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<ul><li><keyword id="8733287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="goodknight-gold-flash">Goodknight Gold Flash</keyword> is aimed at converting non-liquid vaporizer users, bringing them into the category by offering them a premium product at a competitive price point.</li><li>The brand is looking at a digital-heavy campaign wherein TV will get them reach but digital will help spread awareness about the product.</li><li>GCPL has also withdrawn <keyword id="8733289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="goodknight-activ">Goodknight Activ</keyword> from the markets and will slowly phase out the refills for the product within the next few quarters to offer a single, more effective product to consumers, shared <keyword id="1107" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunil-Kataria">Sunil Kataria</keyword>, Chief Executive Officer - India &amp; SAARC, GCPL</li></ul> <keyword id="464067" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Godrej-Consumer-Products-Limited">Godrej Consumer Products Limited</keyword>’s (GCPL) mosquito repellant brand Goodknight has come up with its latest liquid vaporiser offering, Goodknight Gold Flash, which the brand claims will get rid of a household’s need to use multiple formats of mosquito repellants, namely coils, aerosols, flash cards and incense sticks. Currently, the overall liquid vaporizer (LV) category is pegged at Rs 2,200 crore and if GCPL is able to crack this newly created single-solution category, the brand is staring at an incremental opportunity of Rs 2,500 crore in the near future. Moreover, to ensure that Goodknight Flash Gold is able to make the desired impact in the market, GCPL is withdrawing its other liquid vaporizer offering, Goodknight Activ, which is a Rs 1,200 crore brand currently. Goodknight currently holds 60% market share in the LV category. Why the new offering? The brand has already launched Goodknight Gold Flash in the South market and has seen a positive response, shared Sunil Kataria, Chief Executive Officer - India &amp; SAARC, GCPL. However, what he feels will make this a success is the fact that the product, which is a premium offering, will be available at almost the same price as Goodknight Activ. “We account for Rs 1200 crore in the Rs 2500 crore category. However, 40% of the market accounts for other LV users and this new offering presents an opportunity to convert those consumers. Moreover, the multiple format using households are a big opportunity for us too. This product has the potential to become the solo format in most households and that’s where we will start taking the share of non-LV formats. Also, the product comes at a very competitive price point. You are getting a product of business class at the price of an economy class,” shared Kataria. Gold Flash is priced at Rs 89 for the machine and refill, while only the refill is available at Rs 75 per piece, which Kataria maintains is a nominal increase over their previous product. The new machine rapidly releases visible flash vapours resulting in a knock-down effect on mosquitoes, compared to only repellency effect of normal <keyword id="8733288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="liquid-vapourizers">liquid vapourizers</keyword> in the initial period. The body of the machine is such that refills of other brands, or even that of Goodknight Activ cannot be used on it. However, refill of Gold Flash can be used on machines of other brands. While the brand has already stopped the production of Goodknight Activ, the refills will still be available and it will be slowly phased out to make sure that users don’t face any inconvenience, shared Kataria. GCPL’s performance in a tough year While Kataria agrees that the slowdown has affected most companies, he feels that their singular focus on growing volumes has worked in their favour. “Our results show a 7% volume growth. Going forward, the recovery still might take some time, maybe a couple of quarters. But our focus will continue to be on driving value and volume,” he said. So did marketing budgets take a hit due to the slowdown? “Not at all! We have done 6 launches in the last 6 months. That’s another way to drive volume growth where you give consumers more differentiated benefits so that they say that its worth paying for. Marketing plan While the brand is planning a high-decibel digital campaign that will comprise 6 digital films, it will also invest on TV. “This will be a digital-heavy campaign but not a digital-first campaign. This is a large brand and we reach around 6 crore homes and we want all those homes to upgrade to this machine in the next 12 months. We are also looking at a huge behavior change. So we definitely need a mass medium like TV to first spread awareness,” he shared. The brand will launch the campaign in the next two weeks.

GCPL withdraws Rs 1,200 crore brand, Goodknight Activ to give Goodknight Gold Flash a boost

Ever wondered why your <keyword id="22348681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="polyester-workout-gear" source="keywords">polyester workout gear</keyword> smells like it’s gone ten rounds in the ring with a skunk, while your cotton tee just has a mild funk? Researchers have cracked the case, and their findings are as enlightening as they are stinky. <h2>Smelling out the situation</h2>To get to the bottom of this smelly situation, researchers soaked different fibres in a simulated <keyword id="6374994" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sweat" source="Orion">sweat</keyword> solution, and then measured the release of various odour-causing compounds. This method provided a more realistic way to understand how our clothes get stinky, as traditional methods often overlook that <keyword id="22348682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="body-odours" source="keywords">body odours</keyword> transfer to fabrics primarily through liquid sweat, not just airborne sweat vapours. The study found that polyester is an odour hoarder. Unlike cotton and viscose, which are plant-derived (cellulosic) fibres and tend to release less of the odour-causing compounds, polyester, nylon, and wool hold onto these compounds. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111361532" title="A stitch in time: Bone eyed needles from 40,000 years ago may have been the birth of fashion clothing!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>“Polyester is notoriously smellier after a <keyword id="24256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workout" source="Orion">workout</keyword>,” explained Rachel McQueen, a clothing and textiles scientist. “But now we know why. It’s all about how these fibres interact with the sweat and odorants.” <h2>What makes sweat stinky?</h2>Sweat is mostly water but also contains oily compounds that bacteria love to munch on, creating those familiar gym-bag odours. Cellulosic fibres like cotton and viscose absorb more water and less of the stinky, oily stuff. Polyester, on the other hand, repels water but greedily soaks up those oily compounds and odorants. This means that while your cotton shirt might get damp, it’s less likely to become a walking odour bomb compared to your polyester gear. <h2>Beating the stank</h2>The study also found that nylon and wool initially absorb a lot of odorants but also make the stink disappear faster than polyester. After 24 hours, the smell in nylon and wool was almost as faint as in cotton and viscose. So, if you’ve got nylon or wool workout clothes, you might be able to skip a wash now and then — just hang them out to air and let nature do its thing. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111073830" title="Scientists are trying to make cows sweatier to help protect the world against climate change" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"Basically, if you're concerned about smelly clothes, then keep away from polyester. Even with some of the anti-odor claims on some clothing labels, you might want to be cautious,” McQueen explained. “If the anti-odor property is due to an antimicrobial, it may not be as effective as you think, because there's another mechanism in play, which is all about the fibre chemistry and the interaction with odorants." The findings of this research have been published in Textile Research Journal and can be accessed <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00405175241249462">here</a>.

