this numbers.” from us. All data in a computer are only kind of simple logic.” “That means a computer recognised by appropriate electrical signals.” “That’s very interesting. does not use the octal or “I thought the binary numbers are Please tell me how logical hexadecimal number system!” required for mathematical calculations operations are performed.” “Precisely that is the case. only. It seems that storing and processing of “Logical operations are These two systems are used only Claude Shannon data also need the binary number system. also performed using the Boolean for convenient representation (1916–2001) I am very keen to know more about it. algebra. Like algebraic operators of the binary numbers for our Please explain how the data are stored in a (+, –, ×, /) there are logical operators ‘OR’, understanding. The binary numbers are computer. ” ‘AND’, ‘NOT’, etc.” easily converted to and from the octal “Any data consist of alphabets and “It’s very interesting. It is clear to me numbers. The octal number system has eight numerals, called alphanumeric characters. that the development of computer would distinct symbols 0 to 7. If you look closely, Each of these characters is assigned a distinct not have been possible without the binary you will note that three binary digits are numeral value. For example English alphabet number system.” equivalent to one octal digit. For example, ‘a’ has assigned number 97. Its binary “You are right, Googol. In 1937, the the binary number ‘110101’ is represented representation is 1100001. Similarly other American mathematician and electronic as ‘65’ in the octal number system, where 6 characters have other distinct engineer Claude Shannon, while = 110 and 5 = 101.” values. These binary numbers working on his thesis at MIT, “Please tell me about the hexadecimal are stored in the computer implemented the Boolean algebra number system – I was wondering what 16 memory. ” and binary logic using electronic different symbols will be in this number “How are arithmetic relays and switches. Shannon’s system?” operations performed in a thesis essentially founded the “In the hexadecimal number system, computer?” I wanted to know. practical digital circuit design 16 distinct symbols are used. These are 0 to “Calculations in a and eventually the computer was 9 and then A, B, C, D, E and F, with A equal computer are based on the conceptualised. ” to decimal 10, B equal to decimal 11 and so Boolean algebra – operations “Uncle, I have heard about on. Here, four binary digits are equal to one like addition, subtraction, George Boole the octal and hexadecimal multiplication and division are 1815–1864 number system. Are they related Continued on page 28 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 36 An Evergreen Revolution: Myth or reality

he term “green revolution,” coined by in biological balance as well as lead to an Savita TWilliam Gaud in October, 1968, refers increase in the incidence of cancer and other Email: [email protected] to a series of research, development, and diseases, through the consumption of toxic technology transfer initiatives, occurring residues present in the grains or other edible between the 1940s and the late 1970s, that parts. Unscientific tapping of underground displacement of grain and fodder legumes increased agriculture production around water will lead to the rapid exhaustion of capable of improving soil fertility. The the world. The origin of agriculture led to this wonderful capital resource left to us current trend is towards non-sustainable domestication of many plant species and through ages of natural farming. The rapid farming resulting from land and water it took almost 10,000 years for world food replacement of numerous locally adapted mining. Forewarned is forearmed. grain production to reach 1 billion tons, in varieties with one or two high-yielding 1960, and only 40 years to reach 2 billion strains in large contiguous areas would result Sustainable agriculture tons, in 2000. This unprecedented increase, in the spread of serious diseases capable of Sustainable agriculture is an imperative as an which has been named the ‘green revolution’, wiping out entire crops, as seen prior to the alternative agricultural system that addresses resulted from the creation of genetically Irish potato famine of 1854 and the Bengal many of the constraints faced by resource- improved crop varieties, combined with the rice famine in 1942. Therefore exploitative poor farmers and at the same time ensures application of improved agronomic practices. agriculture without a proper understanding environmental sustainability. It refers to the Many of these improvements came along of the various consequences of every one of capacity of agriculture over time to contribute with adverse environmental effects in areas the changes introduced into resource efficient to overall welfare by providing sufficient food subjected to intensive farming. However, and friendly agriculture, and without first and other goods and services in ways that where population pressure is high, there is building up a proper scientific and training are economically efficient and profitable, no option except to produce more food. base to sustain it, may only lead us, in the socially responsible, and environmentally Productivity must increase, but in ways which long run, to an era of agricultural disaster sound. Using local resources to make initial are environmentally safe, economically viable rather than one of agricultural prosperity. soil and land improvements can get farmers and socially sustainable. This approach has on a virtuous cycle where rising incomes been christened ‘evergreen revolution’. How do we achieve this relieve the constraints to adoption of more evergreen revolution? resources-intensive sustainable practices. Need for an evergreen How do we achieve this ever-green revolution, Sustainable agriculture has three principles: revolution i.e., a balance between human numbers and 1) Economic sustainability, (2) The challenge before us is to feed billions of human capacity to produce food of adequate Environmental sustainability, and (3) Social new mouths over the next several decades quantity, quality and variety? The growing sustainability. and save the environment at the same time, damage to the ecological foundations without being trapped in a Faustian bargain essential for sustainable food security, namely Sustainable food security that threatens freedom from security. The land, water, biodiversity, forests and the Food security has three major dimensions: benefits must come from an evergreen atmosphere, is leading to stagnation in yields (1) Availability of food, which is a function revolution. The aim of this new thrust is in green-revolution areas. Climate change of production; (2) Access to food, which is to lift food production well above the level may compound such problems with adverse a function of purchasing power/access to attained by the green revolution of the effects on temperature, precipitation, and sustainable livelihoods; and (3) Absorption 1960s, using technology and regulatory sea level rise. An analysis of food insecurity of food in the body, which is determined policy more advanced and even safer than indicators in rural India carried out by the by access to safe drinking water and non- now in existence. Exploitative agriculture M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation food factors such as environmental hygiene, poses great dangers if carried out with only an (MSSRF), with support from the World primary health care and primary education. immediate profit or production motive. The Food Programme (WFP), indicates that the emerging exploitative farming community in Punjab-Haryana region (India’s food basket) Biotechnology India should become aware of this. Intensive may become food-insecure in another Considerable advances have been made cultivation of land without protection of 20 years. Indicators used in measuring in the past 25 years, taking advantage of soil fertility and soil structure would lead, sustainability of food security are: land the new genetics tools in medical research, ultimately, to the springing up of deserts. degradation and salinisation extent of forest production of vaccines, sero-diagnostics, Irrigation without arrangements for drainage cover, groundwater depletion and the nature and pharmaceuticals for human and farm- would result in soils turning alkaline or saline. of crop rotation. In all of these parameters, animal healthcare. The production of novel Indiscriminate use of pesticides, fungicides Punjab and Haryana occupy low positions. bioremediation agents; for example, the new and herbicides could cause adverse changes The common rice-wheat rotation has led to Pseudomonas strain for clearing oil spills in 35 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 Biodiversity oceans, rivers and lakes developed by needed for each major agro-climatic and Ananda Mohan Chakraborty is also agro-ecological farming system. The receiving priority attention because of other area of research that is essential increasing environmental pollution. for sustained high productivity is There has also been substantial progress integrated pest management involving in agriculture, particularly in crop concurrent attention to pests, diseases improvement through molecular- and weeds. For this purpose, there marker-assisted breeding, functional is need for a biosecurity compact genomics, and recombinant DNA that will help manage not only pests, technology. A wide range of crop varieties diseases and weeds, but also invasive containing novel genetic combinations alien species and mycotoxins in food. are now being cultivated in the United Sanitary and phytosanitary measures States, Canada, China, Argentina, and and Codex Alimentarius standards of several other countries. A cotton variety Biovillage food safety need to be integrated in containing the Bacillus thuringiensis organic production protocols. gene (Bt cotton), resistant to the bollworm, crops in these villages. The idea is to use is now under cultivation in India. In India other biological approaches; for example, Biopesticides cotton is the only genetically modified crop use of bio fertilisers and bio pesticides. The With primary goals of achieving both approved for cultivation. The semi-dwarf, purpose of biovillages is to convert natural food security and livelihood security in short wheat varieties with high yield came resources into wealth and jobs. Most of the perpetuity without degrading the ecological from Japan where they were first developed villages in the state of Puducherry are now foundations of agriculture, care needs to be by Dr. Gonjiro Inazuka. Seeds were then biovillages. Bangladesh has also started taken to develop and use biopesticides and taken to the U.S. by Dr. S. C. Salmon, who biovillages. biofertilisers within Integrated Pest and was with General MacArthur. We got our Nutrition Management (IPNM) schedules. material from U.S. scientists, particularly Organic farming In scientific literature, it is well-documented from Drs. Norman Borlaug and Orville Growing awareness about health and that chemical pesticides are not pro-nature, Vogel, and then developed our own varieties, environmental issues associated with the pro-poor and pro-women. Because they which triggered the wheat revolution and intensive use of chemical inputs has led to kill several non-target beneficial organisms then the Green Revolution. interest in alternative forms of agriculture (e.g., pollinators, predators, parasitic wasps, Ecotechnology means marrying the best around the world. Organic agriculture earthworms, birds, etc.), they are not eco- of modern science with the best in traditional is one among the broad spectrum of friendly. The carcinogenic action of pesticide wisdom and traditional ecological prudence. production methods that are supportive residues and the increased incidence of We can use biotechnology for bioterrorism, of the environment. According to Codex cancers among the farmers and their family or we can use it for biohappiness. We must Alimentarius (FAO/WHO, 1999) – a try to use all the technologies in this world collection of internationally recognized for biohappiness, which means people have standards, codes of practice, guidelines a good life, better health, and better food, as and other recommendations relating a result of the technology. Ensuring safe and to foods, food production and food responsible use of biotechnology has to be safety – ‘organic agriculture is a holistic done by regulatory mechanisms and also by production management system which public opinion. promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological Biovillages cycles and soil biological activity. In areas A biovillage involves human-centred of intensive farming system, shifting to development. It has two major components. organic agriculture decreases yield; the range One aspect is the conservation and depends on the intensity of external input improvement of natural resources, particularly use before conversion. In the so-called green soil health, water and biodiversity. The other revolution areas (irrigated lands), conversion Organic farming aspect is improving the income of the farmers to organic agriculture usually leads to  higher productivity on farms and value almost identical yields. In traditional rain- members in the green revolution belt are well added to primary products. For example, in fed agriculture (with low external inputs), documented. Further, chemical pesticides are rice-growing areas, there is a whole series of organic agriculture has shown the potential becoming increasingly expensive, inflicting rice by-products such as rice bran, rice husk, to increase yields. However, a consortium of costs beyond the means of the resource- and rice straw. Rice straw can be used, for microorganisms each capable of performing poor, marginal and small farmers. Hence, example, for growing rice-straw mushrooms important functions like nitrogen fixation, MSSRF has demystified the production of and it can also be made into paper and board. phosphorus solubilisation, and/or a biopesticide, an egg parasitoid, T. chilonis At the moment we have no biotechnology sequestration of salts and pollutants will be (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) and Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 34 Biodiversity trained several landless women in over dozens still allows appreciable levels of productivity called Metarrhizium anisopliae could be of villages in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to and profit, leaves no toxic residue to affect mass produced and applied as a microbial culture and market these. The Trichogramma, non-target organisms (i.e., biodiversity insecticide to control the grain and the an effective egg parasitoid, lays its eggs on the is left intact), and does not increase the sugar beet pests. These are some of he most eggs of cotton bollworm (H. armigera). On incidence of cancers in the exposed workers important dimensions of agriculture and hatching, the Trichogramma larvae feed on and members of the farming families. A sustainability. the egg contents of the bollworm leading to significant contribution to microbial control significant reduction in the population of the of insects was made by Elie Mechnikoff in Savita, Senior Research Fellow, CSIR, Deptt. pest. The biopesticide effectively reduces the 1879 and N.A. Krassilnikow in1888, who of Botanical & Env. Sciences, Guru Nanak damage caused by bollworms to a level that were the first to document that a fungus Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab

