Category: Life & Style

Alok Shukla’s lifelong dedication to preventing coal mining in the lush forests of central India was a result of his strong ties to these regions. Shukla was awarded the esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize. His small victories and unwavering determination have characterised his journey.

The 657-square-mile Hasdeo Aranya forest was in imminent danger due to coal mining, putting precious animals and native tribes at risk. Shukla responded with determination and speed. He educated the neighbourhood’s residents about their legal rights and established the Save Hasdeo Aranya Resistance Committee.

Shukla carried out effective efforts to block proposed mines, using community pressure to gain crucial land designations, despite the obstacles provided by a worldwide pandemic. His persistence over a 12-year period resulted in the revocation of 21 coal blocks. However, the struggle continues with the constant problems of restoring ravaged lands and safeguarding vulnerable trees.

Shukla’s recognition with the Goldman Prize serves as a testament to the power of grassroots activism. He is still committed to his goal of inspiring similar movements around the world. Shukla views each tree in Hasdeo Aranya as a symbol of resistance, and his commitment to conserving them highlights environmental protection’s eternal significance in the face of corporate pressures.

India surpassed Japan to become the third-largest generator of solar electricity globally in 2023 as a result of its rapid deployment. Following the global trend of solar energy growth, 5.8% of India’s electricity came from solar energy in 2023, up from 0.5% in 2015.

According to Ember’s report, solar power has outpaced coal as the fastest-growing electricity source globally for the 19th year. In terms of the increase in solar generation worldwide in 2023, India ranked fourth. 75% of this growth came from the top four nations, which are Brazil, the US, China, and the US.

Globally, solar generation in 2023 will be over six times larger than in 2015. According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy is expected to generate 22% of the world’s electricity by 2030.

India needs to move faster towards greener energy sources because the country generates roughly half of its yearly carbon emissions from the production of electricity. As part of its climate change policy, India wants to see 50% of its electricity capacity come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

Leaders from around the world met at COP28 to commit to tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity by 2030, which is essential to keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee made history by becoming the first Indian to grace the Met Gala carpet, showcasing his signature style and Indian heritage. His unforgettable performance highlighted both his brilliance and his commitment to culture.

He looked well put together and elegant in an embroidered cotton duster coat from his Sabyasachi Resort 2024 line, worn with a white shirt and fitted beige trousers. He wore brown loafers, sunglasses, a matching belt, and jewels from his High Jewellery line, which included tourmaline, pearls, emeralds, and diamonds.

The official Sabyasachi Instagram handle captioned the look, “As the galloping horde of mechanisation, modernization, and uniformity march ever closer; it is craft, that embodiment of human touch, tradition, and diversity that will safeguard culture from the passage of time.”

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt attended the festivities while wearing a gorgeous Sabyasachi saree. The outfit included a hand-embroidered train and a blouse studded with pearls and emeralds. Her hair was done in an elegant coiffure and accessorised with jewels from the Bengal Royal collection.

This historic event not only attracted admirers but also brought Sabyasachi’s impact on Bollywood fashion to light. With former celebrities like Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra wearing his creations, Sabyasachi is pushing the boundaries of Indian fashion internationally.

India and its allies aim to regulate tourism in the Antarctic due to growing worries about its impact on the environment. The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Conference (ATCM) and the 26th Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) conference, which are both focused on this issue, will be held in Kochi, Kerala, from May 20 to May 30, at the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ravichandran, emphasised the pressing need for regulation and outlined the difficulties associated with uncontrolled tourism. India suggests more stringent regulations to protect the fragile ecosystem in the area, including the establishment of criteria for travellers to Antarctica.

In order to assist in continuing scientific efforts, India runs two research stations in Antarctica: Maitri and Bharati. The government provides these bases with yearly maintenance funding of about Rs 150–200 crore, which guarantees careful maintenance and garbage disposal.

Since its inception in the 1950s, thousands of people have been to the Antarctic each year as a result of a tourism surge. For the 2022–2023 season, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) released several significant figures.

India and its allies are working to encourage environmentally conscious travel to Antarctica, with a focus on limited access and protection.

On Monday, the government of India announced its decision to permit the export of 14,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Mauritius. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) informed people about this export allowance via a notification through the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL).

Although exports of non-basmati white rice have been prohibited since July 20, 2023, exceptions are granted to some nations with government clearance, mainly to meet their requests for food security. This is done to support domestic supplies. Following the announcement’s protocol, NCEL has allocated 14,000 MT to Mauritius and is in charge of managing it.

Previously, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Guinea-Bissau were among the African countries to which India had authorised exports of non-basmati white rice. Furthermore, this rice variety was approved for sale to Nepal, Cameroon, Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Seychelles, among other nations.

Well-known Indian cooperative societies like the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), also known as AMUL, and the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) support National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) as a multi-state cooperative society.

Britain is embarking on a significant endeavour, investing £200 million to establish Europe’s first high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production facility.

