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From our readerslettersVolume 7 Issue 4 • June 2017 ` 125Knowledgemagazineindia KnowledgeMagIND KnowledgeMagIndA TIMES OF INDIA PUBLICATIONSCIENCE • HISTORY • NATURE • FOR THE CURIOUS MINDR.N.I.MAHENG/2010/KEEP YOURHOW TO^
BRAINSHARPTHE VIRUSES THAT MADE
US HUMAN
T H E MOV I E SMARS INwhat the^ earth^ will^ look^ like^ when^ we’re^ goneCover May - June 17.indd 1 17/04/17 9:05 PMLife After Man by Duncan Geere was an interesting
and scary article. Having crowned ourselves the current
Big Brother species on Earth, we have naturally started
becoming weaker and more frustrated with what we have
done in the past hundred years. One hundred years is
obviously too little time on the great human timeline. Even 40 years ago,
we thought we were safe, but not any more. Fear has set in. As we see in
the article, we have committed the crime, however unknowingly, and now
await the sentence.
I want to put this thought forward: it is not quite the end. The Doomsday
Clock can be reset from 2.5 to 7 or 17 or even 30. But how?
In BBC Knowledge, we talk about science, not about miracles or
the ‘unknown’. But again, science and the unknown are interlinked.
Science evolves from the unknown. Consider dark energy. It can’t be
discarded as a non-scientific topic. Another example is chromosomes and
genes. Only 2 to 3% of human genes contribute to the human phenotype
and its biological functions. The rest are called ‘dark chromosomes’,
almost 98% of whose purpose has not identified (just like dark energy).
Cell biologists have moved very quickly from genes controlling the cell,
human nature and functions to the ‘environment’ controlling the cell,
etc (epigenetics). An enzyme telomerase that revives a dying cell can be
enriched in the cells by a simple process called ‘happiness’. Sounds odd,
but it has been proved in cancer research.
I believe the human brain cell, which is obviously the causative cell for
the events that led to this article, can be modified and fixed. The human
conscience is like a cog wheel – if 51% rotates in the right direction,
then 49% should follow. I personally feel there are only two blocks
to this happening: fear and greed.
In a decayed human brain cell (one with twisted thinking), we need quite
a lot of telomerase activity. Happiness is the pill, followed by self-love, love,
exercise and good food. If we can achieve this, there will be clarity as to
why we are given space on this planet, and, then, it’s gonna be okay.
PS: I started reading BBC Knowledge with my 13-year-old son after
I deleted my FB, Twitter and Instagram accounts. It’s a great feeling really :-)
Dr C Arul Murugan,
MRCPCH (UK), paediatrician and neonatologist
(via email)
Disclaimers: Letters may be edited for clarity and length. All views expressed on this page are the
writers’ own opinions. BBC Knowledge accepts no responsibility for them, or any disputes arising thereofThe Life After Man issue of BBC
Knowledge was full of knowledge.
The Discoveries section – the scientific
information about ‘dark energy’,
dinosaurs, movement of wagon wheels in
old films, the causes of shrinkage that come with ageing,
the need for sleep and the cause of memory loss, etc- was outstanding in look and content. The Life After
Man feature was also fabulous and quite thrilling to read.
Best wishes to the BBC Knowledge team.
Pradip Chakraborty,
Nainital, Uttarakhand (via email)
It’s been four years since I collected
my first copy of BBC Knowledge.
I could not believe how much is packed
into a single magazine.
The current issue was really interesting.
Life After Man made a great cover story, and the
Post Apocalyptic Timeline was the best part of it. I was
not very surprised to learn that we would leave behind
nothing but plastic and nuclear waste. What else can
Man give Mother Earth?
The next thing I loved in the issue was the Indian
Authors series. We all know about foreign authors
to a certain degree, but getting to know our Indian
authors was a whole new experience for me.
The Q&A section is what I read first. The questions
and answers are equally interesting.
My other favourite sections are Gadgets and Books.
Keep up the good work! I am already waiting for
the next issue!!
Kartik Wardhan,
via emailAccording to Wikipedia, ‘knowledge’
is a familiarity, awareness or
understanding of someone or something
such as facts, information, description
or skills, which is acquired through
experiences or education by perceiving,
discovering or learning. BBC Knowledge proves
the definition successfully. It shapes our dreams
into realities and enlightens us day by day.
The Viruses that Made Us Human was
eye-catching and spectacular, and made
imperative reading. Life After Man was
yet another appealing topic. Every page
of the magazine is filled with stupefying
and perplexing facts, starting right
from Snapshots (Rodents of
Africa), Discoveries & Innovations
(crows being intelligent in Japan,
discoveries of the galaxy,
drowsiness detector in cars),
How to Save the Stag Beetles,
to name a few. I truly gained
a wealth of knowledge.
May is regarded as examinations month.
It would be good if a list of careers after
10+2 level as well as of renowned colleges
worldwide could be published. Students will
get clarity regarding pursuing different careers.
It would be a great help for students like me
who want to study abroad.
Debalina Biswas,
West Bengal (via email)AUGUST 201707