Continued from page 39 (Remembering Ruchi Ram Sahni) seen in the Sircar’s institution, that a society under the name of the Mohan Malviya and others. He relinquished the title, conferred on Punjab Science Institute was actually established…” Sahni organised him by the British Government, during the Khilafat Movement. popular science lectures under the aegis of the Punjab Science Throughout his life he fought against British hegemony. He was a Institute for laypersons on topics like “How does the telegraph wire pioneer of the social reform movement as well, particularly relating speak”, “The common flame”, “The water Lahoris drank before to women. 1880”, “The pure and impure water”, “The toys and their lessons”, R. Ramchandran, one of India’s best science journalists while “Soap making”, “Electroplating”, “Electricity in the service of man”, reviewing the Memoirs of Ruchi Ram Sahni correctly argued why and “The Punjab and its rivers”. He also delivered lectures on latest Sahni should be accorded as prominent as a place given to pioneers scientific discoveries namely “X-rays”, “Edison’s phonograph” and of modern Indian science as J.C. Bose. P.C. Ray, M.N. Saha, C.V. “Wireless telegraphy”. According to some estimate Sahni himself Raman and S.N. Bose. Ramchandran wrote: “Professor Ruchi Ram delivered more than 500 lectures. He also persuaded many teachers Sahni’s is not a name that people are likely to recognise—let alone in the colleges to come forward to share the activities of the Institute. an average Indian, not even someone from the Indian scientific Popular science lectures organised by the Punjab Science Institute community. Which is indeed a pity. For, this unsung hero of Indian were not delivered in any special theatre or auditorium. They were science from the pre-independence era should have been accorded a delivered in open spaces. The lectures were often accompanied prominent place in the annals as the likes of P.C. Ray, J.C. Bose (RRS’s with experimental demonstrations. The audience for these lectures contemporaries), S.N. Bose, M.N. Saha and C.V. Raman. The late in Lahore consisted of mostly shopkeepers from the surrounding 19th century and the early 20th century truly constituted a period of market and office workers, mostly clerks. Lectures were organised in Indian “renaissance”—in arts, literature, and science—to which RRS smaller towns and villages on the occasion of festivals and fairs. In belonged. It was a period of cultural and intellectual ferment which 1880s, Sahni demonstrated that the local language Punjabi could be threw up remarkable men and women who dedicated themselves to successfully used as a vehicle of scientific ideas. All the expenses for building a progressive and self-reliant independent India. However, the lectures organised by the Punjab Science Institute were covered the unfortunate fact of history is that while the circumstances and the by the fees charged for them. There was a direct impact of these manner of evolution of post-independent India made some better popular science lectures on science teaching in schools. The original known and remembered, others like RRS were forgotten. RRS was aim and object of the Punjab Science Institute was the popularisation a chemist by training but his historic contribution is not in the field of all kinds of science. However, later encouragement of technical of research and discovery—and maybe that is why he is not as well- education and setting up of chemical industries were also included known as the others of his time—but in popularising science among as objectives of the Institute. Pamphlets on the manufacture of soap, the common people. In that respect his contributions were unique. indigo and other products of common use were produced for wide Though the sub-title of the book refers to him as the pioneer of science circulation. Sahni established a sulphuric acid factory near Lahore popularisation in Punjab, his were pioneering efforts in the entire which flourished for several years. In this venture he was assisted by country. And it may not be an exaggeration to say that they remain Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray. unique to this day considering that the post-independence Indian Sahni worked hard to improve the quality of science scientific community has by and large, accorded little importance to teaching in schools and colleges. On realising that science teaching communicating science to the public.” in schools and colleges was not possible without facilities for repair The 150th birth anniversary of Ruchi Ram Sahni should be and manufacturing of simple scientific instruments, he established celebrated throughout the country. Sahni should be accorded his due a workshop as part of the Punjab Science Institute by spending his place for his multi-faceted contribution in shaping modern India. own savings. The workshop not only repaired and manufactured The year 2013 also marks the 100th year of Indian Science Congress. scientific instruments but it also trained young people enabling The year 2013 should be declared as the Year of Scientific Temper them to earn a decent living. to honour Sahni, who did so much for creating scientific awareness Sahni actively participated in the freedom movement. in the country. Science communicators and science communication During the Punjab Enquiry held by the Indian National Congress, should be given due importance they deserve. following the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, he had an opportunity to work with leaders like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Pandit Madan Email: [email protected] n 33 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 The Third Pole: Must Be Protected Introduction: Generally, we know of In recent years, quite often we hear M.A. Haque two Poles of the Earth, i.e. North and about the Third Pole. Obviously, on account Email: [email protected] South Poles. Those areas are known for of its shape, the Earth does not have any the distinct environment prevailing there. scope for a Third Pole. Still, the name On account of varying altitudes The geographic North Pole or the true is in circulation and it is now a standard and distinct environment, the mountains North Pole is the northernmost point on nomenclature. The name Third Pole has support distinct ecosystems and biodiversity. the surface of the Earth, located within been given to the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Those ecosystems and the plants and animals the Arctic Ocean, about 725 km from region which spreads to more than 4.3 present there are generally unable to survive Greenland on the northern side. Most of million sq. km. The mountainous region at lower altitudes. We can actually see the the time, the North Pole is covered by sea spreads across several countries including same easily. For example, people visiting the ice which covers most of the Arctic Ocean. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, North-East and other hill stations in India However, in recent times liquid water has India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. bring different types of plants from those been observed at the North Pole. The depth areas to the plains. In the plains the plants of the ocean around the North Pole is more Mountains and their are unable to survive and they die. The issue than 4 km. The ice is about 3 to 4 metres importance of concern is that some of those plants are thick over large areas and certain parts may Mountains cover about 24%, i.e., roughly rare or threatened. For example, wild orchids be even 20 metres thick. The area of sea ice is one fourth of the world’s land area and the are commonly sold on the roadside in the between 9 to12 millions sq. km. Obviously, mountainous areas are home to about 12% North-East and people do purchase them the sea ice stores a very large quantity of of the total world population. Also, an being unaware that they are threatening the water. Additionally, the Greenland ice sheet additional 14% of the total population lives biodiversity of the region. covers more than 1.7 million sq. An important issue related km. The volume of ice there is to mountainous areas is that the more than 2.5 million cubic km. services provided by the mountains An important observation about are generally not recognised. One the North Pole and adjoining area reason is the general ignorance is recently emerging evidences of about the contribution made Arctic ice decreasing in volume by mountainous areas. The by about 3% per decade. The other reason is that many of reduction in volume is certainly the services cannot be assigned a matter of worry as it indicates any price tag or market value. change in the global environment. However, Millennium Ecosystem The quantity of ice in the Arctic is Assessment (2003) has listed the however too big by all standards important services rendered by and the quantity of water stored the mountains. These include there is huge. aesthetic, ecosystem goods, UV The South Pole of the Earth A series of snow capped Himalayan peaks protection, flood and drought is situated within the Antarctica. mitigation, climate stability, About 98% of the Antarctica is covered by in the immediate vicinity of the mountains. pollination, pest control, purification of ice sheet extending to more than 14.5 million Another important feature of the mountains water, detoxification and decomposition sq. km. The ice mass is estimated to be is that many of the world’s major rivers of wastes, soil generation and soil fertility, between 25 to 30 million cubic km, which is originate there. As a result, more than half of seed dispersal, etc. A large part of the Earth’s the largest single ice mass on the Earth. The the world’s mountain areas play a vital role in biodiversity is present in the mountains and ice mass represents the largest store house of supplying water to the downstream regions. they can survive only there. fresh water on the Earth, with about 70% Also, mountains play a vital role in water of the total fresh water present on the Earth purification and water retention. Mountains The Himalayas being present in the Antarctic ice mass. An retain huge quantities of water in the form If we look at the geographical map of important feature observed regarding the of groundwater, ice, and snow and in various Asia, apart from other features, the most Antarctic ice mass is that during the last few lakes and streams spread over mountains prominent structure is certainly the decades it is showing a growing trend. This world over. The water is utilised by people Himalayas. The mountain range separates is opposite the trend around the North Pole, living in the mountains and by those who the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan which is showing decreasing trend. inhabit the downstream areas. Plateau. It extends from eastern part of Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 32 Environment

