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How childhood stress can undermine memory skills

Experts say that children are more stressed than adults. This is due to constantly having to face new and confusing situations. Researchers have found that childhood stress can affect memory skill of students.

Veena M A

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Image credit: Gen Matic from Pixabay

Many children today transition from playfulness and innocence to mental stress and other worries during adolescence. It is crucial to understand children’s issues and actively seek solutions rather than fretting over them. These challenges during a critical stage of development can significantly impact children’s memory and intelligence.

A world full of happiness and no worries… Such is the view of parents and guardians about the world of children. They don’t have to worry about work to be done or responsibilities, so what’s the stress on them? But the data coming out about children’s mental health suggests that these are all just our misconceptions.

The number of children seeking counseling and mental health treatment is increasing day by day. To those who wonder what tension they have for this alone, they say, many. At a very young age, children experience minor stress or mental tension!

What is stress?

What is stress if it affects even children? Stress is the body’s coping mechanism to deal with and adapt to challenging situations. A balance of demands from multiple sources or the ability to meet them leads to stress. Such demands may come from family, work, school, or friends, and sometimes one’s own demands can also lead to stress. Stress occurs when the demand and the ability to meet it do not match.

Dr Rashmi Prakash, a member of the Australian Psychological Society, says that a small amount of stress is beneficial to children. But stress can have long-term effects on children if it goes too far

Stress occurs in children for many reasons. The worry of missing parents at a very young age, academic issues later in life, social pressures, mental and physical abuse, problems between parents and isolation all contribute to stress in children. Dr Rashmi Prakash, a member of the Australian Psychological Society, says that a small amount of stress is beneficial to children. But stress can have long-term effects on children if it goes too far. Recently Indian researchers have found that childhood stress can affect memory skill of students.

Research conducted by a team consisting of Radha Raghuraman, Anoop Manakadan, Gal Richer Levin, and Sreedharan Sajikumar, in 2022, found that childhood stress can have a detrimental effect on memory.

How to spot stress in children

Stress and related problems in children can be difficult to identify, but sudden anger, mood swings, misbehaviour, changes in sleep patterns, and bedwetting can all be considered signs of stress. Some may also experience physical effects due to stress. For example, stomach ache and headache. Others have symptoms such as lack of concentration and inability to complete studies. Apart from this, being away from everyone and spending a lot of time alone is a sign of stress. Signs of stress include thumb-slapping, hair-twisting, nose-picking in young children, and lying, bullying, and backbiting in adults. Stressed out children can get into big fights even over small things. Falling behind in studies is also a symptom of stress.

Image credit: Pixabay

The connection between stress and memory

Experts say that children are more stressed than adults. This is due to constantly having to face new and confusing situations. Children are greatly influenced by the expectations placed on them by the adults around them, especially parents and teachers. Children often judge themselves by those expectations. When those expectations are not met or when their skills, abilities, and pride are called into question, they are unable to cope.

Separation from parents especially mother, physical or mental abuse, fear etc. can lead children of any age to stress

Recent studies have shown that stress levels in children have been on the rise over the past few decades. Radha Raghuraman says that exposure to stress during childhood can affect the ability to connect different types of memories as adults. The research team conducted studies on this in mice. As the juvenile phase in mice is equivalent to the adolescent phase in humans, adolescent stress is the main concern here. Radha explains that since the structures of the memory-related brain regions of mice and humans are almost identical, their findings may hold true for humans as well.

Separation from parents especially mother, physical or mental abuse, fear etc. can lead children of any age to stress. Depending on the age at which stress occurs, how long it has lasted, the intensity, and the type of stress, the changes it causes in the body and behaviour will vary.

Adolescent stress stimulates certain epigenetic factors. Like a gene, a piece of DNA that carries information necessary for specific functions in a cell, an epi-gene is a factor that causes a gene to decide whether or not to express the information in the gene, and if so, how much to express.

Parental proximity also plays a major role in reducing stress in adolescents. Even after work, you should be interested in sitting with the children and asking about their affairs.

Through their study, Radha and his team found that stress during adolescence results in increased activation of the epi-gene G9a/GLP. It affects the formation of certain proteins that stabilise newly formed memories. As a result, memories that have already been formed are perfected and as they grow, there is no room for other memories that come in connection with them. Associative memory is the ability to connect existing memories with recent or recent events and find similarities and dissimilarities between them. Adolescent stress mainly affects associative memory. Radha says that G9a/GLP was found to be significantly higher in stressed mice. The researchers also found that associative memory was restored when G9a/GLP was blocked with the drug.

How to save children from stress

Adequate rest, nutritious food, closeness, attention and care of parents can give children a lot of relief from stress. Parents should try to be with their children when they want. If you notice that there are any problems, talk to them openly instead of thinking that they will tell you here.

Image credit: Pixabay

Parental proximity also plays a major role in reducing stress in adolescents. Even after work, you should be interested in sitting with the children and asking about their affairs.

Studies remind us that stress during adolescence should be viewed more cautiously than stress at any other time. Adolescence is also a period of growth in children. Facing stress at a time when the development of many important organs including the brain is not complete can lead to many types of consequences while growing up.

