We are all too familiar with the destruction humanity can cause. One of the biggest dilemmas of science is that with development, the destruction of nature increases. One of many species we drove out of India is the Cheetah. One of the big seven of the cat family, and the fastest land animal. These beautiful predators had been on this subcontinent for thousands of years, with evidence of human interaction dating back to the Neolithic period. The connection of cheetahs with India is so strong that even the name cheetah is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word...
Clouds in the windy sky ( Mindfulness Day )
“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well.” These famous words, by Thich Nhat Hanh, encompass one of the most important effects of mindfulness. The Vietnamese Monk hailed as the father of Mindfulness explains the effects of practicing mindfulness. In his famous example of the lettuce, Hanh explains how focusing on the environment, and not trying to blame, yields healthy and wholesome growth. Mindfulness Day is a rising annual event, celebrated on September 12th, on which day a range of meditation groups and workshops...
Big step for ISRO, Giant leap for India: SSLV Launch
When the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established by the Indian government in 1962, India decided to enter space. The INCOSPAR organization established the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram for upper atmospheric research under the leadership of the brilliant Dr Vikram Sarabhai. The former INCOSPAR was replaced by the Indian Space Research Organisation, which was established in 1969. Vikram Sarabhai gave ISRO the guidance it needed to act as a development agent after recognizing the value and role of space technology in a nation’s growth. Then, ISRO set out on its mission to offer...
Extra Terrestrials: How and Where to Find Them
Man has always been fascinated by space. We have gone from worshipping the moon to walking on it; we have gone from observing mars to sending rovers there; we have overcome gravity through rockets. Who knows what will happen next? A few weeks back, I had an encounter with ETs. Yes, Extra-Terrestrials, and quite a few of them. You know where? Right here in Ahmedabad! Now, what is the first thing that comes to mind when I say ET? Is it a small, green creature with big eyes? Well, I expected so! But my ETs are anything but that. These...
On Fruits Going Extinct: O ye Gods! How I shall Dine
Increased temperatures of the planet are causing climate change, and as we have discussed in various blogs previously, climate change has devastating effects on life on Earth. From Animals and plants losing habitat to entire species of fruits, plants, and animals facing the threat of extinction, the consequences of human action are far-reaching. These changes are now even reaching our dining tables! Let us take a look at how that is happening! Climate change-related atmospheric temperature increases have an impact on agriculture and the availability of high-demand items including coffee, chocolate, honey, avocados, wine, shellfish, strawberries, and bananas. These foods...
International Tiger Day
Tigers are the biggest felines on the planet. An Apex Predator, these solitary but social creatures have lost 93% of their historic population due to habitat fragmentation, hunting, and loss of habitat, and have been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, also commonly known as the IUCN Red List or the Red Data Book. An Estimated 4,500 wild tigers stalk our forests currently. India houses the largest tiger population out of all the 13 nations that are tiger habitats. Currently, 2,967 tigers roam various tiger reserves across India. This majestic species has...
World Nature Conservation Day 2022: For Nature the Bells Toll
“As for the future, it is not a question of foreseeing it, but of making it possible.” Antoine De Saint Exupery The requirement to conserve the world is imminent, and as we keep celebrating days, weeks, and months to spread awareness about this threat to the planet, we wonder how much longer it will take for collective action to take life. World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated every year on the 28th of July to spread awareness about the flora and fauna that face the threat of extinction. To secure a future where people can still enjoy natural resources such...
Plastic-Free July
Recycling is a very well-known and popular concept. Almost everyone on the face of this planet has either heard or read about recycling throughout their lifetime. Despite that, approximately 12.7 million tonnes of plastic annually enter the oceans. In India, approximately 3 kgs of plastic are used by a single person every year, which adds up to 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste a year. Of all sorts of plastics that we use, single-use plastics are the most harmful products for the environment, simply because their usage is limited and they are almost impossible to dispose of, creating trash that...
Cloud Spotting 101
A cloud is a visible mass of tiny liquid droplets, ice crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. These droplets and crystals could be made of water or a variety of different substances. With the monsoons right around the corner, let us see what we can tell about the different clouds that we see throughout our day! You see, we can find clouds almost in the entire homosphere (the lowest part of the Earth’s atmosphere). Terrestrial clouds can be found in the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere, which make up the homosphere. Air...
Van Mahotsav 2022: Why should we worry about planting more trees?
As Margaret Thatcher rightly mentioned, we are not owners of this earth, nor have we inherited it from our forefathers. We are in fact, just as our ancestors were, mere tenants who enjoy life tenancy over here. It is of great importance that we remember this fact, that we do not own this planet, but we owe it. We owe it the care and repair it requires, for the damage that was caused mostly by our activities. In our country, every year, the first week of July is celebrated as Van Mahotsav. Citizens will be planting trees across the country...