Here is why some clothes are smellier than others after a workout — and what you can do about it

Global technology brand <keyword id="20047445" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lenovo" source="keywords">Lenovo</keyword> on Tuesday launched the new lineup of Legion gaming laptops in India, with <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> (AI) and next-gen features. The new lineup includes -- Legion Pro 7i, Legion Pro 5i, Legion 7i, and Legion 5i laptops. The latest series starts from Rs 129,990, and it can be purchased from Lenovo.com, Lenovo Exclusive Stores, leading e-commerce websites, and other offline retail stores. "Our devices integrate cutting-edge technologies with the power of AI, tailored for gaming and content creation. Our Legion devices provide diverse options to meet the evolving needs of gamers, offering trendy designs, flexible hardware choices, and feature-rich displays," <keyword id="21013009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ashish-sikka" source="keywords">Ashish Sikka</keyword>, Director and Category Head, <keyword id="20865482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lenovo-india" source="keywords">Lenovo India</keyword>, said in a statement. These latest gaming machines come powered by up to 14th Gen Intel Core processors and up to Nvidia RTX 4090 graphic cards. According to the company, Legion Pro 7i and Legion Pro 5i feature advanced components like an extra-wide vapour chamber, liquid metal infusion with AI-driven power management, and Legion ColdFront for Esports level performance for a competitive gaming advantage. In addition, the company said that Legion 7i and Legion 5i come loaded with PureSight display and <keyword id="21013010" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="truestrike" source="keywords">TrueStrike</keyword> keyboards to improve gaming, designing, and content creation. With the latest Legion laptops, gamers can avail of a free 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/mobile-number-portability-revamped-to-reduce-sim-swap-frauds-here-are-the-new-rules/articleshow/108613683.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/mobile-number-portability-revamped-to-reduce-sim-swap-frauds-here-are-the-new-rules/articleshow/108613683.cms" target="_blank">Mobile Number Portability revamped to reduce SIM swap frauds – Here are the new rules</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-narzo-70-pro-with-dimensity-7050-5000mah-battery-launched-in-india/articleshow/108610768.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-narzo-70-pro-with-dimensity-7050-5000mah-battery-launched-in-india/articleshow/108610768.cms" target="_blank">Realme Narzo 70 Pro with Dimensity 7050, 5,000mAh battery launched in India</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/poco-x6-neo-5g-vs-redmi-note-13-5g-which-phone-should-you-buy-under-20000/slidelist/108586427.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/poco-x6-neo-5g-vs-redmi-note-13-5g-which-phone-should-you-buy-under-20000/slidelist/108586427.cms" target="_blank">Poco X6 Neo 5G vs Redmi Note 13 5G – Which phone should you buy under ₹20,000?</a>

Lenovo launches new lineup of gaming laptops with AI features in India

This week, the <keyword id="6377129" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="government-of-india" source="Orion">Government of India</keyword> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability/news/lok-sabha-approves-energy-conservation-bill-to-accelerate-climate-action-opens-multi-billion-dollar-carbon-market/articleshow/93479684.cms">passed a bill in parliament</a> seeking to mandate the use of non-fossil energy sources, including <keyword id="568811" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="biomass" source="Orion">biomass</keyword>, ethanol, and green hydrogen. This is the need of the hour to address the growing global climate crisis fuelled by fossil fuels. August 10 also marks World <keyword id="53632" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biofuel" source="Orion">Biofuel</keyword> Day in memory of Sir <keyword id="9565902" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rudolf-diesel" source="Orion">Rudolf Diesel</keyword>, inventor of the diesel engine. He is said to have operated the first mechanical engine with peanut oil. Broadly biofuels or non-fossil fuels are a low-cost, renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Biofuel is a wide term that encompasses biomass-derived solid, liquid, and gas fuels (e.g., bio-coal, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, bio-oil, hydrogen, and methane). Since biomass can be replenished easily, biofuels are considered renewable. While they can be used as a standalone fuel source, they can easily blend with petroleum fuels and thereafter be used in a variety of blending ratios without any change in existing infrastructure. These advantages of biofuels contribute to their fast acceptance! But, there’s a challenge; their production primarily relies on food crops, and unscientific approaches to producing excessive biofuels can drive deforestation, as documented in Brazil. The phrase "conventional biofuels" refers to these biofuels. To tackle these threats, there’s a heightened focus on ‘Advanced Biofuels’, i.e., biofuels derived from lignocellulosic (refers to plant dry matter) biomass. These are being explored as a possible replacement for conventional biofuels. Lignocellulosic biomass is not used as food and is abundant, thereby reducing the risk posed by conventional biofuels to food security and the environment. The use of advanced biofuels in transportation is predicted to reduce carbon emissions as it reinforces the natural carbon cycle, which implies that the carbon emitted during burning is retrieved during photosynthesis. Biofuels answer the twin problems in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, where, as per the Government of India, over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste is generated every year. This waste is generally burnt and can lead to an immense air pollution load. With the current technologies, this can be utilised to reduce the quantity of oil imported by converting the waste to biofuels. As per government estimates, this waste can generate up to 18 GW of power in addition to generating green fertilisers. But the possibility that conventional biofuels could threaten food security has caused many governments to set strict rules about how biofuels can be made. Drop-in biofuels are liquid hydrocarbons generated from biomass that fulfil the standards for current petroleum distillate fuel, for example, ASTM D4814, and are ready to "drop in" to the existing fuel supply and consumption infrastructure. Bio-butanol, liquefied biomass, sugar hydrocarbons, and syngas complexes are all examples of drop-in biofuel options. Biofuels also carry a few misconceptions, such as cellulosic biofuels will always be far from getting commercialized; biofuels can only exist with significant subsidies; the world's ability to produce food would be drastically reduced to meet biofuel regulations, resulting in both a spike in global prices and food riots; instead of reducing carbon emissions, biofuels increase them; biofuels are energy negative, i.e., they consume more energy in getting produced than what they give. None of these is true in the real sense if we adhere to scientifically proven methods of efficient biofuel production. India can generate its energy, cooking and vehicle fuel, and organic fertilizer from locally available biomass wastes using anaerobic digestion in biogas or CBG plants. All kinds of biomass, except wood, can theoretically produce biogas, although biogas production's efficiency depends on the biomass's digestibility. This will enable scientific management of the waste available and help India meet the global target of <keyword id="171507" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ghg" source="Orion">GHG</keyword> emission reduction. When sent to landfills, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) would emit methane, which has close to 21 times the global warming potential compared to carbon dioxide. Using biogas plants to deal with organic waste would also keep it from getting into groundwater aquifers and surface water bodies. It's important to know that large-scale use of dig estate from CBG plants can stop soil from getting worse. Biomass generated from agriculture is abundant in various bioactive and nutraceutical substances, including dietary fibre, carotenoids, and polyphenols, among others. This biomass is rich in roughage, and with the addition of requisite nutrients, it is a prospective answer to becoming rich animal fodder. Solid substrate fermentation, ensiling, and high solid or slurry procedures are among the technologies that can enrich agriculture biomass from a fodder perspective. Bio hydrogen is the cleanest energy source as it procures only water vapour and can effectively decarbonise transport, power production, and industrial operations. Compressed Biogas is also carbon neutral and a cleaner fuel as it is sustainable, renewable, and easily transportable through gas pipelines or cylinder cascades. Efforts of the government in India to promote biogas and other biofuels will help meet the stated sustainability goals and the country's energy security. A plus point with compressed biogas is that there are no environmental side effects associated with the biogas plants. The effluent/plant discharge is also recognised as fermented organic manure and can help improve soil health by raising organic matter content. However, if a biogas plant is not designed properly and methane gets leaked into the atmosphere, it can potentially harm the environment from a greenhouse perspective. Proper engineering followed by PESO's (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization) norms can derisk it. Space constraints may make it unprofitable in densely populated areas, but modern designs allow for such issues to be addressed. India today generates over 550 million tonnes of biowaste, which can be converted to biogas or biofuels and used to meet part of its energy requirements. Given the unpredictability of oil imports and high costs, the Indian government aims to achieve the target of 20% blending of biofuels with fossil fuels over the next five years. Government regulations and policy enforcement are crucial to reducing fuel imports and meeting carbon emission targets. Gaurav Kedia is the Chairman of the Indian Biogas Association This column is part of a year-long (2022-23) campaign on the theme “ Only One Earth: Sustaining People, Planet and Prosperity” by Business Insider India’s <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability">Sustainability Insider</a>. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the author/interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India. The article has been partly edited for length and clarity

