January 22, 2021 Volume 2, Issue 2

EPISTEMEIISER Berhampur's Science Magazine

On God, Mythology, Superstition, Learning and Scientific Temper Page 1 FACULTY Ritika Sethi ADVISORS Sanyam Gupta Dr. Jose Sebastian Rabi Sankar Pal Dr. Senthil Raani KS Dr. Adinarayana Doddi OUTREACH TEAM Dr. Victor Mukherjee Gyanaranjan Parida Arushi Mishra STUDENT BOARD Ayesha Dash Hardik Khurana (Editor) Nishant Parida Purbasha Dasgupta Sudev Pradhan (Co-Editor) Soumyojit Chatterjee Gyanaranjan Parida Niraj Gupta Aditya Iyer Rishikesh Pandey Ankita Misra Akshay Sreyas Kanika Phagna REVIEW TEAM Sai Kaarthik Ankita Misra U Abinash Patro Aiendrila Roy Amrutha Nambiar Ayesha Dash Rithik Rathod Gayatri Subhalaxmi Pranav Pradhan Haris Avudaiyappan Kumar Gaurav DESIGN TEAM Nabendu Sekhar Mishra Aditya Iyer Neehar Verma Sayantani Biswas Om Dwivedi Manish Dwari On behalf of the entire team of Episteme, we extend an ardent welcome to the iPhDs and the entire batch of BS-MS 20. To you and to all others, we would like to pass on this message:

NOTE In times that none foresaw and all suffered a great deal, FROM THE we have persevered and we shall continue to do so. We would also like to extend a special thanks to all the EDITOR clubs for their continued support towards Episteme.

- Hardik Khurana CONTENTS

On God, Mythology, Superstition, 1 Learning and Scientific Temper 3 The Origami of Life 5 Visualizing √2 Chemistry of Co-crystals : A Secret 9 of Patience in Crystallography 11 The Inflationary Universe 13 ABO and Cancer 15 Latin and Euler Square 18 Viruses That Cause Cancer Rydberg Atoms in Quantum 20 Technologies Curcumin: Journey from Kitchen to 22 Surgical Strike Against Cancer Cells 24 History of Zero 27 Inside the COVID Testing Lab 30 The Tiny Plant Wanderers 32 Entering the Hypersonic Era 34 Search for Twinkling Stars on Earth 36 Eating the Rainbow 38 Frozen But Not Solid? Potential Applications of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Metal 41 Complexes in Industrial Processes

Tabletop World: Sustainable Ecological Cycle to Space 43 Colonization

Recent XENON1T Anomaly and its 45 Implications

Our Small Change To The Diet Could Be A Big Positive Change In 47 The Environment Once A Failure, Eventually Fetched A Nobel!: 49 The Ligo 51 Science Quiz 53 Comics OPINION On God, Mythology, Superstition, Learning and Scientific Temper by Prof. Promod K. Yadava

ur nation distinguishes itself by the mention of scientific temper in its constitution but our social behaviour, our colourful culture Oand tradition and most of our artistic manifestations in paintings, sculpture, music, drama and dance commonly connect with mythology which we accept as literal truth. It is here that the problem arises. The creative imaginations of the forms of God with general anthropomorphism except for multiple heads and arms, chimeric constructions with animal heads or sometimes the entire animal body with a human frame as in some other cases. Philosophical churning of religion and spiritualism is a different exercise left for intellectuals of the privileged sections. It is an outcome of the latter that leads to postulations of concepts like “adwaita” (if one wants to translate it would be non-duality). There have been many debates questioning the very existence of God.

The scientific attempts to retrace the origin of the Universe have led to the big bang model. We should be in no rush to claim pioneer ship of knowing the origin of Universe thousands of years before the modern scientists arrived at it beyond abroad qualitative similarity between the two lines of conclusion. Unfortunately, we get emotionally attached to the idea of being pioneers. It is common to find someone saying our ancestors knew everything including relativity and quantum mechanics, let alone movement of the celestial bodies so many thousands of years ago. We ignore the fact that all knowledge is socially generated and we should be grateful to all contributors to building of what we call conscience. We may not be able to recall each turning point in our conscience building which is a continuous process and keeps incorporating inputs from diverse sources. What we carry are mere consensual thoughts to which we have tacitly consented to abide. Thus no one is wrong simply because her/his understanding of a subject is different from yours. Yet in context with situations that have been verified and validated for their coordinates, one can allow only standard deviations. For example, it is nearly certain that God and, most certainly God forms are a creation of the human mind. Similarly, it is quite clear that diverse biological systems are descendants of common progenitors. All religions are created and propagated by humans. However, each system projects to be the best and ultimate truth and shields itself to be beyond worldly reasoning because it is created by God who can at best be a nameless, faceless entity. As Buddha told his followers not to believe in something simply because it got a place in a book or it was told by your parents or it was taught in a certain way in the classroom, find reasons and then convince yourself and carry forward. We 01 have certain predispositions. For to compel each individual to example, if we are asked whether conform to an assumed normal we believe in God, most of us will behaviour like observing rituals say yes without taking an extra lest inauspicious consequences and if the next question even of good work. We have is whether we believe in aliens, been selected to be continuously most of the same people will say thinking and creating new ideas no. Reason for the latter would be and new tools. Building upon because we have not seen them this realization of being uniquely but no questions asked in the blessed with the capability to former context. This is where we design and develop new tools, need to be more reasonable. the world ushered into a new era of industrial development Our learning can be well-founded which brought with it the boons in reasons but what we do in and curse of modernity. While day-to-day life is often based in we have got addicted to many faith, accepted without reasons of the new tools and consider or rhymes. We find it interesting them indispensable, we have also to replay stories from mythology noticed the challenges posed by and there cannot be question materials of our own creation about their being interesting like the polymers and biocidal and quite often articulate and at chemicals as threatening the times touching practical life and very continuance of biological ethics. If we want to retain them systems the way they have so as works of fiction, it should not far been. Shall we consider a cause problem Let the lesson be zero-technology lifestyle or that human mind is fictitious and continue to develop appropriate capable of reconstructing what technologies? Some of us may does not really exist. Ethics, outright say no while others would a set of self-restraining norms think of finding technological produced by the human mind, solutions of technologically are meant to ensure harmonious created problems. Likewise, on co-existence of all human beings the issue of disparity based on vis-à-vis all constituents of our colour, gender, race and other environment, living as well as congenital attributes, the opinion non-living. One may ask whether may be varied but we need to we need the ethical norms develop a more parable society. which have no obvious link with The pursuit of Science enables reasons. We have two levels of us to find ways and of existence viz., individual and reasoning and culminate into collective. It is for our collective an understanding society. There co-existence that we need ethics. are no last words in Science In the longer run, it is in the and hence we continue studying interest of all. It is experimentally science. proven that altruism in longer run seems to benefit the species and hence it seems to be reasonable to include it as an ethical norm. This immediately points to the of festivity, and mythology-related platforms as relevant and necessary to ensure prolonged togetherness of humans. Yet it will be unfair 02 BIOLOGY The Origami of Life by Akankshya Sahu

rigami is a traditional interactions, which are determined Japanese art of paper by the sequence of amino acids and Ofolding to make models facilitated by the chaperones to of inanimate objects, animals ensure that proteins fold correctly and flowers. Anyone can easily and become thermodynamically learn it by following illustrative stable to form complex levels of instructions. But imagine that protein structures [2] [3]. The you’re told to make an origami, classic experiment by Anfinsen say of a paper crane, that too and his colleagues in 1950s without any instruction manual. on the protein ribonuclease is As you craft your origami, you remarkable! They treated native take care that the fold and shape ribonuclease with denaturating are proper. Well, the mechanism agents which break the hydrogen of protein folding is driven via bonds and disulfide bridges that similar modus operandi. A linear resulted in an unfolded structure. sequence of amino acids performs As a result, the protein was unable the job with so much precision to function anymore. When that it ends up to form a stable the agents were removed, the and functional 3D structure out of denatured ribonuclease refolded innumerable conformations in a spontaneously with all covalent fraction of seconds. & non covalent bonds accurately Proteins are one of the most reformed and its catalytic activity abundant organic molecules in restored as it was before. Thus, he living organisms. They are made postulated “Anfinsen’s Dogma” up of the same fundamental which says that the ‘protein’s building blocks – the Amino amino acid sequence contains Acids, yet they come in diverse the information required to form shapes, sizes & molecular weights. a native structure in a standard They are vital “molecular players” physiological environment and it of our body, and they have their is essential for protein function.’ unique functions. They not only After all the discussion, I want you form structural parts of cellular to ponder upon the question – How entities but also act as transporters, does a protein arrive at its native cellular signals and metabolic conformation? We shall have a enzymes. look at a thought experiment called The primary structure of a protein the “Levinthal’s Paradox” [4] [5]. is like pearls embedded on a long Based on the magnitude of φ, ψ & string which are nothing but amino ω angles around the covalent bond acids connected by peptide bonds between subsequent amino acids [1]. It folds spontaneously and is (see diagram), a peptide linkage held together by several molecular might exist in three conformations 03 (other non- covalent interactions disease, Huntington’s disease and Systems: Proceedings of a also contribute to differential Parkinson’s disease [10]. In these meeting held at Allerton House, conformations of a protein). diseases, formation of harmful Monticello, Illinois. Editors: Hence, for a polypeptide chain amyloid fibres takes place which J. T. P. DeBrunner and E. with 101 amino acids, i.e., 100 leads to cellular dysfunction and MunckUniversity of Illinois bonds, 3100 conformation can finally, cell death. Press (1969). Pages 22-24. be theoretically configured. Nowadays, the approach of getting 5. Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, However, only one of these computers on work to predict J. L., Gatto, G. J., &Stryer, L. configurations corresponds to and analyze protein structures (2019). Biochemistry. New the native state leading to the is a trend. Supercomputers like York: W.H. Freeman/McMillan functionality of the protein. Even IBM Blue Gene are specially Learning. if the protein is able to sample designed to simulate protein 6. Kubelka, J., Hofrichter, new configurations at a rate of folding. Surprisingly, while J., & Eaton, W. A. (2004). 1013/second, it will take 1.6*1027 sitting right now on your PC,with The protein folding ‘speed limit.’ years to try them all which is some simple Current Opinion in Structural beyond the probable age of the tools like Rosetta@home and Biology, 14(1), 76–88. https://doi. Universe [6]. available databases of amino org/10.1016/j.sbi.2004.01.013 It can be speculated from the acid sequences, you can design 7. Dill, K. A., Ozkan, S. B., above mentioned paradox proteins on your own! Such Shell, M. S., & Weikl, T. that protein folding must advancements are useful for R. (2008). The Protein Folding follow a kinetically and selection of suitable proteins for Problem. Annual Review of thermodynamically controlled research purpose, studying effects Biophysics, 37(1), 289–316. definitive pathway to form the of misfolding and designing https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev. native structure. The generally structure-based life-saving drugs biophys.37.092707.153558 accepted idea is that to consider for targetting diseases. 8. Chikenji, G., Fujitsuka, an energy landscape similar to By solving the “protein folding Y., & Takada, S. (2006). Shaping the shape of a folding funnel problem”with fundamental up the protein folding funnel with different conformations principles and novel approaches, by local : Lesson of a protein represented with one day we will certainly from a structure prediction their respective energies and the understand the perfection ofthe study. Proceedings of the native conformation having the origami that drives life. National Academy of Sciences, least energy is at the apex of the 103(9), 3141-3146. https://doi. funnel. When a protein is folding, REFERENCES org/10.1073/pnas.0508195103 it will pass through formation of 1. Sadava, D. E., Hillis, D. 9. Scior, A., Juenemann, one conformation into another in M., Heller, C. H., & Hacker, S. K., & Kirstein, J. (2016). an order of decreasing energies, D. (2016). Life: The Science of Cellular strategies to cope with going downhill the funnel, to Biology (11th Edition) W. H. protein aggregation. Essays finally form a native conformation Freeman. in Biochemistry, 60(2), 153– [7] [8]. This hypothesis is 2. Freeman, S., Quillin, K., 161. https://doi.org/10.1042/ ambiguous as scientists still need Allison, L., Black, M., Taylor, E., ebc20160002 to experimentally determine the Podgorski, G., & Carmichael, J. 10. Hayat, M. (2015). pathway of protein folding. (2016). Biological Science (6th Introduction to Autophagy. Just like we may go wrong Edition) Pearson. Autophagy: Cancer, Other while folding an origami paper, 3. Lehninger, A. L., Nelson, Pathologies, Inflammation, some mishaps may happen D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2017). Immunity, Infection, and Aging, during protein folding leading 4.4/ Protein denaturation and 1–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/ to the loss of functionality of the folding. In Lehninger principles b978-0-12-801043-3.00001-7 misfolded protein. This happens of biochemistry (7th ed., pp. 416- due to genetic mutations and 441). New York: W. H. Freeman stressful cellular conditions[9]. and Company. Such misfolded proteins are a 4. Levinthal C. How to hallmark for several diseases like fold graciously.Mossbauer Type II Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Spectroscopy in Biological 04 Visualizing √2 by Animesh Nayak

n this article, we will use a contradiction. In this section, geometric figures to understand we will use a similar procedure, I√2. In the first section titled i.e., proof by contradiction with “Geometric Proof of Irrationality geometrical arguments to prove of √2", we will prove that √2 √2 is irrational. is irrational by modifying the We begin by assuming √2 is a standard approach. In our approach, rational number. Then, √2 can we will assume √2 is not irrational be expressed as the ratio of two and use geometric arguments to whole numbers a and b. In other arrive at a contradiction. This words,√2 = a/b which implies proof was discovered by Stanley 2b2 = a2. So, according to our Tennenbaum and is included in assumption, it is possible to find the paper “Irrationality From two whole numbers a and b such The Book"[1] by Steven J. Miller that 2b2 = a2. Since a and b are and David Montague, in which whole numbers, we can choose they generalize the idea to √n for a pair of whole numbers a and b n = 3, 5, 6, 10.The next section, which satisfy the above-stated titled “Continued Fractions, property and are smaller than Pell's Equation and Visualizing every other possible pairs. Let m √2", is inspired from a YouTube and n be those two numbers. Then, video “Visualising irrationality as seen in the figure 1, the sum of with triangular squares"[2] by areas of the two green squares Mathologer. In this section, we with sides n units must be equal will learn how to: express square to the area of the red square with roots of every non-square whole sides m units. number as continued fractions, Now take a look at figure 2. Here generate a sequence of rational we have moved the two green approximations to those irrationals squares onto the red square. and find non-trivial integer The yellow region represents the solutions to Pell's equation. This overlap of the two green squares. knowledge will allow us to create Since the sum of areas of the two a visual representation of √2. green squares is equal to the area of the red square, therefore the area of the overlapping region (yellow Geometric Proof of square) must be equal to the area Irrationality of√2 of the of the omitted region (two Before we begin, let’s remember smaller red squares). This fact is how the standard proof of irrationality of √2 works. In a nutshell, we assume √2 is a rational number and then use a series of logical arguments to arrive at Figure 1: n2 + n2 = m2 05 Now the proof of irrationality of of √n to find non-trivial integer √2 is complete. solutions. The aim of this Before we proceed further, I subsection is to find the non- would like to draw your attention trivial positive integer solutions to the figures 1, 2 and 3, which to n = 2 case of Pell's equation, i.e. have allowed us to visualize the x2 - 2y2 = 1. The third subsection, proof. According to our proof, titled "Visual Representation of these figures should not exist. √2"[2], concludes this article And before you question the with a visual representation of Figure 2: m - n < n and 2n - m < m mathematically rigorous and √2. In this subsection, the non- shown in figure 3. visually elegant proof, know the trivial positive integer solutions Geometrically, it is clear that we following. The numbers, i.e., m to n=2 case of Pell's equation have found two identical squares and n, have been selected in such are used to construct a geometric with sides smaller than n (red a way that the difference in the pattern, which when extended squares in figure 3) such that the area is one square unit. indefinitely, give rise to squares 2 2 sum of their areas is equal to a m = 99; n = 70;m - 2n = 1, Since with sides x and y units such that square with sides smaller than the difference is comparatively y/x =√2. m (yellow square in figure 3). small, I was able to illustrate But m and n were the smallest the impossible. At this point, we can ask the following question: Continued Fractions and whole numbers which satised Convergents this property. So, we have arrived "What other values of a and b can Continued Fraction at a contradiction and therefore, we take to mimic this behaviour?” A continued fraction is an the proof must be complete. And the answer is simple, i.e., all non-trivial integer solutions of expression of a number as the the equation a2 - 2b2 = 1. In the sum of an integer and a quotient, next section, we will learn more the denominator of which is the about this equation and use that sum of an integer and a quotient, knowledge to create at a visual and so on. In general, representation of √2. Figure 3: (m - n)2 + (m - n)2 = (2n - m)2 But before we say our proof Continued Fractions, is complete, let us attempt to increase the rigorousness of this Pell's Equation and proof by proving the following Visualizing √2 claims algebraically: This section is further divided where a , a ,a ... and b , b , b ,... Claim: m-n < n 0 1 2 0 1 2 into three subsections. The first are all integers. Proof: Let’s assume m-n ≥ n. subsection, titled "Continued Then m ≥ 2n which implies Fractions and Convergents"[3] m/n ≥ 2 > √2. This contradicts Simple Continued Fraction [4], introduces the concept If b = 1 for all i, then the our assumption, i.e., m/n =√2. of continued fractions and i Therefore, m - n < n. expression is called a simple convergents of a continued continued fraction. Claim: 2n - m < m fraction. The aim of this subsection Proof: Since n < m, therefore A simple continued fraction can is to calculate the simple be represented by the abbreviated m-n is a positive integer and continued fraction expression n-(m-n) < m, i.e., 2n - m < m notation [a0; a1; a2; a3;...]. All of √2 and find the sequence integers in the sequence, other Claim: of convergents of the simple 2 2 2 than the first, must be positive. (m - n) + (m - n) = (2n - m) continued fraction expression of Proof: We need to show √2. The second subsection, titled 2 2 2 (m - n) + (m - n) = (2n - m) "Pell's Equation"[5], defines 2 2 i.e. 2(m - n) - (2n - m) = 0. Pell's equation (x2 - ny2 = 1) and 2 2 2 2(m - n) - (2n - m) = (2m + 2n - describes an algorithm which 2 2 4mn) - (4n + m - 4mn) uses convergents of the simple 2 2 2 2 = m - 2n = (√2n) - 2n = 0 continued fraction expression 06 The integers ai are called the Continued Fraction coefficients or terms of the Expression of √n continued fraction. A process which can be used to arrive at a continued fraction Finite and Infinite Continued expression of square roots of Fraction positive non-square integers is If the simple continued fraction given below. Pell's Equation expression of a number contains a finite number of terms, it is Definition Pell's equation is any polynomial called a finite continued fraction. equation of the form Similarly, if it contains an infinite x2 - ny2 = 1 number of terms, it is called an where n is a given positive infinite continued fraction. non-square integer and integer Replacing √n in the RHS yields solutions are sought for x and y. Continued Fraction the following equality: Solutions Expression of a Rational Pell's equation has infinitely Number many distinct integer solutions, The simple continued fraction including the trivial solution representation for a rational with x = 1 and y = 0. Continued number is finite and only fractions play an essential role in rational numbers have finite the solution of Pell's equation. representations. Therefore, the For example, for positive integers 2 number of terms ai in the simple Repeating this process for infinite x and y, and non-square n, if x - continued fraction representation steps results in the following: ny2 = 1, then x/y is a convergent of a rational number of terms is of the simple continued fraction finite; for example, 415/93 = [4, for √n. 2, 6, 7]. Fundamental Solution via Continued Fractions

