Science Heritage Journal | Galeri Warisan Sains (GWS)

The experiment was conducted in the field of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to determine efficacy of bio-rational insecticides against bean aphid during September 2016 to April 2017.The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Five sprayings were done at 15 days intervals where data were taken 3 days after each spray. The highest mean number of fruit/rachis (7.5) was observed in spinosad treated plants and the lowest number of fruit/rachis was found in control plants (4.17). After 2nd spray, the lowest mean number of aphids/rachis (3.83) was observed in Emamectin benzoate treated plants and the highest number of aphids/rachis (58.33) was found on Beauveria bassiana (66.50) treated plant which was higher than control plants (56.21). The lowest mean percentage of rachis infestation by aphid (10%) was observed in Emamectin benzoate treated plants while the highest percentage was found in control plants (35%). The highest mean number of fruit/rachis was observed in Karanja oil (7.83) treated plants and the lowest number of fruit/rachis was found in control plants (4.33). After 3rd spray, the lowest mean number of aphids/rachis (10.00) was observed in Emamectin benzoate treated plants while the highest number of aphids/rachis (76.50) was found on spinosad treated plant which was higher than control plants (67.21).But the highest mean number of fruit/rachis was observed in Karanga oil, Neem oil and spinosad treated plants, respectively. Among the selected insecticides, Emamectin benzoate, Karanja oil and Neem oil provided better protection of bean plants against bean aphid.

The accumulation of heavy metals in the environment, exacerbated by industrial, agricultural, military, and research activities, has emerged as a critical concern due to its adverse impacts on human health, ecological integrity, and the sustainability of natural resources. This accumulation, driven by factors such as negligence and the high costs of waste disposal, has resulted in extensive contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater, creating severe environmental challenges. Among these, soil contamination by heavy metals is a critical issue requiring effective remediation strategies to ensure environmental health and ecological restoration. Phytoremediation, a green technology leveraging the inherent abilities of hyperaccumulator plants, has gained recognition as an effective strategy for addressing heavy metal pollution. It entails deploying plants to remove, degrade, or detoxify contaminants via processes including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, phytodegradation, and phytovolatilization. While traditional phytoremediation techniques offer potential, their scalability and efficacy are often limited. Advances in genetic engineering, nanoparticle augmentation, and the integration of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, phytohormones, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of phytoremediation strategies. This review examines the adverse biological impacts of heavy and their remediation through phytoremediation, focusing on both traditional and innovative approaches. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms, applications, and potential of phytoremediation technologies to transform environmental remediation practices, particularly in developing regions where these techniques remain underutilized. The findings highlight the need for further research and development to transition phytoremediation into a commercially viable solution for global environmental challenges.

Acaricides with endocrine-disrupting effects represent an overlooked yet significant environmental and human health threat in tropical regions. These pesticides, including organophosphates, pyrethroids, and amitraz extensively used to control tick and mite infestations, pose considerable risks due to their potential to act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). They can interfere with endocrine function by binding to hormone receptors, disrupting hormone synthesis, and inhibiting key enzymatic pathways. The interference with endocrine function is associated with adverse outcomes in humans and wildlife, particularly aquatic ecosystems. The disruptions include reproductive and developmental abnormalities, immune suppression, population declines, and ecological imbalances. Chronic exposure is further associated with thyroid dysfunction and an increased risk of hormone-related cancers. In tropical environments, where acaricide application is intensive due to the high ectoparasite population, the risks are compounded by weak regulatory frameworks and inadequate environmental monitoring. This paper highlights the urgent need for the promotion of eco-friendly alternatives such as biopesticides, and the implementation of integrated pest management strategies. In conclusion, without timely and coordinated interventions, endocrine-disrupting acaricides will continue to pose an escalating threat to human health and biodiversity across tropical ecosystems.

Drosophila melanogaster has become an indispensable model organism in toxicology research due to its rapid life cycle, robust genetic toolkit, and significant genetic overlap with humans (≈75% of disease-related genes). Drosophila melanogaster serves as a valuable model for evaluating neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances. This study employed a systematic methodology to identify relevant literature on Drosophila melanogaster in toxicity testing, regulatory frameworks, and environmental health. The selection process prioritized toxicological research, regulatory relevance, and recent advancements from 2022 to 2025. Drosophila melanogaster models cellular and molecular responses to toxicants, leveraging its life cycle and genetic features despite limitations such as the size and structural differences and certain metabolic differences. Drosophila melanogaster offers unique advantages in genetic manipulation and rapid result generation compared to other models like Caenorhabditis elegans, zebrafish, and mice, which provide complementary insights. Additionally, established regulatory and ethical guidelines support its widespread use in toxicology. Real-life case studies underscore its predictive value in environmental and pharmaceutical toxicology, bridging the gap between in vitro assays and more complex mammalian models. Overall, Drosophila melanogaster stands as a pivotal organism for advancing our understanding of toxic mechanisms and improving risk assessment protocols in toxicology research.

The Late Eocene planktic foraminiferal species Turborotalia semicunialensis Anan was recorded originally from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and later in two localities around the Arabia in the Southern Tethys: India (east of UAE) and Egypt (west of UAE). In this study, it is recorded also from Tanzania (southwest of UAE). The planktic foraminifera is related to open marine environment, photic zone, middle-upper neritic environment (100-200 m water depth) and in the tropical-subtropical provinces (Lat. 45º N- 30º S).