OPINION: World Biofuel Day — Can biofuel help sustainably meet the growing energy needs of India?

During recent years, the use of e-cigarettes has swelled exponentially. Today e-cigarettes have become the most sought after tobacco products by the youth. In terms of their volume sales, e-cigarettes have surpassed the cigars and conventional cigarettes. Given this background, now it is more appropriate and necessary than ever to understand how harmful e-cigarettes are. The government reports Recently, two government reports have cast more light on the effects of e-cigarettes on human health. Especially a lung specialist at Hendry Ford Hospital Geneva Tatem, M.D., has given more information on e-cigarettes and how they impact human health in order to help the patients make a better choice with regard to their smoking habits and health. Dr Tatem remarked, “We need to balance the current science and evidence we have with the advocacy, to figure out the right way we should proceed in counselling our patients.” E-cigarettes could be lesser harmful In 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) published the findings of what was called a highly comprehensive analysis of the present studies in the field of e-cigarettes. The report said, “E-cigarettes are not without health risks, they are likely to be far less harmful than conventional cigarettes.” The study also observed that the use of e-cigarettes could eventually move users to smoke conventional cigarettes. The available knowledge on e-cigarettes is inadequate In the year 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General observed, “The use of e-cigarette is a “public health concern that warrants immediate and coordinated action. Many questions remain about e-cigarettes and their long-term impact, even as evidence on patterns of use and risks to health continue to emerge.” Overview of e-cigarettes and how they harm human health An e-cigarette can be understood as an electronic apparatus that works by heating a liquid. The heated liquid becomes vapour and is then inhaled by the person using it. The e-liquid used for vaping burns at a lower temperature than the conventional cigarette. Unlike the traditional cigarette, an e-cigarette does not contain tar. However, it does produce a list of other chemicals. Commenting on the harmful releases they make, Dr Tatem says, “What we do know is that e-cigarettes contain some products that are harmful, particularly hard or heavy metals. Things like cadmium and other metals.” Doctors advise not to get fooled The most common name of e-cigarettes is vape pens. E-cigarettes make use of vaping liquids or e-liquids that come in different flavors. There are a large number of flavors we come across in the world of e-liquids. This fact must not fool the user encouraging the notion that their health is not at risk. Dr Tatem says, “The products that are produced by an e-cigarette are much different than the products produced by a traditional tobacco cigarette. So, using it may still be harmful to the lungs. We don’t have enough research yet that tells us how much less harmful it is using an e-cigarette versus a traditional tobacco cigarette.” Concluding remarks Though e-cigarettes are in no way safe for human use, they only mark a technological shift in the way people consume tobacco and other drugs. In the NASEM report published sometime back, three potential effects of e-cigarettes have been highlighted. <ul><li>e-cigarettes are lesser harmful than the conventional cigarettes.</li><li>e-cigarettes contain lesser amounts of harmful substances than the conventional cigarettes.</li><li>e-cigarettes might help people aspiring to quit smoking to gradually escape their addiction. </li></ul>Commenting that e-cigarettes are not tob e resorted without any discretion, Dr Tatem says, “As a pulmonologist, I see lots of patients who have developed the disease as a result of tobacco and smoking products. Anything you can use to reduce the amount of tobacco you smoke is potentially a good thing. More research is needed to help us clarify the difference between e-cigarettes and vape pens, and how much less harmful they can be relative to tobacco cigarettes.”

