Science Horizon

Volume 5 Issue 7 July, 2020

President, Odisha Bigyan Academy Editorial Board Prof. Pramod Chandra Mishra Prof. Niranjan Barik

Editor Prof. Ramesh Chandra Parida Er. Mayadhar Swain Dr. Choudhury Satyabrata Nanda Managing Editor Dr. Rajballav Mohanty Er. Bhagat Charan Mohanty Secretary, Odisha Bigyan Academy Dr. Nilambar Biswal

CONTENTS Subject Author Page 1. Editorial : Hubble at 30 Er. Mayadhar Swain 2 2. The Mysterious Concept of mass - I Dr. Bijay Kumar Parida 4 3. Disinfectants Dr. Manas Ranjan Senapati 9 4. Tricks of Trigonometry Birendra Kumar Acharya 11 5. Policy Issues on Global Warming and Climate Change Dr. Bijay Ketan Patnaik 13 6. Mahendragiri- The Lesser Known Natural Heritage Dr. Sundara Narayana Patro 18 Site on Eastern Ghats 7. Coronavirus and Herd Immunity Basanta Kumar Choudhury 23 8. Viruses Exist in a Gray Area between Chemistry Dr. Dwijesh Kumar Panda 26 and Life 9. Locust Menace Dr. Taranisen Panda 28 Dr. Raj Ballav Mohanty 10. Science of Yoga Dr. Choudhury Satyabrata Nanda34 11. Hepatitis B: A Serious Killer Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty 38 12. Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn- Part II B. Sahoo 41 (The Discovery of Nuclear Fission) H.C. Rai Dr. P.K. Pujapanda 13. Quiz: Covid 19 Birat Raja Padhan 46 14. Recent News on Science & Technology 47 Cover Design : Kalakar Sahoo JULY, 2020

// EDITORIAL // HUBBLE AT 30

Since the launch of the first satellite HST was launched on 24 April, 1990 Sputnik 1 to the space in 1957, many countries along with Space Shuttle Discovery mission have sent a number of satellites and spacecrafts STS-31 and released to Earth’s orbit next day. to the space. Although they are serving a lot of HST was the first spacecraft designed to be purposes for the mankind, their initial and maintained, upgraded and repaired by astronauts main aim was to explore the vast worlds outside while still in space. Over the years, there had our Earth and acquire knowledge about the been five service missions all staged from the Universe. The one spacecraft which has served Space Shuttle. The astronauts had to go outside us marvellously in this direction is Hubble the shuttle, do space walk and repair or modify Space Telescope (HST). It is a rotating telescope the HST before coming back to their vehicle. in the Earth’s orbit. It is located at a height of During service missions, astronauts replaced 547 km above Earth’s surface and takes 97 solar arrays, four gyroscopes, two minutes to rotate once around the Earth. magnetometers and electrical components and The idea of putting a telescope in space they also upgraded the onboard computers. was first suggested by Hermann Oberth, a Initially HST had five scientific instruments German rocket scientist way back in 1923. such as Wide Field and Planetary Camera The idea was to avoid the distortion faced by (WFPC), Goddard High Resolution the terrestrial telescopes from Earth’s Spectrograph (GHRS), High Speed atmosphere. After the space age started with Photometer (HSP), Faint Object Camera the launching of satellites in 1950s, NASA (FOC) and Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS). considered the proposal of launching telescopes In 2009, Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and to the Earth’s orbit. HST is one of them. Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) were HST has been named after a great installed and a Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM) astronomer of USA, Edwin Powell Hubble was put in. (1889-1953) who had discovered the expansion HST is known as people’s telescope for of the Universe while working at Mount Wilson the pioneering science and space investigation Observatory. He observed that the distant galaxies carried out by it, which enhanced our are moving away from us and the velocity of knowledge on cosmology. During the last three such galaxies was proportional to their distance decades, it has given us marvellous pictures of from the Earth. This was the first evidence of astronomical bodies and events. In 1994 when the expansion of the Universe. He also calculated comet Shoemaker Levy 9 collided with Jupiter, relationship of galaxies’ velocities and their it sent us the images of the comet before and distance from us, which is now known as ‘Hubble after the impact. It showed how the comet was Constant’. Of course one of HST’s primary broken into many pieces due to gravitation of missions was to refine the Hubble Constant. Jupiter before the impact. It has found jets of

2 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 water vapour erupting on the surface of is assumed to make up about 75 percent of the Jupiter’s moon, Europa and from its image it entire known Universe. is now assumed that there is a 100 km – deep HST has taken deep images of evolution subsurface ocean beneath the 150 km ice of over 250,000 galaxies, exploring the crust of Ganymede, the largest moon of Jupiter. evolution of early Universe from less than a It took pictures of collision of two asteroids billion years after the Big Bang. In 2016, it and disintegration of another asteroid. discovered the oldest and the farthest known HST discovered Pluto’s moon Styx, galaxy, GN-z11, which is 32 billion light years Hydra and Nix and in 2015 located five new away. It has sent us images of the formation of Kuiper belt objects when it was used to find a new stars thereby enhancing our knowledge of target for the New Horizons mission. In 2001, planetary formation. it detected the elements present in the HST has detected a supernova in a distant atmosphere of the exoplanet HD 209458b and galaxy and it has also caught images of merger in 2008 it took the first ever visual image of of galaxies. It has taken marvellous pictures an exoplanet Formalhaut b. It was the first of nebulae, the most famous being one of the telescope to determine the first colour of an birthing grounds of the Eagle Nebula, M16. exoplanet. It also discovered water vapour in The picture, taken in 1995, is better known as the atmosphere above exoplanet K2 – 18b for the Pillars of Creation (shown on the back the first time. cover of the magazine) inside which new stars From the data of HST, the size and mass are beginning to form. of our Milky Way Galaxy, and the rate of In 2019, HST found a gamma ray burst expansion of the Universe were calculated. (GRB) coming from dense environment of a From this data, the age of the Universe is very bright galaxy around 5 billion light years calculated to be 13.7 billion years. From its away. GRBs are the most powerful explosions data in 1998, astronomers could know that the in the Universe, but their origins are not light coming from the most distant exploding known yet. stars was fainter and more stretched (red- No other space mission has enlightened shifted) than predicted. It meant that they were us as HST. Many of its images have been further away than calculated earlier. This was cultural icons appearing not only in science against idea that the expansion of the Universe books and magazines, but also in albums and was slowing down due to gravity. From its data, even in coffee mugs. For the last thirty years, it was clear that the Universe is accelerating it has been working productively and it is more than was expected earlier. expected that it would work well up to 2040. From this astronomers came to the HST will soon be joined by the James Webb conclusion that to overcome the gravity, Space Telescope and working in conjunction something must be giving an opposite and with each other they will continue to survey repulsive force as the Universe expands and the cosmos. matter is spread out. This mysterious „ ‘something’ is dubbed as ‘dark energy’ which Er. Mayadhar Swain Editor Science Horizon 3 JULY, 2020 THE MYSTERIOUSCONCEPT OF MASS – I

Dr. Bijay Kumar Parida Introduction particle with zero mass (such as photon) to When a student was asked, “What is your our universe with a mass of the order of 52 mass?” the student fumbled with the answer. 3×10 kg. But when asked, “What is your weight?” prompt Students of science know that mass is a came the answer: “30 kg”. This dialogue fundamental concept from which that of weight indicates two things which are found not just is derived. Apart from this the concept of with young learners but with adults as well. mass has many aspects some of which are not First: our concept of mass is not clear. well understood even today. This makes mass Second: we wrongly use kg as the unit of a mysterious concept of science. In this article weight. Students in secondary classes know we shall try to touch upon the various aspects that kg or kilogram is the SI unit of mass of mass without going into the technical whereas that of weight is N or, newton or, kg details. For the benefit of students, we shall m s-2. give a few simple numerical examples and From everyday handling of objects, we exercises. In our presentation we shall include happen to be more familiar with the concept some well-known and some less-known facts of heaviness (a measure of weight) than the about mass. As it is not possible to cover all concept of mass. This is because it is easier to of them in a few pages, we propose to discuss feel the weight of objects through the efforts them in several parts of an article, beginning we need to make to lift or move them. Even in with Part – I. Here we discuss what is meant ancient times people were aware of the concept by mass, new definition of its unit, and its of weight and the fact that the total weight of different forms in science. a number of copies of the same object was Mass and the Quantity of Matter proportional to the number. From this came ‘Mass’ is an English word, which the concept of balance using which weights of basically means ‘aggregate’ or ‘group’, such as two objects could be compared. Then the an aggregate of matter or a group of people. In concept of mass came into science though it elementary science, mass is popularly defined is difficult to point out exactly when. In as “a measure of the quantity of matter in a course of time mass became a more important body” and matter in turn as “something that and more widely used physical characteristic occupies space and has mass”. The underlined of an object than its weight. Mass is known to terms here make this a kind of hazy circular have a wide range of values, from fundamental

4 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 thinking. A way of getting around this tangle is The New Definition of Mass Unit to say that mass of a body is the quantity of Since the inception of the SI system of matter in it, which can be measured by a units on 20 May 1875, the SI unit of mass (kg) balance and expressed in the CGS unit of g was accorded the status of a fundamental or (gram) or SI unit of kg (kilogram). Well, base unit.Then since 1889, one kg was there are other ways of denoting the quantity recognized as the mass of a carefully preserved or amount of matter in a body. Suppose you platinum-iridium cylinder called the have 100 mL (milliliter) of water of mass 100 International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK). g in a bottle. Here 100 mL is the volume of the However, with effect from 20 May 2019 all water, another way of specifying the amount the seven base SI units have been redefined in of water besides its mass as 100 g. In one terms of seven fundamental constants of more way we may say that the bottle has 5.5 nature.These are: the speed of light in vacuum mol (mole) of water. Note that mole is one of (c = 299 792 458 m/s), Planck constant (h = the fundamental units of the SI system, which 6.626 070 15 × 10-34 J s), the cesium frequency specifies the “amount of matter” in a body in ( 'Q = 9 192 631 770 Hz), the elementary terms of the number of its constituent parts Cs charge (value of the charge on electron or such as molecules or atoms. proton, e = 1.602 176 634 × 10-19 C), the Verify that the amount of water in the bottle Boltzmann constant (k = 1.380 649 × 10-23 J in the above example is 5.5 mole. For this you -1 may use the idea of mole as given in Class IX K ), the Avogadro constant (NA = 6.022 140 Science text book. Accordingly, mole is the 76 × 1023 mol-1), and the luminous efficacy of molecular weight of a substance expressed in monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × g and 1 mole of any substance contains the 1012 Hz, (K = 683lm W-1). Here lm stands for Avogadro number (6.02×1023) of molecules, cd which is a fixed number. lumen, the SI derived unit of luminous flux (the total amount of visible light emitted by a Mass is a concept common to all source per unit time) and W stands for watt, branches of science. In the SI system kg is the SI unit of power. The values of the taken as the symbol of the mass unit kilogram, fundamental constants as shown above are and considered as a fundamental unit. To give taken as exact values. kilogram a concrete meaning it is traditionally Accordingly, the kilogram (kg), the SI unit equated to the mass of an artificial device of mass, is now defined by taking the fixed designed by experts of weights and measures. numerical value of the Planck constant h to be Recently, in order to get rid of the arbitrariness 6.626 070 15 × 10-34 J s or kg m2s-1. Here the and other problems associated with the artificial metre (m) and the second (s) are defined in device a new definition of kilogram has been terms of the constants c and 'Q . On adopted. Let us take a look at it now. Cs substitution of the prescribed values of the physical constants as above, we get;

Science Horizon 5 JULY, 2020

2 these phenomena what is considered is ‘what 299 792 458 1 kg mass does’ rather than ‘what mass is’. We shall 6.626 070 15 x 1034 9 192 631 770 specifically discuss here how mass shows h ''QQh itself in gravitation and motion. Cs 1.475x1040 Cs (1) cc22 ..… A Historical Aside Verify Eq. (1) explicitly Historically, the systematic study of the One of the benefits of the redefinition is motion of celestial bodies seems to have that the mass unit would no longer need the started before the motion of bodies on the artificial device of IPK. However, in the new earth. The former is known as gravitation or scheme kg loses the status of a base unit. It simply gravity and the latter as kinetics. Around now becomes a derived SI unit to be expressed 1638 Galileo found that the force of gravity in terms of the fundamental constants h, c, and depends only on the mass of a body and not on

'Q Cs as shown in Eq. (1). According to experts any other physical properties, and also that the value of kg used for common purposes is freely falling bodies have a constant not going to change in the process of acceleration independent of their weight or redefinition. However, highly sophisticated structure. In 1687, Newton proposed his and precision measurements of mass may be universal inverse square law of gravity and his affected. It is interesting to note that the new laws of motion in his Phiolosophiae Naturalis scheme connects the mass unit kg to quantum Principia Mathematica (Mathematical mechanics through the Planck constant h for Principles of Natural Philosophy). These laws the first time. Further, precision measurement of Newton for the first time explained motions of mass is to be done now in terms of the of bodies on the earth and in the heavens in a Planck constant using a device called the Kibble unified way. balance that incorporates quantum mechanical Let us start with the concept of mass in principles. The balance was originally designed gravitation. by Bryan Kibble in 1974 and was used to Mass and Gravitation realize ampere, the SI unit of current and also You know that weight of a body is the to measure the Planck constant. force experienced by the body under gravity. The definitions (old and new) of the On the surface of the earth, the weight of a mass unit only tell us the way of expressing body is proportional to the acceleration mass values without giving a clue about what due to gravity .This acceleration is due to the mass is or what it does. gravitational pull of the earth on the body. The There are ways of perceiving the concept constant of proportionality is called the of mass in science, using the phenomena of gravitational mass mg of the body. More motion and gravitation for example, without specifically, it is called the passive explicit reference to the amount of matter. In gravitational mass of the body as the