Tibet and China to the area where India, are large glaciers which show slow creeping nine times the original estimates. George Afghanistan, China and Pakistan meet. movements. Gehrels, of the University of Arizona in Two independent nations viz., Bhutan and The Himalayan range plays important Tucson, and his colleagues say: “We’ve come Nepal lie totally within the mountain range role in determining the climate of the region. to the conclusion that there was an older while the mountain range covers substantial The southern side of the range acts as a huge mountain range in place before the current portions of the other countries. The name climatic barrier which forces the summer Himalayas”. Gehrels’ team had analysed Himalaya has its origin in Sanskrit, meaning monsoon rain clouds to cause rain. That is radioactive uranium in garnet and zircon “abode of snow”. The reason is obvious. the reason that some of the rainiest places are grains from Himalayan rocks. They found Large portions of the Himalayas remain located close to the mountain range. Also, evidence to indicate that many of the grains covered with snow almost round the year. several of the large rivers originate in the area. were between 450 million and 500 million In an extended manner, the name The Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mekong, years old. On the basis of the same, they Himalayas is also used to describe the Yangtze, and the Yellow River are some of proposed that the peaks in the Himalayas massive mountain system that includes the the examples. Another important feature of may have got part of their height to an earlier Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and various the area is that rains do not reach the leeward continental crash. other ranges which extend out from the side. That is why some of the most arid areas Pamir Knot; a reason due to which it is also of the Earth are located in the leeward side of The Third Pole known as the Himalayan mountain system. the range. Tibetan plateau is the example. The Himalayan system has been namedthe The main Himalayan range extends from “Third Pole” on account of the large west to east, starting from the Indus river Origin of the Himalayas quantities of snow and ice held there. The valley and continues to the Brahmaputra Geologists have presented evidence in Himalayan system has large numbers of river valley. It is in the form of an arc, about support of the theory that the Himalayas glaciers in different regions. The total 2,400-km long. The width varies from about originated due to the impact of the Indian number adds up to several thousands. These 400 km in the western part; i.e., Kashmir- tectonic plate travelling northward and glaciers act as huge stores of fresh water Xinjiang region, to about 150 km in the its collision with the Eurasian plate. The estimated to be about 12,000 cubic km. eastern part; i.e., Tibet-Arunachal Pradesh event took place about 40-50 million years The Siachen Glacier at the India-Pakistan region. The complete range includes border is about 70 km long. three coextensive sub-ranges. Out Siachen occupies the second place of these – the northernmost – is in terms of length outside the polar the highest one. It is known as the region. Gangotri and Yamunotri Great or Inner Himalayas. A very (Uttarakhand), Nubra, Biafo and important feature of this mountain Baltoro (Karakoram region), Zemu range is that the Earth’s highest (Sikkim), and Khumbu glaciers points lie there. The Himalayan (Mount Everest region) are other system has two peaks which are more glaciers of the Himalayas which than 8,000 m high and more than deserve special mention. As noted hundred peaks which are beyond earlier, the Himalayas contain 7,200 m in height. In comparison, the greatest areas of glaciers and the highest mountains in the permanent snow outside the polar Americas and Europe rarely exceed region. On melting, the glaciers and 6,000 m. In fact, the Himalayan- A stream passing through Himalaya snow provide water to large areas and Karakoram range includes nine of large numbers of people in different the ten highest peaks on Earth. Further, ago, traversing about 15 cm per year. The countries associated directly or indirectly if we consider Hindu Kush, Karakorum, collision forced the lighter rocks of the sea- with the Himalayas. The water so produced Pamir, Tian Shah, and Tibet together, 66 beds of that time to be lifted up, forming the becomes even more important as part of the highest mountains on the Earth will be in Himalayan arc. This theory finds support same becomes available during summer. The the Himalayas. The next i.e. 67th namely by the findings that Mount Everest is made water feeds big and small rivers and lakes the Aconcagua – is outside the Himalayan of marine limestone. That is the reason and keeps them flowing. In turn people system. Shivalik Hills, which does not have quite often fossils of sea organisms have dependent on those rivers and lakes benefit very high peaks, is in the southernmost side. been found at altitudes of several thousand immensely. In this regard it is important to In the middle is the Lesser Himalayas, which metres. The rock that was pushed up during note that although the Himalayan range is has peaks that rise up to about 5,000 m. the formation of mountain comprised of close to the tropics, snow is present round As stated earlier, the Himalayan ranges rise sandstone and limestone. Originally, those the year in the mountain system, at least in from the plains located in India, Bangladesh materials were at the bottom of the ocean. the higher reaches. That is the reason that and Pakistan. Interspersed between the peaks Here it may not be out of place melt-water feeds the rivers and lakes round and the massifs there are river gorges formed to mention that certain recent estimates the year. No doubt the quantity of melt- due to erosion. Also, extremely deep valleys suggest that the age of the Himalayas may be water varies in different seasons; but it is are present in the area. In addition, there more than 450 million years. This is about available round the year.

