Soil bacteria used to generate electricity

In a case of physics and biology coming together, researchers have successfully created conditions under which bacteria isolated from soil generate usable electricity.
Considering how technology is becoming smaller and smaller, and weighing up the need for devices to be adequately powered, researchers at the U.S. Office of Naval Research have been considering how bacteria can be used as conductors of electricity for small-scale electronic devices.

The genetically modified bacteria have been used to create electrical wires. The conducting wires are on the nano-scale, being a thousand times thinner than human hair. Not only are the bacteria efficient, they provide a relatively ‘green’ source of power. This is because the bacterial nanowires can be linked up to solar energy or other renewables, such as plant waste. In addition, the material of construction is biological and non-toxic (no chemicals are required to produce the nanoelectric components).

The microorganisms used are species of Geobacter. The organism naturally produces nanowires, which take the form of hair-like appendages that protrude from the bacterial cell. In the soil the organism uses the wires to connect with iron oxide and draws on the mineral to support growth.

The level of electricity produce in nature is insufficient to power a device. However, through altering the bacterial genetic make-up, which involves replacing amino acids, electrical conductivity can be boosted.

Through using tryptophan-infused nanowires the electricity produced increased 2000-fold. By packing thousands of bacterial nanowires together, sufficient power can be produced to run a small electronic device. A potential example is the integration of the nanowires with silicon chips.

Commenting on the research, Dr. Linda Chrisey, who works at the Naval Research center, said the research “could lead to the development of new electronic materials to meet the increasing demand for smaller, more powerful computing devices.”

The scientist further added: "Being able to produce extremely thin wires with sustainable materials has enormous potential application as components of electronic devices such as sensors, transistors and capacitors."

The findings have yet to be published in a peer reviewed journal. Digital Journal has covered similar research. In June 2016 we profiled studies performed at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Holy Cross, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Here scientists were using X-ray diffraction to determine the structure of the bacterial hairs. This revealed the hairs to have metallic-like conductivity, which can be utilized for bio-batteries.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/soil-bacteria-used-to-generate-electricity/article/472892#ixzz4IiPc39vz

WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2016

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2016, themed, 'Beyond 2015: People, Planet & Progress', will be among the first international platforms to discuss the new agenda post the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the signing of the Paris Agreement. The attempt will be to initiate discussions on methodologies to be adopted to chalk a path to realise the Goals beyond 2015.

The WSDS has evolved from TERI’s annual flagship event, the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), that bought together a total of 46 heads of state and government, 13 Nobel laureates, ministers from over 60 countries, 1500 business leaders, 1600+ speakers and delegates from across continents over its 15 editions.

The WSDS will attract leadership, talent and expertise to facilitate exchange of knowledge and drawing consensus among the participating individuals and institutions. The Summit will build on the legacy of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, which was an epitome of track 2 diplomacy, providing an enabling atmosphere that encourages people-to-people dialogue; fosters understanding; cooperation and collective action to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

In its future editions, the WSDS will engage with leading policy- makers, corporates, researchers and members of civil society to find and promote solutions for a sustainable future. The 2016 edition of the WSDS will be hosted from October 5-8, 2016 under the broad rubric of 'Beyond 2015: People, Planet & Progress' at the India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

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3rd International Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health

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Hotel polluting Yamuna for 20 years: Delhi pollution control authority

The hotel has not installed any effluent treatment plant and is discharging effluent in river Yamuna, the authority told the High Court

Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) today claimed before Delhi High Court that a city hotel has been polluting the environment by discharging effluents into river Yamuna for the last two decades.

DPCC made the claim before a bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal which was hearing a plea of Krishna Continental Limited that runs a hotel since 1993 challenging a single judge order dismissing its plea seeking refund of around Rs. 40 lakh from the committee.

“They (hotel) have not installed any effluent treatment plant and are discharging effluent in river Yamuna for past 20 years. Environment is polluted by discharge of effluent in the river. This is a serious issue,” DPCC’s lawyer told the bench.

The lawyer appearing for the firm told the court that DPCC was not competent to impose such levy on it. He also contended that they have been paying all taxes and imposition of such a levy on them was “illegal and bad in law”.

The bench, after hearing the submissions, reserved its verdict on the plea. “We will consider this and pass an order,” it said.

A single judge bench of High Court had earlier dismissed the plea of the firm seeking refund from DPCC saying that the company’s hotel had been polluting the city for last 20 years.

The court had noted that the firm had not taken any consent to establish or operate the hotel and a “very important and salutary provision” of environmental law has not been complied with by them for nearly 20 years.

The petitioner had earlier told the court that in April 2013, it was served with show cause notices under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention Control of Pollution) Act 1981 in which “serious deficiencies” were pointed out.

It had said that in June 2013, they received a modified direction to install adequate effluent treatment plant and was also asked to submit an application for consent.

The firm had said that “under the threat of imminent closure and penal actions”, it filed an application in August 2013 with a demand draft of Rs. 41 lakh as condonation fee with the DPCC “under protest seeking consent to operate.”

It claimed that as per the previous fee structure, it was liable to pay Rs. 46,000 only and the DPCC was not authorised to levy penalty in the garb of condonation fee retrospectively at an exorbitant rate of Rs. two lakh per annum from the date the hotel was established.

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Source - http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/hotel-polluting-yamuna-for-20-years-delhi-pollution-control-authority/article8994826.ece

NGT bans dumping of waste near school, issues notice to Municipal corporation

The plea also said that due to mismanagement of dumping waste, the roads get covered with solid waste resulting into traffic.

The National Green tribunal took exception to unplanned dumping of municipal solid waste. (File)

A plea alleging that reckless dumping of garbage and municipal solid waste near a school in East Delhi was causing health hazard to the children has prompted the National Green Tribunal to retrain authorities from throwing any waste in front of the school.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and sought its reply in two weeks on a plea filed by a former scientist.

“In the meanwhile we restrain the EDMC or any other person from throwing municipal solid waste or any other kind of waste in front of the school in question and the Corporation should also take all steps to remove the waste that has been dumped in front of the school gate,” the bench also comprising justices M S Nambiar and Raghuvendra S Rathore said.

The tribunal also took exception to unplanned dumping of municipal solid waste and said that school children were suffering due to the mismanagement of the Corporation.

The matter is now listed for next hearing on September 23. The green panel was hearing a plea filed by retired scientist C V Singh seeking directions to “collect, segregate, dispose and transport” the solid waste of the dump sites as per the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Singh, in his plea filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, said that while passing through Indraprastha Extension in Delhi, he observed that two ‘dhalaos’ (garbage collection points) are situated at the gate of a government school in West Vinod Nagar and near Mohammad Chowk, Vinod Nagar respectively.

“A vegetable market also assembles near the said school on a daily basis and the residue vegetables cause a lot of intense foul smell around the said area…It is respectfully submitted that natural process of decomposition of an organic matter in an unmanaged form leads to intense foul smell resulting into various critical diseases.

“Due to mismanagement and littering of solid waste dumped at dhalao no 1, the adjacent road gets automatically covered with solid waste resulting into traffic congestion leading to vehicular pollution,” the plea said.

Source - http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ngt-bans-dumping-of-waste-near-school-issues-notice-to-municipal-corporation-2978707/

Environmental Science in BSc Each Year

Dear Friends (Environmental Education)
In compliance of orders of Apex Court and State Government of Haryana, Universities located in Haryana are preparing/ finalising syllabus of compulsory Env. education for teaching in each semester (for 6 semesters)/ each year (for 3 years) of all UG courses. 
Next hearing is scheduled in September in Hon'ble Apex Court, so that community could be educate properly about the env. protection & conservation.