6 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 body experiences the gravitational force due Here is the net force applied on the to or exerted by the earth. Then, the mass of body and is its resulting acceleration. the earth, which exerts the gravitational force Specifically, the symbol mi in this equation is on the body, is an example of active called the inertial mass of the body. This is gravitational mass .The situation may be the constant of proportionality between the generalized on the basis of Newton’s law of applied force and the resulting acceleration as gravitation according to which any two bodies per the second law. The name ‘inertial mass’ is with non-zero masses and a non-zero separation because the applied force needs to overcome exert attractive forces of equal amount on the inertia of the body so that it may accelerate. each other. Thus, every non-zero-mass object In the special case, when no net force acts on acts as a source of gravitation (active role in a body the body does not accelerate by Eq. (2), gravitation) and also experiences attraction justifying the first law. (passive role in gravitation) due to the other One Body – One Mass body, at the same time.The consequence is As discussed above, a given body can that every object simultaneously exhibits two have three types of mass: inertial mass (mi), kinds of mass, the active gravitational mass active gravitational mass ( ma ), and passive and the passive gravitational mass. g gravitational mass ( mp ). If they retain their Mass and Inertia g As defined in secondary level science identities the resulting complexity in science text books, inertia of a body is its ‘resistance’ could be enormous. We are indeed fortunate or ‘unwillingness’ to change its state of motion, that there is no distinction between these three including rest. The effort made for the change kinds of mass of a body, i.e. a given body has only needs to be enough to overcome the inertia. a single mass that takes part in motion and Mass of a body is considered as a measure of gravitation. This is thanks to painstaking and its inertia. More the mass, more is the inertia repeated measurements by scientists over or more sluggish is the body. Recall that hundreds of years. Thus, with a great relief we Newton’s first law of motion is called the law now write; pa of inertia. Its statement: “a body continues in mmmmgg i … (3) its state of rest or of uniform motion until it where m is this unique mass of the body, a is acted upon by a net external force” does not physical quantity specific to the body. This involve mass directly. The first part of the came to be renamed ‘rest mass’ of the body, above statement describes inertia and the thanks to Einstein, in the early part of the second part says how inertia can be overcome. twentieth century, as we shall see later. Newton’s second law uses mass explicitly in When we examine Newton’s law of the well-known mathematical statement: gravitation between two bodies, we realize GG Fma i … (2) that each of the two may act as the source of

Science Horizon 7 JULY, 2020 gravitation exerting force on the other. This also feel that both the phenomena of motion justifies the equality between the active and and gravitation pertain to an interplay of force passive gravitational masses [the first two on and acceleration of a body, and therefore it is equality signs in Eq. (3) leading to the common the same mass of the body that should appear in mass m]. If it were not so, it would amount to both cases. The only difference is that in the each body exhibiting two distinct mass values latter the nature of force is specified unlike in in the same natural phenomenon of gravitation the former. and at the same time, an exceedingly difficult There is also a strong equivalence situation to handle. principle according to which the laws of The theoretical justification for equality gravitation are independent of the velocity and of inertial and gravitational masses [the last location in spacetime of the laboratory in which equality sign in Eq. (3)] is enshrined in what is measurements take place. This requires the called the weak equivalence principle or the gravitational constant (G) to be the same Galilean equivalence principle. Galileo everywhere in the universe, thereby justifying established through experiments in the 17th the universal nature of the gravitational constant century that the acceleration of a test mass due as speculated by Newton. You may further note to gravitation (free fall in gravitational field) is that Newton described how gravitation acts where independent of the amount of the test mass. In as Einstein found a cause (why) of gravitation. 1907 Einstein enunciated the (weak) equivalence Summary principle as an assumption: “we … assume the To sum up, here we got a glimpse of the complete physical equivalence of a gravitational many-faceted concept of mass such as its field and a corresponding acceleration of the perception as quantity of matter, revision of its reference system.” It brought out an explicit base SI unit, its role in giving a body its inertia connection between gravitation and motion. and its double role in the phenomenon of The equivalence principle became an essential gravitation. Though there is a theoretical ingredient of Einstein’s theory of general possibility of having three kinds of mass for a relativity,which deals with the cause of body, it is a good fortune that they are nothing gravitation. Considered to be an enormously but a single entity.Thus, a given body has a unique difficult theory, its predictions have been mass. This simplifies the practice of science to verified through experiments and observations. a great extent. Besides, a large number of experiments have To continue the story, some other aspects th been conducted since the 6 century to find the of the concept of mass we shall discuss difference between the inertial and gravitational subsequently. masses of a body. The ultimate conclusion is „ that it is justified to equate the inertial and Plot No. 4586 (Bitaana), Vidya Lane, Gadakana, gravitational masses of a body and assign the Bhubaneswar – 751017 Email: [email protected] body a unique mass. Superficially one may WhatsApp No. +91 9437308424 8 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 DISINFECTANTS

Dr. Manas Ranjan Senapati Disinfectants are chemical agents that compose the cell wall and react with designed to inactivate or destroy LQWUDFHOOXODUHQ]\PHVDQGSURWHLQV PDNLQJ microorganisms on inert surfaces. them non functional. Microorganisms then Disinfection does not necessarily kill all either die or are no longer able to multiply. microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) kills germs, spores; it is less effective than sterilization, including most viruses and bacteria. As a which is an extreme physical or chemical household cleaner, it’s also an effective process that kills all types of life. Some GLVLQIHFWDQWWKDWZLOONLOOYLUXVHVEDFWHULDDQG commonly used disinfectants are discussed. other germs, according to the Center for ChlorineNLOOV SDWKRJHQV VXFK DV Disease Control and Prevention bacteria and viruses by breaking the chemical &'& +\GURJHQ SHUR[LGH ZRUNV DV D bonds in their molecules. Disinfectants that disinfectant by destroying essential are used for this purpose consist components of germ cells, and can deactivate RIFKORULQHFRPSRXQGVZKLFKFDQH[FKDQJH a wide range of microorganisms, including atoms with other compounds, such as enzymes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. According in bacteria and other cells. One of the first to the CDC, a concentration of 3% hydrogen known uses of chlorine for disinfection was in peroxide can inactivate rhinovirus - the the form of hypochlorite known as chloride of respiratory virus that primarily causes the lime. Snow used it in 1850 after an outbreak of common cold - within eight minutes. When it cholera. Liquid bleach – sodium hypochlorite – comes to reducing the germs in your home came into widespread use in the 1930s and DQGFRQWDLQLQJ WKH VSUHDG RI FRURQD YLUXV today it is the most widely used of all the hydrogen peroxide is a good option to use on chlorinated bleaches. Dry calcium inanimate surfaces like metal, glass, and hypochlorite, also known as bleaching powder, plastics. Hydrogen peroxide is safe to use finds use as disinfectant for domestic purposes. alone, but shouldn’t be mixed with other As a strong oxidizing agent, chlorine kills via household cleaning agents, like vinegar or the oxidation of organic molecules. Chlorine bleach. The potency of hydrogen peroxide is and the hydrolysis product hypochlorous reduced when it is exposed to light; hence it DFLGDUH QRW FKDUJHG DQG WKHUHIRUH HDVLO\ should be stored in dark bottle. penetrate the negatively charged surface of Ozone (O3) is gaseous oxygen with an pathogens. It is able to disintegrate the lipids extra oxygen atom loosely bound to the oxygen

Science Horizon 9 JULY, 2020 molecule. Ozone is a strong oxidising community swimming pools as a foot compound which rapidly oxidises organic disinfectant before entering the pool. Typically, materials, iron, manganese and other a large shallow basin of KMnO4 ZDWHU substances when it is added to drinking water. solution is kept near the pool ladder. In addition, it is an extremely effective Participants are required to step in the basin disinfectant against bacteria and viruses. and then go into the pool. Additionally, it is 2]RQHKDV H[FLWLQJ SRWHQWLDO DV widely used to disinfect community water DVWHULOL]LQJDJHQW LQ WKH ZRUOG RI ORZ ponds and wells in tropical countries, as well temperature sterilization. After all, it has been as to disinfect the mouth before pulling out used for many years to disinfect drinking water, teeth. Potassium permanganate is widely used food, and air. Ozone kills bacteria about 3 200 LQFKHPLFDO LQGXVWU\DQGODERUDWRULHVDV D times faster than chlorine. Ozone is helpful VWURQJR[LGL]LQJ DJHQWDQG DOVRDV D being present in stratosphere whereas its PHGLFDWLRQIRUGHUPDWLWLV IRU FOHDQLQJ presence in troposphere is harmful. Ozone wounds, and general disinfection. It is on surrounds our earth and which is talked about WKH:RUOG +HDOWK 2UJDQL]DWLRQ¶V OLVW RI as often as a protective UV filter against the Essential Medicines, the safest and most strong rays of the sun. Without this, the effective medicines needed in a health system. environment in which we live would be Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation threatened! Ozone is effective and safe (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses DWFRQFHQWUDWLRQVWRSSPLQZDWHU SDUWV short-wavelength XOWUDYLROHW (ultraviolet C or per million or mg/L). Dump tanks can be UVC) light to kill or inactivate treated at 0.75 ppm and contact times can vary mLFURRUJDQLVPVE\ GHVWUR\LQJ QXFOHLF from 1 to 10 min. A general rule is to have a DFLGVDQGGLVUXSWLQJWKHLU'1$OHDYLQJWKHP dump tank turnover of 20 minutes and have unable to perform vital cellular WKHZDWHUWUHDWHGWKUHHWLPHVSHUKRXU IXQFWLRQV89*, LV XVHG LQ D YDULHW\ RI

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is applications, such as food, air, and water a purplish-black crystalline powder that colours purification. UV light is electromagnetic everything it touches, through a strong UDGLDWLRQZLWKZDYHOHQJWKVVKRUWHUWKDQYLVLEOH oxidising action. This crystalline material was OLJKWEXWORQJHUWKDQ;UD\V89LVFDWHJRULVHG known as ‘Condy’s crystals’ or ‘Condy’s into several wavelength ranges, with short- powder’ named after London chemist Henry wavelength UV (UVC) considered “germicidal Bollmann Condy. This includes staining UV”. The effectiveness of germicidal UV “stainless” steel, which somehow limits its depends on the length of time a microorganism use and makes it necessary to use plastic or is exposed to UV, the intensity and wavelength glass containers. It is used to of the UV radiation. UVGI devices can produce GLVLQIHFWDTXDULXPVDQG LV XVHG LQ VRPH strong enough UVC light in circulating air or

10 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 water systems to make them inhospitable TRICKS OF environments to microorganisms such TRIGONOMETRY DVEDFWHULDYLUXVHVDQGRWKHUSDWKRJHQV89*, can be coupled with a filtration system to sanitize air and water. Birendra Kumar Acharya Antimicrobial polymers, also known Introduction as polymeric biocides, is a class of polymers ZLWKDQWLPLFURELDODFWLYLW\ RU WKH DELOLW\ WR The term trigonometry has its origin inhibit the growth of microorganisms such from Greek word, trigonon meaning triangle DVEDFWHULDIXQJLRUSURWR]RDQV 7KHVH and metron meaning a measure. A trigonometric polymers have been engineered to identity is an equation involving trigonometric PLPLFDQWLPLFURELDOSHSWLGHVZKLFKDUHXVHG functions (TF) that holds true for all angles. by the immune systems of living things to kill Aim of the Model bacteria. Typically, antimicrobial polymers are The chief aim of this model is to develop produced by attaching or inserting an active the interest and curiosity among the students antimicrobial agent onto a polymer backbone towards trigonometry. via an alkyl or acetyl linker. Antimicrobial Objectives polymers may enhance the efficiency and The objective of this model is to analyse selectivity of currently used antimicrobial and establish the relationship between TFs. agents, while decreasing associated environmental hazards because antimicrobial Procedure polymers are generally non volatile and Draw a regular hexagon and place (sin & chemically stable. This makes this material a cos), (tan & cot), (sec & cosec) facing each prime candidate for use in areas of medicine other horizontally. as a means to fight infection, in the food Figure-1(A) Starting from the tail of the industry to prevent bacterial contamination, arrow (clockwise) the sum of the squares of and in water sanitation to inhibit the growth of first two TF is equal to the square of 3rd TF. microorganisms in drinking water. Which are :- Antimicrobial polymers commonly kill 222 bacteria through contact by causing the sinTT cos 1 , 22 2 bacterial cell to burst. 1cotcosec,TT „ tan22TT 1 sec 2 Dean Science BPUT & Professor of Chemistry, Trident Academy of Technology, Figure-1(B) :Starting from the head of the Odisha arrow (anti-clockwise) the subtraction of the squares of first two TF is equal to the square of 3rd TF. Which are :-

