New way to create water discovered!

Scientists at the University of Illinois have discovered a new way to create water, and without the pop. Scientists said that their work could also lead to better catalysts and less expensive fuel cells.

"We found that unconventional metal hydrides can be used for a chemical process called oxygen reduction, which is an essential part of the process of creating water," said Zachariah Heiden, a doctoral student and lead author of a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

A water molecule (formally known as dihydrogen monoxide)consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. But you can't simply take two hydrogen atoms and combine them onto an oxygen atom to create water. But the actual reaction to make water is a bit more complicated: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O + Energy.

In English, the equation says: To produce two molecules of water (H2O), two molecules of diatomic hydrogen (H2) must be combined with one molecule of diatomic oxygen (O2). Energy will be released in the process.

"This reaction (2H2 + O2 = 2H2O + Energy) has been known for two centuries, but until now no one has made it work in a homogeneous solution," said Thomas Rauchfuss, professor of chemistry and the paper's corresponding author.

Interestingly, the well-known reaction also describes what happens inside a hydrogen fuel cell. In a typical fuel cell, the diatomic hydrogen gas enters one side of the cell; diatomic oxygen gas enters the other side. The hydrogen molecules lose their electrons and become positively charged through a process called oxidation. At the same time the oxygen molecules gain four electrons and become negatively charged through a process called reduction. The negatively charged oxygen ions combine with positively charged hydrogen ions to form water and release electrical energy.

The "Difficult side" of the fuel cell is the oxygen reduction reaction, not the hydrogen oxidation reaction, Rauchfuss said. "We found, however, that new catalysts for oxygen reduction could also lead to new chemical means for hydrogen oxidation."
Rauchfuss and Heiden recently investigated a relatively new generation of transfer hydrogenation catalysts for use as unconventional metal hydrides for oxygen reduction.

In their JACS paper, the researchers focus exclusively on the oxidative reactivity of iridium-based transfer hydrogenation catalysts in a homogenous, non-aqueous solution. They found that the iridium complex effect both the oxidation of alcohols, and the reduction of the oxygen.

"Most compounds react with either hydrogen or oxygen, but this catalyst reacts with both," Heiden said. "It reacts with hydrogen to form a hydride, and then reacts with oxygen to make water; and it does this in a homogeneous, non-aqueous solvent."
The new catalysts could lead to eventual development of more efficient hydrogen fuel cells, substantially lowering their cost, Heiden said.

Edited By B Jayakishore

Monkeys are in trouble!

Our good old friends, more than that mankind's closest living relatives - the world's apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates -- are on the verge of extinction due to threat from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bush meat hunting, says a new report.

The report titled "Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates--2006--2008,*" compiled by 60 experts from 21 countries warns that about 29 percent of all species are in the danger of going extinct. Add to this it warns that climate change will now exacerbate the first primate (Primates--an animal order including lemurs and tarsiers and monkeys and apes and human beings) extinctions in more than a century. Overall, 114 of the world's 394 primate species are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Hunters kill primates for food and to sell the meat; traders capture them for live sale; and loggers, farmers, and land developers destroy their habitat. One species, Miss Waldron's red colobus of Ivory Coast and Ghana, already is feared extinct, while the numbers of golden-headed langur of Vietnam and China's Hainan came down to dozens. The Horton Plains slender loris of Sri Lanka has been sighted just four times since 1937!

"You could fit all the surviving members of these 25 species in a single football stadium; that's how few of them remain on Earth today," said CI President Russell A. Mittermeier, president of he IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group.

"The situation is even worst in Asia, where tropical forest destruction and the hunting and trading of monkeys put many species at terrible risk. Even newly discovered species are also on the verge of extinction.’’

As "Flagship Species" and our closest living relatives, nonhuman primates are important to the health of their surrounding ecosystems. Through the dispersal of seeds and other interactions with their environments, primates help support a wide range of plant and animal life that makes up the Earth's forests.

The World's Twenty five Most Endangered Primates list, compiled at the 21st Congress of the International Primatological Society, Entebbe, Uganda, follows the similar assessments in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

By region, the list includes 11 species from Asia, seven from Africa, four from Madagascar, and three from South America, showing that non-human primates are threatened wherever they live.

Interestingly, All 25 primates on the 2006-2008 list are found in the world's biodiversity hotspots--34 high priority regions identified by Conservation International that cover just 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface but harbor well over 50 percent of all terrestrial plant and animal diversity. Eight of the hotspots are considered the highest priorities for the survival of the most endangered primates: Indo-Burma, Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands, Sundaland, Eastern Afromontane, Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, Guinean Forests of West Africa, the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, and Western Ghats-Sri Lanka.

