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Subject: Science and Technology

  • Bharat Forecast System for Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting

    Why in the News?

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has unveiled the Bharat Forecast System (BFS) for weather predictions at panchayat level.

    About Bharat Forecast System (BFS)

    • Launch: The BFS was launched by IMD and developed by IITM Pune under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
    • Forecast Accuracy: It delivers hyperlocal weather predictions at the panchayat level, using a 6 km × 6 km grid — the highest resolution in the world.
    • Supercomputing Power: The system runs on two advanced supercomputers: Arka at IITM Pune and Arunika at NCMRWF Delhi.
    • Purpose: BFS enhances short- and medium-term forecasts critical for agriculture, disaster preparedness, and public safety.

    Key Features of BFS:

    • High-Resolution Forecasting: It provides 6 km resolution forecasts, improving on the earlier 12 km resolution. It covers the tropical region between 30° South and 30° North latitude.
    • Advanced Supercomputing: Arka- 11.77 petaflops, 33 petabytes; Arunika- 8.24 petaflops, 24 petabytes; Arka reduces forecast processing time from 10 hours to 4 hours; Includes a dedicated AI system with 1.9 petaflops power.
    • Real-Time Nowcasting: Uses data from 40 Doppler Weather Radars (set to grow to 100); Provides real-time forecasts for the next 2 hours with high accuracy.
    • Smart Grid Design: Uses a Triangular-Cubic Octahedral (TCO) grid, focusing computing power on weather-sensitive regions.
    • Practical Benefits: Helps forecast heavy rainfall, improve crop planning, manage flood risk, and guide resource allocation.
    • Global Benchmark: Most global models operate at 9–14 km resolution; India is now the only country with 6 km operational weather forecasts.
    [UPSC 2017] With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. IOD phenomenon is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.

    2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

    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

     

  • Tianwen-2 Mission 

    Why in the News?

    China is set to launch its first asteroid sampling mission, called Tianwen-2, to study and collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo‘oalewa.

    If successful, China will join a small group of countries — including the United States and Japan — that have returned asteroid samples to Earth.

    What is the Kamo‘oalewa Asteroid?

    • Kamo‘oalewa was discovered in 2016 using the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii.
    • It is a quasi-satellite of Earth, which means it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth and is affected by Earth’s gravity.
    • It has a highly elliptical orbit and seems to move ahead of and behind Earth, giving the illusion of orbiting Earth.
    • Kamo‘oalewa has been in this orbit for around 100 years and is expected to remain in it for the next 300 years.

    About the Tianwen-2 Mission:

    • Mission Type: Tianwen-2 is China’s first asteroid sample return mission.
    • Target: It will explore 469219 Kamo‘oalewa, a near-Earth quasi-satellite asteroid.
    • Asteroid Origin: Kamo ‘oalewa may contain lunar fragments ejected during a past collision.
    • Sample Collection:
      • Touch-and-Go Technique: Uses a projectile or gas to loosen and collect surface material.
      • Anchor-and-Attach Technique: Uses robotic arms to anchor and drill for deeper samples.
    • Post-Sample Phase: After sample return, the probe will travel to the main asteroid belt for further exploration.
    • Key Technologies: Equipped with high-resolution cameras, intelligent onboard systems, and precise control to operate in low-gravity conditions.

    Tianwen-1 Mission:

    • Mission Type: Tianwen-1 was China’s first Mars mission, launched in July 2020.
    • Launch Vehicle: It was launched aboard a Long March 5 rocket.
    • Mission Structure: Consisted of an orbiter, lander, and rover — all in one launch.
    • Landing Site: Successfully landed in Utopia Planitia, a northern Martian plain.
    • Scientific Goals:
      • Studied Martian soil, rocks, and geological structure.
      • Analyzed climate, atmosphere, and subsurface water or ice.
    • Unique Feature: Deployed the first ground-penetrating radar on the Martian surface.

     

    [UPSC 2014] Consider the following pairs:

    Spacecraft Purpose

    1. Cassini-Huygens : Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth.

    2. Messenger : Mapping and investigating.

    3. Voyager 1 and 2 : Exploring the outer solar system.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only* (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only

     

  • ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence System

    Why in the News?

    US President Donald Trump announced that he has shortlisted a design for a powerful new missile defence shield called the ‘Golden Dome’.

