Turbocharging photosynthesis in corn hikes yield.

Scientists from the Boyce Thompson Institute BTI and Cornell University have boosted a carbon-craving enzyme called RuBisCO to turbocharge photosynthesis in corn. The discovery promises to be a key step in improving agricultural efficiency and yield. Increased RuBisCO assists corn's biological machinery used during photosynthesis to incorporate atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. 

Every metabolic process like photosynthesis has the equivalent of traffic lights or speed bumps, RuBisCO is often the limiting factor in photosynthesis. With increased RuBisCO, though, this well-known speed bump is lowered, leading to improved photosynthetic efficiency."RuBisCO does have a formal, scientific name. It's Ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase an enzyme that helps convert carbon dioxide into sugar. 

But for the world of commercial agriculture and corn's C4 photosynthesis system, RuBisCO works slowly. BTI researchers found a way to over-express a key chaperone enzyme called RuBisCO Assembly Factor 1, or RAF1, to help make more RuBisCO.

And the world's largest bird is... Voromobe titan

After more than a century of conflicting evidence, scientists said on Wednesday they have finally solved the riddle of the world's largest bird. 


For 60 million years the colossal, flightless elephant bird — Aepyornis maximus — stalked the savannah and rainforests of Madagascar until it was hunted to extinction around 1,000 years ago. In the 19th century, a new breed of European zoologist obsessed over the creature, pillaging skeletons and fossilised eggs to prove they had discovered the biggest bird on Earth. 

But a study released on Wednesday by British scientists suggests that one species of elephant bird was even larger than previously thought, with a specimen weighing an estimated 860 kg — about the same as a fully grown giraffe. "They would have towered over people," James Hansford, lead author at the Zoological Society of London, said. "They definitely couldn't fly." 

Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron selected for UN's highest environmental award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are selected for this year's 'Champions of the Earth' award - UN's highest environmental honour. 


Both of them are selected in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 

India and France had together launched the ISA on sidelines of the UN climate conference (COP21) in Paris in 2015. The ISA is an inter-governmental body of solar rich nations whose objective is to galvanise actions for increasing solar power footprints in 121 potential member countries across the globe. The ISA is headquartered in Gurugram near New Delhi in India. 

India's Cochin International Airport - the world's first fully solar-powered airport - is also selected for the award. It is selected in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. 

10 more Gir lions die one by one in 10 days, total toll up to 21

All 10 Asiatic lions, rescued from Gir’s Dalkhaniya Range in Gujarat’s Amreli district following the death of 11 big cats, have died at the Jasadhar animal care center, the Gujarat forest department confirmed on Monday.

The lions succumbed one after another between September 20 and September 30, sending shock waves through Asia’s only abode for lions. The death toll since September 12 has increased to 21. Earlier,11 lions, including cubs, were found dead in Dalkhaniya between September 12 and September 19. 

However, a scarier revelation is that four of 11 lions that died between September 12 and September 16 were infected with canine distemper virus (CDV). This lethal virus spreads from dogs in the wild. This is the same virus which had wiped out nearly 1,000 lions from Tanzania’s Serengeti Reserve in 1994. 

Delays to energy efficient goods will cost EU consumers 'billions' in lost savings

New energy efficient eco-designs for 15 products including fridges, TVs and dishwashers have been delayed, EU diplomats say, even though experts consider them “crucial” to meeting Europe’s Paris climate pledge. The delays are also expected to mean consumers will miss out on lower energy bills.

                     The design revamps would have saved 62m tonnes of CO2 emissions – as much as Sweden’s annual primary energy consumption – but now look set to be dealt with by the next commission, in which far right parties may be more influential.

Only five energy labelling measures are on track to be approved by a 2 November deadline and at least half of the design overhauls are unlikely to be approved before the European parliament goes into recess in March.

Less Nitrogen pollution in the North Atlantic ocean than expected

A 130-year-old brain coral has provided the answer, at least for the North Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of the United States. By measuring the nitrogen in the coral's skeleton, a team of researchers led by Princeton University found significantly less nitrogen pollution than previously estimated. The study was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Earlier work by the Princeton-based team, however, did find elevated nitrogen pollution in another open ocean site in the South China Sea, coinciding with the dramatic increase in coal production and fertilizer usage in China over the past two decades.