Let hi/ki, denote the sequence Continued Fraction Simple Continued Fraction of convergents to the simple Expression of an Irrational Expression of √2 continued fraction representation Number for √n. Then the pair (x1, y1) Every infinite continued fraction solving Pell's equation (x2 - ny2 is irrational, and every irrational = 1) and minimizing x satises x1 number can be represented in = hi and y1 = ki for some i. This precisely one way as an infinite pair is called the fundamental simplied continued fraction. solution. Thus, the fundamental Therefore, the number of terms a Convergents i An infinite simple continued solution may be found by in the simple continued fraction performing the simple continued representation of a irrational fraction representation for an irrational number is useful because fraction expansion and testing number of terms is infinite; for each successive convergent until example, √3 = [1; 1,2], in which its initial segments provide rational approximations to the a solution to Pell's equation is the bar spans the sequence of found. terms that repeats indefinitely. number. These rational numbers Since this article is focused on are called the convergents of the √2, we will ignore transcendental simple continued fraction. Additional Solutions numbers entirely and focus on Convergents of √2 from the Fundamental square roots of positive non- Solution square integers, which is a Once the fundamental solution very small subset of algebraic is found, all remaining solutions irrational numbers. (xk,yk) may be calculated 07 algebraically from squares with sides xk+1 and yk+1 recurrence relations xk+1 = 3xk k xk + yk√n = (x1 + y1√n) units from squares with sides xk + 4yk and yk+1 = 2xk + 3yk to k+1 xk+1 + yk+1√n = (x1 + y1√n) and yk units, where (xi; yi) are generate squares with sides xi k = (x1 + y1√n) (x1 + y1√n) the non-trivial positive integer and yi and continue indenitely in

= (xk + yk√n)(x1 + y1√n) solutions of n = 2 case of Pell's order to obtain squares with sides 2 2 = (x1xk + ny1yk) + (x1yk + equation (x - 2y = 1), is shown x∞ and y∞ such that y1xk)√2 in figure 4. x∞/y∞= √2. This yields the recurrence relations

xk+1 = x1xk + ny1yk,

yk+1 = x1yk + y1xk Solutions of x2 - 2y2 = 1, i.e., n = 2 case of Pell's Equation Trivial Solution

x0 = 1; y0 = 0 Figure 5: Visual Representation of √2 Fundamental Solution REFERENCES [1] Steven J. Miller and David Montague. IrrationalityFrom Figure 4: x = 3x + 4y and y = 2x + 3y k+1 k k k+1 k k The Book. 2009.arXiv: 0909.4913v3 [math.HO]. Let us prove the claims made in [2] Mathologer. Visualising figure 4 algebraically: irrationality with triangular Claim: x = 3x + 4y k+1 k k squares. YouTube. accessed on Proof: Since x = 3; y = 2, 1 1 Oct. 2, 2020. url: https://youtu. therefore be/yk6wbvNPZW0. x = x x + 2y y = 3xk + 4y k+1 1 k 1 k k [3] Encyclopaedia Britannica, Claim: y = 2x + 3y k+1 k k Inc. accessed on Oct. 2, Additional Solution Proof: Since x = 3; y = 2, 1 1 2020. url: https://www. therefore y = y x + x y = 2x k+1 1 k 1 k k britannica.com/science/ + 3y . k continued-fraction. Claim: x 2 - 2y 2 = 1 k+1 k+1 [4] Continued fraction. Proof: Since x 2 - 2y 2 = 1, k k Wikipedia. accessed on Oct. 2, therefore 2020. url: https:// x 2 - 2y 2 k+1 k+1 en.wikipedia.org/w/index = (3x + 4y )2 - 2(2x + 3y )2 k k k k php?title=Continued_ = x 2 - 2y 2 = 1 k k fraction&oldid= 980449968. => (x , y ) is a solution of n = k+1 k+1 [5] Pell's equation. Wikipedia. 2 case of Pell's equation. accessed on Oct. 2, 2020. url: We know that the sequence https://en.wikipedia . org / w / of non-trivial positive integer index . php ? title = Pell % 27s _ These solutions can be used to solutions (x , y ) of n = 2 case of i i equation & oldid =980884884. 2 2 accurately approximate √2 by Pell's equation (x - 2y = 1) can 10 rational numbers of the form x/y be used to accurately approximate , i.e., √2 by rational numbers of the

form xi/yi and

limiti->∞xi/yi = √2. Therefore, to create a visual Visual Representation of representation of √2 (as shown in √2 figure 5), we start from squares

A geometric process to generate with sides x1 and y1, use the 08 CHEMISTRY Chemistry of Co-crystals A secret of patience in crystallography by Sanjay Biswas & Sayan Pal

o-crystal is a crystalline Crystallization entity formed by two Methods or more different C There are many synthetic molecular entities. The individual strategies that are available to components are interconnected prepare co-crystals depending via non-covalent intermolecular on the chemical properties (air interactions like hydrogen bonding, sensitivity, moisture sensitivity, halogen bonding and π-π stacking, ability for hydrogen bonding Van der Waals interactions rather or any other interactions and than by ion pairing. The analysis reactivity with certain solvents) of co-crystal structures in the of the compounds. Some common Cambridge Structural Database methods like Slow evaporation, (CSD) shows that hydrogen Vapour diffusion, Grinding bonds are the predominant form method, Anti-solvent method, of interaction between co-crystal Solution method, Slow cooling are components. The chemical standard for co-crystallization. and physical properties of the co-crystals undergo drastic "Patience is the major thing changes upon co-crystallization that one needs to remember in comparison to the starting to get ideal co-crystals!!" materials and this is a consequence of alterations in the formation of new intermolecular interactions. Nucleation and Crystal A co-crystal is only expected to Growth form if it is thermodynamically Nucleation is formation of new more stable than the crystals of its thermodynamic phase or new components. This report gives a structure via self assembly of brief review of co-crystallization atoms, ions or molecules. The and also highlights the various nucleus is microscopic and thus methods of preparing co-crystals too small to be directly observed. and their characterization as well Crystal growth is subsequent as their applications. growth of the nuclei that succeed in achieving the critical cluster size. The nucleation and rates 09 of crystal growth depends on "Solvent evaporation is the crystal formation; attempts that time and temperature. Once the most conventional method have been hindered, so far, by the super-saturation is exhausted, in case of crystallization. In lack of sufficient understanding the solid–liquid system reaches this tecnnique the material of mechanism of co-crystal equilibrium along with a is mixed with the common formation. ceasing in nucleation and the solvent and evaporation crystallization is complete. slowly. In evaporation stage REFERENCES Experimentally synthesized Co- the solution of molecules are 1. Bhowal,R. ;Biswas, S.;Thum- crystals exected to undergo to undergo barathil, A; Koner A. L; Chopra Usually π-conjugated organic varous hydrogen bonding D.J. Phys. Chem.C 2019, molecule consisting of electron reactions." rich or electron poor substituent 123,9311-9322. have the tendency to co-crystallize Applications 2. Desiraju, G.R.et.al. Crystal Co-crystal engineering plays through π-π stacking interactions Engineering, 54,1-213. in two different packing motifs, a vital role in production 3. Bernstein, J. Polymorphism in namely, segregated stacking and of energetic materials, mixed stacking. pharmaceuticals, and other Molecular Crystals, 2002, 1-429. compounds. The most widely 4. West, A.R. Solid State Chem- "Grinding is where the studied and used application is materials are mixed, pressrd in drug development and more istry and its Applications, 2014, and crused in a motar and specifically the formation, design, 1-514 pestle or in mill. In case of and implementation of active co-crystallization thse have pharmaceutical ingredients or proved to be a viable method API’s. Changing the structure and for solid-state grinding along composition of the API can greatly with the liquid grinding. In influence the bioavailability of liquid state griniding the a drug. Co-crystal structures solvent added is in very have also become a staple for minute quanity which when drug discovery. Structure-based added cats as a catalyst but virtual screening methods, does not form a part of the end such as docking, make use of product. Their advanatage lie co-crystal structures of known in its increased performance proteins or receptors to elucidate in the ability to control the new ligand-receptor binding production of polymorphs, conformations. and in the improved crystallinity of the product" The crystal structure of co- crystal (a) Phenanthrene (PHEN) + tetrafluoro-1,4- Characterizations benzoquinone (TFQ) has been Several methods have been found to adopt the mixed applied for the characterization stacking arrangement, where of co-crystals and the elucidation the constituent molecules are of intermolecular interactions. co-facially over each other Characterization of co-crystals involves both structure (infrared Conclusions spectroscopy, single crystal x-ray Several methods are available crystallography and powder for the formation of co- x-ray diffraction) and physical crystal and physicochemical properties (e.g. melting point characterization. Many efforts apparatus, Differential Scanning are being made at developing Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric theoretical as well as empirical Analysis). methods for the prediction of co- 10 PHYSICS The Inflationary Universe by Advaith Menon

he Universe, as we know rather a space of violent activity. today, is vast. It is not easy Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle Tfor us to completely map does not allow a complete vacuum out and understand it due to its and thus, even the emptiest places vastness. However, there is a way in the universe have what is to understand the universe and known as Vacuum fluctuations. predict its evolution over time. These fluctuations create a pair of This can be done by understanding particle and antiparticle violating how the universe was created and the Conservation of Energy. Such how it has evolved since then. fluctuations in the universe are The creation, and evolution of then neutralized by the subsequent our universe is now an important annihilation of these particles. The research topic in the field of Universe was created as a result of Cosmology. one such fluctuation. This created The creation of the Universe was the singularity which later turned a very highly debated topic in out to be our universe. However, the scientific community. It is this fluctuation was not completely now believed that the universe neutralized, like all the came into existence from a other fluctuations. singularity point, evolved, This was a result and expanded over time to of a very rapid transform into the universe, expansion of the we know of today. This universe which theory is known as The Big is now termed bang Theory. The problem as the inflation with this theory was that of the universe. it could only tell us about This Inflation of the how the universe expanded universe was a reason from the highly energetic for the fluctuation to singularity. It couldn’t answer stay for a short time. It an important question of how kept the singularity from and why there was a singularity being neutralized, just in the first place. The answer to like all other fluctuations this question lies not in the field in the universe. The of Cosmology but rather was cause of Inflation was answered by Quantum mechanics. the Gravitational Force. The universe was created due The gravitational force acts to a Quantum fluctuation in the attractively in most of the cases vacuum. Quantum mechanics in the universe with an exception states that the vacuum in space to all of these cases during the is not completely empty but is period of inflation, where the 11 gravitational force acted on the gravity will pull the matter back Universe, in a repulsive way. into a singularity, such a universe This was caused due to the is called a closed universe and presence of high energy fields in has the shape of the outer surface the early universe which decayed of a sphere. When the mass to give this repulsive effect of density is less than this particular gravitational force. value, we get a universe that The inflation of the universe could expands forever as gravity is not explain the previously unknown powerful enough, this is called results, like the uniformity of the an open universe and has a shape universe and the flatness problem. similar to that of a horse’s saddle. The universe is uniform to high If the value of mass density is precision. This case cannot be equal to the value termed ‘critical understood for a universe that is mass density’ then we will have expanding at a slow pace, similar a universe that doesn’t expand to the present pace of the universe, or contract and is flat shaped. as a universe expanding at this Our universe has a mass density slow rate could easily become very near to that of critical mass non uniform due to the effects density and is thus almost flat. of forces, and the second law of This is strange, as it's almost thermodynamics. When we add impossible for mass density to inflation to this picture, we can have this exact value. This can understand that the uniformity also be explained by inflation, that exists today, was a result of as the rapid expansion causes the uniformity in the beginning the flatness of our universe. This stages of the universe. The can be imagined as a balloon rapid inflation of the universe that is pumped with air, the more could increase the size of the it expands the outer surface universe exponentially without becomes flatter. Inflation could losing its uniformity. This theory tell us a lot about our universe but also addresses the flatness we still have a lot to learn problem. The universe about it to understand has an expansion rate, the final fate of our and gravity slows universe. Will it be down this rate by closed, open, or just attraction. When the flat? Universe has a mass density more than a particular value, the expansion will eventually stop and the

12 BIOLOGY ABO and Cancer by Kshitij Behera

s an illness, cancer for any of the cancers than the O has a huge global blood type. Aimpact. Cancer patients Since we inherit ABO blood are showing potential and type through genes, a genome- dramatic responses to recent wide association study noted medications. Meanwhile, cancer an association between DNA genome projects have generated sequence variants in the ABO unprecedented insights into the locus and susceptibility to cellular signalling pathways pancreatic cancer. The subjects so that spur the development and enrolled for the study were first progression of cancer. interviewed in person by a trained Every human carries a specific research nurse using a structured blood type. While everybody's asking for advice blood constitutes the same on demographic characteristics, elemental parts, there is some history of tobacco and alcohol use, diversity in the kinds of blood that and medical history. Part of the exist. ABO blood system is the study design required the subjects best-known system for grouping to give a 10-ml blood sample and blood types. These blood types a single void urine specimen. are determined by carbohydrate The process of statistical analysis moieties displayed on the surface was 25 years of follow-up of the of red blood cells (RBC) (Huang, subjects' health status (Huang, J. Y J. Y et al, 2017). A basic test for et al, 2017). The results showed the these particular antigens (antigen A most frequent diagnosis of cancer or B) can figure out an individual's in the digestive system, which blood type. accounted for nearly 51% of total The relation between blood group cancer cases. Combining the blood and cancer was first suspected group data with the development while interpreting the Shanghai of cancers of the gastrointestinal , which was organized tract in an individual, it was found in 1986 (Huang, J. Y et al, 2017). that individuals with non-A blood- The Cox proportional hazard type were at nearly 20% lower risk models calculated hazard ratios for than blood type-A. Compared with cancer and specific blood groups. blood type-O, the non-O blood- One of the major conclusions of type had a higher risk of developing the study was that non-O blood cancer. Therefore, the incidence of type individuals had a greater risk cancer was statistically different

