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September 2017 Vol. 19 No. 12 Rs. 5.00

The Midnight Kingdom

Editorial: Some interesting 35 lessons for predators and parasites from nature

Scientific research is a challenging 34 job: Mashelkar

The Midnight Kingdom 32

Anecdotes from the life of 29 scientists

Of Poisonous Snakes and 27 Snakebites— Identifying the medically-important species

Recent Developments in 24 Science and Technology In Memoriam: Prof. U.R. Rao & 20 Prof. Yash Pal

36 EDITORIAL Some interesting lessons for predators and parasites from nature

I am writing this editorial as a chemical Let me go back to the same phenomena ecologist. In this context, I can be seen as of biochemical and physically expressed an accidental communicator. However, I resistance mechanisms of the host. This is Dr. R. Gopichandran had the advantage of working closely with with special reference to plant hosts and I leading ecologists and specialists engaged derive my inspiration from my understanding able to acknowledge the open-endedness of in the development and implementation of of insect-plant interactions. Several genotypic science and ask if they know about things policies for sustainable development. This and phenotypic adaptations are seen in these and aspects and knowledge systems they do has been consistently so for more than two bio-systems and they are aligned with rapid not know? Is it okay for communicators decades and a half. However, an important induced resistance and delayed induced to engage in self-aggrandisement and in mainstay has been communication and manifestations. Interestingly the host and the this process not be inclusive enough to therefore, I thought I should extend the phytophagous elements/parasites continue understand or acknowledge the wisdom co- logic of lessons from chemical and microbial to coexist. Importantly, chemical ecologists communicators can bring into the landscape ecology to the dynamics of impact of science may or may not often be able to capture the of science communication. Zealots should communication in the science and society implications of such continually co-evolving not become overenthusiastic (!!!) and assume interface. Two interesting examples of lessons resistance mechanisms at the very instance they can transform institutions in a jiffy. from nature that have guided the evolution they evolve. They can define the occurrence Mutual respect is therefore the name of the of industry landscape around the world of such resistance either as an event in the past game and this respect should be evident are about industrial metabolism and eco- or expected to evolve in the future. Cross- in understanding each other’s limits and industrial networking. Mutually beneficial resistance phenomena baffle our management limitations while serving the larger agenda exchange and use of materials and energy strategies further. The most important take- of truth and inclusiveness for the benefit of considered as wastes, for further recovery and away for institutions in this context is the fellow citizens in our country. The agenda reuse are essential elements of this framework. wisdom that hosts are always sensitive to the of science and the agenda of inclusiveness This implies a dynamic equilibrium between infection and infestations they are exposed are more important than the agenda of generators of waste and the ability of end users to. They do everything to optimise on energy propagation one’s own assumed wisdom or of waste to optimise on energy and material- systems to protect themselves and often the lack of it. related metabolism. Another typical example accommodate the parasite, and in the case of These undercurrents of the dynamics in biological systems is about the coevolution predators, only partly succumb to predatory of science communication, I believe, are of resistance in hosts and its influence on pressures. The latter is evident with a decrease extremely important to create and foster concurrent adaptive abilities of predators and in the population size of the host; nevertheless healthy respect for each other. This will also parasites. This implies robust host searching seeds sprout again and newer generations of demonstrate the true spirit of inclusiveness behaviours and deriving nutritional and other hosts emerge. that science stands for. Co-evolution is the protection benefits from the host. The host Let me extend this ability of plant hosts other facet of such a coming together. Nature in turn continues to evolve safeguards and not to coexist to the framework of institutions, is truly benevolent. She also teaches us that it succumb entirely to survival pressures exerted especially in the field of science communication. is possible and rather essential to co-exist. by the predators and the parasites. Is it It is important to ask if institutions engaged Email: r.gopichandran possible for institutions to learn useful lessons in science communication are resilient @vigyanprasar.gov.in n about coexistence and tackle pressure exerted enough to accommodate exaggerations and by zealots, in this context? understand controversies. Are they also

Editor : R Gopichandran Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements/opinions expressed and photographs used by the authors in their articles/write-ups published in Associate editor : Rintu Nath “Dream 2047” Production : Manish Mohan Gore, Pradeep Kumar, Babita & Sonu Bhatia Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may be freely Expert member : Biman Basu 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 Manish Mohan Gore on behalf of Vigyan Prasar, Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed at Aravali e-mail : [email protected] Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in New Delhi-110 020 Phone: 011-26388830-32.

35 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 INTERVIEW Scientific research is a challenging job: Mashelkar

Manish Mohan Gore

Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is an eminent Indian scientist and a former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). Dream-2047 presents to its readers his views on an array of topics related to science, technology, innovation and development of scientific aptitude in the country. The following interview is based on Dr Mashelkar’s conversation with Manish Mohan Gore of Vigyan Prasar. Manish Mohan Gore (MMG): You are a renowned scientist with an impressive We need to inculcate record of research work in polymer science. a scientific worldview Working in several important capacities MMG: What motivated you to including the Director General of CSIR and become a scientist? in the society as well the Director of the National Chemical RAM: Mr Bhave was the principal as within ourselves. Laboratory (NCL), you have served the of my school. He also taught science. He country well. Tell our readers about your was an exceptional teacher. He focussed This is a pre-requisite childhood, education and family. more on learning through experience than Raghunath Anant Mashelkar mere cramming answers that could fetch if we want to become (RAM): Born into a poor family, I lost marks in examinations. He once took us the father at the age of six. My mother to a soap factory to show its functioning. a developed country. was illiterate. However, she was convinced Demonstrating how ordinary sunrays We should always that education is the only key to a bright focussed through a lens could burn future. She endured many hardships paper, Bhave taught the importance of keep in mind that we and took up small jobs in Bombay (now mental focus in achieving success. I took his Mumbai) to support my studies. Whatever lessons to heart and fascinated as I was, by cannot move forward the circumstances, mother ensured that my the power of science, I resolved to become until we adopt a education was never affected. Although a scientist. left unlettered herself due to many harsh MMG: What do we need to do to rational approach. adversities, she dreamt of providing world’s have more scientists like you in India? best education to her son. I completely owe RAM: Teachers play a pivotal role in my PhD and Post-Doctorate to her efforts. developing any nation and producing great scientists. They are the fundamental source Dr. Manish Mohan Gore is a popular science writer. He has been serving Vigyan Prasar since 2007. E-mail: [email protected].

