Category Science

Have you felt guilty about tossing away the disposable cutlery you used into the trash?

We are on the brink of a massive change happening in the culinary industry where edible cutlery will soon replace single-use, disposable cutlery. This is our weapon against plastic cutlery and single-use compostable utensils. Once edible cutlery becomes mainstream, it has immense potential to prevent single-use cutlery from ending up in landfills or oceans.

Have you felt guilty about tossing away the disposable cutlery you used into the trash? Or ever been told that licking the cutlery was bad table etiquette? What if we told you that now you can eat your cutlery as well?

For instance, the spoon that you used to sip the steaming hot broth would have soaked by the end of your meal and you can just nibble on it and eat that as well! Welcome to the world of edible cutlery.

Plastic utensils and single-use compostable utensils figure among one of the major sources of pollution with a large portion of them ending up in landfills where they remain for years without getting degraded.

By now you must be used to paper or wooden cutlery. Even these aren't hundred per cent natural as they are often coated with plastic or wax to make them resistant to liquids.

They are discarded after single-use and disposing of them is a huge challenge. The solution to this problem is simple. It's cutlery that you can eat!

We are on the brink of a revolution in the culinary industry where edible cutlery will soon replace single-use, disposable cutlery. This is our weapon against plastic cutlery and single-use compostable utensils.

Once edible cutlery becomes mainstream, it has immense potential to prevent single-use cutlery from ending up in landfills or oceans.

The edible tableware line is replete with almost every cutlery you can imagine including straws, spoons, knives, forks, bowls, cups, plates, and even chopsticks!

By now you must be wondering what these are made of and if they are safe to eat.

The edible cutlery is made from ingredients such as millets, flours, grains, herbs, pulses, oil, spices and so on. As such they are generally rich in fibre and protein.

There is even vegan-friendly cutlery that is made from rice, wheat and sorghum, Sorghum, an ancient grain that traces its roots to Africa, is widely used as an ingredient as it's tough and doesn't become soggy in liquids.

Now, what does edible cutlery taste like? The flavour that the cutlery comes in entirely depends on the manufacturer. It can be either, sweet, tangy, savoury, spicy and also plain. In any case, they can complement any kind of food.

So what if you do not want to eat the cutlery? Even then it won't just go to waste. They can be thrown outdoors and can degrade easily as they do not have any specific requirements for degradation. They can even be used as a fertilizer!

Picture Credit : Google 

How ocean temperature affect climate?

As the world's oceans continue to take in more and more heat, it affects more than just the water. How? Come, let's find out

A new record

The world's oceans, which have absorbed most of the excess heat caused by humanity's carbon pollution, continued to see record-breaking temperatures last year, according to research published recently. The research, published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, was based on observations from 24 scientists across 16 institutes worldwide. The study, by researchers in China, the U.S., Italy, and New Zealand, said that 2022 was "the hottest year ever recorded in the world's oceans". Heat content in the oceans exceeded the previous years levels by around 10 Zetta joules-equivalent to 100 times the electricity generation worldwide in 2021. according to the authors. Records going back to the late 1950s show a relentless rise in ocean temperatures with almost continuous increases going back to around 1985.

Why are oceans important?

About half of the world's total amount of oxygen is produced in oceans, through the plants there. Equally importantly, oceans play a crucial role in the climate of the world. They carry the Sun's heat from the Equator to the Poles, thereby regulating our climate and weather patterns. Apart from these, oceans are indispensable for the world economy, through several aspects such as trade, transport, food, medicine, recreational activities, tourism, etc. In fact, the livelihood of millions of people across the globe are dependent on oceans and seas. In addition to all these, oceans are thriving ecosystems, nurturing all kinds of life forms-from the smallest to the largest- within them.

What causes the warming of oceans?

More than two-thirds of our planet's surface is covered by water, and oceans make up a large portion of that. Due to their sheer size, they can absorb heat from the Sun without their temperatures increasing much. Apart from sunlight, oceans receive heat from other sources such as greenhouse gases. But when there's a lot of heat to be absorbed, oceans become warmer with substantial difference in temperature increase. A study has found that over the last few decades, nearly 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions has been absorbed by the ocean while the rest are absorbed by land, the atmosphere, etc. While land surfaces are protected due to this, it warms oceans to devastating results.