31 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 Environment

Several major river systems in the Himalayan region and originate in the region. Combined downstream will be adversely drainage basin of those rivers is so affected. Yet another related huge that about 3 billion people in development pertains to increased 18 countries inhabit those basins. frequency of floods in the Asia’s ten largest rivers originate Himalayas and also downstream, from the Himalayan range and as melt water is likely to be these rivers support the existence available in larger quantities than of more than a billion people. normal. Consequently, the overall No doubt, during hot summer economy of the area and the living the snow remains confined to the conditions of the people are bound higher reaches. But snow plays an to be adversely affected. important role in adding water to Some time ago a report the rivers even during summer. In based on satellite observations was due course the rivers combine and published. The report was prepared form two large river systems. On Bhagirathi river in the Himalaya by the Intergovernmental Panel account of the same the Himalayas on Climate Change (IPCC). play crucial role in determining the quality higher latitudes too there are lakes. But their The report claimed that all of the ice in the of life in the entire region. The Table below average size is smaller. Probably the most Himalayas could be gone by 2035. However, provides information about major rivers fed well-known lake in the Himalayan region is the report came under fire from different by the glaciers in the Himalayan region. Pangong Tso. That is the largest lake in the corners including a coordinating lead author These rivers provide support base to large Himalayan region with surface area of 700 of the IPCC chapter. But the issue was never populations in different areas. sq. km. Another reason for its being famous settled. In situ measurements have produced Another characteristic of the is that is that the lake crosses India-China evidences to suggest that many of the more Himalayan region is that it supports a border. Another lake, Yamdrok Tso, which than 45,000 glaciers in the Himalayan large numbers of lakes. Most of the lakes is in the Central Tibet, has an area of about and Tibetan region are losing mass. The are situated at altitudes up to 5,000 m. At 640 sq. km. The famous Lake Manasarovar comforting fact is that taking into account has an area of 410 sq. km. Similarly, there are the observed rate of decline recorded so far, other lakes, although not so big. However, many experts doubt if even small glaciers Table: Principal glacier-fed river together those lakes store huge quantities of will melt completely before the end of the systems of the Himalayas water. The lakes provide support to the local current century. River Mountain Glacier needs and then water entering various rivers In the last few years the issue of area km2 area km2 from those lakes contributes to different glacier retreat has become important, as Indus 268,842 7,890 degrees in meeting the demand of the people several papers were published based on data Jhelum 33,670 170 living downstream. from the GRACE gravity-sensing satellites, Chenab 27,195 2,944 highlighting the problem of groundwater Ravi 8,092 206 Global warming -Threat depletion in India. We know that the glaciers Sutlej 47,915 1,295 to the Third Pole in the Himalayas add melt-water to the Beas 12,504 638 An issue of great concern is that on account rivers in the Himalayan region. The rivers Jamuna 11,655 125 of global warming, temperatures are rising then bring water to the plains and enrich Ganga 23,051 2,312 in the Himalayan region. Even more the ground water resource. But if the glaciers Ramganga 6,734 3 important is the fact that the temperature are affected and they disappear partially or Kali 16,317 997 in the Himalayas is rising at a faster pace completely, run-off to the headwaters of Karnali 53,354 1,543 as compared to the global average. It is most of the rivers, including the ten major Gandak 37,814 1,845 estimated that global warming has raised rivers will come down. The list of rivers Kosi 61,901 1,281 the average temperature of the Earth by will include the Indus and the Ganges Tista 12,432 495 less than 1C during the last one hundred which serve very large areas of the country. Raikad 26,418 195 years while certain regions in the Himalayas Although it is difficult to conclude whether Manas 31,080 528 have experienced a 0.6C rise in temperature or when that may happen, one thing is clear Subansiri 81,130 725 during the last one decade. This kind of that the danger exists. Brahmaputra 256,928 108 unusual rise in temperature is a cause of At this point the question is: What Dibang 12,950 90 worry. Environmentalists, administrators, is the reason that the glaciers are likely to Lohit 20,720 425 and planners are worried, as any substantial disappear? The answer is that it may happen rise in temperature may adversely affect on account of global warming. As discussed (Table from Subramanian,2010: Rivers of agriculture, biodiversity, health status of earlier, the concern is greater because the South Asia- to link or not to link. Capital people living in the area. Another possible warming is taking place at a faster rate at pub, New Delhi. 395 pages) consequence will be that water-availability higher altitudes than in the lowlands. Now, Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 30 Environment it is generally accepted that global warming are going to rise. Hence, it is essential that snow mass at high altitudes have been may become a potential threat for the the researchers make it a top priority to observed in different areas. Ultimately, there North and South Poles. Large portions of understand the status and fate of glaciers will be problem of water availability in the snow and ice may melt. But some people in the Himalayas which are a vital source mountains. The downstream population are considering the same to be a positive of water for a large part of population of will also suffer. But the mountains will be development. Agriculture may expand, the country. The major issue is that it is not worst affected on account of the terrain, navigation may become easier, exploration possible to anticipate how fast it may happen ecological conditions prevalent there and for oil, gas and minerals, etc., may become and how this will affect water resources. lack of alternative sources. Also, mountain economical and so on. But the problem does There is no glacier inventory for the entire areas suffer from certain inherent problems. not end there. Global warming will be a region. Satellite studies offer only a rough For example, FAO has classified 78% of the threat to the Third Pole as well. estimate of the glaciated area. Remoteness of world’s mountain land surface as not suitable The importance of the Third Pole the areas involved, high altitudes and harsh or only marginally suitable for agriculture. If cannot be overemphasised. As noted earlier, weather conditions hamper measurements water scarcity becomes an issue, agricultural it has the Earth’s largest store of water after on the ground. activities will suffer badly in the mountains. North and South Poles. The water is held In this regard there have been In this regard it is important that here in more than 46,000 glaciers and vast claims which are not unanimous. A recent when Chapter 13, viz., ‘Managing Fragile expanses of permanent snow. That is why publication by United Nations Environment Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain the Third Pole is also called Asia’s water Programme (UNEP) and the World Glacier Development’ was incorporated in Agenda tower. The glaciers feed the continent’s Monitoring Service (WGMS) clearly says: 21 during the 1992 Earth Summit, it was largest rivers. In turn, the rivers sustain 1.5 “The ongoing trend of global and rapid, taken for granted that the importance billion people across ten countries. Several if not accelerating, glacier shrinkage on of mountains and their contribution in reports published during last few years claim the century timescale is of non-periodic ecological and social terms was finally being that the glaciers in the Third Pole region are nature and may lead to the de-glaciation acknowledged on global scale. The Chapter melting at a fast pace. As discussed earlier, of large parts of many mountain ranges in focussed on two programmes, viz., generating one consequence could be reduced discharge the coming decades”. Obviously, the Indian and strengthening knowledge about the during the lean season to the rivers affecting Himalayas will not be any exception. ecology and sustainable development of ground water, agriculture, drinking water mountain ecosystems; and promoting availability, health conditions, etc. But that Neglect of the integrated watershed development and is not the end. Lakes in the region may mountainous areas livelihood opportunities. The Food and overflow due to flow of larger volumes of Mountains and people therin especially in the Agriculture Organization (FAO) was water than they can hold. The overflow may developing countries, have been historically assigned the responsibility to act as Task cause large scale floods in the valleys. exploited or at best neglected. Even in recent Manager for Chapter 13 and to report on times there has not been much change in the the implementation of the two programmes. The uncertainty situation. For example, concrete measures With the same aim, FAO convened a Task However, the tragedy is that not much is and policy proposals proposed in the form Force in 1994. During the decade after known about how climate change is unfolding of United Nations Framework Convention the Earth Summit, several types of specific in the region. With the aim to rectify this on Climate Change (UNFCCC) still lack a initiatives were started by international situation, Third Pole Environment (TPE), an clear mountain perspective. An important institutions, governments, NGOs and international programme led by the Chinese opportunity which was there was missed scientific organisations with reference to Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan after 1992. Agenda 21 and the UN the Chapter 13. One such initiative was the Plateau Research (ITP) in Beijing has started Framework Convention on Climate Change establishment of the Mountain Forum in a certain initiative. Also, different researchers (UNFCCC) were adopted in 1992. But the 1995. It was a global network. The aim was in the region have planned to fill the current two did not bring expected results, although exchange of information, mutual support, knowledge gap. Says Yao Tandong, Director these initiatives provided solid grounds for and advocacy aimed towards equitable of the ITP and chairman of the TPE Science promoting sustainable development of the and ecologically sustainable mountain Committee: “The only way forward is mountainous regions. development and conservation. But in due for the international community to work The mountain agenda has never been course of time it was realised that Chapter 13, together to assess the risks associated with addressed properly by either of the two which proved to be a good starting point, did climate change.” initiatives. This situation is more serious not adequately address several issues related One more dimension is that the keeping in view the fact that people living to sustainable mountain development. region’s population is expected to grow quite in the mountains have contributed very little Also, the issue of proper recognition and fast in the future. From the Indian point of to global greenhouse gas emissions, while valuation of services and benefits accruing view it is very important. The reason is that the expectations are that they will be the from mountains could not be resolved. India is expected to be the most populous first among the vulnerable communities to Similarly, the role of mountains in providing country in the world by the middle of the face the consequences of the global warming livelihood to people and the spiritual and current century. Obviously, the requirements and climate change. Certain impacts are recreational aspects of mountains were not of different resources from the environment already visible. Shrinkages of glaciers and assigned proper value and importance.

