Idea & Innovations Archives

Sep52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

A Greener Ghee: Researcher Patents Bioplastic from Dairy Waste

VISAKHAPATNAM – Dr. Rasheeda Khanam, a faculty member at Gitam Deemed to be University, has been granted a patent for an innovative, eco-friendly bioplastic derived from a common dairy industry byproduct: ghee residue. This dark, mass-like substance, typically discarded by dairies, has no practical use and is often dumped in agricultural fields. Dr. Khanam's research transforms this waste into a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic, suitable for various applications. The patented bioplastic is made by blending a ghee residue extract with glycerol to provide flexibility. To enhance its durability and water resistance, she incorporates natural, hydrophobic compounds like beeswax, chitin, and zein protein. The resulting material is a biodegradable and non-toxic film that can be ...

Aug272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IITians Launch RaastaFix, A Citizen First App To Tackle Civic Woes In Gurugram

Environment, Idea & Innovations

Gurugram residents struggling with potholes, garbage heaps or waterlogging may now have a quick fix at hand. A group of IIT graduates has launched RaastaFix, a web-based application that allows people to report civic issues in less than 30 seconds. The app, which went live just five days ago, geo-tags and time-stamps every complaint. Once submitted, the report is automatically forwarded to multiple civic agencies, including the Municipal Corporation, Metropolitan Development Authority, NHAI, PWD, local councillors, MLAs and RWAs ensuring that the right authority gets the update without delays. Simple Process, Fast Results Residents can submit an issue in four easy steps: choose a category, upload photos, allow location detection, and hit submit. The process is designed to be seaml...

Aug272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why the BBNJ Treaty Could Be a Game Changer for the Mediterranean Sea

Environment, Idea & Innovations

The Mediterranean Sea covering less than 1% of the world oceans, holds more than 18% of all known marine species. Yet this ecological jewel faces mounting threats from climate change and overfishing to pollution and overlapping territorial disputes. Experts say the recently adopted UN treaty on ocean biodiversity known as the BBNJ Agreement could be the breakthrough the region urgently needs. A Global Treaty With Local Stakes In June 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiations, the global community adopted the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction,” or the BBNJ Agreement. Hailed as a milestone in ocean governance, the treaty cr...

Jun42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Anti-Smog Guns & AI Cameras in Delhi’s 2025 Air Pollution Mitigation Plan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech

With Delhi air quality once again under global scrutiny, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday rolled out the Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 a bold, tech-powered initiative to combat the capital’s perennial pollution crisis. Under the sweeping measures: ▸ Anti-smog guns are now mandatory for all high-rise commercial structures in Delhi malls, hotels, and office complexes exceeding 3,000 sq metres. ▸ Mist sprayers will be deployed at 13 identified air pollution hotspots across the city. ▸ From 1 November, only BS-VI compliant, electric, and CNG vehicles will be allowed to enter Delhi’s borders. Gupta’s announcement marks one of the most stringent efforts to date in tackling the city's toxic air, especially as Delhi braces for yet another hazardous winter season. AI Cam...

Jun22025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

AI Set to Revolutionize Flood Forecasting After Hurricane Success

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments

Artificial intelligence is reshaping hurricane forecasting, with major breakthroughs already recorded in 2024. Google’s AI model correctly predicted Hurricane Beryl’s landfall in Texas days ahead of traditional systems that anticipated a Mexico strike. Another AI system successfully forecasted Hurricane Francine’s Louisiana impact well before conventional models issued similar warnings. Now, researchers are exploring AI’s potential in a critical new area: predicting flooding caused by hurricanes. At Florida International University (FIU), scientists are developing AI-driven flood models that promise rapid, high-resolution forecasts, potentially transforming emergency responses during storm events. Unlike traditional physics-based systems that simulate water movement through compl...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Which Hurricane Models Can You Trust in 2025?

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech

When a hurricane is brewing in the ocean, where do you turn for the most accurate forecast? With so many computer models out there especially two brand-new ones introduced just last year it can get confusing. But experts still say: trust the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first. Their track forecasts are the most reliable. In the 2024 hurricane season, which was very active, NHC broke accuracy records. Their storm path predictions up to five days in advance beat all other models, nearly every time. Even the best individual models couldn’t outperform NHC or its top three “consensus” models (which are created by blending forecasts from multiple models). The Most Trusted Track Models in 2024 European Model (ECMWF) and GFS Model (USA): These two were the top performers. GFS was b...

May272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earth Core May Be Leaking Gold: Hawaiian Volcano Rocks Reveal Hidden Connection

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments

A new scientific breakthrough suggests Earth’s molten core may be releasing precious metals like gold into the planet’s surface, and the evidence has been found in volcanic rocks from Hawaii. In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany used advanced isotopic analysis to investigate volcanic rocks from Hawaii. These rocks, formed by magma plumes rising from deep inside the Earth, contain unusually high levels of a rare form of ruthenium, a metal more common in the planet’s core than its upper layers. The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions that the Earth’s core is completely sealed off from the rest of the planet. Since the formation of Earth 4.5 billion years ago, scientists believed that over 99.99% of the planet’s g...

May262025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

AI Weather Models Struggle with ‘Gray Swan’ Events, UChicago Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech

Neural networks excel at day-to-day forecasting—but falter when facing rare, extreme weather As the world increasingly relies on artificial intelligence for weather prediction, a new study led by the University of Chicago has uncovered a critical limitation: neural networks fail to anticipate so-called “gray swan” weather events rare but devastating occurrences that may not appear in the historical data used to train these AI systems. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 21, the study reveals that although AI models offer fast and energy efficient forecasts, they struggle to predict unprecedented weather phenomena such as 200-year floods, record-breaking heat waves, or catastrophic hurricanes. What Are Gray Swan Events? Unlike typical day-to-d...

May202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Battery Revolution: A Sodium-Powered Leap Toward Affordable and Green Energy

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

As India accelerates toward an electrified, sustainable future a scientific breakthrough from Bengaluru is positioning the country as a global leader in next-generation energy storage. At the heart of this green revolution lies a humble yet powerful element: sodium. Breaking Free from Lithium: A New Era of Battery Innovation The race to decarbonize transportation, power grids, and off-grid communities has placed enormous pressure on battery technology. While lithium-ion batteries have powered much of the electric age so far, their rising costs, environmental concerns, and supply chain vulnerabilities particularly their dependence on imports from resource-rich regions like China and South America have triggered a global search for alternatives. Now a team of researchers at the ...

Apr282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

AI Revolutionizes Disaster Risk Management as Market Set to Cross US$ 2,150 Billion by 2031

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech

The global market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in disaster risk management is experiencing explosive growth. According to a new report by InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd., the market, valued at US$ 479.5 billion in 2023, is projected to surge to US$ 2,150.1 billion by 2031 growing at an impressive CAGR of 21.3%. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worsened by climate change and rapid urbanization is driving the urgent need for smarter disaster response solutions. AI is playing a transformative role by enabling predictive analytics, early warning systems, real-time risk assessment, and faster recovery optimization. These technologies process massive data sets, from satellite imagery to historical disaster patterns, to predict threats with greater accuracy and impr...