Washington, Jun 15 : Guess how fast can evolution take place? In less than 10 years, at least in fish, according to a new study.
In their study, researchers at California University introduced guppies (small fresh-water fish) from Yarra River, Trinidad, into the nearby Damier River, in a section above a barrier waterfall that excluded all predators.
Eight years later, they found that the guppies in the low-predation environment above the barrier waterfall had adapted to their new environment by producing larger and fewer offspring with each reproductive cycle.
However, no such adaptation was seen in the guppies which colonised the high-predation environment below barrier waterfall.
"High-predation females invest more resources into current reproduction because a high rate of mortality, driven by predators, means these females may not get another chance to reproduce.
"Low-predation females, on the other hand, produce larger embryos because the larger babies are more competitive in the resource-limited environments typical of low-predation sites.
"Moreover, low-predation females produce fewer embryos not only because they have larger embryos but also because they invest fewer resources in current reproduction," lead researcher Swanne Gordon said. Z
1:52 AM
12:15 AM
London, Jun 15 : Scientists have claimed that a ultrasmall bacterium which has been brought back to life after being recovered from the Greenland ice sheet, could resemble extraterrestrial life.
An international team coaxed the Herminiimonas glaciei bug back to life after it spent 120,000 years buried three kms deep in the Greenland ice sheet, a major finding it claims can resemble microbes that have evolved in ice on other planets.
The bug consists of rods just 0.9 micrometres long and 0.4 micrometres in diameter, about 10 to 50 times smaller than the wellknown bacterium, Escherichia coli.
"What's unique is that it's so small, and seems to survive on so few nutrients," the 'New Scientist' quoted Jennifer Loveland-Curtze of Pennsylvania State University, who led the team, as saying.
According to the scientists, because of its tiny dimensions, the bug can survive in minute veins in the ice, scavenging sparse nutrients that were buried along with the ice. It also has extensive tail-like flagella to help it manoeuvre through the veins to find food.
"Along with the snow, you get dust, bacterial cells, fungal spores, plant spores, minerals and other organic debris. So we postulate that it lives in these microniches in the ice," Loveland-Curtze said.
An international team coaxed the Herminiimonas glaciei bug back to life after it spent 120,000 years buried three kms deep in the Greenland ice sheet, a major finding it claims can resemble microbes that have evolved in ice on other planets.
The bug consists of rods just 0.9 micrometres long and 0.4 micrometres in diameter, about 10 to 50 times smaller than the wellknown bacterium, Escherichia coli.
"What's unique is that it's so small, and seems to survive on so few nutrients," the 'New Scientist' quoted Jennifer Loveland-Curtze of Pennsylvania State University, who led the team, as saying.
According to the scientists, because of its tiny dimensions, the bug can survive in minute veins in the ice, scavenging sparse nutrients that were buried along with the ice. It also has extensive tail-like flagella to help it manoeuvre through the veins to find food.
"Along with the snow, you get dust, bacterial cells, fungal spores, plant spores, minerals and other organic debris. So we postulate that it lives in these microniches in the ice," Loveland-Curtze said.
12:15 AM
Cock-fight thriving in Aizawl
planetInfo
Aizawl, June 15 : Cock-fight is becoming increasingly popular in Aizawl and its outskirts, much to the dislike of animal rights activists.
The fights are usually held on Saturdays near the helipad in the Zemabawk locality and at a garden at nearby Durtlang village on Sundays.
A person successfully betting on a winning cock earns double the amount of the stake, provided the owner of the cock allows other people to bet their money. When people from Kolkata and other places visit Aizawl for the purpose, the stakes are higher and so are the profits.
Most of the fighter cocks available in Mizoram are imported from Myanmar where they are known as either 'Asil' or 'Vang'.
Chhuana, a cock fight enthusiast, says, "Importing a 'she-Vang' from Myanmar costs Rs 10,000 including taxes paid to the military authorities and insurgent groups in the border areas, while a mixed breed in Aizawl is available at half the price." However the real 'McCoy', he admits, is any day better than the mixed-breeds in fighting skill.
There is even a cock fighting club in one of the localities of Aizawl, a local journalist, who did a study on cock fighting, says.
The fights are usually held on Saturdays near the helipad in the Zemabawk locality and at a garden at nearby Durtlang village on Sundays.
