Category Science & Technology

India’s first dragon blood tree discovered in Assam

Researchers have discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species, in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong, Assam, adding to India’s botanical wealth a plant whose sap turns bright red after coming in contact with air. This is the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from India.

Dracaena cambodiana is an important medicinal and ornamental tree. Several antifungal and antibacterial compounds, antioxidants, flavonoids, etc. have been extracted from various parts of the plant. The bright red resin has also been used since ancient times as varnish, incense and dye.

The population size of the dragon tree species in Assam was estimated to be fewer than 50 mature individuals. Dracaena seeds are usually dispersed by birds. But due to the large fruit size, only a few species of birds are able to swallow the fruits, thus limiting the scope of its natural conservation. Forest officers are working hard to propagate it; Dracaena saplings are currently growing in nurseries in Sonitpur, Guwahati, Dhemaji and Jorhat.

 

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Scientists create robotic contact lens that lets you zoom in by blinking

Scientists from the University of California, San Diego, have created a robotic soft contact lens that lets you zoom in by blinking twice.

The lens mimics the natural electric signals in the human eyeball that are active even when the eye itself is closed. Researchers measured the electrical potential of the eye – called the “electro-oculographic signal” – made lenses that would respond to that activity.

The lens is made from polymers that expand when electric current is applied. It’s controlled using five electrodes surrounding the eye that act like human muscles. A person blinking twice in succession causes the lens to change its focal length, allowing it to zoom in and out just like users do on their phones. Because the lenses depend on electrical signals, they should function even if a person is blind. This will prove useful in creating visual prostheses.

A lead researcher said: “Even if your eye cannot see anything, many people still can move their eyeball and generate this electro-oculographic signal.”

In the future, this lens can also be used for adjustable glasses and remotely-operated robotics.

 

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66 million trees planted in 12 hours in Madhya Pradesh

The number of trees planted in 12 hours in Madhya Pradesh is 66 million. More than 1.5 million people helped plant the 66,750,000 tree saplings which featured over 20 different species. In total, 24 districts of the Narmada river basin were chosen for the planting, to increase the likelihood of survival for the trees. The goal was to raise awareness and help India achieve its environmental objectives. As part of the Paris Agreement, India pledged to increase forest cover to 95 million hectares by 2030. Kerala has planted more than 10 million trees in a single day, and Maharashtra will plant 40 million trees this year in a reforestation campaign.

 

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Smoking ‘causes damage in minutes’

The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. But according to research funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked; chemicals which cause cancer from rapidly after smoking.

Researchers looked at the level of chemicals linked with cancer, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), in 12 patients after smoking. A PAH in cigarettes are modified by the body and turned into another chemical which damages DNA and has been linked with cancer. This process only took between 15 and 30 minutes.

Scientists involved in the study described the results as a stark warning to people considering smoking. Anti-smoking charity Ash (Action on Smoking and Health) said: “The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early a single cigarette. The process starts early but it is never too late to quit and the sooner you quit the sooner you start to reduce the harm.”

 

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When was Braille invented?

The Braille system was invented in 1829 by a blind gentleman called Louis Braille. He developed a system which would allow blind people to read and write. It is today one of the most widely used alphabets for the blind.

The Braille system consists of dots. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a combination of dots. These combinations are punched onto paper, so that they appear as raised bumps. A blind person reads the dots by moving their fingers over the bumps, recognizing each letter to spell out the words.

There were earlier systems of reading for the blind. Even as far back as 1517, alphabetic letters were engraved onto blocks of wood for the blind to read. This system was good to read by, but the drawback was that the blind could not see how to form the letters when they wanted to write.

Fact File

Semaphore is a means of communicating by using flags. Different flag positions represent different letters and numbers. It was widely used between ships sailing near each other in the days before radio.

 

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When were fireworks introduced?

Chinese crackers were probably the first fireworks to be made and this was about 2000 years ago. They are still used in China and throughout the East to celebrate weddings, births and religious festivals. They are also used to scare away evil spirits. It is probable that gunpowder was developed in China because they used potassium nitrate (saltpeter) to cure their meat, and so it was readily available.

Fireworks have also been used for centuries in ancient Indian and Siamese ceremonies.

The earliest recorded use of gunpowder in England is by the Franciscan monk Roger Bacon (born 1214). He recorded his experiments with a mixture which was very inadequate by today’s standards but was recognizable as gunpowder. His formula contained charcoal and sulphur because there was no natural source of saltpeter available.

Fact File

In January 1606 Parliament in England established November 5 as a day of public thanksgiving. The day, known as Guy Fawkes Day, is still celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, and the carrying of ‘guys’ through the streets.

 

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