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GS Paper: GS3-16.Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

  • Indian Virtual Herbarium, biggest database of country’s flora, is a global hit

    With details of about one lakh plant specimens, the Indian Virtual Herbarium, the biggest virtual database of flora in the country, is generating a lot of interest and turning out to be an eye-catching endeavour.

    Indian Virtual Herbarium

    • A herbarium specimen is consists of dried plant parts with labelled information on Scientific name and collection data.
    • It has immense use in plant identification, systematics studies and ecological studies.
    • The Botanical Survey of India has more than 30,00,000 herbarium specimens persevered in different herbaria located in different parts of the country.
    • Developed by scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), the herbarium was inaugurated by Union Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change in Kolkata last month.

    Why in news?

    • Since launch, the portal ivh.bsi.gov.in has had nearly two lakh hits from 55 countries.
    • The portal includes about one lakh images of herbarium specimens.
    • Each record in the digital herbarium includes an image of the preserved plant specimen, scientific name, collection locality, and collection date, collector name, and barcode number.
    • The digital herbarium includes features to extract the data State-wise, and users can search plants of their own States, which will help them identify regional plants and in building regional checklists.

    Significance of the herbaria

    • Scientists say that there are approximately three million plant specimens in the country which are with different herbaria located at zonal centres of the BSI.
    • About 52% of our type specimens are from foreign nations and collected from 82 countries of the world during the British-era.
    • The herbarium is also deeply linked with the botanical history of the country.
    • The portal provides most valuable historical collections of botanists like William Roxburgh, Nathaniel Wallich and Joseph Dalton Hooker, considered the founding fathers of botany in India.
    • The digital herbarium has some of the oldest botanical specimens dating as early as 1696.

     

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  • Karnataka tops India Innovation Index List

    Karnataka has bagged the top rank in NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index, 2022, which determines innovation capacities and ecosystems at the sub-national level.

    India Innovation Index (III)

    • The release of the second edition of the index—the first was launched in October 2019—demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to transforming the country into an innovation-driven economy.
    • The index attempts to create an extensive framework for the continual evaluation of the innovation environment of all states and UTs in India.
    • It intends to perform the following three functions-
    1. Ranking of states and UTs based on their index scores
    2. Recognizing opportunities and challenges, and
    3. Assisting in tailoring governmental policies to foster innovation
    • The states have been bifurcated into three categories: major states, northeast and hill states, and union territories/city-states/small states.

    Significance

    • The study examines the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories.
    • The aim is to create a holistic tool that can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed and strengths to build on when designing policies.

    Highlights of the 2022 index

    • Karnataka has held this position, under the Major States category, in all three editions of the Index so far.
    • It was followed by Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat were at the bottom of the index.
    • In the Index, Manipur secured the lead in the Northeast and Hill States category, while Chandigarh was the top performer in the Union Territories and City States category.

     

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  • Researchers found gene regulating Nitrogen absorption in Plant

    Researchers led by those from the National Centre of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru (NCBS-TIFR), have found a new pathway that regulates nitrate absorption in plants.

    Nitrogen in plant nutrition

    • Nitrogen is one of the most important macronutrients needed for development of a plant.
    • It is a part of chlorophyll, amino acids and nucleic acids, among others.
    • It is mostly sourced from the soil where it is mainly absorbed in the form of nitrates and ammonium by the roots.
    • Nitrates also play a role in controlling genome-wide gene expression that in turn regulates root system architecture, flowering time, leaf development, etc.
    • Thus, while a lot of action takes place in the roots to absorb and convert nitrogen into useful nitrates, the absorbed nitrates in turn regulate plant development apart from being useful as a macronutrient.

    What is MADS27?

    • The gene MADS27, which regulates nitrate absorption, root development and stress tolerance, is activated by the micro-RNA, miR444, therefore offers a way to control these properties of the plant.
    • The researchers studied this mechanism in both rice (monocot) and tobacco (dicot) plants.

