Monika Kundu Srivastava

New Delhi, July 9 (India Science Wire): India has a total geographical area of nearly 329 million hectares. The climate varies from the north to the south and east to west. However, in spite of this diversity, little is known about how climate affects the diversity of plants that grow in a particular area.

Water contamination due to dyes is a major cause of worry. A new study says sawdust from teak wood may help treat wastewater containing dyes and make it reusable. 

Earthworms are considered best friends of farmers, acting as engineers in soils. They are helpful in the decomposition of waste, producing biofertilisers.

Gold, the favourite metal of Indian women, is increasingly becoming popular among scientists as well, though for a different reason. A group of Indian researchers has used gold nanoparticles to develop a simple method to detect lead in wastewater.

Heavy metal poisoning is a growing concern in many parts of the country. A new method for removing chromium-6, a highly toxic heavy metal, from waste water has been developed by a group of scientists from India and Ethiopia. They claim it to be low-cost and safe.

Hospital wastewater, which includes drugs, is a major environmental problem. A group of researchers from Belgium and India has developed a novel method of treating wastewater to get rid of such harmful substances from hospital waste.

A low-cost method to remove fluoride from drinking water with specially made teabag-like pouches has been developed by a team of Indian researchers. 

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is a highly contagious and lethal virus especially to the Penaeid shrimp. Death is certain from three to seven days after the attack. It belongs to a new family of viruses known as Nimaviridae.