How harmful are E-Cigarettes - Risks, Legalities, ingredients and case studies

<ul><li>The government is set to ban the manufacture, import and sale of <keyword id="141209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-cigarettes">e-cigarettes</keyword> India as the health ministry considers it a drug. </li><li>The ban will be imposed under the provisions of Section 26 (A) of <keyword id="716386" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Drug-and-Cosmetics-Act">Drug and Cosmetics Act</keyword>, 1940. </li><li>There are 460 brands of e-cigarettes in India which come in 7,700 different flavours. </li><li>Banning e-cigarettes and related products is part of the government’s first “100 days agenda.” </li></ul>E-Cigarettes are all set to banned in India as the health ministry considers it a drug and will soon release notification to effect, <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/govt-to-ban-e-cigarettes-ends-promoters-urge-health-ministry-to-reconsider-119070300286_1.html">as per reports</a>. The central government was trying to ban the manufacture and sale of the e-cigarettes since last year. However, the rules of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act do not allow a ban though they can be regulated. However, in a drug consultative committee meeting on June 1, experts finally found their way out. They classified it as a drug which allows them to ban it under the provisions of <a href="https://upload.indiacode.nic.in/showfile?actid=AC_CEN_12_13_00023_194023_1523353460112&amp;type=rule&amp;filename=Drugs%20and%20Cosmetics%20Act,%201940%20and%20Rules,%201945.pdf">Section 26 (A) of </a>Drugs and Cosmetics Act. First Agenda Banning e-cigarettes and other related products that use liquid <keyword id="54964" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="nicotine">nicotine</keyword> solution and turn them to vapours through heat, which is finally inhaled by the user --- is a part of the new government’s first 100 days agenda. E-cigarette makers market them as products which smokers quit the habit. However, most of them are illegal and operate without a licence. “Regulatory measures to prevent the use of e-cigarettes are necessary. They are imported unlicensed products and are found to be widely sold online. The ministry is now considering to ban the product,” a health ministry official said. E-cigarettes have become a fashion statement among the youth and others. They replace the commonly used cigarettes that use tobacco leaves. Government data shows more than 460 e-cigarette brands are operating in India which provide different nicotine configurations. E-cigarettes are available in over 7,700 flavours in India. The drug consultative meeting of the health ministry also noted that the electronic nicotine delivery systems includes e-cigarettes, heat-not burn devices, vape, e-shisha, e-nicotine, flavoured hookah, and similar products are used as a tobacco cessation products.

E-cigarettes are a ‘drug’: health ministry finds way to ban the device

<ul><li>A new study shows that Venus might have been a habitable planet 700 million years ago.</li><li>Earth’s twin would have had a temperate climate and shallow oceans.</li><li>This means exoplanets in the ‘Venus belt’ could also be habitable.</li></ul>Venus is often called Earth’s twin since it’s around the same size and distance from the Sun. But that’s where the similarities end. Its air is toxic, and its is 90 times thicker than Earth. That might not always have been the case. Around as 700 million years back, it’s possible that Venus had stable atmosphere and shallow oceans. A <a href="https://www.europlanet-society.org/could-venus-have-been-habitable/">new study</a> based on data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Pioneer 12 mission suggests that Venus was a temperate and habitable planet for two to three billion years before its current state. This opens up the possibility that exoplanets — planets outside our Solar System — located in the ‘Venus Zone’ could also host water and have temperate climates to support life. Using the data from the mission Michael Way and Anthony Del Genio, the authors of the study, created a series of five simulations that varied in water coverage of the planet. Temperate vacation planet In all the five situations, Venus was able to maintain temperatures between 50 degrees Celsius to around 20 degrees Celsius. This is a stark difference from the current sizzling temperatures that average around 462 degrees Celsius — a temperature than can melt lead. According to the study, Venus would have undergone cooling and its atmosphere would have mostly been made up of carbon dioxide around 4.2 billion years go — just like Earth when it first started out. If Venus followed the same pattern at Earth, its evolution over the next 3 billion years would mean the carbon dioxide would slowly disappear from the atmosphere. It would either get absorbed by the rocks or locked into the surface. So, 700 million years ago, Venus’ atmosphere would — more or less — be similar to that of Earth. It would consist mostly of nitrogen with trace amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. The simulations and their success also bring into question the assumption of Venus being too close to the Sun to support liquid water. "Venus currently has almost twice the solar radiation that we have at Earth. However, in all the scenarios we have modelled, we have found that Venus could still support surface temperatures amenable for liquid water," stated Way. And, it could have stayed that way. How Venus got so hot Somewhere between 700 to 750 million years go, the planet’s surface released all of its carbon dioxide — and no one can definitely say why. "It is possible that the near-global resurfacing event is responsible for its transformation from an Earth-like climate to the hellish hot-house we see today," remarked Way. One popular theory is that there was a large volcanic eruption where massive amounts of magma bubbled up. Rocks that got in its way melted, releasing the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the magma solidified before reaching the surface creating a barrier between the carbon dioxide and the rocks to reabsorb the gas. The carbon dioxide had nowhere to go, causing a runaway greenhouse effect and Venus’ resultant high temperatures. Could humans survive on Venus? In order to figure out whether or not Venus was truly habitable 700 million years ago, scientists still need to find out how fast the planet cooled down 4.2 billion years ago. The rapid cooling needs to have been fast enough to condense vapour to water, otherwise the oceans would never exist. They also need to determine whether or not the global resurfacing event, volcano or otherwise, was a one-time occurrence or something that played out over the years. "We need more missions to study Venus and get a more detailed understanding of its history and evolution," said Way.