It was found that individuals with non-A blood type were at lower risk than blood type-A by nearly 20% 13 among different ABO blood alteration in these surface ABO blood group structure is types (Franchini M et al, 2016). molecules may promote the just one of the many uncharted The surprising part is that even transform of malignancy. territories in cancer research. after having such statistical However, when we start looking results, the mechanism for for involvement of ABO blood REFERENCES the association is still not system in diseases other than 1. Huang, J. Y., Wang, R., understood. Experimental cancer, we often see a crowd of Gao, Y. T., & Yuan, J. M. (2017). studies have demonstrated that evidence: stronger associations, ABO blood type and the risk the expression of ABO blood including a more pronounced of cancer - Findings from the antigens on colon tumour cells, hangover in blood group A Shanghai Cohort Study. PloS and the cell proliferation and individuals, better teeth in group one, 12(9), e0184295. motility is highly associated with O people, personality traits, 2. Franchini, M., the expression of blood antigen A intelligence traits, and digestion. Liumbruno, G. M., & Lippi, G. (Mao Y. et al, 2019). According Recent research has also carved (2016). The prognostic value to laboratory investigations, out the role of ABO blood of ABO blood group in cancer patients-derived hepatocellular group antigens in neuroscience patients. Blood transfusion = tumour cells express blood-type (Liumbruno GM et al, 2013). Trasfusione del sangue, 14(5), antigens on their cell surface Since the studies conducted 434–440. which has different patterns of over the years had different 3. Liumbruno, G. M., & expression than the non-tumorous experimental populations Franchini, M. (2013). Beyond adjacent cells (Mao Y. et al, and small sample size, the immunohaematology: the role of 2019). This supports the thought heterogeneity among them the ABO blood group in human of the role of ABO blood antigens can be expected. More diseases. Blood transfusion = in malignant transformation of experimental studies need Trasfusione del sangue, 11(4), hepatocytes (a type of cell found larger study populations to get 491–499. in the liver). Similarly, when a better understanding of the 4. Mao, Y., Yang, W., Qi, studies were conducted on the mechanisms for the suspicious Q. et al. Blood groups A and AB transitional epithelium of bladder role of ABO blood groups in are associated with increased carcinoma, it was suspected that development. Thus, despite the gastric cancer risk: evidence a reduction in the expression of latest technological and medical from a large genetic study and antigen A was correlated with advances, cancer is still the systematic review. BMC Cancer the invasiveness of the tumour leading cause of death, because 19, 164 (2019). (Liumbruno GM et al, 2013). To we still don't understand its summarize the role of numerous intricate antigen, we can connections, and say that any

14 MATHEMATICS Latin and Euler Square by Aniket Basak

n combinatorial argument and obtain a set of n2 triples (in fig.1 experimental design, a Latin n=3) called Isquare is an n×n array filled representation. with n different symbols in such a way that each symbol occurs According to above square, exactly once in each row and once orthogonal array is : {(1,1,A); in each column. A lot of work (1,2,B); (1,3,C); (2,1,C); (2,2,A); has been dedicated towards Euler (2,3,B); (3,1,B); (3,2,C); (3,3,A)} square. For the last seven to eight decades, it has been widely used (1,1,A) means in 1st row and 1st in many fields of mathematical column, the symbol is A. So, Latin research. square is a set of n2 triples where 1≤r, c, s ≤ n such that all ordered The name “ “ pairs (r, c) are distinct, (r, s) are was proposed by LEONHARD distinct and also (c, s) are distinct. EULER, who used latin characters Now, I will come to the discussion as symbols. If we move to about different arrangements the history of it, the Korean related to this kind of squares such Mathematician CHOI-SEOK- as, JEONG first published an example (i) Latin rectangle: It is none other of latin square to construct a magic than a generalization of Latin square, predating EULER. square in where n columns and n different symbols are present but Now, I'm constructing a latin number of rows is ≤n . Each value square as an example. If we want still appears atmost once in each to make a 3×3 latin square with row and column. I have shown a three letters A, B, C then it will example of latin look like fig-1 below. rectangle in fig. 2 below.

In general notation , an n×n Latin square is written as a triple (r, c, s) where r represents row, c The above example is of a 3×4 represents column and s is the Latin rectangle in which each symbol on that box. Thus, we letter appears once in each row 15 and each column. (ii) Graeco-Latin Square or Euler Square: It is a type of Latin square of order n over two sets A and B, each consisting of n symbols. It is an arrangement of n2 cells, each cell containing ordered pairs (a, b) such that a is from the set A and b is from the set B. There is aa extra condition that neither a nor b will occure more than once in the main diagonals. For instance, if A is a set of greek letters={ά,β,γ,δ} and B a set of numbers={1,2,3,4}, then Euler square of 4×4 will be like in fig. 3 below. Here, I will mainly focus on the Euler square. Now,

is shown below.

we will see for what value of n an Euler square is possible. For n=2, an Euler square is impossible, because if we designed it like in fig. 4

But for 6×6, it is quite difficult and so difficult that no one has been able to find a way to do it. Even the famous mathematician tried hard to find an arrangement but failed. He designed squares for 7×7, 8×8 but failed to do anything for 6×6. Now, I want to give you a glimpse of a problem closely related to EULER SQUARE: THE 36 Here, A and B appears once in each row and column, OFFICERS PROBLEM. The statement is: 1 and 2 also appears once in each row “Suppose there is a war. Someone is the commander and column but the diagonal elements are equal. So, of an army that consists of six regiments, each Graeco Latin square (later known as containing six officers of six different ranks. Can one Euler squares) of order 2×2 are impossible. For n=3, arrange the officers in a 6×6 square so that each row it is possible. This will be like fig. 5 below. and each column of the square holds only one officer from each regiment and only one officer from each (K= King, Q=Queen, J=Jack and there is heart, rank?” spade, diamonds of cards) . Each of the combinations Pictorial representation of this problem is nothing appears once in each row , column and main diagonal. but a 6×6 Euler square which remains impossible to For 4×4, I have shown am example in fig. 3 . draw. Obviously, the question arises in our mind, what will After observing that for n=2 & 6, it is impossible be for n=5 & 6. A 5×5 Euler square is possible and it to design a Graeco-Latin square, Euler conjectured that "It is impossible to draw a n×n Graeco-Latin 16 square where n is of the form 4k+2 (where k is a Hopefully this will be used in development of positive integer). But, there was no proof of that modern combinatorics and also in different fields of and it remained unproven for over 100 years until mathematics and other subjects too. Gaston Tarry, a famous French mathematician, proved that 6×6 Euler square (Graeco-Latin square) REFERENCES is impossible. Before that Thomas Clausen, assistant of Heinrich Schumacher (Astronomer in Altona) [1] Some History of Latin Squares in divided latin square of order 6 into 17 families [ R. A. Bailey – University of St. and did an exhaustive search in each family. After Andrews] dividing latin square of 6×6 into 17 families, he gave [2] Further results on the construction of the theorem "There is no pair of orthogonal Euler Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares and Falsity square of order 6". of Euler's Conjecture [ Bose R. C., S. S. Shrikhande, E. T. Parker – Canadian Journal of He also drew a 10×10 Euler square. In 1959, two Mathematics: Page –[189-203] famous Indian mathematicians, Raj Chandra Bose [3] Latin square in experimental design [ Lei and S. S. Shrikhande, designed 14×14,18×18 & Gao- Michigan State University] 22×22 Euler squares. So, it had already been proven [4] Latin square and its application in that Euler's conjecture was wrong. Lastly, in 1960, cryptography [ Nathan O. Schmidt] Parker did some research on it and gave conjectured [5] Classification of Latin squares [ Dr. Noda that “If n=(3q-1)/2 and q is a power of an odd prime Lakic] and q-3 is divisible by 4, then there is a pair of [6] Enumerating extensions of mutually orthogonal latin square of order n." orthogonal Latin squares [Simona Boyadzhiyska, There is no known easily computable formula for Shagnick Das, Tibor Szabo] the numbers L ( n×n latin squares). But there is a n [7] 36 Officers problem [ Marianne Freiberger] upper and lower bound :

The latin square (more precisely, Euler square) has a wide of applications: (i) In group theory, latin squares are characterized as being the Cayley tables of quasi groups. (ii) Latin square that are orthogonal to each other have an application as error correcting codes. (iii) Mostly it is used in the field of Cryptography (Cryptographic Hash function) (iv) The famous Sudoku puzzles are a special case of latin squares. The more recent Kenken puzzles too. (v) It is also used in the popular abstract strategy game Kamisado. (vi) It is widely used in the design of agronomic research experiments to minimise experimental errors. (vii) It has also a wide range of applications in permutations over Galois field.

Thus modern game theory, linear algebra has a wide range of applications of latin square. 17 BIOLOGY Viruses that cause cancer by Gokul Madhav

f you ever thought that cancer Varmus found that the retroviral could not be transmitted from an oncogenes have a cellular origin: Iorganism to another organism They were awarded the Nobel through a pathogen, I must say Prize in 1989. There are many you are wrong! In 1911, a scientist viruses that cause cancer in other named Peyton Rous from the animals and this article talks about Rockefeller Institute for Medical the ones that induce cancer in Research published a paper on the humans. Epstein Barr virus (EBV) transmission of sarcoma with cell- is associated with different kinds free filtrate in fowl (Rous, 1911). of diseases including cancers and This was enough for scientists to other developmental disorders in look for the link between viruses humans. It was first identified in and cancers. For the discovery of Burkitt’s malignant lymphoma tumour-inducing viruses, Peyton by M. A. Epstein, B. G. Achong, Rous was awarded the Nobel Prize and Y. M. Barr (Epstein & Barr, in Physiology in 1966 (Weiss & 1964). EBV is also known as Vogt, 2011). Today the viruses Human gammaherpesvirus 4, that cause cancer are called belonging to the family of herpes oncoviruses. Around 15 per cent virus. EBV can cause a variety of of all cancer in human beings is cancers like Burkitt’s lymphoma, caused by viruses (Liao, 2006). Hodgkin’s lymphoma, gastric The incorporation of viral genes cancer, nasopharynx cancers, and into the infected host cell was many more. Once the virus enters studied by Howard Temin, David the body, B cells and epithelial Baltimore, and Renato Dulbecco; cells of the oropharyngeal cavity they were awarded the Nobel Prize are the destinations for EBV. In B in 1975. Both DNA and RNA cells the virus goes into a highly viruses are known to cause cancer. restricted environment where the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), Human gene expression is highly reduced herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), Hepatitis and leads to a lifelong latent B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus infection (Rezk, Zhao, & Weiss, (HCV), Human Papillomavirus 2018). While in epithelial cells (HPV), Human T lymphotropic the virus enters the lytic phase, virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel multiplying in large numbers and Cell Polyomavirus (MCV) are the is transmitted and propagated major viruses that have shown to through saliva. Currently, there induce cancer in human beings. aren’t any vaccines for preventing HCV and HTLV-1 are the only EBV, while immunotherapy has two RNA viruses among them. shown some success but there still J. Michael Bishop and Harold E. are many obstacles to be cleared 18 (Liao, 2006). Human Herpesvirus chronic hepatitis. 1 to 2 % with enveloped, double-stranded DNA 8 (HHV-8) is a virus that belongs cirrhosis will develop primary virus. It was discovered in 2008. to the herpes family. Kaposi’s hepatocellular carcinoma. For It causes Merkel cell carcinoma sarcoma-associated herpesvirus is the discovery of HCV, the Nobel which is rare but aggressive skin another name for HHV-8. As the Prize in Physiology or Medicine cancer. Survivin, an oncoprotein name suggests it causes Kaposi’s was awarded to Charles M. Rice, is activated with MCV, inhibiting sarcoma which affects people Harvey J. Alter, and Michael survivin has shown to decrease with compromised immunity like Houghton in 2020. Currently, there tumour progression (Rotondo et people with AIDS. It also causes is no vaccine for HCV infection al., 2017). Humans are able to primary effusion lymphoma and because of the high mutation identify only these seven viruses other lymphoid disorders. Even rates. A covalent conjugate of that cause cancer in humans. here the B cells are predominantly interferon-alpha and polyethylene Would there be many more to infected. The viral genome glycol along with ribavirin, an uncover? expresses transforming proteins antiviral has shown to reduce the and anti-apoptotic factors, which infection in half of the patients inhibit apoptosis (programmed (Liao, 2006). REFERENCES cell death). Apoptosis is necessary Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 1. ACHONG, M. A. E. G., for the normal functioning of the are non-enveloped DNA viruses & BARR, Y. M. (1964). organism. HHV-8 encoded G that are known to cause warts Virus particles in cultured protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) in humans. There are hundreds lymphoblasts from Burkitt’s is a viral oncogene found in the of HPVs. HPV16 and HPV18 2. lymphoma. The Lancet, 702– infected cells which helps in its cell infection will lead to cervical 703. signaling of transformation and cancer in females. The link 3. Liao, J. B. (2006). Viruses and angiogenesis. There are antiviral between HPV and cervical cancer Human Cancer, 79, 115–122. drugs that target DNA was discovered by Harald Zur 4. Rezk, S. A., Zhao, X., & of the virus. Ganciclovir is an Hausen and he was awarded the Weiss, L. M. (2018). Epstein- antiviral that helps in reducing Nobel Prize in 2008. HPV infects Barr virus ( EBV ) – associated Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS patients the epithelial cells and incorporates lymphoid (Liao, 2006). Hepatitis B virus its DNA into the host cells. The 5. proliferations , a 2018 update (HBV) belongs to the family production of oncoproteins will ☆. Human Pathology, 79, 18– hepadnaviridae, it's a DNA virus. influence the natural tumour- 41. It is a blood-borne pathogen that suppressing mechanism of the 6. Rotondo, J. C., Bononi, I., causes acute and chronic hepatitis. host. Early detection using Pap Puozzo, A., Govoni, M., Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver smear can be game-changing Gaboriaud, P., Foschi, V., … cirrhosis. Prolonged infections for better treatments. A vaccine Gaf, R. (2017). Merkel Cell can result in the development that targets the capsid protein L1 7. Carcinomas Arising in of hepatocellular carcinoma. In is available and provides 100% Autoimmune Disease Affected the 1980s Hepatitis B vaccine protection (Liao, 2006). Human Patients Treated with Biologic was introduced and which can T Lymphotropic virus type 1 Drugs , be denoted as the first vaccine (HTLV-1) is the second RNA virus 8. Including Anti-TNF, 3929– against cancer even though it that causes cancer (discovered 3935. was to prevent hepatitis. There is yet). It is a single-stranded RNA 9. Rous, B. Y. P. E. Y. T. O. N. interferon-alpha therapy which retrovirus that causes adult T-cell (1911). A SARCOMA OF THE prevents HBV replication. There leukaemia. 12-25 million people FOWL TRANSMISSIBLE are many antivirals against HBV are affected worldwide. Less BY AN A G E N T S E including adefovir, entecavir, than 5% of infected people will 10. P A R A B L E F R O M T H E lamivudine, and telbivudine (Liao, get cancer. The latency period of T U M O R CELLS . 2006). the infection is very long, 20-30 11. Weiss, R. A., & Vogt, P. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one years. The Tax gene in HTLV-1 K. (2011). 100 years of Rous of the two RNA viruses that have has a major role in tumorigenesis. sarcoma virus, 208(12), 2351– been linked to cancer in humans. It The tax gene is an important target 2355. belongs to the family Flaviviridae. for therapies (Liao, 2006). Merkel 12. https://doi.org/10.1084/ Like HBV, it also causes acute and Cell Polyomavirus (MCV) is a non- jem.20112160 19 PHYSICS Rydberg atoms in Quantum Technologies by Shuvarati Roy

