The successful cloning of the unique but dwindling ‘pashmina’ goat, prized for its fine wool, has encouraged veterinary scientists to use similar methods to conserve other endangered animal species native to Himalayan Kashmir. When a team of veterinary scientists from the centre for animal biotechnology at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST), Srinagar, cloned the pashmina goat, last month (March), it revived hopes for saving a species whose numbers have been declining.

[SRINAGAR] Red mud, a by-product of alumina industries, can be ‘carbonised’for safe handling and the resulting material can be used to treat water contaminated with heavy metals, say scientists… According to their findings, after carbonisation, the capacity of red mud to remove metal contaminants, particularly lead and copper, from water improves ten-fold as compared to red mud that has been acidified — an existing method to improve the waste material.