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#Chemical

Good News

Revolutionary 'Super Melanin' Cream Repairs Skin from Sun Exposure and Chemical Burns

A groundbreaking discovery by scientists at Northwestern University has led to the development of a remarkable 'super melanin' cream that has the potential to heal skin damage caused by sun exposure and chemical burns. The synthetic melanin cream, which mimics the natural melanin found in human skin, has shown promising results in accelerating the healing process when topically applied to injured skin. In a recent study published in Nature Regenerative Medicine, researchers demonstrated that the synthetic melanin cream offers protection against sun damage and aids in the recovery of skin injured by sunburn or chemical burns. The cream works by scavenging free radicals, which are harmful molecules produced during skin damage. Left unchecked, free radicals can lead to skin aging and even skin cancer. Unlike traditional sunscreen, the synthetic melanin remains on the surface of the skin without being absorbed into the deeper layers. This innovative cream not only stabilizes and sets the skin on a healing pathway but also communicates with the body to initiate an active healing process. The cream's anti-inflammatory properties help calm destructive inflammation, allowing the body to commence the healing process rather than exacerbating the inflammation. The benefits of this 'super melanin' cream extend beyond sun damage and chemical burns. It has the potential to be used for blisters, open sores, and even quieting the immune system. The cream's ability to absorb toxins and protect against radiation exposure opens up new possibilities for medical applications. This breakthrough in skincare technology offers hope for individuals seeking effective remedies for damaged skin. With further development and research, this 'super melanin' cream could revolutionize the way we approach skin healing and protection.

10 Nov 2023
Good News

Breaking the Chain: Revolutionary Water Treatment Method Zaps 'Forever Chemicals' for Good

Researchers have developed a new water treatment method that can remove harmful "forever chemicals" from water sources. The chemicals in question, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are found in a variety of products and have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer and immune system damage. A new solution from the Univ. of British Columbia can both filter out and then destroy these forever chemicals, purifying water resources cheaply and effectively. The new treatment method, known as electrochemical oxidation, uses an electric current to break down the PFAS chemicals into inert components that can be safely disposed of. The researchers tested the method on water samples containing PFAS and found that it was highly effective at removing harmful chemicals. The development of this new treatment method is a major breakthrough in the fight against PFAS contamination. PFAS chemicals are notoriously difficult to remove from water sources, and traditional treatment methods have proven to be ineffective. The electrochemical oxidation method offers a safe, efficient, and cost-effective solution to this problem. The researchers hope that the new treatment method will be adopted by water treatment facilities around the world, helping to protect communities from the harmful effects of PFAS contamination. It highlights the importance of continued research and innovation in the field of water treatment and the need for more sustainable and effective solutions to water pollution.

31 Mar 2023
Good News

Soil – The Basis of All Life!

Today, the world celebrates World Soil Day. This year’s theme is "Soils: Where Food Begins.” The campaign seeks to address expanding soil management concerns, raise awareness, and motivate societies to enhance soil health. According to soil scientists, 52% of agricultural soils are already degraded. In other words, the soil that enriches and nourishes us is dying. That is a cause for concern as soil fulfills 95% of our food needs. Soil supplies 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants. The world population continues to soar and in order to meet the global food demand in 2050, agricultural production will have to increase by 60 percent. Sustainable soil management could produce up to 58 percent more food. How do we save soil from extinction? The need of the hour is to raise our voice for the soil so that the governments of the world take notice and frame necessary policies for the regeneration of soil. Soil can be regenerated by increasing the organic content as much as possible. Soil is a living entity and comprises millions of microbes and tiny creatures which are largely not visible to our naked eye. This living soil feeds on organic content like dead leaves or animal waste that helps it to thrive and get enriched.  The green revolution and the need to produce crops on a large scale to feed the Earth’s growing population have led to the rampant use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. This has gradually transformed the soil into sand and ripped the soil off its organic content and richness. All we need to do to increase the organic content of the soil is to keep the soil covered with dead leaves and animal /plant waste. By addressing the growing challenges in soil management, raising soil awareness, and enticing societies to improve soil health, World Soil Day 2022(#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign "Soils: Where food begins" seek to increase awareness of the significance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being. We need to save our soil now to prevent an impending catastrophe. Join savesoil.org and play a part in this phenomenal global movement to save soil for future generations.  