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A lot of hope was generated again when biodiversity through community participation distinct socio-cultural features, the hill areas in 1998 the United Nations General Assembly and sustainable livelihoods. Similar efforts are have remained backward.” But nothing designated 2002 as the International Year needed to include mountain concerns in the substantial happened. Seriousness of the of Mountains (IYM). The resolution was UNFCC and UNCCD processes to push the situation can be realised from the fact that supported by 130 nations. It was expected agenda of adaptation and sustainable land, during the 54th Meeting of the NDC that the Year could raise awareness about water and forest/vegetation management. If (National Developmental Council) in the importance of mountains and in turn it does not happen, the mountain ecosystems 2008, the Prime Minister had to make a the awareness could lead to positive actions and people dependent on those ecosystems sharp observation on the backwardness for conservation of mountains, ecosystems will suffer. of the mountain areas of the country. As a present there, and other resources connected consequence, the Planning Commission set to the mountains. The awareness could Indian situation up a Task Force to address the problems of also pave ways to promote better living FFrom an Indian point of view, the neglect of the hill states and hill areas and to prepare a conditions for people directly or indirectly the mountainous region is quite a grey area proposal for comprehensive development of dependent on mountain resources. The as a large part of her population lives in those areas. A more serious issue is that the Mountain Agenda gained new momentum the mountains. Another issue is that another Planning Commission Task Force discovered and several types of initiatives were started. large chunk of the country’s population is that most of the recommendations of For example, Adelboden Group out of which directly or indirectly dependent on water the earlier Working Groups/Task Forces/ the SARD-M (Sustainable Agriculture and and other resources received from the Committees constituted for the development Rural Development in Mountains) project mountains. Historically, the people living in of the mountain regions in the country were emerged, GLOCHAMORE (Global the Indian mountains have been in constant never implemented. Change in Mountain Regions), and the disadvantage. Disproportionate poverty Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) took level, poor health conditions, prevalence of Conclusion shape. Also in the same year the Mountain large-scale food insecurity and malnutrition, Under the circumstances it is critical that the Partnership was initiated during the World large-scale dependence on natural resources, importance of the Third Pole is recognized Summit on Sustainable Development held limited livelihood opportunities, overall and serious efforts are made to conserve in Johannesburg. marginalization, etc., make them much and protect it. the Third Pole. Otherwise, But these initiatives, too, could not more vulnerable to environmental and a large number of countries and millions cut much ice, especially with reference to the natural vagaries. The tragedy has been that of people living in those countries will mountains in the developing countries. In the the developmental approaches pursued suffer despite being not responsible for the two major UN conventions, UNFCCC and in the country have not brought desired consequences. Not only people who inhabit UNCCD, the role of mountains was never results for the mountain areas. The Working the mountainous regions, but also, very explicitly recognised in funding instruments Group formed during the Eighth Five large numbers of people living downstream and negotiation processes. In the Biodiversity Year Plan (1992-97) remarked: “The hill in different countries will suffer. Under the Convention, the COP 10 in Nagoya has areas of the country are faced with certain circumstances, it is essential that the factors made some progress. A 10-year Action Plan peculiar problems inhibiting the process of responsible for global warming have to be (2011-20) was prepared. The Action Plan development. On account of the difficult addressed on a priority basis. n is aimed towards conservation of mountain terrain, variable agro-climatic conditions,

