Editorial Framework for science news

he media, both print and electronic, warming’ and take an alarmist view on Tplay an important role in opinion these phenomena. The features generally formation. As in politics so also in establish clear connections between science related matters, the ideological science, policy and public interest. ‘The E-mail: [email protected] slant of the management is reflected thinning of ozone layer’ and ‘climate in features, editorials and also in news change’ are discussed in similar frames. channels and serious print formats that stories. Enlightened viewers and readers, These tend to seek answers to questions have high credibility and are committed it is blithely hoped, are aware of this and like what the public needs to know about to reach audience with issues that help use correctional filters to absorb the key climate change. development debates. The challenge is to issues. Is there a model that can be adopted impress this public with well-presented Recent weeks have witnessed for increased public understanding of stories that meet their practical and analytical features on the Indo-US issues in science and development like strategic needs. Communicators must technological deals with stress varying from climate change? How can we have a more contribute with balanced reporting on ‘the changing geo-political equations in the informed public that can influence policy? complex matters and reduce the ideological subcontinent and the increasing strategic What have we learnt from media coverage bias consciously. importance of India’ to the ‘gains likely to of complex developmental issues like Will more science matters in the the industrial military complex in the US climate change? media increase its public understanding? because of the opening of opportunities The space for discussion on science, How can communicators address the in India.’ The impact on Indian economy, technology and development is limited enormity of development debates through say ‘better availability of electrical power and not likely to increase dramatically a short news story? Is there a limit beyond and its impact on industry’ does not find in the mass media. The civil research which the outreach effort will become adequate space in the discussions. establishments (agriculture, medical, propaganda? Will newsmakers be willing The common man is more likely industrial, etc.) do not have clear to cooperate with the reporters in this to become engaged in a story if it appeals mechanisms of interfacing with journalists effort? What should be a good period to to a broader public interest. This is more and communicators. News is characterised review and revise the strategy? so if the story has a straight forward and by timeliness and accuracy both requiring The building blocks for better consistent narrative. The review of pulse a shift in priorities of the laboratories in understanding of science and clearer polio campaign in view of fresh reports the public sector and the universities. opinions are in science news and features of polio cases finds prominence in some One could argue that people are in the mass media. The next few weeks national newspapers. Most stories, indiscriminating in their understanding of will witness an initiative on television that however, do not carry reflections of issues and their impacts. Opinion leaders takes this issue further with a regular news scientists and deal with the contents rather are confused about priorities and strategies. telecast. There can be exciting spin-offs by superficially. The approach of ‘science Consumerism is a subtle but powerful integrating the effort with other channels report for the sake of science’ is not likely driver for many decisions and therefore provided by ICT. The question on how to retain attention of the audience. a convenient punching bag. Is absence of this is likely to contribute to public debates Let us review the news channels in scientific understanding deliberate and meaningfully can then be considered for many European nations. They frequently comfortable? Is it not important enough? answering. dwell on ‘climate change’ and ‘global There are notable radio and television o Anuj Sinha

Editor : Er Anuj Sinha Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements and opinions Address for Vigyan Prasar, C-24, expressed by the authors in their articles/write-ups published in correspondence : Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 016 “Dream 2047” Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may e-mail : [email protected] be freely reproduced with due acknowledgement/credit, provided website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in periodicals in which they are reproduced are distributed free.

Published and Printed by Dr. Subodh Mahanti on behalf of Vigyan Prasar, C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed at Aravali Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110 020. Ph. : 011-26388830-32 Editor: Er Anuj Sinha

39 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Robert Burns Woodward The greatest deviser of organic syntheses “Woodward’s career was marked throughout by brilliance. He went to the Massachusetts Subodh Mahanti Institute of Technology when he was only 16, was ‘sent down’ for a year for ‘inattention to E-mail: [email protected] formal studies’ but nevertheless emerged with his PhD at 20. Soon he moved to Harvard, and remained there. He did major work in most areas of organic chemistry, but his most in organic synthesis. He made synthesis of striking work was in the synthesis of complex natural products.” complex organic molecules a commonplace The Cambridge Dictionary of Scientists (2nd Edition), 2003 practice, which was earlier thought to be impossible. Woodward once wrote: “The “In 1944 Woodward, with William von Eggerts Doering synthesised quinine from the structure known, but not yet accessible basic elements. This was a historic moment for it was the quinine molecule that William by synthesis, is to the chemist what the Perkin had, first prematurely, attempted to synthesise in 1885.” unclimbed mountain, the uncharted sea, A Dictionary of Scientists, Oxford University Press, 1999 the untilled field, the unreached planet, are “Woodward’s research productivity was remarkable, a result both of the intensity of his to other men.” In 1965, Woodward was work habits and his extraordinary skills. His memory of the details of the chemical literature awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for was legendary and he quickly mastered every innovation in his field. In particular, he led his “collective contributions to the art of in understanding the possibilities of new instruments of the organic chemical laboratory organic synthesis.” in the 1930s and 1940s: infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers, mass spectrometers and Woodward’s contribution was not nuclear magnetic resonance.” confined to synthesis of natural products alone. His work in structure determination Alan J. Rocke in The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science (2003) was equally path-breaking. He solved several important structural puzzles. Among the obert Burns Woodward is regarded natural products the structures of which Ras the pre-eminent organic chemist were elucidated by Woodward and his group of the twentieth century. His knowledge of were penicillin (1945), patulin (1948), organic chemistry was unsurpassed. He had strychnine (1947), oxytetracycline (1952), mastered the skill of creating complex natural cevine (1954), carbomycin (1956), gliotoxin organic molecules in the laboratory from the (1958), ellipticine (1958), calycanthine simplest possible starting materials. It was (1960), oleandomycin (1960), streptonigrin no ordinary skill. As Alan J. Rocke wrote: (1963), and tetrodoxin (1964). Woodward’s “Successful natural product synthesis requires determination of the structure of a combination of rigorous thinking, ingenuity magnamycin revealed a previously unknown of approach and method, a high level of skill family of natural products of macrolide in laboratory manipulations, and an almost antibiotics. Woodward jointly with Geoffrey intuitive sensibility for how molecules can and Wilkinson proposed a structure for ferrocene, will combine.” Among the most important an organic compound incorporating iron molecules synthesised by Woodward and atom. This was the beginning of the field his group were cholesterol (1951), cortisone of organometallic chemistry, a field which (1951), strychnine (1954), LSD or lysergic has grown into an important industry. acid diethylamide (1954), reserpine (1956), Wilkinson got the Nobel Prize in 1973 for chlorophyll (1960), cephalosporin C (1966), his work on ferrocene. Many thought that Robert Burns Woodward and vitamin B12 (1971). Woodward should have shared the Prize with Woodward was a pioneer in case in Woodward’s time. Wilkinson. Woodward himself thought so. stereospecific synthesis; that is, synthesis Each of his synthetic work was Woodward and Roald Hoffmann of a particular configuration of a molecule marked by the elegance and ingenuity of introduced the principle of conservation in three-dimensional space. Stereospecific the process. He could make a valuable and of orbital symmetry which proved to be synthesis acquires special importance because highly complicated product from simple a major theoretical advance and provided of the fact that most natural products of starting materials using a large number of a deep understanding of a wide group of medicinal value are effective as medicine chemical steps. His methods often provided chemical reactions. To understand how only in a particular form of stereochemistry. novel general synthesis of other compounds. orbital symmetry comes into picture in Today’s organic chemists use stereospecific Woodward ushered in a revolution or opened chemical reactions we need to realise the synthetic route routinely but it was not the up a new era (often called ‘Woodwardian era’) fact when a reaction takes place there is a Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 38 History of Science change in bonding among the organic chemistry published atoms; that is, bonding in the in German journals. He reactants or the substances managed to do so with the help undergoing reaction to the of the Consul-General of the bonding in products. Now German consulate in Boston as we know, bonding results and one of those papers was from overlap of orbitals the original communication which requires that portions Cholesterol of Diels and Alder about the of different orbitals occupy Cephalosporin Diels-Alder reaction. In later the same space and are of years Woodward studied this same phase. The Woodward- reaction again. Hoffmann rules are a set of In 1933, at the age of rules in organic chemistry that 16, Woodward joined the predict the stereochemistry of Massachusetts Institute of Reserpine pericyclic reactions (reactions Technology. However, just that involve conjugated after one year Woodward polyenes and proceed by single was expelled from the MIT. step or concerted reaction The reason for his expulsion mechanisms) based on orbital Cortisone was that he hardly paid any symmetry. It may be noted attention to formal studies. that in concerted reactions Fortunately MIT readmitted several bonds are made or Woodward in 1935 and within broken simultaneously and one year after his readmission in such reactions orbital he received his Bachelor of symmetry effects are more Science degree. What is more, pronounced. Based on just one year later he was their rules, Woodward and awarded the PhD degree. It Vitamin B Hoffmann described certain 12 was certainly an extraordinary Strychnine reaction paths as symmetry- feat. Woodward’s doctoral allowed and others as work was concerned with symmetry-forbidden. It may Some of the molecules synthesised by Woodward and his group the investigations related be noted that although the to synthesis of the female concept that the course of chemical reactions Woodward was the first to propose the sex hormone oestrone. His can be controlled by orbital symmetry may correct biosynthetic pathway to the steroidal research advisor at MIT was Avery A. look to be very straightforward, it was a hormones in living organism. Ashdown but it is not certain whether he revolutionary step. In fact it was one of Woodward was born on 10 April took any of his advice. the really giant steps forward in chemical 1917, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. After his PhD degree from MIT, theory. His father Arthur Chester Woodward Woodward taught summer school at the died of influenza when Woodward was University of Illinois for a brief period before just 18 months old. His mother Margaret Woodward (nee Burns) had to work hard to support her son’s education. The family settled in Quincy, Massachusetts. Woodward attended the public primary and secondary schools of Quincy. He finished his grammar and high schools in just nine years as he was allowed to skip three years. Woodward developed a fascination for organic chemistry at a very early age. He undertook private study of organic chemistry. It is said that by the time he entered high school he could perform most of the experiments described in Ludwig Gattermann’s textbook of experimental chemistry, a book then widely used. In 1928, Woodward (when he was just 11 years old) thought it necessary Geoffrey Wilkinson to get certain original research papers of Roald Hoffmann 37 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 History of Science

