Python discovered in trash bins in California

The startup Bariflo Cybernetics, based in Odisha, aims to increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities in industrial enterprises. The company combines sensors, AI-based software, and automation to fine-tune treatment processes, which reduces energy and chemical consumption when preparing water for reuse.

Bariflo received funding of 2 crore rupees, tied to achieving specific milestones, from the MC² Plus energy innovation platform. This initiative is overseen by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Currently, the company is preparing for a pilot project with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), according to founder and CEO Mitrindjay Sahu. This funding helps Bariflo transition from technology development and testing to commercial implementation, which involves convincing industrial clients to invest in modernization that promises reduced operating costs.

Founded in 2018, Bariflo initially focused on monitoring and treating municipal water bodies. Later, the company began exploring aquaculture, including shrimp and fish farming, before concentrating on the treatment and reuse of industrial wastewater. Sahu notes that the scarcity of fresh and groundwater forces industries to be more careful with water and increase its recycling. Bariflo addresses this need by modernizing existing Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) instead of requiring clients to build new ones.

Citing a Frost & Sullivan study, Bariflo estimates the Indian industrial water and wastewater market at $2.87 billion in 2024, with a projected growth to $4.65 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 8.3%. This estimate covers water treatment, wastewater treatment, and zero/minimal liquid discharge solutions in the manufacturing, energy, and refinery sectors, which is broader than Bariflo's specific offering. The company names Ion Exchange and VA Tech WABAG as indirect competitors. Ion Exchange utilizes AI and wastewater modeling in its IonSite Digital Twin product to identify savings and guide plant operations, while VA Tech WABAG has demonstrated the application of AI in water treatment.

Bariflo's proprietary IoT sensors monitor wastewater parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids, and flow rate. The AI models use these readings to determine chemical dosing and treatment processes at different stages, according to Sahu. This automates some decisions that operators usually make manually and helps the plant respond to changes in incoming wastewater characteristics. Sahu claims that the technology has shown the potential to reduce energy consumption by approximately 25% and increase chemical utilization efficiency.

Installation costs depend on the size and configuration of the existing facility. Sahu indicates that full automation for a large refinery could cost approximately 1–2 crore rupees. The return on investment speed for clients depends on the plant's capacity, current operating costs, and achieved savings. Bariflo charges a one-time deployment fee, followed by a monthly fee for its technology and services. According to Sahu, the company generated about 1.2 crore rupees in revenue in 2025–26.

Mitrindjay Sahu reports that Bariflo conducted pilot projects at the Indian Oil Corporation research center in Faridabad. The planned pilot project with BPCL will test treatment efficiency, energy consumption, and chemical usage in an industrial setting. He expresses hope that successful verification will pave the way for a commercial order.

This stage may take time. Selling to large industrial organizations and public sector undertakings requires engagement with R&D teams and other decision-makers, involving lengthy pre-purchase evaluations. Sahu admits: 'The biggest challenge was overcoming the adoption process within the ecosystems of large industrial organizations and public sector undertakings.' Bariflo's argument to clients is the combination of sensors, software, and automation in a system that works with their existing installations. The company stated that it has filed 42 patent applications, 32 of which have been approved.

Bariflo approached MC² Plus after learning about the program through a public announcement. The 2 crore rupee funding is linked to agreed-upon milestones, and payments are structured around their completion, explains Sahu. MC² Plus brings together HPCL, ONGC, Indian Oil, BPCL, GAIL, Oil India, and Petronet LNG, offering funding for energy projects, research facilities, mentorship, and access to industrial pilot sites.

Before receiving this funding, Bariflo raised nearly $1 million through grants, equity, and debt, according to Sahu. The new funds will help conduct upcoming pilot projects and install its technology at more industrial sites. 'Our immediate priority is to accelerate commercialization and create a scalable business,' he concludes.

The ozone hole over Antarctica recorded one of the largest extensions in the last 48 years. Data released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA on Wednesday (4) indicates that this phenomenon reached its seventh largest average extent since monitoring began in 1979.

This increase was primarily driven by unusual weather conditions and a particularly intense polar vortex. During the period of greatest ozone degradation, which occurred between September 7 and October 13, the average area of the hole reached about 25 million square kilometers, more than double the territory of the United States.

Despite this significant size, experts state that the ozone layer is still on the path to recovery. The decrease in destructive chemical substances, resulting from international agreements, prevented the hole from reaching even larger dimensions.

The largest size recorded in 2026 was observed on September 18, when the hole reached approximately 27.1 million square kilometers. This dimension is equivalent to about 90% of the largest hole ever documented, which was seen on September 9, 2000.

Paul Newman, a scientist at the University of Maryland (USA) and former leader of the NASA ozone research team, commented to Phys.org that the late emergence of the phenomenon in recent years is a sign that the protective layer is recovering. However, in 2026, an exceptionally strong polar vortex prolonged the ozone destruction in Antarctica, allowing the hole to reach proportions unseen in a decade.