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 34 of good education and inspire the students to the CSIR, I tried to motivate scientists as non-government agencies, are making dream big. Therefore, the role of the teachers by challenging them to test their limits. many efforts to popularise science. Do you in this regard can never be over emphasised. Working under the New Millennium think they are sufficient to change people’s MMG: How did you promote Development Goals, I encouraged them mentality and thought process? innovation during one-and-a-half decade- to take risks. I told my scientists to try to RAM: First, We need to inculcate a long tenure at the CSIR? introduce a hitherto new idea to the world. scientific worldview in the society as well as RAM: I found it strange that no two I assured to back them even in their failures. within ourselves. This is a pre-requisite if we laboratories of CSIR communicated with This approach had yielded results and the want to become a developed country. We each other. They all worked in isolation. This country benefitted through many new ideas. should always keep in mind that we cannot was surely not the way to promote scientific MMG: How can your concept of move forward until we adopt a rational research. After assuming the responsibility ‘Gandhian Engineering’ contribute to the approach. How many dilemmas do we have of the Director-General, I adopted various society’s development? in our thinking? For example, we are proud ways to increase coordination among these RAM: The idea of ‘Gandhian of our Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), labs. I united them into ‘team CSIR.’ My Engineering’ is simple; to meet maximum yet believe that Mangalik people are not fit efforts were bearing fruit by the time my results through frugal means. We should for marriage. Such thinking only reflects a tenure was ending. It was a matter of great use our country’s modest resources in a wise lack of scientific temper. How can such a satisfaction to see CSIR labs working in manner. Our inventions and innovations society prosper? I would like to emphasise tandem. should be for uplifting the living standards the missing scientific viewpoint in our MMG: India has a long history of of rural as well as urban population. society. We need to nurture it. scientific enquiry. What path of research MMG: India was among the first MMG: Please shed some light on the should Indian scientists adopt to fuel the nations to introduce a Science Policy in role of the science communications industry country’s growth? 1958. This was followed by implementation in this goal? RAM: The whole world acknowledges of several other programmes related to RAM: We derive several of our India’s contribution to science and science, technology and innovation. How do customs from science. Yet many of them technology. We have enriched this field in such policies and programmes affect the lives are irrational as well. Therefore, the role many aspects. Our scientists are exceptionally of common citizens, directly or indirectly? of organisations like the Andh Shradha talented. We must guide them to adopt RAM: Look, every policy drives a Nirmoolan Samiti becomes significant. They latest streams of research. They must strive country and its society towards a direction. It should create awareness against superstition to make new discoveries and invent new guides investment into that particular sector. by educating the society through scientific technologies to enhance India’s standing But, ultimately it changes lives only when tools like practical experiments and among other countries. implemented in the right and judicious demonstrations. MMG: Any scientific research involves manner. MMG: What is your message to certain risks. It has its own highs and lows. MMG: How do you see current country’s future scientists? How to make sure our scientists overcome innovation in the contemporary scientific RAM: I had the chance of a brief these vicissitudes to carry out cutting-edge research? meeting with the Former US President research? RAM: Any scientific research Barack Obama during his visit to India. RAM: This is an important question. transforms money into knowledge. He asked me what type of science I do. My Due to its uncertain nature, scientific However, with innovation, you can convert answer to Obama would be my message research requires great patience. Failures knowledge into money. Every prestigious to all aspiring researchers. I told President are as much a part of this process as the university imparts education, teaches science Obama, “I do science that is for the welfare successes. A true scientist remains unfazed and innovation at the same time. In India, of all.” It is my sincere wish that scientists in all these situations. The government we believe Sarasvati (the Hindu goddess work for this cause and contribute to the needs to support them at every level. We can of knowledge) and Lakshmi (the Hindu human progress. succeed only when we are ready to take risks. goddess of prosperity) should be worshipped MMG: Our gratitude for sharing Trying to avoid these perils would also keep separately. We can attain both knowledge your valuable thoughts with the readers you away from achieving your goal. The and prosperity by combining education, of Vigyan Prasar’s popular science magazine scientists are encouraged to innovate and set science, technology and innovation. ‘Dream-2047.’ new benchmarks when the government is Our current Prime Minister has taken RAM: My best wishes to willing to share their risks. an ambitious initiative like the ‘Start-Up you, Vigyan Prasar and the ‘Dream-2047’ MMG: Tell our readers about your India campaign. It provides an excellent magazine. philosophy of perilous nature of scientific opportunity to integrate employment with research and giving new ideas to the world? skill development. (Translated by: Deepak Sharma) RAM: As the Director-General of MMG: The government, as well

33 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 MARINE LIFE The Midnight Kingdom

Jayashree Das, Saleem K, Pradipta Banerjee

Adaptation is the key to survival. Over the ages the Earth has experienced a wide variation of environments ranging from extremely arid to moist, oxygen-rich environment and even to complete freezing of its oceans. Yet, life persists. And the key to the persistence of life to cling on to this lump of rock circling a large dense fusion reactor star is a method termed as adaptation. Fig. 1(a). The kingdom of sulphur. a. A black Be it primates or bacteria, most life on smoker. On the left hand side, two deep-sea Earth, either directly or otherwise, is heavily anemones are visible and the right vent is Deep-sea hydrothermal dependent on the Sun for energy. Be it teeming with eyeless shrimps. (Photograph evergreen forests with majestically rising pine courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute) vent organisms are often cones, lush savanna with tall brown grass which geothermally heated water issues. cited as examples of swaying to the wind, the merciless dry and They occur at a depth of 2,000 to 5,000 unforgiving heat of the Kalahari desert, or metres, where the pressure ranges from adaptation to extreme the intense near-frozen waters of the arctic, 200 to 500 atmospheres. They were first environmental conditions. living beings draw their energy from the discovered in 1977 and are commonly found Sun. However, there are desolate corners in near volcanically active places or areas where The list of organisms that our Earth where the light of Sun never shines tectonic plates are moving apart. Earth is and stark alien environmental conditions technically a hot planet; it still has a core thrive in the environment prevail. Imagine then a dark sunless world with temperature matching the surface of the is vast, ranging from within the heart of a deep and cold ocean, Sun. According to the tectonic plate theory, where ambient temperature ranges more continents are actually giant rocks floating crabs, shrimps, snail, than 400ºC, with pressures that could easily on a sea of molten magma. In places where mussels, fish and tube crush a human lung into a thin bed sheet the continents are drifting apart, a ridge is worms and numerous and where the only gas for breathing is the created that allows the extremely hot magma deadly hydrogen sulphide (H2S); conditions to come very close to sea water. bacteria. If adaptation is sufficient enough to kill aerobic organisms When the cold seawater, normally at within minutes, but life thrives even here. 2ºC, sinks down through the cracks in the the key to survival, then Welcome to the hydrothermal vent, home crust, energy radiating up from molten rock of a unique ecosystem running in the depths deep beneath the ocean floor raises the water’s the vent dwellers have of ocean completely independent of the sun temperature to around 350-400°C. The huge definitely excelled in it. and teeming with life. crushing pressures at these depths prevent the A hydrothermal vent, as seen in Fig. water from converting into vapour state. As 1a, is a fissure in a planet’s surface from the water heats up, it loses oxygen and gets

Jayashree Das is HOD-Department of Biochemistry, Dayananda Sagar College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Kumarswamy Layout, Bangalore – 560078. Saleem K is in the same college. Pradipta Banerjee is Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Dayananda Sagar University, Kumarswamy Layout, Bangalore – 560078

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 32 enriched in sodium, calcium and potassium. what the vent residents do. Its numerous Armed with large claws and body covered As it sinks further and comes close to the inhabitants live in a symbiotic give-and-take in bacteria, the Yeti crab moves about in magma, the water reaches extremely high relation with a number of guests that they a field of worms and mussels, always on temperatures and starts dissolving copper, carry around – microorganisms. It is a win- the lookout for an unsuspecting prey. zinc, lead and iron along with sulphur salts win situation for both the host species and from the rocks. Hot liquids are less dense the guest microbes. The fragile microbiota The vent snail (Crysomallon and therefore more buoyant than cold gets a place to thrive and proliferate in a squamiferum) has little similarity with the rest liquids. So the hot hydrothermal fluids harsh environment along with a constant of the mollusk kingdom inhabitants. Unlike carrying dissolved material rises up through supply of raw materials, while the host its brothers dwelling on the surface which the crust and spews out from cracks. As the species ensures that it gets a sizable portion has a soft underbelly, the feet of the vent hot gas mix with cold oxygen rich sea water, of the food prepared by the bacteria. snail is armoured with scales made of iron, metals and sulphur combine to form various Take for example, the “Yeti crab” sulphide salts that resemble smoke coming (Kiwa hirsute), a resident of a depth of out of an industrial chimney. Hence these 7,200 feet, living near vents close to Easter vents are also termed as “black smokers”. Island in the Pacific (Fig. 2). The name of The entire process is depicted in Fig. 1b