that well-established principles of reactivity and structure could be applied in achieving synthesis of complex molecules. The epitomes of synthetic achievements of Woodward were the

syntheses of chlorophyll and vitamin B12. Woodward’s work on chlorophyll greatly increased our knowledge of this important substance, the green plant pigment which absorbs the energy radiated by the Sun and transforms it for use of plants.

The total synthesis of vitamin B12 took over 12 years and it was the result of a unique collaborative effort between Woodward’s group at Harvard and Eschenmoser’s group at ETH (Eidegenossische Technische Hochschule or Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich. Elkan Blout

commenting on vitamin B12 synthesis wrote Kurt Alder in Biographical Memoirs of the National Derek Harold Richard Barton moving to Harvard University as an assistant Academy of Sciences, USA: “The two major As mentioned earlier, Woodward’s of Professor E. P. Kohler and later he became challenges posed by the vitamin B12 structure contribution to structure determination a full professor. He remained at Harvard were the novelty of the ligand chromophore was highly significant and path-breaking. University till his death in 1979. and the stereochemical complexity of the Derek Harold Richard Barton, a colleague of Woodward’s first major research ligand’s periphery. Woodward’s main focus Woodward and the recipient of Nobel Prize contribution was made in the early 1940s. was the latter. This led him to create a in Chemistry in 1969, wrote: “The most This was a series of papers describing great synthesis of the so-called 'Harvard brilliant analysis ever done on structural how ultraviolet spectroscopy could be component'—the part of the B12 molecule puzzle was surely the solution (1953) of the applied in the elucidation of structure of that is the most complex and contains rings terramycin problem. It was a problem of natural products. He devised a series of A and D. The synthesis, both in design and great industrial importance, and hence many rules for determining the structures of execution, appears today as the apotheosis of able chemists had performed an enormous newly synthesised natural substance from all that constituted the Woordwardian art and amount of work trying to determine the ultraviolet spectroscopic data. These rules are science in natural products total synthesis. structure. There seemed to be too much now called Woodward’s rules, which could Forever in the history of chemistry, it will also data to resolve the problem, because a also be applied to non-natural synthesised remain connected with that creative insight significant number of observations, although molecules. of Woodward that eventually grew into the experimentally correct, were very misleading. 1n 1944, Woodward, jointly with message of the Woodward-Hoffmann rules, Woodward took a large piece of cardboard, his student William von Eggers Doering, changing the way organic chemists think wrote on it all the facts and, by thought achieved the synthesis of quinine, an alkaloid about the reactivity of organic molecules.” alone, deduced the correct structure for used for treating malaria, from its elements. terramycin. Nobody else could have done It was a landmark for chemical synthesis. It that at the time.” may be noted that its synthesis was publicised Woodward was known for giving long as a breakthrough for making quinine lectures. Very often Woodward’s lectures easily available, which otherwise was to be lasted for 3 to 4 hours. In fact, his students imported from Southeast Asia. However, defined a unit of time called “woodward”, Woodard’s synthesis was not commercially which was the measure of longest known viable. But this in no way diminished the lecture given by Woodward and then his importance of Woodward’s work. It was other lectures would be so many “milli- the first multi-step synthesis undertaken by woodwards” long. His lectures were not Woodward. It should be remembered that known merely because of their length, when Woodward achieved the synthesis but because they were models of clarity, of quinine, organic synthesis was largely originality, and insight. He did not use a matter of trial and error. In fact, nobody slides for his lectures. Instead he would really thought that such a complex structure himself draw beautiful structure by using could really be synthesised. It was Woodward chalks of different colours. He truly enjoyed who demonstrated that organic synthesis giving lectures to students and colleagues, could be made into a rational science and William von Eggers Doering but this was not the case with formal courses Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 36 History of Science or regular teaching. He believed in teaching The following publications will prove in the laboratory, in seminars and public to be useful for more information on the life lectures. He once said: “I teach all the time so and work of Woodward: that I don’t have to teach formal courses.” 1. Benfey, Otto Theodor and Morris, Woodward had a fascination for blue Peter J. T., eds (2001). Robert Burns colour. All his suits, his car and even his Woodward: Architect and Artist in parking place was coloured (painted by some the world of Molecules. Philadelphia: of his students) in blue. Chemical Heritage Foundation. Woodward was a great teacher. He 2. James, Laylin K., ed (1993). Nobel trained more than 200 PhD students and Laureates in Chemistry 1901- postdoctoral fellows, many of whom went 1992. Washington, DC: American to become distinguished chemists. Among Chemical Society: Chemical Heritage his best known students are: Robert M. Foundation. Williams, Yoshito Kishi, Stuart Schreiber, 3. Woodward, Robert Burns (1963), Steven A Benner, Kendall Newcomb Houk, “Art and Science in Synthesis of and Kevin M. Smith. Woodward was a Organic Compounds: Retrospect and scientist who could transmit the excitement Prospect,” in Pointers and Pathways in of doing science to his students. One of Research, ed. Maeve O’Connor: CIBA his students wrote: “I owe a lot to R. B. Otto Paul Hermann Diels of India. Woodward. He showed me that one could attack difficult problems without a clear idea Woodward was elected fellow of References of their outcome, but with confidence that numerous academies and learned societies. 1. Heilbron, J.L. (ed.), The Oxford intelligence and effort would solve them. He It may be noted that he was elected to the Companion to the History of Modern showed me the beauty of modern organic National Academy of Sciences (1953), when Science; Oxford: Oxford University chemistry, and the relevance to the field he was just 36 years old. He received 24 Press, 2003. of detailed careful reasoning. He showed honorary degrees from around the world. 2. Morrison, Robert T., and Boyd, me that one does not need to specialize. The Ciba pharmaceutical company Robert N., Organic Chemistry (4th Woodward made great contributions to founded the Woodward Research Institute in edition), Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Inc., the strategy of synthesis, to the deduction Basel, Switzerland. It was a unique honour. 1983. of difficult structures, to the invention of Woodward himself directed the research 3. Blout, Elkan, “Robert Burns Woodward new chemistry, and to theoretical aspects as activities of this institute. 1917-1979”, in Biographical Memoirs, well. He taught his students by example the Woodward died on 8 July 1979 in Vol. 80, 2001, Washington, D.C.: The satisfaction that comes from total immersion Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time of his National Academy Press. in our science. I treasure the memory of my death he was working on the synthesis of the 4. Bagchi, Asoke K, Hinduja Foundation association with this remarkable chemist.” antibiotic erythromycin. If Woodward lived Encyclopaedia of Nobel Laureates 1901- Besides his Nobel Prize in 1965 for another two years he would have certainly 1987, New Delhi: Konarak Publishers Woodward received 26 medals and awards shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Pvt. Ltd, 1990. including the most prestigious ones in the 1981 for their work on orbital symmetry. field of chemistry: John Scott Medal from the What is the legacy left behind by 5. 100 Years with Nobel Laureates, New Franklin Institute and City of Philadelphia Woodward? To answer this we quote from Delhi: Encyclopaedia Britannica (1945); Davy Medal from the Royal Society the Nobel Award Ceremony Speech. It noted: (India) Pvt. Ltd., 2001 of London (1959); Roger Adams Medal from “Professor Woodward’s research work covers 6. The Cambridge Dictionary of Scientist the American Chemical Society (1961); Pius vast and various fields in organic chemistry. (2nd Edition), Cambridge: Cambridge XI Gold Medal from the Pontifical Academy A leading feature is that the problems have University Press, 2001. of Sciences (1969); National Medal of been extremely difficult and that they 7. A Dictionary of Scientists, Oxford: Science of the Unites States of America have been solved with brilliant mastery. Oxford University Press, 1999. (1964), Lavoisier Medal from the Societe He has attacked them with a maximum 8. Available information on the Internet. Chimique de France (1968), the Order of of theoretical knowledge, a never falling Rising Sun, second class from the Emperor practical judgement and, not least, a genial (The article is a popular presentation of the intuition. He has, in a conspicuous way, important points of the life and work of Robert Burns of Japan (1970); Hanbury Memorial Medal Woodward available in the existing literature. The idea from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great widened the limits for what is practically is to inspire the younger generation to know more Britain (1970); Pierre Brunylants Medal possible. As a stimulating example he has about Robert Burns Woodward. The author has given from the University of Louvain (1970); exerted profound influence on the organic the sources consulted for writing this article. However, chemistry of today.” There is no doubt our the sources on the Internet are numerous and so they AMA Scientific Achievement Award (1971); have not been individually listed. The author is grateful and the Cope Award (jointly with Roald young scientists particularly young chemists to all those authors whose works have contributed Hoffman) from the American Chemical have lot of things to learn from the life and to writing this article and the sources of the pictures Society. work of Woodward. reproduced here.)

