The Punjab Energy Development Agency has released a draft green hydrogen policy aiming to achieve a green hydrogen and ammonia production capacity of 100 kilo tonnes per annum by 2030. The policy proposes extending incentives under the existing “Punjab Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022” to new green hydrogen and …
The last big rain-forest in West Africa, Cross River National Park in south-east Nigeria, may yet be saved from going under the axe. Local and international environmental groups have raised a furore over the proposed logging operation covering 100 sq km on the edge of the park by the Chinese-owned …
According to a recent UN report, the world population growth rate is slowing down. Nevertheless, the world is expected to see 3.7 billion more people by the year 2050 from the current level of 5.7 billion. The less developed countries will continue to be burdened with more denizens. Their growth …
UNATTRACTIVE mounds of banana peels are a common sight in rural Thailand. A project undertaken recently, aims at converting this waste into energy. Using biogas technology, the Solar Energy and Training Centre (sert) of Naresuan University in Thailand, is using this waste to procure biogas for basic rural energy requirements, …
Developed as an alternative to manual harvesting in small plots, the stripper-gatherer (sg) is a boon to farmers, particularly in Asia. Designed at the International Rice Research Institute in Philippines, it can harvest, thresh and clean about four tonnes of grain a day. Its simple stripper rotor, the teeth of …
A long term plan for the protection of crops against civil unrest and drought is being drawn up by 12 African countries. Stocks of seeds will be stored by each country to fill up those of a neighbour struck by disaster. The directors of agricultural research of these nations have …
pattern formation in nature is an almost universal phenomenon, be it biological, like patterns on animals or geological, like striations in rock formations. Though the physical interactions leading to development of patterns may differ, the evolution and dynamics of patterns could be provided an universal mathematical description. Paul Umbanhowar and …
The Bhutanese government has set up a new system of rules to improve water and sanitation systems to further the cause of urban development. The idea behind the scheme was to "ensure accountability, equitable access to safe and reliable water supply, and a clean and healthy living environment which is …
altered soyabeans from the us have raked up frenzied protests in both Switzerland and Germany. This has followed Europe's insistence that us segregate its genetically-engineered soyabean exports from the conventional crop. Europe is due for its first shipment of genetically engineered soyabeans developed by us chemicals group, Monsanto, by the …
Yet another addition to the fleet of satellites peering down on earth is Japan's Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (adeos). Bristling with sensors for measuring everything from stratospheric ozone to ocean turbulence, the satellite launches Japan into the upper realms of remote-sensing science. Carrying eight instruments from Japan, France and the …
Antarctica, which till 1960 was considered an aseismic area, now supports seven seismic observatories. India will also set up an observatory near its permanent station Maitri during its 16th expedition to the continent towards the end of this year. The aim of the broad-band digital seismic observatory is to monitor …
In a bid to salvage its depleting shores, Hong Kong recently earmarked its first marine parks and marine reserve. On September 30, three coastal areas were placed under protection: a 20 ha marine reserve encompassing Lobster Bay at Cape D' Aguilar, a 260 ha marine park covering the whole of …
in a move to reduce emissions from coal-fired plants, India is installing a coal gasification plant. It will be the first commercial-scale coal gasification project in the world to use lignite for producing electricity and steam. Work is underway on an innovative 60- mw coal-fired integrated gasification combined cycle (igcc) …
a worm' s life is offering something to humans, in way of knowledge about cell death. Besides setting a limit to our lifespans, death also plays an important role during pre-reproductive life. In this phase, cells and tissues within the organism die in the course of normal development
Poverty's black face crept in view yet again as hundreds of local poor, alerted to the fact that marine guards had left their posts, descended recently on the Escobilla beach
The new policy of the National Foot and Mouth Disease control programme in Bhutan lays down that migrating animals will now need to be compulsarily vaccinated and will be provided movement permits. The disease affects a number of livestock and reduces animal productivity to a large extent. According to J …
Saltwater power, the energy that is generated when river water converges with seawater, is being advocated for commercialisation. The resulting release of energy creates heat which can be turned into electrical power. Researchers in the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (sintef) at the University of Trondheim, Norway, are currently …
an international project to supply large quantities of hydrogen for use as a transport fuel and to generate electricity will go into operation by the end of the century. Experiments are taking place on hydrogen-powered engines for motor vehicles and for the Airbus, the European aircraft. The project called Euro-Quebec …
the herbal fuel invention claim ( Down To Earth , Vol 5, No 10) of P Ramar has entered the stage of a high drama, with scientists withdrawing themselves from the scene and politicians and public at large getting into the act. Less than a week after officials of the …
