Science Heritage Journal | Galeri Warisan Sains (GWS)

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.

Consumption of different food and beverages plays one of the most important role in an individual’s health. The type of food we eat and the beverages we consume can impact our bodies and shape our lives in various ways. This study involves two crucial aspects: the impact of diverse dietary patterns and the effects of caffeine consumption on the body. Particularly, it examines the followers of the Krishna consciousness movement, famously also known as the ‘Hare Krishna people,’ who adhere to a stringent vegetarian diet devoid of onion and garlic, and abstain from any kind of intoxication including caffeine consumption. This questionnaire-based study aims to explore the disparities between the satvik diet (vegetarian, onion and garlic-free) with a caffeine-free regimen, compared to other dietary practices. The study revealed that ratio of people who follow such diets are able to sleep a lesser number of hours naturally while others need longer hours of sleep to feel energetic. It also showed that people following satvik dietary patterns tend to have less issues of acne/breakouts and feel more active in the morning as compared to people following other diets. They were also found themselves to fall asleep faster than other groups who found it hard to fall asleep.

Soil salinity is a significant environmental problem that decreases the productivity of vegetable crops. One of the most commonly grown vegetable crops worldwide is the tomato and the salt concentration in the root area significantly affects its production and quality. Gibberellic acid plays a vital role in increasing tomato production in slightly salty soil conditions. An experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Field, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh, from November 2020 to April 2021, to assess the impact of gibberellic acid on the growth, yield and yield-contributing characters of tomato. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments and replicated three times. The treatments were, T0 = (0 ppm GA3), T1 = (50 ppm GA3), T2 = (75 ppm GA3), T3 = (100 ppm GA3). The maximum plant height (129.72 cm), number of leaves per plant (66.03), number of branches per plant (10.33), number of flowers per plant (89.18), number of fruit clusters per plant (13.46), number of fruits per plant (50.74), fruit weight (67.41 g), fruit length (8.22 cm), yield per plant (2.45 kg) and yield per hectare (70.36 t/ha) were obtained from T3 (100 ppm GA3), whereas the lowest data was recorded from control T0 (0 ppm GA3). Observing the results, it can be stated that application of gibberellic acid @ 100 ppm improved growth and yield of tomato in moderate saline soil.

A study was conducted to understand the Profitability of Peste des Petits (PPR) vaccine adoption in Dhading district, Nepal to determine whether PPR vaccinated goats generate higher profits for female goat keepers and to identifying the associated barriers of PPR vaccine adoption. Altogether 120 households were selected using random sampling technique. Primary data were collected using semi-structured and pre- tested household questionnaire, FGDs and KIIs while secondary data were collected from different published records. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Data were encoded and analyzed excel, SPSS and R-Stat. In subsistence goat farming, the average production cost per goat was NRs.4226 annually, with BCR of 2.05. The vaccinated goats farming have BCR of 4.69 while unvaccinated goats farming has 1.61 BCR, which suggest that the goat farm adopted with PPR vaccination is profitable. Among 13 barriers of vaccine adoption explored the communication in between goat keepers and CAHW and Education status of farmers are more likely to enhance the adoption of PPR vaccine. PPR vaccine adoption is driven by an integrated approach that binds the responsibility of goat farmers, community, local government and national level institutes including government and non-government organizations which help to increase women’s economic and social empowerment and contribute to more sustainable agribusiness through equitable subsistence goat farming systems. Moreover, it is important to establish a reliable information system within the cooperative to ensure that farmers receive timely and accurate information about vaccination campaigns and elongate the duration of vaccination campaign.

Due to the unfavourable and dangerous effects of conventional insecticides, protecting stored food grains against insect pest infestation has become a significant issue. Against this back drop, a laboratory experiment arranged in Complete Randomised Design was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of Bridellia micrantha and Chasmanthra dependens against S. zeamais infestation on stored maize. Twenty grams (20g) maize seeds were admixed with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0g of each of the treatments in triplicates. Results showed that both plant materials caused significant adult mortality, suppressed infestation (9.45 – 21.71%), seed damage (6.88 – 21.71%) and reduced weight loss (5.79 – 34.01%) compared to control with increasing dosage rates. However, none of the plant powders was able to guarantee 100% protection against infestation, but both plant powders showed a significant promising effect in suppressing S. zeamais susceptibility to infestation and seed damage. The results obtained suggest that B. micrantha and C. dependens may be explored as a good potential botanical source insecticide as effective and suitable alternative to synthetic insecticides for S. zeamais infestation management on stored maize seeds due to their toxicity, oviposition deterrent, ovicidal activity and seed damage suppression.

This study describes a new Paleogene Rotaliid genus Uvigerinelloides from the middle Oligocene, Septarienthon of Hermsdorf, near Berlin, Germany. It is characterized by fusiform triserial perforate calcareous test, chambers regularly triserial throughout, while the final chambers more loosely arranged, surface finely hispid to smooth, which the last-formed chambers often entirely smooth, aperture slender neck and slightly phialine lip. This genus differs from the other Uvigeriniid genera by its finely hispid to smooth surface, which the last-formed chambers often entirely smooth.

Floral characteristics of 27 mango varieties were studied during February-May, 2024. Distinct variations were found among the studied varieties. Significant variation were observed in term of number of male flower per inflorescence, number of hermaphrodite flower per inflorescence, length of inflorescence and width of inflorescence ranging from 57 to 1737, 7 to 461, 19 cm to 40.6 cm, 6.4 cm to 25.7 cm respectively. The result disclosed that in all varieties flowers were of pentamerous type and inflorescence position were found terminal. The number of male flower per inflorescence were highest in Bombay (1737). In term of number of hermaphrodite flowers per inflorescence, chausa has highest number (461). In overall, male flower per inflorescence were more than hermaphrodite flower per inflorescence across all varieties except Amrapali, Jarda and Chausa. Ratna has the longest inflorescence (40.6 cm) and widest inflorescence (25.7 cm). From the study, it can be inferred that chausa will have more fruit set as it has more hermaphrodite flowers but seeing the overall floral character Ratna is more superior as it has longest and widest inflorescence and second highest in term of number of hermaphrodite flower among the studied varieties. The findings of the study will be beneficial for breeding purposes while developing new varieties of superior quality.

Chlorination is one technique used to treat wastewater; this method is particularly good at eliminating bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Chlorination is a common treatment method because it is more effective than other methods at eliminating most pathogenic organisms; however, it is also capable of eliminating the majority of other contaminants found in water. Seven bacteria were isolated from the sewage water in the current study, which included 30 sample collections from various locations throughout our city, both before and after the sewage water was treated with chlorine. (Staph. intermedis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staph.epidermidis, E.coli, Vibrio,cholera, Klebsiella pneumonia,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.) The Vitek 2 system was used in conjunction with macroscopic and microscopic examination to make the diagnosis of those isolated bacteria. The amount of isolated bacteria decreased and some of them were killed after being treated with 10 mg/L of chlorine