    Regulatory switches

    • In addition to this route, several gene regulatory switches that regulate nitrate absorption and root development, such as the micro-RNA, miR444, are known in monocot plants, such as rice.
    • The micro-RNA ‘miR444’ is specific to monocots.
    • When this is not made, its target, MADS27, is produced in higher abundance, and it improves biosynthesis and transport of the hormone auxin, which is key for root development and its branching.
    • This regulatory miR444 switch is known to turn off at least five genes called MADS box transcription factor genes.
    • The speciality of the MADS box transcription factors is that they function like switch boxes of their own.
    • They bind to their favourite specific DNA sequences and they switch the neighbouring genes “on.”

    Why is the discovery important?

    • Presence of nitrates is important for the plant development and also for grain production.
    • However, the overuse of nitrates in fertilizers, for instance, can lead to the dumping of nitrates in the soil which leads to accumulation of nitrates in water and soil.
    • This accumulation adds to soil and water pollution and increased contribution to greenhouse gases.
    • Also, since the whole process of nitrate absorption takes place in the roots, a well-developed root system is needed for this to take place optimally.
    • At one level, it is known that the hormone auxin is responsible for well-developed roots across all plants.
    • A number of genes are known to help with auxin production, improved nitrate transport and assimilation in plants.

    Significance of MADS27

    • The MADS27 transcription factor has a three-pronged effect on the plant.
    • First, it regulates nitrate absorption by switching “on” proteins involved in this process.
    • Second, it leads to better development of the roots by regulating auxin hormone production and transport.
    • Finally, and somewhat surprisingly to the researchers, it helps in the abiotic stress tolerance by keeping the main stress player proteins “on.”

     

     

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  • International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)

    The four-meter International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) saw the first light recently, gazing out from its vantage on Devasthal, a hill in Uttarakhand.

    What is the ILMT?

    • The telescope has been built by a collaboration of scientists from Canada, Belgium and India.
    • It is located at an altitude of 2,450 metres on the Devasthal Observatory campus of the Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital district.
    • A large pool of mercury placed in a vessel is spun around so fast that it curves into a parabolic shape. Since mercury is reflective, this shape helps in focusing the reflected light.
    • Nearly 50 litres of mercury, weighing close to 700 kilograms, is spun hard to form a paraboloid mirror of just 4 mm thickness and a diameter of about 4 metres.
    • A thin sheet of mylar protects the mercury from the wind.
    • Once it starts making observations, the telescope will collect gigabytes of data, which will need to be analysed using artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI and ML) tools.

    It’s utility

    • The telescope will make sky surveys possible and obtain images that can help observe transient phenomena.
    • It will help analyse events such as supernovae and record the presence of space debris or meteorites — basically, watch the skies.

    What is the first image?

    • The first image made by the telescope consisted of several stars and a galaxy, NGC 4274, which is 45 million light years away.
    • The telescope, having a primary mirror that is liquid, cannot be turned and pointed in any direction.
    • It “stares” at the zenith and watches the sky as the earth rotates, thereby giving a view of different objects.
    • This property can be used to scan and survey the sky, and observe transients and moving objects such as meteorites.
    • It will work in tandem with the existing 3.6-metre Devasthal Optical Telescope.

     

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  • RNA granules to treat neurodegenerative disorders

    Researchers at IISc Bangalore have identified a protein in yeast cells that dissolves RNA-protein complexes, also known as RNA granules.

    What is mRNA?

    • Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA (Ribo Nucleic Acid) molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene.
    • The mRNA is an RNA version of the gene that leaves the cell nucleus and moves to the cytoplasm where proteins are made.
    • During protein synthesis, an organelle called a ribosome moves along the mRNA, reads its base sequence, and uses the genetic code to translate each three-base triplet, or codon, into its corresponding amino acid.

    What are RNA granules?

    • Inside the cytoplasm of any cell there are structures made of messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins known as RNA granules.
    • Unlike other structures in the cell (such as mitochondria), the RNA granules are not covered and confined by a membrane.
    • This makes them highly dynamic in nature, thereby allowing them to constantly exchange components with the surrounding.
    • RNA granules are present in the cytoplasm at low numbers under normal conditions but increase in number and size under stressful conditions including diseases.