Science Horizon 11 JULY, 2020

22 2 1cossin,TT cosecTTTTTT x tan sec ,sec x sin tan cos ec222TT cot 1 , The product of three alternative TF is equal to

22 2 1. Which are :- secTT 1 tan Figure-2 : The product of two TF at the sinTTT x cot x sec 1,and opposite vertices are equal to 1. Which are :- tanTT x cos x cos ec T 1 sinTTTT x cos ec 1,cos x sec 1, Figure-3 : If we Consider any two TF facing st tanTT x cot 1 each other then, 1 TF = 1/opposite TF . Which are :- If we take 3 consecutive TFs then, the middle TF is the product of either two.Which are :- 11 sinTT ,cos cosecTT sec tanTTTTTT x cos sin ,sin x cot cos , 11 cosTTTTTT x cos ec cot ,cot x sec cos ec , cotTT ,cosec , tanTT sin

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11 secTT ,cos POLICY ISSUES ON cosTT sec GLOBAL WARMING Figure-4 : If we consider any three AND CLIMATE consecutive TF , then first TF will be the ratio CHANGE of the next two TF or previous of two TF . Dr. Bijay Ketan Patnaik Which are :- Inter Governmental Panel on Climate sinTT sec Change (IPCC) published a special report on tanTT or tan , cosTT cosec global warming of 1.5°C on 8th October, 2018. cosTT tan sinTT or sin , According to the report, the world would cotTT sec witness greater sea level rise, increased precipitation, higher frequency of drought and cotTT sin cosTT or cos , floods, hotter days and heat waves, more cosecTT tan cosecTT cos intense tropical cyclones and increased ocean cotTT or cot secTT sin , acidification and salinity. Countries like India with large populations dependant on Figure-5 : Link the TF horizontally in the agriculture and fishery sectors would be highly hexagon and get the Complementary angle impacted. Coastal nations and agricultural identities. economies like India would be worst affected. Which are :- The decline in crop yields, unprecedented climate extremes and increased susceptibility sinTTTT cos 90 or cos sin 90 , could push poverty by several millions by tanTTTT cot 90 or cot tan 90 , 2050. sec cos ec 90 or cosec sec 90 TTTT  Global Scenario on Climate Policy Reference : Global climate change was first A few of these concepts are derived from the addressed in United States Policy beginning internet. in the early 1950s. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defined climate

„ change as, “any significant change in the (TGT PCM) measures of climate lasting for an extended Govt HS Talbelgaon, period of time.” This includes major changes Kalahandi, Mob- 8763245934 in temperature, precipitation or wind pattern, as well as their effect that occurs over several decades or longer. However, during the past years, the climate change policy has transferred rapidly.

Science Horizon 13 JULY, 2020

In 2001, the Bush (President George W. for Science and Environment, at this juncture, Bush) administration of USA announced that considering the urgency to rapidly decarbonise, it will not implement the Kyoto Protocol, an the world needs a ‘Plan B’, as the ‘Plan A’ – the international treaty signed in 1997 at Kyoto, Paris Agreement is not going to succeed, once the USA pulls out. He suggested that India must take the lead in forming a global coalition for 1.5°C world, to save poor and vulnerable populations across the world including its own. The opportunity was grabbed by India, when our honourable Prime Minister committed in Paris Climate Change Exploring Climate Change & Global Warming Conference (COP 21) Japan to reduce green house gas emission as a that India will add another 2.5 to 3.0 billion measure to contain Global Warming. His claim tonnes of CO2 equivalent, in its forest sector was that, notifying the treaty would create by 2030. This commitment is a step towards economic setbacks in the U.S. The final nail effective policy formulation by our country on the coffin was hammered by President for combating global warming and climate Donald Trump in 2017. He announced that change. i) Reforestation, ii) Forest U.S. would cease all participation in the 2015 conservation and reduce deforestation, iii) Paris agreement (COP 21) on climate change Search for renewable energy, iv) Water mitigation. This was the biggest setback to conservation, v) Control population growth. other signatory countries of Paris agreement, The main objective of the policy is to since U.S. was the biggest contributor of green reduce carbon emission to atmosphere and to house gases to atmosphere. increase the capacity of existing carbon sinks India’s Commitment to Climate Change for higher target of carbon sequestration. The Without an active participation of US, two sets of carbon sinks available to mankind the target of restricting green house gas are (a) Forest and forested land, (b) Ocean and emission within 1.5°centigrade becomes water bodies. Together they sequester more almost impossible. According to Mr. Chandra than 50% of CO2 emitted to atmosphere by Bhusan, the Deputy Director General of Centre human activities. Since the capacity of carbon

14 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 sequestration by ocean and water bodies are treatment plan to plant and reforest Ganga almost finite, the only other alternative basin in five states at a cost of Rs.2,500 available to us is to increase our forest cover crores. The states include Uttarakhand, Uttar by plantation, reforestation and controlling Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. deforestation, degradation. Also, the same institute has been asked to Reforestation/ Forest Conservation prepare a comprehensive plan for treatment of basins of 13 more rivers of the country. The Earlier, forests were classified basing sole objective of this policy planning is while on the quality of timber, but now-a-days they restoring river basins, it will also improve soil are classified into different categories based moisture conservation and stop spread of on biodiversity and carbon stock it contains. deforestation. Keeping in tune with policy, The forest cover of India is around 22 percent catchment area plantation of the Mahanadi and of total land area; out of which 12.7 percent is Ib river of our state has also been taken up dense forest and rest 9.7% open forest. since the last two years. According to Forest Survey of India report, 2015, the carbon dioxide equivalent stored in Strategy 2 will be expansion of tree forests of our country is about 25.7 billion coverage by planting trees outside the forest. tonnes. Fortunately, the last two survey reports This implies to grow more wood and also to of 2017 and 2019, show a gradual increase of use more wood on furniture and building country’s forest cover both due to construction activities. Wood is the only reforestation, plantation as well as protection carbon neutral resource, not its substitutes through people’s participation. This increased like metal, aluminium, concrete or plastic. As forest cover can absorb extra carbon dioxide, long as a tree registers growth, it sequesters from the atmosphere annually to the tune of carbon from the atmosphere. But once it starts 128.3 million tonne or 0.128 billion tonne. decaying, it releases stored carbon and then it So, by 2030, i.e.; within 15 years the addition acts as a carbon source not a sink. But if the in carbon dioxide absorption will be 1.92 fallen or dead trees are used as furniture or as billion tonne only. Hence, to achieve the construction material, it locks carbon for commitment of our Honourable Prime another 80 to 90 years. One can very well say that a full circle has been covered from Social Minister for extra 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonne CO2 equivalent by 2030, we will be left with a gap Forestry days of nineties, where the motto of 0.6 to 1.1 billion tonnes. was to bring back forest to one’s door step. That is to grow more trees outside the In order to bridge this gap two long term conventional forest area. strategies were adopted in the policy framework. Strategy 1 is landscape based Quest for Renewable Energy Catchment Area Treatment Plan (CATP). Forest Scientific evidence about the world going Research Institute, Dehradun has prepared a through a climate emergency has never been

Science Horizon 15 JULY, 2020 greater than it was in 2019. On November Solar Alliance was created. The countries of 2019, the World Meteorological Organisation the world situated between tropic of Cancer

(WMO) declared that carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and tropic of Capricorn, get more than 200 levels in the Earth’s atmosphere has reached days sunlight each year, so these countries an all time high of 407.8 parts per million can meet a bigger part of their energy (ppm) in 2018, where as its safe limit is 350 requirement from solar energy resources, ppm. CO2 accounts for about 80 percent of all which is renewable and non-pollutant. greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. Presently, 121 countries have joined this solar

Out of this, the share of CO2 due to burning of alliance. fossil fuels like coal, petrol, diesel and natural Water Management gas in energy production sector through The National Action Plan on Climate thermal power plants, industrial sector, Change ((NAPCC) was formally launched on transport sector and other commercial June, 2008. NAPCC identifies measures that activities accounts a major chunk, i.e. 74%. In promote development objectives while also order to reduce the use of fossil fuels for yielding co-benefits for addressing climate generating non-renewable conventional energy, change effectively. There are eight ‘National India has fixed the national goal of 40 percent Missions’ that form the core of National Action non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030; mostly Plan and National Water Mission is one of through increased capacity of solar and wind that. The National Water Mission aims at energy. Registering a strong annual growth of conserving water, minimizing wastage and 17 percent over the last five years, renewable ensuring more equitable distribution through energy (RE) capacity in the country reached integrate water resource management. The 81 gigawatt (GW) in July 2019, out of which mission aims at developing a strategy to solar energy is 29.97 GW and wind energy is increase the water use efficiency by 20%. 35.64 GW. Over the past two years, Renewable Now the question arises, why does India need Energy has outperformed conventional sources a ‘Water Mission’? on capacity addition. The revised target in Renewable Energy Policy has been fixed at The answer is, India is fast running out of 175 GW by 2022; out of which solar energy is water resources due to over extraction and 100 GW, wind energy 60 GW, Biomass and changing climate. It is also a fact that out of Waste to Energy 10 GW and small hydropower the total availability of water, only 2.78 percent 5 GW. is fresh water and the rest are unusable, salty marine water. Again out of this meagre In the Paris Climate Conference (CoP percentage of fresh water, 2.14 percent is 21) held during 2015 and India-Africa summit, locked in snow; 0.61 percent in ground water 2015, on the proposal of India and as a joint and only 0.03 percent is used by the human venture of India and France, an International and animal world for drinking and other uses.

16 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

This miniscule percentage of fresh water is and that of India will be 160 crores. Presently available in lakes, rivers, ponds, dams, check at the rate the population of the world is dams and springs. Now that ground water increasing, the energy requirement is resources are mainly used for irrigation increasing at the rate of 1.5 times more. There through millions of bore-wells, dug wells and is also a glaring difference between the energy tube wells, the traditional system of water requirement of an American and that of an harvesting structures in rural areas are dying. Indian. Whatever energy is required or used by Somewhere, it is also reported that, because an Indian over his lifetime; the same amount pipe water is supplied or targeted to be supplied of energy is used by an American in a year. to each village, the villagers were no more This becomes more evident when we compare interested in maintaining these surface water the carbon footprint of an American, which is system, which were playing a critical role in 20.1 with that of an Indian which is 1.1 only. ameliorating the climate and recharging the Along with population explosion, the uneven ground aquifers. That is why, the country’s and inequitable distribution of wealth and climate policy reiterates its support for resources also add to the overall problem of restoration of traditional water bodies through climate change. According to an estimate, National Water Policy. more than 50 percent resources of the world Population Control are being enjoyed by only 10 percent rich people; whereas 10 percent of very poor people All the policy parameters stated above, avail only 0.5 percent of resources. India with adopted for reducing global warming and 2.4 percent of world’s geographical area is moderating climate change effect will be having 18 percent of world population. But the unproductive if population explosion is not desire for a better life style, not only of an controlled. To be more precise, as per data Indian but the people of all the developing centre report of 2015, the percapita carbon countries, increases manifold. This leads to dioxide emission in India and China are 1.9 resource crunch and percapita availability of and 6.7 ton respectively, as compared to 16.10 natural resources like water, soil, energy as tonne of USA. But because of population, well as biodiversity. China is number one country of the world with maximum quantity of carbon dioxide releasing It is time to control population explosion, to the world, USA is 2nd and India is 4th in the if the climate change policies adopted for list. ameliorating climate are to be effective and fruitful. During 2011, the world population stood at 700 crores and as per latest census (2011), „ Ex Chief Editor, ‘Bigyan Diganta’, India’s population was 121 crores. Taking into 57, Jagamohan Nagar, Jagamara, Po.: Khandagiri, account the population growth rate trend by Bhubaneswar-751030 Mob.-9437000904 2050, the world population will be 970 crores

Science Horizon 17 JULY, 2020 MAHENDRAGIRI-THE LESSER KNOWN NATURAL HERITAGE SITE ON EASTERN GHATS

Dr. Sundara Narayana Patro Introduction Historical Account Named after its principal hill From the ancient historical period Mahendragiri there is a hill complex, in Mahendragiri played an important role as a Odisha’s southern district of Gajapati, on the strategic place and a strong military base. Eastern Ghats. The tall hills in this complex Several ruling dynasties of Odisha took control are Mahendragiri (1501meters), Shrungaraj of this area. Some of those ruling families (1516m), Debagiri (1382m), Badadeba were Matharas, Eastern Gangas, Sailodbhavas, (1364m), Idongiri or Indragiri (1323m), Luaba Svetaka-Gangas and the Imperial Gangas. The hill (1260m), Sheranga hill (150m), Gumma narrow passes and valleys of Mahendra range hill (1094m). The hilly terrain is located in of mountains controlled the ancient trade route Survey of India topographic maps 74 A/4, A/8, connecting north India with south India on the 74B/1 and 74B/5 within east longitudes 84. eastern coast. The early Ganga Kings had built 9’. 30" to 84.3’ and north latitudes 18.52’ to a hill-fort, on the upper part of the 19.6’ 30". Because of its closeness to eastern Mahendragiri. The remnants are still traceable coast and remarkable topographic heights it there. There are few stone inscriptions found has been a prominent land mark for the early here belonging to Chodagangagadeva (A.D. European sailors along the eastern coast. Many 1123) and Rajendra Chole of South India. captains of European ships have recorded in Long before Devendravarman, in the 4th century their shipping logs the appearance of A.D., the Gupta Monarch Samudragupta during Mahendragiri group of hills as indicating the his southern expedition, arrived at beginning of Odisha coast. Captain Talbot of Mahendragiri where he defeated a king named the ship “Brakley Castle” on 31.08.1680 Svamidatta, and several small princes, as located Mahendragiri as an important landmark, recorded in the Allhabad Pillar inscription. so also Captain Lake of “Prudent Mary” marked Mythology on 16.04.1683 the two high peaks Mahendragiri was the cradle land of the (Mahendragiri and Shrungaraj) from his ship early civilization of Kalinga. The mythology while moving along the eastern coast towards refers to the Mahendra as a sacred place being ports located at Dhamra, Budhabalang and one of the seven Kulagiris or seven principal Subranarekha mouths. From very early times chains of mountains in India. The seven foreign geographer like Pliny mentioned about mountains designate the seven ancient doors Mahendra in his geographical account of India. of heaven. The six other Kulagiris or 18 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