35 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Interview For marketing tie-ups To what extent have the objectives that were educational tools and activities like science set out for Vigyan Prasar been fulfilled? club, etc., which involve partnerships Vigyan Prasar was established with with stakeholders and target audience and the following objectives: establishment flexibility combined with a close relationship of an expert system for identification and to the scientific community, offer VP a development of content; development of unique strength unavailable to the NCSTC. knowledge networks in the area of science and Is there a need for the strength of and communication; selection and deployment funding for VP to be increased if it has to of the right communication and delivery assume a bigger role? system; and undertaking activities that Its small size is its strength. This communicate the joy of pursuing science. strength also imposes restrictions on As far as delivery of designed diversification of activities. I would advise objectives, we are reasonably happy. So far, VP to intensify rather than diversify. the organisation has focussed largely on The role and funding of organisations child-centric programmes and segments like VP should be viewed in relation to their of society which remained uninitiated to a context and comparative strengths. VP has large extent. I have been able to seek some “V.P.'s core strength lies in the grown under an input-led growth model. responses about VP’s work from the youth design and development of science It should move towards an output-led and at the school level. I must say that there has communication products.” outcome-linked development path. That is, been a favourable perception among students it should enrol partnerships for marketing — T. Ramasami for its products. and outreach which involve financing Which activities have really succeeded? mechanisms too. If VP relies only on the DST and governmental sources for finance, How can these be capitalised upon to make benefiting from the wider choice of purpose the NCSTC and VP will be fighting for the VP more visible? and goals. Effort is being made to avoid same space. Vigyan Prasar is a small organisation overlaps in functions and programmes. In my opinion, VP needs a business and is engaged in a number of activities. One The heads of VP and the NCSTC are plan, market alignment for products and of its strengths is content generation and the members of the decision-making bodies alliances with other network partners, publishing of printed materials. Particularly of both organisations. The NCSTC offers including in the private sector. The in subjects like astronomy and various topics scope for public-public partnerships and meaningful programmes of VP shall not in physics, VP brought out good and valuable global alliances in science outreach and suffer for want of funds, but the public publications. DREAM 2047 is an excellent communication. investments into V.P. will have to be linked outreach material. For example, the Children’s Science to value propositions of the product outputs The science clubs of VP form an Congress is an activity of the NCSTC that and social outcomes. excellent outreach, which are sought after by demands Centre-State connectivity and schools. Some of the video and audio-visual partnerships. Science Express is an output By A Special Correspondent materials developed by VP have attracted of Indo-German partnership and involves wide appreciation. Since VP does not enjoy string linkages with other departments. [The above interview with Dr T. Ramasami, a large marketing network, these products These activities are better accomplished Secretary of the Department of Science have not yet penetrated the market. VP’s as a departmental activity of the DST. and Technology (DST), is reprinted from core strength lies in design and development Development of content, e-books, new Frontline (5 November 2010).] of science communication products. It has to develop synergies with other organisations and agencies to deliver its strength into the VP activity kits for students and teachers community. • Astronomy • Earthquake The National Council for Science and • Weather • Biodiversity Technology Communication (NCSTC), • Electronics a wing of the DST, and VP are engaged • PC Based Experiments • Emergence of Modern Physics in similar activities. Is it necessary to demarcate their roles to achieve the goals of For further details please write to: science dissemination? Director The NCSTC and VP are two Vigyan Prasar complementing arms, with VP enjoying A-50, Institutional Area , Sector-62. NOIDA (201307) Phone: 91-120-240 4430,35 Fax: 91-120-2404437 functional and process autonomy within e-mail : [email protected] the budgetary provisions and the NCSTC Website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 34 Interview ‘Poised for a leap' Which activities of Vigyan Prasar have are discussing partnering with other agencies really succeeded? How can these be used to to leverage our strengths. A lesson from my promote VP? long experience of working has been that Vigyan Prasar in its brief history has good programmes do not suffer because of attempted many innovative projects. We resource constraints. composed a ready-to-print full page on There is a general feeling that the science with a weekly frequency, which many marketing reach of VP needs to be improved newspapers published with a change in substantially. How do you think this can be masthead. The project was moving towards achieved? self-sustenance when the TV boom arrived. I agree. With low-priced quality We learnt early use of the web with a popular products, the lack of interest of private e-magazine, COMCOM. This attracted distributors is not unexpected. Sales at many experts, who contributed to the online exhibitions are encouraging, but such discussion forums and other features. exposures are designed generally for branding The Exhibition on Wheels was mooted and exposure. The issue has not been by Shri M.V. Kamath, Chairman, governing resolved satisfactorily. We are increasing sales body. This special train had 12 coaches and, “ Many of our activity books have had repeat print runs.” outlets while facilitating e-payment. We are in a period of about eight months, visited examining new opportunities, and shortly — Anuj Sinha over 50 places. This was a forerunner to the our products and publications will be on sale Science Express of the National Council of in many towns and cities. Science and Technology Communication The first two decades have established the fundamentals of Vigyan Prasar and it is VP’s programmes on Doordarshan (NCSTC), which we have designed and (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) do not operated over the last four years. Many of poised for a leap. The next phase should focus on developing innovative communication seem to get prime time slots. How can this our activity books have had repeat print runs. be remedied? Our portal has many features that compel material for gender empowerment, addressing needs of neo-literates and increasing our Prasar Bharati and its constituents AIR repeat visits by teachers, communicators and and DD value the necessity and importance activists. footprint in technology communication. There is scope for improving the capacity for of quality science programmes. Within the You were the head of the NCSTC. space for negotiation, we drive bargains for Which organisation is more suited rational decision-making in large sections of the society. The means and media will have good slots. With both AIR and DD, there to achieving the objectives of science is better visibility on the regional language communication and dissemination? to match the requirements of the trainers, communicators and activists. stations than on the national channel. We Vigyan Prasar was conceived to are increasing the number of programmes, provide operational leverage to science Do you think the strength of VP has to be increased if it is to assume a bigger adding more variety and exploring more communication. The roles of these channels to reach audiences. organisations have been well etched out role? and are complementary. This institute is for We are increasing our reach and will By A Special Correspondent research and development and large-scale raise resources from different agencies, dissemination of books, CD ROMs, kits, including greater support from the parent [The above interview with Anuj Sinha, etc. The NCSTC, on the other hand, helps department. Recently, the UNFPA (the Honorary Director of Vigyan Prasar is in policy formulation and considers grant- United Nations Population Fund) assigned reprinted from Frontline (5 November in-aid for innovative project proposals from us a task through competitive bidding. We 2010).] scientists in laboratories, universities and voluntary organisations. Interactive CDs on Science and Technology In many national campaigns, the two • Fun with Physics • Optics organisations have leveraged their respective • Physicists • Transit of Venus strengths to deliver good resource material for • India in Space • Dream 2047 use by activists. The Planet Earth Campaign • Computer for Housewives (2008/10), Year of Astronomy (2009), and • Innvative Experiments in Physics Year of Biodiversity (2010) witnessed close For further details please write to: collaboration (between the organisations). Director We are working on components of the Year Vigyan Prasar of Chemistry (2011) with each other. A-50, Institutional Area , Sector-62. NOIDA (201307) Phone: 91-120-240 4430,35 Fax: 91-120-2404437 What are the activities VP can e-mail : [email protected] diversify into? Website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in 33 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Rocket science helps rescue of trapped miners