Venus might have been habitable 700 million years ago with temperate climates and shallow oceans

<ul><li>An Indian-origin scientist and his team have found a way to convert sunlight into fuel.</li><li>Splitting water into <keyword id="169046" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen">hydrogen</keyword> and oxygen, hydrogen can then be used as fuel. </li><li>This is first low-cost and scalable method of creating zero-emission fuel as per the <keyword id="172203" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="University-of-Exeter">University of Exeter</keyword>.</li></ul>In the face of an energy <a href="https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&amp;context=purduepress_ebooks">crisis</a> that affects the world over, Dr. Govinder Singh Pawar from the University of Exeter has <a href="https://www.thebetterindia.com/142537/indian-origin-scientist-team-fuel-from-sunlight/">found</a> a way to turn sunlight into energy, more specifically fuel. Pawar and his team in the UK have developed a method by which water can be split into into its base elements - hydrogen and oxygen - using sunlight as the catalyst. So, wait, are they just talking about boiling water? As hilarious as that may sound, it isn’t the case. Boiling water essentially transforms water from its liquid state to vapour. The process, called <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21821-z">Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting</a> actually emulates the process of photosynthesis using man-made materials instead. It has long been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110611185053/http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/pdfs/41568.pdf">considered</a> the key to unlocking an energy sustainable future. Basically, once water’s been split into its separate elements, hydrogen can then be used as fuel. The element is commonly referred to as the <a href="http://www.rsc.org/news-events/journals-highlights/2018/05-may/cspotw-a-greener-source-of-fuel/">‘zero-emission’</a> fuel since its only by-product is water. Despite hydrogen being environment friendly, as well as available in great abundance on Earth, it’s applications in energy have been limited by its form-factor. The seemingly obvious source of <keyword id="34553" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy">renewable energy</keyword> is usually locked away in water, hydrocarbons or other organic matter. Why it’s a big deal Till now, graphene was <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319918301745">considered</a> to be the more promising material to use for water splitting. There have also been <a href="http://www.rsc.org/news-events/journals-highlights/2018/05-may/cspotw-a-greener-source-of-fuel/">reports</a> of researchers at the <keyword id="127583" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="University-of-Cambridge">University of Cambridge</keyword> developing an electricity based method to achieve the same goal. Using electrolysis, they’re running electricity through water to separate hydrogen and oxygen. But since most of the high performing catalysts are metastable, the team is still working towards understanding the cause and effect relationship behind structural and composition changes. In comparison, Pawar’s team is using electrolysis as well, except that its photoelectrolysis. Their research is exceptional on the basis that his team has fabricated a semiconductor photoelectrode using an inexpensive and scalable spray pyrolysis method. That basically means they’ve figured out how to handle decomposition brought on by high temperatures. Their ‘revolutionary’ photo-electrode is made from lanthanum(La), iron(Fe) and oxygen nanoparticles. Having overcome the basic challenge of finding a stable and low-cost semiconductor, their research puts forward a method to convert sunlight into a storable energy source which had, thus far, proven to be elusive.

Scientists are turning sunlight into energy using principles of photosynthesis

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Phillip MorrisInternational tobacco firm Phillip Morris is phasing out cigarettes with its new non-burning alternative.</div></div></div>Marlboro-producer and tobacco giant <a href="http://www.pmi.com/eng/pages/homepage.aspx" target="_blank">Philip Morris International</a> on Wednesday launched a non-burning cigarette alternative in the UK in a bid to phase out traditional cigarettes.The Iqos device looks similar to an e-cigarette. But unlike most modern e-cigs, it uses real tobacco. The difference between traditional cigarettes and the Iqos? The tobacco is heated, rather than burned, Philip Morris said at an event on Tuesday.But is the Iqos the silver bullet for smoking without the deadly side effects? And will it help Philip Morris with its goal to replace cigarettes with non-combustible alternatives? Business Insider investigates.<h2>First up, cigarettes kill</h2>Philip Morris, the world's largest international tobacco company, came under fire in 1999, when the US government brought a lawsuit claiming that leading cigarette makers were <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/08/business/fi-smoke8" target="_blank">conspiring to lie about the dangers of cigarettes for decades</a>.The company, which owns cigarette makers like Marlboro and Benson &amp; Hedges, has since recovered, and reported <a href="http://investors.philipmorrisinternational.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=146476&amp;p=irol-earnings" target="_blank">net earnings of more than £16 billion ($19.9 billion)</a> in the third quarter of 2016.About <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html">15% of American adults</a> smoke, compared with about <a href="http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_93.pdf">19% of adults</a> in the UK. In the US, where it is the leading cause of preventable death, smoking <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/">kills 480,000 people each year and shortens the life of an average user by 10 years</a>. In Great Britain, smoking causes <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems" target="_blank">86% of lung cancer deaths</a>. The burden is sharply felt by low-income communities in both countries; in the US, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html">more than a quarter of people who currently live below the poverty level smoke</a>. In the UK, that figure is <a href="http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_93.pdf">closer to 30%</a>.<h2>Burning tobacco is terrible for you</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Getty Images</div></div></div>According to the <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes">National Institute on Drug Abuse,</a> "the worst health consequences associated with smoking (e.g., cancer and heart disease) are linked to inhalation of tar and other chemicals produced by tobacco combustion; the pleasurable, reinforcing, and addictive properties of smoking are produced mostly by the nicotine contained in tobacco."Since the tobacco in the Iqos is not burned but heated to 350 degrees Celsius, Philip Morris claims it is healthier than traditional cigarettes. (The temperature of a burning cigarette, for contrast, typically ranges from about 800 to 900 degrees Celsius, <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v247/n5440/abs/247405a0.html">according to a study published in the journal Nature</a>.)Importantly, these health claims have yet to be verified by an outside agency.<h2>Not a traditional cigarette, not an e-cig</h2>Instead of generating smoke, the Iqos device produces a vapour that delivers the nicotine from specially-designed "tobacco sticks." This is similar to the way many e-cigarettes currently on the market work, aside from one huge thing: Unlike most e-cigs, the Iqos still contains tobacco.Most e-cigs are battery-powered devices that convert liquid nicotine from a cartridge into a vapour that the user inhales. While e-cigs don't contain all of the harmful chemicals that traditional cigarettes do - including carbon monoxide and tar - they're not completely harmless, either.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Smith/Business Insider</div></div></div>E-cig cartridges are typically filled with propylene glycol, the same stuff that's used by fog machines. The US Food and Drug Administration approved propylene glycol for use in food. When you buy an e-cig cartridge, you can get differing amounts of nicotine (or none at all). You can also purchase flavoured liquids such as chocolate, strawberry, and mint.The Iqos would ostensibly contain both propylene glycol and tobacco.Martin Inkster, Philip Morris' UK and Ireland Managing Director, told Business Insider that the UK launch was part of the company's <a href="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=https://www.pmiscience.com/platform-development/platform-portfolio/heat-not-burn&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1480594653064000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGILMSGbssm0qjbDD4Tr_JQ64WVRQ" target="_blank">overall aim</a> to "replace cigarettes with non-combustible alternatives."The company claims that its new product - the Iqos - produces 90-95% less harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes, but these claims have not been verified externally.<h2>This is not the first time a cigarette company has experimented with heating, rather than burning, tobacco</h2>In the 1980s, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/19/business/smokeless-cigarette-s-hapless-start.html">US tobacco giant Reynolds debuted a device called the Premier</a>, which drew hot air from a burning piece of carbon placed over rolled tobacco and an aluminum ''flavour capsule'' which contained nicotine and artificial flavouring. That product proved "highly unpopular," <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/19/business/smokeless-cigarette-s-hapless-start.html">the New York Times reported</a> in 1988.After Reynolds spent $300 million on research, development and marketing for the Premier, the product lasted just a year.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Scott Barbour/Getty Images</div></div></div>In addition to being wildly unpopular, the Premier faced opposition from health officials in states where it came out. An Arizona pharmacy organisation, for example, voted in 1988 to ask Reynolds to voluntarily pull the cigarette, after the American Medical Association and several state-level medical groups said the device should be considered a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/19/business/smokeless-cigarette-s-hapless-start.html">''new and hazardous system intended to deliver the drug nicotine,"</a> according to the New York Times.Philip Morris International has spent £2.4 billion ($3 billion) developing the Iqos, which launched in the UK on Wednesday.The device costs £45 for the battery pack, which charges a slim cigarette holder. You can also buy the tobacco sticks (called "heets") separately - which cost £8 for a pack of 20. In the US, e-cigarette prices range from $20 to $60 for a basic "starter kit," which includes the e-cigarette, along with several cartridges and a charger for the device. In the UK, similar kits typically sell for around £20 to £40.In 2015, Philip Morris <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-in-twist-scientists-join-tobacco-companies-to-fight-cancer-2015-6" target="_blank">hired more than 400 scientists and toxologists</a> in a bid to enter the e-cigarette market. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-your-lungs-look-like-after-just-20-cigarettes-medspiration-experiment-on-healthy-lungs-trachea-2016-7">This is what your lungs look like after just 20 cigarettes</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="FzMHR2NDE6kCm7nPjYdcM6abqQHGrMsQ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Tobacco behemoth Philip Morris just launched a cigarette 'alternative' - but it is far from problem-free