    About the Golden Dome Project:

    • Project Launch: It is a proposed missile defence shield announced by Donald Trump.
    • Development: It is being led by Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force, with support from SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril.
    • Timeline: The system is projected to cost $175 billion and is expected to be operational by January 2029.
    • Purpose: It aims to protect the US from long-range missile threats, particularly ICBMs from China and Russia.
    • Defence Layers: The system will combine technologies deployed on land, at sea, and in space for comprehensive coverage.

    Key Features:

    • Space-Based Interceptors: Thousands of orbiting satellites will carry and launch interceptors from space, offering global missile defence.
    • Missile Tracking: Real-time detection using space-based sensors will allow the system to track enemy launches within seconds.
    • Altitude and Reach: Drones and satellites operating at 15,000 meters or more will stay above many conventional air defences.
    • Payload Flexibility: Capable of deploying surveillance drones, kamikaze UAVs, cruise missiles, and air-to-air missiles depending on mission needs.
    • Modular Adaptability: The system is designed for multiple applications, including military operations, public security, and maritime surveillance.

    Parallel Examples:

    • Iron Dome (Israel): A short-range missile defence system using ground-based radar and Tamir interceptors for protection against rockets and UAVs.
    • “Star Wars” Initiative (1980s): President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aimed to destroy nuclear missiles from space using lasers and interceptors.
    • DARPA’s Gremlins Project: Explored mother ship-launched drones; Golden Dome builds on this idea at a larger and space-based scale.
    [UPSC 2018] What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?

    Options: (a) An Israeli radar system (b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme (c) An American anti-missile system * (d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

     

  • China’s ‘Mother Ship’ Drone

    Why in the News?

    China has unleashed its unmanned aerial “mother ship” drone named ‘Jiu Tian,’ capable of launching and coordinating over 100 drones in a single mission.

    About the Jiu Tian Mother Ship Drone:

    • Type and Capability: It is a jet-powered, super-high-altitude, long-range drone designed for advanced aerial missions.
    • First Appearance: It was first showcased at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024.
    • Size and Range: The drone is 82 feet wide, has a wingspan of 25 metres, and can fly up to 15,000 metres (50,000 feet) with a maximum range of 7,000 km.
    • Weight and Payload: It has a maximum take-off weight of 16 tonnes and can carry up to 6 tonnes of weapons and drones.
    • Altitude Advantage: It is designed to fly above medium-range air defence systems, improving survivability in contested zones.

    Key Capabilities and Features:

    • Drone Deployment: It can release up to 100 small drones or loitering munitions, including kamikaze drones, from both sides of its belly.
    • Weapon Compatibility: It features eight external hardpoints that can carry surveillance drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-air missiles like the PL-12E.
    • Mission Flexibility: Its modular interior allows for quick reconfiguration to suit different missions such as military strikes, border defence, maritime surveillance, emergency rescue, public security, and high-risk logistics.
    [UPSC 2020] Consider the following activities: (1) Spraying pesticides on a crop field (2) Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes (3) Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis

    At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3*

     

  • [23rd May 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Tariff wars and a reshaping of AI’s global landscape

    PYQ Relevance:

    [UPSC 2024] “The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China’s political and economic dominance.’ Explain this statement with examples.

    Linkage:  India as a strategic “third option” in the technological rivalry between the U.S. and China, driven by tariffs. It notes that India might benefit if companies seek alternatives to China for manufacturing due to tariff-induced supply chain disruptions.

     

    Mentor’s Comment: After the 2024 U.S. election, the government raised tariffs on AI hardware, increasing costs and making the U.S. expensive for building AI technology. These tariffs disrupt global supply chains and push companies to move data centers abroad. India’s growing tech sector positions it as a key alternative to the U.S. and China in this changing AI rivalry and supply chain realignment.

    Today’s editorial explains how the USA raised tariffs on AI hardware and the impact of these tariffs. This information will help with GS Paper II (International Relations) and Paper III (Indian Economy).

    _

    Let’s learn!

    Why in the News?

    After the 2024 U.S. presidential election, new high tariffs on AI hardware could significantly change the global supply chains that support artificial intelligence (AI) development.

    What is the effect of 2024 U.S. tariffs on AI supply chains and costs?

