If there was any doubt about Indians occupying the front seat in global innovation, it has been summarily dismissed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's choice of the 100 top innovators this year. Nine Indians under the age of 35 were featured in the MIT's prestigious Technology Review list.

The sheer scale of the innovators' achievements make them obvious choices. Earlier this year, Srinithi Varadarajan built the world's third fastest computer for a mere $5 million (Rs 22.5 crore). The usual bill for a computer of this speed is $100 million (Rs 450 crore). As with the best science projects, his concept was simple: linking ordinary computers and pooling their power. In the process, he has opened up new avenues for the future of computing. Mayank Bulsara of AmberWave Systems, meanwhile, has taken a slightly different path with a substance that makes computer chips run faster and consume less power. While Anand Natarajan, CEO of Infinite Biomedical Technologies, intends to find his way into many hearts with an implantable cardiac device to detect incipient heart attacks, IIT-Delhi alumnus Vikram Sheel Kumar, CEO of Dimagi, has developed an interactive software that motivates patients with chronic diseases. Both are making a difference to thousands of lives across the world.

An antidote for anthrax, chips for cell phones, better computer display systems, a new approach to anti-TB drugs and ultra-wide band wireless technology are the other Indian innovations that were acknowledged by the list.

Blowing Hot In The Cold

Arctic winters are no longer what they used to be. Extensive studies by more than 300 scientists from across the world have found that in the age of global warming, the Arctic region is warming up 10 times faster than the rest of the earth.

This could mean that in 20 years, the North Pole may have no ice during summers. The rest of the world could feel the difference through rising sea levels. And, of course, the polar bear may not be an intrinsic part of the Arctic habitat.

Weedward Bound

Blue revolution in the making

Seaweed harvesting is an industry waiting to be exploited in India

The paint on your walls, your favourite scoop of ice cream, toothpaste, fertilisers, textiles, air-fresheners, medicines and the various chemicals in everyday use have one thing in common. All of them contain derivatives of seaweeds.

Seaweeds and their products are a $10 billion (Rs 45,000 crore) industry worldwide and growing at 10 per cent per annum. The largest producers are far eastern countries like China and Korea as well as the US. Japan, the land of sushi, is not surprisingly one of the largest markets for algae-based products. But despite India's 7,000-km coastline, the field has not been exploited in the country so far. Now this is slowly changing. The multinational PepsiCo foods has decided to tap India's potential and has begun a large seaweed farm near Tamil Nadu amid controversy about its effect on local marine wildlife. Meanwhile, Delhi University Professor D. Sahoo has also begun a model seaweed culture farm in Orissa, with products to be marketed worldwide by a Delhi-based biotechnology company. In a region of the country torn by poverty, the idea is to make the best use of available natural habitat by cultivating substances that will ensure a regular income for the people.

''The technology is cheap, eco-friendly, easy to harvest, and could create a million jobs,'' says Sahoo. He feels that aqua-farmers should be able to earn at least Rs 3,000-4,000 per month-enough to keep them well above the poverty line. Scientific studies indicate even greater potential for seaweeds in the future: sugar from red algae has even shown antiviral properties. Here's to the Blue Revolution.

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