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Subject: Science and Technology

  • Why Hepatitis A deserves a place in India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?

    Why in the News?

    Health authorities are debating whether Hepatitis A vaccine should have higher priority for inclusion in Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) compared to Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV).

    About Hepatitis A:

    • Overview: Viral infection caused by Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), spreading through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person.
    • Nature of Disease: Leads to acute liver inflammation with fever, jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
    • Treatment: No antiviral therapy; illness is self-limiting and recovery occurs within six months with supportive care.
    • Vaccine: Highly effective (90 to 95 percent), long-lasting immunity for 15 to 20 years or lifelong; prevents symptomatic infection.
    • Current Trend: Improved sanitation lowers childhood exposure, but adult susceptibility is rising, increasing disease severity.

    What is Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?

    • Launch and Evolution: Started in 1985; later integrated with Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (1992) and National Rural Health Mission (2005).
    • Coverage: Provides free vaccines against 12 diseases–  9 nationally (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hib) and 3 in selected states (Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, Japanese Encephalitis).
    • Achievements: Played a central role in polio eradication, reducing measles deaths, and improving child survival indicators.

    Why Hepatitis A deserves priority?

    • Greater Adult Severity: Shift from childhood to adult infections results in higher rates of acute liver failure.
    • Recent Outbreaks: Reported surges in Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh signal a widening public-health risk.
    • Falling Immunity: Seroprevalence has declined from around 90 percent to under 60 percent in many cities, leaving millions unprotected.
    • Indigenous Vaccine: Biovac-A (Biological E Ltd.) is safe, affordable, and effective, with single-dose protection simplifying rollout.
    • No Resistance Concerns: Viral disease with no antibiotic use eliminates resistance challenges.
    • Cost Advantage: More economical and operationally easier than multi-dose vaccines like typhoid conjugate vaccine.
    • Policy Relevance: Inclusion in the national programme could curb outbreaks and reduce adult liver-failure cases.

    Back2Basics: Hepatitis

    • What is it: Liver inflammation from viruses, alcohol, toxins, drugs, autoimmune disorders, or metabolic issues.
    • Viral Types:
      • A – Fecal-oral; acute; vaccine available.
      • B – Blood/body fluids; chronic risk; vaccine available.
      • C – Blood-to-blood; often chronic; no vaccine; treatable with antivirals.
      • D – Discussed above.
      • E – Fecal-oral; usually acute.
    • Chronic B, C, D: Major drivers of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
    • Prevention: Vaccination (A, B), safe injections, screened blood, safe sex, good hygiene.

     

    [UPSC 2019] Which one of the following statements is not correct?

    (a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.

    (b) Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine. *

    (c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.

    (d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.

     

  • ‘DRISHTI’ System for AI Freight Wagon Safety

    Why in the News?

    Indian Railways is deploying an AI system called DRISHTI (AI-Based Freight Wagon Locking Monitoring System) to spot unlocked or tampered freight wagon doors in motion, developed with IIT Guwahati to improve freight safety.

    About the DRISHTI System:

    • Overview: It is an Artificial Intelligence system developed by the Northeast Frontier Railway with IIT Guwahati TIDF to monitor wagon door-locking integrity.
    • Primary Objective: Detects unlocked, tampered, or improperly sealed wagon doors automatically during train movement to improve freight security.
    • Technology Framework: Uses AI-enabled cameras, computer vision, and machine-learning algorithms to analyse door-locking mechanisms in real time.
    • Operational Value: Ensures cargo safety without halting trains, addressing pilferage, tampering, and human-error-based sealing failures.
    • Current Status: Undergoing successful trials for nearly ten months on selected freight rakes, with high anomaly-detection accuracy.

    Key Features:

    • Real-Time Monitoring: Continuously tracks door position and locking condition using AI-powered imaging units.
    • Anomaly Detection: Flags tampering, loose locks, or improper sealing; sends immediate alerts to control rooms.
    • Non-Intrusive Operation: Functions during full-speed train movement, avoiding delays or stoppages.
    • Automated Alerts: Provides instant notifications for rapid operator response and incident verification.
    • Reduced Manual Checks: Minimises reliance on manual sealing inspections, improving safety and resource efficiency.
    • Data Integration: Compatible with freight-management platforms for audit trails, analytics, and tracking transparency.
    • Scalable Architecture: Designed for phased expansion across national freight routes after successful field validation.
    • Indigenous Innovation: Fully developed in India, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal in transport and logistics technology.
    • Safety and Efficiency Gains: Enhances wagon security, reduces theft, supports predictive maintenance, and improves overall freight reliability.
    [UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements:

    I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future-ready railway system by 2028.

