CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• New insights from NASA's Juno probe have significantly expanded our understanding of the prevalence of lava lakes on Jupiter's moon Io.
• About Juno Probe:
  • Juno, short for Jupiter Near-Polar Orbiter, is a NASA spacecraft specifically designed to orbit the gas giant Jupiter. Launched atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on August 5, 2011, Juno embarked on a mission initially planned for five years to study Jupiter's origins and evolutionary processes.
• Mission Objectives and Achievements:
  • The primary goal of the Juno mission is to uncover the mysteries surrounding Jupiter's formation and evolution. Upon reaching Jupiter in 2016, Juno became the first spacecraft to conduct detailed investigations beneath the planet's dense cloud cover, providing unprecedented insights into its atmosphere and magnetic field dynamics.
• Current Status and Extended Mission:
  • Operating in a highly elliptical orbit around Jupiter, Juno completes a full orbit every 11 days. The spacecraft is solar-powered and has been extended beyond its initial mission end in July 2021, with operations expected to continue until 2025. During its extended mission phase, Juno is delving deeper into the Jupiter system, exploring the intriguing moons Ganymede, Europa, and Io, along with conducting detailed studies of Jupiter's atmosphere and rings.
• Recent Discoveries on Io:
  • Recently, Juno's observations have shed new light on Io, revealing a more comprehensive distribution of lava lakes across its surface. These findings are enhancing our understanding of the moon's volcanic activity and geological processes, providing invaluable data for planetary scientists studying Io's dynamic environment.
• Juno's extended mission promises further revelations about Jupiter and its moons, solidifying its role as a pivotal spacecraft in unraveling the mysteries of our solar system's largest planet and its diverse satellite worlds.

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• A newly identified spider species named Steriphopus wangala has recently been documented in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
• About Steriphopus Wangala:
  • Steriphopus wangala is a newly discovered species of spider found in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
  • It derives its name from the Wangala festival, a prominent harvest celebration of the Garo community, also known as the 100 Drums Festival.
  • Belonging to the Palp-Footed Spider family, Steriphopus wangala is noted for its robust and heavily sclerotized first pair of legs, which are disproportionately powerful.
  • The spider displays a distinctive reddish-brown coloration, adding to its unique characteristics within its taxonomic family.
• Significance of the Wangala Festival:
  • The Wangala Festival, also referred to as the 100 Drums Festival, is a significant cultural event among the Garo people of Meghalaya.
  • Celebrated at the culmination of the agricultural season, the festival is a time of gratitude towards spirits and deities for a fruitful harvest and seeks blessings for prosperity in the coming year.
  • Central to the Wangala Festival is the veneration of Saljong, the Sun God, through offerings and rituals performed by the tribal community.
  • The festival also marks the onset of winter and serves as a vibrant showcase of Garo culture, highlighted by the rhythmic resonance of a hundred drums crafted from tree trunks.
  • As part of the festivities, numerous dancers gather to perform traditional ceremonial dances, moving in sync with the pulsating beats of the drums, symbolizing unity and cultural heritage.
• The discovery of Steriphopus wangala serves as a fitting tribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the Garo community, intertwining natural history with local traditions and festivals in Meghalaya.

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• The annual conference on Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) 'Awareness, Care, and Management’ recently convened at Nimhans, Bengaluru, emphasizing the role of symptomatic and supportive treatments in effectively managing these conditions.
• About Motor Neuron Diseases (MNDs):
  • MNDs constitute a group of progressive neurological disorders that target motor neurons, crucial cells responsible for coordinating skeletal muscle activities such as walking, breathing, speaking, and swallowing. These neurons are located within the brain and spinal cord, facilitating communication between the nervous system and muscles.
  • While MNDs can manifest at any age, symptoms typically begin to appear after the age of 50. Early indications include muscle weakness and slurred speech, progressing to eventual paralysis. MNDs exhibit a higher prevalence among males compared to females.
• Causes:
  • The precise cause of MND remains unknown. Generally, it is believed to arise from a combination of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors. In about 10% of cases, MNDs are familial, meaning they are inherited due to specific genetic mutations or errors.
  • The spectrum of MNDs includes disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Kennedy's disease, and post-polio syndrome. ALS, affecting both upper and lower motor neurons, is the most common type, impacting muscles in the arms, legs, mouth, and respiratory system.
• Treatment:
  • Currently, there is no cure or standardized treatment for MNDs. However, symptomatic and supportive treatments play a crucial role in enhancing comfort and maintaining quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions. These treatments aim to manage symptoms and alleviate complications associated with muscle function and mobility.

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• Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of six consecutive developmental trials of the High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ at Chandipur, Odisha.
• About ABHYAS:
  • ABHYAS is a sophisticated High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru. The production agencies involved in its development include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro.
• Key Features:
  • ABHYAS provides a realistic threat scenario for the practice of weapon systems.
  • This indigenous system is designed for autonomous flying, utilizing an autopilot system and a laptop-based Ground Control System for aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and autonomous flight operations.
  • It includes a data recording feature during flight for detailed post-flight analysis.
  • The booster for ABHYAS has been developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory, while the navigation system has been engineered by the Research Centre Imarat.
• These successful trials underscore India’s advancement in developing indigenous high-speed aerial targets for enhancing the effectiveness and readiness of its defence capabilities.

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• Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marked a significant achievement by delivering the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy during a ceremony held in New Delhi.
• About Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR):
  • The MR-MOCR incorporates Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC) technology, a specialized development by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur. This technology is designed to obscure radar signals, creating a protective microwave shield around platforms and assets to reduce their radar detectability.
• Key Features:
  • The rocket utilizes special fibers with diameters of a few microns, possessing unique microwave obscuration properties.
  • Upon launch, the MR-MOCR releases a cloud of microwave obscurant into space, which spreads over a significant area and persists for an adequate duration. This cloud effectively shields against hostile threats equipped with Radio Frequency (RF) seekers.
• Indigenous Development:
  • DRDO has successfully developed three variants of this crucial technology: Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR), and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR).
• Trials and Validation:
  • Phase-I trials of MR-MOCR were conducted successfully from Indian Navy ships, demonstrating the effective blooming and persistence of the MOC cloud in space.
  • In Phase-II trials, the rocket demonstrated a significant reduction in Radar Cross Section (RCS) of aerial targets, achieving up to 90% reduction as validated and approved by the Indian Navy.
• This development underscores India’s capability to develop and deploy advanced defensive technologies, enhancing the operational effectiveness and survivability of its naval assets against modern threats.