Even with the elevated extent, the 2026 hole did not show a level of destructive intensity comparable to previous record years. Paul Newman calculated that if the concentration of ozone-destroying substances in the atmosphere remained at the peak levels of 2000, the hole could have been between 3.5 and 5.6 million square kilometers larger.

This difference is attributed to global efforts to reduce the use of harmful ozone-depleting compounds. One pillar of this policy is the Montreal Protocol, an agreement signed in 1987 that committed to replacing substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) with less harmful alternatives.

According to Stephen Montzka, a NOAA researcher, the concentration of chlorine in the Antarctic stratosphere from these substances has dropped by about a third since the maximum levels recorded in the 1980s.

Monitoring the ozone layer involves direct atmospheric measurements and satellite observations. In Antarctica, NOAA researchers use instruments carried by meteorological balloons to measure gas concentration at various altitudes, in addition to employing a Dobson ozone spectrophotometer.

In 2026, measurements over the South Pole indicated that ozone concentration reached its lowest annual level on October 17, recording 105 Dobson units. This unit is used to quantify the amount of ozone in an atmospheric column; one hundred Dobson units correspond to a gas layer with approximately one millimeter of thickness, if all the ozone were compressed under standard temperature and pressure conditions.

The lowest value ever recorded over the South Pole was 92 Dobson units, in October 2006. Satellites are also crucial for tracking changes since 1979, including instruments aboard NASA's Aura, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 satellites, as well as the Suomi NPP, operated jointly by the two agencies.

Despite the growth in 2026, NOAA and NASA assess that the long-term trend remains positive. The chemicals responsible for ozone destruction can remain in the atmosphere for several decades, and some of them continue to be slowly released by old equipment, landfills, and materials that still contain them. For this reason, complete recovery does not occur immediately after emission reductions, and the agencies estimate that the ozone layer should recover by the 2070s.

The 2026 result demonstrates that natural atmospheric conditions can still cause large annual variations, but it also underscores the relevance of international agreements: without the reduction of destructive substances, this year's hole would have been considerably larger.

In addition to cleaning the floors and walls in the house, it is extremely important to regularly clean the water reservoir installed on the roof. People usually clean the tank every few months to remove accumulated dirt, moss, and sediment, ensuring clean water in the house. However, often even after thorough tank cleaning, the water starts to emit an unpleasant smell when the tap is opened, and people do not understand what the exact problem is.

In fact, the cause of the water odor is not always a dirty tank. Sometimes the contamination in the household piping system, water filter, water heater, or sink drain can be to blame. Therefore, instead of constantly cleaning the tank, it is necessary to find the true cause of the odor. Below are discussed the causes of water odor after tank cleaning and methods to eliminate it.

Even after cleaning the tank, old water may remain in the pipes. If the water remains stagnant for a long time, it can acquire a musty or damp smell. In this case, you should leave all taps in the house open for some time so that the old water drains from the pipes. If the smell persists, it is recommended to check the entire piping system.

If the smell is present only in hot water but not in cold water, the probable cause is the water heater. Due to prolonged water stagnation and lack of maintenance in the boiler, sulfide bacteria can develop, which gives the water a strong unpleasant odor. In such a situation, it is correct to clean and maintain the water heater.

Sometimes when an odor appears near the sink or washbasin, it seems that the water is spoiled, whereas the real reason lies in drainage contamination. The accumulation of soap, oil, and food residues in the drain pipe promotes the development of bacteria and mold. To check this, fill a glass with water from the tap and take it away from the sink to smell it. If the water in the glass does not smell, the problem is most likely in the drain. If the water in the glass smells, the water supply system needs to be checked.

Taking care of the water filter is as important as cleaning the tank. With prolonged use without replacement, filtering elements can accumulate dirt and various organic substances, which worsens the taste and smell of the water. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the filters of water purification systems, such as reverse osmosis or other types of filters, on time according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Even after cleaning the tank and pipes, the water may have an earthy or swampy smell. This may be related to the water source. The growth of algae and organic substances in sources such as rivers or lakes can change the taste and smell of the water. If the water smell suddenly changes, you should notify the local water utility and request a water quality check.

The choice of a suitable filter or purification method should only be made after determining the root cause of the odor. There is no universal filter that suits all types of odors.

Activated carbon: Can help reduce the content of many organic substances and chlorine in water, improving its taste and reducing unpleasant odors.

Reverse osmosis (RO) filter: Used to reduce the concentration of various dissolved contaminants in water, but it is not the only solution for all types of odors.

Grinsand filter: Can be effective if the rotten egg smell is caused by hydrogen sulfide. It helps oxidize this gas, turning it into particles that can then be filtered out.

Degasifier: Used to remove gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, from water.