hen a single valence with increase in n. The core of the electron of an atom is Rydberg atom is an electrostatic Wexcited to a state of trap for a weakly bound electron high principal quantum number which can be strongly perturbed n (greater than 10) it behaves by an applied electric field. Atomic like a highly excited electron in a interactions are very strong in hydrogen atom. An atom in such a Rydberg atoms and can be tuned state is known as a Rydberg atom. by selecting states with different Rydberg atoms are suitable for principal quantum numbers. use in quantum technologies Recent efforts to develop quantum like quantum computing, technology are motivated by the electromagnetic field sensing, and fact that precisely manipulating quantum optics. The following are systems at a quantum level offers a few properties that render them particular advantages over classical this suitability: techniques. Due to these properties, The electron is far from the Rydberg atoms are one of the most nucleus, hence it is weakly bound. tunable quantum systems and are Moreover, highly-excited Rydberg highly desirable for developing states are metastable with long new quantum technologies. lifetimes, which can be orders of The strong interactions between magnitude longer than the low- nearby Rydberg atoms make lying excited states. Also, the them suitable for use as quantum large number of available energy simulators or in quantum levels and their separations allow computing. Quantum simulation coupling to electromagnetic fields. and computing is done using ultra- As a result, Rydberg atoms are cold Rydberg atoms in optical extremely sensitive to nearby tweezer arrays. The sensitivity of atoms or to the electromagnetic Rydberg atoms to microwave or field in the microwave and terahertz terahertz fields make them ideal region. sensors of electromagnetic fields in Many useful properties, such as these regions. the polarizability, energy levels, Rydberg atoms also have level spacing, radiative lifetime of applications in non-linear quantum the atom, and so on, scale strongly optics, including light-matter with n. The strong scaling with n interfaces - single photon sources occurs because the binding energy and photon gates. The lifetime of of the electron becomes weaker the Rydberg states is an important 20 phase gate. The Rydberg array platform can also be used as an effective analog quantum simulator for spin- models. These provide a simplified many-body Hamiltonian describing highly-correlated condensed matter systems. factor because the lifetime can free qubit register is achieved by Researchers are aiming to achieve put a limit on the coherence rearrangements of these atoms. higher fidelity manipulations and time of the Rydberg state, thus, Coherent excitation to Rydberg increase the output quality of determining the feasibility of states allows implementation of these gates and provide internal some experiments. quantum algorithms exploiting error corrections. Trapped ions, Rydberg atoms in Quantum long-range interactions to couple superconductors, Bose-Einstein Computation: neighbouring qubits. Digital condensates are few others which Quantum computers offer a quantum computing utilises a are used in quantum computing. platform to simulate quantum series of sequential gates applied systems such as molecules or onto a qubit register followed by REFERENCES some materials, as well as solving a state-selective measurement to classically hard problems ranging project atoms into the |0> and |1> 1) Adams C.S., Pritchard from factorisation to optimisation logical output states. For qubits J.D., Shaffer J.P (2020); problems such as logistics or separated within 10 µm, the “Rydberg atom quantum network optimisation. strong dipole-dipole interactions technologies”, Journal of Using Rydberg atoms, a large induce a conditional excitation Physics B: Atomic, Molecular number of identical and long- process that allows a controlled and Optical Physics,53(1),art. coherence qubits in arrays phase-gate to be applied. This no.012002 of arbitrary and gate requires three laser pulses as 2) M. Saffman, T.G Walker, dimensionality can be used shown in Fig 2b, first a π-pulse K. Molmer (2010); “Quantum for both digital and analog on the control qubit followed by information with Rydberg quantum computation. One of a 2π-pulse on the target qubit. If atoms”, Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, the requirements for quantum the control qubit is in state |r> 2313 information processing is the then blockade detunes this pulse 3) Igor I Ryabtsev, ability to prepare high-fidelity from resonance on the target qubit Denis B Tretyakov and Ilya I states and perform readout as well and no phase is acquired, however Beterov(2005); “Applicability as achieving long coherence times if the control is in state |0> then of Rydberg atoms to quantum in the computational basis. the target executes a complete computers” J. Phys. B: At. Mol. A Rydberg array quantum rotation and acquires a phase shift Opt. Phys. 38 computer (Fig1) is composed of exp(iπ). A final pulse returns 4) https://physicsworld.com of atoms which are initially the control qubit to |1> leading loaded stochastically. A defect- to the realisation of a controlled

a) State-selective fluorescence for qubit-state readout (b) Schematic of the controlled-phase gate. 21 CHEMISTRY

Curcumin: Journey from kitchen to surgical strike against cancer cells by Soumya Dafadar

urmeric is one of the most used traditional spices in Tour kitchen that we come across every day. Not only as a spice but also from the ancient time it is being used in medicinal purposes such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, skincare etc. But this decade has seen a totally new role of turmeric as a potential cytotoxic agent the base takes the most acidic proton against cancer cells in the field of (from the carbon present between medicinal chemistry and pharmacy two carbonyl group also known and this is due to Curcumin (Hcur), as ‘Active Methylene Group’) a naturally occurring polyphenolic and after deprotonating, the two active ingredient. Study reveals oxygen atoms become chemically that Curcumin induces apoptosis equivalent and capable of acting as in tumour cells by inhibiting the ligand towards the hard metal ions activity of the transcription factor [2]. Applying this concept, there is NF-κB. [1] a very popular strategy to stabilize Then the question comes, as curcumin (deprotonated) i.e. to curcumin is being derived from combine with a metal centre to make edible kitchen spice, there is no a suitable metal-ligand interaction biosafety issue, so why don’t we to get a sufficiently stable system in prescribe cancer patients few grams an aqueous medium. This type of of curcumin every day to get well metal-based therapy is quite familiar soon? The answer lies within the from the 1980s and reminds us of chemical structure of curcumin. the widely used potential anticancer Due to the presence of a β-diketone drug cisplatin, oxaliplatin etc. moiety it is very much susceptible So now the metal has given us the to hydrolysis. So the main platform to introduce curcumin in disadvantage of this compound is its physiological environment with less bioavailability in physiological more lifespan. This is expected condition as it is highly unstable in because now curcumin will be aqueous medium. To overcome this circulated as metal-bound form and difficulty, the role of the chemists will not readily get hydrolysed and comes into the picture. during circulation, it will reach into When Hcur is treated with a base, 22 the cancer cells .Based on above the ray of hope to fight against mentioned hypothesis thousands 18.1 million cancer cases across of metal (Ruthenium, vanadium, the world(9.6 million deaths, in platinum etc)-curcumin based 2018, according to WHO). prodrug has been reported and control studies show that metal- REFERENCES based complex is far more therapeutically effective than and act on its cellular target (NF- 1)Avishek Jana, Brijesh K. free curcumin. Few of them are Verma, Aditya Garai, Paturu shown κB). The free metal centre then can also attack the nucleophilic Kondaiah, Akhil R. Chakravarty, centre of DNA or any other Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2018, cellular protein to damage them 483, 571. and induce apoptosis. 2. Tukki Sarkar, Akhtar Though the metal- based drugs are Hussain, Enz Eng., 2016, 5, 143. potential cytotoxic, but the main 3. Riccardo Pettinari, Fabio problem with them is their lack Marchetti, Francesca Condello of selectivity towards the cancer et al,Organometallic, 2014, 33, cells. So, randomly they can also 3709−3715 enter inside the normal body cells 4. Utso Bhattacharyya, Brijesh to cause massive side-effects by Kumar, AdityaGarai, Arnab damaging the healthy body cells. Bhattacharyya, Arun Kumar, As mentioned curcumin is a Samya Banerjee, Paturu potential photoactive moiety, so Kondaiah, Akhil R. Chakravarty, after the treatment with metal- Inorg. Chem., 2017, 56, 12457 curcumin based prodrug, in a 5. Md Kausar Raza, Koushambi patient’s body only the cancer Mitra, Abhijith Shettar,bUttara Basu, below- cells (though identifying them is challenging) will be exposed to Paturu Kondaiah and Akhil Also, Hcur is very photosensitive R. Chakravarty, Dalton Trans., and upon irradiation with visible photo irradiation and as a result the curcumin gets activated 2016, 45, 13234 light (400-700 nm) it generates 6. D. E. J. G. J. Dolmans, D. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) inside the cancer cells only and can work in PDT or PACT way. Fukumura, R. K. Jain, Nat. Rev. which then creates cellular Cancer, 2003, 3, 381−387 stress and can kill a cancer cell This is the specialty of curcumin based prodrug or any other 7. Sylvestre Bonnet, Dalton .[8] Treatment of cancer by this Trans., 2018, 47, 10330-10343 type of method is called Photo photoactivable prodrug. This type of therapeutic strategy helps 8. Tukki Sarkar, Akhtar Hussain, Dynamic Therapy (PDT), which Enz Eng., 2016, 5, 143. is an emerging research area to reduce side-effects as there are nowadays . There is another no cytotoxic effects in the light very popular strategy called unexposed healthy body cells i.e. Photo Activated Chemo Therapy even if the prodrug has entered (PACT),in which upon irradiation inside them, due to absence of by the light the metal-ligand bond light it will not be converted breaks and Hcur get released from into the active drug thereby the metal centre inside the cell minimizing the damage in healthy cells. One of the examples of photoactivable cytotoxicity of curcumin is shown below [8]- PDT and PACT are an emerging and promising method of therapy. Besides curcumin there are many other photosensitive anticancer agents are being reported and every single of them gives us 23 MATHEMATICS

History of Zero by Divyendu Roy Choudhuri

INTRODUCTION The number zero plays a vital role in all number systems. Without the concept of zero, there’s no calculus, no arithmetic calculations. The computer in which you are reading this article runs on a binary number system – strings of zeros and ones. Without the origin of the concept and definition of zero, Math as we know it would fall apart. This article discusses the origin and evolution of zero. Ancient Near East Egypt: The Egyptian number system was based on the multiples of ten. Only having different symbols for 1, 10, 1000, and so on. They used hieroglyphs for the digits. The digits were non- positional and could be written in any direction. Numbers were made by combining the symbols.

point of measurement and can be considered as the Egyptian equivalent of zero. This practice continued till around 1740 BCE. Babylon: After around a hundred years, Babylonian mathematics came up with a base 60 – Number System, a positional numeral Hence there was no system termed sexagesimal. There need to have a zero as was also no direct use of zero, a place holder. They but the requirement of such a used a symbol for the concept was felt. A space between word “nfr” which means sexagesimal numerals denoted this “Beautiful” for indicating concept. By 300 BC: a punctuation the base in drawings symbol (two slanted wedges) came of tombs and pyramids into use as a place holder in the and other architectural Babylonian system. That was only plans. This symbol a sign of separation or placeholder {}was used as the reference zero, not an independent number 24 at all. Due to the absence of an the modern-day concept of zero. equivalent of a zero, often two Inca Civilization: In around 1400 different numbers were denoted to 1500 CE the Inca civilization by the same symbol. Like 2 and came up with a knotted cord 120 (2 x 60),3 and 180 (3 x 60). device named Quipu. It usually consisted of cotton or camelid fiber strings. It was used for PRE – COLUMBIAN , keeping records, - used a symbol for zero in his AMERICAS monitoring tax obligations, etc. work on mathematical astronomy Mayan Civilization: Moving The Inca number system was a titled "Syntax Mathematica": for on to 2600 BCE: the Mayan base-ten system. The absence of the magnitude of solar and lunar civilization came with a fantastic a knot anywhere along the Quipu eclipses. It represented the value mathematical concept. Evidence denoted zero at that place. of both digits and minutes of of their excellent mathematics immersion at first and last is present in their calendars CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY China: The Chinese numeral (approximately nine calendars system (Bamboo rod numerals) of their time have been found, of had no special symbol for zero. which the Long count calendar Like the Babylonians, they is most important). They devised used a gap to denote zero. That a positional number system gap was termed ‘Kong’. In the book “Science And Civilization in China”, the author, Joseph Needham, reports the finding of a picture of the pascal triangle made by Chu – Shih – Chieh. A circle is used to symbolize Greek: The Greek mathematicians zero. Most researchers believe held a strong belief that geometry that the modern-day zero was holds the entire number system. conceptualized in India and Every number had a geometric then reached China through the shape. So they denied keeping Buddhists. zero in their number system as India: The Sanskrit scholar they couldn’t give any proper Pingala ( around 2nd or 3rd BC geometrical figure for zero. ) used a binary number system in the form of short and long whose base was 20, known as Also, the Pythagorean Doctrine and later Aristotelianism did not syllables, a notation similar to the vigesimal number system. Morse code. He used the Sanskrit Unlike the Babylonians, Mayans word “sunya” explicitly to refer didn’t consider the zero only to zero. as a sign of separation. They But the concept of zero as a considered it an independent digit in decimal place value number in its own right. They system was developed during the had different symbols for zero; Gupta Period. In the Baikhshali the most used symbolization manuscript, the zero was was the “shell shape” structure. symbolized with a large dot. It is The shell shape Zero became an likely the precursor of the current integral part of Mayan numerals. support the existence of zero as an independent number. The hollow symbol. In fact, in their calendars, they In Lokavibhaga, a decimal indicated a month with zero. But Achilles paradox given by Zeno of Elea depends in large part on number system, including zero still, the Mayan zero is not the has been used. Here too, "sunya" true precursor to the modern zero the uncertain interpretation of zero. refers to zero. as the operational power of the The Aryabhatiya states, “ sthanat Mayan zero is not comparable to Later, Ptolemy - inspired by Hipparchus and the Babylonians sthanam dasaguynam”. Which 25 a little circle should be used. That circle was named “sifr”. In the 11th century, the Hindu Arabic numeral system reached Europe. These numerals were known as “Arabic Numerals”. Here Leonardo Pisa used the phrase “sign 0”. From the 13th century: addition, multiplication, root extraction became common in Europe. They were called algorisms. Later Italian mathematician Fibonacci introduced zero to the mainstream and was later featured in the work of Rene Descartes along with the discovery of calculus By Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. Conclusion: So the question “Who invented zero ?” has no meaning. Many ancient civilizations brought zero in their number system for their purpose and means, “from place to place each is ten times the with different forms. After migrating to Europe preceding”. He used the word “kha” for the position, zero was not entirely accepted. Around the time of which served as the equivalent of Zero. the crusade, its use was banned throughout Europe Brahmagupta in the 7th century stated in his book for more or less 500 years. From placeholder to the “Brahmasputa Siddhanta”, some rules governed by driver of calculus, zero has crossed many brilliant zero, like subtracting any number from itself results minds and most diverse borders since it was born in zero. He also demonstrated a way to obtain zero many centuries ago. Perhaps today Zero is the most by addition and subtraction. He also showed the pervasive global symbol known. In the story of zero, results of operation with zero. This definition of zero something can be made, out of nothing. closely resembles what we are familiar with, but there is an error regarding division by zero. REFERENCES 1. wikipedia TRANSMISSION TO ARAB AND THEN 2. https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/historyzero#:~:tex- t=It%20was%20the%20Indians%20who,formal- EUROPE : ize%20arithmetic%20operations%20using%20ze- The Arabic legacy of science was mainly Greek ro.&text=Zero%20reached%20Baghdad%20by%20 accompanied by Hindu influences. Muhammad ibn 773,numbers%20on%20the%20Indian%20system Musa al – Khwarizmi prepared astronomical tables 3. https://www.history.com/news/who-invent- using Hindu numerals. In 825 CE he published a ed-the-zero book synthesizing Greek and Hindu knowledge and wrote his contribution to mathematics, including an explanation of the use of zero. In 976 CE Muhammad ibn Ahmad al – Khwarizmi stated that if in a calculation no number appears in place of 10,

