The scheme comes under the Centre's Heritage Mason programme. Rajasthan was chosen as a pilot State for the scheme in view of its rich architectural heritage.
Rajasthan government is raising a new class of masons to help conserve the State's rich architectural heritage.
Under the programme, the government has started training youths on indigenous building practices, arts and crafts, traditional structures and knowledge systems, with an emphasis on preservation of heritage architecture.
The institution promotes construction practices based on adaptive reuse of traditional technology blended with modern techniques.
Stereolithography
Scientists have developed a novel way to 3D-print objects using glass.
Researchers mixed nanoparticles of high-purity quartz glass and a small quantity of liquid polymer and allowed the mixture to be cured by light at specific points — by means of stereolithography.
Stereolithography is a form of 3D-printing technology used for creating models, prototypes, patterns and production parts in a layer by layer fashion using photopolymerisation.
Photopolymerisation is a process by which light causes chains of molecules to link, forming polymers.
A variety of 3D-printing techniques available so far have been used on polymers or metals, but rarely on glass.
Scientists have developed a new method to 3D-print objects using glass, an advance that could be used to make very small optical components for complex computers.
The 3D-printed glass can be used for many applications, including data technology.
Vitamin C
During times of stress or hostile conditions, such as increased temperature and presence of antibiotics, bacteria tend to come together and form a biofilm to protect themselves.
The stress response pathway is crucial for bacteria to survive during hostile conditions. So blocking this pathway is a sure way of killing the bacteria.
New study at IISc has found the molecular mechanism by which vitamin C impedes the formation of biofilm and even kills Mycobacterium smegmatis, a non-pathogenic bacterium t hat belongs to the same genus as the TB-causing mycobacteria.
Other uses of Vitamin C: Boosts and strengthens immunity. It speeds-up recovery from tuberculosis and impedes the TB causing bacteria from causing disease, and even kill the bacteria in culture at high concentration.
Biological sensors
Migratory birds have biological sensors that can sense the earth’s magnetic field, and guide them in their long journeys spanning continents.
One might, mistakenly assume that these sensors would be located in the brain. Contrarily, they are located in the eyes, more specifically, in the right eye.
Birds’ biological compass is due to the interplay of chemical reactions, electron spins and the magnetic fields present.
Thus, understanding the avian compass is a lesson in quantum biology. This may be of use, one day, in engineering quantum computers.