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>A British company has launched an innovative boiler that could totally change the way people pay for their energy and heat their homes.
<a href="http://www.flowenergy.uk.com/" target="_blank">The Flow boiler</a> provides both hot water and heat for the flats and apartments it is installed in but, on top of that, it also produces electric energy that can power household appliances.
It aims at covering several energy needs with one single energy source, potentially allowing customers to generate their own power inside their homes. The more people will be able to generate electricity on their own, the less demand there will be on the national grid.
Flow believes that its boiler can reduce a household's emissions by 20%.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div> By switching electricity sources from an external service to the Flow boiler, a family can save up to £80 a month, according to the developers.
Here is how it works: In a traditional boiler, gas is burned to heat water, which then passes through the home's pipes and radiators.
The Flow boiler instead uses the gas to heat a high-pressure liquid coolant that is sealed inside the system. The vapour created then moves through a turbine called a "scroll expander," which spins and acts as a mini electric generator.
The hot vapor then moves through a heat exchanger, heating up the hot water for the house. The vapor returns to the boiler as the hot water is pumped around the house.
The Flow is using gas from the national grid to do two jobs (create heat and drive a turbine) where a normal boiler does one, in other words.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>The product was 10 years in development. Flow CEO <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-stiff/1/157/ba0" target="_blank">Tony Stiff</a> is looking forward to seeing how it performs in the market. "I think it is a game-changer for a family," he said to Business Insider. 
Stiff said that the company has stocked up orders for 15,000 boilers prior to launch, but the company has the capacity to produce 200,000 units per year. If that is the case, <a href="http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/energy_firm_set_to_create_700_new_jobs_in_ipswich_through_launch_of_game_changing_gas_boiler_1_3827399" target="_blank">the company will be able to hire 700 people at its headquarters in Ipswich</a>, the Ipswich Star reports.
The boilers are also produced in the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword>: in Livingston, Scotland, by the American manufacturer <a href="http://www.jabil.com/" target="_blank">Jabil</a>.

A British Company Has Invented A Boiler That Generates Electricity As Well As Heat

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image">Stephen Brashear/Getty Images/AFP/FileA Japan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner is seen at the Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on March 26, 2012</div></div></div>Japan Airlines has grounded one of its Dreamliner jets after it found "white smoke" apparently coming from a battery system during a check-up for departure, the carrier said.
A maintenance staffer saw a warning for a battery system problem as well as white smoke outside the window when working in the cockpit for the plane's departure for Bangkok on Tuesday, JAL said.
The grounded plane was replaced with another Boeing 787, which departed as scheduled Tuesday with 169 passengers and crew members.
The incident comes a year after battery problems grounded 787s worldwide.
On Wednesday JAL said it would continue flying Dreamliners.
"We are making sure of the safety of every plane before its departure. We will continue regular flights (with Dreamliners)," company spokesman Norihisa Hanyu said.
In the problem-hit plane, JAL found one of the eight lithium-ion cells in the battery system had leaked liquid into its container.
A safety valve designed to release excessive pressure was found open.
Another JAL spokesman said: "The temperature of the cell was high. We believe it caused 'white smoke', which could be smoke or vapour."
JAL and chief rival All Nippon Airways (ANA), the single biggest operator of 787s, were among airlines hit by the worldwide grounding of Boeing's lightweight plane following problems with the lithium-ion batteries, including a fire.
Boeing admitted in April last year that despite months of testing it did not know the root cause of the problems, but rolled out modifications it said would ensure the issue did not recur.
The measures comprised redesigning the battery and charger system and adding a steel box to prevent burning.
Since then, Dreamliners have experienced a series of minor glitches, including a fault with an air pressure sensor and the brake system.
In October, unflushable toilets caused JAL pilots to turn their plane around just after it left Moscow bound for Tokyo.
 