Fig. 3(a). The “armoured” vent snail. a. A close up of the snail showing the thick iron sulphide crystals sticking to the muscular foot. Fig. 2(a). The Yeti crab. (Photographs Fig. 1(b). Formation of a black smoker. courtesy of Thatje et al. 2015, Plos One As the water percolates through cracks in and Weissmann, 2007 FASEB journal. the sea bed it leaches out mineral from a. Complete top profile of the crab the rocks. When it becomes superheated, showing the carapace with “smiley”. it rises out of the rocks through other cracks and releases the mineral-rich water on the sea bed. The water cools and the minerals deposit around the point of issue, slowly forming a vent. Fig. 3(b). he body of the vent snail So on one side we have super-heated with tentacles and mouth is visible. The ventral side (the foot) of the water saturated with toxic chemicals rising body is flat with no iron crystals. up from a crack in the ocean floor and slightly away from it the dark, cold immensity of the Fig. 2(b). A male crab crawling on as is evident in Fig. 3. Some of them contain ocean depths, both un-supportive of life bed of the vent near sea anemones. so much iron in the outer layer that they are by themselves. Therefore, the inhabitants actually attracted to magnets. Even the shell of this underwater sulphur kingdom cling is unusual in that its structure is composed to a thin “comfort zone” between being of three layers. The inner layer is made of a burnt alive and starving to death. Deep- calcium ore, the middle layer is organic and sea hydrothermal vent organisms are often the third layer made of iron sulphides, which cited as examples of adaptation to extreme acts as a shock absorbent. When the shell is environmental conditions. The list of subjected to a high pressure, like an attack organisms that thrive in the environment from a hungry crab, it cracks around the is vast, ranging from crabs, shrimps, Fig. 2(c). A detailed and magnified mineral particles, absorbing energy, thereby snail, mussels, fish and tube worms and view of the crab’s claw. blunting and deforming the predators’ numerous bacteria. What morphological the crab is derived from Kiwa, the goddess claws. The snail hosts a class of bacteria and biochemical adaptations allow a group of shellfish in Easter Island mythology. But called proteobacter inside its tissues which of creatures to survive environments this among marine biologists, the crab is known take up sulphates from the vent and use it to prepare simple carbohydrates releasing H­S extreme? as the “Yeti crab,” after the hirsute snowman 2 The first adaptation in this realm of of Himalaya legend. One look at the picture in the process. sulphur is the most common one – to acquire and you can guess why - the crabs have But the most amazing inhabitant sustenance. The easiest way of getting food their body covered with a special fur like of the vent would be the Pompeii worm in the tumultuous environment is to carry bristles that host a class of symbiotic bacteria (Alvinella pompejana), depicted in Fig. a cook with you all the time. This is exactly clinging on to individual strands of the fur. 4. It is a polychaetous annelid (ringed or

31 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 the bacteria which it shares with its host. nourish their host) via the vascular system. Unlike other life forms, Riftia takes The end product consists of H2S, which add up H S, a common end product of other up to the H2S released by the vent. As the 2 gas traverses up and reaches oxygen-rich sea bacteria and oxidise it to produce sugars water, it oxidises to sulphate. Though this that it shares with its host. The catch is that medium of energy production is common sulphide is actually toxic to most life forms

amongst many inhabitants, it is certainly not and therefore H2S absorption could be fatal the only one. to the host worm. However, evolution has Fig. 4(a). Pompeii worm. The mouth is Arguably, one of the most remarkable provided Riftia with specialised haemoglobin covered with tentacle like structure that vent animals is the giant tube worm (Riftia that can bind both oxygen and sulphide actually work as gills. The red colour arises tightly and directly deliver it to the microbes due to the presence of haemoglobin. The body where they are metabolised. The symbiotic is covered with bacteria that detoxify the bacteria, which belong to a subdivision of the sulphide giving the worm a protective mat. proteobacteria, oxidise the H S to sulphur (S) segmented worm) inhabiting the surface 2 and then to sulphate (SO 2-). The oxidation of deep sea hydrothermal chimneys in the 4 occurring at each step helps in production of Pacific ridge. It is considered the most heat- ATP and NADH, both of which fuel other resistant worm known to mankind as it can metabolic cycles and produce energy. Both survive effortlessly in temperatures of 50ºC. processes involving sulphides and sulphates To survive in such extreme environments, the Pompeii worm makes paper-like tube colonies attached to hydrothermal vent Fig. 5(a). Giant tube worms swaying chimneys that are heat resistant. The their plumes near a vent. The worm can material which the worm uses to build its withdraw its plume into the white chitin covering when a predator approaches. tube consists of the extracellular protein

Fig. 6. A cartoon depicting sulphur utilisation by various vent inhabitants. The Pompeii worm (top left) and the Yeti crab harbour 2- bacteria which convert SO4 into H2S, while the giant roundworm contain microbes that Fig. 4(b). PA Pompeii worm coming out of its converts H S into SO 2-. Both processes help tube-like shell built on the walls of the vent. 2 4 in building energy and synthesising food. collagen and long chains of sugar molecules Fig. 5(b). The plume functions like a gill with added sulphur and amine groups along which traps CO2, H2S and O2. The plume for energy production are depicted in Fig. 6. with minerals. Armed with this, the worm is red because of high concentration of Every discovery paves the way to grows a centimetre thick thermal blanket haemoglobin. The white part is made out of newer questions and further discoveries. across its back that is composed of colonies chitin and holds the fragile body of the worm. Strange creatures come to limelight almost of filamentous bacteria that detoxify the every year with each new excursion into these pachyptila), depicted in Fig. 5, from the poisonous H2S gas surrounding the vent. treacherous depths. Here, in these midnight Most of these symbiotic species Galápagos Rift and East Pacific Rise. zones, the complete absence of light means depend on sulphur for their sustenance, Riftia lack a mouth and a digestive system, that the inhabitants have no use for vision and for good reason. Sulphur is an element and depend completely for growth and and are limit their communication through that can exist in a wide range of oxidative reproduction on organic matter produced touch only. The dwellers of the deep hurdle states. The sulphur biogeochemical cycle, by their endosymbiotic chemosynthetic on, unaware of season changes, of storms or with its broad range in valence (−2 to +6), bacteria. These bacteria are found densely sunshine, or of underwater strong currents, exhibits a complex interplay between biotic packed in an organ that spans the interior a conglomeration of blind beings, prey and and abiotic processes in hydrothermal vent of the animal’s body, called the trophosome. predator alike, living side by side on a thin 2- The tubeworm absorbs hydrogen sulphide, ecology. The sulphates (SO4 ) from the stretch of heaven separated by a hair’s breadth hydrothermal vents are taken up by the carbon dioxide, and oxygen through its from certain death. If adaptation is the key symbiotic bacteria and are reduced step by well irrigated plume, which acts like a gill to survival then the vent dwellers, moving step to sulphides (S2-). Each reduction helps and transports them to the trophosome (an from one bottleneck event to another, have in production of ATP and carbohydrates by organ that houses bacteria that completely definitely excelled.