This plant is essential to future nuclear energy initiatives that seek to improve energy security and achieve climate goals. Britain is establishing itself as a pioneer in nuclear energy innovation with a targeted nuclear power capacity of 24 gigawatts by 2050, which would account for a quarter of projected electricity consumption.

By 2031, the HALEU factory in Cheshire should be operational and able to meet both domestic and international demand for HALEU fuel. This action not only encourages supply diversification but also lessens dependency on Russian gasoline, which is particularly important given the geopolitical tensions that have arisen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has declared a competition worth £600 million to create the world’s first economically feasible prototype of a fusion power plant, with the goal of connecting it to the grid by 2040. Fusion energy, which is modelled after the sun’s mechanism, presents a viable way to generate electricity without emitting any emissions and with very little radioactive waste.

These programmes demonstrate Britain’s dedication to developing innovative energy solutions, promoting homegrown knowledge, and aligning with international demands for energy sustainability and security.

Scientists have uncovered Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) as the world’s deepest, reaching 1,380 feet below sea level. This discovery, revealed in Frontiers in Marine Science, is located in Chetumal Bay off the Yucatan Peninsula and surpasses the previous record-holder, the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, by 480 feet.

These incredibly deep Karst formations, which are the result of soluble bedrock dissolving, present a challenge to scientific research and push the bounds of knowledge. Blue holes are vertical marine caves that were left over from glacial discharge during the Ice Age. However, the depth of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole poses a significant challenge.

Reaching the bottom is still difficult because of oxygen depletion and dangerous hydrogen sulphide gas, even with the use of advanced techniques such as echo-sounders and a cutting-edge CTD profile. Initial measurements in 2021 reached only 900 feet, with subsequent expeditions unable to descend further than 1,380 feet.

According to scientific theories, there might be a complex network of caves and tunnels at the bottom. Meanwhile, future expeditions aim to overcome these challenges and delve deeper into this enigmatic abyss.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams was all set for her third space voyage aboard the Boeing Starliner, scheduled for May 7. A technical issue has caused the launch to be delayed; however, no new date has been announced. Williams, born on September 19, 1965, has spent 322 days in space throughout two space missions since 1998. Known for her calm demeanour, she expressed a mix of excitement and readiness for the upcoming mission despite flying in a new spacecraft.

Williams was chosen for NASA’s commercial crew programme, which aims to certify the Starliner for future crew transport to the International Space Station (ISS). She is a former Navy officer with degrees in physical science.

Before departing for Earth on May 15, the mission plan calls for an eight-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS) to undertake multiple tests and experiments. Boeing’s Starliner test flight, lasting approximately 26 hours, is crucial for achieving certification. If successful, Boeing would join SpaceX in offering personnel transport services to and from the International Space Station.

Boeing aims to make a major contribution to NASA’s transportation needs with six scheduled trips over the next six years, using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in addition to the Starliner.

New Zealand’s Antarctic agency recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany’s prestigious Alfred Wegener Institute, marking a significant stride in fostering cooperation in polar science. The foreign minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, sought to strengthen links between polar and marine science institutions by highlighting Antarctica’s growing geostrategic and scientific importance.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place during German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s official visit to New Zealand, highlighting the significance of cooperation between the two countries in polar research.

Following the initial announcement in 2019, New Zealand revised its plans to upgrade its ageing Antarctica base as a result of rising projected costs.

As a result of China’s construction of its fifth research facility in Antarctica in February, Western nations have expressed concern and attention. Concerns have been raised concerning the possible effects on monitoring capacities, specifically concerning the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

As the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Alfred Wegener Institute plays a pivotal role in coordinating the country’s polar research endeavours. In light of the growing interest and activity in Antarctica, the MOU is a step towards improved cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to furthering scientific understanding and tackling the problems associated with the polar regions.

Scientists in Singapore have created a reusable adhesive with strong adhesion to rough surfaces that take inspiration from dried snail mucus and gecko feet. Unlike traditional adhesives, it can support up to 60kg with a palm-sized amount, outperforming gecko feet. Remarkably, it detaches easily when heated, unlike strong adhesives that risk surface damage during removal.

This innovation opens doors for climbing robots and robotic grippers, potentially enabling Spider-Man-like scaling or ceiling clinging for surveys and repairs. Developed by a team at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the adhesive is based on shape-memory polymers, mimicking snail mucus properties. These polymers return to their original shape after external stimuli, like heat.

The adhesive’s versatility overcomes the adhesion paradox on rough surfaces. It strengthens on rough surfaces in a solid state and softens when in a “rubber” state, conforming to surface irregularities. Mimicking gecko feet, it utilises fibrils for enhanced adhesion, with a palm-sized array supporting 60kg.

Moreover, the adhesive’s materials are cost-effective, utilising off-the-shelf E44 epoxy. Praised for its innovative design, it offers impressive adhesion strength and switchability, making it ideal for temporary attachments.