Continued from page 36 (A Tale of Two Digits) hexadecimal digit. For example, the binary language. These instructions are converted to basis of the entire computer applications.” number ‘10011100’ can be written as ‘9C’ a hexadecimal code and eventually a binary “You are right. All the advancement in the hexadecimal number system, where code is generated. The binary code is finally of computers and associated applications 1001 = 9 and 1100 = 12 = C.” deciphered by the computer. However, there would not have been possible without the “What is the advantage of having the binary numbers.” octal and hexadecimal number systems?” 1 byte = 8 bits “The world of binary number is indeed “As I have mentioned earlier, it makes amazing! Uncle, thank you very much for 10 the representation of binary numbers a lot 1 KB = 2 bytes = 1024 bytes introducing me to this amazing world!” easier. During the early development phase 1 MB = 220 bytes “Yes Googol. Next time when you’ll of the computer, the hexadecimal codes were 1 GB = 230 bytes switch on a computer, I hope that you’ll entered as instructions. You can imagine, appreciate how the magic of mathematics entering a binary code as instruction will is playing an important role behind the make the life very cumbersome.” are some applications where the hexadecimal scene!” “Do we still use hexadecimal numbers codes are entered directly. ” “It’s like the computer playing an as instruction to a computer?” “Uncle, I have realised now that infinite number of Botticelli games with us!” “In general, instructions are written the binary number system is not merely a “That’s a good analogy, Googol.” n in English like language, called the high level method to represent numbers; rather it is the Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 28 Dizziness Causes and Cures Dr Yatish Agarwal Passions spin the plot: such as lying down, rolling over e-mail: [email protected] in bed, rising from a supine We are betrayed by what is false within. position, and extending the head to look upward. –George Meredith, Modern Love The inner ear plays a key role in these attacks. Inside the ear, there is a tiny organ known as the vestibular labyrinth. It includes izziness, or vertigo, is a common, vexing symptom, and three loop-shaped structures (semi-circular canals) that contain fluid Depidemiologic data indicate that more than 20 per cent of and fine hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of the head. Other adults experience dizziness within a given year. The symptoms structures, called otolith organs, in the ear monitor movements of are rather tell-tale: when you suffer an attack, you feel that you our head — up and down, right and left, back and forth — and the or your surroundings are moving. These false sensations are often head’s position related to gravity. These otolith organs — the utricle accompanied by a feeling of spinning and may sometimes be and saccule — contain crystals that make ussensitive to movement associated with nausea and, at times, severe vomiting. and gravity. Depending upon its cause, vertigo can occur at any age. However, many of the causes are most often in people aged 60 and The complexities of the inner ear above. This is also true for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo For a variety of reasons, these crystals can be dislodged. When they (a disorder arising in the inner ear). Aside from ageing, there are are dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals no definite factors that may increase the risk of benign paroxysmal — especially while lying down. This causes the semicircular canal positional vertigo. to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to. As a result, we feel dizzy. What are the causes? Vertigo can be brought on by a variety of causes. Labyrinthitis Infection of the vestibular apparatus — labyrinthitis — is another Cervical spondylosis common cause. The infection usually begins as a viral infection of Vertigo is often associated with arthritis in the neck, a condition the respiratory tract, such as common cold or flu, or, less frequently, generally known as cervical spondylosis. In this condition, vertigo a bacterial infection of the middle ear. This type of vertigo usually occurs when the head is turned or tilted, thereby compressing blood starts suddenly and lasts for 1–2 weeks. vessels that supply parts of the brain involved with balance. Ménière’s disease Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Ménière’s disease is Most often doctors cannot find a definite cause. This frequently a rare disorder in which however relates to a condition known as benign paroxysmal positional the amount of fluid in vertigo (BPPV). It is a common cause of recurrent vertigo. Episodes the inner ear increases are brief, lasting less than a minute and typically 15–20 seconds and intermittently. The raised are always provoked by changes in head position relative to gravity, pressure in the inner ear disturbs the organs of hearing and balance, causing sudden attacks of ringing or buzzing sounds and dizziness so severe that the affected person may fall to the ground. Ménière’s disease usually affects one ear, but both ears can become involved. The condition is most common in people aged between 20 and 60 years and sometimes runs in families. Attacks of Ménière’s disease results in dizziness, hearing loss, and pain, pressure, or fullness in the affected ear. The hearing loss and aural symptoms are key features of Ménière’s disease which distinguish it from other confusing conditions. Audiometry at the time of an attack shows a characteristic asymmetric low-frequency hearing loss; hearing commonly improves between attacks, although permanent hearing loss may occur 27 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 Mediscape eventually. Patients suspected of having Ménière’s disease should take fluid-filled semicircular canals of the inner ear into a tiny bag-like the advice of an otolaryngologist (ENT) for further evaluation. open area (vestibule) that houses one of the otolith organs (utricle) in the ear where these particles don’t cause trouble and are more Basket of common culprits easily reabsorbed. Each position is held for about 30 seconds after Overwork, stress, excessive alcohol intake, food poisoning, heatstroke, the symptoms or abnormal eye movements stop. This procedure is and adverse effect to certain medications can also produce vertigo, usually effective after one or two treatments. but such attacks are usually short in duration. After the procedure, one must avoid lying flat or placing the treated ear below shoulder level for the rest of that day. For the first Head injury night following the procedure, it is important to elevate the head on A prior head injury with a minor to severe blow to the head may a few pillows when asleep. This allows time for the particles floating make a person more susceptible to benign paroxysmal positional in the labyrinth to settle into the vestibule and be reabsorbed by the vertigo. Such cases are not sometimes easy to pick, since the CT scan fluids in the inner ear as stated above. and MR of the brain may not yield any significant finding. On the following morning of this outpatient procedure, the restrictions will be lifted. Serious causes Rare causes of vertigo include a tumour affecting the nerve Surgical alternative connecting the inner ear to the brain (acoustic neuroma), a stroke, In rare situations in which or multiple sclerosis. the canalith repositioning procedure isn’t effective, the Treatments and medications doctor may recommend a Treatment of vestibular symptoms should be driven by the underlying surgical procedure in which a diagnosis. Simply treating dizziness with vestibular suppressant bone plug is used to block the medications is often not helpful and may worsen the symptoms. portion of the inner ear that’s If the doctor diagnoses benign paroxysmal positional vertigo causing dizziness. The plug (BPPV), he may recommend an examination by an ENT specialist, prevents the semicircular who might consider treating with a series of movements known as canal in the ear from being able to respond to particle movements the canalith repositioning procedure. or head movements in general. The success rate for canal plugging surgery is quite good. Canalith repositioning Performed in the doctor’s office, the canalith repositioning Medications procedure consists of several simple and slow manoeuvres for To relieve one’s symptoms, the doctor might prescribe one or more positioning the head. The goal is to move particles from the of the following medications:

CAUSES OF DIZZINESS

How did dizziness begin?

It was sudden and It's been long standing short lasting Does it occur in bouts? Yes No, it's continuous Possible causes: Are there ear symptoms Are there ear symptoms

Undue exertion Yes No Yes No

Possible Possible Vascular disorder Is it positional? Is it associated with fainting? causes: causes: of inner ear Middle ear Acoustic Yes No Yes No Inner ear inflammation neuroma Possible Possible inflammation Meniere's Insufficient Anaemia causes: causes: Cerebello- disease blood flow to Unusual visual pontine angle High blood Benign brain perception e.g. Acoustic Medications tumours pressure positional giddiness at neuroma Heart disease vertigo Anxiety Diabetes heights and on (VIII nerve induced deep Carotid sinus looking at the tumour) Cervical breathing yroid sensitivity moving train from spondylosis disorder the platform Neck injury Anxiety Migraine psychoneurosis