The world let a sigh of relief on 13 October 2010, as one by one, thirty three miners were winched back from the collapsed San Jose mines in Chile. Ending an ordeal for almost T V Venkateswaran 69 days entrapped beneath the surface in a collapsed mine all the 33 miners survived Email: [email protected] and came back alive to the joy and relief of their family members and millions who were watching the events unfold before them on live TV. It was indeed emotion filled and sensational story of the disaster, tribulations and subsequent rescue. However it is the problem was potable water, food and essentially a tale of triumph of human will and science and technology. psychological fear. Days passed. All attempts by the rescue team to reach the accident zone On 5 August 2010, there was a proved futile as more and more tunnels terrible accident at the 121-year-old San collapsed like a pack of cards. Jose copper-gold mines in Chile. An As days passed the families of the estimated 700,000 tonnes of rock collapsed trapped miners and rescuers were not trapping 33 miners 600 metres below the optimistic at all. The miners were also surface. Science and technology used to losing all hope. As a last-ditch attempt place humans in space was used to save and the rescuers drilled a borehole through rescue the trapped miners. the hard rock to reach the shelter. If there Typically, mine tunnels are used were any survivors, the rescuers knew for ore extraction, enabling labourers or they would be in the shelter. Lo and equipment to access the mineral and metal behold, as the drill was pulled out from deposits deep inside the Earth. These the 600-metre deep borehole, they found tunnels are made using similar techniques a piece of paper taped to the drill head. as other types of tunnels, but mines are The ingenious miners had written “We built at a fraction of the cost. Mine tunnels are okay in the shelter, the 33” and pasted are not as safe as tunnels designed for it to the drill head. Now the world knew permanent occupation and hence are often that the miners were not dead but alive. prone to cave-ins and collapse. To provide However, this was the seventeenth day. safe haven for the miners in the event of a The safe shelter had two days’ disaster, mines are often built with shelters supply of emergency rations. The miners that are strong and sturdy to withstand knew that they would have to survive on cave-ins and collapse. The safe shelters these meagre resources for many days. are stocked with a few days’ of emergency Hence they decided to ration the available rations and water. food and managed to survive for all these The 33 Chilean miners were indeed seventeen long days with only bits of food. in one such shelter Each person was measuring about given two mouthfuls 50 sq metres, eating of canned tuna fish, their lunch when the a sip of milk, and disaster struck. As the half a biscuit; hardly dust from the collapse sufficient to satisfy settled, the miners the hunger. As they found that about two were starving, each of kilometres of galleries them lost about 8-10 were intact around the kg of weight in the shelter. Having found seventeen days. adequate elbow room, This borehole they were sure that provided a conduit there is no danger of for communication asphyxiation; enough between the rescuers oxygen was there for at the surface and them to survive for trapped miners in many days. Of course, the bowels of Earth.

Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 32 Recent Development

The borehole was lined with PVC tube and Pilot hole The hole was Rescue capsule slide the rescuers nicked name this umbilical cord was drilled widened though the shaft as “pigeon”. Now the rescuers could supply water and food through this tube. Soon letters from families, cable to connect video phone were being sent through the tube. Rescuers had located and contacted the miners, but the miners could not be fed immediately. As hardly any food was available for the seventeen days and the miners were starving, they could not be provided with normal carbohydrate-rich food. As we starve, our body tries to extract stored fats from our muscle to meet the minimum metabolic and energy needs. Slowly the digestive system and insulin production shut down. If people on starvation diets are given carbohydrate- rich food too quickly they may die; as the body struggles to make insulin in response to carbohydrate, it can upset the electrolyte balance, stopping the heart. This was well known from the experience of starvation in the battle front and in the concentration camps during Second World War. Deep inside a mine may be different If starvation was a physical danger, with the help of NASA and fabricated by from the vast expanse of space, but in some isolation was a mental hazard. Humans find Chilean navy. Named after the mythic respects they are the same inaccessible, it strange to be confined and isolated in a bird that rose from its ashes, the “Phoenix” isolated and lacking access to resources. closed space. Prolonged confinement makes capsule was designed to ferry the miners one Travel in submarines and spacecrafts is them lose mental balance. Cosmonauts have at a time up a narrow shaft lined with steel very similar to being trapped in a collapsed long experience in living in the isolation of pipe. The hi-tech capsule, painted in the mine. Therefore the confined space in space stations. As advised red, white and blue colours of the Chilean rescuers approached by the space medicine experts, the miners flag, was equipped with an oxygen supply, NASA and the were given a daily regime of exercise and communications equipment, and retractable Chilean navy. routine work that made the miners fit and wheels to help it travel up and down the NASA’s space spirited even after confinement of 69 days. rescue shaft and an escape hatch in case medicine knowledge The camaraderie was such that when the anything went wrong. The exterior wheels helped design special rescue ultimately materialised, the workers helped it to slide down the borehole as it was diet for the trapped did not jostle each other and scramble for lowered by a massive crane mounted on a miners; it came up the first place in the escape vehicle, but nearby hillside. with unique diets to encouraged the old and the ill and their To lower the escape vehicle one had recoup the starving colleagues to go out first, calmly waiting for to dig a shaft wide enough for the capsule miners. Liquid their turn. to move up and down. Using a specialist gels with protein Bringing them up from the depths mining drill, at first a pilot hole was drilled. and vitamins, the of Earth was a huge engineering challenge. The pilot hole reached 600 metres below the kind used in the How to reach 600-metre depth through surface where the miners had taken refuge. International Space hard rock? Drilling a 7.5-cm hole is one After creating the pilot hole the shaft was Station, were sent thing and bore a shaft wide enough for a widened enabling the rescue capsule to be down the 7.5-cm human to crawl out is another thing. Even lowered and raised for each man. A Chinese- ‘pigeon’ tube in if a shaft wide enough is built, how to ensure made colossal crane was deployed to lower packets. Miners that the hole will not collapse? Even if a shaft and raise the rescue capsule Phoenix through were told to drink is bored, one cannot use a basket and pulley the shaft. As the world watched, all the 33 nearly double the like drawing water from a well to heave miners were brought back to safety, after amount of water the trapped miners. The basket could get 69 days of ordeal, thanks to a modern-day they drank. Slowly entangled midway, jeopardising the rescue secular miracle made possible by science and their digestive effort. technology. system was brought In what is described as an engineering back to normalcy. marvel, a special escape vehicle was designed (Figures courtsey: bbc.co.uk) n 31 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Tiding over the common problems of pregnancy Dr Yatish Agarwal “It is odd but agitation or contest of any kind gives a rebound to my spirits and sets me e-mail: [email protected] up for a time.” —Lord Byron