<div class="nc_footer">
Copyright (2014) AFP. All rights reserved.
</div>

Japan Airlines Grounds Dreamliner Jet After Finding 'White Smoke' Coming From A Battery

Chinese internet giant Alibaba officially filed a billion dollar initial public offering Tuesday. You can read all about the company's financial <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-ipo-filing-s1-2014-5">performance and prospects here</a>. However, Alibaba isn't a typical e-commerce venture. To truly understand the company, you need to peruse the vast array of incredible items available for sale on the site. 
Business Insider dug deep through <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/">Alibaba's digital shelves</a> to identify some of the wonderful wares they have to offer.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>Lifesize Obese Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue
There is some incredible art on Alibaba. One company, Zhongshan City Elephant Sculpture Art Co., Ltd., offers a wife variety of lifesize silicone wax celebrity statues. For some reason, they decided to make <a href="http://dxdsys.en.alibaba.com/product/736977179-215958693/Real_Human_Statue_Schwarzenegger.html">their rendition of Arnold Schwarzenegger</a> obese and nude. It comes complete with a shotgun, sunglasses, and a realistic tuft of chest hair and is a bargain at $16,800. 
Zhongshan City Elephant Sculpture Art Co., Ltd. also sells uncanny renditions of other celebrities including <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Celebrity-lifesize-silicone-wax-figure-Obama_683531104.html?s=p">President Barack Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wax-figure-of-famous-star-Angelina_1589715063.html?s=p">Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie</a>, and this <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/wax-figure-for-sale-of-Mr_1728384565.html">rendition of Mr. Bean that will haunt your dreams</a>. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>"lipo laser slimming machine"
Medical and surgical products are plentiful on Alibaba. This modern marvel is a laser machine that purports to be an "ultrasonic" method to "destroy the fat cells." The <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/New-Hot-Arrival-650nm-diode-laser_679645803.html">description on the site</a> explains the incredible technology behind this miracle weight loss tool:
"it creates an effect like internal Explosion," the advertisement explains. "It means that the expansion and compression of wave produce a lot of tiny space inside the liquid. The gas and vapour exist in these tiny space. In the compression cycle, supersonic wave impose a positive pressure on liquid molecule, whereas a negative pressure will be create through the expansion cycle. There is a cohesion effect inside the liquid or biological tissues."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:225px"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>"lovely used panties"
Many of the items on Alibaba are only available in mass quantities. If you want to get your hands on these "<a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/lovely-used-panties_1801361627.html?s=p">lovely used panties</a>," you will need to purchase 2,000 dozens of them, or 24,000 individual pieces of underwear. However, this is clearly a worthwhile deal as these are not just any used panties. The seller notes they are "Hipster" type panties that are "fashion," "elegant," and "professtonal."
 
Iron Ore and Oil 
Raw materials are another booming category on Alibaba. This area of the site shows it is truly a global marketplace. One seller offers iron ore from Mexico with <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MEXICO-IRON-ORE-63-5_148788721.html">a minimum order of 100,000 metric tons</a>. You can also purchase <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Libyan-Crude-Oil_119634896.html">one million barrels of Libyan crude oil</a>. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left" style="width:200px"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>"The man you love to hate"
If you'd like a more affordable taste of Libya, you can buy ten of these <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Gaddafi-Latex-Mask-Pack-of-1-_1157481823.html">masks made in the likeness of the country's dearly departed dictator Muammar Qaddafi</a>. The ad boasts these masks of the "man you love to hate" feature "fez and hair attached for the most realistic look possible."
 
 
 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>Osama Bin Laden Gear Knob
Global villains are apparently quite popular on Alibaba. Car buffs who are also jihad are bound to go crazy for this <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/OSAMA-BIN-LADEN-GEAR-KNOB-FITTING_1127080259.html">gear knob fitting in the shape of the late Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden</a>. If Nazism is more your style, you can also purchase a minimum order of 300 of these fantastic <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Black-Ticket-Collector-Hitler-Party-Moustache_552710982.html">"Hitler party" moustaches</a>. 
 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>Paris Hilton Portrait
Alibaba isn't all about buying in bulk. There's plenty of original, fine art on the site including this <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Handmade-Movie-Figure-pop-art-oil_1359452635.html">uncanny portrait of Paris Hilton</a>. Could there be a better way to relive the heady days of 2005? If superheroes are more your speed, the amazing artisans behind this masterwork apparently also offer portraits of comic book stars including an incredible one of Marvel's Deadpool declaring, "My common sense is tingling."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:350px"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>"Funny Games Doody Head Hats"
If Hitler party moustaches aren't right for your special day, you might prefer these "doody head hats." In addition to being wonderfully whimsical and fashionable, these hats allow the wearer to play a fun game. Allow <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Funny-Games-Doody-Head-Hats_1268299744.html">the advertisement to explain</a>: 
"Stop flushing and start playing with your Doody! Just kidding, that's disgusting but this Game isn't. One person wears the head gear with point values and velcro on top. The other player(s) toss Velcro-responsive Doodies at the Hat-wearer," the description on the site explains. "Throw your Poops like chimps in a zoo but actually win something. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, it's the perfect Game for you."
Yes, it's perfect.
Pure Caffeine Powder
Forget coffee, along with other foodstuffs and medicinal goods, Alibaba is your source for pure, powdered caffeine. This <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Natural-Caffeine_144485550.html">caffeine powder</a> is extracted from Indian coffee beans and comes in a minimum order of 25 kilos, or about 55 pounds. Be careful though! Experts say consuming about 10 grams of caffeine can kill you.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left" style="width:225px"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>Steve Jobs Brand 'Ear Cleaner' Tool Set
Do you have a disgusting ear wax situation and a love for all things Apple? Then we have the ideal buy for you. This <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/stainless-steel-8pcs-ear-cleaner-manicure_837252795.html">stainless steel "tool kit"</a> contains eight items for all your ear cleaning and manicuring needs. Best of all, the packaging is branded with a photo of tech icon Steve Jobs. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">Alibaba.com</div></div>Pooping Karl Lagerfeld Statue
This incredible <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Caganer-Lagerfeld_139300492/showimage.html">statue of legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld taking a dump</a> combines two of Alibaba's strengths. As you can see, many of the best stuff on Alibaba feature the likenesses of celebrities. Another area where Alibaba excels is bringing together buyers and sellers from all around the world. This pooping Lagerfeld is a caganer, a traditional Catalonian figurine depicting caricatures of famous people defecating that is, believe it or not, used to decorate nativity scenes. Without Alibaba, we never would have discovered the wonderful, magical world of caganers. In addition to the pooping Lagerfeld, sellers on Alibaba also offer caganers featuring <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Caganer-President-Obama_139300519.html">Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/cheaper-SpongeBob-figurine-in-funny-design_1831165636.html">Spongebob</a>, and <a href="http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Caganer-Lady-Gaga_139300213.html">Lady Gaga</a> unleashing loads. 
Live Moldovan Leeches 
Last, but certainly not leech, we were able to find live animals for sale on Alibaba. Specifically, this seller has medicinal leeches straight from Moldova. However, rest assured, Alibaba offers only the finest leeches. The advertisement notes these bloodsuckers were "grown in an automatic controlled environment."

