Daily News Analysis : 3 July 2024

RBI signs up for Project Nexus

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined Project Nexus, a global initiative to streamline cross-border payments by linking Fast Payment Systems (FPSs) of different countries. India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will connect with FPSs in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Project Nexus, initiated by the BIS Innovation Hub, standardises global payment methods, enhancing speed and reducing costs.

Key Points:

A) The multilateral approach of Project Nexus will help in enhancing the international reach and efficiency of Indian payments systems.
B) This initiative involves BIS Innovation Hub which aims to collaborate multi-laterally to increase payment efficiency and speed.
C) This will result in benefits for person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions.

Largest Volcano In Our Solar System Captured by Mars Odyssey Orbiter

NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter recently captured an epic view of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our solar system. Launched in 2001, Odyssey has been orbiting Mars, mapping its surface and serving as a communications relay. Olympus Mons, a shield volcano, is three times higher than Mount Everest and covers an area larger than the Hawaiian Islands.

Key Points:

A) NASA celebrated the occasion by sharing a detailed panorama of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system.
B) NASA’s Odyssey spacecraft, the longest-running mission on Mars, circled the Red Planet for the 100,000th time.
C) By capturing similar images at different times of the year, scientists aim to study changes in the Martian atmosphere throughout its four seasons, which last from four to seven months each.
 

Desert Moss Species Syntrichia Caninervis Discovered

Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss with remarkable tolerance to drought, cold, and radiation, has been identified by scientists. This globally distributed moss uses tiny leaf hairs to collect water, making it a potential candidate for future space exploration and colonisation efforts. As a whole, Mosses play important ecological roles like nutrient cycling and erosion control.

Key Points:

A) The study has been published in a new paper in the journal ‘The Innovation’.
B) The researchers have documented how desert moss not only survived but also quickly recovered from near-total dehydration.
C) Additionally, it was able to regenerate under normal growth conditions after being exposed to gamma rays for up to 30 days at -196 Celsius and up to five years at -80 Celsius.
 

New Radio Galaxy Discovered Using LOFAR

Astronomers have discovered a new radio galaxy, J0011+3217, using the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope. This peculiar radio galaxy, associated with the Abell 7 galaxy cluster, features a one-sided secondary lobe and misaligned primary lobes. LOFAR operates at low radio frequencies and employs advanced digital techniques, allowing simultaneous observation across multiple directions without moving parts. 

Key Points: 

A) The paper revealed that a huge amount of radio waves are emitted from the centre cores of radio galaxies.
B) In the core of these galaxies, black holes accrete gas and dust, producing radio-visible high-energy jets that propel electrically charged particles to very high velocities.
C) Features including lobes, jets, hotspots and a core are found in a typical radio galaxy during its active phase, which can apparently last up to 100 million years.

SEBEX 2

SEBEX 2, developed by Economic Explosives Limited in Nagpur under the Make in India initiative, is a potent non-nuclear explosive using a high-melting explosive composition (HMX). It boasts 2.01 times the lethality of standard TNT, making it one of the world’s most powerful conventional explosives, certified by the Indian Navy.

Key Points:

A) SEBEX 2 is expected to revolutionise artillery shells and warheads by further enhancing their destructive power without adding extra weight to them.
B) The new formulation for SEBEX 2 was tested under the Defence Export Promotion Scheme of the Navy.
C) The development of these explosives is being undertaken by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, based in Nagpur.
 

Nouka Baich Boat Race Starts in West Bengal

Nouka Baich, a traditional boat race in West Bengal, takes place during September amidst the swollen rivers of monsoon’s last weeks. Originally male-dominated, it now includes women participants. The races are linked with the worship of Manasa, the Hindu goddess of snakes, and feature various traditional boats like Chhip, Kaile Bachhhari, and Sorengi.

Key Points:

A) Boat competitions typically commence during the peak of the monsoon season and extend until September, occasionally even stretching into October or November in certain regions.
B) In contrast, the boat race in Bengal is conducted on a much larger magnitude in Kerala, where it exclusively takes place during the Onam festival with a single type of boat taking part.
C) The rowing tradition, known as nouka baich in Bengal, is an important part of South Asian culture and is also popular in countries such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and of course Bangladesh, Bangladesh and West Bengal.
 

Deep Brain Stimulation Device

A UK teen, Oran Knowlson, is the first to receive a brain implant using deep brain stimulation (DBS) to control epileptic seizures. The implanted device delivers constant electrical impulses to disrupt seizure-causing brain signals. Epilepsy, a condition causing recurring seizures due to abnormal brain activity, often has no identifiable cause.

Key Points: 

A) The deep brain stimulation (DBS) device, which sends electrical signals deep into the brain, has reduced Knowlson’s daytime seizures by 80%.
B) Epilepsy, a condition that leads to recurring seizures, sees a person experience jerking of arms and legs, temporary confusion, staring spells, or stiff muscles.
C) It is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Blue Origin Spacecraft Shepard

Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, has partnered with India’s Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to offer Indian citizens space travel aboard the New Shepard spacecraft. Named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, New Shepard is a reusable suborbital vehicle featuring a crew capsule with large windows for scenic views.

Key Points:

A) Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft is a suborbital space travel vehicle, offering a unique experience for both scientific research and space tourism.
B) The space vehicle is comprised of two primary elements: a reusable booster and a crew capsule that is pressurized.
C) The capsule can accommodate six passengers, providing each with a window seat to witness breathtaking views of Earth.
 

41000-year-old Ostrich Nest found in Andhra Pradesh

In Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, archaeologists discovered a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest, the world’s oldest known of its kind. Led by Assistant Professor Devara Anil Kumar, the find offered insights into India’s prehistoric megafauna, including potential extinction clues. The nest, originally capable of holding 30-40 eggs, contained 9-11 egg shells, highlighting ancient ostrich presence in southern India.

Key Points:

A) Archaeologists from Vadodara’s MS University and their colleagues from Germany, Australia, and the US found the evidence while investigating a fossil-rich site in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district.
B) The animals weighing more than 40 kg are called megafauna, which literally means large animals — such as horses, elephants, cattle, and hippopotamuses.
C) The oldest ostrich eggshell were discovered from the Siwalik Hills on the Indian side of the Himalayas. 

Sumit Nagal makes first-round exit at Wimbledon 2024

Sumit Nagal, India’s top singles player, exited Wimbledon 2024 in the first round after a hard-fought match against Miomir Kecmanovic. Nagal, ranked 72nd, lost in four sets, showing glimpses of brilliance but struggled with 44 unforced errors. Kecmanovic, ranked 53rd, clinched victory with strong serving and consistency.

Key Points:

A) Nagar also became the first Indian male player to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon in five years.
B) The Serbian had beaten Nagal four years ago at an ATP 250 event in Cologne.
C) Nagal also became the first Indian male tennis player to beat a seeded player in a Grand Slam, defeating 31st-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets at the Australian Open.