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Society

Is India’s Clean Cooking Gas Model the Future for the Global South?

The Indian model, backed by smart subsidies and sustainable policies, provides a scalable solution for developing nations striving for clean cooking access

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Image by Aristal Branson from Pixabay

At the just concluded India Energy Week 2025 (February 11-14), India’s Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, chaired a Ministerial Roundtable on Clean Cooking, where India’s success in providing universal access to clean cooking gas became a key focal point. The Minister emphasized that India’s model for clean cooking gas is not only a success story but also a replicable blueprint for the Global South, offering solutions to nations facing similar energy access challenges.

“India’s clean cooking gas revolution is a game-changer,” said Puri. He pointed out the key factors behind this success: targeted subsidies, strong political will, the digitization of distribution networks by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and nationwide campaigns to shift cultural practices towards clean cooking.

The session brought together representatives from Brazil, Tanzania, Malawi, Sudan, Nepal, and key industry leaders, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), Total Energy, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). These nations, all striving to enhance energy access for their populations, were eager to learn from India’s achievements.

Under India’s popular government scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY– Prime Minister’s Lightening Scheme), beneficiaries receive LPG access at a highly affordable cost of just 7 cents per day, while other consumers can access clean cooking fuel at 15 cents per day. “This affordability has been a game-changer in driving widespread adoption,” added Shri Puri, underlining the pivotal role of subsidies in overcoming financial barriers to clean cooking.

International representatives shared their nations’ efforts to transition to clean cooking solutions. Dkt. Doto Mashaka Biteko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Tanzania, outlined the country’s strategy to transition 80% of households to clean cooking by 2030, relying on subsidies and a mix of energy sources, including LPG, natural gas, and biogas. Despite this ambition, he noted challenges such as financing constraints, infrastructure costs, and the need for regulatory reforms to encourage private-sector participation.

Similarly, Dr. Mohieldien Naiem Mohamed Saied, Minister of Energy and Oil, Sudan, emphasized the need for private-sector involvement to overcome gaps in LPG supply, particularly as Sudan still imports much of its energy. He stressed the importance of encouraging local cylinder production and ensuring cost-effective imports to drive broader adoption.

Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the IEA, recognized India’s success as a model that offers valuable lessons for other nations grappling with issues of affordability, access, and infrastructure. She emphasized the role of concessional financing and public-private partnerships (PPP) in scaling up clean cooking access. Addressing cultural acceptance and regulatory adjustments, such as tax reductions, were also highlighted as critical factors for large-scale adoption.

Rahool Panandiker, Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), further underscored the effectiveness of India’s clean cooking transformation. He attributed the success to the strong political commitment, effective subsidy targeting, and robust public awareness campaigns. Panandiker also credited India’s Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for enabling last-mile LPG delivery through digital platforms, making adoption seamless. He also stressed the importance of refining the cylinder refill model to ensure sustained usage while balancing affordability with economic sustainability.

In addition to LPG, the roundtable explored the potential of alternative clean cooking technologies. Puri addressed the potential of solar cookers in expanding clean cooking solutions across the Global South. He highlighted that IOCL’s advanced solar cookers, priced at approximately $500 per unit, could be a viable solution, though the price point remains a challenge for widespread adoption. “Leveraging carbon financing and collaborating with the private sector can drive costs down and make solar cooking a viable alternative for millions,” he stated.

This initiative aligns with India’s broader efforts to diversify clean cooking options beyond LPG, further reinforcing its commitment to reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels and cutting carbon emissions. The government’s focus on solar cooking options aims to ensure a more sustainable future for energy access, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

“The Indian model, backed by smart subsidies and sustainable policies, provides a scalable solution for developing nations striving for clean cooking access,” Puri said. He also stressed that achieving universal clean cooking access is not merely an economic imperative but a moral one, given the severe health and environmental impacts of traditional biomass cooking.

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Green Energy

India Strengthens Clean Energy Initiatives at India Energy Week 2025

These clean energy projects are part of India’s broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its energy security while promoting sustainability

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Image credit: PIB

At the India Energy Week 2025, India underscored its commitment to a sustainable and clean energy future through several strategic partnerships and agreements. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted the importance of these initiatives in driving India’s transition to a greener energy landscape.

A key development in the clean energy sector was the partnership between India’s public sector firm BPCL and Eco Wave Power of Israel, which aims to establish India’s first wave energy pilot project in Mumbai. The project will utilize wave energy converter technology, marking a significant step in the country’s exploration of renewable energy sources.

In the biofuel sector, BPCL also signed an MoU with the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, to scale up the production of sweet sorghum-based bioethanol. This collaboration will help build capacity for both farmers and industry partners, supporting India’s drive to increase the share of biofuels in its energy mix.

These clean energy projects are part of India’s broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its energy security while promoting sustainability. Through these initiatives, India is reinforcing its position as a key player in the global clean energy transition.

Minister Puri emphasized that these agreements are a testament to India’s commitment to securing affordable, sustainable energy and fostering international collaborations in cutting-edge energy solutions. These partnerships will help achieve India’s energy transition goals, ensuring a resilient and sustainable energy future for the nation.