    • Increased Hardware Costs: Tariffs have raised import duties up to 27% on critical AI components, making AI infrastructure significantly more expensive in the U.S. Eg: Imports of data processing machines worth $200 billion from countries like China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Mexico are now tariff-affected.
    • Disruption of Global Supply Chains: Tariffs have caused companies to rethink and relocate data center construction abroad due to higher costs in the U.S. Eg: Some firms are shifting operations to China, which was ironically a key target of the tariffs.
    • Reduced Innovation and Investment: Tariffs create uncertainty, discourage investment, and slow innovation due to higher costs and fragmented supply chains. Eg: Studies show that a standard deviation increase in tariffs could reduce output growth by 0.4% over five years.

    Why is India seen as a potential third option in the U.S.-China tech rivalry?

    • Strategic Geopolitical Position: India is being positioned as a neutral and reliable alternative amidst U.S.-China tensions. Eg: India is increasingly chosen for data center locations and AI collaborations as companies seek to reduce dependence on China.
    • Growing Tech and AI Sector: India’s AI and digital engineering sectors are among the fastest-growing within its IT industry. Eg: IT exports have grown at 3.3% to 5.1% annually in recent years, with a major focus on AI services.
    • Skilled Workforce: India produces about 1.5 million engineering graduates every year, many with strong AI-related skills. Eg: This talent pool supports global R&D needs, especially in software and algorithm development.
    • Policy Support and Investment: The Indian government is heavily investing in semiconductor and AI infrastructure. Eg: AMD’s $400 million design campus in Bengaluru and multi-billion-dollar fab proposals are part of this initiative.
    • Comparative Cost Advantage: Lower labor costs and an expanding tech ecosystem make India economically attractive. Eg: Companies find operations in India more cost-effective compared to both the U.S. and China.

    How do tariffs influence AI innovation and efficiency?

    • Disruption of Global Supply Chains: Tariffs increase the cost of critical AI components, slowing innovation and access to cutting-edge technologies. Eg: A 27% tariff on AI chips in 2025 made the U.S. one of the most expensive places to build AI infrastructure.
    • Shift Toward Efficiency Over Raw Power: Rising hardware costs push companies to focus on algorithmic efficiency and model compression instead of raw compute. Eg: AI model usage costs are falling rapidly (by ~40x/year) due to optimisation rather than increased hardware.
    • Deadweight Loss and Slowed Productivity: Tariffs reduce trade volume and create inefficiencies that neither benefit producers nor consumers, slowing innovation cycles. Eg: Studies show a 1 standard deviation rise in tariffs can cut output growth by 0.4% over 5 years.

    Where is India investing to boost its AI and semiconductor sector?

    • Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities: India is setting up large-scale chip fabrication units to reduce dependency on imports. Eg: A ₹2,500 crore semiconductor chip manufacturing facility is being established in Lucknow under the India Semiconductor Mission.
    • Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Collaborations with global tech companies are being encouraged to build domestic capacity. Eg: HCL and Foxconn are jointly setting up a semiconductor unit near the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.
    • AI Skilling and R&D Initiatives: Programs are being launched to train talent in AI and expand research. Eg: The ‘AI Pragya’ initiative aims to upskill 1 million individuals in areas like AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

    When could over 50% of AI workload accelerators become custom ASICs?

    By 2028, over 50% of AI workload accelerators are expected to be custom ASICs: This marks a shift from general-purpose chips to highly specialized hardware tailored for specific AI tasks. Eg: ASICs designed for language model inference (like Google’s TPU) outperform GPUs in efficiency and cost for specific applications.

    Note: ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) are specialised chips designed to perform a specific task or set of tasks more efficiently than general-purpose processors like CPUs or GPUs.

    What does it imply?

    • Shift Toward Decentralised and Specialised AI Development:  Indicates a move away from one-size-fits-all hardware to task-specific solutions, enhancing performance and energy efficiency. Eg: Companies may deploy custom ASICs for voice assistants, facial recognition, or autonomous driving systems instead of relying on generic GPUs.
    • Cost Optimisation: Encourages innovation in hardware design and reduces long-term operational costs, benefiting firms with large-scale AI deployments. Eg: Startups and emerging economies like India can leapfrog legacy systems by adopting efficient ASIC-based infrastructure tailored to specific AI needs.

    What are the challenges for India? 

