Category: Science & Technology

** Mandya farmer’s quest to preserve agrarian heritage

Bore Gowda has won the Plant Genome Saviour Award

A farmer from Mandya has bagged the Plant Genome Saviour Award in recognition of his efforts to conserve the indigenous variety of paddy and agrarian heritage.

Meet S. Bore Gowda, a farmer from Shivalli in Mandya district, whose journey from a farmer engaged in farming practices that focused on use of chemical fertilizers to that of a rice conservator and seed saver, has won him a fan following.

** CFTRI Scientist Develops New Beverage From Coffee Leaves

As coffee leaves are constantly being produced, growers can harvest them in the off-season if there is demand, according to Pushpa S. Murthy, Principal Scientist (Spice and Flavour Science Department) of CFTRI.

** Mangaluru: Retired principal makes water to flow even when pump is off

People are aware of the pump sets which pump out water when the switch of the pump is on. A pump in Guruvayanakere has been able to pump out water when the pump, once it is set in ON position and then switched off. The water continues to pour out without stopping. This has been happening for the last 12 years.

Retired principal, Govind Bhat Kadappu, residing in Vidyanagar, Guruvayanakere, is the man behind this rare feat. He has been able to transfer water from an open well to his bore well through the siphon method at very low cost continuously. Under the siphon system, water which is started to pump once, continues to pump even when the engine is off. That too, recharging of bore well through this method is very rare.

** Octocoptered: Bengaluru sees its first Covid vaccine delivery using a drone

The NAL’s octocopter can carry a payload of 15 kg, boasts of a hovering endurance of 40 minutes, and can fly at an operational altitude of 500 metres at a maximum speed of 36 km/hour.

 At precisely 9.53 am on Saturday, the staff at Haragadde Public Health Centre (PHC) in Anekal on Bengaluru’s outskirts were pleasantly surprised to see a multi-copter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) land at their premises with 50 vials of Covid-19 vaccines and syringes in a special container from Chandapura PHC, in Bengaluru Urban district about six kilometres from Electronics City. The distance of seven kilometres was covered in 10 minutes, instead of the 40 minutes it would have taken by road.

** Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine programme launched

Aims to reduce mortality among children due to pneumonia

Under the universal immunisation programme, the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) programme was launched in the city on Friday on the occasion of ‘World Pneumonia Day’.

The programme aims to spread awareness and reduce mortality and morbidity among children due to pneumonia.

** Now, a handbook for Covid-19 care

Treatment protocol for Covid-19 patients was constantly evolving through the pandemic, Dr CN Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, said at the release of a ‘Handbook on Complete Covid-19 Care’ recently. 

“This book will be a ready reckoner for clinicians, virologists, immunologists, vaccinologists and postgraduates. The WHO guidelines may not be relevant and we need Indian data as we have our  own phenotype and environment,” Dr Manjunath said, adding that the book must be made available in all critical care units.  In all, 58 doctors of various specialities and health officials, including former Health Commissioner Dr Thrilok Chandra, were present at the release.