    II. ‘Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.

    III. ‘Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.

    Which of the statements given above are not correct?

    (a) I and II only * (b) II and III only (c) I and III only (d) I, II and III

     

  • Ricin: the new Bio-Weapon

    Why in the News?

    Recent investigations after the Delhi Bomb Blast revealed a plot to use ricin, a deadly biological toxin, for large-scale terror attacks.

    About Ricin:

    • Origin: Ricin is a highly toxic protein derived from the mash left after processing castor beans (Ricinus communis) for castor oil.
    • Discovery: First isolated in 1888 by German scientist Peter Hermann Stillmark, who documented its lethal, cell-destroying properties.
    • Mechanism of Action: Ricin enters human cells and blocks protein synthesis, causing rapid cell death, tissue damage, and multi-organ failure. Even a few micrograms can be fatal.
    • Routes of Exposure: Can cause poisoning through inhalation, ingestion, or injection, each producing sudden symptoms like respiratory collapse, gastrointestinal bleeding, seizures, and circulatory failure.
    • Treatment: No antidote exists; medical management involves supportive care such as oxygen therapy, IV fluids, activated charcoal (if ingested early), and mechanical ventilation.
    • Weaponisation Risk: Due to easy availability from an agricultural by-product and high lethality, ricin is classified globally as a potential bioterrorism agent.

    Legal Classification and Security Implications:

    • International Status: Listed under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and controlled under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
    • Indian Legal Framework: Criminalised under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with offences being non-bailable.
    • Penalties: Violations involving ricin can result in life imprisonment under Indian law.
    • WMD Classification: Covered under the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery Systems Act, 2005, placing it within the legal category of weapons of mass destruction.
    • Dual-Use Concern: Castor is an industrial crop, making ricin a dual-use substance requiring strict monitoring of castor by-products.

  • What is the Rare Earth Hypothesis?

    Why in the News?

    This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu.

    What is the Rare Earth Hypothesis?

    • About: Proposed by Peter Ward (palaeontologist) and Donald Brownlee (astronomer) in 2000, it suggests that simple life (like microbes) may be common, but complex life (like plants and animals) is extremely rare in the universe.
    • Core Idea: Earth supports advanced life because of a unique mix of conditions such as a stable orbit, a protective magnetic field, active plate tectonics, and giant planets like Jupiter that shield it from asteroids.
    • Meaning: The Earth is not an ordinary planet; it is a special case where everything aligned perfectly to allow complex life to evolve.

    How does it differ from other Theories?

    • Drake Equation / Mediocrity Principle: Say that life should be common since there are billions of stars; the Rare Earth Hypothesis says complex life is rare even if basic life is not.
    • Fermi Paradox: Asks “Where is everybody?” The Rare Earth answer is that complex intelligent life is rare, so we don’t see others.
    • Copernican Principle: Claims Earth is ordinary; the Rare Earth Hypothesis argues Earth is extraordinary and rare in its conditions.

    Evidence supporting the Hypothesis:

    • Exoplanet Studies (Kepler Mission): Thousands of Earth-sized planets found, but few have stable climates or protective atmospheres like Earth.
    • M-dwarf Planets: Many orbit small stars and lose their atmospheres due to strong radiation.
    • No Alien Signals: Breakthrough Listen and other searches found no technosignatures from intelligent civilizations.
    • Earth’s Uniqueness: Plate tectonics and a carbon cycle help Earth keep a stable climate for billions of years; such conditions have not yet been found elsewhere.

    Scientific Outlook and Future Research:

    • Current View: Microbial life might exist on many planets, but stable, complex ecosystems like Earth’s are probably rare.
    • Ongoing Studies:
      • James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) searches for gases like oxygen, methane, and water on distant planets.
      • Planetary models test if other worlds have tectonics or internal heat for climate balance.
      • Technosignature surveys continue for traces of intelligent life.
    • Future Missions: Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will study exoplanet atmospheres more closely.
    • Significance: The Rare Earth Hypothesis remains plausible but unproven, showing that life may be widespread, but Earth-like complexity could be one of the universe’s rarest achievements.
    [UPSC 2018] Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?

    1. Continental drift

    2. Glacial cycles

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2* (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

  • [pib] India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA 

    Why in the News?

    The Union Ministry of Power has inaugurated India’s largest and first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) of 3 MWh capacity at NETRA, NTPC’s R&D Centre in Greater Noida.

