Malsawm

This Diwali with Covid 19

November 12, 2020November 12, 2020 Malsawm

This Diwali we maybe excited to light up every street, wear our best clothes, eat delicious sweets, but are we ready for possible 2nd wave of covid 19?

Diwali is the festival where numerous people burst firecrackers all around our country.

After bursting, it causes an ongoing debate of every year called air pollution.The air pollutants carrying toxic substances, hang around in the air for hours and days.

Delhi air pollution ( sources: livemint.com)

They enter inside our respiratory tract causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma attack and heart attack.

Not only it pollutes the air, these toxic particles and waste of firecrackers enter the soil, transferring harmful substances and eventually Spoiling the soil.

Then how could covid 19 is involve with this Diwali?

We maybe getting used to this pandemic but don’t forget, lockdown is over, but not covid 19.

This virus can only be spread through direct contact of droplets from infected person. If these droplets get in touch with air pollutants hanging in the air, it may cause the spread of coronavirus. Specially for those dealing with heart and lung problems, air pollutants carrying coronavirus would be harmful for them.

We all want to celebrate Diwali normally like every other year, but this time is different. This doesn’t mean we should stop celebrating the festival; It means this Diwali we have to be more careful and keep following the safety guidelines such as wearing mask and washing our hands properly.

Stay safe and have a safe Diwali!

Microplastics are complicated

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020 Malsawm

Plastics was invented to ease our daily need. They are our friends but when they are crushed, broken into tiny pieces, they are known as Microplastics.

They are so small, with only 5mm length, they enter into the body of aquatic animals and these aquatic animals are consumed by us: Humans.

Microplastics are not only found in oceans, they are everywhere, as dust particles, part of your food, part of cosmetics and part of us. Not only we are consuming them, we are inhaling them through our nose; letting them inside our lungs causing various health problems.

They are transformed into tiny form due to weathering of larger plastics caused by sunlight or wave action.

They consist of carbon and hydrogen atom, chemicals such as phthalates, Polybrominted diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) and other chemicals after entering the environment

Banning plastics can reduce the affect but drives another exploitation of natural resources such as cutting trees for paper product. On the other hand, if we keep using plastics, we are risking our lives and our environment.

Banning plastics made us use plant products

Solution for such cause is complicated. We choose either of them or invent a new substance or organism, but what are the chances of the new substance will only have positive aspects?

Therefore Microplastics has become one of the major concern for the scientists.

Signing off -Malsawm

COVID 19 Truth & Lies

May 31, 2020 Malsawm

Hello readers! This pandemic situation is the worldwide most trending topic than any keeping up with Kardashian updates or any TikTok videos you maybe creating right now. No offense, but apparently COVID 19 news is the only common notification blinking in yours and Christiano Ronaldo’s phone.

In this era of light-speed communication, we are linked to one another, even though we are staying indoors has been strongly proved. This has a positive as well as a negative impact on our society.

Apparently social media has become the source of FAKE NEWS spreader, which is why instead of living under the rock we better try to search a reliable source such as, who.int, cdc.gov and don’t just depend on your “WHATSAPP” Forwarded and shared messages.

Here are some of the facts which needed to be cleared:

1.Use of sanitizer:

CDC (center for disease control and prevention) have recommended washing your hands with soap and water wherever possible. Why? Because it removes all types of germs( bacteria, viruses, fungi), then what about sanitizer? They do remove the germs but NOT ALL TYPE OF GERMS but if you use it properly, it does work. So try to use soap and water as much as possible otherwise if not available, use sanitizer.

Another important point is that sanitizers are poisonous for consumption therefore, let it dry after rubbing it into your hand.

2. Symptoms of COVID 19: this virus is affecting different people in different ways. Some people do show the symptoms and some do not. This means even if they don’t have a fever or cough and sore throat, they might be coronavirus positive. Therefore we are all suggested to maintain the social distance of 6 ft apart.

3. Arogyasetu app: this app was created to determine the risk of one has been near the coronavirus infected person, with the help of your GPS and Bluetooth but don’t get confused about the fact that they don’t detect the virus-positive person. They can only inform you about the person who has registered himself/herself in the app by scanning the database. For the detection of a virus-infected person, they have to go through multiple tests.

4. Cure: there’s been much circulation of messages about using this and that in this amount can kill the virus is all FALSE! WRONG ❌. There is no cure for the virus infection till now. Don’t worry, many talented scientists are working on it. But Yes, there are some tips useful for boosting your immune system such as drinking ginger mix with lukewarm water. Remember, they don’t kill the virus, it’s not a cure, it’s prevention.

So please try to follow all the guidelines properly and educate others for their safety.

If there are any other facts that needed to be cleared, please let me know in the comments section.

Signing off

-Mals

Scientist aka Detective

July 9, 2019 Malsawm

A work of a researcher is finding answers to a question. Basically it’s about finding the truth behind the maze. Job of a scientist is not less than as of a detective finding answers to catch the criminal. A detective tries to solve the puzzle by the given clues left by the criminal. Similarly a researcher/scientist solve the given question asked by the given protocol left by another researcher.

Recently i was asked to solve one case of tea plant.

It was contaminated by our crime suspect “fungus”. So I studied the plant bark where it got contaminated under the microscope. It shows the image of fungus but it was not crystal clear to approve.

I went to the higher authority to help me get a better picture. We found out it was indeed a fungus but an endophyte, which means the fungus we are suspecting was in good terms with the tea plant. Now who to blame for the crime.

My friend examined it and she found out, it’s a Bacteria. So the bacteria was guilty. Case closed.

A scientist/ a researcher have a job just like any detective which is why science is vast and interesting. Science is everywhere.

With regards

-Mals

Negative to Positive value

June 15, 2019 Malsawm

Dear readers

Do you remember the first time you attempted any experiment? I do and i failed.

Reading the procedure may seem a piece of cake. Performing the experiment is the real deal.

We all want a postive result at once. We hope that we will get a positive and a correct outcome in our first attempt. Some are lucky enough and some are unlucky like me who get to perform more than twice.

In a research world, LUCK plays an important role. I know i don’t sound practical but believe it or not, this is true.

According to Research methodology while analysing a result, no matter you get negative or positive result, don’t throw your data because the greatest discoveries are based on a mistake or you can say – studying the negative result which eventually turn out to be correct.

Irrespective of how many times you have to repeat the experiment, remember the fact that, the more you make mistakes, the more you know different impossible ways. and like Albert Eistein quoted:

***“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”***

So go ahead and make a mistake. The most important key in the field of research to discover something new and the most vital key to live a life is making a mistake or getting a negative value

with regards

–mals

WELCOME !

June 5, 2019August 3, 2020 Malsawm

Writing is my hobby and its the only means of expressing myself. On the other hand i am student of biotechnology, so i decided to sum up my passion and love into this blog ” Mal’s world- fun with science”.

About me

I am almost 24 years old, currently persuing my masters in Biotechnology. I belong to the north eastern states of India – MIZORAM, but born and raised almost around the whole country.

What is this blog about ?

This definitely consist of articles related to science through my perspective. My journals and research projects and all other experiences during my studies and showing you science in a different way.

and i hope you guys like it.

with regards,

-mals