    Why are they unique?

    • A defining feature which does not change from one organism to another (conserved) of the RNA granule protein components is the presence of stretches containing repeats of certain amino acids.
    • Such stretches are referred to as low complexity regions.
    • Repeats of arginine (R), glycine (G) and glycine (G) — known as RGG — are an example of low complexity sequence.

    Functions of RNA granules

    • Messenger RNAs are converted to proteins (building blocks of the cell) by the process of translation.
    • RNA granules determine messenger RNA (mRNA) fate by deciding when and how much protein would be produced from mRNA.
    • Protein synthesis is a multi-step and energy-expensive process.
    • Therefore, a common strategy used by cells when it encounters unfavorable conditions is to shut down protein production and conserve energy to deal with a stressful situation.
    • RNA granules help in the process of shutting down protein production.
    • Some RNA granule types (such as Processing bodies or P-bodies) not only regulate protein production but also accomplish degradation and elimination of the mRNAs, which in turn helps in reducing protein production.

    What is the recent study?

    • Researchers concluded that low complexity sequences which normally promote granule formation, in this case promote the disintegration of RNA granules in yeast cells.
    • They observed that the identified protein Sbp1 is specific for dissolving P-bodies and not stress granules which are related RNA granule type also present in the cytoplasm.

    Significance of the study

    • This study has highlighted the potential of amino acid repeats (RGG) as a therapeutic intervention.
    • The study may help analyze the effect of repeat sequences in genetically engineered mice that accumulate insoluble pathological aggregates in brain cells.
    • This could possibly help in treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

     

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  • ISRO’s goal for Venus Mission

    India’s Venus mission has been conceived. The project report for ‘Shukrayaan-I’ – the name given to ISRO’s Venus mission

    About Venus

    • Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor.
    • It’s one of the four inner, terrestrial (or rocky) planets, and it’s often called Earth’s twin because it’s similar in size and density.
    • Venus has a thick, toxic atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide and it’s perpetually shrouded in thick, yellowish clouds of sulphuric acid that trap heat, causing a runaway greenhouse effect.
    • It’s the hottest planet in our solar system, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun.
    • Surface temperatures on Venus are about 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius) – hot enough to melt lead.
    • Venus has crushing air pressure at its surface – more than 90 times that of Earth – similar to the pressure you’d encounter a mile below the ocean on Earth.

    Do you know?

    Venus rotates on its axis backward, compared to most of the other planets in the solar system. This means that, on Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east, opposite to what we experience on Earth. (It’s not the only planet in our solar system with such an oddball rotation – Uranus spins on its side.)

    What is Shukrayaan-I Mission?

    • Shukrayaan will be India’s first orbiter mission to Venus after sending similar missions to the Moon and Mars.
    • The mission aims to study the surface of the hottest planet in our solar system and unravel the mysteries under the Sulphuric Acid clouds enveloping it.
    • The orbiter is the third mission announced to the inferno world of Venus after NASA announced two probes followed by a spacecraft by the European Space Agency.
    • The probes will investigate the world looking for clues to understand the destructive past of Earth’s mysterious twin, which scientists believe once had vast reserves of water similar to our planet.

    Stated objectives

    • Investigation of the surface processes and shallow sub-surface stratigraphy, including active volcanic hotspots and lava flows
    • Studying the structure, composition, and dynamics of the atmosphere
    • Investigation of solar wind interaction with the Venusian Ionosphere

    Delay with the launch

    • The ISRO is eyeing the December 2024 window for launch with orbital maneuvers planned for the following year.
    • This is when earth and Venus would be so aligned that the spacecraft could be put in the neighboring planet’s orbit using a minimum amount of propellant.
    • The next similar window would be available in 2031.

