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- Sea buckthorn fruit from Ladakh has recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- About Sea Buckthorn:
- Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a hardy plant native to Europe and Asia. In India, it thrives in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, particularly in the arid landscapes of Ladakh and Spiti, where it naturally covers over 11,500 hectares. The plant produces small berries, typically orange or yellow, known for their tart flavor and high vitamin content, particularly vitamin C.
- This resilient shrub can endure extreme temperature variations, from as low as -43 degrees Celsius to as high as 40 degrees Celsius, making it exceptionally drought-resistant. Its ability to retain berries throughout the winter months, even in freezing conditions, sets it apart.
- Uses:
- Traditionally, sea buckthorn has been utilized for numerous purposes. Every part of the plant—fruits, leaves, twigs, roots, and thorns—has been employed for medicinal uses, nutritional supplements, fuel, and even as fencing. Many bird species rely on its berries when food is scarce during harsh winters.
- The leaves provide protein-rich fodder for livestock in cold desert areas, including sheep, goats, donkeys, cattle, and Bactrian camels. Because of its myriad benefits, it is often referred to as the "Wonder Plant," "Ladakh Gold," "Golden Bush," or "Gold Mine" of the cold desert regions.
- A team of researchers has recently uncovered a vast cosmic structure known as the "Cosmic Vine."
- About Cosmic Vine:
- This remarkable structure resembles a massive "vine" and includes 20 galaxies, spanning over 13 light years. It is also incredibly ancient, dating back to a redshift of 3.44, which places it in the early universe. (Redshift measures the stretching of light as it travels across vast distances, with higher values indicating greater age.)
- A redshift of 3.44 suggests that the light from the Cosmic Vine has been journeying for approximately 11 to 12 billion years before reaching the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). For context, current estimates place the universe's age at about 13.7 billion years.
- Among its notable features, the Cosmic Vine contains two of the largest galaxies ever detected at such a high redshift—Galaxy A and Galaxy E. Both galaxies are in a quiescent state, indicating a slowdown in star formation activity.
- Researchers speculate that the Cosmic Vine may represent a precursor to a galaxy cluster, offering valuable insights into how such clusters form and how massive galaxies develop within them.
- The new Pamban Bridge is expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the coming months.
- About the New Pamban Bridge:
- This bridge is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, connecting Rameswaram on Pamban Island to Mandapam on the Tamil Nadu mainland.
- Bridge Specifications: The total length of the new bridge is 2.078 kilometers, featuring 99 spans with girders measuring 18.3 meters long. It includes a navigational span of 63 meters. This new structure will replace the iconic Pamban Bridge, India’s first sea bridge, which was inaugurated in 1914. The new bridge is being constructed parallel to the original by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
- Features: A standout feature of the new Pamban Bridge is its vertical lift capability, designed to facilitate smooth passage for boats underneath. While the old bridge utilizes the 'Scherzer' rolling lift technology that opens horizontally, the new bridge will lift vertically while remaining parallel to the deck. This operation will be controlled by sensors located at both ends.
- The vertical lift span will have an electromechanical control system that is interconnected with the train control system. To enable shipping traffic to pass beneath, rail traffic will be temporarily halted. The navigational span can be elevated vertically, providing ample height for boats, with a full horizontal clearance of 72.5 meters.
- The new Pamban Bridge stands 3 meters taller than its predecessor and offers a navigational air clearance of 22 meters above mean sea level. It has also been designed to accommodate a double railway line and future electrification.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully landed two of its C-130J-30 ‘Super Hercules’ military transport aircraft at a challenging and unpaved airstrip in Uttarakhand.
- About C-130 Super Hercules:
- The C-130 Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft and represents the latest production model of the C-130 Hercules, succeeding the earlier C-130H version. It made its inaugural flight in 1996 and serves as the primary tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft for the US Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, a leading US security and aerospace company, the C-130J is designed to perform tactical airlift missions, capable of operating from rough and unprepared airstrips, making it ideal for airdropping troops and supplies into hostile environments.
- Major operators of the C-130J include the US Air Force, US Marine Corps, Australia, Canada, India, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
- Features:
- The C-130J has streamlined crew requirements, needing only a minimal team of three to operate—comprising two pilots and one loadmaster. It boasts a substantial payload capacity of 19 tons and is powered by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines. The aircraft is equipped with advanced digital avionics, including a Head-Up Display (HUD) for each pilot.
- Range: 6,852 km (with no payload)
- Speed: 644 km/hr
- Endurance: Over 20 hours
- Takeoff and Landing: Capable of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways.
- C-130J-30:
- The C-130J-30 is an extended version of the C-130J, featuring an additional 15 feet in fuselage length. This extension increases the usable space within the cargo compartment, allowing for two more pallets of equipment.