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 30 HISTORY OF SCIENCE Anecdotes from the life of scientists

Ravindra Vaze

Louis Fieser was a major figure in UK, with the sole organic chemistry in the 20th century. With intention to meet the approach of the Second World War, he the distinguished was drawn increasingly into the war-related founder of the atomic projects. Koji Nakanishi, a distinguished theory. He was under Japanese scientist and a student of Louis the impression that Fieser, relates a humorous anecdote of Dalton must be Fieser during the Second World War. He holding a high public recalls, “Fieser had position, surrounded a stuffed bat in the by students and John Dalton office lab, and one collaborators. But on the contrary, in search We know about scientists day, he told me what of his giant of science, he found him in the it was about. Bats company of a boy. from the inventions and go into the dormant The visitor in some doubt, asked discoveries made by them. state in thin air and him,” Am I addressing Mr. Dalton?” cold temperature. “Yes. Please wait till I put this boy Path breaking inventions Utilising this fact, right about this sum!” came the reply. Louis Fieser Fieser obtained a • • • and discoveries need hard contract from the army in the early 1940’s Way back in 1930’s, Oppenheimer’s to attach tiny incendiary time bombs under story achieved a wide notoriety. It involved work, dedication and the wings of bats which would be carried in him and Melba Phillips, his first doctoral scientific methodology. bombers high up into the air. Upon being student. dropped over Tokyo, the bats would wake up Oppenheimer along with Melba was However, in pursuit from dormancy, flap their wings and set off on a tour to Berkeley Hills. After some time the time switch. By habit, the bats would fly had elapsed, the Berkeley Police had found of science, there are under the roofs of wooden houses in Tokyo Melba fast asleep in the car. When awakened and set Tokyo on fire. The last stage of the she said Oppie had interesting incidences project was tested in the deserts of New driven her up there and humorous moments Mexico. All went well except that the bats and she had no idea flew into the military hanger, blew it up and of his whereabouts. in life of many scientists. destroyed the planes. This was the end of the After a search they project”. found him asleep The article provides • • • in his room at the a few glimpses. In 1820, one Monsieur Pelletan faculty club. The from Paris made a journey to Manchester, story was picked up Oppenheimer

Dr RavindraVaze is a guest faculty of Mumbai University Sub-Centre, Ratnagiri. One of his articles has been cited as reference by Dr. C.N.R. Rao in his recent book “Lives and times of great pioneers in chemistry” published by World Scientific publishing Co,2016. Email: [email protected]

29 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 by the media as an example of an absent Bohr as a public speaker was the University of minded scientist. But Oppenheimer was spectacularly brilliant. His low voice did Cambridge. He was defensive and said that he had told Melba not carry far and his accent was an added a workaholic and that he was going to walk home and that she problem. He often switched from language had little time for could drive the car back. It appears that she to language, without warning. anything else. One dozed off and did not hear him! • • • of his co-workers • • • Carl William Scheele, a Swedish persuaded him to As judged by academic standards, chemist of the 18th century discovered a buy a new pair of Moseley was an unsuccessful student at number of new chemical substances in a trousers. Thomson Sir J.J. Thomson Oxford. Moseley short lifetime of just 44 years. He was known did so, went back to himself said that for his work in scientific circles all over the his home, wore it and returned to his office. at the time of world. In the meantime Mrs. Thomson was out graduation from Once, King Gustav III of Sweden for shopping and on her return found the Oxford his mind was happened to visit Paris. A deputation of old trousers lying on the bed. She promptly so full of cobwebs that French scientists met telephoned the office and informed that her he could not think of him and applauded absent minded husband had gone back to serious research. But the work of Scheele. his office without any trousers on!! Moseley at Manchester, Lord Although King Gustav • • • Rutherford saw the had little interest in Sir Henry Cavendish an English spark in him and hired him as a demonstrator. science; he ordered chemist of the 18th century was one of Moseley was assigned the project of counting that Scheele should the greatest scientists of his time. He is particles emitted by radium, which earned be immediately raised well known for his researches in gaseous him a research fellowship. He along with to the dignity of a chemistry and the theory of electricity. He Carl William Scheele Charles Galton Darwin (grandson of the Count. was the richest man and owned several famous naturalist Charles Darwin) decided His minister who also knew nothing houses in London. to work on the behaviour of X-rays. For this, of Scheele, ordered his secretary to find Although an ardent devotee of science, he took lessons from William Bragg. Scheele. The secretary promptly brought the he was socially an awkward and eccentric Moseley plunged into this project with following details about Scheele: “A brilliant person. He never married and could not almost manic intensity. Darwin writes “He lieutenant in our army with a first rate hand stand the sight of women. was the hardest worker I have ever known. at billiards!” Returning home one day he found his He often worked throughout the night and The minister immediately summoned maid on the staircase with a broom. He was learned how to find a meal in Manchester at the lieutenant to court and was felicitated as so disgusted that he immediately decided to three in the morning.” Count. put another staircase on the back side of his Once Darwin told him that at this time Ironically, Scheele the renowned residence. He used to exchange words with of night he should be in bed. Moseley’s reply chemist was nowhere in the picture, but a the maid from the opposite side of a closed was, when he was feeling well, he wanted to lieutenant bearing the same name received door! take a walk in the country. But when he was an unexpected reward! • • • tired, he wanted to do laboratory work! • • • Thomas Alva • • • Sir C.V. Raman Edison was one of Niels Bohr gave a welcoming address was the first Indian the greatest American to each new group of research students physicist who was inventors credited and their spouses arriving at Copenhagen awarded the Nobel with the invention Institute. The wife of Prize in physics for his of the phonograph, one of the newcomers work on scattering of electric bulb and related how she light. He is well known motion picture sat through the for the discovery which camera. Thomas Alva Edison welcoming address came to be known as Once he was by Bohr, noted the Raman Effect Sir C.V. Raman invited at a social function. Getting weary of enthusiastic applause Raman was a the boring proceedings, he decided to leave. from the audience teetotaller throughout his life. At a party Quietly as he moved to the exit door, the and then turned to in Europe he was offered a drink. Raman host interrupted and said-“Sir, it is a great her neighbour at declined and quipped: “Gentleman, you can honour to have your presence here. Could Niels Bohr the lecture to tell study the Raman Effect on alcohol but not you tell us about the invention you are him how eager she was to hear the English the effect of alcohol on Raman”! presently working on?” translation. He looked at her a moment and • • • Edison retorted: “At this moment I am gave her the bad news. That was the English Sir J.J. Thomson, discoverer of electron working on my exit from here!” translation! was a professor of experimental physics at

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 28 MEDISCAPE Of Poisonous Snakes and Snakebites— Identifying the medically- important species

