Geological Experts Warns: Demolition of Adam's Bridge Will Cause Natural Disasters

Amidst debates on whether "Ram Sethu" was a man-made structure or a natural formation, geological experts, on 28 September, 2007, warned that demolition of Adam's bridge for the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) might trigger natural disasters.
Environmental scientists and geologists who have come under the banner of 'The Movement Against Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project' said the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar area was not only fragile with respect to tectonic movements but also highly sensitive to higher heat flow manifestations coupled with seismically vulnerable nature.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) former Director K Gopalakrishnan said the Adam's Bridge was not merely a group of simple sandy shoal or sandy bars of migratory nature as was being projected by the Centre and project authorities.
"Evidences are available to prove that such physical feature forms a distinct geological, geotectonic, oceanographic and oceanic divide that has got a specific and important role to play as a barrier in controlling different geological and oceanographic activities in this highly fragile and sensitive area," he added.
Destablisation of the multifarious barrier zone of Adam's Bridge would cause submarine landslides, induce earthquakes and earth tremors and lead to tectonic movements along active fault zones bringing about subsidence and submergence of areas, he said.
Though geo-technical evaluation was mandatory for any project, no sub-surface geological survey was conducted for the SSCP, Gopalakrishnan said.
He also questioned why the Centre entrusted NEERI with the responsibility of preparing the Environment Impact Report when the GSI was the competent authority to carry out the work.
He urged the Centre to form a multi-disciplinary committee to go into the vulnerability of the project.
Dr Arunachalam, an environmental scientist and Associate professor in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, said the project would be a major man-made stressor to fragile ecosystms such as Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar.
Apart from the loss of biodiversity, the changes brought about by breaking the Adam's Bridge would result in thorough alteration to the coromandel coast and the Indian Ocean which might lead to conditions detrimental to mankind by way of cyclones or tsunami, he added.
As the country was completely relying on the monsoon for fresh water resources and livelihood, the changes might bring a condition of floods and droughts by monsoonal changes in oceans near India, he said.

Robot Cooks So You Don't Have To

This was supposed to be the future. Where is my robot chef for days when I'm too tired to cook?

Turns out, the future is just around the corner. Liu Changfa, a retired professor in Beijing, has grabbed headlines with the prototype of his "food robot." The 5-foot-tall iron chef comprises a base that houses a computer, a gut that contains an induction cooker and a pot, and a chest that frames a screen. The chef also has a robotic arm to help with stirring as well as a C-3PO-esque mien that's far friendlier than the other robot chef we've seen.

Hungry humans can program recipes into the food robot's computer, then kick back with a cocktail while the bot assembles the meal. More than 200 diners have enjoyed the machine's cuisine thus far, and reportedly taste testers have found the food to be on par with a traditional restaurant kitchen, flavor-wise. (No mention has been made of the robot's plating abilities.)

Global Warming and the Pacific Northwest Coast

An Ecological Crisis

The Pacific Northwest is blessed with an amazing diversity of coastal habitats. These habitats support thousands of species of fish and wildlife, and they are crucial for the regional economy, culture and quality of life.

However, the region’s coastal habitats and wildlife are under pressure from human activities such as development and pollution. Now, sea-level rise due to global warming will create even greater challenges for our coasts.

We are facing an ecological crisis that could see wholesale loss of wildlife populations and profound changes in our outdoor way of life. We must address the greatly accelerating impacts of global warming before it's too late and work together to protect and conserve the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the country.

Recent studies show that the global average sea level will rise as much 20-56 inches by 2100, including in the Pacific Northwest.
Learn more major facts:

• The National Wildlife Federation looked at a number of sea-level rise scenarios for the region and found that even a relatively moderate scenario of sea level rise of just over 2-feet by 2100 will have a significant impact on coastal habitats.
• Recent studies show that it is likely the Pacific Northwest coast will have a significant sea level rise by 2100 of between 20-56 inches.
• Among the most vulnerable habitats is estuarine beach, which provides vital spawning areas for forage fish, including surf smelt and sand lance, which in turn provide food for birds, marine mammals, salmon, and other fish and wildlife.
• More than 2/3 of beaches in the Tacoma area are predicted to be lost by 2100.
• The Seattle area is built on high land, and so would have limited impact due to sea level rise. However, 741- 988 acres of dry land will become marsh or tidal flat. More than half of estuarine beaches in the area will be lost.

Bangalore Hospital Performs Rare Heart Surgery

A private super speciality hospital in Bangalore has performed a rare surgery, claimed to be the first of its kind in medical history, on a 14-year-old Pakistani boy, suffering from Pulmonary Atresia.
Tauseef Ahmed underwent the complex surgery at the Narayana Hrudayala on the city outskirts on August 22 2007, and has recovered well, Dr Shekhar Rao, whose led team performed the surgery told a press conference in Bangalore on 8 September 2007.
The boy is doing well and would be returning to Abbothbad, a village situated on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in a day or two, he said.
The doctors in Pakistan who conducted diagnostic investigations had delcared that it was impossible to subject the boy to surgery.