     

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  • Microbots for Drug Delivery

    An Indian researcher has found that it is possible to use light as a fuel to move microbots in real-body conditions with intelligent drug delivery that is selectively sensitive to cancer cells

    Microswimmers for drug delivery

    • Made from the two-dimensional compound poly (heptazine imide) carbon nitride (aka PHI carbon nitride), these microbots are nothing like the miniaturised humans.
    • They range from 1-10 micrometre (a micrometre is one-millionth of a metre) in size, and can self-propel when energised by shining light.
    • While carbon nitride is an excellent photo-catalyst, the two-dimensional PHI has a sponge-like structure full of pores and voids and charge storage properties.
    • The researchers found that the ions in the salty solution passed through the pores of PHI carbon nitride.
    • Thus, there was little or no resistance from the salt ions.

    How do they swim across the blood?

    • The PHI carbon nitride microparticles are photocatalytic.
    • Like in a solar cell, the incident light is converted into electrons and holes.
    • These charges drive reactions in the surrounding liquid. The charges react with the fluid surrounding them.
    • This reaction, combined with the particle’s electric field, makes the microbots (micro-swimmers) swim.
    • As long as there is light, electrons and holes are produced on the surface of the swimmers, which in turn react to form ions and an electric field around the swimmer.
    • These ions move around the particle and cause fluid to flow around the particle.
    • So this fluid flow causes the micro-swimmers to move.

    How does the ion movement occur?

    • The ions move from the bright surface of the micro-swimmer to the rear end.
    • The diffusion of the swimming medium in one direction propels the micro-swimmer in the opposite direction.
    • This is like a boat moving in the direction opposite to the oar strokes.
    • The particles are nearly spherical, and the incident light illuminates one-half of the sphere, leaving the other dark.
    • As photocatalysis is light-driven, it occurs only on the brightened hemisphere.
    • As the ions move from the bright side to the dark side, micro-swimmers march in the direction of the light source.

     

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  • Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for instant payments

    Google Pay has recently launched a new feature in India, ‘Tap to pay for UPI’, in collaboration with Pine Labs. The feature makes use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

    What is Near Field Communication (NFC)?

    • NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that allows NFC-enabled devices to communicate with each other and transfer information quickly and easily with a single touch.
    • It makes possible to pay bills, exchange business cards, download coupons, or share a document.

    How does it work?

    • NFC transmits data through electromagnetic radio fields, to enable communication between two devices. Both devices must contain NFC chips, as transactions take place within a very short distance.
    • NFC-enabled devices must be either physically touching or within a few centimetres from each other for data transfer to occur.

    When did NFC tech start?

    • In 2004, consumer electronics companies, Nokia, Philips and Sony together formed the NFC Forum, which outlined the architecture for NFC technology to create powerful new consumer-driven products.
    • Nokia released the first NFC-enabled phone in 2007.

    How will this technology work with the recently launched feature, ‘Tap to pay for UPI’?

    • Google Pay has been the first among UPI apps to bring the Tap to Pay feature working on POS terminals.
    • It will allow users with UPI accounts configured on Google Pay to make payments just by tapping their NFC-enabled Android smartphones on any Pine Labs Android POS terminal.
    • Once users tap their phones on the POS terminal, it will automatically open the Google pay app with the payment amount pre-filled.
    • Users can then verify the amount and merchant name and authenticate the payment, using their UPI PIN.
    • The process is much faster compared to scanning a QR code or entering the UPI-linked mobile number which has been the conventional way till now.

    What are the other applications of NFC technology?

    • NFC tech has a wide range of applications besides driving payment services.
    • It is used in contactless banking cards to perform money transactions or to generate contact-less tickets for public transport.
    • Contactless cards and readers use NFC in several applications from securing networks and buildings to monitoring inventory and sales, preventing auto theft, keeping tabs on library books,
    • NFC is behind the cards that we wave over card readers in subway turnstiles and on buses to check tickets.
    • It is present in speakers, household appliances, and other electronic devices that we monitor and control through our smartphones.
    • With just a touch, NFC can also set up WiFi and Bluetooth devices in our homes, investopedia noted.
    • It also has an application in healthcare, to monitor patient stats through NFC-enabled wristbands.
    • NFC is used in wireless charging too.

    How safe is this technology?

