Terpenes are organic compounds found in a variety of plants, and contribute to their flavor, scent and color.
The compounds are responsible for the essential oils of plants and the resins of trees and are often used in food additives, perfumery and aromatherapy.
Some are even thought to have medicinal properties, and to help in fighting bacteria, fungus and environmental stress.
Terpenes are also being used by living organisms as an instrument for long-distance communication.
The researchers suggest that terpenes are the most popular chemical medium on our planet to communicate through.
The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)
The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, was founded in the honor of the work of R.G. Bhandarakar, the foremost pioneer of scientific Orientology in India.
Orientology is the study of the indigenous lore and wisdom of the ancient East or the 'Orient'.
The Institute also hosts a Manuscripts Resource a Conservation Centre under the auspices of the National Mission for Manuscripts, a project of the Cultural Ministry of India.
Recently, BORI has initiated the process of launching e-library and major digitization of its rare manuscripts in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali languages.
Chinnar River
The Chinnar, east flowing river originates in the Annaimalai Hills in Idukki District, Kerala.
The 18 km long chinnar river defines the East-West Tamil Nadu/Kerala state boundary along the northern edge of the chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and the southern edge of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Recently, there was an illegal attempt to divert the water from Chinnar river to a dead stream “Mangayaar” in Tamil Nadu state by constructing a deep trench.
This unscientific interlinking of Chinnar and Mangayaar would adversely affect the Muthuvan tribal settlement in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Scorpene class submarine
It is a class of diesel-electric submarine jointly developed by the French DCNS under Project 75.
It features diesel-electric propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP) system.
It will have both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries. With AIP systems, they can stay submerged for much longer periods.
INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi, a Kalvari class scorpene submarine was built under the project and will be commissioned soon.
INS Kalvari is succceded by the Project 75I, under which 6 diesel submarines with AIP technology will be built for Indian Navy by 2022.