Habitat loss due to the clearing of tropical forests for agriculture, logging, and the collection of fuel wood continues to be the major factor in the declining number of primates, according to the report. Tropical deforestation also emits 20 percent of total greenhouse gases that cause climate change, which is more than all the world's cars, trucks, trains and airplanes combined. In addition, climate change is altering the habitats of many species, leaving those with small ranges even more vulnerable to extinction.

Hunting is another major threat to primates, especially in Africa and Asia. Live capture for the pet trade also poses a serious threat, particularly to Asian species.

The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates, and the countries where they are found:Greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), Madagascar ;White-collared lemur (Eulemur albocollaris), Madagascar ; Sahamalaza Peninsula sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis), Madagascar ; Silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus), Madagascar ;Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli), Nigeria, Cameroon ll; Roloway monkey (Cercopithecus diana roloway), Ivory Coast, Ghana ;Rondo dwarf galago (Galagoides rondoensis), Tanzania ;Tana River red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus), Kenya ;Miss Waldron's red colobus (Procolobus badius), Ivory Coast, Ghana ;Kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji), Tanzania ;Pennant's red colobus (Procolobus pennantii pennantii), Equatorial Guinea (Island of Bioko) ;Variegated spider monkey (Ateles hybridus), Colombia, Venezuela ;Brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), Colombia, Ecuador ;Peruvian yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Oreonax flavicauda), Peru ;Western Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), Bangladesh, India, Myanmar ;Horton Plains slender loris (Loris tardigradus nycticeboides), Sri Lanka ;Western purple-faced langur (Semnopithecus vetulus nestor), Sri Lanka ; Pig-tailed langur (Simias concolor), Indonesia (Mentawai Islands) ; Siau Island tarsier (Tarsius sp.), Indonesia ; Delacour's langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), Vietnam ; Golden-headed langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus poliocephalus), Vietnam ; Grey-shanked douc (Pygathrix cinerea), Vietnam ;Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus), Vietnam ; Hainan black-crested gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), China (Hainan Island) ; Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), Indonesia (Sumatra).

The report was prepared by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Primatological Society (IPS), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI).

Edited by B Jayakishore

Cows can boost Methane production in SOIL!

This has been the hot issue of debate for a year or more. It is already a known fact that the ‘holy cow’, or ‘goddess’ as we worship it, contributes considerable amount of Methane to atmosphere, which is produced at the time of digestion, is expelled continuously to the atmosphere.

Now, interestingly, a recently published science report says that cows can also boost the production of this climate gas in SOIL as well. A team of German scientists from the Institute of Soil Ecology of the GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health and Czech colleagues at the Budweis Academy of Science, have been able to show that these bovine animals can also boost the production of this climate gas in SOIL.

Researchers say, this happens in the soil in the pastures, where these animals graze intensively. During this point of time, the soil becomes more compact and the microscopic plants of the soil get compressed. In addition, this area gets very high amount of organic matter from the excrement of the animals, thus stimulating the production of methane.

Thus the study, carried out on a Czech farm, proved that two factors are vital for this process to take place: The amount and quality of organic material from the excrement and secondly, the strong compaction of the soil due to the weight of the cattle.

Grass lands that are not used intensively for agriculture generally act as sink for the greenhouse gases, methane, carbon dioxide and laughing gas (NO2). However, this situation can change if intensive management of the pastures with cattle occurs.
Indeed, it is known also that well-aired soils have the potential for producing methane. Hence, the scope of the study should also include examination of the extent to which the ‘over-wintering’ of cattle on pastures stimulates the production of methane, and grassland soils really become a methane spring.

The investigation was carried out on a farm in south Bohemia. In the process approximately four hectares has been used since 1995 for the over-wintering of about 90 cows from October till the beginning of May.

According to Researchers, “At the end of this season, we could clearly see the consequences of the over-wintering, on the soil.” Unlike typical summer grazing, where the animals spread out evenly, the animals on the winter pastures prefer to stay near the feed house. As a result, no vegetation was visible more in the wide area. But at the places where animals grazed intensively, it was found that the ground was strongly compressed. In addition, this area was marked by a very high incidence of organic matter from the excrement of the animals.

The intensive grazing in the areas close to the cowshed led to a clear increase of methane emissions throughout the whole winter. These showed 1,000 times more production of methane than in the area where no bovine animals were kept.
But the classical process of methane oxidation, which is related to aerobic conditions, was restrained in the intensely grazed areas. According to Schloter, however, this is explained by the high quantities of urea in the ground.