26 GENERAL Inside the COVID testing Lab by Gokul Bhaskaran

he plan to establish the of viral load in an individual will COVID testing centre at help not only to provide utmost Tthe Transit Campus of IIS- care to the infected person but also ER Berhampur was not just a chal- to eradicate the traumatic spread lenge, but a courageous decision to a second individual and further marking a remarkable spin which to the entire society. The fact that later became a focal point of the a person can be tested negative state and nation. The continuous today but may turn positive the efforts by the administration and other day and vice versa some- the academicians were the key to times dilutes the ultimate neces- the successful implementation of sity of a COVID testing lab. But a lab that changed the face of a more than a diagnostic centre, the society. The initial days of setting testing lab is a platform that pro- up of the Covid lab was crucial as vides researchers’ ample amount it demanded effective navigation of resources (sample specimens) and systematic implementation to drive in the possibilities of cre- of plans. This was made possible ating vaccines, medicines and for by the timely effort from the en- many effective therapeutic stud- tire Covid lab team. The working ies. strategy of different sub-teams, The quest for research drives the time slots division to manage and testing labs of our institute to bring out results as quick as pos- consistently move ahead with the sible was discussed in the Part – I tests. The zone and colour of the of this article series (read on Con- district moved in resulting an ag- ceimento). gressive path demanding the test- The present situation has dragged ing in high throughput and with the entire humankind to come out efficient decisions from the lab. of the comfort zone and currently There was a time when the lab things are uncertain for future. But marked 450 samples reporting in fear not with the proper incorpo- a day and as the viral pandemic ration of scientific knowledge we became intensive , the lab report- can overthrow the dark envelope ed 300 plus samples in a span of of these devastating times .The 24 hours for several days. Num- role of COVID testing labs across ber matters only when the output the Globe plays a pivotal role in is composed with and this fight. The dramatic invasive- accuracy and that is vital in these ness of the SARS-CoV2 virus crucial days. It was the selfless distinguishes this pandemic to be and dedicated COVID lab mem- worse. Undoubtedly the detection bers who took up the challenge of 27 tackling these fearful times. different instances and possi- ed a year ago suddenly appeared As an institute of national impor- bilities of false results. But with and providing a remarkable op- tance it is our prime duty to in- the proper and channelized sys- portunity to several undergrad corporate scientific temperament tem even minute technical errors and postgrad students in future in every Indian citizen, the lab were ruled out. In total, 6 differ- and present; with a fact that the actively promoted and explored ent COVID testing kits were used emotion and atmosphere inside various dimensions of bringing successfully which traced various that lab will shower life-long ex- up scientific thoughts to sharp- SARS-CoV2 novel genes provid- perience that further drives the en our weapons in this war. The ing a wonderful opportunity in passion towards research. Nearly adoption of Dry-Swab method the lab to understand the quality 40 members had already acquired (https://www.biorxiv.org/conte and dynamics of each testing kit training and still continue their nt/10.1101/2020.05.31.12634 having its own specific character- work. The testing facility has 2v1) which infringe the labori- istics (run time, temperature and now become a platform to vali- ous genetic material isolation overall PCR program). date many novel strategies and was successfully tested. The ad- One of the recent achievement in line to witness exciting studies vancement of this methodology from the lab is the fully auto- from our students and scientists. is a major reduction in the test- mated uploading of sample data The lab had completed a 25,000 ing time, cost-effective and ease and results using computer pro- sample testing so far, and the ef- of use. This novel protocol was gramming and is now tested to forts will continue until the world tested in the lab multiple times give zero error and saving hours is free from mask. There are and mirrored the inferences from of human effort. The algorithm many more exciting stories from the original work from CCMB is currently in use with absolute inside the lab, hope to share on a testing centre. Dry-Swab can be data privacy and security which later time. a best-adapted testing method in also nullifies the practical errors, References: the coming days which just not is soon going to be implemented 1. Kiran et al., 2020. Improved limit to COVID-19 testing, but in various labs across India (read and Simplified Diagnosis of for many viral gene detections. more here: https://www.iiserbpr. Covid-19 using TE Extraction The COVID testing centre is es- ac.in/content/CovidLab_automa- from Dry Swabs. https://doi. tablished with a Bio-Safety Lev- tion.pdf). org/10.1101/2020.05.31.126342 el-II (BSL-II), having dedicated The lab provided a wonderful 2. K.G Gopi, 2020. Covid19 Lab arenas with extended partition- platform to nourish the training Data Entry Automation. https:// ing ensuring best level of safety. of various members of the IISER www.iiserbpr.ac.in/content/ Over time, the changes in testing fraternity by moulding their prac- CovidLab_automation.pdf kits with different composition tical and theoretical knowledge. of chemicals/reagents bring out A molecular lab that never exist-

28 AND THAT'S HOW WE SCORED 25,000

IISER Berhampur lab had completed 25,000 Covid-19 sample testing so far, and the efforts will continue until the world is free from mask.

29 BIOLOGY The Tiny Plant Wanderers by Kunjulakshmi R

t least a few among As mentioned above, increased us have a bucket list nutrient concentration is the Awith visualising the reason for the plankton bloom but bioluminescent “sea sparkle”. nowadays anthropogenic factors This bioluminescence is often are predominantly responsible because of the blooming of for this increasing nutrient Noctiluca scintillans, a free- concentration. Agricultural run- living marine dinoflagellate. off, fertilizers, high concentration Dinoflagellates belong to one class of sewage enhances the nutrient of phytoplankton. distribution and spikes the Phytoplankton, the plants made plankton growth. As a result, the to wander, are the foundations underlying aquatic fauna and flora of the aquatic food web and are are deprived of oxygen and other responsible for the majority of nutrients. The plankton bloom the transfer of carbon dioxide increases the biological oxygen from the atmosphere to the ocean. demand (BOD) of water. Some The growth of the phytoplankton blooms can be very harmful if requires the presence of sunlight there is any production of biotoxin and the inorganic nutrients such as involved as in the case of red tide. nitrates, phosphates and sulphur. Red tide can result in massive fish Water temperature, salinity, water mortality and may cause illness in depth, wind, predators grazing on people directly or indirectly. After them, are the other influencing a massive bloom, the lake or ocean factors for their growth (Lindsey floor is filled with the sunken dead & Scott, 2010). When there is phytoplankton resulting in a dead an abundance of these inorganic zone. This can deplete the oxygen nutrients, the growth of the plankton in the water further and may moves into an exponential phase suffocate the animal life. El Niño resulting in a plankton bloom and Southern Oscillations climate when the levels of the nutrients pattern has the biggest influence lower, the bloom crashes. The on the year to year differences in above mentioned bioluminescent global phytoplankton productivity. “sea sparkle” is one such example It is to be noted that, in high of the plankton bloom. Red tide is latitudes, blooms peak during another textbook example of the spring and summer. In subtropical plankton bloom. Now the question oceans, populations drop off in arises, what are the causes of summer and in lower latitudes, the bloom, what is its ecological seasonal blooms are often linked to relevance and how the changing monsoon related changes in winds. climate is affecting the growth and But because of climate change, distribution of the phytoplankton? everything has been juggled up 30 a bit. Intensity, as well as the This can provide a daily, global composition of phytoplankton, synoptic view of spectral water- REFERENCES has been shifted. leaving reflectances (Werdell et 1) Lindsey, R., Scott, M. (2010, A critical understanding of this al., 2018). Dimethyl sulphide July 13). What are Phytoplank- changing pattern today is essential (DMS), a gas produced by ton?. Retrieved on October 10, for making predictions about the phytoplankton rapidly breaks 2020 from https://earthobser- changing of massive ecosystems down in the atmosphere. vatory.nasa.gov/features/Phyto- in the future. Quantification Aerosols formed from the plankton of chlorophyll-a is a study to resulting sulphur form clouds 2) Deccan Chronicle. (2019, estimate the phytoplankton when water condenses around June 19). ‘Algal bloom’ behind abundance in the ocean as them. The North Atlantic sea foam in Kollam. Retrieved chlorophyll-a is its predominant Aerosols and Marine Ecosystem on October 10, 2020 from www. pigment. Chlorophyll-a Study (NAAMES) is a five-year deccanchronicle.com/nation/cur- concentration can be estimated investigation supported by the rent-affairs/190619/algal-bloom- from the satellite data. Recently, a NASA Earth Venture Suborbital behind-sea-foam-in-kollam.html team of Indian scientists from the Programme for resolving key 3) India Science Wire. New Indian National Centre for Ocean processes controlling marine study helps monitor trendsin Information Services (INCOIS) ecosystems and aerosols that are phytoplankton biomass in Bay measured the same in the Bay essential to our understanding of Bengal. Retrieved on Oc- of Bengal (India Science Wire, of the Earth System and future tober 10, 2020 from www. 2020). The data for the trend downtoearth.org.in/news/ of chlorophyll-a analysis wildlife-biodiversity/new- was collected by relying study-helps-monitor-trends- on United States National in-phytoplankton-biomass-in- Aeronautics and Space bay-of-bengal-73377 Administration (NASA) 4) Werdell, P. J., McKinna, Moderate Resolution L. I. W., Boss, E., Ackleson, Imaging Spectroradiometer S. G., Craig, S. E., Gregg, (MODIS) sensor, onboard W. W., … Zhang, X. (2018). Aqua satellite acquiring data An overview of approaches in 36 spectral bands (India and challenges for retrieving Science Wire, 2020). One of the Betalbatim beach in Goa glows in the dark due to a natural phenomenon of Plaktons marine inherent optical prop- most widely used studies for erties from ocean color remote the plankton is by collecting the change (Lineberry, 2017). The sensing. Progress in Oceanogra- water sample, identification and organisms you cannot even see phy, 160, 186–212. https://doi. finally calculating its diversity have a huge impact on the vital org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j. and abundance. Integration of processes of the planet. We still pocean.2018.01.001 Imaging Flow CytoBot (IFCB), have to apply a systems approach 5) Lineberry, D. Tiny organ- a submersible imaging flow for sustained global ocean isms, giant impact. Retrieved on cytometer has enabled automated observation for understanding the October 10, 2020 from https:// phytoplankton identification, ocean ecosystem. Global Ocean climate.nasa.gov/news/2621/ti- classification and genus- (or Observing System (GOOS) has ny-organisms-giant-impact/ species-) specific cell abundance become a critical and strategic 6) Anderson, C. R., Berdalet, estimation done in a very short tool in addressing the plankton E., Kudela, R. M., Cusack, C. time. It has allowed monitoring bloom as a global community K., Silke, J., O’Rourke, E., … of high-frequency variability (Anderson et al., 2019). A more Morell, J. (2019). Scaling Up in phytoplankton diversity and widespread interaction between From Regional Case Studies to distribution. Estimates of marine the communities across the globe a Global Harmful Algal Bloom inherent optical properties (IOP is necessary to build ecological Observing System. Frontiers in play a crucial role in estimating models to understand the impact Marine Science, Vol. 6, p. 250. phytoplankton pigments) can be of these tiny microscopic Retrieved from https://www. generated from ocean colours organisms in order to address the frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/ measured from the satellite. changing climate. fmars.2019.00250 31 PHYSICS Entering the Hypersonic Era by Ananya Anubhab Biswal

bullet train or a passenger 5 the engine efficiency decreases flight are fast moving significantly due to the shock wave Avehicles that you have experienced by the inlet. Later this ever experienced .Basically issue was solved by an advanced a passenger flight moves in a version of the RAMJET engine, speed range of 500-600 mph called SCRAMJET (supersonic . Now imagine how it will be combustion RAMJET) (Range: moving at a speed of 7000 mph Mach 6 - March 15). i.e. more than 9 times the speed Now the question is what is of sound. On 7th September 2020, SCRAMJET and how it works? DRDO conducted a successful SCRAMJET is a simple air HTDV (Hypersonic Technology breathing engine model which Demonstrator Vehicle) test, is envisioned at speeds up to at comprising a scramjet engine in least Mach 15. Which operates the wheeler island, ODISHA. on Mach number >6. In scramjet In this experiment the HTDV air enters through the inlet, where reached the speed of Mach 6 just it is compressed by supersonic in 6 seconds, after which India compressor. After the ignition got into a hypersonic missile club. process the hypersonic exhaust Where Mach number is defined as comes through the nozzle. As the speed of an object with respect the air has speed in the range of to speed of sound in air. supersonic then the combustion Earlier the jet engines are is completed in the time span supposed to have fuel propellant of less than 1x10-3 seconds. consisting of oxidizer. which are Where the fuel is injected in the supposed to be less efficient, and perpendicular cross-section of more costly. Therefore, we need airstream for getting maximum a propulsion system which can fuel efficiency and minimum fuel use atmospheric oxygen for the loss. Then thrust equation for this combustion process. RAMJET system will be

(Range: Mach1-Mach5) is an F=meVe - moVo+(Pe – PO)Ae

engine system which compresses Where F = thrust, moVo = free

atmospheric air for the combustion stream mass flow, e m Ve = exit

process. But the problem arises mass flow, e(P – PO) = pressure after reaching supersonic speed. difference in between inlet and

Specifically, in RAMJET air nozzle, Ae = nozzle cross section. enters at supersonic speed, but When an engine operates at later slows down to subsonic hypersonic speed then the selection speed in the combustion chamber. of fuel is the most important task. As the Mach number increases to The ideal fuel should have high 32 calorific value, low ignition temperature on the surface of the unmanned jets. The day we use energy, wide flammability vehicle reaches around 30000c SCRAMJET in the commercial limits, high density. Currently which is enough to melt metals passenger flights, we can travel effervescent kerosene and liquid like iron, copper and aluminium from Chennai to Delhi in just 10 hydrogen are the most used fuel . For that reason, a mixture minutes. in the SCRAMJET system as of titanium carbide and boron these fuels are satisfying most of nitride nanotubes are used on REFERENCES the above conditions. the surface of the moving body. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ There are many challenges in Also, the changing of direction is research/f_scramjets.html operating a SCRAMJET engine. much more difficult in such high First of all, it cannot start from moving vehicles https://www.isro.gov.in/launch- rest. That’s why a booster is used NASA had done SCRAMJET ers/isro%E2%80%99s-scram- to reach supersonic speed. the flight testing of X-43A aircraft. jet-engine-technology-demon- engine needs a constant air flow, Also, China and Russia claimed strator-successfully-flight-tested so that the vehicle should be in to have hypersonic missile the 0-50 km atmospheric height. systems. Now SCRAMJETs In a hypersonic motion the are being used in missile and

33 BIOLOGY Search for twinkling stars on the Earth A brief article about upcoming threats for fireflies by Debapratim Pal