Dr. Yatish Agarwal

Known to be a home to more than Geographic distribution 270 species of snakes, thousands of snake of poisonous snakes charmers and millions of snake worshippers, Each geographic region of the country present day India carries the highest mortality has a preponderance of specific snake species. in the world due to snake bites. Though While kraits are common in the hilly terrains estimates vary, more than 50,000 Indians of the northern Himalayas, saw-scaled viper lose their lives to snake bites each year, and is the most notorious snake in western Indian considerably many times more suffer a bite. states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra. In the Of the large number of snake species eastern parts like West Bengal, Russell’s A good clinical found in the country, just 15 are poisonous; viper, kraits and cobras produce most of management of snake among them, four, namely the cobras, the the snake bites. The hump-nose pit viper is Russell’s viper, the saw-scaled vipers, and the the deadliest culprit in the states of Kerala, bite victims must kraits are the deadliest and most common. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, whereas A severe life-threatening medical crisis Russell’s viper dominates in Kerala, and all rely upon correct in the countryside and peri-urban parts, four species namely, the cobras, the Russell’s identification of the snake bite fatalities mostly occur due to lack viper, the saw-scaled viper and the kraits are of proper first aid, and the non-availability known to cause deaths in Tamil Nadu. species of snakes, apt first of effective medical care. In fact, many of the aid, robust assessment victims are unable to receive proper medical Identifying the poisonous snakes and diagnosis of clinical treatment as they do not reach a modern Unfortunately, there is no simple rule well-equipped hospital in time. for identifying a poisonous snake. In fact, signs, and appropriate A good clinical management of some harmless snakes have evolved to snake bite victims must rely upon correct look almost identical to poisonous snakes. use of supportive identification of the species of snakes, apt Examples are various species of harmless treatment and anti first aid, robust assessment and diagnosis snakes such as wolf snake, and Blanford of clinical signs, and appropriate use of Bridle snake that mimic the appearance of venom serum in victims supportive treatment and anti venom serum the kraits, and the many-spotted cat snake who truly require the in victims who truly require the anti venom that mimics Eastern Russel’s viper. treatment. Since a large majority of snakes However, recognising the species of anti venom treatment. are non-poisonous, their bites generally the snake which has struck can be most cause little harm apart from panic reaction useful in its clinical management. While and local injury. some of the poisonous snakes disrupt the nervous system of the human body, others The author is physician and teacher at New Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. He has authored 47 popular health-books. E-mail: [email protected]

27 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 have a deadly effect on the blood coagulation is present, two circular eye spot patterns Russell’s Viper (Daboia) and blood pressure regulation apparatus of connected with a curved line, evoke the Found all over India, the Russell’s the body. image of spectacles. viper has a local name of Koriwala or Daboia. Some venomous snakes can be The Indian cobra can easily be It is one of the most venomous snakes, and recognised by their size, shape, colour, and identified by its relatively large and quite next to the krait causes thousands of human patterns of markings, and behaviour and the impressive hood, which it expands when deaths each year. The smallest of the big sound they make when they feel threatened. threatened. The majority of adult cobras four most dangerous snakes of India, it has For example, the defensive behaviour of the range from 1 to 1.5 metres in length. The an average length of 1.2 metres and is dark cobras is well known: they rear up, spread king cobra enjoys an average length of 4-5 brown, deep yellow, tan, or brownish-gray a hood, hiss and make repeated strikes metres in colour, with three series of dark brown towards the aggressor. When on the attack, the cobras raise spots that run down the length of the body. Their colour can vary a lot. However, the front part of their body off the ground Each of these spots has a black ring around some patterns, like the large white, dark- and spread and flatten the neck to form a it, the outer border of which is intensified rimmed annular (ring) spots of the Russell’s hood. Several species of cobra can spit their vipers or the alternating black and yellow venom for one metre or more towards the with a rim of white or yellow. The spots circumferential bands of the banded krait are eyes of perceived enemies. on the back, which usually number 23–30, distinctive. The blowing hiss of the Russell’s may grow together, while the side spots may viper and the grating rasp of the saw-scaled Indian Krait break apart. viper are warning and identifying sounds. Found in the deep jungles, the Bungarus, commonly referred to as the krait, The Indian cobra is one of the deadliest snakes of the world. Found throughout India, the Indian Their average length is 1 metre, but they can cobra, also known as “nag” is a highly grow up to 1.5-1.8 metres. Males are longer, poisonous snake. It prefers open forest with proportionately longer tails. The body edges, fields, and the areas around villages as is cylindrical, tapering towards the tail. The its habitat. The Naja naja primarily feeds on tail is short and rounded. The eyes are rather rodents, lizards, and frogs. small, with rounded pupils. The common krait is generally black or bluish-black in colour, with about 40 thin, white crossbars which may be indistinct or absent on its anterior surface. The pattern, however, is complete and well defined in the young, which are marked with conspicuous crossbars. In old individuals, the narrow white lines may be found as a A Russell’s viper head has a pair of series of connected spots, with a prominent distinct dark patches; one on each temple, spot on the vertebral region. A white spot may be present in front of the eyes; and the together with a pinkish, salmon, or brownish upper lips and the belly are white. V or X marking that forms an apex towards the snout. The head is flattened, triangular, The Indian cobra varies much in and distinct from the neck. The snout is colour and pattern. It has transversely blunt, rounded, and raised. The nostrils are elongated scales that extend down the large, each in the middle of a large, single underside of the body from the neck to nasal scale. The crown of the head is covered the tail. The belly can be grey, yellow, tan, with irregular, strongly fragmented scales. brown, reddish or black in colour. Salt-and- The two upper jaw bones support at least pepper speckles, especially in adult cobras, two and at the most five or six pairs of fangs are seen on the dorsal scales. Adult cobras at a time: the first are active and the rest also often exhibit a significant amount of replacements. The fangs attain a length of mottling on the throat and on the belly. 16.5 millimetres in an average-sized viper. Many specimens exhibit a hood mark. The body of Russell’s viper is stout, the This hood mark is located at the rear of the cross-section of which is rounded to circular. Indian cobra’s hood. When the hood mark

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 26 Saw-scaled Viper Indian Pit Vipers The Indian Green Pit Viper is slow to The Indian saw-scaled viper is a small Found in most of the peninsular move. It is usually calm, shy in behaviour, viper from an eight member viper family. A India’s hills, the Indian Green Pit Viper, also non-offensive and its first instinct is to try fully mature saw-scaled viper is 0.3 to 0.9 known as bamboo snake or tree viper, is one and escape. Only if provoked or threatened, metre long, and may be covered in various of the most common members of the pit it throws half of fore body into loose loops shades of brown, gray, or orange with darker viper family. An adult pit viper is 70 to 110 with head on the top, and draws into a mock dorsal blotches and lateral spots. centimetres long. It can easily be identified attack. If it is approached from close, it may Characterised by a stout body with a by its triangular head which is much broader inflict a bite. The green pit viper feeds on pear-shaped head that is distinct from the than the neck and is covered with very small frogs, lizards and insects. A native of Western Ghats of India, the neck, it possesses a short thin tail. On both scales, a green dorsal surface marked with rich or faint black markings, and a yellow Malabar pit viper is another member of the sides of its body, there are several rows of belly. pit viper family. It is also highly venomous. obliquely arranged serrated scales. Other vipers found in India include the Saw-scaled vipers move by side- bamboo pit viper, and the hump-nosed pit winding movement. They are nocturnal, viper. and come out at the time of twilight to hunt for food, which includes mammals, birds, Sea Snakes snakes, lizards, amphibians, and invertebrates Found in the Indo-Pacific waters, such as scorpions and centipedes. the banded sea krait, also known as the Saw-scaled vipers are small, yet their yellow-lipped sea krait, is one of the highly high irritability, aggressive behaviour, venomous sea snake found in India. It and lethal venom makes them extremely regularly takes to land to drink fresh water. dangerous. When alarmed, saw-scaled This snake’s tail is often mistaken for its vipers move slowly with the body looped head by oncoming prey, which it uses to its into S-shaped folds. The oblique scales are advantage. A beautiful and shy animal, this rubbed against each other to produce a slim snake releases venom more potent than hissing sound, which is a defensive alarm The top of the head is pattern-less, many of the land snake species. used to warn potential predators. These and the eyes have a vertical pupil. The body snakes are, however, quick to strike, and is somewhat slender, and is covered with Significance of identification Since each of the poisonous snake lightly keeled scales. The colour of the upper releases a different kind of venon, identifying body ranges from yellowish-green to bluish- the memebr which has struck, can help green and is marked with rich or faint black initiate the most effectiv e line odf treatment. irregular markings. Juvenile members have In a tight medical situation, this can prove more prominent markings as compared to life saving. adults. The belly is mostly yellow in colour, (In the next issue: Of Snakebite though sometimes it may be greenish-white Poisons - The First Aid Measuewa and without any pattern. It has a short tail which Warning Signs) ends with a pointed tip.

