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It's dinner time. You've worked hard to prepare a nutritious and tasty meal. But after taking your first bite you feel something is missing. Perhaps you should have added more <keyword id="19926225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="salt" source="keywords">salt</keyword>? Pepper? Or maybe even something more exotic like monosodium glutamate, better known as <keyword id="20263639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="msg" source="keywords">MSG</keyword>? There are many food additives used in both home cooking and commercial products. These ingredients improve the flavour, smell, texture, appearance and longevity of foods. <keyword id="23109309" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="salt-and-msg" source="Orion">Salt and MSG</keyword> are two well-known food additives. Both contain <keyword id="20387265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sodium" source="keywords">sodium</keyword>, but there are plenty of differences which you can use to your benefit. <h2>What is a <keyword id="19926225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="salt" source="keywords">salt</keyword>?</h2> Salts are made of positively and negatively charged components called ions. Salts generally dissolve in water, and are brittle. The names of salts often feature a metal (positively charged) followed by a non-metal (negatively charged). The common kitchen ingredient we call "salt" is just one type of salt. To distinguish it from all other salts, we should more specifically refer to it as "table salt". Chemically, it's <keyword id="20387265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sodium" source="keywords">sodium</keyword> chloride. <h2>Sodium chloride</h2> After the quick chemistry lesson above, we can see that table salt, sodium chloride, contains a positively charged sodium and a negatively charged chlorine. These charged components are arranged in crystals of salt in a regular repeating pattern. Each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions. This arrangement gives the crystal a "cubic" form. If you look closely at salt, you may see cube-shaped crystals. Sodium chloride is very abundant. It is found dissolved in Earth's oceans. Mineral deposits of salt, known as halite or rock salt, formed from the evaporation and crystallisation of ancient seas. Depending on the source, the salt may contain many other trace minerals that can even add colour to it, such as the pink-coloured <keyword id="19964652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="himalayan" source="keywords">Himalayan</keyword> salt from Pakistan. Salt can also be fortified with sodium iodide as a public health measure. Describing the taste of salt is quite difficult without using the word "salty". It's a very common food additive, as it is so abundant and versatile. It is an essential ingredient for many traditional food preservation techniques for meats (pork and fish), vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles), and dairy (cheese and butter). Salt is considered a universal flavouring agent. It can mask bitter flavours and bring out sweet, sour and umami (savoury) ones. Despite popular depictions of taste maps, there is no one place on the tongue where we taste salt. Other sodium salts can also give a "salty" taste, but the effect declines (and can even turn to bitter) with negatively charged components other than chloride. <h2><keyword id="20263639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="msg" source="keywords">MSG</keyword> or monosodium glutamate</h2> Monosodium glutamate is also a salt. The glutamate is the negatively charged form of glutamic acid, an amino acid that is found in nature as a building block of proteins. MSG, and more generally glutamates, are found in a wide range of foods including tomatoes, <keyword id="20804859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parmesan" source="keywords">Parmesan</keyword> cheese, soy sauce, dried seaweeds, <keyword id="21509378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="worcestershire" source="keywords">Worcestershire</keyword> sauce and protein-rich foods. All of these foods impart umami flavours, which are described as savoury or <keyword id="19944455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meaty" source="keywords">meaty</keyword>. Commercial MSG is not extracted from the environment but produced by bacterial fermentation. Glucose is converted to glutamic acid, which is further processed by adding sodium hydroxide to form MSG (and water). MSG is sold as crystals, but they have a long, prismatic shape rather than the cubic form of sodium chloride. It's worth tasting a few crystals of MSG directly to experience the native taste of umami. Despite decades of bad press and concern, MSG is considered safe to consume in the concentrations typically found in or added to foods. Table <keyword id="23109309" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="salt-and-msg" source="Orion">salt and MSG</keyword> both contain sodium, but at different percentages of the total weight: table salt has around 40 per cent sodium, versus just 14 per cent in MSG. You are also more likely to be routinely adding table salt to your food rather than MSG. Eating too much sodium is well known to be unhealthy. Potassium-enriched substitutes have been suggested for a range of health benefits. <h2>A flavour enhancer</h2> The flavour of MSG can be elevated further by combining it with other food additives, known as sodium ribonucleotides. Japanese and Korean cooks figured this secret out long before chemists, as boiling dried fish and seaweed produces foundation stocks (dashi) containing a mix of naturally sourced glutamates and ribonucleotides. Ribonucleotides are classified as "generally considered as safe" by food standards authorities. Humans consume many grams of the natural equivalent in their diets. What can be more problematic are the carbohydrates- and fat-rich foods that have their flavours enhanced, which can potentially lead us to eat excessive calories. The combination of MSG and ribonucleotides produces a more-ish sensation. Next time you see a bag of potato chips or instant noodles, have a quick look to see if it contains both MSG (E621) and a ribonucleotide source (E627-E635). I personally keep a jar of MSG in my kitchen. A little goes a long way to elevate a soup, stew or sauce that isn't quite tasting the way you want it to, but without adding too much extra sodium. (This article was originally published in The Conversation)