Southern Nigeria encompasses diverse geological terrains that significantly influence its subsurface characteristics. Understanding the depth and distribution of magnetic sources is essential for advancing geological and hydrocarbon exploration in the region. This study aims to estimate the depth to magnetic sources across selected locations in Southern Nigeria using two-dimensional (2D) spectral analysis of high-resolution aeromagnetic data. Ten aeromagnetic sheets, obtained from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, were processed. Residual magnetic maps were generated by removing regional trends using first-order polynomial fitting. The residual anomalies were subjected to spectral analysis through Fourier transformation using Oasis Montaj and MATLAB environments. Results reveal two distinct magnetic layers: shallow magnetic sources at depths between 0.2 and 0.4 km, and deep sources ranging from 1.6 to 6.2 km. These depth estimates were utilized to construct 2D contour and 3D surface models of the magnetic basement topography. The analysis shows five distinct uplifts and depressions within the crystalline basement, with deeper basement regions concentrated in the central and western parts of the study area. These depressions correspond to thick sedimentary piles, indicative of promising zones for hydrocarbon exploration, particularly in Nsukka, Abakaliki, and Abeokuta. In conclusion, spectral depth modeling from high-resolution aeromagnetic data proves effective for delineating basement morphology in southern Nigeria. This study enhances resolution in subsurface geological mapping and identifies new prospective hydrocarbon zones by integrating advanced spectral techniques with 3D visualization, aiding exploration efforts in underexplored sedimentary basins.

The Giant African snail (Achatina fulica Bowdich) is classified under the Phylum Mollusca and the Class Gastropoda. This species is notorious for its detrimental impact on agricultural crops in areas where it is found, making it one of the largest and most harmful land snail pests globally. Its widespread distribution is attributed to several factors, including a high reproductive biological rate, aggressive feeding behavior, insufficient quarantine measures, and human-assisted movement. This review discusses the detrimental effects of snail infestations on agriculture, their biology and management.

The integration of emotional reasoning into scientific discourse, particularly within biological sciences, poses significant challenges to the objectivity and empirical rigor essential for advancing knowledge and informing policy. This article explores how emotionality- rooted in personal biases, cultural and ethical concerns, and cognitive distortions- interferes with bio-scientific method, which relies on systematic observation, experimentation, and data validation to establish objective truths. Biological sciences, encompassing fields like genetics, microbiology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biomedicine, evolutionary biology among many others, frequently address ethically charged topics such as genetic modification, animal experimentation, climate change, and artificial insemination, making them susceptible to emotional resistance. This resistance often manifests as public misconceptions, regulatory overreach, and cognitive biases, undermining evidence -based decision making. Through case studies, this article illustrates how emotional appeals overshadow empirical evidence such as persistence opposition to genetically modified organisms despite robust safety data, emotive backlash facing animal experimentation and artificial insemination in both animal and humans, and climate change denial and vaccine hesitancy reflecting economic fears and misinformation amplified by media sensationalism. Furthermore, the regulation of biological processes and products reveals how emotional influences usually termed “yuck factor” or naturalistic fallacy can delay innovation and skew policies away from scientific consensus. To bridge the gap between emotions and evidence-based biological sciences, strategies including transparent science communication, public education, ethical frameworks that balance moral concerns with empirical realities, and risk-benefit analyses in policymaking were proposed. By distinguishing emotional reasoning from empirical evidence, this study underscores the necessity of safeguarding biological sciences from subjective interference to maximize societal benefits while addressing legitimate ethical considerations.

The study was undertaken to determine the microbial quality of expired sausage rolls. Samples were analyzed for the presence of microorganisms using appropriate selective media. Inoculation was done using spread plate techniques. The total viable count (TVC) of bacterial population in all the expired sausage rolls were in the range of 2 x 104 to 3 x 104 cfu/g. Beeti sausage roll recorded the highest number (3 x 104 cfu/g) of bacterial growth. The total coliform count (TCC) ranges from 5 x 103 to 1.3 x 105 cfu/g; Chi-Super Bite sausage rolls have the higest coliform count. The range of Staphylococcus aureus count was 1×104 to 4.1×104 cfu/g with Chi-Super Bite having the highest. The frequency of the six genera isolated showed Pseudomonas spp (10.7%) was the least predominant whereas Escherichia coli (17.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.9%), Bacillus spp (17.9%), Enterococcus spp (17.9%) and Proteus spp (17.9%) showed equal dominance. Considering the TVC and TCC of all the expired sausage rolls, they are unfit for human consumption. This study reveals the socio-economic benefits of monitoring the health standards of population especially the young generation.

This work characterized the vegetation structure using tree heights, DBH (diameter at breast height) class distribution and percentage family cover of trees and herb as standard determinants of growth, production and diversity of three selected ecosystems (grazing, riparian and plantation ecosystems) in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Plot sampling, plant measurements and identification followed standard practices. Correlation was determined between plant height and DBH at each ecosystem using the Pearson’s methods on Minitab 16 software. Consequently, tree height classes (m) 6-10 and 11-15 had the highest frequency (154) while DBH class 51-100cm was the most dominant. The riparian vegetation had the largest percentage family cover (15 families) with Fabaceae having the highest percentage (43.2%). This was followed by the grazing (9 families) and plantation ecosystems (3 families). Percentage family cover of herbs was largest in the grazing ecosystems (21 families) where family Poaceae had the largest cover (37.04%). Moderate relationship exists between height and DBH in the three ecosystems. Results provided sufficient evidences of anthropogenic pressure on the tree species. The plantation ecosystem showed signs of excessive vegetal perturbation. The information provided is crucial in the management, conservation and sustainable utilization of documented plant species on the basis of the existing vegetational physiognomy and family in the affected ecosystems.