In the new study, the researchers looked at coral skeleton samples collected in the open ocean about 620 miles east of the North American continent near the island of Bermuda, a region thought to be strongly influenced by airborne nitrogen released from U.S. mainland sources such as vehicle exhaust and power plants.Although the team found no evidence that human-made nitrogen was on the rise, the researchers noted variations in nitrogen that corresponded to levels expected from a natural climate phenomenon called the North Atlantic Oscillation.


source- Sciencedaily.com

what can be grown on martian soil?

The recent bid by the University of Central Florida (UCF) to sell ‘Martian soil’ is sure to pique the interest of aficionados of alluvium,especially since it is being disseminated as part of research on what can eventually be grown on Mars. Of course, had the soil actually been brought to Earth from the red planet, it would have cost far more than $20 per kg, especially since shipping is reportedly not included in the price. 

Even Elon Musk reckons a human settlement on Mars will take at least half a century, so there’s plenty of time to experiment with what can be grown there. 

But more interesting is the information that Martian dirt can be ‘created’ at home too, as UCF has obligingly published the ‘recipe’. Martian gardens could become the next suburban craze and educational toymakers could hit pay dirt if they get in on this.

Shift to clean mobility

A shift away from fossil fuels to alternatives like methanol, ethanol, hydrogen or battery-stored power is essential to address the environmental, economic and health fallout of increased congestion. 

However, any solution that does not put mass public transport at its core will fail. This means greater investment in the sector but also working to change public attitudes, from seeing public transport as the option for those who cannot afford a personal vehicle or be part of the shared mobility experience such as taxis, autos, e-rickshaws and ridesharing, to accepting it as the first and smart choice for mobility for even those who own a private vehicle.

 The different modes of public transport such as bus, train, metro, tram, must be integrated. Third, lastmile connectivity must be easy, whether through local shuttle buses or shared mobility options, affordable, reliable and available. Price gouging is not uncommon among the pliers of auto-, cycle- and e- rickshaws. Such practices drive up the cost of public transport while reducing its convenience, resulting in more trips using private vehicles or shared mobility options such as taxis, autos and ride sharing.

Artificial leaf-Microbes to live in space

Spacesuits-protect microbes destined to live in space

Scientists have created a unique system that pairs light-absorbing semiconductors with anaerobic bacteria to capture light and fix carbon dioxide like an artificial leaf. The bacteria turn carbon dioxide into chemicals useful in space colonies. The system mimics photosynthesis in plants. One problem is that the process generates reactive oxygen species that kill the bacteria. To shield them from damage, the researchers developed a 'spacesuit' of metal-organic framework (MOF)(a patchwork of mesh-like pieces called a metal-organic framework or MOF is impermeable to oxygen and reactive oxygen molecules, like peroxide, which shortens their lifespan) that extends the microbes' lifetimes to that seen in the wild. 

TATA POWER MAKES MUMBAI, ELECTRIC VEHICLE READY.

TATA Power, India's largest integrated power company has been a forerunner in technology adoption and innovation while also setting industry benchmarks in operational and sustainability aspects. Tata Power has established the first Electric Vehicle charging station at Vikhroli in Mumbai. Being the first to propagate the change towards sustainable energy, TATA Power aims to supplement the government's plan to replace fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles by 2030, by installing charging stations at strategic locations. Tata Power's charging station in Vikhroli being a centrally located with several offices and hospitals nearby was selected as the location for the pilot. It also houses a fast charger which can fully charge an average Electric Car's battery in as low as 90 minutes. Since, the inauguration of the first station two more have been started for public usage at Palladium mall in the Lower Parel area and Phoenix Market City in the Kurla area of the city. With the installation of these Electric Vehicle chargers, the company is working towards removing the anxiety from people's minds and encouraging them to shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.

Running on fuel-cell technology

Dated : 28 September 2018
Source : Business Standard

This article talks about the use and the application of fuel-cell technology. A fuel cell is a device that uses a source of fuel, such as hydrogen, and an oxidant to create electricity from an electro chemical process. A fuel cell converts chemical energy to electrical energy.

Germany has adopted this technology. The launch of hydrogen-powered train services in Germany is all about the article. Two Coradia iLint trains are now running passenger services in Lower Saxony with the use of fuel-cell technology. Sources say that, there are plans to induct atleast 14 more such "Hydrail" trains in Germany.The use of  fuel-cell technology is much more efficient and the usage of renewable energy is made possible as renewables are cleaner than thermal power sources and they also tend to produce excess energy at specific times.