Backache l Hold heavy objects close to your From early months of pregnancy until What to do body. l Take plenty of fibre in your diet. Your about six months after the birth, you could l Avoid stooping as far as possible. diet should include lots of fruits, suffer from backache. There are a number l A firm mattress is very beneficial. vegetables, roti, wholemeal bread and of possible causes. During pregnancy, the If yours is soft, a piece of hardboard high-fibre breakfast cereals. ligaments which support the spine become under the length of mattress will make l You should also have plenty of fluids. softened. There is also a shift in your centre it firmer. l A simple laxative like lactulose may be l Massage can also help to ease an aching taken occasionally. back. Also in the later months ensure l Some women find that a hot drink you get enough rest. first thing in the morning also helps. If the backache persists, talk to your doctor. A physiotherapist will also be able l If you continue to have constipation, to give you advice and suggest some helpful you increase your risk of getting piles. exercises. As it is, the pressure of the growing baby on the blood vessels of the region Constipation increases the risk. Constipation is a common complaint during pregnancy. It occurs due to the effect of Piles progesterone, a hormone. Iron supplements Piles are caused by constipation and may also add to the problem. But you must straining. It also occurs in pregnancy because never take stimulant laxatives, including of hormonal changes. You can usually feel some over-the-counter preparations sold in the lumpiness of the piles around the back the guise of ayurvedic pills, because they can passage when you wash yourself after going sometimes stimulate the womb as well. to the loo, and they may ache a bit. The condition nearly always normalises within a week or two of delivery. of gravity, as you get bigger. Sitting or What to do standing badly can worsen the condition. l Eat plenty of food that is high in fibre to prevent constipation—roti, wholemeal What to do bread, fruit and vegetables. Most women can avoid bad back problems l Avoid standing for long periods if you by following some simple guidelines: can. Adopt good posture habits: l If the piles stick out, use a lubricating l Do not lean backward while standing, jelly and push them gently back inside. even though you may feel comfortable Your doctor can suggest an anaesthetic that way. The correct standing posture ointment for you. is to stand straight, keeping the feet apart. Bleeding gums l Sit with your back supported. Dental care should not be neglected during l While lifting or picking objects from pregnancy. The cause of bleeding gums, the floor, avoid bending forward. whether you are pregnant or not, is the Keeping the back straight, bend from build-up of plaque (bacteria) on the teeth. the knees and then lift. This irritates the gums. Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 30 Mediscape

What to do What to do swollen and you may get a very heavy feeling. During pregnancy, pay special attention to l Avoid standing for long periods. Do This is because the pressure of the baby’s cleaning your teeth. Brush really well, at not sit with your legs crossed. head interferes with the flow of blood and least twice a day, before retiring at night and l Do not put on more weight than you the veins in the vulva become congested. after breakfast, to remove all the plaque. Use should. a soft brush and teach yourself the correct l To ease the discomfort, sit with your What to do method to brush. legs up as often as you can, and wear Take plenty of rest. The swelling usually goes support tights. within 24 hours of delivery. Nose bleeds l You can also try sleeping with your Nosebleeds are quite common in pregnancy. legs up on pillows, or even to raise the Vaginal discharge Almost all women have more vaginal Usually short, on occasions the bleeding bottom end of your bed to keep your discharge in pregnancy. So long as the can be quite heavy. So long as you do not legs higher than the rest of your body. lose a lot of blood, there is nothing to worry discharge is clear, you are not sore or itching, about. Blow your nose gently, and try to do not fret, and think of it as normal. stifle sneezes. Swelling in the Soreness or irritation, or a coloured or ankles and feet smelly discharge, probably means you have It is very common during the later part of some sort of vaginal infection. Candidiasis pregnancy to have swelling in the ankles, feet is the commonest. It is a fungal infection, and hands. This happens simply because the which covers the vaginal wall with a white, body holds more water than usual. Towards curd-like material. the end of the day, especially if the weather is hot or you have been standing a lot, the extra What to do water tends to gather in the lowest parts of l Wearing cotton pants could help. the body. Wear a tampon if you need to. l The treatment for candidiasis is What to do simple. There is rapid relief with l Wear comfortable sandals and shoes, anti fungal pessaries such as nystatin and put your feet up as much as you or clotrimazole vaginal tablets; one can. Try to rest by lying flat in bed for inserted each night as high in the at least one hour during the day. The vagina as possible. While nystatin important thing is to lie with your feet must be used for 15 nights, a normal What to do higher than your heart. To stop a bleed, pinch the nose. The bleeding course of clotrimazole gets completed will soon stop. l If your hands are getting puffy, take over six nights. the rings off before they become Itching stuck. Anaemia As your baby grows, the skin of your l Occasionally some pregnant women Anaemia, or low haemoglobin in the blood, abdomen gets tighter and may itch a lot. develop a clot in the deep veins of the is a common problem in pregnancy. Some There is little you can do about this, though leg. This also may show up as swelling anaemia is natural at this time, since the it is very annoying. in the affected leg. So, if the swelling is blood gets diluted due to the increase in limited to one leg and the calf muscles fluid component. But often the drop is more What to do are hot and tender, consult your severe. If the haemoglobin level falls below l It can help to wear smooth materials doctor. 10 g per dL, it is a cause for concern. This next to the skin, and to wear loose l You should also guard against a calls for active treatment. dresses so that there is no waistband to condition called pre-eclampsia. The This deficiency of haemoglobin is rub against you. other signs found in this condition rather common in Indian mothers, and l Some women find it soothing to are high blood pressure and protein in the most common cause is iron deficiency. apply hand cream or lotion or talcum the urine. If you develop swelling in As pregnancy advances, more and more powder. Bathing also helps. your ankles, feet or fingers, the safest demands are made upon the mother’s reserves course, therefore, is to check with your of iron. During the last 12 weeks, baby’s Varicose veins doctor. requirement of iron becomes very large. The leg veins can swell during pregnancy. Unless the mother has been taking a healthy This happens due to the pressure effect of Swelling and varicose balanced diet with iron supplements and the growing uterus on the pelvic veins. The veins of the vulva has sufficient reserves of iron, the demand good thing about them is that these often The vulva is the area around the vaginal far exceeds the supply. In that case, mother’s settle by themselves after childbirth and opening, including the clitoris and labia. It blood cells do not get sufficient iron and although uncomfortable, they do not usually is normal for the vulva to look purple during she develops anaemia. In many women, the bleed or thrombose. pregnancy. Sometimes the vulva becomes shortfall occurs even before the pregnancy. A 29 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Vigyan Prasar Publications Evolution of Our Understanding of the Planetary Motions J.N. Desai, N.M. Ashok, V.B. Kamble, S.P. Pandya ISBN: 978-81-7480-198-2 pp : 108 • Price: ` 75 This book is a ‘journey in time’ tracing the evolution of the understanding of the motions of the planets from the very beginning. It is hoped that this book would prove useful for students and teachers in colleges and universities, along with poor diet ensures the deficit, which is made general readers. worse by the menstrual loss. Keeping a tab on haemoglobin level is an essential component of good antenatal Founders of Modern Astronomy: From Hipparchus care. You should undergo the haemoglobin to Hawking test many times during pregnancy: at the first Subodh Mahanti antenatal visit, then during the 28th week, ISBN: 978-81-7480-200-2 and finally in the 36th week of gestation. pp : 326 • Price: ` 200 This will allow you to take corrective steps The book presents in chronological order, the lives and works on time. of 28 scientists who have made significant contributions to the Unless the fall in haemoglobin is growth of astronomy. severe, you may not notice the symptoms. But if you feel any abnormal fatigue, a shortness of breath, paleness or swelling in Heretic to Hero: Galileo Galilei-Rebel Astronomer the legs, think that it could be anaemia. T V Venkateswaran ISBN:978-81-7480-204-0 What to do pp : 124 • Price: ` 120 l Take preventive steps. Never neglect This book elucidates the context and the implication of Galieo’s to take the iron pills that the doctor discoveries that led to what historian of sciences call as ‘first has prescribed for you. A variety scientific revolution’. of preparations exist, hence, if one produces side effects, another can be Tools of Astronomy tried. Biman Basu l If anaemia has set in, you still need ISBN:978-81-7480-196-8 not panic. Mild or moderate anaemia pp : 216 • Price: ` 180 responds well to treatment. However, This book attempts to take the reader through the fascinating if the deficiency is severe, then you journey of the development and evolution of astronomical may need iron shots. instruments through the millennia. l If your pregnancy has progressed far, you may need more definite treatment. You may require a large dose iron dextran infusion through the veins. Eyes on the Sky: The Story of Telescopes l In some mothers, folic acid deficiency Biman Nath is a compounding factor. You must ISBN:978-81-7480-196-8 not therefore forget taking the folic pp : 172 • Price: ` 140 acid pills. Be particular about them This book chronicles the history of telescopes in easy language both during pregnancy and in the and with many illustrations. immediate period following your baby’s birth. For further details please write to:

