Author : Dr. P. D.GUPTA
Former Director Grade Scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
www.daylife.page
You must have seen posters everywhere with slogans like “Save Water” “Save Life”. Water crisis is so acute on this earth that all of us have realised that every one of us learn methods regarding saving water if not everyday at least once a year by celebrating “World Water Day” on March 22.
There are many Myths about Saving Water, let’s have dive into some interesting facts about water.
पानी बचाने के बारे में कई मिथक हैं, आइए पानी के बारे में कुछ रोचक तथ्यों को जानें।
Sitting on Chairman’s Chair at Kerala Central University, Kasar goud on 22 March I witnessed many lectures by expert academicians describing ways and means to save even a drop of water not only for us but for our generations to come. In their opinion there would not be enough water for our next generations. I could not swallow it and at the end when my turn came to speak, I asked “do we know how much and when water came on this earth? To my surprise, nobody answered my questions.
It’s true that life on Earth wouldn’t exist without water. But how much do you know about water, anyway? Here are some interesting facts about water we need to know.
Water is necessary for all living things whether it is humans, animals, plants and microorganisms such as fugues, bacteria, and viruses.
Whether they have to stay hydrated, digest food and generate energy, regulate metabolism or help things grow, life as we know it couldn’t exist without water.
Again, Fresh water is a myth: Believe me we all use and drink more than 5 billion years old water on this Earth. So far, we haven't managed to create any new water, and just a tiny fraction of our water has managed to escape out into space with astronauts. And you would be surprised to know that when our earth got separated from the Sun it did not carry water with her. Water came later.
In 2016, deep down within a Canadian mine researchers made an ancient discovery: the world's oldest pool of water. At a depth of roughly 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), the water dates to an impressive 2 billion years old. The discovery pushed back the date for the oldest known water by at least 500 million years.
How much water is there? वहां कितना पानी है?
There are an estimated 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth. Approximately 98 percent is from the oceans — and undrinkable because of the salt content. That means that less than 3 percent of our planet’s water is fresh, found in ice caps, glaciers, wells, aquifers, rivers and lakes. Groundwater is particularly important because it provides water for people in places where the supply is limited or insufficient, like desert towns.
Our Bodies Are More Than Half Water हमारे शरीर में आधे से ज्यादा पानी है
Water is involved in many functions and needed for most bodily systems, including removing waste, regulating body temperature, lubricating/cushioning joints and protecting the spinal cord. The percentage of water varies among organs, with the brain and kidneys containing the highest, at 80-85 percent. The heart and lungs contain 75-80 percent water while skin, muscles and liver contain 70-75 percent. Even our blood, bones and teeth are composed partially of water. The amount of water in our bodies is impacted by body composition. The average adult man is 60 percent water, while adult women are slightly less at 55 percent. This is because fatty tissue holds less water than lean tissue and women have more fatty tissue. Overweight people also have less water in their bodies, regardless of sex.
The Water Cycle is 3.8 Billion Years Old जल चक्र 3.8 अरब वर्ष पुराना है
In its simplest terms, Earth’s water cycle is the endless process that connects water in all its different forms. After establishing its importance the management of water and its cycle was assigned to responsible persons. For example in ancient India, Ocean management was assigned to Lord Varun, and In charge of rains was Indra. The sun is to provide heat to convert liquid water to make into water vapours and Pavan is assigned to carry water vapours from sea side towards land side for agriculture and human needs. Much later, in 1580, Bernard Palissy developed a theory of the water cycle. He also believed the amount of water on Earth remains the same, although in constant motion, and that the same water molecules from billions of years ago have constantly been recycled. The water cycle process happens through evaporation, condensation and precipitation and impacts and alters Earth’s geography. Water erosion and glacial melting are integral in creating Earth’s features, such as valleys and mountain peaks.
Water is a Compound जल एक यौगिक है
Made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, water is considered a compound — and a molecule. Before chemistry was understood, water was considered an element. But elements only have one type of atom — such as nitrogen, carbon or magnesium. Although water’s chemical makeup might be basic, the properties are complicated and unusual. Most compounds are denser in their solid-state than liquid. However, the solid-state of water — ice — can float on water. Ice sits on top of water creating an insulating barrier for aquatic life. If it sank, the water would freeze and life couldn’t survive.
In the end I said “The total amount of water on Earth is fixed: The amount of water is neither gained nor lost between the Earth and its atmosphere.” The only thing that changes is the form that water takes as it travels through the water cycle.
During question hour somebody asked me what explanation you have for population growth and all living beings carry about 70% of water of their weight for their lifetime; this water is not available to others. My reply was, Yes !!! You are right, but we also replenish every day, we take and discharge almost the same quantity and when we die we leave our reserve on this earth. (The author has his own study and views)
