Subject: Basic Sciences

Why in the News?

Scientists at Macquarie University, Sydney, have discovered that two species of nocturnal bull ants (Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas) rely on polarised moonlight for navigation.

What is Polarised Moonlight?  

• Polarised moonlight refers to moonlight that has undergone scattering in Earth’s atmosphere, causing its waves to oscillate in a specific direction.
• Unlike direct moonlight, which is unpolarised, the light that scatters in the sky becomes linearly polarised, meaning its electric field aligns in a fixed plane.
• The moon emits unpolarised light, but when it interacts with air molecules and dust particles in the atmosphere, it scatters and becomes polarised.
• The intensity of polarised moonlight is much lower than polarised sunlight, making it harder for most animals to detect.
• The pattern of polarisation in moonlight remains stable, allowing nocturnal animals to use it as a reliable navigation tool.
• Why is it Important for Navigation?
  • Many nocturnal animals, including bull ants (Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas), rely on celestial cues to orient themselves.
  • Unlike the moon’s direct position, which changes with phases and cloud cover, the polarisation pattern remains detectable throughout the night.
  • This enables ants to navigate effectively even under crescent or waning moons, where light intensity is significantly lower.

E-Vector Pattern and Ant Navigation

• Polarised moonlight forms a distinct pattern in the sky, known as the E-vector pattern.
• This pattern shifts based on the moon’s position, but its orientation remains stable, allowing insects like ants to use it as a natural compass.
• The E-vector pattern aligns at 90° to the moon’s direct light, creating a predictable navigation reference.
• How do Bull Ants use it?
  • Ants detect the E-vector pattern in the night sky using their specialised compound eyes, which are sensitive to polarised light.
  • Even in dim conditions, they adjust their movements according to the orientation of polarised moonlight.
  • Researchers found that when the E-vector was artificially rotated, the ants changed their paths accordingly, confirming that they rely on this pattern.
  • When the moonlight disappeared (during a new moon phase), the ants struggled to navigate, further proving their dependence on polarised lunar light.

Why in the News?

Japan has officially launched the world’s first hybrid quantum supercomputer, integrating a 20-qubit quantum processor, Reimei, into Fugaku, the world’s sixth-fastest supercomputer.

About Reimei

• Reimei is a 20-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer developed by Quantinuum and integrated into Fugaku, the world’s sixth-fastest supercomputer, at Riken, Japan.
• It is the first fully operational hybrid quantum supercomputer, combining quantum and classical computing for advanced problem-solving.

• Key Features:

• • Trapped-Ion Qubits: Unlike superconducting qubits, Reimei uses trapped-ion technology, offering higher stability, longer coherence times, and stronger qubit connectivity.
  • Hybrid Integration: Works alongside Fugaku to solve complex calculations faster than classical supercomputers.
  • Ion Shuttling: Enables physical movement of qubits, allowing for more complex quantum algorithms.
  • Error Correction: Uses logical qubits, reducing error rates 800 times lower than standard qubits.

• Applications:

• • Physics & Chemistry Research: Used for molecular simulations, material science, and high-energy physics.
  • Quantum Cryptography & AI: Enhances cybersecurity and artificial intelligence models.
  • Optimization & Machine Learning:  Solves large-scale optimization problems.

• Significance:

• • Bridges classical and quantum computing, serving as a transition to fully scalable quantum systems.
  • Paves the way for real-world quantum applications, accelerating scientific and technological advancements.

Why in the News?

A research team has discovered that Labrys portucalensis F11, a strain of aerobic bacteria from the Xanthobacteraceae family, can break down and transform multiple types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent environmental pollutants.

About Labrys portucalensis F11

• It is a type of bacteria that can break down harmful chemicals known as PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances).
• It was first found in contaminated soil at an industrial site in Portugal.
• Scientists have discovered that it can remove fluorine from certain chemical pollutants, making them less toxic.
• PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in nature.
• Labrys portucalensis F11 can digest PFAS, helping to clean up polluted soil and water.

How does it work?

• It attacks the strong chemical bonds in PFAS, removing fluorine atoms.
• It uses carbon from PFAS as food, helping it grow while reducing pollution.
• It survives in oxygen-rich environments, making it ideal for cleaning up industrial waste sites.
• In 100 days, it broke down 90% of PFOS, one of the most harmful PFAS chemicals.
• Unlike most bacteria, it can also break down PFAS leftovers, making them even safer.

Why in the News?

