Content:

1. A 24-million-year-old secret unearthed by the discovery of fossil leaves, found to be familiar in the Makum Coalfield of Assam
2. A simplified method to synthesize nano-cups that can blaze the cancer with heat

A 24-million-year-old secret unearthed by the discovery of fossil leaves, found to be familiar in the Makum Coalfield of Assam

“This fossil discovery is a window into the past that helps us understand the future.” — Dr. Harshita Bhatia

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology , Research)

Key Discovery

• Fossil leaves found in Makum Coalfield, Assam.
• Dated to ~24–23 million years (Late Oligocene).
• Identified as genus Nothopegia.
• Now grows only in the Western Ghats.

Methodology

• Study by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow.
• Techniques used:
  • Herbarium comparison
  • Cluster analysis
  • CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program)

Scientific Insights

• Oldest fossil of Nothopegia found.
• Northeast India was once warm and humid.
• Similar to today’s Western Ghats.
• Proves tropical past of the region.

Climatic and Geological Changes

• Himalayan uplift changed the climate.
• Northeast became cooler and drier.
• Nothopegia vanished from the region.
• Survived in stable Western Ghats.

Multidisciplinary Approach

• Used paleobotany, systematics, and climate modeling.
• Reconstructed ancient environments.
• Showed plant migration and survival patterns.

Broader Implications

• Extinction and migration are natural, long-term processes.
• But today’s changes are faster, human-driven.
• Helps predict future plant responses.
• Warns of biodiversity loss under climate stress.

Conservation Message

• Western Ghats are a refuge for ancient species.
• Need to protect such biodiversity hotspots.
• Learning from the past can guide future action.

A simplified method to synthesize nano-cups that can blaze the cancer with heat

Key Discovery

• One-step synthesis of nano-cup shaped PEGylated semi-shells (SS).
• Designed for photothermal therapy (PTT) in cancer treatment.
• Offers minimally invasive tumour ablation using light-based heat.

Relevance : GS 2(Health ) ,GS 3(Technology)

Methodology

• Developed by INST Mohali, with ACTREC & IIT Bombay.
• Published in Communication Chemistry (Nature group).
• Uses room-temperature colloidal synthesis.
• Template: ZIF-8 (MOF) + ascorbic acid for mild etching.

Technical Innovation

• No toxic precursors, no high heat, or HF acid needed.
• Gold nanoparticles grow in place of etched ZIF-8.
• SS show strong NIR light absorption – ideal for PTT.
• Method is equipment-light, scalable, and eco-friendly.

Surface PEGylation Benefits

• Enhances blood compatibility, cryo-preservation, and stability.
• Ensures longer shelf life and safe injection.
• Increases circulation time and targeting ability.

Efficacy & Results

• Tested in vitro and in vivo (mice models).
• Effectively destroyed metastatic breast tumours.
• Boosted survival rate, reduced relapse risk.
• Non-toxic and high photothermal efficiency.

Advantages Over Traditional Methods

• Simpler, faster, and non-toxic synthesis.
• Better tumour targeting and tissue penetration.
• Higher therapeutic precision and stability.

Future Scope

• Chemo-photothermal combined therapy.
• Applications in SERS biosensing due to optical features.
• Promising for advanced cancer treatments and diagnostics.