IIT scientists develop material that can harvest water from fog
New Delhi, Oct 8 : Taking a leaf from nature's book, a team from IIT Mandi has developed a material that can harvest water from fog.
Researchers worldwide are working towards developing techniques that can harvest water from unexpected sources, such as fog and mist, to meet the burgeoning demand for water.
"There are several plants in arid and semi-arid regions of the world whose leaves can harvest water from dew and fog. If they can do it, so can we," said Venkata Krishnan, an associate professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
For the study published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, researchers studied the intricate structures on the leaves of an ornamental plant called the Dragon's lily head (Gladiolus dalenii).
The surface patterns on the leaf in micrometre and nanometre scales were evaluated in relation to the water harvesting properties, and the patterns were replicated onto a polymer material.
The team found a 230 per cent enhancement on the fog harvesting performance of the patterned samples, compared to an unpatterned control sample.
Solutions to provide drinking water to India's growing population must not only span policy and behavioural changes but also incorporate scientific and technological innovations inspired by nature, researchers said.
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BJP accuses Sonia Gandhi of crying for terrorists after Batla House encounter
Madhubani: In a recent election rally in Bihar's Madhubani, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda made a startling claim, stating that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had shed tears for terrorists following the Batla House encounter in 2008. During the encounter, Delhi police inspector Mohan Sharma and two terrorists, Atif and Sajid, were killed.
Nadda's remark was in reference to a statement made by Congress leader Salman Khurshid in 2012, where he claimed that Sonia Gandhi had tears in her eyes after seeing images of the Batla House encounter. However, another Congress leader, Digvijaya Singh, refuted Khurshid's claim, stating that Sonia Gandhi did not cry.
Nadda accused the Congress of always standing in support of those who attempt to weaken India, questioning their sympathy towards terrorists. He labeled this alliance as the "arrogant alliance" and questioned whether the people would support them.
This accusation comes amidst a heated political atmosphere where the BJP and Congress are engaged in a war of words over various issues, including allegations of the Congress promising to redistribute wealth among Muslims and implementing religion-based reservations, which the BJP claims goes against the principles of the Indian Constitution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also joined the fray, accusing the Congress of preparing to cut the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to implement reservations based on religion, which he deemed unconstitutional.
