The Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) captured the moon passing in front of Antares, a bright red star.
Moon occasionally occults bright stars such as Antares and planets as it orbits the Earth once a month.
About Antares (Jyeshtha)
Antares is a red supergiant star also called ‘Alpha Scorpii,’ located in the constellation of Scorpius.
It is visible in the southern sky during the summer months in the northern hemisphere.
It is often referred to as the “heart of the scorpion” due to its location within the Scorpius constellation and its striking red color.
It is a massive star, with a diameter estimated to be around 700 times that of the Sun.
It has a relatively low surface temperature compared to other stars, which gives it its distinctive red color.
The distance to Antares from Earth is approximately 550 light-years, making it one of the closest red supergiant stars to our solar system.
What is Occultation?
An occultation is a total or a partial cut-off of the light of a celestial body due to its passage behind another body.
The finest example of an occultation is the solar eclipse.
Strictly speaking, it is not an eclipse, but a lunar occultation of the sun.
PYQ:
[2012] A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village, which was situated 5 km East of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction, but he located the pole-star. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the _______.
A study has revealed evidence for enhanced possibility of sub-surface water ice occurrence in the polar craters of the Moon, according to ISRO.
Water Ice on Moon: ISRO’s Findings
The research indicates that the amount of sub-surface ice within the first few meters is significantly greater, about 5-8x more, than that found on the lunar surface.
Moreover, the study reveals that the Northern Polar regionharbors twice as much water ice as the southern polar region.
It highlights the necessity of drilling to access this ice for future missions and sustained human presence on the Moon.
Origin of Water Ice:
The study validates the hypothesis that sub-surface water ice in lunar poles originated from out-gassing during volcanic activity in the Imbrian period.
It suggests that LunarMare Volcanism and preferential impact cratering govern the distribution of water ice on the Moon.
Methodology:
The research team utilized seven instruments aboard the NASA robotic spacecraft Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), including radar, laser, optical, neutron spectrometer, ultra-violet spectrometer, and thermal radiometer. LRO hovers over Lunar South Pole.
These instruments provided crucial data to understand the origin and distribution of water ice on the lunar surface.
Significance of the findings
Accurate knowledge of water ice distribution and depth is vital for identifying suitable landing and sampling sites for future lunar missions.
The study supports ISRO’s future plans for in-situ volatile exploration on the Moon, aligning with its broader lunar exploration objectives.
PYQ:
Q. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology helped India in its socio-economic development? (2016)
NASA has launched its Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) spacecraft that uses sunlight for propulsion from New Zealand into space.
AboutAdvanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) Project
The spacecraft is slated to orbit 1,000 kilometers above Earth, deploying an 80-square-meter solar sail approximately 25 minutes after liftoff.
It harnesses sunlight as a renewable propulsion source, marking a novel advancement in space exploration.
It uses a compact CubeSat, similar in size to an oven, which facilitates propulsion by capturing solar particle energy.
Operational Phases:
The initial flight phase spans two months and involves subsystems checkout and solar sail deployment.
A series of pointing maneuvers will showcase orbit raising and lowering, validating the effectiveness of sunlight pressure on the sail.
The Technology Behind: Solar Sailing
Solar sails typically consist of lightweight, reflective materials such as Mylar or aluminized Kapton, which are deployed in space to capture sunlight.
The sail is often configured as a large, thin membrane with a large surface area to maximize the amount of sunlight it can intercept.
When sunlight reflects off a shiny solar sail, some of its momentum is transferred, giving the sail a small push.
Solar sailing offers several advantages over traditional propulsion methods, including:
Efficiency: Solar sailing does not require onboard fuel, making it a highly efficient and sustainable propulsion method for long-duration missions.
Continuous thrust: Unlike chemical rockets, which provide brief bursts of acceleration, solar sails can provide continuous thrust as long as they are exposed to sunlight.
Maneuverability: Solar sails can change their trajectory by adjusting the orientation of the sail relative to the direction of incoming sunlight. This allows for precise navigation and maneuvering in space.
Interstellar travel: Solar sailing has the potential to enable interstellar missions by gradually accelerating spacecraft to very high velocities over time, allowing them to explore distant star systems.