[This column is primarily intended to educate the Director reader about the basics, and the do’s and don’ts Vigyan Prasar in a medical situation, and not as a substitute A-50, Institutional Area , Sector-62. NOIDA (201307) for professional medical advice. Before starting Phone: 91-120-240 4430,35 Fax: 91-120-2404437 any form of treatment, please consult your e-mail : [email protected] physician.] Website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 28 Recent developments in science and technology

Census reveals bounty The tremendous diversity of marine of oceanic life life is demonstrated by nearly 30 million The first global Census of Marine Life, an observations of 120,000 species organised Biman Basu ambitious project to catalogue all life in in the Ocean Biogeographic Information e-mail: [email protected] the sea, has revealed more than 6,000 new System (OBIS) – the global marine life species during its “decade of discovery.” database of the census. As a result of the of hard-to-see marine life forms, including The findings of the census, announced on census, almost 250,000 marine species have microbes, zooplankton and larvae. Till 4 October 2010 in London, brought to an now been identified, but according to the recently, traditional research methods had end the most comprehensive ever survey of researchers there may be at least 750,000 isolated some 20,000 marine microbes, but marine life across the globe, involving some more species waiting to be discovered. new data suggests the true numbers are much 2,700 scientists from more than 80 countries The census tracked migrations of higher, may be closer to a billion. These including India, who spent over 9,000 days species across seas and up and down in the microbes function as key recyclers, turning at sea on more than 540 expeditions, plus water column and revealed omnipresence of atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by the countless days in labs and archives. ocean into carbon that goes back into The scientists combined information the ground. They perform similar collected over centuries with data functions for nitrogen, sulphur, obtained during the decade-long iron, manganese and other elements. census to create a catalogue of species The research was conducted at more in 25 biologically representative than 1,200 sites worldwide, allowing regions – from the Antarctic through scientists to amass 18 million DNA temperate and tropical seas to the sequences of marine microbial life. Arctic. The forbidding ice oceans Constituting 50 to 90 percent of of the Arctic and Antarctic have all ocean biomass, marine microbes are revealed a trove of secrets to Census the tiniest links in the planetary food of Marine Life explorers, who were web. Yet they remained largely hidden especially surprised to find at least from humankind until technological 235 species living in both polar marvels of this millennium such as seas despite an 11,000-kilometre high-throughput DNA sequencing distance in between. The census was revealed the stunning extent of this also able to identify those regions microscopic world. According to that are richest in diversity, which the researchers, microbial cells in include the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans number roughly 1030 and the Australian coastline. However, collectively weigh the equivalent of the Galapagos Islands turned out 240 billion African elephants! This to have less biodiversity than the marine life is responsible for over 95 chilly South Orkney Islands, in the percent of respiration in the oceans, Southern Ocean near Antarctica. thereby helping to maintain the The documents released Bizarre deep-sea animals discovered during the conditions humans need to survive in London include maps, three decade-long Census of Marine Life. on Earth. Among other discoveries landmark books, and a summary made by the research was the location of highlights. The documents present an many species, demonstrating connections of massive “mats” of microbes that carpet unprecedented picture of the diversity, among oceans. Through comparisons of areas of sea floor. distribution, and abundance of all kinds of the present ocean with the bountiful ocean marine life in the Earth’s oceans, ranging life portrayed in old archives the census also Secrets of silk from microbes to whales, from the icy poles documented the changes – both declines production revealed to the warm tropics, from tidal near shores and some recoveries – of marine abundance. Silks spun by spiders and insects such to the deepest dark depths. The cold, dark Scientists participating in the silkworms is incredibly durable, possessing ocean floor was found to be teeming with International Census of Marine Microbes a tensile strength comparable with that of huge communities of different species, as (ICoMM) – a field project of the Census steel. These properties combine to make were the mouths of thermal vents and rifts of Marine Life that inventories microbial silk a highly desirable product for making that seep nutrients into the ocean diversity – uncovered an astonishing array apparel and dress material. But despite being 27 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 New Horizons

atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants. Evapotranspiration returns about 60% of annual precipitation back to the atmosphere, using more than half of the solar energy absorbed by land surfaces. Thus it forms a key component of the global climate system, linking the cycling of water with energy and carbon cycles. Most climate models had suggested that evapotranspiration would increase with global warming because of increased evaporation of water from the ocean and more precipitation overall. Data indeed show that some areas are wetter than they The common silkworm, Bombyx mori. used to be. Recent studies, however, indicate that the soils in large areas of the Southern ubiquitous in luxury textiles for centuries, However, the situation changed as the Hemisphere, including major portions the process of silk formation inside the body researchers diluted the silk solution with of Australia, Africa and South America, of silk worms has remained something of a water, which caused the proteins to unfold have been drying up in the past decade, mystery. Till recently, scientists did not have and start to combine into the ordered thereby significantly reducing the rate of any idea of exactly how silk is produced in filaments of silk. The researchers found that, evapotranspiration. Results of the new study, the insect body. Now a team of researchers as the concentration dropped with dilution published online in the journal Nature (10 led by Cedric Dicko of the University of the proteins began to expand and flow, until October 2010 | doi:10.1038/nature09396), Oxford, UK, has for the first time studied they eventually clumped together to form found that global evapotranspiration did the production of pure silk, extracted in the filament. This was the reverse of what indeed increase from 1982 to the late 1990s small quantities from silk worms. was expected (Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 4389- on average by around 7 millimetres per year One of the practical limitations of 4395 DOI: 10.1039/C0SM00108B). per decade. But in 1998, this significant studying silk production in the past has been According to the researchers, the increase “seems to have ceased.” According the tiny amounts of silk’s precursor proteins finding that water plays such a key role in to the report, in large portions of the world, present at any given time inside the body of giving silk its strength has implications soils are now becoming drier than they used a silk worm. So any scientific programme for the upkeep of silk products. According to be, releasing less water and offsetting some to study silk required the upkeep of large to them, dry-cleaning silk can strip away moisture increases elsewhere. numbers of silk worms followed by the the moisture and weaken the fibres in silk According to the researchers, the careful extraction of silk samples. In view garments, leaving them more likely to study suggests that the late 1990s marked a of these difficulties, scientists have been get damaged. However, a dry-cleaned silk transition period in which there was a decrease using “regenerated” silk proteins, obtained garment can be returned to its original in the global land-evapotranspiration trend. by breaking down silk worm cocoons with condition by steaming it gently. But the data do not indicate whether this is high salt concentrations and then mixing part of a natural climate oscillation or part of samples. So the original silk proteins could World’s soils are a longer-lasting global change. Whatever be not be studied using this technique. becoming drier the case, the consequences of the reduction in Dicko and his team used a series of Evapotranspiration is the process by which soil moisture would be decreasing terrestrial small angle neutron-scattering experiments at water is transferred from the land to the productivity and a resultant reduction in the Institut Laue-Langevin, an international research centre in Grenoble, France, and were able to analyse relatively small samples of the large biological molecules that make up silk. The use of neutrons to study silk was better because they offered advantages over other diffraction experiments, such as X-rays, which can damage the samples under study. The team discovered that proteins are abundant inside the silk worm, with concentrations of up to 400 mg/ml. But despite this large concentration, the proteins showed very little interaction and Map showing the change in global evapotranspiration trend between instead formed a compact helical structure. 1982–1997 and 1998–2008 in millimetres per year per year. Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 26 New Horizons terrestrial carbon sink, which may intensify obtained using earlier, less comprehensive, global warming. data on the solar spectrum. Letters to the editor The Sun is known to have an activity The study was authored by a large Excellent article on Periodic cycle during which the number dark spots group of international scientists, with Table of elements lead author Martin Jung from the Max on its surface called sunspots increases and Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in decreases in a cyclic manner over a period The article on Dmitri Ivanovich Germany, and researchers from the Institute of 11 years. It is also well established that as Mendeleev (June 2010) was marvellous. for Atmospheric and Climate Science in the Sun’s activity wanes; that is, the number After school days, I went through this Switzerland, Princeton University, the of sunspots decreases, the overall amount of type of article for the first time. It was National Center for Atmospheric Research radiation reaching the Earth also decreases. very informative too. Kudos for Dr in Colorado, and Harvard University in On the other hand, during high activity, Subodh Mahanti for giving us such a USA, and other groups and agencies. despite the presence of more sunspots on good article. The article on volcanoes the solar surface, the total solar radiation was also excellent. New finding on Sun’s reaching Earth increases due to more bright Pramod Pandey effect on Earth’s climate networks and solar surface features known as Editorial Section, Dainik Jagran The Sun’s activity has recently affected ‘faculae’. As a result the Earth receives more PO- Ramna, Muzaffarpur (Bihar) the Earth’s atmosphere and climate in solar radiation when the Sun is more active. Pin - 842002 unexpected ways, according to a new study The Nature study looked at the Sun’s activity Email - [email protected] published in the journal Nature (9 October over the period 2004-2007, when it was in [email protected] 2010). The study, conducted by researchers a declining part of its 11-year activity cycle from Imperial College London, UK, and the and found just the opposite happening. ***** University of Colorado, USA, shows that Although the Sun’s activity declined over a decline in the Sun’s activity is not always this period, it may have actually caused Good biographies of scientists linked to a cooler Earth. The researchers the Earth to become warmer. Contrary to Dream 2047 is the best magazine among used satellite data and computer modelling expectations, the amount of energy reaching all Indian magazines. I like it very much to analyse how the spectrum of radiation the Earth at visible wavelengths increased because it gives us very good knowledge rather than decreased as the Sun’s activity and the amount of energy from the Sun about scientists. has been changing since 2004. Instruments declined, causing this warming effect. on NASA’s Solar Radiation and Climate The data, collected by the SORCE satellite Mukund Kumar Experiment (SORCE) satellite have been between 2004 and 2007, revealed that the R.A.M. School (Piprahi), measuring the Sun’s energy output at many intensity of the ultraviolet light in the Sun’s District – Sheohar, different wavelengths. The researchers rays fell by six times more than predicted Bihar – 843 334 fed the data from SORCE into an existing over that period, while the amount of visible computer model of the Earth’s atmosphere light exceeded expectations. ***** and compared their results with the results Following this surprising finding, Unsung at home the researchers believe it is possible that the inverse It was indeed a pleasure to go through is also true and that in the interview with Dr. S. Krishnaswamy periods when the Sun’s who has a multi-faculty personality who activity increases, it may works with independence and innovation cool, rather than warm, the on the jobs he undertakes (September Earth. However, according 2010). I noted with some remorse that to Joanna Haigh of Imperial the Government of India did not acquire College London, the lead his historic work 'Indus Valley to Indira author of the study, these Gandhi'. He had to sell its rights to the results only show us a American Company, Warner Brothers! snapshot of the Sun’s activity, Foreigners are acquiring our national and its behaviour over the treasures while we retain copies of three years of the study could national history that were written with be an anomaly. If further coloured eyes to please the rulers of the studies find the same pattern day in our pious and holy land. over a longer period of time, Narendra Nath, this could suggest that we Formerly Professor and Head, may have overestimated Physics Department, the Sun’s role in warming Kurukshetra University Bright spots on the Sun known as faculae the planet, rather than appear during high solar activity. underestimating it. n ***** 25 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 Sky map for December 2010

Moon-First Quarter New Moon North

05 December 13 December West East

Full Moon Moon-Last Quarter

South 21 December 28 December

The sky map is prepared for viewers in Nagpur (21.090 N, 79.090 E). It includes constellations and bright stars. For viewers south of Nagpur, constellations of the southern sky will appear higher up in the sky , and those of the northern sky will appear nearer the northen horizon. Similarly, for viewer north of Nagpur, constellations of northern sky will appear higher up in the sky, and those of the southern sky will appear nearer the southern horizon. The map can be used at 10 PM on 1 December, at 9 PM on 15 December and at 8 PM on 30 December.

Tips to use sky map Visibility of planets** (IST) Sky event Date IST Event (1) Choose a place away from Rising Setting In the Zodiac 01 01:39 Moon at perigee city lights/street lights. Mercury 09:04 16:35 Sagittarius- Capricorns 01 22:29 Mercury elongation: 21.5° E (2) Hold the sky-map overhead Venus 04:06 14:03 Virgo-Libra 13 15:04 Moon at apogee with North in the direction Mars 09:23 16:34 Sagittarius 14 17:32 Geminid shower of Polaris. Jupiter 14:18 02:13 Aquarius- Pisces 20 07:45 Mercury at inferior conj. (3) Use a pencil torch for Saturn 12:07 00:04 Virgo 21 14:48 Total Lunar Eclipse reading the sky map. Uranus* 12:29 00:17 Pisces 22 06:08 Northern winter solstice 25 18:54 Moon at perigee (4) Try to identify constellation Neptune* 11:38 21:17 Capricorns as shown in the map one by **Time shown is subject to vary (± 1 hr) from place to place. Arvind C. Ranade *Not naked eye object one. E-mail : [email protected] Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 24 Your Opinion Your opinion

Dream 2047 has been inviting your opinion on a specific topic every month. The reader sending the best comments will receive a popular science book published by VP. Selected comments received will also be published in Dream 2047. The comments should be limited to 400 words. This month’s topic: “In spite of stringent anti-pollution laws and crores of rupees spent on pollution control programmes, why do our rivers and air remain highly polluted?” Response should contain full name; postal address with pincode and email ID, if any; and should be accompanied by a recent passport size photograph. Response may be sent by email ([email protected]) or by post to the address given below. If sent by post, “Response: Dream 2047 December 2010” should be clearly written on the envolope. Vigyan Prasar A-50, Institutional Area, Sector-62, Noida 201 307 (U.P.) Phone: 91-120-240 4430/35 Fax: 91-120-240 4437 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vigyanprasar.gov.in

Winners of “Your Opinion” contest for September 2010 Topic: “Is it worthwhile to plan for human settlements in space, to escape disasters on Earth in future?”

