Currency notes carry diseases-A study by IGIB, CSIR

Members of the public were looking for this study since people always have been doubting the potential of the notes and coins to spread disease-causing micro-organisms, carriers of diseases.

Everyone is aware of this serious issue but no quantitative study was made or reported for the information of the public. The scientists at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology should carry out this study in much more detail, including its potential to infect people with the diseases, and come out with some recommendations. 

The scientists found traces of DNA footprints of 78 disease-causing micro-organisms on the notes. Some of the bacteria on the notes can cause dysentery and TB!! What about the coins? It may be worse! (Source: The Indian Express, August 13, 2016).

US has plans to reduce carbon emission by 32% by 2030!

Finally, there is a good news for the environmentalists. Before the forthcoming talks on climate change in Paris, the US has most ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions by 32% by 2030. USA is one of the lost industrialized countries in the world and the largest greenhouse gas emitting nation.  

Carbon dioxide is one of the important greenhouse gas and it is produced while burning coal or gas. Thermal power plants use fussil fuel such as coal or gas to generate electricity. In recent years, China and India contribute significantly to the global warming through industrialization and emission of carbon dioxide.   

The movement worldwide against global warming is looking at USA to lead from the front by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. President Obama’s plans to reduce emissions by 32% by 2030 is praiseworthy. Before the actual climate change talks in Paris, let us wish that the country prepone the deadline for the reduction by 5 years.

One of the serious repercussions of global warming is increase in the sea level and submerging of low-lying coastal areas around the globe. Controlling global warming at this stage is a challenging task to succeed.

The least we all can do is to stop right away the use of fussil fuel for industrial applications. Let us go to cleaner energy sources like wind, solar or nuclear.