    • Dependence on Imported Hardware: India relies heavily on imported semiconductor components, which makes its AI ambitions vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and tariffs. Eg: Tariffs on AI hardware can increase costs, slowing India’s AI infrastructure development.
    • Limited Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity: India currently has insufficient domestic chip manufacturing facilities, making it difficult to compete with established producers like Taiwan and China. Eg: India has announced semiconductor fab proposals but is still far from meeting demand for advanced chips.

    Way forward: 

    • Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Accelerate investments in semiconductor fabs and public-private partnerships to build self-reliant AI hardware supply chains, reducing dependence on imports and mitigating tariff impacts.
    • Enhance R&D and Skilling: Strengthen AI-focused research, innovation, and workforce training programs to develop specialized hardware solutions like custom ASICs, driving cost efficiency and global competitiveness.

  • New drugs arrive on the block, but AMR threats continue

    Why in the News?

    AMR is rapidly becoming one of the greatest public health threats, contributing to 2.97 lakh deaths in India in 2019 alone, as reported by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.

    What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

    • AMR occurs when microorganisms (like bacteria) evolve to become resistant to antibiotics designed to kill them. This makes infections harder to treat, leading to increased mortality and healthcare complications.
    • Globally, AMR contributed to 1.27 million deaths and in India to 2,97,000 deaths in 2019 (IHME report).

    Why is it a growing concern globally?

    • Rising Deaths Due to Resistant Infections: AMR causes infections that are harder to treat, leading to increased mortality. Eg, globally AMR contributed to 1.27 million deaths in 2019, and it is projected that by 2050, up to 10 million people could die annually due to resistant infections if no action is taken.
    • Limited New Antibiotics Development: There has been a major decline in new antibiotic discovery over the past 30 years, leaving fewer effective treatment options. Eg, India’s development of Nafthromycin was the first new antibiotic in three decades, highlighting the global innovation gap.
    • Widespread Misuse and Overuse of Antibiotics: Over-prescription and use of antibiotics in humans, livestock, and agriculture accelerate resistance. Eg, in India, antibiotics are often sold without prescriptions, promoting resistance and reducing drug effectiveness.

    What is Nafthromycin? 

    • Nafthromycin, marketed as ‘Miqnaf’, is a new antibiotic developed in India by Wockhardt, with support from BIRAC.
    • It treats Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP). It is a once-a-day, three-day treatment with a 97% success rate.
    • India’s first indigenously-developed antibiotic in 30 years and the first globally in this class.

    What is the role of Nafthromycin in fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

    • Provides a New Effective Treatment Option: Nafthromycin is India’s first indigenously developed antibiotic in 30 years, offering a powerful new drug to treat infections like Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) with a 97% success rate. Eg: This helps overcome resistance to older antibiotics like azithromycin.
    • Supports Antibiotic Stewardship by Reducing Overuse of Existing Drugs: By providing an effective alternative, Nafthromycin can reduce reliance on existing antibiotics that have become less effective due to resistance, helping slow down the spread of AMR.

    Why is the misuse and overuse of antibiotics a major cause of AMR in India?

    • Over-the-counter sales without prescription: Antibiotics are often sold without a prescription, leading to improper and unnecessary use. Eg: People buying antibiotics directly from pharmacies for viral infections like common cold, where antibiotics are ineffective.
    • Use of antibiotics in livestock and agriculture: A large portion of antibiotics is used in animals to promote growth or prevent disease, which contributes to resistant bacteria spreading to humans. Eg: Use of colistin in poultry farming, which was recently banned in India to curb resistance.
    • Self-medication and lack of awareness: Many people self-medicate with antibiotics or do not complete prescribed courses, promoting resistance.  

    What are the healthcare gaps in the treatment of AMR?

    • Shortage of Trained Medical Personnel in AMR Management: There is limited awareness and training among healthcare providers on rational antibiotic use and infection control practices. Eg: A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that in community clinics in tier-2 cities, over 50% of doctors were unaware of the national treatment guidelines for infections.
    • Lack of Diagnostic Infrastructure: Many primary and secondary healthcare centers in India lack adequate microbiology labs to accurately identify bacterial infections and their resistance profiles. Eg: In rural districts of Uttar Pradesh, absence of lab support leads doctors to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics blindly, increasing resistance risks.

    What are the steps taken by the Indian Government? 