5 Dec 2022
Good News

How a Seed Bank Managed To Attract a Village To Adopt Organic Farming

In the tiny hamlet of Raisar, about 150 km from Bhubaneswar, resides 45-year-old Durjyadhana Jani, a farmer who has noticed considerable changes in the field of farming for the past three decades. As a child, his family practiced organic farming, but for the past two decades, chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been in use. However, three years ago, he shunned the practice of chemical farming and returned to natural methods of farming. Along with him, around 27 households in and around his hamlet have now taken up organic farming. One might wonder what triggered this change, well, the answer is - A Seed Bank. A "bank" of seeds, as the name implies, is a collection of indigenous seed varieties kept at the village level. Farmers can borrow these seeds on the condition that they return them an equal amount after the harvest.  To begin with, a "bihan mela" or seed festival was held in the village to originally achieve a diversity of seeds. Farmers from other regions were invited to visit with their native seeds and trade them with others. The seed bank functions like a conventional bank, but instead of using money, it uses seeds. Each "transaction" is documented. "We keep a record of everything in the seed bank. A farmer must repay the same amount of seeds provided to him after the harvest.  If he is unable to do so for some reason, he must return twice as much as interest next year.   The seed bank in Raisar villages currently holds 52 types of rice seeds, four types of millets, and a variety of vegetables, up from 12 varieties in 2019.   The majority of farmers, who had been taught traditional agricultural methods by their ancestors for generations, were familiar with the idea of using indigenous seeds. They departed from conventional farming practices, though, due to the promise of chemical farming's high yield.   Farmers realized that soil has lost its richness and porosity, due to the use of chemicals. This coupled with the fact that indigenous seeds are climate resistant and can sustain with less water prompted farmers to switch to organic farming. This turned out to be a better bargain as organic produce now fetches a better price and farmers are earning better than before.  

24 Nov 2022
Good News

NCL to help tribals in Maharashtra with water purifiers, oxygen machines

Nearly 40,000 tribals from Thane and Palghar districts in Maharashtra will get access to clean drinking water, along with affordable healthcare, at local hospitals due to the initiative of  Mumbai based CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) which will be distributing water purifying machines and oxygen enriching units in tribal schools and government hospitals free of cost. With the view to develop the backward areas of the country using technological interventions, 38 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs in the country were mandated to set up Gramin Vigyan Kutir (CSIR tech village) as part of the  CSIR 800 programme.  Programme in-charge and senior NCL scientist P K Ingle said that this initiative will make a difference in the lives of people who are deprived of the basic amenities. That's why they decided to make machines to provide pure drinking water for tribals and oxygen enriching units for use in rural hospitals. Thane, being the 10th largest district in the state, 14 per cent of its population comprise of tribals who  live in highly inaccessible areas which makes it difficult to provide them with power supply and other basic amenities. The  cost-effective oxygen enriching machines are developed by Genrich Membranes Pvt Ltd and procured by NCL. The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Rajendra Kharul said that the  machine is capable of supplying up to 35 per cent concentrated oxygen enriched air which will be of great assistance to patients with severe lung disorders, asthma or COPD.  The lab is also providing water purifying machines to government hospitals and ashram schools in the tribal belt . The NCL is also sponsoring the construction of 20 toilets, particularly for girl students, in the ashram schools of Palghar.

23 Mar 2017
Good News

Global News

Unveiling the Mysteries of the Universe: The James Webb Telescope

The James Webb Telescope has once again displayed its power in uncovering the universe’s deepest and coldest ices. An international team of astronomers used the telescope to identify frozen forms of a variety of compounds, some of which may be essential components of planetary atmospheres and compounds. These compounds include methanol, the most complex organic molecule, as well as carbonyl sulphide, ammonia, and methane. The discovery of these ices enables researchers to examine their potential role in the habitability of planets. For example, Melisa McClure, an astronomer at the Leiden Observatory, said “our results provide insights into the first, dark chemical stage of the production of ice on the interstellar dust grains that will evolve into the centimeter-sized pebbles from which planets form in discs.” The James Webb Telescope also detected “prebiotic chemicals,” which are substances that promote the ideal environment for life’s origins. The telescope also detected the amount of sulfur that is present in frozen pre-stellar dust grains. Overall, this survey of the ice materials found in the universe is one of the most thorough investigations and would not have been possible without the power of the James Webb Telescope. This telescope has once again solidified its place as the world’s most powerful telescope and its discoveries will be essential to our knowledge of the universe.

27 Jan 2023
Global News

Positive Reads

Know How This Organic Food Company Helped Promote Organic Farming in India

  Sresta, a company based in Hyderabad, Telangana, entered the organic food market in 2004. Most farmers relied on chemical inputs to increase crop productivity at the time, making organic food an exotic idea. The government developed programs to assist and promote organic farming only ten years later. Rajshekhar Reddy Seelam, the man behind the farm-to-fork initiative Sresta, made the decision to employ a two-pronged approach. The business provides ongoing assistance to farmers in order to help them transition to organic farming from using chemical inputs. Additionally, it buys, prepares, and markets the product to ensure a stable market. In order to generate customer demand for the products, Sresta simultaneously funds extensive awareness campaigns regarding organic farming and its advantages for both human health and the environment. According to “India: Organic Industry Market Report-2021” published by the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, the company's brand name "24 Mantra" now holds the biggest market share for organic food goods. From 40 farmers to 40,000 farmers, the company now operates across roughly 81,000 hectares (ha) in 15 states. Sresta's list now contains approximately 200 items, ranging from flour, grains, pulses, millets, dried fruits, and spices to flours, cold-pressed oil, pickles, biscuits, culinary pastes, jams, and ready-to-eat products, as opposed to the original acquisition of wheat, mustard, gram, and barley. As organic products are sold at prices 40-60 percent higher than those for conventional products, farmers are also seeing their incomes soar. The products have gradually become popular and are sold in over 7500 stores and on e-commerce platforms. Sresta thus helped to expand the farm-to-fork philosophy to promote organic farming.

27 Dec 2022
Positive Reads

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