Menopause

Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 26 Mediscape

Betahistine Dissipate stress and anxiety This medication is available in the market as Vertin, Betavert, and Stress and anxiety have become part and parcel of daily life. Do not Vertstar, and is packed into 8 mg, 16 mg and 24 mg tablets. The let them trip you. You should learn to cope and dissipate these in a doctor may recommend two or three doses a day of this medicine. healthy way, instead of falling prey to them. The period of treatment depends upon the severity of symptoms, Some people take stress to their lungs and begin to breathe but is often long. too rapidly. This can make them dizzy. Never do this. Just breathe slowly and steadily. Cinnarizine Sold in the market as Cinzan, Stugeron, Vertigon, and packed as 25 Strengthen your neck mg tablets; this medication works in the same way as Betahistine. Positional dizziness is commonly related to a poorly maintained neck. The changes of spondylosis in the neck can cause pressure on Prochlorperazine the arteries which feed the brain and lead to dizzy bouts. Strong neck This medication is available in the market as Stemetil and is packed muscles and a good postural hygiene can prevent this. into 5 mg tablets. Your doctor may recommend this tablet at bedtime, or two or three times a day. The period of treatment depends upon Maintain good hydration the severity of symptoms, but is often long. Particularly during summer months when one must always be careful These three medications can make one feel drowsy, lethargic, to drink lot of fluids and to keep the body adequately hydrated. A and cause dryness of mouth. Some people also experience visual fluid-depleted body can fall prey to bouts of dizziness. disturbances. Do not let sugar levels fall Antacids If you miss meals and let your blood sugar level drop low due to the Antacids and H2 receptor blockers such as pantaprazole may also strain of work, time pressure or mere carelessness, you sure are asking prove useful in this setting. for it. Hypoglycaemia or a low sugar level can lead to a splitting headache and also make you dizzy. What Can we Do under these circumstances? In case one is diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Keep your ears clean consider these tips. Mild dizziness can also result from the accumulation of wax in the ears and blocked Eustachian tubes. Keep your ears clean and if you Take it easy have a blocked or discharging ear, see your ENT specialist right Be aware of the possibility of losing your balance, which can lead away. to falling and serious injury. Sit down immediately when you feel In any case, all patients who suffer from recurrent spells of dizzy. Alternatively, just lie still. Close your eyes. Breathe easy. Avoid giddiness need a thorough ENT examination. Most people do well if sudden movement. the doctor can lay his hand on the cause and help you overcome it. If you are at the wheel, put your foot on the brakes and stop. Pull up to the side. Never stretch your luck. You could easily have an accident, particularly if the symptoms are severe. Vigyan Prasar Keep the night light on Presents New Vedio Serials Use good lighting if you get up at night. ‘Jo Hai Jaisa… kyon hai Vesa?’ Use a cane (Story of Chemistry) Walk with a cane for stability, if you are at risk of a fall. ‘Every Tuesday on DD National at 09.30-10.00 AM Take medical help From 20 November, 2012 Work closely with your doctor to manage your symptoms effectively. BPPV may recur even after successful therapy. Fortunately, although A 13 part video serial ‘Jo Hai Jaisa… kyon hai Vesa?’ (Story of chemistry) produced by Vigyan Prasar, based on current trend in there’s no cure, the condition can be managed with physical therapy Chemistry. This serial makes us understand about uses of chemistry and home treatments. in daily life and span of development in industry era. This serial is also important to make aware to the viewers regarding changes Simple lifestyle measures in chemistry from historical period till today. This serial enables Making some simple changes in the way you lead your life may also to understand chemistry in various areas like nanotechnology, provide you considerable respite. Here’s how: biochemistry, health, construction, soil and agriculture and Green chemistry etc. Do not overexert At the end of every episode one quiz for viewer’s also attractive You may experience spells of dizziness if you overexert to the point feature of programme. Vigyan Prasar will send own publication as of exhaustion. Work in a planned way and within your limits. Think prizes to 10 winners. ahead and use your resources optimally. 25 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 Recent developments in science and technology

Astronomical Unit redefined Union (IAU) – the world’s top astronomical Biman Basu The Astronomical Unit is (AU) is an body – has approved a revised definition of E-mail: [email protected] important unit for measuring distances with the Astronomical Unit at its XXVIII General respect to astronomical objects. It is defined Assembly held in Beijing, China, in August a mean diameter of about 525 kilometres. as the average distance from the Sun to the 2012. The new IAU definition does away It was under observation by NASA’s Dawn Earth, or about 150 million kilometres (93 with any calculations and gives AU a more spacecraft, equipped with a high resolution million miles). It is a convenient unit for precise value. Now, officially, the AU is camera and two spectrometers, since July 149,597,870,700 metres; that 2011. Dawn was placed in orbit around is, 149,597,870.7 kilometres, Vesta at an average altitude of about 210 or 92,955,807.273 miles, kilometres above the surface of the asteroid, exactly. This is nine metres, or passing over the asteroid’s poles as it rotated about 30 feet, more than the below. During the past year Dawn has previously agreed value. comprehensively mapped this previously Until now, the value in uncharted world, and sent back a wealth of metres of AU was determined data about this rocky object. The spacecraft experimentally, depending has also compiled a detailed map of the on the models, observations, asteroid’s surface, the first of its kind so far. and the reference system Two new papers, published in Science used, which often varied. on 20 September 2012 (doi: 10.1126/ The revised definition wipes science.1225354 and doi: 10.1126/ away the problems of the old science.1225374) reveal abundant hydrogen definition of AU because a on Vesta and pitted craters that indicate The Astronomical Unit is the average distance fixed distance has nothing the presence of volatiles such as nitrogen, between the Sun and the Earth. to do with the Sun’s mass, carbon, and water. Taken together, the and the metre is defined as findings point to presence of water on the measuring large distances. For example, the distance travelled by light in a vacuum asteroid. However, its small size and lack of Earth is 1 AU from the Sun, and Mars is in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Because the an atmosphere means the water could not 1.523 AU, which is much easier to express speed of light is constant in all reference exist there in a liquid state but might linger than saying that Mars is 227,939,000 km frames, the AU will no longer change as a solid beneath its surface or disperse as away from the Sun. Similarly, Pluto is 39.48 depending on an observer’s location in the vapour into space. Dawn did not find actual AU from the Sun, and the newly discovered Solar System or the Sun’s mass. water ice at Vesta, but it found evidence of dwarf planet Eris is at a distance of 67.67 AU. hydrated minerals and dust on the giant The Oortcloud, the source of long-period Traces of water asteroid. comets in the Solar System, is thought to be found on Vesta Signatures of hydrogen, in the form of some 50,000 AU from the Sun. Vesta is the brightest asteroid known and hydroxyl or water, were detected by Dawn’s Till recently the definition of AU is the second most massive object in the gamma ray and neutron detector (GRaND). was quite complicated. It was defined as asteroid belt. It is irregular in shape and has According to Thomas Prettyman, the lead “the radius of an unperturbed circular Newtonian orbit about the Sun of a particle having infinitesimal mass, moving with a mean motion of 0.01720209895 radians per day (known as the Gaussian gravitational constant)”. Besides being complicated, the Sun posed a big problem in this definition. The Gaussian gravitational constant being based on the solar mass, the value of AU was inextricably tied to the mass of the Sun. But since the Sun keeps losing mass as it radiates energy, this was causing the value of AU to change slowly as well. Recently the International Astronomical Surface of the asteroid Vesta as imaged by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 24 New Horizons scientist for GRaND at the Planetary Science Mars clay not on the Red Planet may not have formed the Institute in Tucson, Arizona, USA, the formed by water way scientists had thought – due to presence source of the hydrogen within Vesta’s surface Mars has been one of the most explored of water – but may have formed through appears to be hydrated minerals delivered by planets since 1960, with a total of 38 volcanic action. Such clays might have been carbon-rich space rocks that collided with missions sent by USA and USSR and one formed in hot Martian magma rich in water. Vesta at speeds slow enough to preserve their mission each by Japan and the European If so, that water would have been far too hot volatile content. GRaND’s data are the first Space Agency. But as many as 16 missions, to support microbial life. In a recent paper direct measurements describing the elemental including the one by Japanese ended in in Nature Geoscience (9 September 2012, composition of Vesta’s surface. According to failure. The US record has been much better. doi: 10.1038/ngeo1572), a French-US team the scientists, the water is probably locked Of the 25 total Mars missions it had sent, of researchers led by Alain Meunier of the within the lattice of carbonaceous chondrites, more than two-thirds have succeeded, which University of Poitiers in France, report the a class of dark-coloured meteorites known to include seven landing missions. similarity of chemical composition of some have struck Vesta in the past and mixed into From the images and data sent back Mars clay minerals dating back to 4.2 billion its surface. by these missions it was inferred that in the to 3.5 billion years with clays found at the The Dawn findings are helping distant past Mars had plenty of water. Clay Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia, which researchers understand how a once-molten layers found across Mars suggested that from are known to have been formed from cooling proto-planet – a category that of water-rich lava. Crystallising includes early Earth – could lava may have contained tiny gather water early in its history pockets where water could as it cooled and spun through react with other chemicals to space. According to the make small amounts of iron- researchers, the water must have and magnesium-rich clay. No arrived on Vesta after it cooled additional water flowing on the because early in the solar system’s surface or below ground would history, asteroids and terrestrial be needed. According to the planets were formed from molten researchers, such an origin is also consistent with the hydrogen material and the extremely high isotope compositions of clays temperatures of young Vesta in some Martian meteorites and would have instantly evaporated the widespread presence of these any volatile material such as clays in massive basaltic lavas, water. Vesta’s regolith, or rocky breccias, and regolith. Moreover, soil, is estimated to hold only 5 these ancient Martian clays are per cent water by weight. Due up to a few hundred metres to the low gravity of Vesta, the thick, which is more likely to be impacts would have ploughed associated with lava flows than into the rocky asteroid at slower This image shows magma-spawned clay particles covering unaltered crystals in a basaltic lava flow from Mururoa seamount, soil interacting with water. speeds than impacts at Earth or However, the new findings the Moon. Although surprising, French Polynesia. Similar structures on Mars cast doubt on its wet past, scientists say. (Credit: Meunier-Riffaut) do not necessarily mean that the finding of water on Vesta is all Martian clays were formed not as unexpected as it would in the absence of water. Some have been a decade ago. Today researchers about 4.2 billion to 3.5 billion years ago, the planetary scientists do not fully agree with the have found evidence for water ice on the planet was warm enough to have large bodies new hypothesis. They point out that the new Moon and Mars also. of liquid water. When the Mars Express and hypothesis does not explain why the Martian Dawn’s findings are helping scientists Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter studied these surface appears to have tracks and channels unlock some of the secrets of how the solar clays from orbit several years ago, geologists cut by flowing liquid. Nor does it account system, including our own Earth, was assumed the clays were a result of large for certain mineral deposits of hematite that formed. After completing its mission at bodies of water weathering and altering scientists believe may have formed when Vesta, Dawn left for its next destination – the Mars’ basalt surface. They were of the view water ran past them. It is expected that dwarf planet Ceres in the asteroid belt, on that Mars clays could have formed in one NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity might shed 5 September 2012. Unlike other spacecraft of two ways: through soil interacting with some light on the debate by giving scientists used to explore planets, Dawn uses an ion standing water on the surface, or from water a close-up look at some clays in the lower propulsion system, which is less powerful bubbling up from below via hydrothermal layers of Mount Sharp in the middle of Gale than conventional chemical rockets, but vents. And both these conditions would Crater, which could very well have been the can run for far longer duration compared have encouraged life to form. site of a Martian lake, billions of years in the to regular rockets. Dawn will reach Ceres However, recent analysis of Martian past and clays found there could have been sometime around 2015. meteorites indicate that some clays found created by water.