    About the Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB):

    • Overview: A rechargeable flow battery that stores energy in liquid electrolytes containing vanadium ions in different oxidation states.
    • Core Principle: Uses the same element vanadium for both electrolytes, preventing cross-contamination and extending operational life.
    • Working Mechanism: Energy is stored through oxidation and reduction reactions of vanadium ions, where electrons are exchanged between two electrolyte tanks.
    • Cell Design: Electrolytes circulate through a cell stack separated by an ion-selective membrane that enables ion movement while stopping mixing.
    • Scalability: Energy capacity depends on electrolyte volume, while power output depends on cell stack size, allowing flexible scaling.
    • Application Focus: Ideal for stationary, grid-scale energy storage, renewable energy integration, and backup power systems.

    Benefits over Conventional Batteries:

    • Independent Scalability: Energy and power can be scaled separately, perfect for large utility storage and renewable grids.
    • Extended Lifespan: Can endure thousands of cycles since vanadium electrolytes don’t degrade or mix.
    • Full Discharge Safety: Can be fully discharged (100%) without damaging capacity, unlike lithium-ion batteries.
    • High Safety Level: Uses non-flammable, water-based electrolytes, eliminating risk of fire or explosion.
    • Eco-Friendly: Recyclable and non-toxic electrolytes reduce environmental impact and support circular use.
    • Long-Duration Storage: Provides 6–10+ hours of continuous energy, ideal for stabilizing solar and wind supply.
    • Low Maintenance: Fewer mechanical parts and no thermal runaway risk ensure long-term durability.
    • Fast Response: Reacts quickly to grid fluctuations, improving power quality and reliability.

    Limitations:

    • High Initial Cost: Requires expensive vanadium electrolyte and specialized components, leading to higher upfront installation costs than lithium-ion systems.
    • Low Energy Density: Stores less energy per unit volume, making it unsuitable for mobile or space-constrained applications like electric vehicles.
    • Complex Infrastructure: Needs large storage tanks, pumps, and control systems, which increase operational complexity and land requirements.
    [UPSC 2025] In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements:

    I. Cobalt II. Graphite III. Lithium IV. Nickel

    How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three* (d) All the four

     

  • Altermagnetism emerges as a new class of Magnetic Order

    Why in the News?

    Scientists discovered a new type of magnetism called altermagnetism, confirmed in 2024, which combines features of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.

    What is Altermagnetism?

    • Overview: A new form of magnetism discovered in 2019 and proven experimentally in 2024; combines traits of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
    • Mechanism: Atoms have opposite (antiparallel) spins like in antiferromagnets, but their alignment follows mirror or rotational symmetry, not simple alternation.
    • Magnetic Effect: Although it has no external magnetic field, the electrons show different energy levels for spin-up and spin-down states.
    • Discovery: First observed in manganese telluride (MnTe) through photoemission and X-ray imaging techniques.
    • Scientific Relevance: Introduces a magnetically neutral but electronically active material class useful for next-generation electronics.

    Distinctive Properties:

    • Zero External Magnetism: Produces no external field but shows strong internal spin asymmetry.
    • Spin-Polarised Currents: Can carry magnetic-like electric currents without stray fields.
    • Ultrafast Response: Works at terahertz (THz) frequencies, about 1000× faster than conventional magnetic devices.
    • Stable Performance: Maintains stable magnetic order even under changing conditions.
    • Crystal-Based Symmetry: Magnetism arises from atomic structure, not external alignment.

    How does it differ from other Magnetisms?

    • Ferromagnetism: All spins align in the same direction, creating a strong external magnetic field.
    • Antiferromagnetism: Spins align in opposite directions, fully cancelling magnetism with equal spin energy.
    • Altermagnetism: Spins align oppositely but mirror-linked, giving energy difference between spins, no net field, yet internal magnetic effects.

    Applications:

    • Spintronics: Enables compact, energy-efficient data storage and logic devices.
    • Quantum Computing: Provides magnetically quiet materials for stable qubit performance.
    • High-Speed Electronics: Supports ultrafast processors operating at terahertz levels.
    • Advanced Sensors: Useful for precise, low-noise magnetic detection.

  • Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard Aditya-L1

    Why in the News?

    Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), in collaboration with NASA, have made the first spectroscopic observations of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) in the visible wavelength range, using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) aboard Aditya-L1.