There Are Some Truly Extraordinary Things For Sale On Alibaba

Having faced the threat of losing a lot of its population to <keyword id="6355291" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Cancer">cancer</keyword> and other related fatal health conditions, India had just begun to ‘breathe easy’ when the news struck. According to a study by national representative case control in 2010, over 1 million deaths happened due to <keyword id="6357278" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Smoking">smoking</keyword> in India. 
 
A country that has been proactive in implementing the ban on smoking in public, is now facing a new intruder. The dreaded e-cigarette, which is currently threatening to undo all the good work that a solid legislation against tobacco had achieved, has already entered the country and may soon have a solid footing here in India. 
 
But where are these e-cigarettes coming from? The neighbouring China, of course! 
 These attractive-looking long sticks, resembling some kind of shamanistic tools, are probably the worst news India is facing now. Electrical cigarettes are increasingly used by youngsters as a ‘safer’ alternative to regular cigarettes. This product, which does not adhere to any safety standard set by the <keyword id="109212" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Food-Safety">Food Safety</keyword> Standard Act of India (2006), has been banned in only two states. But other states are yet to wake up to its dangers as these are over-the-counter products and are freely available at all malls that sell imported stuff. 
 
What’s more, it is rumoured that even Bollywood starlet Sonam Kapoor did an ad for this product, which was scrapped later. 
 
This small gadget, which looks innocent and even fairly harmless with its shimmering red tip, contains liquid nicotine and may easily cause serious health hazards. The device mimics the real act of smoking by producing hot vapour with the flavour of smoke. A circuit to produce heat is embedded within an e-cigarette, which vaporises the glycerine-based liquid solution upon inhaling. This ‘alternative’ to cigarettes is primarily meant to deliver pure nicotine, which is present in tobacco-based cigarettes, too, but in camouflaged form. 
 
The west is already battling the e-cigarette mania and the number of people being poisoned by e-cigarettes has gone up considerably in the recent years. In fact, the number of calls to emergency services reporting e-cigarette poisoning in the US went up from 1 per month in September 2010 to 215 per month in February 2014. 
 
And it is just a matter of time before India catches up with the US in this respect. Currently, the market for e-cigarettes seems to be piping hot. As far as the numbers go, more people smoke in India today as against five years ago. Around 110 million Indians are confirmed smokers although the number of male smokers had gone down to 2.8% from 3.2% in the past. However, more women are smoking nowadays and the situation is becoming increasingly alarming. India had around 12.1 million smokers in 2012, compared to 5.3 million in 1980s. 
 
Indian women are only second to the US in reaching out to the cancer stick. Now, with e-cigarettes entering the Indian market, this convenience product not only eases the nicotine craving, it also does not leave a trace in the air and it isn’t difficult to dispose like the conventional cigarettes. 
 Looking at the numbers, you will find that the IT superpower, which provides top-notch technical services to big corporate houses all over the globe, is also home to 12% of the world’s smokers. For a country that takes pride in its youth and the vibrancy they bring to its democracy and <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword>, it is, indeed, a disturbing phenomenon. Nearly 275 million of India’s 1.2 billion-strong population are at high risk due to the consumption of nicotine and tobacco-related products that often result into killer diseases like cancer. The country banned the use of tobacco products, with a strong legislation against smoking in public places in 2008. 
 
But the attempts to save the country’s youth from falling prey to this deadly habit, can be easily undone by a convenient gadget called e-cigarette. Incidentally, smokers have easy access to these gadgets and need not rush out to buy them every time the craving sets in. 
 
Efforts to curb smoking have just started to pay off with reduced tobacco consumption, fewer licences to tobacco growers and ban on smoking in public to restrain those who simply lit up in anyone’s face, unmindful of the discomfort and health hazards. But it may still take a long time to wean them off the nicotine sticks. 
 While the government is yet to take effective steps, India's national carrier, Air India, had been selling e-cigarettes on-board and that too, at ‘reduced’ prices. It is bound to create an embarrassing situation and the <keyword id="2192267" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Health-Ministry">Indian Health Ministry</keyword> has already complained to the Civil Aviation Ministry. 
 
With no laws regulating sales of e-cigarettes, the central government now plans to come out with a legislation that will prohibit sales of these electronic inhalers, which are freely available online, apart from being sold at shops in big cities. Although e-cigarettes were originally developed as smoking-cessation devices, they turned into consumer commodities with no health regulations attached to them. Currently, India allows sale of 2 mg and 4 mg nicotine patches, which are sold legally to those who want to kick the butt. 
 
The government is well aware of the fact that these products are being pushed by tobacco companies that have suffered due to smoking and tobacco ban across the country. But suitable legislation could well complete the picture of saving the youth from the claws of death.

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