Kulaparbats are Malaya, Sahyadri, Parijatra, to the 5th – 6th century A.D. Government of Shuktiman, Vindya and Malyavaan. The puranic India declared the Gokarneswar, Yudhisthir, or mythological literature attach great sanctity and Bhima temples as national protected to this place being the seat of Parasurama’s monuments as early as 1964 A.D. There is penance and sacred land for pinda dana (lumps reference of this hill being associated with made out of cooked rice offered to the souls worship of Lord Jagannath by the tribes, of near and dears who passed away), according to famous epigraphist Satyanarayan comparable with Gaya and Viraja. The Rajguru. The Ramayan, the Chaitanya- Mahendragiri is associated with mythology of Charitamrita, Bhagabat Puran, Kalidas’s Ramayana and Mahabharata epic ages. Legend Raghuvamsa and other Indian epics refer to says that it is the place where Lord Parasurama, Eastern Ghats as Mahendra. The Odia a chiranjeevi (immortal) stays eternally and Mahabharata written by Sarala Das, a poet of performs tapas or prayers. Parasurama was the 15th Century A.D. describes that the five meditating on Mahendragiri when Lord Rama Pandava brothers while in vanavasa (exile), broke the sacred bow of Shiva. Hanuman is came to the Mahendra hill to perform the believed to have leapt from mount Mahendra sraddha (death anniversary rituals) of their to Sri Lanka in search of Sita. There are the father. Lord Shiva known as Gokarneswar in temples of Panchu Pandabas-Kunti, Yudhisthir, Kunti temple is now the presiding deity of Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev representing Paralakhemundi Maharaja, the Ganga dynasty. the ancient architectural marvels. The Bhima Every year during the Maha Sivaratri Puja temple design is very simple and has no (February/ March) thousands of pilgrims from sculpture, which leads one to believe that it the Gajapati, Ganjam, undivided Koraput represents the earliest evidence of temple Districts in Odisha and Srikakulam District in architecture in Odisha and can be dated back Andhra Pradesh gather on the peak to celebrate

Science Horizon 19 JULY, 2020 the auspicious day. In recognition of its evergreen forests, composes a unique mythological significance the Mahendragiri ecological marvel in harbouring the genetic finds place in the list of fifteen sites identified diversity. The vegetation of Mahendragiri hill under the Ramayana Circuit. The destinations complex could be classified broadly into four are chosen according to the places where types-Sal forests, mixed forests, grassland, Lord Rama is believed to have travelled across and the shrubs. Sal (Shorea robusta) occurs India. The fourteen other sites are Ayodha, throughout the forest. But its size varies with Shringverpur and Chitrakoot (UP), Sitamarhi, variation of altitude and edaphic conditions. Buxar and Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (MP), The common associates are Bahada Nandigram (West Bengal), Jagadalpur (Terminalia bellirica), Harida (T. chebula), (Chhattisgarh), Bhadracahlam (Telangana), Piasal/Bija (Pterocarpus marsupium), Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Hampi Halanda/ Kuruma (Haldina cordifolia), (Karnataka), Nasik and Nagur (Maharashtra). Mahula (Madhuca longifolia), Dhau Ramayana Circuit is one of the thirteen (Anogeissus latifolia), Kendu (Diospyros thematic circuits identified for development melanoxylon), Kunkum/Kamala Gundi under the Swadesh Darshan. The other thematic (Mallotus philippiensis), Baunsa circuits are North-East Circuit, Buddhist (Dendrocalamus strictus), etc. It is rich with Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, medicinal plants like Pashana Bhedi/ Pukhom Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Kur (Coleus barbatus), Aonla (Emblica Eco-Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, officinalis/ Phyllanthus emblica), Dasahara Spiritual Circuit, and Heritage Circuit. phula/ Pancha angulia (Glorisa superba), Biodiversity Richness Pippali (Piper longum), Patala Garuda/ Sarpa Gandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), Ashoka Mahendragiri hill complex is the natural (Saraca asoca), Chandan (Santalum album), habitat of the tribes including the primitive etc. It is also an epitome of unique orchid Lanjia saura, Sudha saura and Bhima saura. The flora. The orchids are very beautiful flowers other tribes include Kondh, Gond, Santal and and more than 37 species of it are found in the Kolh. Their livelihood security is intricately hill complex. Among the faunal species linked to the biodiversity and other local natural Mahendragiri is known for the Indian elephant. resources of the hill complex. The watershed The elephant was the animal of pride of of Mahendragiri hill complex drains into erstwhile rulers and they were called Gajapatis Rushikulya, Vamsadhara, Bahuda river systems (Gaja= Elephant; Pati=Ruler). The other wild and numerous big and small streams. animals including the tiger, leopard, hyena, Mahendratanaya river flows in two directions, wild bear, deer, antelope, peacock, snake and a one on the eastern slope that joins the sea and variety of other terrestrial species and birds the other joins the Vamsadhara river. The hilly had their best habitat in Mahendragiri. The terrain, endowed with dense tropical semi- flora and fauna of Mahendragiri hill complex is

20 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 interesting because it represents Himalayan as the eternal source of livelihood support of the well as peninsular Deccan Plateau species. local people. In view of the fact that the varied Because of unsustainable anthropogenic activities plant and animal species as yet are sustaining in the area the population of wildlife is on the in the wild in Mahendragiri hill forest decrease. Many of the plant and animal species ecosystem, immediate steps need be taken for here find their place in the IUCN Red Data protection and conservation of the biodiversity Book as ‘Threatened’, ‘Vulnerable’, and development of the habitat. Development ‘Endangered’ and ‘Rare’. of the hill complex is intricately linked to the Ecodevelopment economic development and well-being of the local community, most of which are the tribal There is ample scope of environment- poor. friendly eco-development activities here. The means to improve the local people’s livelihood Conservation Initiatives pattern leading to economic security is to be The Wildlife Institute of India in their promoted while taking utmost care of the report “Planning a Wildlife Protected Area ecosystem and environment. Cottage Network in India” have recommended setting industries, value addition of products, skill up of a sanctuary and a biosphere reserve in development of local people honouring their the Mahendragiri hills complex on the basis traditional wisdom, development of market of phyto-geographic affinities in north, north- net-work, cultivation of local medicinal, fodder eastern and south-eastern India. The Union and other valuable plants, rearing of domestic Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1988 animals for cultivation, milk, meat, etc. would had sent this report to the Odisha State go a long way in conservation of local Government with request to implement these resources and their wise use. Tribals collect recommendations. Former Member of tamarind, Siali leaf, Sal leaf and seeds, Parliament of Berhampur Constituency arrowroot, date-palm (local name Khajuri) Gopinath Gajapati raised the matter in the Lok sap, bastard sago tree (local name Salap) sap, Sabha on 16th September 1991 under the matter Kochila seeds, hill broom, timber, bamboo, of urgent public importance, and later in his cane, Kath Alu, medicinal plants like letter dated 27th December 1991 requested Patalgaruda, Dhatuki and various other non- the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests timber minor forest products. Shifting to take necessary steps in this regard. Twenty cultivation is rampant here and they cultivate two members of Odisha Legislative Assembly crops like pine apple and some other cash submitted a memorandum in July 1993 to the crops on such land. All such activities are Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister non-polluting and forest vegetation based. The of Odisha to designate the hill complex as a forest plays the pivotal role of climate change Biosphere Reserve. The 15th meeting of the impact reduction as the carbon sink and also is Odisha State Wildlife Advisory Board held on

Science Horizon 21 JULY, 2020

25th November 1995 recommended for products, stone quarrying, cattle grazing, loss creation of a wildlife sanctuary in Mahendragiri of vegetation cover and biodiversity, reduced hill complex. At the initiative of Orissa flow of water in the streams, loss of fertile Environmental Society (OES) the Government top soil, loss of soil moisture, lowering of the of Odisha in Forest and Environment water table, damages due to repeated cyclones Department constituted a Committee to study are some of the causes of eco-degradation of the feasibility of constituting Mahendragiri the ecosystem. All these factors contribute to Biosphere Reserve under the chairmanship of the decadence of economy of the local people the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests around Mahendragiri. As a result the vide its letter number 20120 dated 02.11.2011. anthropogenic pressure on the natural Expert members of the OES and local ecosystem is mounting up and the ecosystem Divisional Forest Officers were the members degrades are further posing threats to its of the committee. Hon’ble local MP and MLA ecological resilience. Taking into account of were the special invitees to the committee. the fast depletion of its natural resources as The Committee in its 4th meeting held on well as the ancient archaeological monuments 20.12.2014 unanimously agreed in principle of epic fame it is imperative to undertake that the proposed Mahendragiri hill complex protection and conservation measures in the be considered for creating a Biosphere Mahendragiri hill complex covering a vast Reserve. In the meantime more than five years area of more than 5,000 sq. km. area for their have elapsed the Government of Odisha is not regeneration to the pre-historic status. submitting the proposal to the Union Mahendragiri may be recognized as a biosphere Government to accord the status of Biosphere reserve as well as a heritage site. A biosphere Reserve to the Mahendragiri hill complex. is a three-tier system, which will have the The hill complex has all the merit to be central core zone with concentration of considered so. Further the presence of ancient indigenous species, the peripheral zone and the temple monuments and the pleasant trekking outer transition zone. All kinds of eco- routes through panoramic scenic beauty justify development activities including eco-tourism, the Mahendragiri hill complex to be developed and tourism would be allowed in the periphery as a heritage site. In fact the UNESCO has as well as the transition zones. Such a step will suggested that the Government should initially help promote sustainable development of this nominate the hill complex for inclusion in the withering unique ecosystem of Mahendragiri “Tentative List” of World Heritage Sites. hill complex on the eastern ghats as well as Conclusion enhance the socio-economic-cultural condition of the locals. By raising the Shifting cultivation, reclamation of forest conservation status of Mahendragiri as a land for agriculture, removal of timber, fire Biosphere Reserve we would find this unique wood and over-collection of minor forest ecosystem in the UNESCO net work. In

22 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 Similipal forest complex of Mayurbhanj CORONAVIRUS district in Odisha the eighth Biosphere Reserve AND HERD of the county was set up in June 1994. In case IMMUNITY Mahendragiri hill complex gets the tag of Biosphere Reserve, it will be the second one Basanta Kumar Choudhury in the state. Presently there are altogether Despite the dramatic rise in COVID-19 eighteen Biosphere Reserves in India. related deaths, all over the world, Governments Organisations beginning from national to local of several countries heavily affected by the level have been pursuing with the appropriate pandemic continue to send mixed messages. authorities, but unfortunately the hill complex Many are reluctant to implement the tracking, suffers from governance deficit syndrome and mass testing, isolation, thorough medical lack of political will. It is for the conscious follow up and hospitalization methods so that citizens, nature lovers and committed people new infections could be reduced to the at the helm of affairs who must rise to the minimum and exponential death can be occasion and save this unique eco-system of checked. This is called ‘suppression method’. historical pride from further decadence. However, these methods are liable to sustain Reference: heavy economic cost. Even in the developed 1. 2019 (9th July). Government of India, Ministry countries like USA and UK millions of people of Tourism, Rajya Sabha, answer to un- have gone jobless and the Govts. are in the starred Question 1891 replied by Minister of Tourism. midst of a very serious condition. 2. 2018 (18th December). 15 destinations Because of this, the experts put forward identified for development under Ramayana another type of control measure to contain the Circuit, tourismbreakingnews.com. 3. 2018 (17th December). 15 destinations virulence of this virus. If the virus keeps on identified under Ramayana Cirscuit: Alphon, spreading, eventually so many people will be www.business-standard.com. infected (if they survive) and become immune 4. 2010. Rajaguru S.N. The Archaeological so that the outbreak will fizzle out on its own Treasures of Mahendracala, Mahendragiri, as the virus will find harder and harder a Orissa Environmental Society, Pp-94-104. 5. 2010. Patro S.N. Mahendragiri: An Entity of susceptible host. This phenomenon is called Incomparable Value, Mahendragiri, Orissa ‘herd immunity’. Environmental Society, Pp-195-216. Herd Immunity – An Explanation 6. 2010. Mahalik N.K. Geology and Geomorphology of Mahendrairi Hill Complex, In simple model of an outbreak, each Mahendragiri, Orissa Environmental Society, infected person, if transmits the disease to Pp-8-14. two more people and thereby, exponential „ President, Orissa Environmental Society increase of disease may occur. But once, half [email protected] population becomes immune, the outbreak Mob.: 9437190420 will no longer grow. Science Horizon 23 JULY, 2020