23 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 Letters to the editor

Informative article scientific thoughts and concepts and to develop knowledge. At the end of wishing you all the best Dream 2047 is an excellent informative magazine scientific temper among the masses in general in your future endeavours. that can help boost scientific temper among and children in particular. Mr. Mukund Kumar Tiwari readers. I must thank Dr. Vinay B Kamble for Dr Manoj Kumar Srivastava Co-ordinator, Newton Sc. Club the interesting article on “Higgs Boson - Gods Assistant Professor, Department of Physics Piprahi, Ward No. 5, Sheohar, Bihar – 843334 Particle” (September 2012) in which the Standard ACC Wing, Indian Military Academy, ***** Dehradun-248007 Model was explained in very simple manner. I Invigorating articles ***** would like to know more about the same topic. The article “The Calculus Affair” (Dream 2047 I would also appreciate if you can publish First of all I would like to say that heartily October 2012) was written in a simple, lucid style an article on Vedic Mathematics in a forthcoming thank the entire team of this valuable monthly and described well the applications of calculus issue. magazine. Without hesitation I can say that it is for calculating speed, and time-and-distance Ashish HEGDE an unique Sc. magazine of all over India. This problems, which was very useful to readers. Senior Executive – Materials magazine is very useful for Sc. students, writers, The two-part article on Higgs Boson was also Crompton Greaves Limited (Fans Division) sc. clubs and sc. communicators and the man Bethora Industrial Estate, Bethora 403 409, Goa invigorating. The article on “Dizziness” was quite [email protected] who is most interested in sc. subject. The main informative. I would request you to publish a future feel of this magazine is that it is provided free of ***** list of events for prior intimation and enhanced cost by Vigyan Prasar. In fact, it is a real boon participation. Articles on a few emerging areas Higgs boson for all of us. It satisfies all the needs of readers. like energy efficiency, climate change, renewable The article on Higgs boson by Dr VB Kamble in By reading Dream 2047 one can improve their energy/green energy, biotechnology, zero energy Dream 2047 (September and October 2012) was science skills. The sections of this magazine are an buildings, and observances of various important really very informative. In the article the name God editorial, Biographies of scientists, an interview, days of the month can be too considered from particle for Higgs boson, which was misquoted recent developments in S&T and medical series. the next issue. by the media, was clearly explained. The contents Each articles of this magazine is written by great Siddhartha were extremely articulative and conveyed the sc. writers and articles are exceptionally good. I MTech. Mechanical Engg. Student concepts in a extremely simple and convincing have been readily of since two years and I shall YMCA University of Science and Technology, manner. Science communication as taken up by be a very good fan of this magazine. I think, it is Faridabad 121006 E- mail : [email protected] VP is really commendable. I personally feel the very helpful publication for all of us. Each men need of an exclusive science channel to spread the should read it regularly for getting the best sc. *****

Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2 22 VP News Brainstorming for Science Clubs two-day brainstorming session to Dr. Rajendra Singh, Magsaysay clubs and develop a road map for them so Adecide the road map for science clubs awardee for water movement, Padma Bhusan as to motivate the children and youth to was organised jointly by Vigyan Prasar and and renowned science populariser Dr. Saroj take up scientific activities and contribute Gujarat Council of Science and Technology Ghose, Dr. Pramod Verma, Science Advisor towards the cherished goals of achieving a (GUJCOST), in the sprawling campus and Director General of MP State S&T scientific society. At present, Vigyan Prasar of the Institute of Seismological Research Council, Dr. Rajendra Dhobal, Director has more than 12,000 science clubs across (ISR) in Gandhinagar during 30-31 August General of Uttarakhand State & S&T the country. In addition, there are large

Experts brainstorms for science club future

2012. At the end of the brainstorming Council, Dr. P. Iyamperumal, Executive numbers of eco-clubs, DNA Clubs, and State session the participating experts expressed Director, TN State & Council, Dr. Surendra science clubs with a large number students the hope that soon the country will witness Singh, Advisor, Manipur State S&T Council, and teachers working together. The specific a science club movement that will provide Dr. Amita Gill, Director, DST, Rajasthan, recommendations given by the experts are a tool for informal science learning for the Dr. V.B. Kamble, Ex-Director, Vigyan Prasar being finalised as a report on Science Club communities to combat poverty, pollution conducted various interactive sessions. Movement in India. and diseases. They also expressed the feeling The aim of the brainstorming session that collective thoughts and togetherness was to strengthen the working of science (Report by: B.K. Tyagi) n promoted through science clubs provide us the means to look at our own role and responsibilities to shape our society and explore the limitless potential that lies amongst the thousands of science club members. About 30 experts and resource persons working in different disciplines across the country attended the programme and had in-depth discussion on the science club activities that can act as a spark to motivate children to learn and appreciate science. There were five technical sessions including (i) Current functions of science clubs; (ii) Making science clubs nuclei of change and hubs of information; (iii) Financial implication of science club activities; (iv) Accountability/reporting of club activities; and (v) New vistas/new initiatives for science club movement on which the experts had in- Cartoon by : V.S.S. Sastri E-mail: [email protected] depth discussion. 21 Dream 2047, November 2012, Vol. 15 No. 2