What happens when oceans warm?

Due to thermal expansion, the volume of water increases when it is warm. In addition, warm ocean water melts sea ice and delays ice formation during winter. This is a major reason for global sea-level increase. Extremely high temperatures in the ocean are called marine heatwaves, and they can harm marine creatures. Further, they can affect migration of marine animals, cause coral bleaching, ocean acidification (increase in the waters acidic content due to excessive intake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere), and deoxygenation (warm water can hold only low amounts of dissolved oxygen). Aspects such as acidification and deoxygenation affect not just marine creatures but also their habitats and ecosystems.

The ocean-land connection

Whatever affects the oceans and seas affects the land too – either directly or indirectly. Warming ocean waters impact how heat is distributed globally. This results in erratic climate and weather patterns, leading to extreme weather events such as drought heat waves, cold waves, wildfires, floods, severe cyclones, etc. As sea levels increase, they can submerge coastal areas, displacing those inhabiting these regions. Further, those dependent on the oceans for their livelihood-for example, fisherfolk- may lose their livelihood if oceans cannot help marine creatures survive. If more and more people choose to leave behind coastal areas threatened thus, it could lead to crowding of non-coastal areas, leaving a society that's constantly in conflict over food space, opportunities, and life itself.

Picture Credit : Google 

What important events happened in technology in 2022?

TECHNOLOGY: Though the year 2022 saw the routine rounds of gadget launches-from upgraded cellphones to smart watches, the big surprise came in the form of some tech-related news that made it to the front pages. Remember Elon Musk turning chief twit, mass global lay-offs by companies, an Al tool that mimics the human brain, and the crypto collapse?

1. 5G, finally!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced the launch of the first phase of 5G services in 13 cities across the country, at the India Mobile Congress event in New Delhi, in October 2022. 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. "5G technology will provide seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency and highly reliable communications. It will increase energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency and network efficiency," he tweeted. The cumulative economic impact of 5G on the country is expected to touch $450 billion by 2035. The 5G coverage will progressively cover the entire country over the next couple of years.

2. Fried!

Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire collapsed in November 2022. The reason – a run-on deposit that left his crypto exchange FTX with a shortfall of $8 billion. This forced FTX to file for bankruptcy, and the company struggled to raise money to stall its collapse as traders rushed to withdraw $6 billion in less than 72 hours! Fried was arrested in the Bahamas after being criminally charged by the U.S. prosecutors. The shocking end to the successful FTX story had a rippling effect across the already shaken crypto industry, destabilising other companies and spreading distrust among the public about the technology.

3. Did it sink in?

Elon Musk dominated the headlines by first announcing his bid to buy Twitter and then backing out. Eventually, the Tesla and Spacex chief was forced to honour the agreement, and he took over the microblogging platform in October 2022 for $44 billion. Top executives left the company or were fired. Twitter also made mass global lay-offs. But confusion prevailed on the site. He courted controversy by reinstating Donald Trump's account, introducing paid blue ticks, and banning some journalists from the site. After conducting a poll on whether he must step down as Twitter CEO, in true Musk style, he said he'll do so when he finds "someone foolish enough to take the job".

4. ChatGPT

It answers the most complicated questions, writes sonnets, creates computer codes, and even comes up with interesting menus! Welcome to the world of Generative Pre-trained Transformer, ChatGPT for short. Launched by the American firm OpenAl in November 2022, the Al tool is today used by millions to generate a variety of content- all in a few seconds or minutes! ChatGPT isn't without flaws. Biases in certain communications have already been reported. It robs us of the creative process – particularly in communication. Can it replace human ingenuity? The verdict isn't out yet, but enthusiastic folks are already having a lot of fun with this chatbot that's said to mimic the human brain.

Picture Credit : Google 

What happens when the Doomsday Clock reaches midnight?

Ukarine war moves the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight. Here’s a backgrounder on the Clock and its history.

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the specter of nuclear weapon use. Earth crept its closest to Armageddon. said the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, moving its famous “Doomsday Clock” up to just 90 seconds before midnight The science-oriented advocacy group’s annual announcement rating reflects how close humanity is from doing itself in. It underscores what scientists consider a gathering of several existential threats, with Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s actions chief among them.