Dream 2047 Articles

invited Vigyan Prasar invites original popular science articles for publication in its monthly science magazine Dream 2047. At present the magazine has 35,000 subscribers. The article may be limited to 3,000 words and can be written in English or Hindi. Regular coloumns on i) Health ii) Recent mortality rates for those bitten are high. In developments in science and technology are also welcome. the regions where they occur, it is believed Honorarium, as per Vigyan Prasar norm, is paid to the that saw-scaled vipers are responsible for author(s) if the article is accepted for publication. For details more human deaths than all other snake please log-on to www.vigyanprasar.gov.in or e-mail to dream@ species combined. vigyanprasar.gov.in

25 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 NEW HORIZONS Recent Developments in Science and Technology

Biman Basu

University Centre for astronomy and Saraswati supercluster of Astrophysics (IUCAA), Indian Institute galaxies discovered of Science Education and Research Galaxies are like the building blocks (IISER), both in Pune, and two other of the universe, they contain a huge number Indian institutions – NIT, Jamshedpur of stars, often more than 100 billion. Our and Newman College, Thodupuzha – have universe is made up of billions galaxies, but identified a previously unknown, extremely the galaxies are not distributed evenly; they large supercluster of galaxies located in are found in small groups known as clusters the direction of constellation Pisces. The and very large groups called superclusters. supercluster has been named ‘Saraswati’. The Milky Way is part of the Local Group At over 600 million light years across, the galaxy cluster that contains more than Saraswati supercluster of galaxies is one of Till 2008, when 54 galaxies. It is a part of the Laniakea the largest structures in the universe and supercluster that extends over more than is at a distance of 4,000 million light-years India’s first lunar probe 500 million light years. away from us (The Astrophysical Journal, 19 Chandrayaan-1 went A supercluster is a cluster of smaller July 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538- galaxy clusters and is among the largest- 4357/aa7949). Due its huge distance, the into orbit around known structures of the cosmos. Recently Saraswati supercluster as observed is actually a team of astronomers from the Inter- as it was when the universe was 10 billion Moon, the Earth’s years old. closest neighbour was believed to be bone-dry, with no trace of water. But Chandrayaan-1 changed all that. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper or M3 on- board Chandrayaan-1 has confirmed existence of water on Moon. The distribution of galaxies, from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), in Saraswati supercluster. It is clearly visible that the density of galaxies is very high in the Saraswati supercluster region. (Credit: IUCAA)

The author is a former editor of the popular science monthly Science Reporter, published by CSIR, He is a winner of the 1994 ‘NCSTC National Award for Science Popularisation’. He is the author of more than 45 popular science books. Email: [email protected]

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 24 A supercluster is a chain of galaxies and Physicists find a particle composed of one quark and one antiquark. galaxy clusters, bound by gravity that often with two charm quarks Protons and neutrons are the most common stretches to several hundred times the size of baryons. Nearly all the matter that we see clusters of galaxies, and consists of tens of Physicists using the Large Hadron around us is made of baryons. thousands of galaxies. Within superclusters, Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment at Theoretically, many different potential clusters are connected by filaments and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, have combinations of the six quarks could form sheets of dark matter with galaxies embedded discovered a new kind of heavy particle other kinds of baryons, but all baryons in them. The first supercluster of galaxies, composed of two heavy ‘charm’ quarks and observed till now are composed of at most the Shapley Supercluster, was discovered in one much lighter ‘up’ quark. The LHCb one heavy quark, although the existence of 1989, and the second, the Sloan Great Wall (standing for ‘Large Hadron Collider a particle with two heavy quarks had been in 2003. The Milky Way galaxy is part of the beauty’) experiment is one of seven particle predicted long ago. Says Spradlin, “The Laniakea Supercluster, which was discovered physics detector experiments collecting existence of these particles has been predicted in 2014. According to its discoverers, the data at the LHC accelerator at CERN in by the Standard Model and their properties ‘Saraswati’ supercluster extends over a “great Switzerland. The LHCb team led by Patrick have also been predicted.” Dr. Spradlin wall” about 600 million light-years across Spradlin, a physicist at the University of presented the findings at a European Physical and is estimated to contain the Society conference in Venice on 6 mass equivalent of over 20,000 July 2017 and a paper describing million million (20×1015) Suns. the work is to be published the It may be containing over journal Physical Review Letters. 10,000 galaxies in 42 clusters. The researchers have also According to Somak suggested a possible structure Raychaudhury, Director of of the new particle. According IUCAA and a member of the to them, “in contrast to other research team that discovered baryons, in which the three light the Saraswati supercluster, “We quarks perform an elaborate have a habit of naming galaxies dance around each other, a baryon after rivers; the Milky Way is with two heavy quarks is expected referred to as Akash Ganga. to act like a planetary system, So we thought of naming this where the two heavy quarks play supercluster after the ancient This illustration shows a new subatomic particle, Xi- the role of heavy stars orbiting one river Saraswati”. cc++, in which a light ‘up’ quark circles a heavier ‘dancing’ around the other, with the lighter The researchers made pair of ‘charm’ quarks. (Credit: CERN/AP) quark orbiting around this binary the discovery while studying system”. the particular region of the sky using data Glasgow, found evidence of more than 300 According to the researchers, finding from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), of the new particles in data collected last year a doubly heavy quark baryon is of great which has created the most detailed three- by the experiment. The mass of the newly interest, as it will provide a unique tool to dimensional maps of the universe ever made, identified particle is estimated at 3621 MeV, further probe quantum chromodynamics with deep multi-colour images of one third which is 3.8 times heavier than the most (QCD) – the theory that describes the of the sky, and spectra for more than three familiar baryon, the proton, a property strong force, one of the four fundamental million astronomical objects. They found that arises from its two charmed quarks. forces of nature. Moreover, further studies two clusters close by and suspected they The new particle has been named Xi-cc++ of the new particle – and other members of were part of a larger group. Further studies (pronounced ‘Ksī-CC plus-plus’). the doubly charmed particle family – could revealed the presence of the supercluster. Quarks are elementary particles and reinforce the Standard Model or lead to new Joydeep Bagchi of IUCAA, the lead author fundamental constituents of matter. They vistas in particle physics. Either way, the new of the Astrophysical Journal paper says, “We come in six varieties, or “flavours,” which particle could be a tool to unlock a deeper were very surprised to spot this giant wall- have been given the names ‘up’, ‘down’, understanding of the fundamental “strong” like supercluster of galaxies, visible in the ‘charm’, ‘strange’, ‘top’, and ‘bottom’. force that binds quarks together to form SDSS. This supercluster is clearly embedded However, the meaning of these somewhat protons and neutrons, which in turn form in a large network of cosmic filaments unusual names has nothing to do with the atoms – as well as planets, stars, galaxies and traced by clusters and large voids. Our work usual meaning of these terms. The six types people. will help to shed light on the perplexing of quark, together with their corresponding question; how such extreme large scale, antiquarks, are necessary to account for all particles known as hadrons, which include Scientists store a prominent matter-density enhancements movie inside DNA had formed billions of years in the past when the baryons and mesons. In hadrons the the mysterious Dark Energy had just started quarks are held together by the strong force. It is estimated that digital data will to dominate structure formation.” A baryon is a composite subatomic particle reach 44 trillion gigabytes by 2020, a ten- made up of three quarks, while mesons are fold increase from figures in 2013. To store