PYQ:
[2016] What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
(a) Electric plane tested by NASA
(b) Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan
Researchers from Kerala reported 15 cases of Membranous Nephropathy (MN) linked to the regular application of fairness creams.
These creams contained high levels of mercury, sometimes exceeding the safe limit by 10,000 times.
Mercury Contamination in Hair Cream
Blood and urine screenings of affected individuals unveiled alarmingly high levels of mercury, a well-known toxic element.
The fairness creams contained mercury levels up to 10,000 timesabove the permissible limit of 1 ppm under Minamata Convention (2013).
Most cases were PLA2R (phospholipase A2 receptor) negative, indicating a different cause.
Cases of MN linked to Neural epidermal growth factor-like protein 1 (NELL-1) have been identified.
NELL-1 has been associated with MN caused by traditional medicines containing high mercury levels.
Understanding Membranous Nephropathy
Membranous Nephropathy (MN) is a nephrotic syndrome, characterized by excessive protein leakage into urine, eventually leading to kidney failure. Symptoms such as fatigue, edema, and proteinuria were found to have a history of regular fairness cream usage.
Impact of Mercury:
Mercury in fairness creams inhibits melanin formation, resulting in lighter skin. Consumers perceive higher mercury levels as more effective for skin whitening.
Mercury, a potent heavy metal found in these creams, penetrates the bodythrough various channels, including sweat glands and hair follicles, causing systemic toxicity.
Chronic exposure to mercury can result in kidney damage, neurological disorders, and a myriad of other health complications.
Back2Basics: Minamata Convention on Mercury
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is devised to safeguard human health and the environment from the detrimental impacts of mercury and its derivatives.
Its name derives from the Japanese bay where, during the mid-20th century, industrial wastewater tainted with mercury inflicted severe health damage upon thousands of individuals, leading to what is now recognized as “Minamata disease.”
Signed in 2013 and enforced in 2017, it operates as a United Nations treaty under the purview of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Countries ratifying the Convention are legally obliged under international law to implement these regulations.
128 countriesare signatories, with 119 of them having ratified it; India became a party by ratifying it in 2018.
Activities covered by the Convention:
The Convention encompasses all phases of the mercury life cycle, aiming to regulate and diminish mercury usage across various products, processes, and industries.
This encompasses regulations about:
Mercury mining involves bans on new mines and the gradual phase-out of existing ones.
Gradual reduction and elimination of mercury utilization in numerous products and procedures.
Control measures address emissions into the atmosphere and release into soil and water bodies.
Oversight of the informal artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector.
Management of interim mercury storage and its disposal once classified as waste, as well as remediation of mercury-contaminated sites and associated health issues.
PYQ:
[2010] Indiscriminate disposal of used fluorescent electric lamps causes mercury pollution in the environment. Why is mercury used in the manufacture of these lamps?
(a) A mercury coating on the inside of the lamp makes the light bright white
(b) When the lamp is switched on, the mercury in the lamp causes the emission of ultra-violet radiations
(c) When the lamp is switched on, it is the mercury which converts the ultra-violet energy into visible light
(d) None of the statement given above is correct about the use of mercury in the manufacture of fluorescent lamps
After multiple rounds of screening, researchers have identified an antibody, 95Mat5 that showed promising results in making a potent antidote against various snake venoms.
What is 95Mat5?
95Mat5 is a universal antivenom developed to neutralize the toxins present in snake venoms.
Development Process:
The scientists first synthesized variants of a toxin calledlong-chain 3FTxs (3FTx-L), which are found in the venoms of various snakes, including cobras, kraits, mambas, and monocled cobras.
They then screened billions of human antibodies expressed on the surface of yeast cells to find antibodies that bound best to the synthesized toxins.
After multiple rounds of screening, they identified a shortlist of antibodies that broadly reacted with most of the 3FTx variants used in the study.
The selected antibodies were further tested in vitro in human cells to determine which ones could best neutralize the toxins.
Mechanism of Action
95Mat5 specifically targets α-neurotoxins, which are a specific class of 3FTxs that prevent nerve and muscle cells from responding to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in carrying messages from neurons to muscles.
By binding to the toxins, 95Mat5 prevents toxins from interacting with the receptors in human nerve and muscle cells, thereby blocking their ability to induce paralysis and other deadly effects.