The advocacy group was started in 1947. It uses a clock to symbolise the potential and likelihood of people doing something to end humanity. It moved the clock 10 seconds closer than last year, making it the closest it has ever been to striking 12. It’s been as much as 17 minutes from midnight after the end of the Cold War but in the past few years, the group has changed from counting down the minutes to midnight to counting down the seconds.

Doomsday has not happened yet. But scientists and activists at the Bulletin have listed some of today’s threats besides the Ukraine war. Their list includes nuclear weapon proliferation in China, Iran increasing its uranium enrichment, missile tests in North Korea, future pandemics from animal diseases, pathogens from lab mistakes. “disruptive technologies” and worsening climate change as other existential threats to humanity.

Picture Credit : Google 

Glass frogs have a secret!

Glass frogs live on trees, are active at night, and many of them are difficult to spot because of their green skin that merges well with their environment. “But these amphibians become true masters of camouflage during the day when they’re asleep.” How? Come, let’s find out.

When glass frogs rest or sleep, their muscles and skin turn transparent. So, whats visible are their eyes, bones, and internal organs. It is hard to spot them because they sleep on the bottoms of huge leaves and also blend well with the environment due to their transparency. But, how do they turn transparent, and what about the visibility of blood? Red blood cells absorb green light (the colour of light usually reflected by plants and other vegetation), and reflect red light. This makes blood highly visible, especially against a bright green leaf. In the case of glass frogs, though, something extraordinary happens.

A research team recently “observed that red blood cells seemed to be disappearing from the circulating blood” when the frogs rest. They conducted additional imaging tests on the animals, proving via optical models that the animals were able to achieve transparency because they were pushing red blood cells out of their vessels. It was suspected that the cells were being stored in one of the frog’s inner organs. which are packaged in a reflective membrane.

To find out where exactly the blood was going, scientists used a non-invasive imaging technology called photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). And the result was startling. The primary result is that whenever glass frogs want to be transparent, which is typically when they’re at rest and vulnerable to predation. they filter nearly all the red blood cells out of their blood and hide them in a mirror-coated liver – somehow avoiding creating a huge blood clot in the process.” When the frogs “are awake, stressed or under anaesthesia their circulatory system is full of red blood cells and they are opaque”. This unique capacity would explain why there are hardly any other land-based vertebrates that can achieve such transparency.

Also, in “most animals, pooling blood together leads to clotting which can be life-threatening, for example = leading to heart attacks in humans”. So, studying these amphibians can even help us understand blood clotting better.

Picture Credit : Google 

What important events happened in environment in 2022?

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE: Unsurprisingly, the past year was dominated by extreme weather events- from floods and drought to heatwaves and hurricanes (see graphic below)

The repercussions of these global occurrences were felt in many ways, including in the record melting of glaciers and the drying up of rivers in many countries. In December, parts of the U.S. and Canada experienced the unprecedented impact of “bomb cyclone” that brought heavy snow, caused power outage, and claimed dozens of lives. Throughout the year, several volcanoes erupted, most notably Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the South Pacific. Etna and Stromboli in Italy. Mauna Loa in Hawaii, and a few in Iceland, leaving houses destroyed and a few deaths. The Amazon rainforests continued to be in the news with about 1.000 major fires reported during the “fire season” while a recent study indicated that “large parts of Amazon may never recover”. But not all news last year were bad. There were many positive news too. Even a few bizarre ones! Let’s take a look at a few of them.

1. China gets its first vertical forest city

China’s first vertical forest city became a reality in January 2022 through a private project. Turning a tower block into a green space, it houses nearly 500 people and more than 5,000 shrubs and trees. It is viewed as an example of sustainable residential building and a project of city reforestation that allows residents the experience of greenery. The green cover in the project is from native and non-invasive species. The trees are dominated by the Ginkgo biloba species, from an order dating back at least 290 million years. There are over 4,500 shrubs, apart from perennial grass, flowers, and climbing plants. The vertical forest is expected to absorb nearly 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide while emitting about 10 tonnes of oxygen annually.