    About Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC):

    • Overview: The VELC is the primary scientific payload onboard Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observatory mission.
    • Developer: Designed and built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at its CREST campus, Hosakote (Karnataka).
    • Function: It is an internally occulted coronagraph capable of imaging, spectroscopy, and spectro-polarimetry of the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.
    • Objective: To study coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar wind acceleration, coronal temperature, plasma velocity, and magnetic field dynamics close to the solar limb.
    • Capabilities:
      • Observes the corona as close as 1.05 solar radii from the Sun’s surface.
      • Equipped with a spectrograph, polarimeter, and detectors for high-resolution data.
      • Enables continuous 24-hour solar observation from Lagrange Point L1.
    • Significance: Provides first-ever spectroscopic data of CMEs near the Sun, enhancing understanding of space weather and solar activity.
    • Key Findings:
      • Electron Density: ~370 million electrons per cubic centimetre within the CME, several times higher than the ambient solar corona (10–100 million/cm³).
      • Energy: ~9.4 × 10²¹ joules- nearly 100 trillion times the energy released by the Hiroshima bomb.
      • Mass: ~270 million tonnes- about 180 times the mass of the iceberg that sank the Titanic.

    Back2Basics: Aditya-L1 Mission

    • Overview: India’s first space-based solar mission, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
    • Launch & Position: Launched in 2023; placed at the Lagrange Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, providing an uninterrupted view of the Sun.
    • Purpose: To study the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona), solar radiation, magnetic storms, and space weather phenomena.
    • Key Objectives:
      • Understand the dynamics of solar corona and solar wind.
      • Study solar flares, CMEs, and their impact on Earth’s magnetosphere.
      • Monitor space weather to protect satellites and communication systems.
    • Scientific Payloads (7 instruments):
      1. VELC – Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (solar corona imaging).
      2. SUIT – Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope.
      3. SoLEXS – Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer.
      4. HEL1OS – High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer.
      5. ASPEX – Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment.
      6. PAPA – Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya.
      7. Magnetometer – Measures magnetic fields at L1.
    • Significance:
      1. First Indian mission to continuously observe the Sun.
      2. Strengthens India’s position in global heliophysics research.
      3. Provides early warnings for geomagnetic storms affecting satellites and power grids.
    [UPSC 2022] If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ?

    1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.

    2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.

    3. Power grids could be damaged.

    4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.

    5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.

    6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only* (d) 2, 5 and 6 only

     

  • [pib] Indian Navy commissions INS Ikshak

    Why in the News?

    The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Ikshak, the third Survey Vessel (Large) (SVL) and the first to be based at the Southern Naval Command, at Naval Base Kochi.

    About INS Ikshak:

    • Overview: It is the third vessel of the Survey Vessel (Large) [SVL] class and the first to be based at the Southern Naval Command.
    • Series Lineage: Third ship in the SVL series, following INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak, replacing older Sandhayak-class vessels.
    • Builder & Origin: Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Kolkata, under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with over 80% indigenous content sourced from Indian MSMEs.
    • Name Meaning: Means ‘Guide’ in Sanskrit – symbolising its role in charting unexplored waters and strengthening maritime safety in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
    • Mission Role: Designed primarily for hydrographic surveys but also configured for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and can serve as a hospital ship during crises.

    Key Features:

    • Dimensions & Displacement: 110 m long, 16 m wide, 3,400-ton displacement, with crew capacity of ~231 personnel.
    • Propulsion & Speed: Powered by twin main engines and twin-shaft configuration; achieves 14 knots cruising speed, 18 knots maximum.
    • Survey Systems: Equipped with multi-beam echo sounder, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), four Survey Motor Boats (SMBs), and advanced oceanographic sensors for coastal and deep-water mapping.
    • Aviation Facility: Features a helicopter deck, extending its range, reconnaissance, and operational versatility.
    • Dual Role Capability: Convertible for HADR and medical missions, enhancing naval disaster-response capability.
    • Gender-Inclusive Design: India’s first survey vessel with dedicated accommodation for women officers and sailors.
    [UPSC 2016] Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
    Options: (a) Amphibious warfare ship
    (b) Nuclear-powered submarine
    (c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel *
    (d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

     

  • Clearest Black Hole Merger signal allows probe of Hawking’s Law

    Why in the News?

    Researchers have detected the clearest gravitational wave signal, GW250114, from merging black holes, confirming Stephen Hawking’s 1971 Black Hole Area Theorem.

    Clearest Black Hole Merger signal allows probe of Hawking’s Law

    About GW250114:

    • Overview: GW250114 is the clearest gravitational wave signal ever detected, observed on January 14, 2025, by LIGO (US), Virgo (Italy), and KAGRA (Japan).
    • What Happened: It came from the collision of two black holes, each about 30 times the Sun’s mass, located 1.3 billion light-years away.
    • Importance: Published in Physical Review Letters (Sept 2025), it gave the strongest proof of Stephen Hawking’s Black Hole Area Theorem (1971) and confirmed Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.

