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- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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Good News

Solar-Powered Device Transforms Contaminated Water into Clean Fuel and Drinking Water!

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have pioneered a groundbreaking, floating, solar-powered device that transforms contaminated water or seawater into both clean hydrogen fuel and drinking water without the need for external power.! This innovation presents a game-changing solution for remote or resource-limited regions. Traditional photocatalytic water-splitting methods for hydrogen production require clear water sources and substantial land for installations. To counter these limitations, the research team sought inspiration from nature's photosynthesis process to devise a solar-powered device that can simultaneously generate clean hydrogen fuel and potable water from polluted water sources. Lead author Chanon Pornrungroj stated that it was challenging for any solar-driven device to split water with untreated water due to potential catalyst contamination or adverse chemical reactions. Annuar, a study co-author, expressed that a device capable of functioning with contaminated water could address two issues simultaneously. He mentioned that such a device could split water to produce clean fuel and generate clean drinking water. The device's design integrates a UV-light-absorbing photocatalyst on an infrared-light-absorbing nanostructured carbon mesh. This innovative setup not only facilitates hydrogen production by splitting water vapor but also replicates the natural process of transpiration, optimizing solar energy utilization. Testing conducted on real-world water sources, including the River Cam and industrial waste, demonstrated the device's robustness, retaining 80% efficiency even in artificial seawater after prolonged use. Researchers credit the device's isolation of the photocatalyst from water contaminants and its floating design for maintaining operational stability. Professor Erwin Reisner, the study's corresponding author, envisions their device as a stepping stone towards a circular economy and sustainable future, emphasizing its potential to tackle environmental issues while addressing global challenges like climate crisis and pollution.

23 Nov 2023
Good News

Revolutionary Clean Fuel: Sun and Science Team Up to Turn CO2 and Plastic Waste into Sustainable Energy

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new method for producing clean fuel by extracting carbon dioxide from the air and plastic waste using solar power. The process involves capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and then using it to synthesize a renewable fuel that can be used in jet engines, gas turbines, and other types of transportation. The researchers used a metal-organic framework (MOF) material that can capture CO2 from the air. The MOF is then exposed to sunlight, which triggers a chemical reaction that converts the CO2 into a liquid fuel. The process also involves using plastic waste as a source of hydrogen, which is added to the CO2 to produce the fuel. The new fuel has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it uses waste plastic and carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The researchers estimate that the fuel could reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fossil fuels. The development of this new clean fuel technology is a major breakthrough in the fight against climate change. It offers a sustainable solution to the world's growing energy needs while reducing the carbon footprint of transportation. The researchers hope that this technology will help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and help to mitigate the effects of climate change.

22 Jun 2023
Good News

Know Who Beat Einstein and Hawking on the Mensa IQ Test!

Yusuf Shah, who is eleven years old, received the highest score attainable on a Mensa intelligence test—162—and is now being acclaimed as a genius. He outperforms physicists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, whose IQs were both considered to be around 160. Mensa, a global organization for people with high IQs, confirmed Shah's score to NBC News and said he "had enormous potential" and finished in the top 2% of the population. Anyone who scores in the 98th percentile is welcome to join the club. Shah's parents urged him to take the test without any prior preparation. Irfan Shah, Shah's father, told the Washington Post that when Shah was 7 years old, he came upon a mathematical phenomenon that baffled him. The family got in touch with a math professor at Cambridge University, who gave Shah a justification for the rule, which has since been known as "Yusuf's Square Rule" at their home. Shah's parents, however, claimed that in addition to developing his aptitudes, they are also teaching him how to cultivate his work ethic and social life. Shah's father told the Post that he still tells him that his dad is still brighter than him. "We take it all in good fun. Even if you have talent, you must put in the most effort”, he added. Yusuf Shah said that it felt very special to have a certificate for him and about him. He also never thought he would be in the news.

28 Nov 2022
Good News

Star Citizens

Historic Milestone: First Indian Recognized at Cambridge University with Building Name