The scientists were able to show further that methane producing micro-organisms from the gastro-intestinal tract of the cattle could survive in the soil and suppress parts of the microscopic plants in the compressed soil. The micro-organisms profited from the new environmental conditions in these soil, namely the extensive organic material.

Although in summer and autumn the animals were kept on other pastures, the composition of the micro flora barely changed in the strongly over-grazed areas. Indeed, the methane production rates clearly decreased during these months, because the continuous supply of organic material was absent, researchers said.

“We shall continue the project, because we also suspect consequences for the nitrogen cycle,” adds Schloter, a key researcher in the team. “In addition, we have possibly proved a very rare process in the strongly compounded areas, namely the anaerobic oxidation of methane.

All in all, it can be said that just about every agricultural measure has its positive and negative consequences. What weighs more in each case, however, is a social, rather than a scientific question.”

Edited by B Jayakishore

Create 'Permissive' atmosphere:Dr.Prabhu

By B Jayakishore

It was a great evening on Tuesday as I had a chance to meet Dr.Nagabhushana Prabhu, Director, Molecular Engineering Laboratory James J.solberg, Head and professor, school of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, USA at National college, Bangalore.
He is the first indian to head the department in this college, which is ranked No.2 in the US, as far as undergraduate programmes are concerned. Which has also produced several bright minds who run organizations like UPS,Microsoft,IBM and such others. Dr.Prabhu was here to inaugurate the 3oth Science festival, which is being held at Bangalore Science Forum, National college.

Interestingly, He is not persuing what he'd studied! Dr.Prabhu was a Bangalorean, was a student of National college, Rank holder in SSLC and has secured his B.tech in Computer science from IIT Bombay in 1988. For the degree he has, he could have got a well payed job and life could have been nice. But his passion for research in Basic sciences has made him today what he is.

After doing his B.tech degree, he moved to USA and shifted his subject from Computer science to physics! He carried out research in 'Theoretrical physics' in Massachusetts Institute Of Technology(MIT) in 1998. After that he followed his dream and recognized his passion for Mathematics and done his phd on the same subject in Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Newyork. He is also interested in Operations Research. Currently he is involved in the study on developing a technology to identify the cancerous cells causing breast cancer, so that the sample cells can be just taken out from the breast through needle, without operating it.

He says:'Educational background doesn't decides one's capabilities. So, creating the 'Permissive'atmosphere to explore one's abilities which might one day can become contribution to the development of the nation is important' Excerpts from the interview.

How do you find the difference between educatinal systems in India and America?

Well, Being spent 20 years in US, I find educational system is totally different in US than in india. For instance, take the procedures for admission to professional colleges here. If you want to get into IIT, only criteria is to get good scores in JEE or it is CET in the case of engineering colleges in Karnataka. If he doesn't do well in these, he is not given opportunity to persue the course even if he is capable of it just because, he was not able to get good scores in JEE/CET. I really question the system, where in whole future of a person is decided on the basis of mere three hour examination, rather than looking into his other abillities and accomplishments.

In US also we do have a test called SAT(Scholastic Aptitude test) for admission to top universities. But this is only part of the admission proccess. If a person proves his competency or ability in certain aspect, he is eligible for admission eventhough he scores less in SAT. What I mean is, in US, while admitting a student to a university, importance is not given only to examination scores, But also to his performances in other activities and accomplishments. Simply put, There a person is decided only on his overall accomplishments. Not only on the basis of marks.

Interestingly, there even a high school students are also into research works! We don't have such a permissive atmosphere in india. I saw a 11th standard student who got very low score in SAT, but he has solved a mathamatics problem in such a way that eventually it became a resarch contribution! So, if a student has such accomplishments or competence, there he can be admitted to universities.

So, I advice that atleast 10-20 percent of the seats in our professional colleges should be set aside to encourage the students who are extremely talented, but somehow fared poor in examinations. If our admission procedures are modified to give importance also to creativity,talent etc, then no doubt india can also become leader in scientific research in the lines of advanced countrys.

How the talent recognition can be done to promote the research in Basic sciences?

I say, glamourise science by conducting 'National level competitions'. In US we have Intel science and engineering competitions for those who are interested and has passion for Basic science. These kind of competitions are the forum to talented young minds to showcase their abilities to world. They should be given opportunity to persue their dream.

I pity that, Even though able persons like Dr.A.H.Ramarao, who has got ability to conduct such competitions and even if he does it we find no participants here! Who will participate in such things when there is no hope or promise of good life out of it? So, there is urgent need to make system to be more 'Permissive' so that atleast interested can persue their dreams.