Dr. Busnur Rachotappa Manjunatha Jagriti Kiran Sharma Department of Marine Geology C/o Manohar Lal Sharma Mangalore University B-I MCH-472, Bahadarpur, Mangalagangothri 574 199 Hoshiarpur – 146 001. Karnataka Punjab Email: [email protected] It is not worthwhile to plan for settlements in The mother Earth is the only planet, particularly in our solar space because of a few reasons: system, which is ideal for the existence of life and evolution. Natural 1. No nation is that much economically strong to support huge disasters such as earthquake, volcanic eruptions, landslide, cyclones, expenses of settlement, supplies and other facilities. avalanches, tsunami, etc., do kill people and cause damage to property 2. Even if any nation supports it then who takes the guarantee that and environment. More than this type of catastrophic disaster is the there would not be any disaster in the space? mass extinction of life, which has happened several times in the past. So rather than going to space, it would better to stay on Earth. However, it may not be worthwhile to plan for human settlements Further, on Earth new advanced materials are available that can in space to escape from natural disasters or mass extinction of life on be used to construct shelters to protect us in case of a disaster such as Earth in the future. There are several limitations of establishing a flood or earthquake. human settlement either in space or on the Moon or other planets. In other words, we can say that settlement on Earth with improved Our nearest satellite Moon and planet Mars are too far away from in materials and construction techniques is better and safer than to settle in space. terms of transport/voyage. Moreover, there is no atmosphere including ***** ozone layer to protect against ultraviolet rays from the Sun. Nevertheless, space colonies may be created for rich people for Harekrushna Bhuyan excursion or recreation and conducting experiments to preserve human Science teacher, Pandado High School, Pandado, beings for the next biological world assuming that mass extinction of Dist: Keonjhar, Orissa-758083 human beings is going to occur soon. E-mail: [email protected] Instead for planning human settlement in the space, it may be Human society cannot live for long without natural flora worthwhile to identify some safe regions on Earth, geologically known and fauna. Without green plants, oxygen cannot be produced for as ‘shield areas’. These regions are generally 2.0-3.5 billion years old breathing. Humans have also become accustomed to the gravitational and are relatively plain land where threat from catastrophic geological pull and atmospheric pressure on Earth. The same is not true of space, processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods, etc., where conditions will hamper movement. Further, growing food in the are generally minimal. Shield areas are found on all continents, for vacuum of space would be a big problem. There may not be adequate example, in Southern India, Africa, North America, South America, water for use in day-to-day life as well as for cultivating crops. So it Australia, etc. would not be worthwhile to plan for human settlement in space to escape disasters on Earth in future. ***** *****

23 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 VP News India and World Science: Are we there?

Mr Thejao Kevin Sekhose of Nagaland makes his Er Anuj Sinha being honoured by Dr G Padmanabham, presentation in his traditional dress. Chairman, Governing Body, NCSM Visveswarya Industrial and Technological state finalists made brilliant presentations in the nature of a race. There are disciplines Museum, Bangalore hosted the 29th that were appreciated by the judges. and areas where our research work is ahead National Science Seminar on 8 October Er Anuj Sinha, Hon’y Director, and in others we are a close second with 2010. Organised by the National Council Vigyan Prasar was part of panel of judges the developed world. Participating in such of Science Museums, the seminar was and later interacted with the participants. debates is an important step and reflects the inaugurated by Prof CNR Rao, Hon’y The house concluded that developments in aspiration of our brilliant youth to contribute President, JNCASR, Bangalore. Thirty-five science and technology are not measurable to the development process.

SAARC workshop on biodiversity conservation

Delegates of SAARC workshop Vigyan Prasar's posters on Planet Earth were displayed during the SAARC workshop

Vigyan Prasar participated in a SAARC Development, Trivandrum in the presence of Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka; and Dr workshop on Biodiversity Conservation Prof. D. P. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Banaras Rezaul Sikdar, DFO, Wildlife Management organised by Banaras Hindu University, Hindu University (BHU). and Nature Conservation Division, Dhaka, Varanasi on 21 – 22 September, 2010. Vigyan Prasar’s biodiversity related Bangladesh showed keen interest in these Delegates from Sri Lanka, Nepal, books and set of posters were exhibited publications. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India participated during the seminar. Dr B. Raza Bhatti, Mr. Nimish Kapoor, Scientist, VP in the workshop. Director, Centre for Biodiversity and participated in the workshop as resource The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Conservation, Shah Abdul Latif University, person and delivered a lecture on “Developing P. Pushpangadan, Director General, Amity Khairpur (Mirs), Pakistan; Dr Gamini resource material for mass awareness Institute for Herbal and Biotech Products Gamage, Director, Biodiversity Secretariat, programmes on biodiversity conservation”.

Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3 22 Science Communication and Hindi: A seminar

s part of the Hindi Pakhwara, Vigyan science is embedded in our day-to-day Dr. Arvind C. Ranade, Scientist ‘D’, said APrasar organised a seminar on ‘Science thought process. Dr. Mahanti said that we astronomy is directly attached with our life. Communication and Hindi’ at its Noida should not be terrified by purely scientific For example, why do we see Dhakshinayan office on 28 September 2010. The scientists issues like the experiments being conducted and Uttarayan? Why does the Moon rise of the institute presented their ideas at this at the Large Hadron Collider. daily with a delay of 50 minutes? In addition seminar. In the technical session Shri B. K. to these, he also spoke about the ancient Er Anuj Sinha, Director, described the Tyagi, Scientist ‘D’, delivered a lecture on mythologies based on planets and the Moon science communication work being done by ‘Redefining the conceptual framework of and advised that these celestial bodies must not VP scientists as a challenging job. He said S & T communication in the context of be looked at in the perspective of anybody’s the potential and talent of our scientists as globalisation’. He stressed the importance destiny. Dr. Ranade emphasised that science well as the achievements of the institute of implementing necessary strategies to communication in regional languages

Dr Mahanti giving a keynote address during Er Anuj Sinha delivering his A view of the participants seminar 'Hindi aur vigyan sanchar' inaugural address are of very high standard. Referring to could provide easily understandable the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ Hindi Pakhwara 2010 justifications of the various observed declared by the United Nations in 1999, Hindi Pakhwara programme was organized in astronomical phenomena. Er Sinha said we have to achieve these Shri Kapil Tripathi, Scientist goals by the year 2015. To do that, science Vigyan Prasar office from 14 to 28 September ‘D’, spoke on ‘Uses of science dissemination work at VP will have to 2010. During this event the staff members communication’. He said that decision be focussed on the eight areas identified participated in different Hindi competitions making capability in the common by the UN, namely poverty eradication, including extempore, typing and assay on people may be developed through global elementary education, gender the topic ‘Karyalaya men Hindi ke Prayog ko scientific attitude, which may help them equity, infant mortality, improvement kaise bhadaya jaye’. All of these competitions to be involved in the mainstream of in mother health, control over HIV development. and AIDS, sustainable development. were organized for Hindi speaking and non Speaking on ‘Media and science In this perspective, Vigyan Prasar is Hindi speaking staff members seperately. The communication’ Shri Nimish Kapoor, contributing in the life-skill based winners of the competitions were rewarded Scientist ‘C’, advocated making science content development for adolescents, with cash prizes by the Director, Vigyan Prasar communication interesting. He said under a project initiated by UNFPA. on 28 September 2010. During the concluding science communication should be done While delivering the keynote ceremony of this pakhwara, a seminar on ‘Science in such a manner that it is comprehensible address, Dr. Subodh Mahanti, Scientist to each and every reader, listener, and ‘F’ and academic head of Vigyan Communication and Hindi’ was organized. viewer. Prasar, spoke about science journalism, In the closing session Er Anuj audio-visual programmes based on disseminate science among the masses in our Sinha urged everyone to work more in Hindi. science, popular science writing, and other highly diversified country. He said science communication should be experimental presentations in the field of Shri Rintu Nath, Scientist ‘E’, done in Hindi at the national level. At the science communication. He said science described the discovery and history of ‘Zero’ end of the symposium, Dr. Subodh Mahanti communication can be used as a powerful in his presentation titled ‘Significance of thanked all speakers and participants. The tool for the development of rational outlook Zero’. He recalled the discovery of zero programme was anchored by Shri Nimish in the society It is important to arouse in India and described how the zero is so Kapoor. the curiosity and this is possible through significant. effective science communication. In fact, Speaking on ‘Applied astronomy’ (Translation: M. M. Gore) n 21 Dream 2047, December 2010, Vol. 13 No. 3