Serving Community and Helping Environment using Technology

Since her arrival at Princeton, junior Ishani Sud has made a difference by thinking inside the box. Not just any box, but rather a solar-powered oven she designed her freshman year with classmate Lauren Wang, under the guidance of Wole Soboyejo, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Powered by the sun’s energy and constructed with locally available materials, the ovens can be built and used in developing nations, thereby allowing advancement while preserving the environment and local economies.
Because they are powered by the sun’s energy, the ovens could slow deforestation that results from harvesting wood for cooking fires.


Ishani Sud has combined her interests in engineering and outreach to implement a solar oven project in Africa. The ovens, which she designed with classmate Lauren Wang, are constructed with locally available materials. Sud spent last summer in Kenya continuing previous work on the project and in Tanzania launching a similar program at a school for indigenous people.
Many factors led to Sud’s passion for science and community activism. The daughter of an environmental engineer and a geneticist, she was moved by the extreme poverty she encountered on childhood trips to her parents’ native India.
“This was a nice experience because it gave me a chance to learn about the community, give back, manage a project and learn about the actual science and research that goes into it,” Sud said.

Sud, is now organizing a group of students to research and design ceramic water filters built with basic materials, such as clay and plant matter.
“I want to be able to make a real difference in whatever community I’m working with or serving,” Sud says.

My Latest Published Book

Scientists from all over the world are busy exploring the origin of this universe. As a part of their exploration, scientists are carrying out the biggest ever experiment at Geneva, using a 27 km long path of huge machine, named, Large Hydron Colloider.
What is this huge machine? What will be the outcome of the experiment? Will it be useful for human being?How many days are required to complete the series of experiments? Which scientific information is expected to get from this experiment?
All these questions are answered in my Latest published book, "Big Bang cha prayog".

Be proud to be an Indian!

Indian scientists flying a giant balloon experiment have announced the discovery of three new species of bacteria from the stratosphere.
In all, 12 bacterial and six fungal colonies were detected, nine of which, based on gene sequencing, showed greater than 98 percent similarity with reported known species on earth. Three bacterial colonies, however, represented totally new species. All three boast significantly higher UV resistance compared to their nearest phylogenetic neighbors on Earth.
The experiment was conducted using a balloon that measures 26.7 million cubic feet (756,059 cubic meters) carrying 1,000 pounds (459 kg) of scientific payload soaked in liquid Neon. It was flown from the National Balloon Facility in Hyderabad, operated by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
An onboard cryosampler contained sixteen evacuated and sterilized stainless steel probes. Throughout the flight, the probes remained immersed in liquid Neon to create a cryopump effect. The cylinders, after collecting air samples from different heights ranging from 20 km to 41 km (12 to 25 miles) above the Earth's surface, were parachuted down and retrieved. The samples were analyzed by scientists at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad as well as the National Center for Cell Science in Pune for independent confirmation.
One of the new species has been named as Janibacter hoylei, after the astrophysicist Fred Hoyle, the second as Bacillus isronensis recognizing the contribution of ISRO in the balloon experiments which led to its discovery, and the third as Bacillus aryabhata after India’s celebrated ancient astronomer Aryabhata (also the name of ISRO's first satellite).
The researchers have pointed out in a press release that precautionary measures and controls operating in the experiment inspire confidence that the new species were picked up in the stratosphere.
While the present study does not conclusively establish the extra-terrestrial origin of microorganisms, it does provide positive encouragement to continue the work in our quest to explore the origin of life.
This was the second such experiment conducted by ISRO, with the first one in 2001. Even though the first experiment had yielded positive results, the researchers decided to repeat the experiment while exercising extra care to ensure that it was totally free from any terrestrial contamination.

Nanotechnology - an enormous promise!

If you have heard about nanotechnology at all, you may be aware of its science-fiction-sounding hype. Proponents picture a future in which tiny bots would magically repair tissue to prolong our life span. On the dark side is the disturbing vision of “gray goo,” where self-replicating nano-devices destroy the planet. The reality of the burgeoning field of nanotech, however, is hardly less startling in its transformative potential. Some have proclaimed it “the next industrial revolution.”
“Nanotechnology” broadly applies to control of materials and components only a few billionths of a meter in size. Nanotechnology covers many areas of research dealing with objects that are measured in nanometers. A nanometer (nm) is a billionth of a meter, or a millionth of a millimeter. Already manufacturers sell several hundred products that use nanotech, mainly skin lotions. Next up are advances in biotechnology and electronics—and a merging of the two.
Consider, for instance, molecular building blocks called bis-amino acids, which chemists string together into protein-like structures. Applications include medicines, enzymes for catalyzing reactions, sensors, nano scale valves and computer storage devices. Other researchers are using natural molecular machines to process information: they receive input from other biological molecules and output a tangible result, such as a signal or a therapeutic drug.
Nano science advancements are pushing traditional electronics in new directions as well. With nano technology it is possible to have sensors, solar cells, electronic paper and bendable touch screens. Imagine a morning “paper” with headlines that change as news breaks.
Nanogears (as shown in fig. below) no more than a nanometer wide could be used to construct a matter compiler, which could be fed raw material to arrange atoms and build a macro-scale structure.

As televisions, airplanes and computers revolutionized the world in the last century, scientists claim that nanotechnology will have an even more profound effect on the next century. The nano regime offers enormous promise indeed.
- Hemant Lagvankar

Be careful for Happy Holi!

Busy making wild plans to smear and drench your friends with vibrant colours this Holi? If yes, be careful! The fun can result into unwanted skin disorders!
The colours available in the market contain chemicals and other toxic substances such as Copper sulphate, Rhodamine, Aluminium bromide, Methyl violet, Crystal violet, etc. The artificial colours also contain industrial dyes, like those which are used for dyeing our cloths. These chemicals can cause serious harm to our skin. Skin disorders such as discoloration, contract dermatitis, abrasion, irritation, itching, dryness, rashes etc. are common after Holi.
Holi was traditionally played by making colours from flowers blooming at this season and the natural extracts from seasonal herbs. These natural colours also had therapeutic value and were beneficial for skin and health.
Friends, 'old is gold'! Insist natural colours which are skin friendly and eco-friendly. Natural colours are cheap and can be made at home. These colours can be prepared from leafy vegetables like palak or vegetables like red beet root.

Few Important Tips :

1. Hair become brittle and extremely dry if artificial colours remain unwashed in it. Therefore, apply a nice layer of oil to your hair before playing Holi and protect it with a cap or hanky.
2. If some iritation occurs then immediately wash the skin and apply suitable skin lotion.
3. Avoid using kerosene, petrol and spirit to remove stains, as they will further dry the skin.

Its better to play this festival of colours with eco-friendly Natural Colours and make these moments Safe and Beautiful!

Please send your querries related to science and technology and I will answer your querries, through this blog.
Send questions to :
hemantlagvankar@gmail.com
hemant_lagvankar@rediffmail.com