INTRODUCTION with the help of an enzyme ireflies’, ‘glow worms’, and ‘Luciferase’. Luciferase reacts ‘lightning bugs’ are quite with a chemical compound named common insects for us. They ‘Luciferin’, oxygen, calcium, F magnesium, and adenosine are actually beetles that belong to the family Lampyridae. There are triphosphate (ATP) to produce around 2,000 species of fireflies light. This light is ‘cold light’ as it all over the globe. In India, only doesn’t produce heat unlike other 7-8 species can be found. These light sources (Scientific American, beautiful tiny creatures are easily 2005). visible during their mating season Bioluminescence in fireflies serves in the months of May and June in different purposes in different India. These insects can be found phases of the life cycle. In the in the marshy and woodland areas larval stage, photic emission is where their larvae get plenty of used as a warning signal which food to survive. Though fireflies helps to protect themselves from are renowned as nocturnal species, their predators. Whereas, in the many are diurnal, like the ones adult stage, the photic signal is used in the genus Ellychnia. They in mate choice. Different firefly are unable to produce light and species have their unique flash depend on pheromones to get pattern. This property is sometimes their mate. Some fireflies use both exploited by Photuris females. pheromones and bioluminescence They mimic response flashes in their sexual signals. produced by Photinus females After mating, eggs are laid on or and ultimately hunt down and under the soil. Larvae come out consume the approaching Photinus within three to four weeks of egg- male (Lewis et al., 2012). There laying. These larvae are ferocious are some south-east Asian firefly predators. They hunt on various species who exhibit synchronized species of snails, slugs, and even flashing behavior. larvae of other firefly species. They insert a numbing fluid to kill their FIREFLY AND ECOSYSTEM prey. Some larvae also live on Fireflies control the delicate balance pollen and nectar. Astonishingly, of the ecosystem by controlling they spend the whole winter pests like snails. Fireflies like moist hibernating under the soil or within and humid places. Even in dry the tree bark. areas, they look for moisture. This Fireflies produce bioluminescence way they indicate the presence of 34 water (National Geographic, n.d.). fireflies even use light signals still not too late. We can reduce WHY ARE THEY to get their food. They are water pollution, unnecessary use also being affected by this. of lights, and pesticides. The BECOMING EXTINCT? From satellite imagery, we can usage of green pesticides may We all agree that fireflies are not observe that human habitations be effective to protect them. We easily visible nowadays. The are becoming brighter at night, also need to protect their natural number of fireflies has decreased day by day. Purushwadi, habitat. Firefly festivals can be drastically in the last few decades. Rajamachi, Bhandardara- done, but tourists should become A study conducted in 2019 these villages of Maharashtra more conscious and responsible. (Chatragadda, 2020) in Tamil Nadu are famous for firefly festivals. Finally, more extensive research based National Centre for Coastal Lots of tourists gather to watch needs to be carried out on fireflies. Research (NCCR) identified a thousands of fireflies in the Otherwise, we as well as the future drastic decline in the population pre-monsoon months, which generations will miss the magical density of the fireflies in Barrankula is the peak breeding period nights of summer. village of Andhra Pradesh. This of fireflies. The use of torch comparative study showed that lights and flash photography is more than 500 fireflies found in 10 REFERENCES creating trouble for them there square meter area in 1996, reduced as well. to 10-20 fireflies per 10 square 1) SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. 3. Use of Pesticides meter in 2019. Our negligence has (2005, September 5). How and We all are aware of the effects pushed these beautiful creatures why do fireflies light up?. -Re of chemical pesticides on towards extinction. The result of trieved on October 10, 2020 from nature. Toxic pesticides are a global survey published recently https://www.scientificamerican. getting mixed with soil and (Lewis et al., 2020) found out the com/article/how-and-why-do-fire- water nearby agricultural following factors associated with flies/ fields. Larvae of fireflies remain the declining firefly populations. 2) Lewis, S. M., Faust, L., & under soil or underwater for 1. Loss of habitat De Cock, R. (2012). The Dark a long time of their life cycle It’s easy to realize now Side of the Light Show: Pred- and thereby get harmed. temperature and moisture ators of Fireflies in the Great Agricultural insecticides play important roles in the life Smoky Mountains. Psyche, such as organophosphates cycle of fireflies. Like many 2012, 634027. https://doi. and neonicotinoids are also other threatened species, loss org/10.1155/2012/634027 causing damage to fireflies. of natural habitat is the main 3) National Geographic. (n.d.). Unscientific and excessive use reason for their unavailability. Fireflies. Retrieved on October of pesticides accelerating this Random urbanization and 10, 2020 from https://www. process. industrialization are grabbing nationalgeographic.com/animals/ Apart from these factors, water lands causing the loss of invertebrates/group/fireflies/ pollution, climate change, habitats of fireflies. Unplanned 4) Chatragadda, R. (2020). invasive species, tourism, and agriculture is another threat to Decline of luminous firefly overharvesting of fireflies from their habitat. Abscondita chinensis population nature are the other major threats 2. Light Pollution in Barrankula, Andhra Pradesh, to fireflies. This is also a vital cause India. International Journal of of the disappearance of Tropical Insect Science, 40(2), fireflies. Photic emission CONSERVATION 461–465. https://doi.org/10.1007/ plays important role in the Firefly conservation has not s42690-019-00078-7 reproduction of these beautiful become familiar to us until 5) Lewis, S. M., Wong, C. H., creatures. The Lower part of the recently. In 2018, IUCN formed Owens, A. C. S., Fallon, C., male’s abdomen produces light the Firefly Specialist Group (FSG) Jepsen, S., Thancharoen, A., … that attracts females. Duration with the vision to study 2000 Reed, J. M. (2020). A Global of flash plays important role species of fireflies over the globe. Perspective on Firefly Extinc- in fireflies’ courtship which is This team has 26 members from tion Threats. BioScience, 70(2), being disturbed by unnecessary 6 countries. Although we should 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1093/ use of lights in agriculture have come forward much earlier biosci/biz157 and human habitation. Some to save these stars on Earth, it is 35 CHEMISTRY Eating the Rainbow by Chandreyee Banerjee

he novel Corona Virus, moderate erectile dysfunction. Red COVID-19, is one of the vegetables lower bad cholesterol Tmost threatening pandemics and facilitate healthy skin growth. ever in history. In absence of According to a recent study, beets, definite medicines and vaccines, a red earthy vegetable may lower maintenance of hygiene is not the blood pressure, improve blood only necessity but an improved flow, and boost athletic endurance. immunity is paramount at this juncture. And, “eating the rainbow”, R1 having fruits and vegetables from R2 C each colour, can prevent disease HO O R and boosts immunity with variety A B 3 of vitamins, minerals, anti- OH oxidants and Phytochemicals, not OH Anthocyanins only against Covid-19 but in every possible way. According to 2009 H3C CH3 Phyto-nutrients report (based on CH3 CH3 CH3 data from National Health and CH3 CH3 CH3 Lycopene Nutrition Examination Surveys) H3C CH3 8 out of every 10 people in US fall short in virtually every colour ORANGE – YELLOW, A HEALTHY category of Phyto nutrients. Each FELLOW colour in fruits and vegetables is Orange and yellow fruits and caused by specific Phytonutrients, vegetables are rich in vitamin with huge biological significance. C (ascorbic acid), carotenoid including beta-carotene. These REASONS TO ADD COLOURS TO helps in promotion of healthy YOUR DIET vision and cell growth, after getting WITH IMMUNE-BOOSTER RED, modified to Vitamin A in human ALL WORRIES TO SHED body. Citrus reduce the risk of Red fruits and vegetables like Stroke and Hesperidin; a unique Tomatoes, Red bell-peppers, Phytonutrient increases the blood strawberries, beets are loaded flow. Both the chemicals go hand with lycopene and anthocyanins in hand so as to keep the Cardiac to reduce the risk of Cancer. system healthy. Oranges, carrots, According to the National Institutes pine-apples, lemon are source to of Health, around 85 percent of the abundant amount of Vitamin C. lycopene in our diets is from fresh Orange coloured fruits supplies tomatoes and tomato products. huge anti-oxidants and increases Water melon is rich in citrulline bone strength. The little yellow which may work against mild to beads of corn all lined up on the 36 cob also contain phytochemicals. been popular since the 1980s. strong in participants who were These can stop carcinogens They’re flavourful and packed obese with poor diabetes control. from infecting cells, and the with nutrients like vitamins C, E Garlic and onion allium family phytochemicals can also help cells and K. got its name from the powerful to halt and eliminate any cancer- cancer fighting drugs, allicin. like changes. The yellow kernels DISEASE NEVER ARGUE, WITH Along with allicin they also are high in fibres, which helps PURPLE AND BLUE contain quercetin for the same the body stave off any digestive Blue and purple fruits are rich purpose. Quercetin’s potential problems or illnesses including in Phytonutrients including anti-inflammatory properties may constipation, haemorrhoids, and anthocyanin and resveratrol. provide allergy symptom relief. colorectal cancer. Studies reveals that they have White button mushrooms are extensive anticancer and antiaging also found to inhibit aromatase GREEN LEAVES ON THE PLATE, properties. The bioactive activity and breast cancer cell IMMUNE SYSTEM IS UP-TO- phytochemicals of berries work proliferation. Banana and dry OH to repair damage from oxidative fruits are very healthy so as to HO OH HO CH2 OH O stress and inflammation. Research boost up immune system. HO HO C O O O suggests that the beneficial plant To conclude, there appears to be O O HO H O O compounds in elderberries may more reason to eat the spectrum OH HO OH Ascorbic acid activate healthy immune cells of colours than to wear them. So, (Vitamin C) OH O Hesperidin that help fight off cold and flu let’s paint the plates with colours. viruses. Along with this, egg CH CH 3 3 plant, red cabbage(purple), plums OH OH O CH3 CH3 and figs provide enormous level HO O b-carotene of antioxidants that help defend S S cells against harm from unstable OH OH O DATE molecules called free radicals. Quercetin Allicin Leafy vegetables, one of the core OH S components of regular diet are N O HO C rich in Lutein, isothiocyanates, S isoflavones and Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood Resveratrol Sulforaphane (SFN) clotting and plays an important OH role in bone health. These are REFERENCES extremely essential for blood WHITE AND BROWN ON THE health also. Broccoli, spinach, WAY, CANCER JUST FLEES 1. https://urbanremedy.com/ asparagus boosts the immune AWAY what-does-it--to- system by detoxification while White and brown are may not eat-the-rainbow-and-why- dark leafy greens, like Kale helps be bright colours but they are should-you-do-it/ to improve the mood. They’re healthy choice for Heart and 2. https://foodrevolution.org/ also one of the best sources of Bones. Cauliflower, a white blog/eating-the-rainbow- vitamin K, may reduce blood cruciferous, is the supplier of health-benefits/ clots and promote healthy bones. antiacancerous sulforaphane. 3. http://www.eatingwell.com/ Cruciferous vegetables are rich Sulforaphane is activated when article/275617/why-you- in folate, which are essential glucoraphanin comes into contact should-eat-the-rainbow- for pregnant women to prevent with myrosinase, a family of when-it-comes-to-fruits- congenital disorders. Microgreens enzymes that play a role in the and-vegetables/ are immature greens, which have defence response of plants. The 4. https://www.healthline. study found that sulforaphane O O com/health/food-nutrition/ Vitamin K1 effectively reduced fasting blood yellow-vegetables sugar levels by 6.5% and improved O O Isoflavone haemoglobin A1c, a marker of OH CH3 CH3 long-term blood sugar control.

CH CH HO 3 3 These effects were particularly Lutein 37 PHYSICS Frozen but not solid? by Samikshya Kar & Sayan Adhikari

INTRODUCTION much importance in the high ne might be wondering schools, however it has a lot how is that even possible. of practical significance. This Well, in this article we process is widely used in food O industry in storing of items in a are going to introduce the reader to a bewildering phenomenon cold environment without any which clears the confusion. The loss of their quality. An example phenomenon is called supercooling. includes storing of garlic at a As the name suggests, it is cooling very low temperature of -60 C to a super-low temperature- a without it getting frozen [1]. It is normal explanation that is surely also observed in several natural going to pop up in the reader’s processes like the slippery glare ice mind. However, supercooling 1 formation; it is formed due to the involves something more than freezing of the supercooled water that; it is cooling of fluids below [6] [8]. Supercooling also helps in the survival of some organisms. In regions of very low temperatures, plants have to somehow prevent nucleation2 of their essential fluids otherwise they might undergo lethal freezing. Some animals like the Polar Teletost fish also uses this phenomenon to survive in subfreezing temperature [2]. Supercooling was reported many decades ago first by F. Brown in 1916 to explain bursting of hot their normal freezing point without water pipes in household systems them solidifying. In this article [3]. From then, scientists have we are going to explain how been experimenting to precisely supercooling happens for water. If figure out on what parameters one looks at the phase diagram of this phenomena depends on and water (see Fig.1), it seems almost how far can water be supercooled. thermodynamically unstable for There is another phenomenon such a process to occur. However, closely related to supercooling in specific circumstances the water of water named as Mpemba reaches below it’s freezing point effect3 (described separately in without turning into ice. the last section). Both of these This topic has never been given phenomena can be studied by performing simple experiments at 38 undergraduate laboratories. distilled water (or roughly, a water surroundings). This depends on sample that has undergone reverse few thermodynamic factors like the HOW AND WHEN IT OCCURS ? osmosis) is free of any nucleation heat capacity of the constituent of The occurrence of supercooling is site, thus can be easily supercooled. the medium and on the latent heat quite uncommon and can be seen In the absence of nucleation sites, if a phase change is involved i.e. if under certain unique conditions as if thermodynamic conditions the constituent comes from solid to already mentioned before. In case are maintained suitably and the liquid state during the temperature of water, supercooling can start medium is not much disturbed, change. Also, if an experiment is under standard pressure and 00 then supercooling can be observed set up to observe supercooling C if proper conditions are aided to quite an appreciable extent until then we may see that rate of until the temperature is less than a homogeneous nucleation starts cooling of the sample liquid also certain mark where homogeneous [4] [6]. In the next section, we affects the supercooling to quite nucleation starts spontaneously. would explain how supercooling some extent. If the liquid is cooled What exactly is homogeneous can be performed in a simplified slowly then there are more chances nucleation? But before that let us experiment. If an experiment of observing supercooling as see what nucleation is. In order is to be performed to observe concluded experimentally. Rapid to know a general explanation to supercooling then there are cooling involves a large change of supercooling, one has to know various factors that may affect temperature of the liquid in a short a simple fact that in any liquid, the process. Some important period of time that reduces the crystals form due to a process called factors among them are the initial chances of supercooling.[6] nucleation. The term Nucleation temperature of water and type of Computer simulation of a well is a process observed in case of the media where the fluid is kept studied water sample suggests liquids during phase change to in order to get cooled. How the that supercooled water under solid in which either a foreign initial temperature of water sample negative pressure does not exist particle or a constituent particle affects the process? It has been in a single phase, rather it coexists of the liquid acts as a nucleus and observed experimentally that cold in two distinct metastable liquid- the other constituent particles or water has more chances of showing water phases[5]. This opens up a molecules pile up around it to form supercooling as compared to hot plethora of topics for researchers to crystals of the liquid. Nucleation is water. This is because in hot water study on and consequently predict of two types [4]: nucleating agents are more active as the behaviour patterns of water. Homogeneous nucleation: compared to cold water. Although However, explanation of the above Nucleation(in case of water) that this fact is not stated surely and mentioned fact is beyond the scope is caused due to electrostatic needs a bold reasoning still now. of this article. attraction between polar water [4] But this pretty much gives molecules is called homogeneous us a fair explanation to a strange AN EXPERIMENTAL SETUP TO nucleation. In case of water, this is effect observed in water called STUDY SUPERCOOLING seen below -48.30 C. the Mpemba effect. However, if Supercooling can be easily studied Heterogeneous nucleation: somehow the nucleating agents are by using a simple apparatus as Nucleation happens due to the eliminated due to high temperature suggested by Kah-Chye Tan et presence of a nucleation site in this in hot water, then the opposite al, 2015 .[6] Their apparatus type of nucleation might happen i.e. hot water may is called an IFM (Investigate What are nucleation sites? Water have more chances of getting Freezing and Melting) as shown or any fluid needs a central element supercooled as compared to cold in Fig.2. The inner container is a (be it a dust particle or any sort of water. [6] thick aluminium test tube which impurity present in the fluid) to help Now comes the role of chilling is attached to the base of the outer it in the process of crystallisation. medium. It is fairly obvious that container at the middle. The outer The water molecules pile up the chilling medium should be in container is made up of plastic. The around that to form crystals. This a very low temperature initially. water sample to be experimented, dust particle is precisely known But, what exactly matters is the is placed in the inner container and as a nucleation site. The primary rate of change of temperature of the chilling medium is placed in the cause of supercooling of water the medium or in other words, how outer container. Aluminium being is absence of nucleation sites fast the medium comes to a normal a good conductor of heat will allow in the fluid. Pure water, namely temperature(same as that of its the flow of heat from water sample 39 to the cold water may seem so unreal to our focus is not on freezing but on any general person but it actually it’s opposite i.e. to see which one happens, not always but if provided doesn’t freeze. with certain special conditions. Anyways, the more we dig deep After this effect caught the attention in studying this queer fluid named of scientists, many came up with water, the more it astounds us. various possible explanations but none of them till now has REFERENCES been fixed as an exact solution [1] C. James, V. Seignemartin and to elucidate the effect. However, S. J. James, \The Freezing and chilling medium. However, some explanations have influenced Supercooling of Garlic (Allium plastic will prevent any heat flow people like evaporation, hydrogen sativum L.)," International Journal between the chilling medium and bonding in water and yes the subject of Refrigeration, Vol. 32, No. 2, the environment. There are two of our article, supercooling. Here, 2009, pp.253-260. http://dx.doi. short tubes in the plastic cover to only the relation of the two effects org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2008.05.012 prevent mixing of the water sample is mentioned and we will not go [2] A. DeVries, \Biological and chilling medium. Additionally, into the details of other reasons for Antifreeze Agents in Cold-water a temperature sensor is fixed to the Mpemba effect. Supercooling is Fishes," Comparative Biochemistry system by using an extension rod. one of the prominent explanations and Physiology PartA: Physiology, At first, the chilling medium is to the Mpemba effect. It gives a Vol. 73, No. 4, 1982, pp. 627- put into the IFM and then put into validation to this effect in a way 640.dx.doi.org/10.1016/0300- freezer for 24 hours. After the that for a given temperature(under 9629%2882%2990270-5 temperature of the chilling medium the freezing point of the liquid), [3] F. Brown, \The Frequent has cooled to that of the freezer, the initially hot water might have Bursting of Hot Water Pipes the apparatus is taken out and then turned into solid whereas cold water in Household Plumbing Systems," the water sample is poured into it. might actually be in a supercooled Physical Review, Vol.8 Now, the apparatus can be used state, i.e. it is still in its liquid state. No.5, 1916, pp. 500-503. http:// to cool water sample without a For any normal observer who dx.doi.org/10.2307%2F1005602 freezer. This simple experiment is unaware of the temperatures [4] Amir Gholaminejad et al, "A can be carried out using different of these two liquids can say that Study of Water Supercooling", water samples and also different he found Mpemba effect true. Journal of Electronics Cooling and chilling media to observe how This pretty much does justice to Thermal Control, supercooling depends on these the explanation with respect to 2013, 3, 1-6. http://dx.doi. factors. The initial temperature supercooling as we have already org/10.4236/jectc.2013.31001 of the freezer and water sample mentioned that there are more [5] C. Austen Angell, "Supercooled can also be changed for different chances of observing supercooling water two phases ?",News and observations. in cold water as compared to hot Views, Nature Materials, Vol. 13, water. However, this is not the only 2014. THE RELATION OF plausible reason for the effect to [6] Kah-Chye Tan et al, "A study SUPERCOOLING TO MPEMBA happen or rather not a complete of the occurrence of supercooling justification as supercooling EFFECT of water", American Journal itself occurs under restricted In 1963, Erasto Bartholomeo of Physics, 84, (2016). dx.doi. surroundings and Mpemba effect Mpemba during his schooling times org/10.1119/1.4939792 has been observed in the absence observed that an ice-cream mixture [7] "Can hot water freeze faster than of these surroundings. So for freezes faster when heated initially cold water?",Nov, 1998, Monwhea now, it will be safe to say that as compared to a cold mixture. Jeng, Department of Physics, both the effects go hand in hand. Later in 1969, he along with one University of California https:// Two of the effects are one single of his professors experimentally math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/ phenomenon looked from two proved his observation of icecream General/hot water.html#History different perspectives. In case of mixtures and published the [8] V. F. Petrenko and R. W. Mpemba effect we see which one results[7]. Therefore, this peculiar Whitworth, "Physics of Ice", among hot and cold water freezes effect is named after him. The fact Oxford U. P., Oxford UK, 1999 faster, whereas in supercooling that hot water freezes faster than 40 CHEMISTRY Potential Applications of N-Heterocy- clic Carbene- Metal Complexes in Industrial Processes by A. K.Sahoo, B. Das, and Dr. A. Doddi