23 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 such vast amounts of data scientists have colour of the pixel and its location within trying to find alternative methods to store the image. Then, the researchers inserted digital data. According to scientists, DNA is short DNA fragments containing these one of the best media for storing data. Last codes that they had synthesised, into E. coli year, researchers from Microsoft and the bacteria, which they grew overnight. They University of Washington (UW) succeeded then sequenced the part of the microbes’ for the first time in using DNA as a storage genomes where CRISPR information is medium. They developed a technique stored, and decoded those sequences back which allowed them to successfully encode into digital data. This allowed them to four image files worth of digital data into successfully recover the picture of the palm the nucleotide sequences of small bits of of a hand (Nature, 12 July 2017 | doi: synthetic DNA. That was just a beginning. 10.1038/nature23017). The bananas have golden orange flesh because Researchers have since crammed large Encoding the running horse GIF was of the increased provitamin A. (Credit: amounts of information from books to more challenging because here it was not digital images into tiny amounts of biological only necessary to encode each frame, but Queensland University of Technology) also the order of the frames. Fortunately, countries; 62% of pre-school children were CRISPR makes that easy. When bacteria reported to be deficient in vitamin A. These grab viral DNA, they always insert new dramatic results suggested high mortality sequences after old ones. So, according to the rate, leading to an annual 3,30,000 child researchers, the CRISPR system naturally deaths. Women of childbearing age were orders the information from newest to also reported to excessively suffer from night oldest. Shipman’s team took advantage of blindness. that. They offered their bacteria the DNA Treatment for subclinical vitamin strands representing each frame of the GIF, A deficiency includes the consumption At top are encoded frames of galloping horse one by one. Later, the scientists sequenced of vitamin A-rich foods, such as liver, from Eadweard Muybridge’s photos. At bottom the bacterial DNA to reconstruct the movie meat, chicken, eggs, fortified milk, carrots, are the frames after multiple generations of with 90 percent accuracy. mangoes, sweet potatoes, and leafy green bacterial growth, recovered by sequencing But, as Shipman says, “The E. coli is vegetables. It may also be treated by daily bacterial genomes. (Credit: Seth Shipman) just a proof of concept to show what cool oral supplements of vitamin A. Now there things you can do with this CRISPR system. is simpler way of preventing vitamin A material. In theory, a gram of single-stranded The point is not to store videos in bacteria”. deficiency – by eating genetically modified DNA can encode 455 exabytes, (1 exabyte = Instead, the researchers ultimately want banana fortified with provitamin-A, which 1018 bytes) or roughly data worth 100 billion to create “molecular recorders” capable of is converted into a vitamin when digested. DVDs. recording the events inside cells as they play Scientists in Australia have developed the Now scientists have gone a step out. This could give researchers insight into fortified ‘super’ banana, rich in pro-vitamin further. A team at Harvard Medical School cellular events that are hard to observe in real A, which they say could save the lives of the in Boston, Massachusetts, led by Seth time, like the processes that occur during hundreds of thousands of children who die Shipman, has used the CRISPR genome- brain development. from this deficiency every year. The golden- editing tool to encode short animated image fleshed fruit was created by researchers (GIF) into DNA. The GIF was made up Fortified banana to fight from Centre for Tropical Crops and of a few frames of a classic series of photos vitamin A-deficiency Biocommodities, Queensland University of a running horse captured by Eadweard of Technology, Brisbane, who have been Muybridge in 1872. Shipman encoded a Vitamin A deficiency is a severe growing the biofortified bananas for over the GIF of Muybridge’s running horse into condition, particularly in malnourished last 10 years. DNA, and then inserted those strands children and women in developing countries. The provitamin A-rich bananas were into living Escherichia coli bacterium using It is the leading cause of preventable created through genetic engineering. The CRISPR, which is best known as a tool for blindness – and can significantly increase researchers took genes from a natural species editing genes by cutting strands of DNA at the risk of disease from severe infections. of provitamin A-rich banana found in Papa precise locations. But it has another trait that Approximately one third of the world’s pre- New Guinea, which only grows in small is often overlooked: It is an amazing tool for school-age population is estimated to be bunches. The genes were then fused with the recording information. vitamin A deficient; with highest prevalence genes of native banana sold in the market. To begin with, Shipman and his (44-50%) being reported in regions of Africa According to the researchers, the result is an colleagues converted the image of a hand and South-East Asia. According to a 2013 unusual orange-coloured banana that could into DNA code. To accomplish this feat, they report published in the Journal of Health, significantly increase the vitamin-A intake of broke the digital image into their pixels and Population and Nutrition, India has the the consumer (Plant Biotechnology Journal, used DNA to create a code for each pixel. highest prevalence of clinical and subclinical April 2017 | DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12650). The code contained information about the vitamin A deficiency among South Asian Bananas are the world’s most

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 22 important fruit crop and one of the top 10 crops by production. They are widely grown in the wet tropics and subtropics forming an important dietary component both raw as a dessert fruit and cooked often as the major source of carbohydrate. In a number of countries, especially in rural Africa, cooked bananas is a staple food, so growing these provitamin A-rich bananas will help people meet the dietary requirement. According to James Dale, who led the research, “Achieving these scientific results is a major milestone in our quest to deliver a more nutritional diet to some of the New research shows trace amounts of water trapped in ancient volcanic deposits on the poorest subsistence communities in Africa. Moon. The finding bolsters the idea that the Moon’s mantle is surprisingly water-rich. We tried and tested hundreds of different Coloured areas indicate elevated water content compared with surrounding terrains. Yellows genetic variations here in our lab and in field and reds indicate the richest water content. (Photo: Milliken Lab/Brown University) trials in Queensland until we got the best results.” Although the fortified banana was within the Moon’s interior, but nothing mantle is surprisingly water-rich” (Nature developed particularly keeping the people of was known about the amount of water in Geoscience 24 July 2017 | doi:10.1038/ Uganda in mind where vitamin A-deficiency the moon’s interior. Recent studies have ngeo2993). among children is as high 38 percent, it shown that the Moon has as much water in Says Milliken, “Our work shows that will certainly be useful also in reducing the its mantle as Earth’s interior. Using satellite nearly all of the large volcanic deposits also widespread vitamin A-deficiency in other data, scientists have for the first time detected contain water; so this seems to be a common developing countries including India. widespread water within ancient explosive characteristic of magmas that come from the volcanic deposits on the Moon, suggesting deep lunar interior. Enhanced water content Chandrayaan data show that its interior contains substantial amounts associated with lunar volcanic deposits and Moon’s interior may be ‘wet’ of indigenous water. the widespread distribution and variable The study was done by a team from chemistry of these deposits on the lunar Till 2008, when India’s first lunar Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, led surface are consistent with significant water probe Chandrayaan-1 went into orbit by Ralph Milliken. The researchers analysed in the bulk lunar mantle. That is, most of around Moon, the Earth’s closest neighbour satellite data from the Moon Mineralogy the mantle of the Moon may be ‘wet’”. was believed to be bone-dry, with no Mapper, which measured reflected sunlight trace of water. Analysis of moon rocks at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. In and lunar soil samples brought back by order to estimate the amount of trapped the Apollo astronauts did not find any water in the volcanic deposits from the evidence of presence of water in them. But Chandrayaan data, the scientists had to Chandrayaan-1 changed all that. In 2009, isolate the reflected sunlight from the thermal VP website by analysing the data collected from the energy emitted by the Moon’s hot surface. lunar surface, NASA announced that the Looking at wavelengths where the molecules Moon Mineralogy Mapper or M3 on-board of water (H2O and -OH) absorb light, they Chandrayaan-1 has confirmed existence of found that there were larger absorptions, or water on Moon. less reflected sunlight, at these wavelengths The M3 instrument analysed how for volcanic deposits, which indicates they sunlight reflected off the lunar surface to contain -OH or H2O. The new study found identify water particles in which scientists Join Vigyan Prasar digital library to that numerous volcanic deposits distributed read online publications. You may also observed chemical bonding similar to those across the surface of the Moon contain join the discussion forum to ask science found in water. However, the instrument unusually high amounts of trapped water and technology related questions and can only see the very uppermost layers of compared with surrounding terrains. The also answer fellow participants’ queries. the lunar soil – perhaps to a few centimetres researchers said that “the finding of water in We also have streaming science videos, below the surface. It cannot probe deeper. these ancient deposits, which are believed to science radio serials, online science quiz, hand-on activities, and many more In 2013, NASA announced that what consist of glass beads formed by the explosive Chandrayaan-1 had detected was magmatic features and programmes related to eruption of magma coming from the deep science and technology. Log-on to www. water, or water that originates from deep lunar interior, bolsters the idea that the lunar vigyanprasar.gov.in