A person successfully betting on a winning cock earns double the amount of the stake, provided the owner of the cock allows other people to bet their money. When people from Kolkata and other places visit Aizawl for the purpose, the stakes are higher and so are the profits.
Most of the fighter cocks available in Mizoram are imported from Myanmar where they are known as either 'Asil' or 'Vang'.
Chhuana, a cock fight enthusiast, says, "Importing a 'she-Vang' from Myanmar costs Rs 10,000 including taxes paid to the military authorities and insurgent groups in the border areas, while a mixed breed in Aizawl is available at half the price." However the real 'McCoy', he admits, is any day better than the mixed-breeds in fighting skill.
There is even a cock fighting club in one of the localities of Aizawl, a local journalist, who did a study on cock fighting, says.
11:49 PM
School kids to learn water conservation tips
planetInfo
New Delhi, June 15 : Catch them young seems to be the mantra of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which is now distributing CDs in schools to teach students some easy tips on how to save water.
The CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, which conceptualised the programme, expects to train more than four lakh children annually in water conservation methods.
Titled 'Presentation for School Children on Water Awareness and Conservation', the CD is prepared by a Hyderabad-based environmental institute.
"We are going to distribute an educational kit in the form of CD which has been prepared by water experts, psychologists and school teachers," S Raghupathy, Senior Director of CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, told PTI.
The content was prepared by the experts who visited 50 schools in Hyderabad for feedback from children, teachers and parents, Raghupathy said.
"Around 1,000 industries will be involved in creating awareness about water conservation and with the help of this kit we are expecting to train more than four lakh children in one year," he said.
The kit, which also includes display stickers and labels, will encourage the children about water conservation and explain them about various aspects of water management through play-way method.
The CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, which conceptualised the programme, expects to train more than four lakh children annually in water conservation methods.
Titled 'Presentation for School Children on Water Awareness and Conservation', the CD is prepared by a Hyderabad-based environmental institute.
"We are going to distribute an educational kit in the form of CD which has been prepared by water experts, psychologists and school teachers," S Raghupathy, Senior Director of CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, told PTI.
The content was prepared by the experts who visited 50 schools in Hyderabad for feedback from children, teachers and parents, Raghupathy said.
"Around 1,000 industries will be involved in creating awareness about water conservation and with the help of this kit we are expecting to train more than four lakh children in one year," he said.
The kit, which also includes display stickers and labels, will encourage the children about water conservation and explain them about various aspects of water management through play-way method.
10:43 PM
Railways using scrap to make wheels
planetInfo
New Delhi, June 15 : The huge quantity of scrap generated by Railways is now making way to manufacturing units for production of wheels, thanks to the innovation brought about in this field.
Senior Railway Board officials said the Railway Wagon Factory in Bangalore has made a major headway in this regard using about 1.2 lakh ton of scrap metals for rolling out wheels.
"Scrap will also be used at the Chhapra Wheel Plant," they said.
The breakthrough came after the Bangalore plant reviewed the scrap, which mostly comprise worn out rail tracks, and made improvements in their metallurgy.
Railways also stand to save revenue with the in-house utilisation of scrap, officials said.
In fact, in-house utilisation of scrap was first recommended by a high-level committee, after which a study in re-utilising the scrap was taken up.
Interestingly, the breakthrough in utilising scrap comes at a time when the Railways have achieved the highest ever sales earning by selling scrap in the last financial year.
Railways earned Rs 3,005 crore by selling scrap, which is 9.8 per cent higher than the sales of previous years, officials said.
Senior Railway Board officials said the Railway Wagon Factory in Bangalore has made a major headway in this regard using about 1.2 lakh ton of scrap metals for rolling out wheels.
"Scrap will also be used at the Chhapra Wheel Plant," they said.
The breakthrough came after the Bangalore plant reviewed the scrap, which mostly comprise worn out rail tracks, and made improvements in their metallurgy.
Railways also stand to save revenue with the in-house utilisation of scrap, officials said.
In fact, in-house utilisation of scrap was first recommended by a high-level committee, after which a study in re-utilising the scrap was taken up.
Interestingly, the breakthrough in utilising scrap comes at a time when the Railways have achieved the highest ever sales earning by selling scrap in the last financial year.
Railways earned Rs 3,005 crore by selling scrap, which is 9.8 per cent higher than the sales of previous years, officials said.