A more efficient earth

  Bangladesh has achieved a significant reduction in mortality from infectious diseases but shows a recent increase in cancer morbidity. 1 Cancer awareness is low among the population, and screening programs are vastly insufficient. Due to a lack of proper diagnosis, most cancers get the chance to develop to advanced stages, rendering them difficult to treat. The average 5-year survival rate of cancer patients is 91% if detected at earlier stages and drops to 26% if diagnosed at later stages. 2 Cancer is a genetic disease, meaning that it develops due to alterations in genes. 3 Although Bangladesh has various infrastructures and institutions, there is inadequacy in genetic testing of cancers. Next-generation sequencing can produce extensive genomic information in a short time, 4 analysis of which can reveal disease markers. Integration of next-generation sequencing in cancer diagnosis will lead to rapid and appropriate results, prompting effective treatment. In Bangladesh, estimat

This photo is of the small canal flowing through the north boundary of bank town. This canal water contains industrial run-offs; and changes colour from time to time, depending on which dye is used in the dyeing factories. People are sometimes seen to fish here, providing evidence of bioaccumulation in the fishes. Upon close inspection, one can also see the massive waste-dumps at both banks of the canal. All sorts of wastes are dumped here, many containing hazardous material. Although these become food havens for crows, kites, herons and pigs, they are unaware of ongoing bioaccumulation of hazards in them. These fishes and pigs are ultimately consumed by humans, adding another layer in biomagnification. This shows our river Bangshi (although Google calls her "Karnatali"). The water contains run-off from multiple dyeing factories; one of which is shown in the following photos. This water is ink-black and smells like ink too. It mostly contains organic dyes, heavy metals and ca

In scientific terms, animals are multicellular organisms that consume organic material for growth, use oxygen for respiration, and pass the blastula period during embryonic development. Similarity in physical characteristics (phenotypes) and genetic characteristics (genotype) suggests strong evolutionary link between other animals and humans. This similarity is predominantly seen in mammals, which are animals that feed milk to their infants. Thus, research is greatly facilitated if animals are used as model organisms for trials of novel drugs or therapies. However, due to ethical and legal concerns and rapid advancements in biological sciences; the overall use of higher animals for research is likely to decline in the 21 st  century. No responsible researcher wants to harm animals in any way. In 1959, Russel and Burch introduced the 3 R’s of animal research: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. These principles were designed to serve as a foundation for the development of future

  Science is knowledge attained by observation and experimental investigation to dispel misunderstanding and ignorance. Not only scientific knowledge is necessary to solve practical problems but a scientific outlook on life also enables making informed decisions - both individually and collectively. But the current trend of teaching science in the secondary level in Bangladesh has shown to put more emphasis in preparing students for competitive exams, not for building a scientific psyche. Therefore, currently science education is directed towards job market rather than knowledge generation. Observing the “Scientific method” in everyday life enables everyone to better understand their surroundings, enlarges their capacity of critical thinking and exercise better surveillance upon their own lives and society. And in the field of research, such method produces new inventions and discoveries. Unfortunately, most students enrolled under the science faculty in schools and colleges fail to