21 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 OBITUARY In Memoriam: Prof. U.R. Rao &

Prof. Yash Pal Piyush Pandey

Within 24 hours India has lost two stalwarts in field of space science and education. Dream 2047 pays its tribute to Prof. U.R. Rao and Prof. Yash Pal.

The Indian space Prof. U.R. Rao programme is what it The Indian space programme is what it is today because of its four architects – Dr. is today because of its Homi Bhabha, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan, and Prof. U.R. Rao. Rao four architects – Dr. was the man who laid the foundation for the development of satellite technology in Homi Bhabha, Dr. India. He is truly called the Father of India’s satellite programme. Vikram Sarabhai, Udupi Ramachandra Rao was born in Adamaru village near Udupi in Karnataka on Prof. Satish Dhawan, 10 March 1932. He did not attend school until he got admitted to class IV in his and Prof. U.R. Rao. village school. He completed his secondary education from Christian High School, Rao was the man who Udupi. He did his B.Sc. from Government Professor U.R. Rao (10 March Arts and Science College, Anantpur. In 1932 - 24 July 2017) laid the foundation those days students from southern parts of India had to move northward in order served as assistant professor at University of for the development of to pursue higher education, particularly in Texas at Dallas. It was there that Rao got science. He obtained his M.Sc. from Banaras chance to carry out investigations as a prime satellite technology in Hindu University (BHU). His financial experimenter on a few of the Pioneer and condition was very bad and he did not have Explorer spacecraft. This eventually taught India. He is truly called eight rupees for paying the monthly fee at him how to make payloads for space missions, BHU. Only a scholarship later helped him. develop, construct and master spacecraft and the Father of India's He did his Ph.D. from the Physical Research satellite technology. Rao returned to India in Laboratory, Ahmedabad under the guidance 1966 as a professor at the Physical Research satellite programme. of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He took over the He then went to Massachusetts chairmanship of ISRO in 1984 and had a 10- Institute of Technology (MIT) at Boston, year stint. During his period at helm work USA where he worked in the area of cosmic on development of rocket technology got rays under Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. He also the impetus. This resulted in the successful

The author is a Bengaluru based science writer. He is former Director of Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai, and founder Director of Jawahar Planetarium, Allahabad. He also worked with Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, and ARIES, Nainital in different capacities.Email: [email protected]

Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 20 launch of ASLV rocket in 1992. He was also responsible for the development of the PSLV, GSLV and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. During his stint at Prof. Yash Pal is credited ISRO he was responsible for successful launch of INSAT satellites, which gave with introducing the thrust to telecommunication in the country and helped India develop as an Information concept 'Learning Technology hub. He was the first Chairman without Burden'. of Antrix Corporation – the commercial arm of ISRO. He was conferred Padma Bhushan As man of physics, in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan in 2017. Rao published over 300 scientific he is known for his and technical papers in various national contributions to the and international journals. These covered cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high- study of cosmic rays. He energy astrophysics, space applications and satellite and rocket technology. He will also be remembered has authored many books, such as, Physics as an educationist, of the Communication, Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for the Planet Earth, and Space institution-builder and Technology for Sustainable Development. He was inducted in International Astronautics Professor Yash Pal science communicator. Federation on 15 May 2016 - the first Indian (26 November 1926- 24 July 2017) to achieve this honour. Rao was an elected Fellow of many scientific academies of the country and communicator. After doing M.Sc. From the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy abroad. To name a few, Indian Academy of Panjab University (1949) and obtained his and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune emerged Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, Ph.D. from MIT (USA) in 1958. He started from this vision. National Academy of Sciences, Institute his career at Tata Institute of Fundamental He is also remembered for his of Electronics and Telecommunications Research (TIFR) in the cosmic ray group. involvement in betterment of school Engineers, International Academy of The Department of Space was set up education. The path-breaking Hoshangabad Astronautics and Third World Academy of by the Government of India in 1972. This Science Teaching Programme became Sciences, World Academy of Arts & Sciences. was the beginning of our space programme. possible due to his inspiration and vision. He was the General President of the Indian Yash Pal became the first Director of He is also credited with introducing Science Congress Association for 1995-96. the Space Applications Centre set up in the concept ‘Learning without Burden’. This He was the Vice President of International Ahmedabad, in 1973, while he continued to he introduced while he was chairing the Astronautical Federation (1984 to 1992) be on the faculty of TIFR. Steering Committee of National Council and till his death he continued to be the He had been the secretary general of of Educational Research and Training Chairman of the Committee for Liaison the Second United Nations Conference on (NCERT) in 2005 that had embarked upon with Developing Countries (CLIODN) Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (1981-82). the task of drawing a National Curriculum since 1986. He was elected as the Chairman He had held the posts of chief consultant, Framework. of United Nations Committee On Peaceful Planning Commission (1983-84) and The Ministry of Human Resource Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) in June secretary, Department of Science and Development (MHRD) set up a Committee 1997 and also Chairman of UNISPACE- Technology (1984-1986), after which he on Higher Education in order to reform III Conference. He was the Co-Chairman was appointed chairman, University Grants higher education in India. The committee of the National Centre for Antarctic and Commission (1986-91). He was awarded was called the Yash Pal Committee as he Ocean Research, Goa. Padma Bhushan in 1976 and Padma was its chairman. The committee gave Vibhushan in 2013 for his contribution several suggestions that included on how a to science and space technology. In his university should function and advised some Prof. Yash Pal later years, he became a leading science structural changes in higher education. It Yash Pal Singh was born on 26 communicator of the country. In 2009, seems so far no government has taken any November 1926 in Jhang, which is now in he received the Kalinga Prize, awarded by action on based on this report. Pakistan. As man of physics, he is known UNESCO for the popularisation of science. for his contributions to the study of cosmic During his tenure as UGC chairman, rays. He will also be remembered as an he advocated the setting up of Inter- educationist, institution-builder and science University Centres funded by the UGC and

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