    • National Action Plan on AMR (NAP-AMR): A comprehensive plan aligned with WHO’s Global Action Plan to tackle AMR using a One Health approach (human, animal, and environment sectors). Eg: The plan prioritizes awareness, surveillance, infection prevention, and rational antimicrobial use. States like Kerala and Delhi have developed their own State Action Plans on AMR in alignment with NAP-AMR.
    • Establishment of Surveillance Networks: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) set up the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance & Research Network (AMRSN) to track resistance patterns across hospitals. Eg: AMRSN collects data on AMR trends in pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli from over 30 hospitals, helping inform national policy.

    Way forward: 

    • Strengthen Regulation and Stewardship: Enforce strict controls on antibiotic sales and promote antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals and clinics.
    • Invest in Surveillance and Public Awareness: Expand AMR surveillance networks and run sustained awareness campaigns to educate public and healthcare providers.

    Mains PYQ:

    [UPSC 2014] How do you explain the factors responsible for the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.

    Linkage: The core issue of “drug-resistant diseases” which is Antibiotic Resistance (AMR). The article talking about the key factors for AMR, such as misuse and overuse of antibiotics across various sectors, including non-prescription sales in countries like India. It also discusses the need for monitoring and control mechanisms like responsible global stewardship, patient education, public awareness, innovation, regulation, and government leadership in stewardship.

  • Hoyle–Narlikar Theory of Gravity

    Why in the News?

    Jayant Narlikar, renowned Indian astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee, who co-developed the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory to refine Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, passed away in Pune at the age of 87.

    About Jayant Narlikar and His Contributions:

    • Early Life: Born in 1938 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and pursued a PhD at Cambridge University under Fred Hoyle.
    • Scientific Influence: Hoyle had earlier developed the steady-state theory with Bondi and Gold and coined the term “Big Bang” sarcastically in 1948.
    • Narlikar’s Belief: He argued that the universe always looks the same, as new matter fills the gaps created by expansion.
    • Critique of Big Bang: He believed the Big Bang theory includes unproven assumptions, especially about the sudden origin of all matter and energy.
    • Enduring Work: Despite steady-state theory’s decline, Narlikar’s contributions remain respected for their scientific depth and originality.

    What Is the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory?

    Fred Hoyle and Jayant Narlikar developed a theory to answer one of the most basic questions: Why do things have mass, and how are they connected to the rest of the universe?

    • Based on Mach’s Principle: They believed your mass isn’t just something you have on your own. Instead, it depends on your connection to everything else in the universe. That means even faraway stars and galaxies play a role in what you weigh.
    • Inertia Explained: In simple terms, when you feel resistance while trying to move (inertia), it’s because of the gravitational pull of all the matter in the universe acting on you at once.
    • Mass is Relative: Earth, the Sun, or even you don’t have a fixed mass. That mass is influenced by everything else that exists out there, no matter how far away it is.
    • C-field and Steady-State Model
      • New Idea – C-Field: They introduced the “creation field”, which creates new matter in space.
      • Universe Without a Start: Their steady-state theory says the universe has no beginning or end, is always expanding, and keeps its density constant.
      • Against the Big Bang: They believed the Big Bang couldn’t explain everything we see today.
      • Hydrogen Creation: They said hydrogen atoms form in space to fill in the gaps as the universe grows.
    • Issues with the Theory:
      • CMB Discovery (1965): Scientists found cosmic microwave background radiation, strong proof of the Big Bang.
      • Other Evidence: Later discoveries like young, chaotic galaxies and studies by Hawking and Penrose supported the Big Bang.
      • Current View: The Big Bang theory became more accepted, but Hoyle and Narlikar’s ideas are still respected for their scientific value.
    [UPSC 2018] Consider the following phenomena:

    1. Light is affected by gravity.

    2. The Universe is constantly expanding.

    3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.

    Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3*

     

  • NASA’s GRAIL Mission

    Why in the News?

    Scientists now believe the Moon’s near side looks different from its far side due to its internal structure and volcanic past, revealed by NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission.

    About the GRAIL Mission:

    • Launch: NASA launched the GRAIL mission in 2011 to study the moon’s internal structure.
    • Spacecraft Used: It used two spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, flying in tandem to detect gravity variations.
    • Objectives: The mission measured tiny changes in distance between the two spacecraft caused by differences in the moon’s gravitational field.
    • Scientific Outcome: The data revealed important details about the moon’s crust thickness, interior composition, and subsurface features.