In animal experiments, 95Mat5 demonstrated efficacy in neutralizing the toxins present in the venoms of various snake species, protecting the animals from death.
Global Impact of Snakebites
Venomous snakebites claim over 100,000 lives annually, with around 400,000 individuals suffering permanent disability.
Low and middle-income countries, especially India and Africa, bear the brunt of this burden.
India alone witnessing an average of 58,000 deaths each year.
In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared snakebite envenoming as a highest priority Neglected Tropical Disease, shedding light on a long-hidden health crisis.
PYQ:
[2020] With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
Understanding and managing Glycemic Index (GI) in diets is crucial for promoting long-term health and mitigating the risk of chronic diseases.
What is Glycemic Index (GI)?
Prof. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto introduced Glycemic Index (GI) in 1981.
GI measures how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels compared to a reference food, typically glucose or white bread, which is assigned a value of 100.
GI Classification and Glycemic Load (GL):
Multiplying GI by the amount of carbohydrate consumed gives the Glycemic Load (GL).
Accordingly, foods are classified as:
Low GI (below 55): Brown rice, steel-cut oats, legumes (such as lentils and chickpeas), most fruits (like apples, berries, and oranges), vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Medium GI (56-69): Whole wheat products, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, some types of rice (like basmati rice), and certain fruits like pineapple and mango.
High GI (70 or above): Refined carbohydrates and sugary foods such as white rice, white bread, refined flour products, potatoes, sweetened drinks (like soda), candies, cookies, and sugary snacks.
Debate and Perspectives:
The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, spanning 20 countries including India, revealed the link between high GI diets and cardiovascular events and mortality.
Evidence supports the association between high GI diets and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
Relevance to India
In South Asia, where diets are rich in high GI foods like white rice, efforts to reduce GI and GL are crucial.
Lowering GI and GL can help prevent not only diabetes but also premature cardiovascular disease, which is prevalent in India.
PYQ:
[2011] Regular intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended in the diet since they are a good source of antioxidants. How do antioxidants help a person maintain health and promote longevity?
(a) They activate the enzymes necessary for vitamin synthesis in the body and help prevent vitamin deficiency
(b) They prevent excessive oxidation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body and help avoid unnecessary wastage of energy
(c) They neutralize the free radicals produced in the body during metabolism
(d) They activate certain genes in the cells of the body and help delay the ageing process
A significant health concern in Tamil Nadu is found through ingestion of Rat poison containing Yellow Phosphorus, leading to liver toxicity.
Since December 2017, the team at CMC Vellore introduced Plasma Exchange, (a cost-effective treatment) for acute liver failure caused by rat poison ingestion.
What is Plasma Therapy (Plasmapheresis)?
Plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis, is a medical procedure used to treat various conditions by removing and replacing plasma from the blood.
During Plasma Exchange, the patient’s blood is circulated through a machine that separates plasma from other blood components, such as red and white blood cells and platelets.
Working procedure:
The plasma, which may contain harmful substances or antibodies, is discarded.
The remaining blood components are mixed with replacement plasma or a plasma substitute and returned to the patient’s bloodstream.
Usage of Plasmapheresis:
In Autoimmune diseases: Conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and certain forms of vasculitis.
In Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and certain types of encephalitis.
In Toxicological emergencies: Poisoning or overdose with substances such as drugs, chemicals, or toxins that can be removed from the bloodstream through plasma exchange.
Benefits observed in TN’s Case
The treatment significantly improved survival rates, with 63.9% of patients treated in 2022-2023 successfully discharged.
Retrospective studies at CMC Vellore demonstrated promising outcomes, with survival rates of 75% among children and 80.2% among adults treated with plasma exchange.
What is Plasma in Human Blood?
Human blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, constituting about 55% of its total volume.
It is a pale yellowish fluid that carries various substances throughout the body, including nutrients, hormones, electrolytes, antibodies, and waste products.
Plasma plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and transporting essential components to tissues and organs.
Composition:
Water: Approximately 90% of plasma consists of water, making it the primary solvent for carrying dissolved substances.