In US we have National science foundation which gives small grants for explorary research works. For instance if anybody has a crackpot idea, and needs some seed capital to start research, he can directly approach the foundation. It gives as much as 1000 dollors initially to start the project. No hassles to get money if his idea is really worth it. Probably these are the important lessons we have to learn from America.

How indian scientists feel about America?As you aware, now it's reverse braindrain happening...

Well, Reverse brain drain may be true in the case of Information technology. But not in the Basic sciences. In this field opportunities are plenty and much bettter in America than in india. America is most fertile climate for basic research I believe. Many indian scientists also feel it is much 'Easier' to carry out research work there.

How can we inculcate scientific temper in rural india?

I think Television is the strong medium to reach rural india. Added to this are Internet, cellphones and and other communication tools can be useful in transmitting knowledge to rural india.This is already happening.

But still india is lagging behind in scientific research field, even if it's economy is booming?

Ofcourse, It will take some time. But as I said earlier it's already started. India has made impressive stride in every aspect of development in recent years. It is now an emerging economy. That is why I stress on need for creating more 'Permissive' atmosphere.

Being a kannadiga what is your say on teaching science in Kannada? Can we meet global competence by learning it in Kannada?

Well, I pass this question. I don't want to get into language politics! Iam not qualified to answer this question..ha..ha..ha...

How do you feel about Bangalore now?

I think Traffic is littlebit heavy here. In Westlafayatte, city in America where i live, once witnessed a traffic jam. That had became a 'Big news' there such a way that even TV crew had come to cover it! But Bangalore is Bangalore. I love it very much. I feel 'Fresh' here despite it's pollution,vehicle traffic and all only for it's greenary. I even appreciate peoples concerned to preserve the greenary. That is why, I believe, Bangalore has still remained 'Green city'! As far as land value is concerned, it is far more expensive here than in America. Land value here is fast becoming beyond reach.

Can you share some sweet memories of your days in National college?

Oh! I owe it all to National college what Iam today. Though I could have settled with good job offer after finishing my B.tech,it never influenced me. Always I chose to do what I liked. I believe in chasing dreams and achieving it. I learn't it in National college, probably one of the best schools in the world.

What is your message to 'Young minds'?

I advice them what I was adviced. Believe in what you do. Recognise what you really enjoy and in what you are really good at. It's upto you for to recognize your your power, passion and potential. Success won't come easily. Strive hard for nurture your talent. Have perseverance. When your intention is genuine, resources are not at all an issue. Chase the dream. Let it be your personal journey. Obviously, It is difficult. But it will fulfill you and your life.

How they shit in space?

By B Jayakishore

I Often wonder how Astronauts deal with 'Natures call' in space? While in the earth urine or solid excrets moves out of the body due to gravitational force. But in the space, where gravity is absent, I really wonder how they manage?!

How Asronauts shit?: According to NASA information, It has developed a distinctive kind of toilet system for the use in space. Generally space station toilets resembles those used in earth. But the way the user sits above the 'Basin' is different to tackle weightlessness.

The toilets in the space station have special type of 'Holding Systems' which holds thighs and legs of astronaut to keep him in required position and prevent him from floating in the atmosphere. Compleate system operates on a vaccum. Hence tight seal is the must. Toilets are also equipped with 'Sucking system' to carry waste away from the body.

After sitting in position with the help of holding devices, they switch ON the sucking fans. When solid excret starts coming out of the body, sucking systems suck them to move it away from the body. For sucking purpose compressed air/fan system is used.

In space, air is very precious. So, the air which is used priorly to 'Suck' is filtered once again to remove odour and bacteria from it and then returned to the cabin/compressor for next days use! The human waste which is collected is stored on board in tight sealed Alluminium bags and disposed only after landing.

The urinal system has a flexible hose with attachable funnels. On board each astronaut has been given seperate funnels, which has different shapes for men and women. Here also compressed air or sucking fans are used to suck urine to carry it away from the body and collected in 20litre cans.

Interestingly, collected urine is distilled to create purified water! Such water is pure enough to drink also! But very few astronauts use it for drinking purpose. So, most of the recovered water is used to extract the oxygen out of it to add it to space atmosphere.

Present International space station has Russian built toilet system, cost of which is mommoth 19 million dollors! i.e., Rs.78 crores approximately..!!

Look how astronauts bath in space. They wash their body with wet wash clothes. This is called 'Sponge bath'. This is identical to the bath which we do it for the people in earth who're seriously ill.

In weightlessness condition astronauts cannot even brush as we do in earth. So, instead they use
'Swallowing type of tooth paste' to clean their mouth. If can't able to swallow it they spit it to the towel as it is not even possible to spit in space!

Ooops!

Sunitha, you are really great!!