Here, the example of Zika virus may be reproduction number of the disease: the cited. It is a mosquito borne disease that average number of people an infected person caused epidemic panic in 2015 because of its goes on to infect, given that everyone in the link with birth abnormalities. Two years later, population is susceptible to the disease. in 2017, the disease was not so much virulent Mathematically, herd immunity is related to worry about. It was found in a study, by to that pathogen’s propensity to spread; i.e., its checking blood samples that 63 per cent of reproduction number. R0 for coronavirus is northern beach city of Salvador had already between 2 to 2.5. It means that each infected exposure to Zika. The experts speculated that person passes it to about two other people in herd immunity had broken the chain of that the absence of any measures to contain the outbreak. contagion. Vaccine and Herd Immunity To work out how herd immunity works, Vaccines create herd immunity, too, when think Coronavirus cases have been multiplying the vaccination programme is implemented in in a susceptible population in following wide scale or sometimes administered in a manner: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and so on. But, if half ring around a new case of rare infection. In the people are immune, half of those that case, diseases like Smallpox were infections will not occur, and the spread is eradicated and Polio is close to being erased. effectively cut in two. Then, the outbreak Various vaccine development measures are simmers along like instead, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 —so under way for Coronavirus, but they may be, on (see fig). The disease is snuffed out once hopefully ready by this year- end or early next the infection is less than 1. year. Up to that moment, we must adopt certain The rate of spread of Coronavirus rate of measures so that effect of the disease will spread is higher than the ordinary Flu, but is remain the minimum. like novel emergent Influenzas that had Even the vaccine makers can find occasionally swept the world before. It is like themselves in a losing race with nature to see the pandemic Flu of 1918. It implies that the which protects the herd first. That occurred in end of the epidemic requires nearly 50 per 2017 when drug maker Sanofi gave up the cent immunity, either from vaccine or from manufacture of Zika vaccine, after the funding natural infection. Since vaccination is not an dried up and there was no demand for the immediate reality, the other one is now the vaccine as herd immunity developed among only option. the masses. When the virus is more infectious, more When will Herd Immunity be Achieved? people need to be immune so that herd R0 (R-nought) is the measure of given immunity can be achieved. Measles, one of pathogen’s reproduction number. It is the basic the most easily transmitted diseases with R0

24 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

. . . .

. . . .

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. . . .

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Source: MIT Technology Review number 12, requires about 90 per cent of New York city. We know that COVID-19 people to be resistant. Thereby, unprotected significantly kills more than Influenza. Since people can ride from herd. For that reason, the contagion is widespread, there will be only, the disease can occur again, even small large number of deaths, i.e. before herd number of people opt out of Measles vaccine. immunity is achieved, millions of people Similarly, if Coronavirus spreads more around the globe will die. On the other hand, easily than what the experts think, more people suppressing transmission means we will not will get it before herd immunity is achieved. build up herd immunity. Then, once some For R0 of 3, for example, 66 per cent of the degree of relaxation is made, then the virus population has to be immune before the effect remnants will rejuvenate to cause enough kicks in, according to that mathematical model. harm again. Hence, judicious management and mass co-operation may be the only need This measure to contain COVID-19 is of the hour. still contentious. Let us assume that this model is scientifically sound and that within a certain „ 58, Harwill Approach period of time - experts talk about several Leeds, UK months - herd immunity is built, even with the Permanent address- 24/732, Shree Vihar, best health care in place and without the kind Bhubaneswar- 751031 of health system collapse that we are witnessing in Lombardy, Madrid, Mumbai, and

Science Horizon 25 JULY, 2020 VIRUSES EXIST IN A GRAY AREA BETWEEN CHEMISTRY AND LIFE

Dr. Dwijesh Kumar Panda Viruses are mere boxes of chemicals, A rock is not alive. A bacterium is alive. taking advantage of viral activity in host cells. It is a single cell. It can generate energy and Are they alive? The myopic view of molecular can reproduce. A seed might not be considered biologists allows them to see only how viruses alive, yet it has a potential for life, and it may co-opt cells or cause disease. The history of be destroyed. In this regard, viruses resemble the life of viruses on earth remains for the seeds more than they do like cells. They have most part unanswered. What is life? It is an a certain potential, which can be snuffed out, elusive thing. A living entity can give birth and but they do not attain a more autonomous replicate it. The living state of life. Viruses, though organisms require a degree of not fully alive, are more than biochemical autonomy to carry inert matter, that verge on life. out biochemical activities that Viruses are very small produce the energy needed to particles much smaller than sustain the organism. bacteria. They cannot be seen Viruses affect all life on under a light microscope. The earth from single-celled first virus could be visualized organisms to human in 1939, once the electron populations. They themselves microscope was developed in also evolve. The AIDS-causing Covid- 19 Virus 1931 by German scientists HIV-1 virus is a new virus that Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll came into being. Viruses matter to life. They with high-resolution technology. The virus was are constantly changing the boundary between a tobacco mosaic virus. These viruses infected the world of biology and biochemistry. They the leaves of the tobacco plant in the late 18th parasitize all biomolecular aspects of life. century, making the leaves yellowish speckling They depend on the host cell for the raw and discolored. The extracted juice from the materials and energy necessary for nucleic diseased leaves was applied to new plants. The acid synthesis, biochemical activities that allow leaves of the healthy plants became diseased. the virus to multiply and spread. Viruses are It was thought that the juice of the leaves simple nonliving parasites of living metabolic contains some poison.Virus means poison in systems. Latin. Subsequently, the disease-causing virus was identified.

26 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

Most researchers ignore viruses in the according to the laws of genetics. When a new study of evolution. Modern thought defines epidemic sweeps through communities by viruses as the simplest of all living gene- mutated type of viruses, a highly contagious bearing life forms. In 1935, M. Stanley and pandemic appears because the humans had no his colleagues at Rockefeller University in chance to develop proper immunity. New York City discovered the tobacco mosaic Virus particles are considered as regular virus. Stanley saw viruses consisting of a chemical molecules subject to all the laws of package of biochemical, lacking essential physics and chemistry. The biological chemist systems necessary for metabolic functions. can write a structural chemical formula for He shared the 1946 Nobel Prize in chemistry, each virus. The biochemists are now in but not in physiology or medicine for this possession of methods for synthesizing from work. ordinary chemical elements both ribonucleic Viruses teeter on the boundaries of what acid and protein molecules. Now it is possible is considered life. It is a parasite making more to produce a man-made virus particle by copies of itself in a host cell. The virus cannot putting the elements together. reproduce itself outside the host. The host’s Studies suggest that coronaviruses may cellular machinery allows viruses to reproduce persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to RNA/DNA from the DNA of host cells. The several days. People could catch COVID-19 inactive virus enters the host cell, sheds the by touching contaminated surfaces or objects coat, bares its gene, and induces the cell’s – and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. replication machinery to produce the The “incubation period” means the time intruder’s DNA or RNA. between catching the virus and beginning to Max Delbruck, an experimental geneticist have symptoms of the disease. It ranges from developed his epoch-making views regarding 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. the biological phenomenon of mutations and The virus causes the outbreak of severe acute the purely physicochemical process of respiratory syndrome (SARS). It is a zoonotic isometric changes in a molecule. Viruses are disease, as it is transmitted between animals free genes without a cell around them. The and human beings. invention of the electron microscope (in which Antibiotics do not work against viruses. It the use of electron beams instead of ordinary may lead to “antibiotic resistance”. The viruses light rays permits much larger magnifications) have different structures and replicate in a helped the microbiologists to see the formerly different way than bacteria. Antibiotics work hidden structure of viruses. Virus particles by targeting the growth machinery in bacteria can multiply only within the living cell of either to kill or inhibit them. Vaccines other organisms. They are subject to mutations stimulate the immune system to produce and pass the characteristics to their offspring antibodies, which then can “recognize” the

Science Horizon 27 JULY, 2020 virus to inactivate it before it can cause LOCUST MENACE disease. 1Dr. Taranisen Panda Can a highly contagious virus, causing 2Dr. Raj Ballav Mohanty panic in the world be created in a laboratory? Locust is in the recent news, when Why not? One non-living seed can germinate WKH81 )RRG DQG $JULFXOWXUH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ and become a banyan tree. Viral infectious )$2 KDGLVVXHGDQDOHUWLQHDUO\'HFHPEHU diseases pose a major public health concern. 2019 for a massive locust attack in South Asia Serious pandemic and highly contagious covering Pakistan and India. The word “locust” COVID – 19 caused lockdown and fear across is derived from the Latin word locusta, the world. The effective and prompt PHDQLQJJUDVVKRSSHU/RFXVWV LQ2GLDLWLV identification of the virus is essential to commonly called as ‘Pangapala’) are short- prevent transmission and initiate appropriate horned grasshoppers belonging to the family treatment.One tiny non-living particle Acrididae (Insecta: Orthoptera). It differs from possessing Ribonucleic acid (RNA), when ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to change enters a living cell gets its nutrition, reproduces behaviour (gregarize) and form swarms that million times, and mutates to highly contagious can migrate over long distances. Locusts form of COVID-19, the so-called China virus. exhibit density-dependent phase- A virus originating from birds and animals, polymorphism or polyphenism (the entering a human host, subsequently mutate to phenomenon in which two or more distinct the highly contagious form - this process is phenotypes are produced by the same possible in a chemical laboratory. genotype). They appear in two forms or phases: References when numbers are low, they behave as 1. Nelson, M. I. & Holmes, E. C. The evolution individuals (solitarious phase); when high, they of epidemic influenza. Nature Reviews behave as a single mass (gregarious phase).The Genetics8, 196–205 (2007) doi: 10-1038/ differences between the gregarious and solitary nrg2053. phases are extending from colour and 2. Villarreal, L. P. & DeFilippis, V. R. A hypothesis for DNA viruses as the origin of behavioural changes to reproductive, eukaryotic replication proteins. Journal of developmental, physiological, biochemical, Virology74, 7079–7084 (2000). molecular, and ecological changes (Pener 3. ONE TWO THREE …….INFINITY Facts 1991; Simpson et al. 1999). Adult locusts can and Speculation of Science by George Gamow, form swarms that may contain millions or The Riddle of Life, pages 256-264. billions of individuals that behave as a coherent „ M.D, PhD (Medicine) unit. Locusts multiply rapidly (about 20-fold) Consultant Pathologist & within a month or two, form groups and migrate Microbiologist, hundreds of kilometers per day and invade M5/12, Acharya Vihar, Bhubaneswar Contact: (0674) 2542934. areas covering millions of square kilometers,

28 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 resulting in major economic, social, and environmental impacts. Before they can take off, a settled swarm must warm up in the early morning shortly after sunrise by basking in the sun. Swarms then fly throughout the day until just before sunset when they land and remain settled on the ground throughout the night. Taxonomy Taxonomically, these locust species belong to at least 6 different subfamilies within Acrididae. The genus consists of about 50 species, of which, about 15 species are considered as true locusts, i.e., they express variation for the expression of density- density-dependent polyphenism, swarming, and dependent color polyphenism is an ancestral migration (Song 2005). Four species of state for the lineage supposedly present in the locusts are recorded in India viz., Schistocerca gregaria-like ancestor. The current swarms in gregaria, Locusta migratoria, Nomadacris India may be traced back to the devastating succincta and Anacridium rubrispinum. Most swarms in East Africa that have ravaged the notorious is the desert locust (Schistocerca region over the last couple of years. The gregaria), which inhabits dry grasslands and cyclonic storms that hit Oman and Yemen in deserts and has threatened agricultural 2018 facilitated locust breeding, since a lot of production in Africa, the Middle East, and rain water was dumped in the desert of Oman. Asia for centuries. The infestation that occurred in the Arabian Peninsula invaded Eastern Africa and the Origin concomitant heavy rains in these parts further In 1988, a swarm of the desert locust facilitated their breeding. From there, they originating from West Africa, successfully invaded Iran and Pakistan in 2019. The above crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached the normal breeding of the hoppers resulted in West Indies (Ritchie and Pedgley 1989). Based their arrival in Rajasthan in the first half of on this event, scientists hypothesized that the April 2020. New World Schistocerca descended from a History gregaria-like ancestor that colonized the New World via westward transatlantic flight (Ritchie The locusts which live, breed and lay and Pedgley 1989). Many extant Schistocerca eggs in dry areas or desert regions are known species express density-dependent color as desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria). But change similar to that of S. gregaria. Sword green vegetation is required for the swarm’s (2002) suggested that this may be because GHYHORSPHQW'HVHUWORFXVWFDODPLW\KDVEHHQ

