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- Environmental organizations have recently called upon the Forest department to ensure transparency in a project aimed at extracting Senna spectabilis from the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Here are some key points about Senna spectabilis:
- Senna spectabilis belongs to the legume family.
- It is a large to medium-sized tree originally native to South and Central America, prized for its vibrant yellow flowers which make it popular as an ornamental plant.
- This species is known for its rapid growth, particularly in deep soils, and is resistant to fire, termites, and can tolerate strongly acidic soils.
- Recent research has reported what could potentially be the first-ever case of Down syndrome identified in Neanderthals.
- Here are key aspects about Down syndrome:
- Down syndrome is a genetic condition where a person has an extra chromosome or an additional part of a chromosome.
- Chromosomes are structures in cells that contain genetic material, determining traits and functions of the body.
- India has formally announced its participation in the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held recently in Astana, Kazakhstan, led by the External Affairs Minister who heads the delegation.
- Here are key points about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- It is the largest regional organization in terms of geographical coverage and population, spanning about 80% of the Eurasian landmass and representing 40% of the global population.
- India has formally announced its participation in the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held recently in Astana, Kazakhstan, led by the External Affairs Minister who heads the delegation.
- Here are key points about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- It is the largest regional organization in terms of geographical coverage and population, spanning about 80% of the Eurasian landmass and representing 40% of the global population.
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- India has formally announced its participation in the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held recently in Astana, Kazakhstan, led by the External Affairs Minister who heads the delegation.
- Here are key points about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- It is the largest regional organization in terms of geographical coverage and population, spanning about 80% of the Eurasian landmass and representing 40% of the global population.
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.
- The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently published its annual World Drug Report, focusing on global trends in drug use and related issues.
- Key points from the World Drug Report 2024 include:
- The report is an annual publication by the UNODC, providing comprehensive insights into global drug trends.
- Highlights indicate that the number of drug users has increased to 292 million in 2022, marking a 20% rise over the past decade.
- The central government is currently in the process of elevating the National Test House (NTH) to become the premier certification authority for all Indian products.
- Originally established in 1912 as the Government Test House, NTH holds a distinguished history. It stands as India's largest multi-location, multidisciplinary industrial testing laboratory under the central government. NTH specializes in comprehensive testing, calibration, and quality evaluation services aligned with both international and national standards.
- Recently, the Science member of Niti Aayog released guidelines on the utilization and processing of steel slag as processed steel slag aggregates for road construction.
- Key points about steel slag:
- Steel slag is a byproduct generated in significant quantities during steel manufacturing processes, particularly in electric arc furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces.
- It primarily consists of calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum silicates, and oxides in varying compositions.
- Applications of Steel Slag:
- It has been utilized as a barrier material to remediate waste sites where heavy metals may leach into the environment, owing to its high content of oxide minerals.
- Steel slag has proven effective in treating acidic water discharges from abandoned mines.
- Astronomers have recently made a breakthrough discovery of a new radio galaxy using the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR).
- Key aspects of the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) include:
- LOFAR is a pioneering, pan-European distributed radio interferometer, distinguished as the first of its kind.
- It operates at low radio frequencies, specifically between 90 to 200 MHz, akin to the FM radio band.
- Developed by the Dutch Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), its primary objectives encompass exploring the early universe, studying solar activity, and investigating the terrestrial atmosphere.
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- Scientists have recently highlighted the potential of a desert moss species, 'Syntrichia caninervis', as a pivotal element for future space exploration and colonization endeavors.
- Key characteristics of Syntrichia caninervis include:
- It ranks among the most abundant desert moss species globally.
- Demonstrates exceptional resilience to various environmental stressors such as drought, cold temperatures, and radiation.
- Notably, it exhibits extreme desiccation tolerance, capable of recovering within seconds after losing over 98% of its water content.
- A UK-based teenager, Oran Knowlson, has made history as the first person worldwide to receive a brain implant aimed at managing his epileptic seizures through deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology.
- Key details about the DBS device and its application include:
- The DBS device is commonly used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and various neurological conditions.
- The neurostimulator functions by delivering continuous electrical impulses to the brain, disrupting or blocking abnormal signals that trigger seizures.