Real Robotic Plant Roots 

One day, they could be used to monitor soil. Or your inner organs.

 

Rootpict

The plantoid, of which Dr Mazzolai plans to demonstrate a partial prototype on July 29th at a conference at the Natural History Museum in London, will have a central stem containing a reservoir of liquid plastic of a sort that can be frozen by ultraviolet light. Half a dozen cylindrical roots will branch off this stem, and the plastic will flow through these from the reservoir to the tip. As in a real root, the tip will be a specialized structure. Instead of being a cone containing a meristem (a cluster of proliferating cells that drives the root’s growth) it will be a cone containing a motor, a light-emitting diode and a battery. The motor will suck liquid plastic through the root and push it to the periphery of the cone. Once there, the liquid will be solidified by ultraviolet rays from the diode, extending the cylinder and forcing the cone farther into the soil. As in real life, the gentle but relentless pressure of the root’s growth should be enough to make it advance through the soil, fractions of a millimeter at a time. The researchers expect their prototypical robotic roots to be able to penetrate up to a meter of real soil.

A root system would be able to pull energy from the soil without relying on other power sources, such as batteries, solar or wind.

The direction of growth is controlled by a material known as an electro-rheological fluid, which is also stored in the cone. Such fluids become more viscous when an electric current is applied to them, and changing the viscosity on one side of a root but not the other, using current from the battery, causes the direction of growth to vary.
Check this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GALHb-b5060
One thing missing from the prototypes is a control system that responds to the root’s environment. The plan is to fit the next generation of cones with sensors that look for whatever the root is designed to find, and control its growth accordingly. Writing the software for these sensors may illuminate how real roots work. According to Dr Mazzolai, the first person to ask about that was Charles Darwin. He could not come up with an answer, and 130 years later no one else has either.

From the print edition: Science and technology

 

Pregnancy Tips For Normal Delivery

Usually in tamil nadu pregnant mother drink liquid made

boil water with cumin seed, when it’s done add 2pinch cow’s butter to melt. Drink it in daytime whenever it is possible. My family has followed it for generations

 

cherula-sirupulai(tamil)

Plant name: Aerva lanata Juss

Local name: sirupulai(tamil)/cherula(malayalam)/chaya(hindi)

Family name: Amaranthaceae

Type: herb

How to use : whole plant

Description of usage: whole plant decoction mixed with one glass of cow’s milk is boiled till it reaches the volume of the milk. Half or one glass is taken in the early morning and evening from 7^th month of pregnancy.

parpadakapulla

Plant name: Mullugo pentaphylla Linn

Local name: parpadakapulla

Family name: Aizoaceae

Type:herb

Part to use: wholeplant

Description of  usage: whole plant decoction(75gm) with water(50ml) is given 3teaspoons thrice a day for 7days for easy delivery.

 

kurunthotti roo

**kurunthotti root**

equal amount of kurunthotti root powder + cumin seeds + pepper with milk before bed is taken.

kurunthotti(malayalam)

Plant name: Sida rhombifolia

Local name: Chitha Mutti (tamil)/kurunthotti(malayalam)

Family name:malvaceae

Type:shrub

How to use: whole plant

Description of  usage: fresh whole plant paste in milk,1/2 or 1 glass is taken  daily before bed time, after completion of 7months

 ·  From nine months onwards for normal delivery take the drink made from roasted

Ani seed and water. To make this drink boil roasted anise seed in water and drink it.

·  Have pomegranate juice daily as it ameliorates the blood cells of both baby and mother. With this juice your baby will also have the fair complexion.

·  Take warm water bath before going to bed. This will relax your body from all kinds of stress and strains.

·  On the commencement of delivery pains eat a spoon full of honey. Also make the paste of honey and black cumin powder and spread it over your stomach for normal deliver as per ayurveda

                                                             Disclaimer
All information provided in this blog is for historical and educational purposes only; statements contained here are reported in an effort to preserve traditional cultural lore and information. Nothing here should be construed as an attempt to diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment for any disease or condition. Please consult your physician for medical advice regarding any medical condition and do not use any of the historical information on this site without your physician’s approval.

Amazing giant waterlily

Victoria amazonica (giant waterlily)

                 

Queen of the water lilies, this Amazonian giant has a remarkable life cycle
                         Victoria amazonica is well known for its huge circular leaves, which are often pictured with a small child sitting supported in the centre as a demonstration of their size and strength. The species is highly prized as an ornamental, despite having somewhat particular requirements for successful cultivation

This extraordinary relative of the garden-favourite lily was discovered in 1801 in a slow moving tributary of the Amazon River.

A blooming history

Victoria amazonica was first discovered in Bolivia in 1801 and named Eurgale amazonica. It was subsequently moved to a new genus named in honour of Queen Victoria (originally as Victoria regia).

            The first giant water lily to flower in the UK was grown by horticulturalist Sir Joseph Paxton, head of the Duke of Devonshire’s gardens at Chatsworth House. Paxton had received the plant from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1849 and grown it a specially built greenhouse. Inspired by the structure of the leaf, he later incorporated the lily into designs for his Crystal Palace built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.
                        

                                     


                 The enormous circular leaves, which grow to over 2.5 m across, have upturned rims and are anchored by long stalks arising from an underground stem buried in the mud of the river bottom. The leaves first appear as spiny heads but expand rapidly up to half a square metre per day. The upper surface has a rather quilted appearance and a waxy layer that repels water.
                   The purplish red undersurface has a network of ribs clad in abundant sharp spines, possibly a defence against herbivorous fishes and manatees. Air trapped in the spaces between the ribs enables the leaves to float. They are so buoyant that they can easily support the weight of a small child, and a mature leaf can support 45 kg if the load is evenly distributed. In a single season, each plant produces some 40 to 50 leaves, which cover the water surface and exclude light, thus restricting the growth of most other plants..