Science Horizon 29 JULY, 2020 reported since Pharaonic times in ancient Egypt This resulted in the formation of the Standing at irregular intervals. During the last century, Locust Committee in 1929 and the Central outbreaks occurred in 1926–1934, 1940– Locust Bureau in 1930. This culminated in 1948, 1949–1963, 1967–1969, 1986–1989 1939 in the establishment of the present-day and 2003–2005. The largest outbreaks by Locust Warning Organisation. desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) Structure invasions covered a large part of Africa and Morphologically locust is differentiated southwest Asia from 1986 to 1989 (16.8 into head, thorax and abdomen. Head bears million hectares) and from 2003 to 2005 (13 paired antennae, 26 segmented antennule and million ha). The invasion of the migratory compound eyes. Thorax is differentiated into locust, in Madagascar from 2013 to 2016 pro, meso and metathorax. The wings are two covers 2.3 million ha. Large-scale infestations paired. The first pair is elongated, leathery and of Italian locust with some Moroccan locusts straight and is known as tegmina, while the occurred in 2014 (the Caucasus and central second (2nd) pair is large and membranous. Asia; 6.7 million ha). India experienced serious The abdomen has 11 segments of which the locust outbreaks in 1812, 1821, 1843-44, last is vestigial and bears a pair of oval cerci. 1863, 1869, 1878, 1889-92, and 1896-97. An ovipositor of several plates is also present. Most of the attacks by locust swarms in India The first abdominal segment bears a tympanum since 1993 have been localized to Rajasthan. which acts as sound producing organ. Only after the 1927-29 outbreak that ravaged the central and western parts of India the need Life Cycle for a centralized organization was felt to gather A desert locust lives about three to five information about locusts and control them. months, although this is variable and depends

30 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

Figure 1. I. Newly hatched are white but turns black in 1-2h; II: Head is larger and pale colour pattern is conspicuous; III: Two pairs of wing project on each side of thorax; IV: Colour is conspicuously black and yellow; V: Colour is bright yellow with black pattern. mostly on weather and ecological conditions. but more frequently from two to four months, The life cycle comprises three stages: egg, depending on environmental conditions, mainly hopper (nymph) and adult (Figure 1). Eggs temperature. Adults do not moult and therefore hatch in about two weeks, depending on do not grow in size but gradually increase in temperature (the range is 10–65 days). weight. Hoppers shed their skins five or six times, Locust Swarming Behaviour and each time growing in size. This process is Coordinated Movement called moulting and the stage between moults Swarming is a hallmark of locust is referred to as an instar. Hoppers develop behavior. It is the result of the attraction and over a period of about 30-40 days; adults aggregation tendency of locusts in the mature in about three weeks to nine months gregarious phase. Locust-coordinated mass

Science Horizon 31 JULY, 2020 movement includes the flight of adult swarms, so locust invasions are thus sometimes truly but even more conspicuous is the marching of a matter of life and death for local people. nymphs or hopper bands. Desert locust nymphs Present Indian Scenario (as well as other locusts) have a diurnal pattern Recently India has faced two powerful of behavior (Uvarov 1977). The locust bands cyclones and hundreds of lives are lost every will normally have one period of marching in day to the corona virus. Another calamity the forenoon and another in the afternoon, lurks on the nation’s west in the form of locust strongly dependent on weather conditions attack. The first wave of the present locust such as temperature, but also on clouds swarms was sighted along the India-Pakistan obscuring the sun, as well as on rain or cold border on April 11, which was a lot earlier than wind. Flying swarms of adult locusts will its actual migration time. It generally arrives migrate predominantly downwind. during the monsoon months. The locusts Feeding Habit and Impact on Agriculture entered Sindh province of Pakistan and from Since the beginning of civilization, there they moved into Rajasthan around the locusts have been among the most devastating first fortnight of April. Favourable weather threats to agriculture. The consequences of conditions facilitated locusts travel from the invasions can be disastrous for both the Rajasthan to Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, food security and livelihoods of the rural Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh by population of sixty countries from Northern the wind direction. Swarms of locusts hit Africa to India. An adult desert locust can Andhra Pradesh on 28th May destroying consume roughly its own weight, i.e., about planted crops in farmlands. In Tamil Nadu two grams of fresh food per day. The too, swarms attacked banana, rubber and other gregarious mass does not spare a single crops. They have registered their presence in crop and severely damage the natural Chhattisgarh on first June 2020 but returned vegetation, which has a serious impact on to Madhya Pradesh. It is expected to reach livestock production, as the animals are unable Odisha by June 2020. Government of Odisha to find food. They eat leaves, flowers, fruits, has already realized the situation and alerted seeds, bark and growing-points and wreak havoc the department concerned to take preventive on banana, barley, beans, citrus, coconut, measures. cotton, groundnut, lettuce, maize, millet, Possible methods of control papaya, pea, pineapple, rice, sago, palms, i Burning vegetation, loud noises (banging sorghum, soybean, sugarcane, sweet potato, drums and utensils), lighting fires, wheat, vegetables etc. which countries rely barriers, smoking and battues are just on for food. Farmers whose fields are invaded some of the ways man has tried to control by locusts often lose 100% of their harvest, locusts. Some have even come up with the idea of releasing poultry to feed on

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the insects. However, in the face of a of natural control agents, such as locust outbreak, the ingenuity and hard microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, work are put in by farmers to save their nematodes), parasitic or predatory insects, crops. and plant extracts, needs to be evaluated in i The chemical insecticides currently used locust control. The efficacy of new and existing are more effective. Small areas are products could be increased through new treated using hand-held sprayers. If the formulations such as those using nanocarriers. invasion is too severe and ground-based References sprayers are no longer sufficient, aerial 1) Pener M. P. 1991. Locust phase spraying is required. polymorphism and its endocrine relations. Advances in Insect Physiology 23: 1-79. i Vehicle or aerial ultra-low volume (ULV) 2) Ritchie M. and Pedgley D. E. 1989. Desert spraying is now becoming the effective locusts cross the Atlantic. Antenna 13: 10-12. method of application of both chemical 3) Song H. 2005. Phylogenetic perspectives on and microbial pesticides. the evolution of locust phase polyphenism. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 14: 235– The advisory also said that four i 245. chemicals – Melathion 50% EC, 4) Simpson S. J., McCaffery A. R. and Hägele Melathion 25% WP, Chloropyriphos B. F. 1999. A behavioural analysis of phase 20% EC and Chloropyriphos 50% EC – change in the desert locust. Biological Reviews. should be diluted in water and sprayed as 74: 461-480. pesticides on crops in the evening to 5) Sword G. A. 2002. A role of phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of aposematism. prevent locust attacks. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London i Application of neem oil and spraying of B. 269: 1639-1644. biopesticides like Metarhizium acridum 6) Uvarov B. 1977. Grasshoppers and locusts. A handbook of general acridology. Volume and Paranosema locustae VSRUHLVXVHIXO 2. Behaviour, ecology, biogeography, to control the insect. population dynamics. Centre for Overseas Conclusion Pest Research. Swarms are much more visible than „ 1Department of Botany, Chandbali College, Chandbali, hopper bands, but the treatment period is short Bhadrak- 756133, Odisha, India because of their highly developed migratory Email: [email protected] 2 capacity. With the desert locust, swarms can Ex-Reader in Botany, Plot No. 1311/7628, Satya Bihar, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751010 migrate hundreds and even thousands of kilometers, making them an international challenge such that control strategies must then involve strong cooperation between countries with specialized centers. The potential

Science Horizon 33 JULY, 2020

SCIENCE OF YOGA

Dr. Choudhury Satyabrata Nanda The world celebrates International Day period. It achieves its objectives through of Yoga on 21st June every year. It was declared disciplines or practices consisting of physical, by the United Nations General Assembly in mental, moral and spiritual means. The clarity 2014 to celebrate the Yoga Day worldwide as regards practices of Yoga came into from 2015. The date of celebration was existence after the introduction of Yoga Sutras suggested by the Prime Minister of India, by Patanjali and thus Patanjali is regarded as Narendra Modi in his address to UN as 21st the father of Yoga. Swami Vivekananda is June is the longest day of the year in the considered as a prime force introducing Yoga northern hemisphere and it bears special to the Western World following his legendary significance in many parts of the world. The address in the Parliament of Religions at the highlights of the importance of Yoga as World’s Fair Chicago in1893. It needs to stress addressed by Indian Prime Minister were: “It that mere asana (forms of physical exercises is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. by adopting different postures) is a component It embodies unity of mind and body; thought of Yoga, the others being yama (moral and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony discipline), niyam (positive duties), between man and nature; a holistic approach to pranayama (breathing techniques), health and wellbeing. It is not about exercise pratyahaara (sense withdrawal), dharana but to discover the sense of oneness with you, (focusing on concentration), dhyna the world and the nature. By changing our (meditation), and samadhi (bliss). lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can Science Behind Yoga: help in wellbeing. Let us work towards adopting Humans undergo varieties of stress. The an International Yoga Day.” Since then Yoga is stresses can appear in physical (while having observed every year with a special theme and disease), emotional (as in feeling of grief) or activities are carried out accordingly psychological (as in being afraid) levels. While throughout the year. In this connection it facing stress, man either reacts or responds. It becomes necessary to understand (1) What is is observed that a majority of men reacts to a Yoga (2) Science behind Yoga (3) Health stress. Depending on the type, degree and benefits following Yoga. mental status man reacts variously to the stress. What is Yoga? Many people under stressful conditions change Yoga means to unite. It takes its origin in their rational behavior by overeating, under ancient India and dates back to pre-Vedic eating, consuming tobacco, alcohol, drugs and

34 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 adopting a more ideal life that results in spiritual health. negative health impacts on body. Practices of Yoga exclusively counter Allostasis is the process of response of the neuro-endocrine hyperactivity and thereby the body which may be acute (short-term) or stabilize the homeostasis. Different disciplines chronic (long- term). The best acute stress of Yoga have a cumulative effect as regards response comes in the form of ‘fight or flight’ boosting the immune system, controlling the reaction during a threatening condition and autonomic system to regulate the functions of the neuro-endocrine system responds promptly cardiovascular and other systems. Several by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are released by the adrenal gland which is situated above both the kidneys and continue to flow into blood stream. The hormones increase the concentration of mind, ability to react, and strengthening the immune system and memory. The secretion is inhibited following the relief of stress. There are two functional parts Practices of Yoga of brain that play a key role in stress. These studies indicate that free radicals are produced serve the functions of emotion and cognitive in body following environmental pollutions. function. Emotional brain consists of amygdala Meditations and different asans reduce the with its connection and medial forebrain. free radicals and protect the cells from harmful Cognitive or logical brain consists of effects. It is studied that the levels of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cingulate antioxidant enzymes are significantly higher cortex. When we hold a posture to concentrate, in human beings. Yoga stimulates the our logical brain is activated and changing parasympathetic division of autonomic posture the relaxation signal is stimulated. nervous system by releasing acetyl-choline Chronic or long term stress, however, poses a and this antagonizes the effects of stress serious problem as the body is on a constant hormones. Immunologically competent cells’ mode of producing enormous amount of stress population rises following Yoga practices due hormones to the blood circulation creating a to moderation in cortisol level. Dopamine, a larger threat to physical, mental, moral and neuro transmitter released from brain, calms

Science Horizon 35 JULY, 2020

making the living better and longer. The various health benefits of Yogic practices are as below. 1. Yogic practices improve the flexibility: This is the prime benefit and noticed subsequently when one practices regular Yoga. Skeletal muscles which cover the long bones and acts on various joints usually get stiff, making the joint down the drug addicts for craving. Yoga also more immobile due to sedentary life style. boosts other brain chemicals like GABA, and Yoga loosens the skeletal muscles and making serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin are called them more flexible. Pain and tenderness in the happy chemicals for feelings of relaxation muscles caused due to spasm tend to disappear and contentment. Serial MRI scans of brain gradually and thus, lifestyle is improved. reveals the enlargement of gray matters of Ligaments, fascia and other connective tissue brain in Yogic practitioners than in the non- abnormalities are corrected, thus, usual practitioners.Brain size thus increases in Yogic postures of body are maintained. This prevents practitioners. Physiological mapping of the the unsteady movements in the elderly. By brain by various methods indicate better exercises muscle strength increases but in development of the area of the brain containing Yoga flexibility is gained. During various mental mappings of body. A Pranayama practice activities our postures relating to head, neck improves the respiratory function by various and back are frequently disorganized. It causes breathing techniques. In normal respiration or terrible pain in the neck and back. Yogic practices in quite breathing lower part of the lungs does restore the normalcy and relieve pain. not take part. So by such Yogic practices the 2. Yogic practices prevent cartilage and lower part of the lungs is well aerated and the joint breakdown: In Yoga, the joints are oxygen saturation level improves and gas subjected to full range of motion which exchange system. prevents further degeneration of joints and Health benefits following Yoga: cartilages. Joint cartilage is like a sponge Yoga has proven health benefits including which receives its nutrients only when its physical, mental, moral and spiritual, thus fluid is squeezed out and a new supply can be

