Red Planet to Pass Closest to Earth

Mars is zooming in for a close approach to Earth on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 night, offering backyard astronomers their best views of the red planet until 2014.

For the past few months Mars has appeared at night as a ruddy, starlike beacon rising in the east.

On Wednesday, 27 January night, Mars will pass within 61 million miles (98 million kilometers) of Earth—close enough for well-equipped sky-watchers to make out details on the Martian surface.

"With a small telescope of about 6 inches (15.2 centimeters), the polar ice caps and other surface features are visible," said Raminder Singh, staff astronomer at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"Even a pair of binoculars will show it as a disk, as opposed to a star, which looks like a pinpoint of light."

And on January 29 Mars will reach opposition, which means it will rise in the east just as the sun sets in the west, making the red planet visible all night long.

"When opposition occurs, Mars is on the opposite side [of Earth] from the sun. If viewed from above the solar system, the sun, Earth, and Mars would be in a straight path," Singh said.

Adding to the cosmic spectacle, on the night of opposition Mars will appear fairly close to the full moon, and the pair will glide together across the sky.

Mars Easy to See

The exact distance between Mars and Earth changes over time, because the orbits of the planets are not perfect circles, but elongated ellipses.

This orbital setup means Mars makes a close pass by Earth roughly every two years.

In August 2003 Mars made its closest pass by Earth in 60,000 years, swinging by at a mere 35 million miles (56 million kilometers) away. That event created spectacular views for astronomers but also seems to have spawned the recurring "Mars Spectacular" email hoax.

Wednesday, 27 January night's approach won't be a particularly close pass. Still, the "flyby" will highlight how easy it is to spot Mars even with the naked eye, Singh noted.

"It's the third brightest object in the night sky, aside from the moon and the star Sirius," Singh said.

"People should really go outside and look at it, as it's an easy thing to see in the sky."

Source: NationalGeographic.com

Scientists Capture Haiti Disaster with High-Tech Imaging System

In the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology are sweeping the leveled city with high-tech imaging integrated into a small aircraft.

Funded by the World Bank, and in collaboration with ImageCat Inc., the five-day flight is meticulously mapping the disaster zone to aid in crisis management and eventual reconstruction of the city. The twin engine Piper Navajo, operated by Kucera International, an Ohio-based aerial mapping company, will fly from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and refuel daily in the Dominican Republic. The plane flies at 3,000 feet over Port-au-Prince and other areas badly hit by the earthquake. The operation began January 21, 2010.

RIT is coupling an imaging system it created for the U.S. Forest Service to detect wildfires using high-resolution color imagery and thermal infrared with Kucera's LIDAR topographical sensing system. LIDAR makes precise measurements with laser pulses and complements the other modalities in 3-D layered image maps. RIT scientist Jason Faulring is operating the camera system to survey damage, detect fires, chemical spills and surface contamination on lakes or ponds. George Tatalovich and James Bowers are the pilots flying for Kucera International. Bowers is operating the LIDAR sensor operator.

Recovery crews will use the information in the reconstruction of Haiti. RIT is coordinating closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the U.S. Geological Survey and non-governmental organizations that want to make use of this unique data set.

Thermal imaging provides relief and recovery agencies with critical insight not available from standard color photography. "You can tell how much liquid is in a storage tank with a thermal camera," says Don McKeown, scientist in RIT's Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science and project manager. "You can make inferences of tanks that are full, tanks that are empty and tanks that are leaking."

Source: ScienceDaily.com

Major Breakthrough: Stem Cell Therapy found for Leukaemia

In a ray of hope for millions of leukaemia patients, American scientists have developed a technique which multiplies the small number of stem cells in the donor blood, making it much more potent for the treatment of the fatal disease.

It also eliminates the need for a matching donor, whose bone marrow is usually transplanted to the patient, according to a study which appeared in the journal Nature Medicine. Traditionally, there was always a risk that the patient’s body may reject the new cells from a donor.

The alternate path was to introduce cells extracted from umbilical cords as these cells do not have characteristics which would normally trigger immune rejection. So these cells can be used in any patient, without the need for matching.

However, the only disadvantage of this process was that a single cord would not have enough cells to meet the needs of an adult patient.

