Page 11 - Updated Spectrum-volume-14-issue-5

2021 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 5 11
2020 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 5 11
Nuclear Energy: Catalyst for Development Can a Mutant Super-enzyme

or Preparation for Ragnarök? Solve Our Plastic Menace?

RAMAY RAJ SINGH science in general, and now energy. It is also the safest to KRITIKA MALHOTRA
nuclear energy seems to be the work with when compared to
“Nuclear energy is one hell appropriate solution to all our other energy production means T h e re a r e n o w m o r e
of a way to boil water” – Albert demands. But do we really need to date. Ronal Reagan once microplastic particles in the
Einstein to take the next leap forward, or said, “All the waste in a year ocean than there are stars in
Throughout history, we humans are we accelerating the second’s from a nuclear power plant our galaxy, and about 8 metric
have always tried to ameliorate hand of the doomsday clock? can be stored under a desk”. tons of plastic finds its way into PETase and MHETase
our lives with evolving knowledge Nuclear energy does have some Fossil fuel-based energy is the ocean annually; this is the ‘holding hands’
of our surroundings and nature. wins under its belt, as a study responsible for dumping hundreds world we live in today.
of giga-tonnes of waste in our
The prospect of unlimited conducted by NASA in 2013 atmosphere, which nuclear A team of researchers led by the need for producing more
free energy for all has always found out that between 1976 energy can help tackle efficiently. Kohei Oda and Kenji Miyamoto plastic from petroleum!
fascinated the greatest minds and 2009, 1.8 million lives Unfortunately, nuclear energy’s in Japan, 2016 first identified the
in the field of physics and were saved because of nuclear bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis, When researchers used their
lethality is beyond everything mutant PETase and MHETase
else. If handled inappropriately, capable of breaking down together, they found it broke
it could wreak havoc on the and consuming the plastic down plastic twice as fast as
regional biodiversity. polyethylene terephthalate PETase alone. But the real gains
(PET) as a sole carbon and
Even if stored/ handled energy source. They can eat came when they synthesized a
correctly, it takes thousands through low-quality plastic link between the two enzymes,
of years to decay enough to be in about 6 weeks, while PET in a way that almost looks like
declared safe, and we simply do takes longer to break down. The they’re holding hands. With
not have the ability to capsule bacterium’s cells adhere to the their powers literally combined,
out the waste for thousands PET surface and secrete PETase they sliced through PET six
of years, away from human which degrades the PET into a times faster than PETase alone.
intervention. Various nuclear heterodimer. To further break The bacteria don’t pull off this
based disasters have shown us down PET, a second enzyme same trick themselves as the
that working with nuclear energy called MHETase is secreted. combined super enzyme is just
is like a balancing game; the MHETase takes the heterodimer too large for their little molecular
moment the weight distribution PETase creates and further machinery to produce.
is disturbed, the whole system cuts it up into its constituents, Scientists have been working
tumbles down. terephthalic acid (TPA) and to eradicate the plastic menace

The question remains whether ethylene glycol. These are the for decades now; from infinitely
nuclear energy is worth the time, building blocks of PET, and recyclable plastic to turning
money and human resources, returning it to this state could plastic bags into fuel – solutions
Presence of human population near nuclear or is it time to pull the plug on mean the same plastic can be are on the way. But will it be too
reactors of a nuclear power plant the project before it is too late? recycled endlessly, eliminating late by the time they’re here?

Mysteries of Cambodian Temples

ADITHYA R great scientific knowledge and
technological advancement
Cambodia is home to which had baffled mainstream
numerous ancient temples historians and archaeologists.
that symbolise the pride More mysteries loom in Baksei
of the country’s glorious Chamkrong Pyramid which is
past. However, the lack almost identical to the Tikal
of archaeological research Temple in Guatemala located
has reduced them to mere 10,000 miles away and hence
tourist attractions. Angkor raises the doubt of whether
Wat is the world’s largest both temples were built by the
religious monument which same builder or that the two
was estimated to be built civilizations were in contact
in 37 years and at least 10 with each other during ancient
million tonnes of rocks were times. Apart from this, The The similarities between the Tikal Temple of Guatemala (Left) and Baksei Chamkrong of Cambodia
used to construct the entire Khmer Empire’s transition from (Right) are evidence of possible contact between two distant civilizations.
temple complex almost Hinduism to Buddhism also
impossible to construct remains in a shroud of mystery. of the 4 headed Brahma on the
within the given time period The quality of work done by towers of the Bayon Temple
while maintaining it’s perfect the immediate successors was have survived the destruction Angkor Wat is the world’s
alignment in the 4 cardinal shoddy which proves that the caused by both man and nature. largest religious monument
directions. The Brahma new alterations were not made The temples highlight the
Temple named ‘Ta Prohm’ by the same craftsmen who superiority of the science behind which was estimated to be
depicts carvings of human designed the carvings of Angkor ancient architecture combined built in 37 years and at least 10
interaction with prehistoric Wat and other magnificent with the dedication of ancient
animals and is proof that ancient temples of Cambodia. builders and craftsmen to achieve million tonnes of rocks
ancient Cambodians possessed Surprisingly, the macro carvings engineering marvels.