2. Healthy environment a human right: UN

In what is seen as a historic move, in July 2022 the United Nations General Assembly declared “that everyone on the planet has a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. As our natural world faces an “alarming decline” through climate change and degradation, this could just be the right step to counter the grave issue. Though the resolution is not legally binding on member states, it is hoped that the move will prompt “countries to enshrine the right to a healthy environment in national constitutions and regional treaties” and encourage states to implement them. This could also arm environmental campaigners with more power “to challenge ecologically destructive policies and projects”.

3. There’s a Jane Goodall Barbie!

As part of its “Inspiring Women” series, which pays tribute to courageous and risk-taking women, in July 2022 Mattel announced the release of a doll made of recycled plastic and dedicated to conservationist Jane Goodall. It coincided with the 62nd anniversary of conservationist’s first visit to Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, where she conducted ground-breaking research on wild chimpanzees. The Barbie wears a khaki shirt and shorts, a pair of binoculars. and holds a notebook. It also comes with a miniature replica of David Greybeard, the first male chimp Goodall named and discovered making tools out of sticks.

4. India bans single-use plastic

A step lauded by green warriors, in July 2022, the union government banned the manufacture, sale, and use of identified single-use plastic items such as plates, cups, straws, trays, and polystyrene, “which have low utility and high littering potential”. What promised to be a success story has turned out to be a struggle as critics pointed out that the country could neither find an alternative to single-use plastics nor set up an effective waste management system. However, Modhera in Gujarat becoming the country’s first solar-powered village in October was news to cheer about. Earlier in June, Delhi airport became the first one in the country to function solely on hydro and solar energy.

5. Denmark to pay for ‘loss and damage from climate change

By pledging more than $13 million to support developing nations that have experienced losses caused by climate disruptions, in September 2022 Denmark became the first UN member to offer “loss and damage” compensation to the most climate-vulnerable areas. Stating that it is “grossly unfair that the world’s poorest should suffer the most from the consequences of climate change to which they have contributed the least” and that it was time for action, the country will channel the funds to regions such as Africa through various organisations and partnerships.

6. NZ’s tax on animal farts and burps!

In a controversial proposal aimed to deal with climate change, in October 2022 the New Zealand government unveiled plans to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals. The plan wanted farmers to pay for gas emissions from their animals, such as methane gas in the farts and burps of cows, and nitrous oxide in the urine of livestock. Outraged farmers were quick to condemn the idea. Though changes were outlined later, it appears that the tax still leaves a lot to be desired. It may come into effect a few years from now, and it remains to be seen if this idea would affect President Jacinda Ardern’s chances when the country goes to polls within a year.

7. Children and Youth Pavilion at COP27 – a first

In a first, the United Nations Conferences of Parties, held in November 2022 in Egypt, allocated a pavilion for youth and children to make young voices heard in climate decision-making. Run by young people themselves, the pavilion hosted youth-led climate forum, a session on “climate change threats to health, nutrition, education and the future of children”, and working groups, becoming a platform for networking opportunities and policy briefings. Meanwhile, December witnessed UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), the biggest biodiversity conference in a decade, held in Canada. Amidst criticism for “lacking urgency” and rushed process, the event focussed on the protection of land, ocean, and the rights of indigenous people, reducing biodiversity loss, etc.

8. UK universities ban ‘climate wreckers’ from campus recruitments

In December 2022, career services at three universities – the University of Bedfordshire, University of the Arts London, and Wrexham Glyndwr University – promised to end all relationships with oil, gas, and mining recruiters. According to reports, this ban is a result of “a passionate student-led campaign”, and comes three months after a similar move by Birkbeck, University of London. The sponsor of the campaign charity described it as “a victory for climate campaigners against big polluters”. The step is seen as important because fossil fuel companies can attract new graduates with high starting salaries. Apparently, now many job seekers “are shunning these lucrative offers in favour of more environmentally friendly careers”.