Source: PTI

Demand for Separate Time Zone in Northeast India Gathers Momentum

A group of opinion makers Saturday (January 23, 2010) decided to lobby the central government of India for a separate time zone for the northeast region of the country so that there is optimum utilization of daylight.

More than 200 people comprising academicians, journalists, film personalities, student leaders, scientists, engineers and from other fields met in Guwahati to drum up public opinion for a separate time zone for the northeast— with suggestions for advancing the clock by at least 90 minutes.

“As a first step we would be formally apprising the eight regional governments and also the 24 MPs of the northeast to lobby for a separate time zone in Parliament,” well-known filmmaker Jahnu Baruah said.

A resolution was also moved to approach the Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) ministry for a separate time zone for the northeast.

Speakers at the meet organised by K.C. Das Commerce College, a premier educational institution in Assam’s main city Guwahati, said there was enough justification in seeking a separate time zone as day breaks early in the northeast with the sun normally rising at least an hour to 90 minutes ahead of other Indian cities.

“For example on Saturday (January 23) the sunrise time in Arunachal Pradesh was 6.06 AM and in Mumbai it was 7.14 AM, while the sunset time was 4.15 PM and 6.26 PM respectively,” Bhabesh Sharma, a geography teacher, said.

“We have every reason to demand a separate time zone for the northeast, considering the geo-location of the region,” he added.

The group is now planning to broaden the campaign for advancing the clock by roping in lawmakers of the region.

“We need to make productive use of daylight from 4 AM to 10 AM, especially in the summer season. We in the northeast do nothing and wait for 10 AM to go to office. If our clock is advanced by 90 minutes we can really make productive use of daylight,” Barua said.

Neighbouring Bangladesh recently advanced its clock by an hour, aimed at saving an extra hour of daylight to save power.

“If we have a separate time zone and the clock is advanced by 90 minutes, Assam would make a profit of Rs.640 million annually by way of energy consumption and production,” said B.M. Sharma, an engineer with the Assam State Electricity Board.

“A separate time zone means people would sleep early and hence saving on energy bills and also generation of thermal power would increase as work would begin soon in the projects.”

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is practiced in many countries, exploiting daylight by advancing clocks so that evenings have more natural light and mornings have less.

“In reality Bangladesh is now 90 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time although the sun rises earlier in the Northeast than in Bangladesh,” Sharma noted.

Source: IANS

International Science Conference Begins at IIT-Kanpur

To encourage the younger generation to evince interest in science, especially chemistry, a three-day international conference meant for the PhD scholars began at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) on Friday, December 4, 2009.

The programme began with the lighting of the lamp. Prof RK Theraja, deputy director, IIT-K, was the chief guest. Prof Ray CF Jones from Lough Borough University, UK delivered a lecture on the day.

Over 100 students, including eight PhD scholars from UK, from various institutes of the country will present their research papers in the conference. The 5th J-NOST international conference has been jointly organised by National Organic Symposium Trust (NOST) and chemistry department of IIT-K. Twenty students will be given the Eli Lilly and Company Asia Outstanding Thesis Award with a cash prize and a plaque each.

Speaking about the conference, Dr Gurunath of the chemistry department said, "This is the only conference in the world which gives PhD students a podium to share their thesis with other PhD scholars. The participants will give presentations of their research works while the faculty will get the opportunity to adjudge them on their teaching skills. Those found giving good presentations can thus become good academicians in future."

"Our main motive is to ensure that every PhD student, who has come here, should receive maximum benefit through this conference," added Prof Gurunath.

Speaking on the similar lines, Prof Vinod Kumar Singh, director, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal and member of Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister informed, "The conference is aimed at promoting organic chemistry."

Dr Prabhakar Jadhav representing Eli Lilly, a US based company, said, "The purpose of the conference is to promote science in India. Awards to students will further motivate them to do well in their respective streams and contribute their best to the science."

Students from BHU, Allahabad University, CDRI Lucknow, Delhi University, IISc Bangalore, University of Hyderabad, IIT-Delhi, University of Madras, IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, University of Leeds, UK, University of Bath, UK, Cardiff University, UK, Imperial College London, etc., are participating in the conference.