Cambridge University has taken a historic step by naming an entire building after Yusuf Hamied, the chairman of Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla. This prestigious honor marks the first time in the university's 800-year history that a building has been named after an Indian figure. Hamied's contributions to the field of medicine, particularly through Cipla's affordable antiretroviral drugs that have saved the lives of millions of AIDS sufferers in Africa, have earned him this recognition. The grand opening of the newly named "Yusuf Hamied Court" at Christ's College was attended by Lord Simon McDonald, the Master of the College, along with approximately 25 distinguished scientists, primarily chemistry professors. During the ceremony, Hamied shared a touching story about his family's connection to Cambridge University. He recounted how a meeting with Professor Alexander Todd in 1953, where his father expressed his desire for Hamied to study at Cambridge, ultimately shaped his life's path. Hamied pursued his PhD in Chemistry from 1954 to 1960. Standing in front of an esteemed audience at the inauguration of the Yusuf Hamied Court, he expressed his gratitude and reflected on the enduring bond between education and benevolence. The announcement of the Cambridge building being named after Hamied received an overwhelmingly positive response from netizens. Social media users hailed the recognition as well-deserved and applauded Cambridge University for making it a reality. It is worth noting that Cipla's impact extends beyond this honor, as the pharmaceutical company has also played a significant role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamied's family legacy, which includes the establishment of Aligarh Muslim University in India based on the principles of Oxford and Cambridge, further adds to the significance of this momentous occasion. Through this recognition, Cambridge University pays tribute to a remarkable individual whose contributions have touched the lives of countless individuals worldwide. The naming of the Yusuf Hamied Court serves as evidence of his enduring legacy and the values of education, philanthropy, and innovation.

21 May 2023
Star Citizens

An Indian Solves the 2500-Year-Old Impossible and Baffling Panini Code!

Dr. Rishi Rajpopat, an  Indian Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge has discovered a solution to a grammatical problem in Sanskrit that has eluded Sanskrit scholars for 2500 years. In his thesis, "In Panini, We Trust: Discovering the Algorithm for Rule Conflict Resolution in the Astadhyayi, Dr. Rajpopat summarizes the discovery he made by deciphering a rule taught by Panini, considered the father of linguistics. Dr. Rajpopat claims that Panini had a brilliant mind, and he created a machine that was unparalleled in human history. He didn't expect anyone to modify his regulations. He said that the more we tried to tinker with it, the more Panini’s grammar tends to evade us. Now that Dr. Rajpopat has managed to decode the algorithm, Panini's so-called "language machine" can be used correctly. Rajpopat's finding enables the use of Panini's renowned language machine, widely regarded as one of the greatest intellectual achievements in history, to "derive" any Sanskrit word and create millions of grammatically sound terms. Panini's system is designed to function as a machine. Once you enter a word's base and suffix, a step-by-step process should produce grammatically sound words and sentences. Rajpopat's finding has a significant impact because, since the algorithm that powers Panini's language is now known, it may be possible to teach computers how to use it. Dr. Rajpopat revealed that some of the most ancient wisdom of India has been produced in Sanskrit. He believes that the discovery will infuse students in India with confidence, pride, and hope that they too can achieve great things.

17 Dec 2022
Star Citizens

Global News

Guess which is the Cambridge Word of the year 2022? And why?

The Cambridge Dictionary chose “Homer” as the word of the year for 2022, citing Wordle as its source of inspiration. In the first week of May 2022, when the answer for the word game Wordle was “homer”, people searched for it 75,000 times. The term "homer" in the context of the game does not allude to the Greek poet and author or a Simpsons character, but rather to an informal American English term for a baseball "home run." Over 65,000 searches were made on the dictionary website in a single day in 2022, according to Cambridge.  Homer was the Wordle word of the day on  May 5 this year, which is why it saw such a large increase in searches on that day. According to the dictionary website, British and American English use the same word in quite different ways. American English people readily recognized the word "homer" as a colloquial term for a baseball home run when it was the correct answer for the question on May 5’s Wordle. But many players outside of the US were unfamiliar with this term. Numerous players vented their dissatisfaction and frustration on social media, but many also visited the Cambridge Dictionary to learn more, according to the dictionary's blog. Homer was chosen as the Word of the Year 2022 because it "represented not just the enjoyment that so many of our users have found in being playful with language but also the challenges of learning English in an increasingly connected world," revealed the dictionary team.  

21 Nov 2022
Global News

Global Inspirations

Handwritten exams to be a thing of the past

The 800-year-old practice of handwritten exams at UK's prestigious Cambridge University might soon be replaced by laptops or iPads as the university is considering scrapping of handwritten exam papers due to students’ handwriting becoming increasingly illegible. The deterioration in students’ handwriting is attributed to the growing reliance on laptops. The students use laptops even to take down lecture notes.  As part of its "digital education strategy", Cambridge University has launched a consultation on the topic and has already piloted an exam typing scheme in the History and Classics faculties earlier this year.  Dr. Sarah Pearsall, a senior lecturer at Cambridge's History Faculty stated that handwriting is becoming a "lost art". About twenty years ago, students routinely wrote by hand several hours a day -- but now they write virtually nothing by hand except exams. She said that the declining handwriting problem has existed for years and it was becoming very hard for examiners to decipher the illegible handwriting. Many a time, students with illegible writing are forced to return their college during the summer holidays to read their answers aloud in the presence of two university administrators. She appreciated the University’s efforts to reforms its examination practices.  

13 Sep 2017
Global Inspirations

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