n 1991, Arduengo et al. metals as well as many d-block electron donors for various reported the isolation of elements. In to the well- transition metals can be viewed Ia stable N-heterocyclic established trivalent phosphines by their characteristic sigma- carbene (NHC), which was the (PR3), N-heterocyclic carbenes donating ability of -hybridized early beginning of numerous display a strong σ-donating lone-pair and empty pz-orbital explorations in their application and weak p-accepting ability. can act as the acceptor orbital in diverse fields.[2] From these [3,4]This remarkable eminence which can be filled by the filled beginnings, N-heterocyclic of NHCs made them their p-orbital of transition metal atoms. carbenes have gained numerous significance in diverse fields, for [4] This short article emphasizes attention, and today they are the instance in the organometallic industrially relevant applications most famous and powerful two chemistry, and especially in of carbenes supported various electron-donating ligands in the homogeneous catalysis. The metal complexes.[1] Some of modern era of organometallic majority of applications of those widely used carbenes chemistry. NHCs have found N-heterocyclic carbenes can and their metal complexes are several applications not only be divided mainly into two depicted in Figure 1 and Chart. in the synthetic organic/ parts; a) effective tools for the As shown in the above chart, organometallics chemistry, stabilization of various novel several ruthenium–NHC but also have great relevance organometallic species, b) complexes have been synthesized to commercial processes. applications in homogeneous by various groups and employed N-heterocyclic carbenes can catalysis as ancillary ligands. in the field of ring-closing and bind to a plethora of main-group The applicability of low-valent ring-opening metathesis.[5]This elements, non-metals, and semi- and low-coordinate NHCs as two- ring-closing metathesis technique of ruthenium-NHCs has been iPr iPr iPr iPr N N N N N N widely employed in different iPr iPr iPr iPr pharmaceutical companies for IMes IPr SIPr Figure1. Widely employed N-heterocyclic carbenes in industrial processes. large-scale synthesis of various types of drug candidates. KOS- 1584 (Figure 2) is a promising anticancer agent that is used to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in the human body[6] and it has been reported that the ruthenium- Chart.Ruthenium and NHC complexes (as shown in palladium NHC com- plexes that are used in Figure 2) play a major role in the industrial processes synthesis processes.[7] Similarly, SB-462795 (Figure 3) has been recently developed as an effective cathepsin K inhibitor and proved an important therapeutic potential in the 41 R R MeO N N N N MeO R' R' Cl R Cl R N N Ru Ru N N S Cl Cl S PCy3 S PR3" O O O O 5 mol% Boc 0.2 mol% O S O O N O O CO2Me O 1 i N H NH OR R = R' = Me or R = Pr, R' = H OH N N 0.1 M, 4 h N R" = Ph, Cy O N O O Toluene N O O O OR2 OH

KOS-1584/R-1645 TMC-435 Figure 2. Ruthenium-NHC complex catalyzed ring-closing metathesis 4.Ruthenium-NHC complex catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction. reaction. N N N N Cl Ru Pd N N Cl O iPr O O O S Si Si O HO S 0.5 mol% N O OMe N O HN O N 2 + MeOH + 0.2 M, toluene O OMe NH O O

O SB-462795

Telomerisation of Butadiene Figure 3. Ruthenium-NHC complex catalyzed ring-closing metathesis Figure 5. Palladium-NHC complex catalyzedtelomerisation reaction. reaction. treatment of osteoporosis[8]. reactions on industrial scales. M. Schedler, F. Glorius, Nature Ruthenium-NHC complex In addition, mesityl-carbene 2014, 510, 485. containing a supported C, (IMes) supported palladium- [4] H. V. Huynh, Chem. Rev. O-chelating (as shown in Figure NHC complexes (Figure 5) are 2018, 118, 9457. 3) ligand have been successfully also widely used as catalysts for [5] E. Colacino, J. Martinez, employed as a catalyst in the the telomerisation of butadiene F. Lamaty, Coord. Chem. Rev. ring-closing metathesis process involved in the 1-octene process. 2007, 251, 726. to form a seven-membered ring [7] [6] E. T. Lam, S. Goel, L. in the synthesis of SB-462795.[7] In this article, the exact number J. Schaaf, G. F. Cropp, A. L. TMC-435 (Figure 4) is a of NHC-metal complexes are Hannah, Y. Zhou, B. McCracken, capable drug candidate used not updated which have been B. I. Haley, R. G. Johnson, S. in combination with other employed in the different Mani et al., Cancer Chemother. medications for the treatment industrial process for various Pharmacol. 2012, 69, 523. of hepatitis C.[9]To achieve applications, however, the [7] O. Briel, C. S. J. Cazin in the ring-closing metathesis in above reports clearly show the Catalysis by Metal Complexes the preparation of TMC-435, importance of NHCs and their (Ed.: C. S.J. Cazin), Springer ruthenium-NHC complexes metal complexes in several Netherlands, Dordrecht, 2011, (Figure 4) have been effectively industrial activities. Lastly, it can pp. 315–324. used by many research groups be concluded that many more [8] H. Wang, H. Matsuhashi, and it has been reported that the large-scale applications of NHCs B. D. Doan, S. N. Goodman, ruthenium-NHC complexes have and their metal complexes will X. Ouyang, W. M. Clark, shown a much better efficiency appear in the near future with Tetrahedron 2009, 65, 6291. in comparison to many other some new ideas and inventions. [9] Å. Rosenquist, B. catalysts.[7] Samuelsson, P.-O. Johansson, Interestingly, palladium-based REFERENCES M. D. Cummings, O. Lenz, catalysts are often used in many [1] C. S.J. Cazin (Ed.) P. Raboisson, K. Simmen, S. industrial processes for various Catalysis by Metal Complexes, Vendeville, H. de Kock, M. purposes, especially in the Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, Nilsson et al., J. Med. Chem. Sonogashira coupling reactions, 2011. 2014, 57, 1673. Suzuki-Miyaura, and Mizoroki- [2] A. J. Arduengo, R. L. [10] D. S. McGuinness, K. Heck couplings, which are used Harlow, M. Kline, J. Am. Chem. J. Cavell in Catalysis by Metal to synthesize drug molecules and Soc. 1991, 113, 361. Complexes (Ed.: C. S.J. Cazin), many other useful chemicals.[10] [3] a) A. Doddi, M. Peters, Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, Similarly, the palladium-NHC M. Tamm, Chem. Rev. 2019; b) 2011, pp. 105–129. complexes have been employed M. N. Hopkinson, C. Richter, as catalysts for the telomerisation 42 ECOLOGY Tabletop World: Sustainable ecological cycle to Space colonization by Subhasish Halder & Kshitij Behera

hen pandemic shook the holds bacteria, algae, planktons. entire world, I mused 4. Gently place the aquatic plants Won the earth’s ecosphere in water (as in my case it was and replicated the simplest duckweed) so that it does not ecological cycle to create a small drown or get stuck on jar wall. tabletop world. Incorporating air, 5. Tiny natural objects can be water and life forms and their added for decoration such as shell intricate interactions; I could or small driftwood. make self-contained ecosystem 6. Tighten the lid of the Jar and inside a glass jar. keep in indirect sun light(require sunlight daily atleast for 12-14 How to create little world? hours) and room temperature (23- Materials required 27 degree Celsius). A transparent glass jar, tap water, 7. Allow the system to settle. any container or bottles, forceps Bingo!! Your table top world is and gloves. ready to flourish (hopefully!). Since, you are in charge of Steps to follow the little world, do not get too • Find a suitable shallow area in ambitious and over accessorize it- the nearest pond or water body. as you might make the jar crowded • You might see floating sap green leaving little space to breathe. hairy algae or many other water How earth model functions? plants. This marks a perfect hub “In this small Eden, the inhabitants for many microscopic organisms have an extremely intimate and zooplanktons. • Wear gloves and drag your container or bottle through the water and gently lift out some pond water and sludge. • Collect few aquatic plants such as- Duckweed, Water lettuce, Coontail etc. World in making 1. Pour a little bit of collected pond sludge in fresh glass jar(think of it as base or earth crust). 2. Add tap water in a jar filling approximately 2/3rd of the system and rest air will fill the space. 3. Add pond water/soup which 43 relationship.”-Carl Sagan naked eye. Surprisingly, I discovered one tiny snail The basic principles of ‘Ecosystem ecology’ who would nonchalantly scavenge on my jar. Soon, come from ecologist H.T. Odum but the horizon one macro aquatic insect (Order: Hemiptera) also was further explored as Autonomous Biological popped up who would mostly perch upside down System- a sealed aquarium (aka Tabletop Shrimp on driftwood like an ‘Econaut’ (it died though in a Support Module) invented by Jane Poynter, which few days, most likely because of the earthquake that has already made a successful trip to international I brought into while shifting the world into another space stations. Pioneered by two scientists, the late room). Dr. Joe Hanson and the late Dr. Clair Folsome, the This ecosphere can be a perfect showpiece blending ‘EcoSphere’ is a technology developed at NASA's art and science. One can sit quietly and observe research laboratories to make life easier for space table-top little world every day and philosophize explorers and space colonizers. little things about the larger world. Such as what is the role of us, the human beings in the system? Do tampering of exhaustible resources (the way we want) makes the system more sustainable or crash- “In this small Eden, prone? With rising human population and blatant use of resources- at what extent are we disturbing the the inhabitants have earth’s sustainable cycle? Can we use these small ecospheres as snapshots from real ecosystem and an extremely intimate get more insights on fragile ecological cycle and its components? Remember, our Earth came into being relationship” as a result of billion years of natural experiments -Carl Sagan whereas we humans are just newbie. The sooner we understand the dynamics and nuances of ecosphere and act accordingly, the better we can safeguard our ‘Econauts’ (unlike mine!) Considering the present rate of environmental degradation, in future, a situation may arise when we might have to colonize in Mars or in other such planets or habitats after making our own one uninhabitable. One possible challenge, in such case, would be to transport food, oxygen and water without increasing additional weight. The solution is to generate our own oxygen and nutrients by recycling all our waste-without increasing any additional resource usage. Think about a spacecraft like a self- sustainable closed system (like the one I am creating in Jar) and all the explorers or space crew within it as a part of the system. * Read more about ‘BIOS-3’ (https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/BIOS-3), ‘biosphere 2’(http://www. b2science.org/) and “The Development and Testing of Visualization and Passively Controlled Life Support Systems for Experimental Organisms During Spaceflight” by Poynter, J., et al. (2001).

DIVING IN TABLE-TOP WORLD With each passing day, the world started unfolding in my window and left me wondering. First, I started noticing tiny dots like things jerkily drifting in water. Those were Ostracods, a kind of crustacean. There were many other zoo-planktons too (Copepods being the most common one) but difficult to identify in 44 PHYSICS Recent XENON1T Anomaly and its Implications by Dr. Ujjal Kumar Dey

oble gases are so noble theoretical point of view, particle that not only they avoid physics provides some interesting Nreacting in mundane options. The primary candidate for quotidian reactions but help us in DM is some new kind of, hitherto search of dark matter (DM), the undiscovered, elementary particle. largest constituent form of matter In many popular theories, e.g., present in our Universe. Decades supersymmetry, extra dimension of astrophysical observations etc., this class of particles are ascertain the existence of DM. weakly interacting massive We postpone the discussion of particles (WIMP). chronological build-up of these evidences for some other time, The DM particles are chargeless, here we just focus on the properties so in most cases it will not interact of DM that can be utilised to with the atomic electrons but will detect them directly and noble instead elastically scatter off the gases play a significant role here. atomic nucleus. The resulting From the observations it is known momentum transfer gives rise that DM does not interact with the to a nuclear recoil which might electromagnetic field, and thus be detectable. Based on this can not absorb, reflect or emit any simple principle the paradigm type of electromagnetic radiation, of \textit{direct detection} of and is therefore extremely difficult DM is founded. Gravity-based to detect. However, like any form observations of galaxies give us of matter, DM must interact a fairly well-motivated density gravitationally. In fact till now the distribution and kinematics of existence of DM can be inferred DM particles in a galaxy. So we only from the gravitational effect just have to build some kind of it seems to have on normal matter. detectors on Earth and wait for These indirect form of evidences some DM particle to pass through include observations from galaxy it and get detected. Here comes rotations, collisions, formation and the ingenuity of noble gases to our evolution of galaxies, gravitational rescue. Among all the noble gases, lensing, cosmic microwave Ar and Xe are especially well- background etc. Now, any direct suited for these purposes -- they are proof, or devising a direct search excellent scintillators (light pulses strategy for that matter, solely can be generated by the excited relies upon the exact nature of DM atom and detected, often with but that is still unknown. From the photo-multiplier tubes or PMTs) 45 and can be ionized easily, their the XENON1T detector [PRD search for them. This process boiling points lie conveniently 102, 072004]. They observed an of ionization or excitation of an above the temperature of liquid excess at lower electron recoil atom is known as Migdal effect. nitrogen. Both of them can be energies 1-7 keV mostly crowded For the n=3 and n=2 atomic states liquefied to build dense and toward the lower energy ranges of the Xe atom, the ionization compact dark matter targets. of 2-4 keV range, with 285 energies are 0.66 keV and 4.9 This is why a number of direct observed events as compared to keV, respectively. This strikingly detection experiments are 232$\pm$15 events expected coincides with the generic energy devised using Ar and Xe. from known backgrounds. scale of the observed XENON1T Neglecting a possible source of excess around 1-7 keV. Inspired One such ongoing experiment contamination from a tritium by this in a recent paper is the XENON dark matter impurity in the detector the [arXiv:2006.12529], we make experiment, installed underground observation can be explained by a systematic study of a possible at the Laboratory Nazionali the solar axions (a hypothetical explanation of the observed del Gran Sasso of INFN, Italy. elementary particle postulated to excess events by considering the This is a 62 kg liquid Xe target resolve the strong CP problem in Migdal ionization effect with operated as a dual phase (liquid/ quantum chromodynamics), or sub-threshold nuclear recoil. gas) time projection chamber by assuming enhanced neutrino Remaining agnostic about the (a type of particle detector that magnetic moments. In fact many specific features of the DM uses a combination of electric other explanations are put forward particle and the underlying fields and magnetic fields to soon after the observation was model thereof, we explore perform a three-dimensional published. scenarios where the DM nucleus reconstruction of a particle scattering cross-section is spin- trajectory or interaction) to search Now, there can arise an interesting independent and spin-dependent for interactions of dark matter possibility. When a DM scatters as an explanation to the recently particles. See https://science. with the nucleus of the detector observed XENON1T excess. purdue.edu/xenon1t/?p=44, for a atoms there is a time lag for In future this proposal can be detailed account of the underlying the electron cloud to catch-up tested by the fact that the events detection principle. Actually the recoiling nucleus, which generated from the excitation of an interaction in the target results in a charge asymmetry. the n=4 atomic levels electrons material generates scintillation This can lead to an ionization of the Xe atom may result in light which is detected in the and/or (de)excitation of the a peak at 61 eV. These may be PMTs. There can be two types atoms, eventually contributing readily explored with further of recoils, namely, electronic and to the electron recoil signals in lowering of the threshold of the nuclear, and there are ways to direct detection experiments. direct detection experiments in distinguish between the two. The For light DM where the nuclear the near future. XENON collaboration recently recoil is below threshold, these reported the results of new ionization (and sub-dominant physics searches with low-energy bremsstrahlung process) signals electronic recoil data obtained in provide a novel handle to

