Environment 
Dealing with Dyes: Fungi to the rescue
(0)Lakshmi Tiwari and Barkha Sharma from the G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar have come up with a cute solution to water pollution by the dangerous dye, Congo red: agar plugs containing mycelia of the fungus, Penicillium crustosum.
Microplastics in Ballast Water: saving the seas
To stabilise ships in oceans, water is pumped in or out of the ballast depending on the other loads on the ship. If the water being pumped out is filtered ships can save the oceans from the emerging microplastic pollution, say Indian scientists.
Wastewater Reuse: Decentralising treatment plants
Centralised water treatment plants in urban areas have high cost of maintenance. Researchers from IIT Madras have now come up with a solution: an optimised network of grey water and wastewater treatment plants. A must read for municipal authorities.
Ethanol from Wheat Straw: Cheaper pretreatment
Researchers from IIT Madras have found a way to make the process of making ethanol from agro-waste cheaper. A move towards increasing farmers’ income, fulfilling fuel needs and reducing pollution from burning agricultural residues.
Heat loving Bacteria from the Himalayas: Breaking cellulose
Researchers from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology have isolated a heat loving bacteria from the cold Pangi Valley of the Himalayas. The ability of the strain to break down cellulose very rapidly will find many industrial applications.
Hydrogen from Food Waste: Piloting the process
An estimated seven crore tonnes of food waste is thrown out by Indians every year, polluting the environment. Converting this waste into biohydrogen energy is an economic opportunity, say researchers from CSIR-IICT. Municipalities need to listen to this.
Dairy Wastewater to Power: Microbial fuel cells
Instead of polluting environment, diary wastewater can be used for electricity generation, say researchers from NIT Agarthala. Read on.
Expanding peafowl distribution in Kerala
Sanjo Jose and P O Nameer, from the Kerala Agricultural University were puzzled about increased sightings of peacocks in Kerala. Investigating into the environmental and climatic factors that increase distribution of peafowl, they find that the species may soon extent its territory in Kerala.
Elemental Carbon: Air quality indicator?
Aerosols of two and half and ten micrometres are considered as measures of air pollution. The proportion of elemental carbon in the aerosols that gets deposited in lungs may also need to be included, argue scientists.
Duckweed in Action: Checking xenobiotic pollution
Duckweed may be called a weed, but we may need to change our attitude to it. It may be useful to clean up aquatic ecosystems, says a research team from Doon University. The weed, of course, suffers from Ofloxacin antibiotic in water, but removes it efficiently.
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