Source: TOI

Hungary and Japan Vow to Cooperate Over Green Technology

Hungry and Japan agreed on Thursday (December 3, 2009) to step up bilateral cooperation in the field of alternative energy.

Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo, and discussed ways for both nations to cooperate in science and technology, among other issues.

Solyom told a joint news conference that followed the meeting that Hungary welcomes Japanese companies as it aims to become more self-sufficient in energy supplies.

"As you may know, Hungary is dependent on Russia for its energy. We'd like to change this situation. There are a lot of things we hope to learn from Japan in this field, such as renewable energy technology," Solyom said.

"We'd like more and more Japanese companies to invest in research and development in Hungary," he added.

Hatoyama agreed, adding that both nations will also cooperate in tackling global warming.

Source: REUTERS

Dying Hot Star Photographed

Astronomers in Britain have taken the first pictures of one of the hottest stars in the Galaxy-- a mysterious dying body that fascinates scientists.

At 200,000 degrees Celsius, the star at the heart of the Bug Nebula is 35 times hotter than the Sun.

The dying star-- 3,500 light years away in the constellation Scorpius-- has never been seen before as it is hidden behind a cloud of dust and ice.

Now, a team of astronomers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Albert Zijlstra, have recorded images using the recently refurbished Hubble Space Telescope.

The pictures are to be published in the Astrophysical Journal next week.

Zijlstra said: “It is extremely important to understand planetary nebulae such as the Bug Nebula as they are crucial to understanding our own existence on Earth.”

Our own Sun is set to follow the star’s example in about 5 billion years’ time.

Source: IANS

India Says Will Not Accept Legally Binding Emission Cut in National Interest

India must be flexible without compromising the basic national interest at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday (December 03, 2009).

India will aim to cut carbon intensity by 20-25 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels, the last major emitter to pledge targets that could boost chances of a breakthrough in next week's global climate talks.

Carbon intensity refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of gross domestic product.

India has come under intense pressure to issue targets ahead of the UN Dec 7-18 talks in Copenhagen after the United States and China announced their plans on reducing emissions.

"We must be flexible without compromising on the basic national interest, basic national interest means no legal binding emission cuts, no legally binding emission peaking year and as far as possible distinguishing between supported mitigation action and unsupported mitigation action," Ramesh told the parliament, laying down for the first time the country's negotiating position ahead of the Copenhagen talks.

The carbon intensity goal still means that India's overall emissions will rise in coming years, just not as fast as its rapid economic growth needed to lift millions of its inhabitants out of poverty.

Ramesh, however, said that India would go to Copenhagen with a positive frame of mind and was ready to work with like-minded countries like China to ensure that there were equitable arrangements.

"We are going with a positive frame of mind, we want a comprehensive and equitable agreement in Copenhagen, I am realistic enough to know that such an agreement may not materialise but we will work overtime with like-minded countries, with China and other countries to ensure that there is comprehensive in equitable arrangements," he said.

Ramesh said India would accept international verification of its efforts to reduce emissions if those actions are supported by foreign finance and technology.

India, like other developing countries, has long made any major emission cuts dependent on aid from the developed world, which it sees as responsible for most of the problems of global warming.

India is especially in a difficult position as any significant adjustment to make its industry green without outside financial support would be very costly and crimp its economic growth.

"India of all the 192 countries of the world owes a responsibility not to the world but to itself to take climate change seriously, we are not doing the world a favour, forget Copenhagen, forget UN, we have to do it in our self interest, our future as a society in …on how we respond to the climate change challenge," Ramesh said.

Developing countries, under no obligation to make any cuts under existing global pacts, say they could make the shift to less polluting economies with a helping hand from the rich.

India ranks as the world's fourth highest carbon emitter, with 1.8 tonnes of emissions per thousand dollars of GDP compared to China's emission of 2.85 tonnes.

India is under pressure to announce details of how it will control its growing carbon emissions, and issuing targets will likely strengthen New Delhi's hands at the Copenhagen negotiations.

China and the United States, the top and second largest emitters in the world, have unveiled plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions, leaving India the only major polluter still to issue any targets.