46

GENERAL Our small change to the diet could be a Big positive change in the Environment by Rakshith M.

ou must have seen don’t eat anything that comes from the recent wildfires in an animal – like meat, eggs, milk YAustralia and California. and milk products. But what’s not Some of us would have worried obvious and one that many people about what we could do or could don’t know is that vegans also have done in the past to contribute avoid animal-derived products less to climate change and not like those made of wool, silk, let this happen again. I was one leather and such. of them. I was also saddened by But why, you may ask. Let’s the fact that a major part of our only focus on environmental society is unaware of how it takes reasons here. You may think individual contribution to a bigger farming animals does not do any change. That’s one of the reasons harm because we’re raising these I am here to share with you all animals just for food or that it’s just one of the many small changes part of the food chain. But actually we could make in our lifestyle to animal agriculture is responsible bring about a big change in the for more greenhouse gases than all environment. the world’s transportation systems We often hear environmentalists or combined and are the biggest climate-change activists asking us contributors to climate change, to use less water, electricity, fuel after fossil. and so on. But there is something Firstly, cows release a lot of that you can do at an individual methane, a greenhouse gas which level from today, on an everyday is at least 25 times more potent basis, which is one of the most than carbon dioxide. And a lot of significant ways to reduce your land and food are required to raise impact on the planet. It is you these animals. Livestock takes up adopting a vegan lifestyle. Let me nearly 80% of global agricultural tell you exactly how you going land (that includes land for grazing vegan can save the planet. and to grow animal feed), an area Let’s begin with the basics. The greater than the size of Africa! popular health website healthline. Another major environmental cost com defines vegans as “Individuals of animal agriculture is its water who avoid animal products for consumption. To put it into scale, environmental, health, and ethical a study found that producing a reasons”. It’s obvious that vegans kilogram of beef requires up-to 47 15000 liters of water, chicken about 4000 liters, and a liter of milk about 1020 litres. If there were less REFERENCES livestock to feed, there would be a lot more water to 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ go around. impact_of_meat_production Animals are being given antibiotics every day of their 2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-019- lives not to cure illnesses, but to fatten them up and 0552-0 to protect them against the factory farm conditions 3. https://ourworldindata.org/agricultural-land-by- they are raised in. Factory farmed animals are full global-diets of diseases and can be a breeding ground for new 4. https://iopscience.iop.org/ strains of viruses and superbugs. By eliminating article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541/pdf these factory farms, we could lower the risk of 5. https://www.surgeactivism.org/ antibiotic-resistant bacteria and all zoonotic diseases coronavirusisjustthestart such as the COVID-19, Mad Cow Disease and Bird 6. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/15/4110/ flu being released into our environment. One study pdf estimated that if everyone ate a vegan diet with 7. https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com/2019/04/ lots of fresh fruit and veggies, around eight million the-crippling-effectsof-meat.html deaths could be avoided around the world by 2050. 8. https://www.youtube.com/ Our consumption of animal products is creating watch?v=2pPwwU1N9hM&ab_ one of the biggest threats to human health on our channel=TheInfographicsShow [ Accessed 26th planet right now. But aren’t all vegans nutrient November 2017] and vitamin deficient and calcium deficient? The answer is ‘No’. Numerous studies have proven that a plant-based diet is sufficiently well balanced with nutrients and is way healthier than a meat-based diet. At an individual level, the best way to fight climate change and future pandemics is to go vegan, or at the very least switch to a vegetarian diet. Even animal- derived products like wool, silk, and leather are very resource-intensive and it’s better for the environment if we avoid them. What would happen to the animals if we all went vegan? Wouldn’t millions of people lose their jobs? What we need to understand here is the fact that it is practically impossible for the entire globe to go vegan overnight. And, the production of animal products works on a supply and demand basis. So as the demand gradually decreases, the number of animals bred also decreases. In reality, any change will be much more gradual, allowing the environment and human culture to adapt naturally. At the end of the day, we can’t just reverse climate change by changing our diets. Along with personal changes, we need changes in the industrial segment and government reforms to have a significant enough impact to actually reverse the damage we’ve done. But that does not mean individual contribution is unnecessary or that it is wasted. As Anne Marie Bonneau, a famous zero waste activist says we don’t need a handful of people doing it perfectly. We need millions doing it imperfectly.

48 PHYSICS Once a Failure, eventually fetched a Nobel! The LIGO Experiment by U Abinash Patro

n the 19th century, before the they are 360 times larger than the days of theory of relativity, one in the original Michelson- Ithere was a struggle to locate Morley experiment (which had an absolute frame of reference. arms 11 m (33 feet) in length). Some scientists believed that This is crucial in the search for Aether (luminiferous ether) was gravitational waves because an absolute frame that filled the longer arms allow the laser to empty space. Since sound waves travel farther, thus increasing require a medium to travel, it was the instrument’s sensitivity. believed that light too travelled in Attempting to measure a change in a medium-Aether. arm length of the order 1,000 times Now to find the presence and smaller than a proton implies that properties of this aether, in the LIGO has to achieve paradigm- 1880s Albert A. Michelson and shifting sensitivity, so the longer Edward Morley designed a setup. the better. But there are obvious Their experiment was based on limitations to how long an arm an interference pattern observed one can build in an interferometer. due to the relative motion between Even with 4 km long arms, if Earth and aether, which was LIGO's interferometers were believed to change the resultant nothing more than the basic velocity of light. Unfortunately, Michelson’s design, they would the results of this experiment still not be long and sensitive didn’t match with the predictions, enough to detect gravitational and was deemed as one of the waves...and yet somehow, they failed experiments in history. They are! What makes this possible? might not have got their results The conundrum was fixed by but their setup set a foundation for adding to the basic Michelson many experiments. design, what are known as One of the recent examples is "Fabry Perot cavities". The figure LIGO (Laser Interferometer shows the modifications of a Gravitational-Wave Observatory). basic Michelson interferometer The purpose behind its to include Fabry Perot cavities. development was to detect cosmic Each arm has a Fabry Perot cavity gravitational waves and utilize which is created by adding mirrors gravitational-wave observations near the beam splitter. The mirrors as an astronomical tool. Two such repeatedly reflect parts of each observatories were built in the US laser beam back and forth within for detecting Gravitational waves the 4 km long arms for about 280 using laser interferometry. times before the beams merge LIGO's interferometers are the together again. largest of its kind. With arms So when there is a cosmic spanning 4 km (2.5 mi.) in length, disturbance of the likes of a 49 Besides the two new candidates involving neutron stars, the LIGO-Virgo network has spotted three likely black hole mergers during the first month of the third observing run (O3). Very recent developments have led to the discovery of intermediate black holes, which were just a theory earlier. The Michelson-Morley apparatus, once a huge failure, is now creating leaps in astrophysics. Very recent developments have led to the discovery of intermediate black holes, which were just a theory earlier. REFERENCES 1. en.wikipedia.org/wikiLIGO Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne neutron star or black hole merger, 2. physicsworld.com/a/ligo-de- "for decisive contributions to the a gravitational wave passes tects-first-ever-gravitational- LIGO detector and the observation through the interferometer. This waves-from-two-merging- of gravitational waves." causes the spacetime in the local black-holes/ On April 25, 2019, LIGO as well area to be altered. The results of 3. /www.ligo.org/news/index. as the European-based Virgo this are reflected in the change php#O3NSMay19 detector registered gravitational in the length of one or both the 4. https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/ waves originating most likely arms, the change depending on page/ligos-ifo from a merger of two neutron the source of the wave and its 5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravi- stars—the dense remnants of polarization. tational_waves supernova explosions. One day If the laser light travels exactly 6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_ later, the LIGO-Virgo network the same distance down both the observation_of_gravitation- spotted another candidate source arms, the two combining light al_waves of GW, supposedly arising from waves interfere destructively, 7. Book referred: Introduction a cosmic event that had never nullifying each other so that the to special relativity by Robert been witnessed before - collision photodetector registers no light Resnick . But if a gravitational wave of a neutron star and a black hole. stretches one arm and compresses the other even in the slightest amounts, the two beams would no longer completely nullify each other, and thereby, produce an interference pattern at the detector. This pattern contains information on the amount of elongation or compression of the arms, which in turn helps the analysts to infer the features - amplitude, frequency, etc. - of the gravitational waves. In turn, this helps in the prediction of which phenomenon or cosmic object produced the gravitational waves. In 2017, the Nobel prize in physics was divided, one half being awarded to Rainer Weiss, and the other half was bagged by 50 Quiz by Akshay Sreyas, QCell

1. Arctium, commonly known as burdock is a body, and he is scarlet in colour. The god lives on the genus of biennial plants in the family Asteraceae, lower slopes of Mount Bell.” which is native to Europe and Asia. The prickly heads Zhulong is a mythical interpretation of what? of these plants (burrs) are noted for easily catching on to fur and clothing. One day, after taking his dog for 3. Methane clathrate (CH4·5.75H2O), also a walk in the late 1940s, George de Mestral, a Swiss called methane hydrate, fire ice, etc is a solid clath- electrical engineer became curious about the seeds of rate compound in which a large amount of methane the burdock plant that had attached themselves to his is trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming clothes and to the dog's fur. He examined the seeds a solid similar to ice. Methane clathrates are found in under a microscope and realized that this property continental sedimentary rocks in polar regions and of the seeds could be turned into something useful. in oceanic sediment at water depths greater than 300 Mestral’s work led to the development of X, which is m. Oceanic deposits seem to be widespread in the an incidence of biomimetics. He started a company continental shelves where methane in gas hydrates and began selling X in the company’s name which is dominantly generated by microbial consortia de- became synonymous with the product. grading organic matter in low oxygen environments, Identify X and the company. with the methane itself produced by methanogenic archaea. The periodic methane eruptions in the con- 2. Zhulong, also known in English as the torch tinental shelves produce regions of frothy water and dragon, is a giant red dragon and god in Chinese my- reduce the density of the water considerably. thology which supposedly had a human's face and This is a popular theory explaining what? snake's body. The name "Zhulong" appears in classic Chinese texts from the 3rd century BC. The follow- 4. Studies say that diallyl sulfides and phenolic ing excerpt is from such a classic that describes the compounds present in X can freely penetrate bacte- “Zhulong on Bell Mountain”. rial membranes and combine with sulfur-containing “The deity of Mount Bell is named Torch Shade. proteins and enzymes, giving it an antimicrobial ac- When this deity's eyes look out there is daylight, tivity. The history of using X to fight disease goes and when he shuts his eyes there is night. When he back several thousand years and this might have con- blows it is winter, and when he calls out it is sum- tributed to this popular belief. mer. He neither drinks, nor eats, nor breathes. If this Another theory regarding the origin of this belief is god does breathe, there are gales. His body is a thou- related to the disease Porphyria. Porphyria is a group sand leagues long. He has a human face and a snake's of disorders that result from a buildup of natural 51 chemicals that produce porphyrin, which is essen- became popular during the time of the cold war re- tial for the function of haemoglobin. Some forms of garding the costly research by an entity to develop this disease cause sufferers to be sensitive to light X. In reality, the entity began to develop X, but when and lead to disfigurement of the skin, including ero- the development costs skyrocketed, the project was sion of the lips and gums, giving a corpse-like ap- abandoned and they went back to using cheaper and pearance. People who suffer from porphyria have an the easier substitute which their rivals were also us- intolerance to foods with high sulfur including ‘X’. ing. However, both of them began using X later due Which popular belief? to the safety risks posed by this cheaper substitute. Identify X. 5. Just before NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft What was the urban legend? passed Mars in July 1965, X attempted to take out an How the cheaper substitute first used posed safety insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London.- in case the threats? Mariner 4 ruined the project he was then working on. He worried that his project would become obsolete, 8. Santa Maria Nuova is a hospital founded if not erroneous, and would end up in loss. Howev- in the year 1288 and is one of the oldest hospitals er, Lloyd's, which was famous for insuring against still active in Italy today. The hospital used to allow the most implausible contingencies, was reluctant interns for research and X was such an intern in to write such a policy. The figure they quoted was the hospital from 1507 to 1508. Spending nights in slightly astronomical and the idea of the insurance the depths of the morgue under the hospital peeling was dropped. X decided to take his chances with the the skin off cadavers and exposing the muscles and universe and Lloyd's of London missed a good bet. nerves underneath, X was particularly interested in Identify X. the muscles like Orbicularis oris, Depressor labii in- Why was he worried? ferioris, Levator labii superioris. Identify X. 6. In 1927, William Duncan McNally, a chemist What was the result of his internship? in Chicago invented the first X. It had some chemi- cals dissolved in water and its colour changed when 9. St. Mary Magdalene Church was a church lo- the sample moved through the solution. Housewives cated in a fishing hamlet on the south-western coast used McNally’s new invention to test their errant near Trivandrum. One Saturday in the early 1960s, X husbands. The first stable X for out-of-lab use was approached Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Bernard Pereira who developed by Rolla N. Harger in 1931, which was at- was the head of the Diocese and Bishop of Trivan- tached to a balloon. It contained acidified potassium drum, and sought his help to acquire the church and permanganate and the result was obtained by exam- the surrounding land. The bishop asked X to attend ining the colour change of the potassium permanga- Sunday Mass at the church where he would put the nate. question to the parishioners. X went to the Sunday Identify X. Mass with the bishop and the congregation whole- heartedly welcomed the proposal for acquiring the 7. X was first created by Austrian Friedrich church. The primary reason why X chose the area Schächter and expanded by Erwin Rath. Paul C. was due to its proximity to something whose value Fisher first developed the thixotropic component gives zero when measured in an instrument invented needed for X and obtained the patent for X in 1965. by Robert Norman in 1581. The pressure required for X was provided by gas- Identify X. charging with compressed nitrogen. An urban legend Why was the church acquired? 52 10. In the upper left-hand corner of the cover, it pictures. A circle is used to ensure using the correct is written in binary notation that time for one rotation ratio of horizontal to vertical height in picture recon- is 3.6 seconds, which is expressed in time units of struction. A colour image of the spectrum of the sun 0.70 billionths of a second, the time period associat- is also included for calibration purposes. The cover is ed with the fundamental transition of the hydrogen electroplated with an ultra-pure sample of the isotope atom. Below this drawing is a binary number indi- uranium-238 which has a half-life of 4.468 billion cating the time to play one side which is between 53 years. and 54 minutes. The information in the upper right- What is this all about? hand portion of the cover shows how to construct the

The answers to the quiz can be found on page 55.

53 54 Quiz Solutions

1. X- Hook-and-loop fastener, Velcro 2. Aurora Borealis 3. Sinking of ships in The Bermuda Triangle 4. Garlic repels Vampires 5. X- Stanley Kubrick. His concern was that extraterrestrial intelligence will be discovered before the release of his movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”. 6. Breathalyzer 7. X- Anti-Gravity pen. The urban legend was that NASA spent a large amount of money to develop an Anti-Gravity pen, while the Soviets just used pencils. Pencils posed safety risks as graphite conducts electricity and graphite dust causes contamination in the spacecraft. 8. X- Leonardo da Vinci and the enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa 9. X- Vikram Sarabhai, for establishing the rocket launching station and the site was chosen due to the proximity of the magnetic equator. 10. Voyager Golden Record

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