36 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 soaked up. This prevents further wear and tear small vessel walls are innervated by adrenergic of the joints.Spinal discs which are the shock nerves which contain alfa-receptors and absorbers between the vertebrae are well adrenaline acts on it to raise blood pressure maintained so that the compression on spinal for its constricting action. Heart is supplied nerves is prevented. Yogic practices prevent by beta receptors of adrenergic system and the osteoporosis of bones making them more heart rate is increased. Yogic exercises control flexible. the adrenergic drive so that functions of heart 3. Yogic practices increase blood flow: and blood vessels are well controlled. The relaxation exercises improve blood flow 6. Yogic practices regulate adrenal to extremities and the whole part of the body. glands: Normally the adrenal glands secrete in This helps in oxygen supply at the cellular response to an acute crisis which transiently level. Twisting poses tend to wring out venous improves immune function. In some cases the blood from internal organs and allow pouring level of cortisol still remains high after the oxygenated blood once the twist is released. It crisis and can compromise the immune system boosts the levels of hemoglobin and red blood and leave a negative impact on the overall cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues. Yoga functions of brain. High levels of cortisol is thins the blood by making platelets less sticky linked to major depression, osteoporosis of and by altering the clot promoting proteins in bones (due to depletion of calcium from bones blood. These benefits minimize the chances and interferes the laying down of new bone of heart attack and brain strokes. formation),high blood pressure, insulin 4. Yogic practices drain lymph and boost resistance and weight gain due to over eating. immunity: By adopting various postures the Yogic practices control the raised cortisol muscles and organs are stretched and the levels and prevent the above mentioned drainage of lymph flow which is a viscous abnormalities. fluid rich in immune cells is increased. This 7. Yogic practices bring happiness: Yogic helps the lymphatic system to fight infection practices increase the blood levels of serotonin very efficiently and this disposes the toxic and decrease the levels of monoamine oxidase waste products from the cellular level. (an enzyme which breaks down the 5. Yogic practices maintain heart and neurotransmitters) thereby bringing in feelings blood pressure: Various studies undertaken at of calmness and composure. various places indicate that there is a drop in „ Medicine Specialist, both systolic and diastolic blood Gopalgaon, Mirzapokhari Road pressure.Functions of heart are under control Balasore, 756001 Mobile:9040832663 of autonomic nervous system and through e-mail:[email protected] Yogic exercise sinus rhythm of heart is well maintained. It is known that muscle coats of

Science Horizon 37 JULY, 2020 HEPATITIS B : A SERIOUS KILLER

Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty What is Hepatitis? between meals (glycogenolysis) and forms The word hepatitis is derived from the glucose from fatty acids, fat or protein Greek term hepar or hepatos, the meaning of (gluconeogenesis). which is liver and the second part itis is also 3. Liver stores fat. another Greek term denoting a disease. 4. Liver breaks down excess amino acids Hepatitis is a medical terminology like into carboxyl and ammonia (NH3) groups. laryngitis (inflammation of larynx), bronchitis 5. It synthesizes urea. (inflammation of bronchus), pharyngitis 6. It eliminates excretory substances. (inflammation of pharynx), colitis 7. Liver cells detoxicate toxic substances (inflammation of colon) etc. So hepatitis is like prussic acid formed during inflammation of the liver or disease of the metabolism. liver. What is a disease? 8. It forms and breaks down RBCs (red Disease (L. Dis-not; aise – ease) is blood cells). An embryo’s liver is uneasiness or a disorder or want of health in haemopoietic (produces RBC). In adults, mind or body. In simpler words disease is Kupffer cells of liver break down worn ailment or the cause of pain. Accordingly, out and dead RBCs which are eliminated hepatitis is the disorder of the liver. In fact, with faeces (stool). liver is the largest gland of our body located 9. Liver stores iron and copper. inside the chest cavity (thoracic cavity) which is dry blood in colour. Our liver consists of 10. It secretes certain enzymes two lobes like the right lobe and the left lobe. (biocatalysts) which help in metabolism. Liver cells secrete a substance called bile. 11. Prothrombin and fibrogen are formed in Liver is one of the busiest organs of our body liver which are essential for clotting of performing various essential functions (Fig.1). blood. Functions of Liver 12. It secretes heparin which prevents clothing of blood in blood vessels. Liver undertakes various functions as follows: 13. Certain cells of liver (Kupffer cells) phagocytise (eat) bacteria, wornout and 1. It secrets bile. dead RBCs. 2. It forms glycogen from excess glucose 14. It synthesizes Vitamin A (Retinoic Acid (glycogenesis), forms glucose from or Retinol) from carotin. It also stores glycogen when glucose declines in blood Vitamin A, D and B 12. 38 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

Fig.1: Detailed structure of human liver, gall bladder (major portion inside the liver) and associated ducts of gall bladder) 15. Liver forms lymph (a type of fluid). Hepatitis B : a life threatening disease 16. It acts as a reservoir of blood. There are five main forms of hepatitis 17. Liver acts as a store house of emergency namely Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A water. is the least serious problem which is 18. Lypogenesis (formation of fat) takes principally caused due to infected food and place in liver. water especially contaminated food from outside. Among rest of the hepatitis like B, C, 19. Alcoholic metabolism takes place in D and E, hepatitis B is the most serious problem liver. owing to infected blood. In fact, all these 20. Plasma proteins like albumin and types of hepatitis are reported systematically globulin are formed in liver. in medical science particularly in medical From this, it is emphatic that liver microbiology. performs several functions especially solves Hepatitis B is seen because of a very many problems during adverse and hard serious virus. Once infection occurs due to situation of the body.

Science Horizon 39 JULY, 2020 the virus means it can cause severe inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B can lead to chronic liver disease or liver cancer (Hepatocarcinoma). In some people, the virus does not show any symptoms, but simply a skin by cuts sexual contact mild flu-like illness is expressed. needles Hepatitis B virus is a strong virus that resists the usual practices of hygiene. It can contaminated infected blood or blood survive outside the body longer than AIDS mother and her products newborn virus (AIDS virus is HIV or human immune deficient virus) that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Hepatitis B virus can live for more than a week in dried blood on clothing and other surfaces. The Fig.2 : Modes of transmission of hepatitis B virus strength of the hepatitis B virus increases its chances for causing infection. problem is more acute in adults and adolescents as there are multiple probabilities Hepatitis B is widespread. Infected of infection unknowingly. people may not look or feel sick. They may not even know that they are infected. Infants Cure for hepatitis B infection born to infected mothers have a chance of Vaccination is the best way for protection developing chronic infection and death from against infection. All should ensure that their chronic liver disease. Hepatitis B is 100 times children are vaccinated. The Indian Academy more infectious than AIDS. It kills more people of Paediatrics has recommended hepatitis B almost every day than AIDS kills in a year. vaccination for all infants at birth along with Infection of hepatitis B the other six childhood vaccines. More than 90% of people vaccinated develop immunity The virus is passed either directly from to hepatitis B. There are many high risk people those who are already infected or indirectly who come in contact with infected blood of from their body fluids. The modes of people who are not vaccinated. If any children transmission mentioned here are the most are noticed unvaccinated, then consult the common ways of getting this dangerous paediatrician for the needful vaccination. disease (Fig.2). Any one who has been experiencing Hepatitis B can spread in schools. During hypersensitivity or allergy or any sort of recreation period, games, physical education allergic reaction or sensitivity (may be yeast, classes, athletic activities students are prone dust any other types of allergens) should not to be injured or bleed which are the potential be vaccinated. Patients having stated problems sources of infection at school level. The

40 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 need to consult appropriately before seeking LISE MEITNER AND for vaccination. Moreover, pregnant women OTTO HAHN-PART II or mothers should also seek advice from the (The Discovery of Nuclear Fission) physician regarding the hepatitis B vaccine. 1B. Sahoo There is no specific treatment for acute 2H.C. Rai hepatitis B infection. In certain specific cases 3Dr. P.K. Pujapanda interferons can be used but not applicable in Meitner Emigrates from Germany general for all acute cases. In 1933, Hitler had come to power. The Care, Caution and Consciousness for Future ugly and extreme anti-semitism hovered over The major sources of infection of the Jews in Germany. They lived in fear of hepatitis B are injury, cuts, needle prick injury, Auschwitz death camp. Hatred against Jews needle sharing, contaminated blood and blood had spread fast and firm. Meitner was deeply products, surgery and surgical instruments and engaged in her research at Kaiser Wilhelm Institute (KWI). She was so far protected by infected mother. When these are the major her Austrian citizenship; but most of the ways of infection, then everyone at least the Jewish scientists who had elevated German parents must be aware of these incidents or science to an astonishingly high level were occurrences. Mothers need to be extremely dismissed from their posts and emigrated careful during pregnancy and more specifically from Germany, amongst whom were Szilard, all parents need to counsel and explain the Fritz Haber and Meitner’s own nephew Otto aspects of injury to their children through Frisch prominent. However Meitner’s various stories, facts, and figures. position became difficult towards 1938 and Hence, the solution to hepatitis B is danger to her life slowly caught up. Meitner awareness, carefulness and conscious nature with the help of Otto Hahn, the Dutch physicist of both parents as well as children. A few years Denk Coster and Adrian Fokker departed for back hepatitis B was very common, but today Netherlands travelling under cover up to the the rate is reflected to be less because of Dutch border. Before she left Berlin, Hahn carefulness, cautious nature and conscious gave her a diamond ring he had inherited from attitude (3C) of all. This aspect should be his mother to be used as a bribe to the frontier guards if needed. However, it was not needed. applicable to all categories of infectious At the Dutch border, Coster persuaded the diseases like corona also. German immigration officer that she had a „ Postgraduate Department of Zoology permission to go to Netherlands for holidaying. Utkal University, Vani Vihar She reached Netherlands but without her Bhubaneswar – 751004 baggage and only with 10 marks in her purse. Email- [email protected] Mob.-9238571378 Later, Meitner presented the ring to her nephew’s wife.

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She was unable to avail an appointment In November 1938, Meitner was at Niels at Groningen but with the help of Eva von Bohr Bohr’s Institute, Copenhagen, to attend a went to Stockholm, where with the help of conference on theoretical physics. Hahn was Carl Wilhelm Oseen, she took up a job, with also invited to deliver a lecture. Hahn discussed great difficulty, at Manne Siegbahn’s the radium problem with Bohr, Meitner and laboratory. Here she established a cordial Otto Robert Frisch in the outskirts of relationship with Niels Bohr who regularly Copenhagen to keep Hahn’s meeting with travelled between Copenhagen and Meitner a secret; otherwise it would be a Stockholm. Meitner continued to be in regular political problem for Hahn in Nazi Germany. correspondence with Hahn and other German Hahn was advised by Meitner for a thorough scientists. Between Stockholm and Berlin investigation with refined techniques. By the posts were delivered overnight. middle of December 1938, Hahn and In 1938, the Paris group, Irene Curie Strassman got results that were extremely and Pavel Savitch examined the entire mixture bewildering. The three isotopes convincingly of uranium products and had observed a strong behaved like barium, but not as radium. Hahn th activity, whose chemistry they failed to described the results to Meitner on 19 of establish. The Berlin group had also observed December, “we are more and more coming to the same phenomena, but ignoring it they the awful conclusion that our radium isotope analysed the weak activity component with behaves not like radium but like barium. transition metal chemistry. Perhaps you can suggest some fantastic explanation. We ourselves realize that it can’t Identification of Barium really burst into barium.” At the behest of Meitner, Hahn and Meitner replied by return mail, Hahn’s Strassman relooked into the problem and in conclusion of “the bursting of uranium nucleus” October 1938 analysed the curie activity and was very difficult to accept; “it was a thorough- found evidence of isotopes of an alkaline going break up” but assured Hahn that “one earth metal. The metal was detected by the cannot unconditionally say: it is impossible”. use of an organic barium salt isolated by It was the best Christmas present of Meitner Wilhelm Trawbe. Finding of a group II to Hahn. element was a great puzzle. It was not in agreement with other elements discovered till Nuclear Theory Revised then. Hahn suspected it to be an isotope of Meitner and her nephew Otto Frisch, a radium. To get radium, the uranium nucleus nuclear physicist at Bohr Institute, met in had to emit two alpha particles, which at that Sweden just on the eve of Christmas in 1938. period of time, the emission of two alpha They discussed various aspects of nuclear particles was considered most unlikely. theory and Hahn’s findings of barium in neutron Again the idea of obtaining barium from bombardment of uranium. Both of them were uranium by emitting 100 nucleons seemed acquainted with the liquid drop model of the preposterous. nucleus. Now they were able to visualise that

42 Science Horizon JULY, 2020 it was wobbly, oscillating, and susceptible to World War II split into two. They realized that uranium The discovery of fission had a lightening nucleus has split into barium and krypton. effect on the scientific community because These nuclei and related fragments of fission fission had the potential to be used as a weapon. explained the decay chains of processes as Since Germans had an advantage of knowledge; represented below: three illustrious scientists Szilard, Edward Teller and Eugene Wigner (all Jews) jumped into action and persuaded Albert Einstein (also a Jew) to write President Franklin D. Roosevelt a letter of caution in 1940 which ultimately led to the establishment of the Manhattan project in 1942 to make the atomic bomb.