Proteins: Plasma contains a variety of proteins, including albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen. These proteins perform functions such as maintaining osmotic pressure, transporting lipids and hormones, and aiding in blood clotting.
Electrolytes: Plasma contains ions such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and bicarbonate, which help regulate fluid balance, pH, and nerve function.
Nutrients: Glucose, amino acids, lipids, and vitamins are transported in plasma and provide energy and building blocks for cells.
Waste Products: Metabolic waste products, such as urea, creatinine, and bilirubin, are transported in plasma to be eliminated from the body.
Hormones: Hormones produced by endocrine glands are carried in plasma to target tissues, where they regulate various physiological processes.
Gases: Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in plasma, primarily bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Functions:
Plasma carries nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products to and from cells throughout the body.
Plasma helps regulate fluid balance, electrolyte concentrations, pH, and temperature.
Antibodies and immune cells in plasma help defend against pathogens and foreign substances, contributing to the body’s immune response.
Plasma proteins such as fibrinogen play a crucial role in blood clotting, helping to stop bleeding and repair damaged blood vessels.
Plasma buffers changes in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen ions, helping maintain the body’s acid-base balance.
PYQ:
[2011] A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and 0 negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B positive, and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is-
PYQ Relevance: Mains: Q Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as are business professions, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment.(UPSC IAS/2014)
Q What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society?(UPSC IAS/2021)
Mentor comments:With 970 million Indians in the process of exercising their franchise in the ongoing general election, what do scientists look for in the polls? Who do they want to vote for, and what are the fundamental issues they want to see their elected representatives resolve and implement? There are five fundamental issues that scientists want the new government to solve and their elected representatives to pay urgent attention to.
Why in the news?
Supporting science and scientists is essential in India’s quest to become a major economic powerhouse
Need to Increase spending
Increase Government Spending: Government should increase spending on research and development by at least 50% year-over-year for the next five years, aiming for nearly 4% of GDP by the end of the term.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Private sector involvement can be encouraged through initiatives like ANRF, where private players are expected to contribute ₹36,000 crore over five years. Legislative measures and detailed plans should be implemented to ensure private sector participation, possibly through mechanisms like escrow accounts.
Infrastructure Improvement: Public sector institutions, including universities and research institutions, require modernization of physical and intellectual infrastructure. This includes upgrading science laboratories in undergraduate colleges, state and central universities, and specialized research institutions.
Skilled Workforce Development: Increased funding needs to be complemented with efforts to raise a skilled scientific workforce. This involves not only hiring quality teachers and researchers but also nurturing existing human resources and providing opportunities for skill development.
Focus on merit
Globally accepted standards: Implement globally accepted standards for hiring in educational and research institutions, ensuring transparency, speed, and freedom from external influence. Selection criteria should strictly focus on merit, with competent committees responsible for unbiased decision-making.
Timely Appointments: Aim to streamline the hiring process so that it takes at most six months from the time of application to providing appointment letters. This ensures efficiency in recruitment and reduces delays in filling vacant positions.
Robust Grant Management System: Establish a robust science grant management system that minimizes red tape in grant submission and expedites the disbursement of grants and student fellowships. Emphasize timely allocation of funds to researchers to facilitate uninterrupted research activities.
Ensure freedom
Freedom of Expression: Scientists require the freedom to speak and write based on evidence, without interference, to foster a culture of open inquiry and knowledge dissemination to flourishing start-up ecosystem is essential for translating academic research into practical innovations that benefit society.
Autonomy for Scientists: Provide full autonomy to individual scientists to take leave to establish companies, hire scientific staff without excessive paperwork, and allocate research funds as they see fit.Scientists should have flexibility in decision-making, including the freedom to tra
Conclusion: Scientists’ demands underscore the critical need for robust support and infrastructure to drive scientific research and innovation in India. By addressing these fundamental issues, the incoming government has the opportunity to foster a vibrant scientific community that contributes significantly to the nation’s economic growth and societal development.
A fossil unearthed in Gujarat’s Kutch in 2005, initially presumed to belong to a giant crocodile, has been revealed as one of the largest snake ‘Vasuki Indicus’ ever to exist on Earth.
About Vasuki Indicus
‘Vasuki Indicus’ is the name given by IIT Roorkee Scientists to the fossil specie.