    • NFC technology is designed for an operation between devices within a few centimetres from each other.
    • This makes it difficult for attackers to record the communication between the devices compared to other wireless technologies which have a working distance of several metres, according to the NFC forum, a non-profit industry association.
    • The user of the NFC-enabled device determines by the touch gesture which entity the NFC communication should take place with, making it more difficult for the attacker to get connected.
    • The security level of the NFC communication is by default higher compared to other wireless communication protocols.

    Where does it stand in comparison to other wireless technologies?

    • There are other wireless technologies available which are replacing cable-based connections.
    • The IrDa technology is a short range (a few metres) connection based on the exchange of data over infrared light where the two communication devices must be positioned within a line of sight.
    • Today, this technology is mainly used for remote control devices. For larger data communication with computer devices this technology was replaced by Bluetooth or WiFi connections.
    • However, for these technologies’ receiver devices need their own power supply due to the larger working distance.
    • Therefore, the receiving device cannot be powered by the radiofrequency (RF) field like in NFC, the NFC forum highlighted.
    • Another consequence of the larger working distance is the need for the user to configure their device and to pair them together for communication.

     

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  • Kavach: the Indian technology that can prevent collision of Trains

    Kavach, this indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection System is earmarked for aggressive rollout on 2,000 km in 2022-23, according the Budget proposals.

    What is Kavach?

    • It is India’s very own automatic protection system in development since 2012, under the name Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which got rechristened to Kavach or “armour”.
    • Simply put, it is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well the tracks.
    • They connect to each other using ultra high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.

    Key features of Kavach

    • One of its features is that by continuously refreshing the movement information of a train, it is able to send out triggers when a loco pilot jumps signal, called Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD).
    • The devices also continuously relay the signals ahead to the locomotive, making it useful for loco pilots in low visibility, especially during dense fog.
    • It includes the key elements from already existing, and tried and tested systems like the European Train Protection and Warning System, and the indigenous Anti Collison Device.
    • It will also carry features of the high-tech European Train Control System Level-2 in future.
    • The current form of Kavach adheres to the highest level of safety and reliability standard called Safety Integrity Level 4.

    What is the upgrade?

    • In the new avatar, India wants to position Kavach as an exportable system, a cheaper alternative to the European systems in vogue across the world.
    • While now Kavach uses Ultra High Frequency, work is on to make it compatible with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and make the product for global markets.
    • Work is on to make the system such that it can be compatible with other already installed systems globally.

    How far is the rollout?

    • So far, Kavach has been deployed on over 1,098 km and 65 locomotives in ongoing projects of the South Central Railway.
    • In future it will be implemented on 3000 km of the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors where the tracks and systems are being upgraded to host a top speed of 160 kmph.
    • Further, over 34,000 km on the High Density Network (HDN) and Highly Utilized Network (HUN) of on the Golden Quadrilateral have been included in its sanctioned plans.

     

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  • Egypt hikes Suez Canal transit fees for ship

    Cash-strapped Egypt increased transit fees for ships passing through the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most crucial waterways, with hikes of up to 10%.

    Suez Canal

    • The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez; and dividing Africa and Asia.
    • Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869, it officially opened on 17 November 1869.
    • The canal was earlier controlled by British and French interests in its initial years but was nationalized in 1956 by Egypt’s then leader Gamal Abdel Nasser.
    • It extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern terminus of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez.
    • Its length is 193.30 km including its northern and southern access channels.

    Its significance

    • The Suez Canal provides a crucial link for oil, natural gas and cargo being shipping from East to West.
    • About 10% of global trade, including 7% of the world’s oil, flows through the Suez Canal.
    • It provides a major shortcut for ships moving between Europe and Asia, who before its construction had to sail around Africa to complete the same journey.
    • As per a report, the canal is a major source of income for Egypt’s economy, with the African country earning $5.61 billion in revenues from it last year.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Between India and East Asia, the navigation time and distance can be greatly reduced by which of the following?

    1. Deepening the Malacca straits between Malaysia and Indonesia.
    2. Opening a new canal across the Kra isthmus between the Gulf of Siam and Andaman sea.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

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