The Golden 80s

A report in Bengaluru's Deccan Herald today says that "...Air pollution in Bengaluru dropped by an average 28% during the Covid-19 lockdown".The report cites a study on PM 2.5 levels that decreased during the lockdown as an indicator of air quality improvement. It is not scientific to conclude that a decrease in one air quality indicator (AQI) results in overall air quality improvement or reduction in air pollution. This is because PM2.5 is just one AQI parameter used to measure the air quality level in India. Other pollutant levels need to be tracked to know whether their levels have decreased or not. This include Ozone, oxides of Nitrogen, Sulphur Dioxide, PM 10, and Ammonia.  A report by the Centre for Science and Environment says that Ozone levels saw a spike in many cities that were supposedly clean during the lockdown. The same report states that Bengaluru had an average PM2.5 level of 45% during the lockdown and NOx level have increased by 38%. This furth...

Well known is the heavy metal Mercury's bioaccumulation in fishes and crabs. But a new study by University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, says that Mercury can affect the gene expression in algae found in aquatic ecosystems. The researchers studied the set of all RNA molecules that controls gene expression using molecular biology tools in a species of algae known as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The study says: "...mercury disrupted the metabolism of algae, with numerous genes being deregulated, regardless of whether the concentrations were comparable with those set by European environmental standards." For more information, click here to read the study details.

Delhi, the capital of India, is reeling under an outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya fever. The Delhi chief minister was in Bengaluru for a throat operation and his deputy is reportedly in Finland. All hell has broken loose and there is utter chaos. Another terrorist attack killed 18 soldiers in Uri, bringing Kashmir to the international limelight again. The Indian public wanted immediate retribution across the border, reported the media. The public wanted the government of India to do something, an eye for an eye, to avenge the lost lives. In both the cases, the public belonging to all classes exhorted the government to intervene or perform a proactive role. Whereas in other matters, we often hear arguments that advocate a lesser and lesser government role, regulation and control. While national security and territorial integrity would invite governmental intervention, the outcry for lack of government intervention in areas like health and education illustrate another point. Muc...

From Garden City to Hospital City , said a headline. In an year, Bangalore will get around new 3000 hospital beds, claims the news story. Yes, Bangalore indeed requires lots of hospitals and hospital beds. May be, in a science fiction like scenario, people will even be living in hospitals or medicated glasshouses or skyscrapers in Bangalore. Servants will be replaced by nurses who take care of the permanently ill or disabled citizens in the city. Such a bleak or black scenario is possible because of the following reasons: 1. The city has crossed its carrying capacity and is reaching its breaking capacity. 2. Alarming rise in air pollution because of the arrival of 200-300 (unofficial) vehicles per day on the city's roads and no effort to control the situation. 3. Reckless lifestyle celebrated by people of all ages. Drinking, smoking, doing drugs, and unsafe sex are all fashionable, trendy, and even "normal" in this hyper-America of India. Those who cannot practice...