The name “Vasuki” derives from the mythological snake depicted often encircling the neck of the Hindu deity Shiva.
Physical characteristics of Vasuki
It is estimated to measure between 11m (36ft) and 15m (49.22ft) in length,
It belonged to the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family.
Its size could potentially surpass the extinct Titanoboa in size, with its closest relatives identified as Titanoboa and Python.
The serpent’s large size indicates it was a slow-moving, ambush predator, akin to an anaconda, as suggested by researchers.
Like contemporary pythons and anacondas, Vasuki Indicus presumably employed Constriction (suffocation) as its primary method of prey capture.
Age and Geological Context:
Recovered from the Panandhro Lignite Mine in Kutch, the fossil dates back to the Middle Eocene period, approximately 47 million years ago.
Analysis of the well-preserved vertebrae indicates the snake’s existence during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at 28°C.
‘Vasuki’ is believed to represent an extinct relic lineage originating in India, with subsequent India-Asia collision facilitating its dispersal from the subcontinent into North Africa through southern Eurasia.
Vasuki thrived during a time when the continents of Africa, India, and South America were amalgamated into a single landmass.
Significance for India
This discovery underscores India’s rich biodiversity.
It holds immense potential in unraveling insights into the evolutionary process, continental shifts, and India’s pivotal role in the origin of various species, particularly reptiles.
Middle Eocene Period
It is part of the Cenozoic Era, which began about 66 million years ago and continues to the present day.
During the Middle Eocene, the Earth experienced a greenhouse climate, with global temperatures significantly warmer than today.
The poles were ice-free, and forests extended into higher latitudes than they do today.
The period was characterized by relatively high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, contributing to the warm climate.
The Middle Eocene was a time of significant diversification and evolution of various groups of organisms.
Mammals continued to diversify and evolve, with the emergence of early primates, rodents, and hoofed mammals.
The period also saw the rise of modern bird groups and the diversification of flowering plants (angiosperms).
The Middle Eocene was marked by tectonic activity, including the ongoing separation of continents and the formation of mountain ranges in various parts of the world.
For example, the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate during this time led to the uplift of the Himalayas.
PYQ:
[2020] The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to-
(a) Fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
(b) An early human species
(c) A cave system found in North-East India.
(d) A geological period in the history of the Indian subcontinent
A state-of-the-art SPACE testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems, designed for the Indian Navy, was inaugurated by DRDO.
About Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE)
The SPACE is located at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala.
It is developedby the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO.
It is set to become a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems deployed on various Indian Navy platforms, including ships, submarines, and helicopters.
Key Features of SPACE:
SPACE comprises two distinct components:
Floating Platform on the water surface and
Submersible platform capable of descending to depths of up to 100 meters using winch systems.
After completing operations, the submersible platform can be winched up and docked with the floating platform, ensuring efficient utilization of resources.
Functions and Capabilities:
The primary function of SPACE is the evaluation of complete sonar systems, facilitating rapid deployment and retrieval of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers.
It will serve for surveying, sampling, and data collection of air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floor parameters utilizing modern scientific instrumentation.
It will address the data processing and sample analysis requirements, ushering in a new era of Anti-Submarine Warfare research capabilities.
What is SONAR?
SONAR stands for “Sound Navigation and Ranging.”
It’s a technique used for detecting and locating objects underwater by transmitting sound waves and analyzing the echoes they produce.
Here’s how it works:
Sound Transmission: A SONAR system sends out pulses of sound waves, typically at frequencies beyond the range of human hearing. These sound waves travel through the water and propagate in all directions.
Object Detection: When the sound waves encounter an object underwater, such as a submarine, seafloor, or marine life, they reflect off the object and return to the SONAR system as echoes.
Echo Reception: The SONAR system receives the echoes of the transmitted sound waves and measures the time it takes for them to return. By knowing the speed of sound in water and the time it takes for the echoes to return, the system can calculate the distance to the object.
Data Analysis: The received echoes are processed and analyzed to create a visual representation of the underwater environment. This information helps operators identify and locate objects of interest, navigate safely, and map the seafloor.
PYQ:
[2020] “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft,” The experiment in question refers to-