    Key Findings: Reasons for the Moon’s Asymmetry

    • Tidal Deformation: The nearside bends more than the farside due to Earth’s gravity, a process called tidal deformation.
    • Internal Activity: The nearside is geologically warmer and more active, suggesting internal structural differences.
    • Volcanic History: Ancient volcanic activity on the nearside formed large basaltic plains, while the farside remained rugged and less active.
    • Heat Distribution: Elements like thorium and titanium accumulated on the nearside, making it 100–200°C hotter than the farside.
    • Crust Thickness: The nearside has a thinner crust, allowing magma to escape, while the farside’s thicker crust trapped heat and blocked eruptions.
    • Thermal Contrast: The thinner crust also allowed more heat-producing elements to concentrate, increasing the temperature gap between the two sides.

    Why do these findings matter?

    • Support for Lunar Missions: Insights from GRAIL help design better navigation and timing systems for future lunar operations.
    • Applications: GRAIL’s method can be applied to other moons like Enceladus and Ganymede, which may hold potential for life.
    [UPSC 2007] NASA’S Deep Impact space mission was employed to take detailed pictures of which comet nucleus?

    Options: (a)  Halley’s Comet (b) Hale-Bopp (c) Hyakutake (d) Tempel 1 *

     

  • What is A-to-I mRNA Editing?

    Why in the News?

    Chinese researchers found that A-to-I mRNA editing, once considered random, plays a key role in development, especially in the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum.

    About A-to-I mRNA Editing:

    • mRNA: Our cells use DNA as a guide to make proteins. First, they copy DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA).
    • A-to-I editing: This is a process where the letter adenosine (A) in mRNA is changed to inosine (I) by special enzymes called ADARs. The cell reads inosine as guanine (G), which can change the protein being made.
    • Why it matters:
      • It helps the cell make different versions of proteins without changing the DNA.
      • It can remove early stop signals, allowing full proteins to be made.
      • It helps the cell adapt to different conditions or stages of life.

    What did scientists discover in the fungus?

    • Fungal Discovery: Scientists found that the fungus edits over 26,000 mRNA sites during reproduction, not during normal growth.
    • Development Role: This editing fixes early stop signals in key genes, helping the fungus develop and reproduce properly.
    • Stress Adaptation: Some genes work better unedited under stress, showing the fungus edits only when needed for survival.

    Does this happen in humans?

    Yes, A-to-I editing is common in humans:

    • In the brain: It helps with brain growth, memory, and learning.
    • In the immune system: It helps fight infections and control inflammation.

    Health Implications:

    • Health Risks: Faulty editing is linked to epilepsy and certain cancers.
    • Therapeutic Potential: Understanding this process can lead to new treatments and improve gene-editing technologies.
    [UPSC 2016] In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to:

    Options: (a) a range of enzymes used in genome editing (b) the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism * (c) the description of the mechanism of gene expression (d) a mechanism of genetic mutations taking place in cells

     

  • 125 Years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) 

    Why in the News?

    The Department of Posts has released a commemorative postage stamp to mark 125 years of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO)—one of India’s oldest and most significant astronomical research centres dedicated to studying the Sun.

    About the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO):

    • Founding: Established in the late 19th century, KoSO was established in 1899 after atmospheric surveys by Charles Michie Smith.
    • Location: It is located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, in the Palani Hills, chosen for its excellent sky conditions.
    • Early Observations: Initially focused on observing sunspots, solar prominences, and solar radiation.
    • Modern Equipment: Now equipped with the H-alpha telescope (for flares and prominences) and WARM (for high-resolution sunspot imaging).
    • Institutional Role: Became part of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in April 1971.
    • Scientific Importance: KoSO contributes to understanding the Sun’s effect on Earth’s climate and space weather.

    Important Observations / Discoveries:

    • Evershed Effect (1909): Discovered by John Evershed, it was the first observation of radial gas outflows in sunspots, a key finding in solar physics.
    • Historic Solar Archive (1904–2017): Created one of the world’s longest continuous solar datasets.
    • Digitization: First Indian observatory to digitise solar data (since 1984); currently maintains a digital archive of 1.48 lakh images (~10 TB).
    • Wider Scientific Work: Extended research into cosmic rays, radio astronomy, ionospheric physics, and stellar astrophysics over the decades.
    [UPSC 2016] Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development?