Denmark has become the latest country to actively pursue sovereign AI, in a bid to boost domestic research and competitiveness.  Following this example and leveraging the momentum of Digital India, India’s leadership will be instrumental in driving the nation’s Sovereign AI ambition.

What is Sovereign AI?

• Sovereign AI refers to a nation’s autonomous ability to develop, deploy, and regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies that align with its unique data, values, and governance priorities.
• It ensures national control over AI systems, protecting economic and national security interests while fostering innovation.
• Key Features of Sovereign AI include:
  • Self-reliance: Develops AI systems tailored to national requirements, ensuring minimal dependency on external technologies.
  • National Security: Protects critical data and infrastructure from external threats or misuse.
  • Cultural Alignment: Embeds a nation’s values, language, and societal norms into AI frameworks.
  • Global Competitiveness: Enhances economic growth and innovation through domestic AI capabilities.

About the Proposed AI Strategy for India (GovAI + Private AI = Sovereign AI):

• India’s proposed AI strategy focuses on leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) like Aadhaar and UPI to develop GovAI (Government AI) for efficient and predictive public services.
• It emphasizes data sovereignty, transforming anonymized DPI data into AI training material while ensuring national control.
• The strategy promotes public-private collaboration to build domain-specific Small Language Models (SLMs) that evolve into advanced Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Skill development through Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoE) aims to create a robust AI talent pool.
• This strategy aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global leader in trusted and inclusive AI, enhancing economic growth and national security.

India’s Initiatives for Sovereign AI:

• India’s initiative for Sovereign AI builds on its Digital India framework, leveraging platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker to create GovAI (Government AI) for efficient public services.
• It utilizes DPI platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and CoWIN.
• Domain-Specific AI Models that India seeks to build:
  • Builds Small Language Models (SLMs) for specific public service areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare.
  • SLMs evolve into Large Language Models (LLMs) for advanced, intersectional governance insights.
• The India Datasets Programme transforms anonymized data into resources for AI training while ensuring data sovereignty.

Why in the News?

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has introduced amendments to the rules governing the selection of experts in the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

What is Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)?

• The GEAC is the apex regulatory body overseeing activities related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in India, particularly their release into the environment.
• It is established under the Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989) framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Structural Mandate:

• Operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Composition:

• • Chairperson: Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC.
  • Co-Chairperson: Representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
  • Includes 24 members, representing key institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).
  • Meets monthly for appraisals and discussions.

Powers and Functions of GEAC:

• Powers:

• • Approves or denies proposals for environmental release of genetically engineered organisms (including GM crops).
  • Exercises the power to take punitive actions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 for violations.
  • Monitors large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production.

• Functions:

• • Evaluates activities involving the environmental release of GMOs and their products, including experimental field trials.
  • Ensures compliance with safety protocols to minimize environmental risks.
  • Reviews applications for the import, export, manufacture, and storage of GM organisms and cells.
  • Makes recommendations based on a comprehensive assessment of environmental and health impacts.
  • Addresses concerns related to conflicts of interest and ensures impartiality in decision-making.
  • Engages with stakeholders, including farmers and environmentalists, to maintain transparency and address public concerns.

Why in the News?

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has inaugurated the centenary celebrations of Bose-Einstein Statistics at the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences.

Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)

• A BEC is a special state of matter formed when bosons are cooled down to almost absolute zero (-273°C). In this state, the particles behave as one single quantum entity.
• Bosons, when cooled to near absolute zero, lose their individual properties and combine to form a single quantum state.
• It was achieved in 1995 by Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman using rubidium atoms.
• This discovery earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics.
• BECs exhibit unique quantum behaviors like zero viscosity (flow without friction) and act as a “super atom” that is extremely sensitive to any outside influence.

Significance of Bose-Einstein Statistics

• Bose-Einstein statistics are essential for understanding quantum mechanics, particularly the behavior of particles in quantum states.
• These statistics led to the discovery of Bose-Einstein Condensates, which have unique properties not seen in normal states of matter.
• BECs are useful in atomic clocks, superconductors, and quantum computing due to their sensitivity and unique quantum properties.
• Bose’s work was crucial in explaining light’s particle nature (photons), which helped develop the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum theory.
• Bose-Einstein statistics paved the way for studying low-temperature physics, allowing scientists to observe quantum effects in larger systems.
• These statistics and the discovery of BECs continue to inspire new fields of research, including quantum fluids and quantum phase transitions.