Decay chains of barium and krypton Meitner denied the offer of working in the project at Los Alamos declaring “I have nothing to a bomb”. Meitner Meitner did the mass defect calculation was greatly grieved when she heard that using Einstein’s mass – energy equation E = Hiroshima had been bombed. She wrote that 2 mc and predicted release of enormous amount “she was sorry the bomb had to be invented.” of energy. Hahn’s Internment in Britain (1945) Hahn and Strassmann did communicate In April 1945 Hahn with nine other their first paper to Naturwissenschaften in leading physicists including Max von Lawe December 1938 and reported that they had and Werner Heisenberg were taken into identified the element barium when uranium custody by the Alson Mission and were was bombarded with neutrons. In their second interned at Farm Hall, Godmanchesten near communication published in 10th February Cambridge on the suspicion that they were 1939, they used the name uranium spaltung working on the German Nuclear project to (uranium splitting) and predicted the existence develop an atomic bomb. But Hahn never of barium and liberation of additional worked in such programmes. His only neutrons. Meitner and Frisch who correctly connection was that he had discovered the interpreted the Hahn and Strassmann results fission. Their every conversation indoor and published their paper in Nature on 11th outdoor was recorded with hidden February 1939. These three publications microphones which was a futile exercise. In a established nuclear fission, one of the greatest letter to the higher authorities, the chief officer discoveries in human history and has Major Terrence H. Rittener wrote about his profoundly affected our modern world. prisoners. He described Hahn as “a man of the

Science Horizon 43 JULY, 2020 world. He has been the most helpful of the congratulatory telegram. Hahn learnt about Professors and his sense of humour and his award through the daily Telegraph. Later common sense has saved the day on many his fellow scientists felicitated him on18th occasions. He is definitely disposed to England November with speeches, jokes and songs. and America.” Two of his captors persuaded Hahn to Dropping of Atom Bomb on Hiroshima write a letter to the Nobel committee and Nagasaki accepting the prize on the 4th of December, Hahn came to know of the dropping of but would not be able to attend the Nobel the atom bomb by the American Air Force on ceremony on 10th December since his captors Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th of would not permit him to leave the Farm Hall. August 1945 when he was in his internment at Meitner’s contribution to nuclear fission the Farm Hall. He despaired. was no less significant. However the Nobel The historian Lawrence Badash wrote committee could not perceive her important “Hahn had been first informed about the contribution. Meitner wrote, “Surely Hahn fully Hiroshima on 6th August, 1945 by the British deserved the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. There officer in charge at Farm Hall. The news is really no doubt about it. But I believe that completely shattered him for the fact that his Otto Robert Frisch and I contributed something discovery Fission had made construction of not insignificant to the clarification of the atom bomb possible, and that he was thus process of uranium fission, how it originates personally responsible for thousands of deaths and that it produces so much energy and that in Japan. Long before he had contemplated was something very remote from Hahn.” suicide when he first recognised the possible Many historians based on documents on military use of fission; now with the blame of their correspondence, have expressed their its realisation drawn squarely upon his shoulders views that Meitner should have been awarded suicide again became a way of escape his the Nobel Prize with Hahn. It was a classic desolation. Fearing this, Max von Lawe remained case of Matilda effect. with him until he passed these personal crises. Hahn, Heisenberg and von Lawe were Never has social responsibility hit a scientist allowed to return to Germany on 3rd January with such impact.” 1946 and were brought to Gottingen, which Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1944 was then controlled by the British Occupation On 15th of November 1945, the Royal Authorities. Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize Swedish Academy declared that Otto Hahn has on 10 December and King Gustav V of Sweden been awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in presented him the Nobel Prize medal and the Chemistry for the discovery of nuclear fission Diploma. of heavy atomic nuclei. Voice against Nuclear Weapons Hahn was still being detained in the Meitner was a calm and quiet personality. Farm Hall. His whereabouts were unknown. She did not want publicity and never wrote her The Nobel Committee could not send him a autobiography. After the end of the World War

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II, she was active at Siegbahn’s Nobel Institute In 1959, he became the co-founder of in Sweden for physics. In 1947, a personal the Federation of German scientists committed position was created for her at the University to the ideal of responsible use of science. He college of Stockholm. She assisted in never ceased to warn great powers of the Sweden’s first nuclear reactor. In 1960, she world on the dangers of nuclear arms race and left Stockholm for Cambridge, England. There radioactive contamination of the planet. she died in the year 1968. The philosopher Sir Karl R. Popper Meitner, the prodigy, the outstanding admired Hahn as a scientist and a human being. physicist, the discoverer of the theory of He once wrote “Hahn’s peace work was simply, fission is no longer with us. Her contribution that knowing more than other citizens about to science was a great leap forward to shape the atomic weapons, he felt it his duty to speak nuclear world. It was time to create an edifice about this issue that was so crucial to mankind.” to perpetuate her memory. The noblest symbol Hahn founded the Max Planck Society in 1948, with which she is honoured and ever and was its President till 1948. He was a warm, remembered is christening the new element humorous and charming person and gained 109 as meitnerium, the discovery of one worldwide respect. Hahn died on 28th July atom of which was announced on August 28, 1968. The day after his death, Max Planck 1982 by the German scientists led by Society issued the following obituary:- Armbruster and Gottfried Menzenberg by “0n 28th July in his 90th year our bombarding a target of 209 Bi with Honorary President Otto Hahn passed away. accelerated nuclei of 58 Fe, later confirmed His name will be recorded in the history of by workers at Dubna, USSR. humanity as the founder of atomic age. In Now the scientist Hahn became him Germany and the world has lost a scholar concerned with politics, world peace and who was distinguished in equal measure by organisation of science. He strongly reacted his integrity and personal humility. The Max to the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima Planck Society mourns its founder, who and Nagasaki and came out strongly against continued the tasks and traditions of the the use of nuclear power for military uses. In Kaiser Wilhelm Society after the war, and mourns also a good and much loved human 1956, with 52 Nobel Laureates from all parts being, who will live in the memories of all of the world, appealed all Nations against the who had the chance to meet him. His work use of nuclear weapons and the dangers it will continue. We remember him with deep poses for mankind. In 1957, together with gratitude and admiration.” several leading German scientists, he „ protested against the proposed nuclear arming 1Former Professor, Chemistry, IIT, Kharagpur of the newly created West German. In 1958, 2Former Professor, Chemistry, LS College, Muzaffarpur 3 Hahn signed the Pauling appeal to the United Former Reader, Dhenkanal Autonomous College, Dhenkanal Nations in New York for immediate conclusion of an International Agreement to prevent nuclear weapon testing and its proliferation. Science Horizon 45 JULY, 2020

9. Which of the followings is a self-care guideline QUIZ: for preventive health measures and boosting immunity by Ministry of AYUSH? COVID 19 a) Drink warm water throughout the day b) Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama Birat Raja Padhan and meditation for at least 30 minutes 1. CORONA is a ———— c) Turmeric, cumin, coriander and garlic are a) Bacteria b) Parasite recommended in cooking c) Virus d) Protozoa d) All of the above 2. Where was the first Covid-19 case found in 10. Which state of India is highly affected by India? Covid-19? a) Delhi b)Maharastra a) Gujurat b) Delhi c) Kerala d) Gujurat c) Madhya Pradesh d) Mumbai 3. What is the normal body temperature of 11. What is the minimum recommended safe human being? distance (in feet, as per Aarogya Setu App) a) 30-40°C b) 36.5-37°C to avoid getting COVID-19 in India? c) 35.5-36.5°C d) 38.5-39.5°C a) 2 b) 4 c) 6 d) 8 4. What are the major symptoms of Covid-19? 12. What is Covid-19? a) Cough, dry cough b) shortness of breath a) Covid-19 is the Official name assigned to c) Fever d) All the above the novel Corona virus 5. By which organisation was Covid-19 declared b) Structure of Virus as global pandemic? c) Code of virus a) WHO b) UNESCO d) Character of virus c) UNDP d) USA 13. What is the cause of corona viruses? 6. Name the App developed by the Govt of a) Corona virus is transmitted by water India to fight COVID-19? b) Corona virus can be seen with the eye. a) Ministry of Ayush b) Aarogya setu c) Coronaviruses are highly contagious and c) Covid-19 d) Corona App can spread from person to person. 7. What is the minimum duration of washing the d) None of the above hands to avoid Covid-19? 14. What should be the minimum percentage of a) 10 seconds b) 15 seconds alcohol in hand sanitizer? c) 20 seconds d) 25 seconds a) 40% b) 30% c) 60% d) 50% 8. Which type of mask is the best for Medical 15. What is the incubation period of Corona personnel as safeguard to prevent the viruses? transmission of Covid-19? a) Up to 7 days b) Up to 14 days a) Surgical mask b)N-95 mask c) Up to 21 days d) Up to 28 days c) cotton mask d) any clothes 46 Science Horizon JULY, 2020

16. The immunity which is extremely important in RECENT NEWS ON very early days of any infection and becomes much more important in the case of diseases SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY that the individual has not encountered such as * * * Covid-19______. A Nose-Horned Dragon a) Innate immunity b) Self immunity Lizard Lost to Science for c) Adaptive immunity d) None of the above over 100 Years has been 17. Corona virus (Covid-19) mainly affects____ Found a) Respiratory system Nearly 130 years ago, Italian explorer b) Nervous system Elio Modigliani found a striking lizard — c) Circulatory system notable for a horn that protrudes from its nose d) Urinogenital system and it was named Harpsaurus modiglianii, in 18. The accumulation of responses the defense 1933. But no accounts of anyone finding another system of an individual mounts against infectious such lizard has ever been recorded, until now. diseases, allergens etc. (the infectious diseases In June 2018, Chairunas Adha Putra, an can be by viruses or bacteria) is called ___ independent wildlife biologist conducting a bird a) Immunity b) Booster survey in a mountainous region surrounding c) Defence Mechanism d) Growth Lake Toba in Indonesia’s North Sumatra, had 19. Where was the first case of Covid-19 found? found such a lizard again. The rediscovery offers a) Madrid,Spain b) Wuhan, China a glimmer of hope for the lizard’s conservation. b) Hanoi,China d) Beijing-China Before the reptile resurfaced, no one knew 20. What is Isolation or Quarantine? where exactly Modigliani’s lizard lived, or a) Keeping away from children and Old age whether it had already gone extinct. people to avoid the risk of diseases b) Keeping infected people away from others, so that disease cannot spread. c) Keeping away from family members d) None of the above ANSWER 01. (c) 02. (c) 03. (b) 04. (d) 05. (a) 06. (b) 07. (c) 08. (b) 09. (d) 10. (d) Physicists Entangle 15 Trillion 11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (c) 14. (c) 15. (b) 16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (b) Hot Atoms „ Physicists set a new record by linking Benkamura, Po.-Pandari together a hot soup of 15 trillion atoms in a Via-Banaharpali, Jharsuguda-768234 E-mail:[email protected] bizarre phenomenon called quantum Mob.-9937271623 entanglement. The finding could be a major Science Horizon 47 JULY, 2020 breakthrough for creating more accurate The Nobel Prize in Physics 2001 was awarded to sensors to detect ripples in space-time called Eric Cornell, Wolf gang Ketterle and Carl Wieman gravitational waves or even the elusive dark for achieving BEC in dilute gases of alkali atoms matter thought to pervade the universe. in the laboratory 25 years ago for the first time. Entanglement, a quantum phenomena, that Scientists now routinely create BECs in hundreds Albert Einstein famously described as “spooky of labs across the world. For the first time scientists action at a distance,” is a process in which two or have observed BEC in the experiments done more particles become linked and any action aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA performed on one instantaneously affects the scientists unveiled its first results on 12 June others regardless of how far apart they are. 2020. The research documents startling Entanglement lies at the heart of many emerging differences in the properties of BECs created on technologies, such as quantum computing and Earth and those aboard the ISS. cr\SWRJUDSK\ Solar Eclipse 2020 The researchers heated a small glass $QDQQXODUVRODUHFOLSVHRFFXUUHG RQ tube filled with vaporized rubidium and June 21, 2020. When the Sun, the Moon, and LQHUWQLWURJHQJDV WR  GHJUHHV &HOVLXV the Earth are aligned in a straight line or an coincidentally the perfect temperature to bake almost straight configuration, such that the cookies. At this temperature, the hot cloud of Moon comes between the Sun and Earth blocking rubidium atoms is in a state of chaos, with the rays of Sun from directly reaching the Earth, thousands of atomic collisions taking place every we witness a solar eclipse. Based on the second. Like billiard balls, the atoms bounce off alignment, there are three kinds of solar eclipses each other, transferring their energy and spin. — total, partial, and annular — along with the But unlike classical billiards, this spin does not addition of a rare hybrid of an annular and a total represent the physical motion of the atoms. In solar eclipse. This year’s solar eclipse was an quantum mechanics, spinLV D IXQGDPHQWDO annular eclipse where the Moon was so far from property of particles, just like mass or electric the Earth that its relative size failed to cover the charge, that gives particles an intrinsic angular Sun completely and left the outer rims visible, momentum. thus creating a ring of fire in the sky. Bose-Einstein Condensate The annular belt of the eclipse in India Observed in Space SDVVHGWKURXJK FLWLHV OLNH -RVKLPDWK DQG Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) is the Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Sirsa in Haryana, parts fifth state of matter (the other four states are of Rajasthan, but partial eclipse was witnessed solid, liquid, gas and plasma). Its existence was from every corner of the country. Solar Eclipse predicted by Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath 2020 marked one of the only 5 such instances Bose almost a century ago. These are formed where a maximum solar eclipse was visible when the atoms of certain elements are cooled IURP,QGLDLQDWLPHIUDPHRIWKHQH[W\HDrs. Compiled by to near absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -273.15°C). EDITOR 48 Science Horizon