Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 38 ℃ | Low: 24 ℃ | Mainly clear sky.
🧐 Did you know? Karnataka’s total area under forest cover is 40,67,822 hectares, about 21.21% of the state’s total geographical area.
⚽ Sporting Club Bengaluru’s rapid rise
In just over two years, Sporting Club Bengaluru has climbed from its foundation to the second tier of Indian football, marking significant achievements along the way.
Winners: Established in April 2022, the club quickly made its mark by winning the Bangalore Super Division in its founding year. It continued its ascent by securing promotions in successive years, culminating in winning the I-League 2 title in 2024, which grants them entry into the I-League.
- The team focused on recruiting young, ambitious players rather than high-profile names, scouting talent from the Santosh Trophy and local clubs.
- Sporting finished the season with 33 points, outperforming the second-place team by six points and scoring more goals than any other team in the league.
Bright future ahead: Forward Thomyo L. Shimroy, a crucial player for Sporting, was a joint top-scorer in the I-League 2, contributing significantly to the team’s success. With aspirations to play in the I-League and potentially the Indian Super League (ISL), Thomyo and Sporting Club Bengaluru are looking forward to continuing their remarkable journey in Indian football.
🧪 Innovative hydrogel tackles microplastics
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a sustainable hydrogel capable of removing and degrading microplastic pollutants from water using UV light.
What’s it about? The team, led by Professor Suryasarathi Bose, engineered a hydrogel with an interpenetrating polymer network consisting of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline, enhanced with copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters. This innovative design not only absorbs microplastics but also degrades them effectively, addressing the limitations of traditional filtering membranes that often clog.
- The hydrogel’s unique three-layer polymer structure provides robust adsorption capabilities and uses UV light for degradation.
- The incorporation of a fluorescent dye in the hydrogel allows researchers to track the absorption and degradation processes, overcoming challenges in detecting tiny microplastic particles.
The danger and the solution: Microplastics, commonly derived from household plastics like food container lids, pose significant environmental and health risks. The IISc team’s breakthrough offers a promising solution by efficiently handling these contaminants, demonstrating potential for real-world applications in water purification systems.
💧 Water recycling initiative
The Bangalore Apartment Federation (BAF) is set to launch a pilot project in Bellandur to sell treated sewage water from apartments to commercial users, with the backing of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
What’s it about? This initiative, kicking off in early May, will explore the practicalities of marketing treated water, focusing initially on a single ward. The project involves detailed mapping of water availability and demand, particularly from commercial establishments and construction sites that could benefit from this sustainable water source.
- The BWSSB has partnered with BAF, facilitating connections between water sellers and buyers, and planning logistics like tanker transportation.
- Long-term strategies include installing pipelines from apartments directly to industries to ensure a steady and reliable water supply.
Supply: Currently, apartment complexes in Bangalore generate around 700 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water, half of which is already reused onsite. The pilot aims to reduce waste by selling the remaining 50%.
🌲 Cool Tree Campaign
‘Bengaluru Hudugaru,’ a group of environmental enthusiasts, has initiated the ‘Cool Tree Campaign’ to combat the effects of heat and termite infestations on trees in India’s IT capital.
What’s it about? The campaign involves a dedicated team of 20-30 volunteers who, every Sunday, apply a specially formulated white coating to trees. This mixture, which includes Befenthrin, Malathion, neem oil, white powder, and wheat flour, is designed to protect the trees from excessive heat and pests, thereby improving their health and extending their lifespan.
- The white coating acts like sunscreen for trees, preventing water evaporation from the stem and shielding them from the harsh sun.
- Over 200 trees have been treated so far in areas like Yelahanka, Indiranagar, Nagarabhavi, and Shanthala Nagar, with plans to expand the initiative further.
Increasing longevity: The initiative, inspired by advice from a BBMP forest range officer, has shown significant results in just four weeks. By addressing termite problems and applying the protective coating, the campaign aims to increase the longevity of trees by at least 30-35 years, highlighting a proactive approach to urban environmental challenges.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you believe in arranged marriages?
- I believe in arranged marriages.
- I don’t believe in arranged marriages.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
At what time do you go to bed each night?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bengaluru recorded a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, the highest for April in the last 10 years.
- The BBMP budget plans to raise ₹500 crore each year through billboards.
- Kamaraj Road in Bengaluru is set to partially reopen for traffic by the second week of May, after being closed for five years.
- Mahindra Lifespaces achieved sales of homes worth ₹350 crore in just two days at Mahindra Zen in Bengaluru.
- Full body scanners are currently being tested at airports in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- India will become a developed nation by 2047: 50.0% 🏆
- India won’t become a developed nation by 2047: 50.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!