Titanium could get cheap
A
new method to extract titanium, a metal widely used in aerospace and
defence industry for its strength and light weight, has been found. The
conventional process to extract the metal requires a temperature of
1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, which hikes up its cost. The temperature is
necessary due to the metal’s exceptionally strong affinity to oxygen.
The new method, which uses magnesium hydride, lowers the extraction
temperature by 60 per cent, substantially reducing the cost. This
could widen the scope for largescale use of the fourth most common metal
on Earth. Journal of American Chemical Society, November 20 (online)
Source: Hans DürrENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Rivers to blame, too
Contrary to popular belief, rivers and streams release carbon dioxide
at a five times higher rate than the lakes of the world. Rivers and
streams release 1.8 billion tonnes of the gas every year compared to
0.32 billion tonnes from lakes and reservoirs.
The study could be of great help in analysing the movement of
nutrients, green house gases and metals in water networks. Nature,
November 20 (online)
HEALTH SCIENCE
Long leave to beat baby blues
The longer a woman remains on leave after pregnancy, the better her
chance to avoid post-partum depression. Most women in the US return to
work three months after pregnancy and 13 per cent of all mothers go
through the depression.
Research says that women who get back to work in less than six months
after pregnancy were more likely to experience post-partum depression.
Journal of Health, Politics and Law, December 4
ASTROPHYSICS
Noble find
Source: ESA/HERSCHEL/PACS, SPIRE/MESS KEY PROGRAM SUPERNOVA REMNANT TEAM
Molecules of a noble gas argon have been found for the first time in
space. Chemical fingerprints of argon hydride ions were found in the
Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant. The discovery could provide
information regarding the formation of the gas in nature. Science,
December 13
Source: Starr EnvironmentalAGRICULTURE
Inbuilt safety mechanism
Banana varieties which face attacks from the parasitic nematode
Radopholus similis keep specific plant toxins near the damaged root
tissues. The toxin accumulates in the body of the nematode till it dies.
The discovery could be of great use in developing pest-resistant
varieties. PNAS, December 9 (online)
Source: Barts Health NHS TrustTECHNOLOGY
Sharper scan for prostate
An optical scanner to trace zinc, an essential nutrient present in
every body tissue, has been developed. The sensor could provide early
diagnosis of prostate cancer. Zinc levels in the prostate are normally
high, but show a noticeable drop in cancerous prostate cells. The
sensor can focus on specific organs and mark out areas of high zinc
concentration. PNAS, December 9
CLIMATE SCIENCE
Deadliest of all
Scientists have discovered the most “radiatively efficient” chemical
ever—perfluorotributylamine or PFTBA. Radiative efficiency is a measure
of a chemical’s capacity to impact climate. Over a 100-year-period, one
molecule of PFTBA has the same climate impact as 7,100 molecules of
carbon dioxide. PFTBA does not occur naturally and there are no known
natural processes to destruct or alter it, hence it has a very long
life. Geophysical Research Letters, November 27
HEALTH SCIENCE
Tracking source virus
Rabies is endemic in most Asian countries. The genetic diversity of
the rabies virus in Nepal is not known. A comparison of 24 samples
collected from 2003 to 2011 in Nepal with known strains shows the
presence of three groups in the country: one clade (a group of
organisms considered as having evolved from a common ancestor) from the
Indian subcontinent and two sub-clades from the Arctic-related clade.
The research suggests that at least two independent episodes of rabies
introduction from neighbouring countries occurred in Nepal. The study
could provide directions for control of rabies in the country. PLOS,
November 21
ZOOLOGY
Freeze to kill
Source: JseattleSubjecting
clothes or mattresses infested with bedbugs to freezing temperatures is
a commonly used method to remove the bug. But bedbugs are not as
susceptible to low temperatures as thought. The bug can lower the
freezing point of its body fluids to save itself. Researchers say that
to ensure all bugs are killed, bug-infested items must be exposed to
-16 degrees Centigrade for 80 hours. Hundred per cent mortality can also
be achieved by subjecting bedbugs to -20 degrees Centigrade for 40
hours. Journal of Economic Entomology, December 8