What's the difference between MSG and table salt? A chemist explains

More than 27 per cent of the identified glacial lakes in the Himalayas have notably expanded since 1984 and 130 of those are in India, <keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword> said on Monday. In a statement, the space agency said long-term <keyword id="20423869" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="satellite-imagery" source="keywords">satellite imagery</keyword> covering the catchments of Indian Himalayan river basins from 1984 to 2023 indicates significant changes in glacial lakes. "Of the 2,431 lakes larger than 10 hectares identified during 2016-17, 676 glacial lakes have notably expanded since 1984," it said. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said 601 of the 676 lakes have expanded more than twice while 10 lakes have grown between 1.5 to two times and 65 lakes 1.5 times. It said 130 of the 676 lakes are situated within India, with 65, seven, and 58 located in the Indus, Ganga and the Brahmaputra river basins, respectively. An elevation-based analysis revealed that 314 lakes are located in the 4,000-5,000-metre range and 296 above 5,000 metres. The glacial lakes are categorised based on their formation process into four broad categories -- moraine-dammed (water dammed by moraine), ice-dammed (water dammed by ice), erosion (water dammed in depressions formed by erosion), and other glacial lakes. Among the 676 expanding lakes, the majority are moraine-dammed (307), followed by erosion (265), other (96), and ice-dammed (eight) glacial lakes. ISRO highlighted long-term changes in the Ghepang Ghat glacial lake (in the Indus basin) at an elevation of 4,068 metre in <keyword id="19905191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="himachal-pradesh" source="keywords">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>, showing a 178 per cent increase in size from 36.49 hectares to 101.30 hectares between 1989 and 2022. The rate of increase is about 1.96 hectares per year. In October, at least 40 people were killed and 76 went missing in Sikkim after the South Lhonak Lake -- a glacial lake situated in the state's northwest at 17,000 feet -- burst due to incessant rains. The Himalayas, often referred to as the Third Pole because of the extensive glaciers and snow cover, are highly sensitive to changes in the global climate -- both in terms of their physical characteristics and their societal impacts. Research conducted worldwide has consistently shown that glaciers across the globe have been experiencing unprecedented rates of retreat and thinning due to human-caused climate change. This retreat leads to the formation of new lakes and the enlargement of existing ones in the <keyword id="20128077" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Himalayan-region" source="keywords">Himalayan region</keyword>. These bodies of water, created by the melting of glaciers, are known as glacial lakes and play a crucial role as freshwater sources for rivers in the Himalayan region. However, these also pose significant risks such as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can have devastating consequences for communities downstream. GLOFs occur when glacial lakes release large volumes of meltwater due to the failure of natural dams, such as those made of moraine or ice, resulting in sudden and severe flooding downstream. These dam failures can be triggered by various factors, including avalanches of ice or rock, extreme weather events, and other environmental factors. Monitoring and studying the occurrence and expansion of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region is challenging due to inaccessible and rugged terrain. Satellite remote sensing technology proves to be an excellent tool for inventory and monitoring due to its wide coverage and revisit capability. Assessing long-term changes in glacial lakes is crucial for understanding glacier retreat rates, assessing GLOF risks, and gaining insights into climate change impacts, ISRO said.

Satellite monitoring shows large expansion in 27% identified glacial lakes in Himalayas: ISRO

Nestled in the heart of the majestic Himalayas, <keyword id="20406432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sarahan" source="keywords">Sarahan</keyword> in Himachal Pradesh is a picturesque destination that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and spiritual significance. This charming town, often referred to as the "<keyword id="20406434" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gateway-to-Kinnaur" source="Orion">Gateway to Kinnaur</keyword>," is home to some incredible attractions that make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a unique and offbeat experience. Here are the top must-visit destinations in Sarahan: 1. <keyword id="9038496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhima-Kali-Temple" source="Orion">Bhima Kali Temple</keyword>: The Bhima Kali Temple stands as a testament to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Sarahan. Dedicated to the goddess Bhimakali, this ancient temple is a stunning example of Indo-Tibetan architecture. Surrounded by deodar forests and snow-capped peaks, the temple's intricate wooden carvings and vibrant colors make it a visual delight. The annual Bhimakali Fair attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, adding a festive charm to the town. 2. Sarahan Bird Park: For nature enthusiasts and bird lovers, the Sarahan Bird Park is a hidden gem. Located near the Bhima Kali Temple, this park is home to a variety of exotic bird species, including Himalayan Monals, pheasants, and eagles. Birdwatchers will find themselves captivated by the vibrant plumage and melodious calls echoing through the serene surroundings. 3. Shri Raghunathji Temple: Situated on a hill overlooking Sarahan, the Shri Raghunathji Temple offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple is an architectural marvel with its wooden structure and intricate carvings. The peaceful ambiance and stunning vistas make it an ideal spot for meditation and spiritual contemplation. 4. Shrikhand Mahadev Peak: Adventure seekers and trekkers should not miss the opportunity to conquer the Shrikhand Mahadev Peak. This challenging trek takes you through dense forests, alpine meadows, and snow-clad landscapes. The summit rewards trekkers with breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges, making it a memorable and rewarding experience. 5. Sarahan Pheasantry: The Sarahan Pheasantry is a conservation center dedicated to the breeding and protection of the endangered Monal Pheasant. Visitors can witness these vibrant birds in a semi-natural environment. The center plays a crucial role in preserving the biodiversity of the region and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. 6. Bhaba Valley: Nature lovers can explore the enchanting Bhaba Valley, known for its lush greenery, meandering rivers, and alpine landscapes. The Bhaba Valley trek is a delightful journey that takes you through quaint villages, apple orchards, and terraced fields, providing a glimpse into the local way of life. Sarahan, with its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, beckons travelers seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Whether you're drawn to ancient temples, diverse birdlife, or challenging treks, Sarahan has something to offer for everyone. Embrace the serenity and charm of this Himalayan gem as you explore its top must-visit destinations and create memories that will last a lifetime. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt.

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