China's position comes after the United States said it would commit to cut its greenhouse gas emissions roughly 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, a drop of about 3 percent below the 1990 benchmark year used in UN treaties.

Source: REUTERS

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Survivors and Their Families Mark the Disaster's 25th Anniversary

Tormented survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy and their families staged a protest burned effigies of the Union Carbide factory to mark 25th anniversary of world's most deadly industrial disaster on Thursday (December 03, 2009).

When the factory was set up it was seen as a symbol of the new emerging India -- a factory that would not only generate thousands of jobs, but also manufacture cheap pesticides for millions of farmers.

But the Union Carbide plant in the central city of Bhopal left a more potent legacy when it accidentally released toxic gases into the air, killing thousands of people and causing many more to suffer in the world's most deadly industrial disaster.

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 metric tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked into the atmosphere and was carried by the wind to the surrounding slums.

The government says around 3,500 died because of the disaster. Activists however calculate that 25,000 people died in the immediate aftermath and the years that followed.

Activists and health workers say a further 100,000 people who were exposed to the gas continue to suffer today.

Holding placards, banners, and raising slogans against the officials of the Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals, the protestors asserted that they would continue to fight against the government until they get justice.

Activists blamed the government of not keeping its word on setting up an empowered commission for long-term rehabilitation for Bhopal gas tragedy survivors.

"About 18 months back the Prime Minister (Dr Manmohan Singh) promised to set up an empowered commission in Bhopal for long-term rehabilitation for Bhopal gas tragedy survivors and their families. However, he did not keep his promise. But we hope that the recent report of the Centre for Science and Environment and the fact that at least 18,000 people are still drinking poisoned water will move the Prime Minister to set up the commission," said Satinath Sadangi, an activist of Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

A report by the independent Center for Science and Environment (CSE), which in October tested the toxicity levels of ground water and soil samples in and outside the plant, suggested that the entire site was highly contaminated.

A quarter of a century on, the derelict factory stands abandoned, but behind its locked iron gates lies what environmentalists say is "a disaster within a disaster" -- a highly polluted site which, was slowly poisoning the drinking water for thousands of residents.

Sicknesses range from cancer, blindness, respiratory difficulties, immune and neurological disorders, female reproductive disorders as well as birth defects among children born to affected women. However, activists and lawyers representing the affected populations from the nearby slums say the tragedy of this disaster is that it continues unabated.

Bhopal has long cast a shadow over India and how it handles the challenges of a 1.1 billion, largely poor population, improve health and safety regulations, and a fast-growing economy.

Around 340 metric tonnes of chemical waste are stored in a warehouse inside the plant and needs to be disposed of. Dow Chemical, which now owns Union Carbide, denies any responsibility saying it bought the company a decade after Union Carbide had settled its liabilities to the Indian government in 1989 by paying $470 million for the victims.

Authorities also have for years refuted claims that the water is contaminated, saying that various studies commissioned by the government have found no evidence of pollution.

However, the CSE report contradicts the government's findings, saying samples taken from around the factory site were found to contain chlorinated benzene compounds and organochlorine pesticides 561 times the national standard.

Samples taken as far as 3 km (1.9 miles) away from the plant were found to have toxic chemicals 38.6 times more than the standard. The report said there could be no other source of these toxins than Union Carbide.

Source: REUTERS

President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil Rides Electric Car

President Pratibha Patil left behind her limousine and used a small electric car to go around the Raj Bhavan grounds while on a visit to Itanagar in the first week of April.

As the presidential entourage was getting ready to leave for a forward post called Kibithu near the Sino-Indian border on Friday, 3 April, 2009, an India-made ‘Reva’ car with the Ashoka emblem mounted on it was parked ahead of all the other cars.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (retd) J.J. Singh said he would take the President on a tour of the grounds in the car to show her a new golf course besides an organic farm.

“The car is environment friendly and can be easily driven by me inside the Raj Bhavan,” said the Governor about the two cars, which have clocked more than 20,000 km each.

When the President came out, the Governor escorted her to a white-coloured car and himself took the wheels. Separately, President Patil’s husband Devi Singh Shekhawat was driven around in a red car for nearly half an hour. A security official ran along them.

Source: PTI