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Society

Sustainable Farming: The Microgreens Model from Kerala, South India

Microgreens can be harvested in 10 to 15 days from sowing, and they are not affected by external factors like rainfall, floods, or drought.

Lakshmi Narayanan

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Image by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pixabay

In the verdant expanses of South Chittoor, a locality near Ernakulam city in Kerala, a coastal state in the southwestern part of India, lives Ajay Gopinath, a pioneer in the field of urban farming. In a region where traditional farming is deeply rooted but not always feasible, Ajay has embraced a more innovative approach, cultivating crops in a controlled indoor environment. His journey into microgreen farming is not just about a unique method of growing food, but a mission to bring sustainable, nutritious farming into urban spaces.

With a small, yet efficient setup of food-grade trays and advanced farming techniques, Ajay has created an urban farm within his own home. This modern method allows him to grow a variety of microgreens without the need for large tracts of land or the strenuous labour typically associated with farming. His work is a testament to how technology and tradition can combine, offering a glimpse into the future of agriculture in cities. Ajay showcases his micro-farming setup in a 600-square-foot space, where he grows a variety of crops using food-grade trays in a micro-farming system.

Ajay Gopinath. Image credit: By special arrangement

Microgreens and Their Benefits

Microgreens, such as sprouts and small plants grown from seeds, are harvested when they reach about two inches in height. This method of growing plants is known as “microgreen farming” and does not require extensive land or hard physical labour. “Microgreens can be harvested in 10 to 15 days from sowing, and they are not affected by external factors like rainfall, floods, or drought. Plants like sunflower, mustard, spinach, chickpea, and others can be grown in this way,” says Ajay Gopinath.

The key advantage of microgreens is their dense nutritional value. For instance, just 25 grams of microgreens can provide the same nutritional benefits as consuming a kilogram of cabbage or lentils. Microgreens are essentially at the next growth stage after sprouts, when they develop their first true leaves alongside the cotyledons.

Ajay Gopinath’s Urban Microgreen Farm

Ajay operates his indoor microgreen farm behind the Chittoor temple in Ernakulam, where he grows around 15 varieties of microgreens, including mustard, chia seeds, cabbage, and others. With daily harvests, his small farming space consistently yields reliable income. Through his venture Grow Greens, Ajay has proven that large-scale land is unnecessary for microgreen farming, making it possible to grow these nutritious plants in a small indoor space.

How to Farm Microgreens Indoors?

Microgreens are grown in trays arranged on racks, where each tray contains a different variety of plant. This indoor farm follows modern agricultural techniques using artificial lighting, fans, and purified water to create a controlled environment. In the initial stages, the seeds are placed in shallow trays with a layer of moist cloth. After two days, once the seeds begin to sprout, the trays are moved to the “grow room” that maintains the ideal temperature and humidity for plant growth. Within 7 to 10 days, the microgreens reach a height of 24 inches, and they are ready to be harvested.

Microgreens are grown in trays arranged on racks, where each tray contains a different variety of plant

Ajay emphasizes that proper microgreen farming should be scientifically conducted, and the use of materials like printed paper or plastic is not ideal for healthy production. He stresses the importance of using seeds that are free from pesticides and other chemicals, and the seeds must be non-GMO, produced under natural conditions. Seeds for this purpose are sourced from cities like Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.

The Nutritional Benefits of Microgreens

Microgreens contain up to 40 times the nutrient density of mature plants. While many people are familiar with basic salad ingredients like onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers, microgreens offer a much more potent alternative. They are now favoured by health-conscious individuals, those on specialized diets, and patients undergoing treatment. Ajay’s microgreens are sold in star hotels and supermarkets in Ernakulam, and he offers sample packs for those new to this type of nutrition.

Market Demand and Expansion

While microgreens are priced at 1500-2000 INR per kilogram in the market, Ajay’s aim is to make them widely accessible. He believes that microgreen farming should expand to the grassroots level, making it available in local panchayats as a sustainable and nutritious food option. By making daily deliveries of freshly harvested microgreens, Ajay is building awareness about this high-tech farming method, showing that it requires minimal land and effort while offering a steady income.

Setting Up a Microgreen Farm

To begin, food-grade trays are used for farming. These trays are arranged on racks, with each tray dedicated to a specific plant. A controlled environment, complete with artificial light, fans, and purified water, ensures optimal conditions for growth. Special containers are used to prepare the seeds, and after the first two days, when they begin to sprout, they are moved to the grow room. By maintaining low humidity and a consistent temperature, the plants can grow and be harvested in just 7-10 days.

Ajay suggests that anyone, even those living in apartments with limited space, can grow microgreens at home. He recommends using local seeds, such as rice, millet, fenugreek, or mustard, and ensuring the growing space has good airflow and sunlight.

The EP View

Microgreen farming, as demonstrated by Ajay Gopinath and his Grow Greens venture, is a promising solution for urban farming. It proves that with minimal space and effort, anyone can grow highly nutritious crops indoors, offering both health benefits and a sustainable income source. Through his work, Ajay is helping to popularize microgreen farming, aiming to make it accessible to all.

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