9. Seaweed as plastic alternative

As plastic and packaging waste litter streets globally, the solution could come in the form of seaweed. Notpla, a London-based startup is set to come up with a totally natural, completely biodegradable plastic alternative using seaweed and plants- to create a range of packaging from bubbles to hold liquid to linings for food containers”. The startup won the Earthshot Prize in December 2022 in the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category, and along with it, one million pounds, which will go towards research, development, and business expansion. Earlier, researchers from Flinders University in Australia partnered with a German biomaterials developer to create a seaweed-based biopolymer, which can be used as a wrapper.

10. Cheers for cheetahs and bustards

The government released an action plan in January 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs in India. Amidst criticism and applause, eight cheetahs from Namibia reached Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in September. The animals are now acclimatising to their new home. Meanwhile, due to natural factors and conservation efforts, four great Indian bustards in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park laid two eggs each, though the bird normally lays only one at a time. There’s more hope for this endangered bird as the Supreme Court floated the idea of Project GIB on the lines of Project Tiger.

11. No rhino poaching in Assam

For the first time in more than two decades, not a single one-horned rhinoceros was poached in Assam in an entire year since January 2022. This is believed to be the result of the anti-rhino poaching mission – a special task force formed in 2021. with 22 senior police and forest department officials. Apart from strict vigil by armed commandos and forest personnel, the use of “sophisticated technology” too is said to have helped the State achieve this target. The years 2020 and 2021 saw two rhinos each poached. The threatened species is killed for its horns because they fetch large sums due to their supposed medicinal value.

12. World’s largest plant, and rare flowers

The world’s largest plant a seagrass 180 km long and the size of 28.000 soccer fields – was discovered off the coast of Australia, a report in June 2022 said. Apparently, over 4,500 years ago, a single seed sprouted in the region now called Shark Bay. This seed spawned a mammoth seagrass covering more than 200 sq. km. In August 2022, Chile’s Atacama Desert was in the news for its rare floral bloom that occurs once every few years. The government acted swiftly, and announced that the area would become a national park to accord it high protection.

13. Happy birthday, tortoises!

In August 2022, Kemp’s Ridley – the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle – hatched in Louisiana, the U.S. for the first time in over 75 years, thrilling conservationists. In September, Janus, the world’s oldest two-headed tortoise celebrated his 25th birthday. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise and the world’s oldest living land animal, celebrated his 190th birthday in December, and in the process, entered the Guinness World Records. His official record title is oldest chelonian-a category which encompasses all turtles, terrapins, and tortoises. Meanwhile, during the 19th meeting of the Cop 19 at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in November, India reiterated its commitment on conserving tortoises and turtles in the country.

14. Corals of Great Barrier Reef show signs of recovery

Two-thirds of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showed the largest amount of coral cover in 36 years, a report in August 2022 said. Researchers believe this is indicative of how it “is still a resilient system” given that it has the capability to recover from disturbances. The recovery occurred in the central and northern stretches of the reef while the southern region faced a loss of coral cover due to crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. It means that though the recovery is good news, the reef continues to remain vulnerable to increasingly frequent mass bleaching events. In November, a United Nations-backed mission to GBR concluded that the reef system should be placed on a list of world heritage sites in danger.

15. Spectacular wildlife recoveries

Research revealed that about 50 species, including bears. wolves, bison, whales, turtles, otters, and wolverines were making a spectacular comeback across Europe, a September 2022 report said. Most of the species were previously struggling, and the recoveries are a pointer to the fact that humans play a decisive role in creating conducive conditions, facilitating habitat restoration, and species reintroduction. Not just that! The black-naped pheasant pigeon last spotted 140 years ago was found in Papua New Guinea: a baby bison was born in the U.K. for the first time in millennia as part of a groundbreaking rewilding project. and the Galapagos Island land iguana last spotted on Santiago Island more than 187 years ago too made a comeback, delighting conservationists.

16. Beavers now a protected species in England

Eurasian beavers were recognised as a European protected species in England in October 2022, making it illegal to capture, kill, injure, or disturb them. The move ensures that measures earlier in place to ‘control’ beavers are curbed. For instance, landowners will not be able to damage a burrow or dam without a licence from Natural England. Eurasian beavers were once widespread but hunted to extinction 400 years ago in Britain. They are being reintroduced at multiple sites across the region. These creatures are crucial for maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Their dams help the environment, keep water clean, and prevent flooding and drought.

Picture Credit : Google