CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• Entomologists have recently identified a new species of potter wasp from Arunachal Pradesh, named Pseumenes siangensis.
• About Pseumenes siangensis:
  • This newly discovered wasp belongs to the genus Pseumenes.
  • The Pseumenes genus falls within the subfamily Eumeninae, which are commonly referred to as potter wasps.
  • It is mainly found in the Oriental region.
  • These solitary wasps are known for creating small, pot-shaped mud nests for their larvae.
  • Approximately 3,795 species of potter wasps have been described across 205 genera.
  • Until now, India had recorded only one species from this genus, making the discovery of Pseumenes siangensis a "notable enhancement" to the country's wasp diversity.
  • Pseumenes siangensis was found in the Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, located in the Eastern Himalayas.
  • The species is named after the Siang Valley, where it was discovered.
  • Measuring about 30.2 mm in length, this new species is distinguishable from others by its unique morphological characteristics and color patterns.
  • It plays an important role in pest management, as its larvae primarily consume caterpillars and other insects.

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• Researchers have recently suggested that Ceres is a predominantly icy body that may have once been a world covered by a muddy ocean.
• About Ceres:
  • Ceres is classified as a dwarf planet and is the largest object found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
  • It is the only dwarf planet situated in the inner solar system.
  • Discovered in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres was the first object in the asteroid belt to be identified.
  • Named after the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain, the term "cereal" is derived from this name.
  • For many years, Ceres was categorized as an asteroid; however, due to its size and distinct characteristics, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
  • In 2015, NASA's Dawn mission made Ceres the first dwarf planet to be explored by a spacecraft.
• Features:
  • Ceres has a radius of 296 miles (476 kilometers), which is about 1/13 the size of Earth's radius.
  • It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.8 astronomical units (AU), where one AU is the distance from the Sun to Earth.
  • A complete orbit around the Sun takes Ceres 1,682 Earth days.
  • As it travels through space, Ceres rotates once every 9 hours, giving it one of the shortest days in the solar system.
  • Formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago, Ceres developed alongside the rest of the solar system when gravity coalesced gas and dust into this small dwarf planet.
  • Although Ceres shares more similarities with terrestrial planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, it has a significantly lower density.
  • It likely has a solid core and a mantle composed of water ice, while its crust is rocky and dusty, featuring extensive salt deposits.

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• Researchers have recently engineered DNA molecules featuring "invisibility cloak" sequences that can selectively target diseased cells associated with motor neuron disease.
• About Motor Neuron Disease (MND):
  • MND is a rare condition that progressively damages the nervous system.
  • This leads to muscle weakness, often accompanied by visible muscle wasting.
  • It is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease.
• Cause:
  • MND occurs when specialized nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, known as motor neurons, fail to function properly and die prematurely, a process termed neurodegeneration.
  • Motor neurons transmit signals from the brain to the muscles, enabling both voluntary and involuntary movements, such as swallowing and breathing.
  • As MND advances, individuals may find it increasingly challenging to perform these basic activities.
  • The condition is thought to arise from a combination of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors.
  • Approximately 20% of cases are linked to genetic causes, with half of those occurring in individuals with a family history of MND.
  • Although it primarily affects individuals in their 60s and 70s, MND can occur in adults of any age.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of MND typically develop gradually over weeks or months.
  • They usually begin on one side of the body and worsen progressively.
  • MND often starts with muscle weakness in the hands, feet, or voice, but can initiate in various areas and progress in different patterns at varying rates.
  • As the disease advances, individuals become increasingly disabled.
  • The average life expectancy following diagnosis is one to five years, though 10% of those affected may live for a decade or more.
• Treatment:
  • While there is currently no cure for MND, treatments are available to help alleviate the impact of symptoms on daily life.

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• The Chenchus of Penukumadugu have inhabited the dense Nallamala forests for centuries; however, their struggle to adapt to the rapid pace of modernization has resulted in a decline in employment opportunities under the MGNREGA.
• About the Chenchus:
  • The Chenchus are a Telugu-speaking food-gathering tribe residing in the Nallamalai forests of Andhra Pradesh.
  • They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in the state.
  • This conservative tribal group has largely maintained their traditional lifestyle and has not significantly embraced modernity.
  • Living in a confined geographical area, they experience a life of unbroken continuity.
  • The Chenchus lead a life characterized by remarkable simplicity, primarily relying on gathering food from the forest to meet their needs.
  • Their primary tools for hunting and gathering are a bow, arrow, and a small knife.
  • The Chenchus collect a variety of forest products, including roots, fruits, tubers, beedi leaves, mohua flowers, honey, gum, tamarind, and green leaves, selling these to traders and government cooperatives for a modest income.
  • A Chenchu village is referred to as a “Penta,” typically consisting of a few huts spaced apart and organized according to kinship.
  • The "Peddamanishi," or village elder, usually serves as the authority responsible for maintaining social harmony within families and the community, with their counsel being final in village matters.
  • The social structure is characterized by small conjugal families, where women hold equal status with men and marry only upon reaching maturity.
  • The Chenchus worship various deities and have integrated certain Hindu religious practices into their own.
  • They have long been associated with the famous Srisailam temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Devi Brahmaramba, located at the heart of Chenchu territory.
  • The Chenchus enjoy special privileges at the Srisailam temple, highlighting their unique connection to this significant cultural site.

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• The Negro River, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River, has recently reached its lowest water level in 122 years, according to Brazil’s geological service.
• About the Negro River:
  • The Rio Negro is one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon River and ranks among the world's largest rivers by discharge.
• Course:
  • Origin: The river has multiple headstreams, including the Vaupés (Mapés) and Guainía, which begin in the rainforests of eastern Colombia.
  • It flows along the border between Colombia and Venezuela before entering Brazil, where it is known as the Rio Negro.
  • The river generally meanders east-southeastward, collecting water from the Branco River and other tributaries as it heads toward Manaus, Brazil, the largest city in the Amazon Rainforest.
  • At Manaus, it merges with the Solimões River to form the Amazon River.
  • The Negro River flows through Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, spanning approximately 1,400 miles (2,250 km), of which 850 miles (1,370 km) are within Brazil.
• The name "Negro," meaning "black" in Portuguese, refers to the river's dark water, which results from the decomposition of organic matter and the presence of tannins leached from surrounding vegetation, giving it a distinctive rich coloration.
• As the largest blackwater river in the world, the Rio Negro has low sediment content, making it one of the cleanest rivers on the planet.
• The reserves and national parks along the Rio Negro create a vast protected area known as the Central Amazon Ecological Corridor, which is the largest section of protected Amazon Rainforest.

Covering 52 million hectares, this area is one of the largest protected regions in the world.