Excessive Blue Light Emitted by LED Can Adversely Impact Human Health said AMA

On 14 July 2016, a report released by the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Science and Public Health claims that excessive blue light emitted by light emitting diodes (LED) can adversely impact human health. AMA report looked at the LED street lighting on US roadways. It also adopted guidance for communities on selecting among LED lighting options to minimize potential harmful human and environmental effects. A large amount of blue light emitted by the high-intensity LED lighting appears white to the naked eye but it can create worse night time glare than conventional lighting. Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard. Blue rich LED streetlights that operates at a wavelength adversely suppresses melatonin during night, thus it directly have an impact on drivers.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Attained Criticality

                On 10 July 2016, the second reactor of Kandankulam Nuclear Power Project attained criticality. On commencing the First Approach to Criticality on 8 July 2016 by withdrawing the control rods from the reactor, boron dilution started a few hours later to allow neutron concentration

to go up, which eventually led to the criticality of the reactor. The KKNPP had submitted its reports to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and received the nod for criticality after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change experts inspected the second unit. They submitted their report to Supreme Court. At present, India operates 21 reactors that can generate 5780 MW of electricity besides giving the country its atomic weapons.

What is Criticality?

·         Criticality is a nuclear term that refers to the balance of neutrons in the system.

·         When the neutron population remains constant, this means there is a perfect balance between production rate and loss rate. Therefore, the nuclear system is said to be critical.

·         The criticality of a system can be calculated by comparing the rate at which neutrons are produced to the rate at which they are lost through absorption and leakage out of the reactor core.

Scientists Developed Bio-Ink for 3-D Printing With Stem Cells

                A group of scientists developed a new stem cell containing bio-ink that allows 3D printing of complex living tissues. The new stem cell-containing bio-ink allows 3D printing of Living tissues, known as bio-printing.

Highlights:

•         The bio-ink used contains a natural polymer from seaweed and a sacrificial synthetic polymer used in the medical industry.
•          The seaweed polymer offers structural support when cell nutrients are introduced.
•          The synthetic polymer changes the bio-ink from a liquid to a solid as temperature is raised.
•          The special bio-ink formulation was extruded from a retrofitted bench top 3-D printer as a liquid that transformed to a gel at 37°C. The formulation allows construction of complex living 3-D architectures.
•          Stem cells were differentiated into osteoblasts and chondrocyctes.

Fungi to Recycle Rechargeable Batteries Soon

                Scientists have found a low-cost and environment-friendly method to recycle waste rechargeable lithium-ion batteries – using fungi. Although rechargeable batteries in smartphones, cars and tablets can be charged again and again, they do not last forever. Old batteries often wind up in landfills or incinerators, potentially harming the environment. Now, researchers are turning to fungi to drive and environmentally friendly recycling process to extract cobalt and lithium form tones of waste batteries.