    Back2Bascis: Black Holes

    • Overview: A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape.
    • Formation: Created when a massive star collapses after using up its fuel.
    • Types:
    1. Stellar Black Holes – formed from dead stars.
    2. Supermassive Black Holes – at the centre of galaxies.
    3. Intermediate or Primordial – smaller or early-universe types.
    • Properties: Defined by mass, spin, and charge; grow by absorbing matter or merging with other black holes.

    What is a Black Hole Merger?

    • Process: Two black holes orbit each other, come closer, and finally collide to form a bigger black hole.
    • Phases:
    1. Inspiral – they lose energy and move inward.
    2. Merger – they collide, sending out gravitational waves.
    3. Ringdown – the new black hole settles down.
    • Observation: These mergers create powerful ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves, first detected by LIGO in 2015.

    What is the Hawking’s Black Hole Area Theorem (1971)?

    • Idea: The total surface area of black holes never decreases — it can only stay the same or increase.
    • Analogy: Similar to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, where disorder (entropy) always increases.
    • Meaning: When two black holes merge, the new black hole’s surface area is greater than or equal to the combined areas of the originals.
    • Proof: The GW250114 event (2025) confirmed this by showing that the total area increased, just as Hawking predicted.
    [UPSC 2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

    Options: (a) Higgs boson particles’ were detected.

    (b) Gravitational waves’ were detected. *

    (c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.

    (d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.

     

  • Gamma-Ray Bursts from Black Hole ‘Morsels’ could expose Quantum Gravity

    Why in the News?

    A recent theoretical study (accepted in Nuclear Physics B, August 2025) introduces the idea of “black hole morsels”, tiny, asteroid-mass micro-black holes possibly formed during black hole mergers.

    What are Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs)?

    • Overview: They are extremely energetic cosmic explosions that emit intense bursts of gamma radiation, the highest-energy form of electromagnetic waves.
    • Discovery: First detected in the late 1960s by U.S. Vela satellites, initially built to monitor nuclear tests.
    • Duration-Based Classification:
      • Short GRBs: Lasting <2 seconds, typically formed by merging neutron stars or neutron stars–black hole collisions.
      • Long GRBs: Lasting 2–1000 seconds, arising from supernova collapses of massive stars (collapsars).
    • Energy Output: A single GRB can release as much energy in seconds as the Sun emits over its entire lifetime (~10⁵¹–10⁵⁴ ergs).
    • Afterglow: Follows the main burst in X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths, allowing astronomers to study host galaxies and distances.

    Hypothesis about Black Hole ‘Morsels’:

    • Study Context: Research proposes the existence of “black hole morsels”, tiny remnants formed during black hole mergers.
    • Formation Mechanism: During merger, spacetime “pinches off” into ultra-dense pockets, creating micro-black holes or morsels that may later evaporate.
    • Emissions: These morsels are predicted to release gamma rays and high-energy particles via Hawking radiation, providing a possible observational signature of quantum gravity.
    • Scientific Goal: The hypothesis aims to bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics, offering a natural test case for quantum spacetime dynamics.

    What are Black Hole Morsels?

    • Overview: Hypothetical micro–black holes formed as fragments during black hole mergers under extreme gravitational stress.
    • Origin: Result from pinched-off regions of spacetime during coalescence of two black holes.
    • Mass & Size: Much smaller than parent black holes, roughly asteroid-scale mass but with extreme density.
    • Temperature & Radiation: Extremely hot, emitting intense Hawking radiation– photons, neutrinos, and high-energy particles.
    • Lifetime: Short-lived — ranging from milliseconds to years, depending on initial mass.
    • Detectability: Expected to produce isotropic gamma-ray bursts, unlike directional jets of typical GRBs.
    • Observation Instruments: Potential detection via HESS (Namibia), HAWC (Mexico), LHAASO (China), and Fermi Space Telescope (USA).

    Scientific Significance:

    • Quantum Gravity Evidence: Detection would confirm that gravity behaves quantum mechanically at microscopic scales.
    • Spacetime Structure: Provides direct insight into the quantum texture of spacetime near black hole singularities.
    • Cosmic Accelerator Analogy: Morsels could probe energy scales far beyond the LHC, acting as natural high-energy laboratories.
    • Current Status: None observed yet, but existing gamma-ray data are being analysed to set upper mass limits and refine the model.
    [UPSC 2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘Blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

    Options: (a) Higgs boson particles were detected.

    (b) Gravitational waves were detected.*

    (c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.

    (d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.