Daily News Analysis : 5 July 2024

Indian Gaur spotted in Andhra Pradesh

The Indian Gaur which was said to be locally extinct was recently spotted in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh. It is the largest and tallest in the family of wild cattle and is distributed across South and South Eastern Asia. The NSTR is located in Nallamala hills of Andhra Pradesh and it is the largest Tiger Reserve in the country. The IUCN status of Indian Bison gaur is Vulnerable.

Key Points:

A) It was the same gaur which had come to Amrabad Tiger Reserve last year and had now migrated to NSTR.

B) It is a one ton animal and falls in mega herbivore category of elephants and rhinoceros.

C) Karwar Tiger Reserve in Telangana is the home of the Indian gaur

Large gap to bridge in Quantum Capabilities

An assessment report by a Non-Profit Organisation ITIHASA stated that India needs to bridge a large gap in Quantum Computing. India is far behind China and US in terms of Patents obtained in Quantum technologies. In Budget 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) worth 6000 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31. 

Key Points:

A) India’s National Quantum Mission, launched last year, aims to develop capabilities in four areas – quantum computing, communications, sensors and metrology (the science of measurements), and materials.

B) The assessment report found about 110-145 Indian researchers, at the principal investigator level, already working on quantum technologies at major laboratories and institutions.

New species of Nightjar discovered

Scientists from the Swedish Museum of Natural History have recently discovered a new species of Nightjars namely Caprimulgus Ritae. The species lives in the tropical forests of Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands. Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal insectivorous birds found all around the world with exception of Antarctica and Certain island groups like Seychelles. 

Key Points:

A) Nightjars are a group of widely distributed birds with distinct songs but generally similar looks.

B) They are among the most difficult bird species to study due to their unobtrusive and nocturnal behaviour and cryptic plumage.

C) Researchers spent several years searching forests of Timor and nearby Wetar island for these elusive birds.

Junk DNA

Researchers from Garvan Institute have found potential cancer drivers hidden in so-called Junk regions of DNA with the help of Artificial Intelligence. The term Junk DNA in genetics refers to regions of DNA that are non coding. Not all the genetic sequences present in the DNA molecule actually code a protein. In the Human genome 98% of the DNA is non Coding.

Key Points:

A) The findings, published in Nucleic Acid Research, reveal that mutations in previously unseen regions of the genome may contribute to the growth and development of at least 12 different cancers, including prostate, breast and colon cancer.

B) This discovery could lead to early diagnosis and new treatments useful for many types of cancer.

C) Non-coding DNA was once dismissed as ‘junk DNA’ due to its apparent lack of function.

People exposed to Humid Heat Extremes increased by 67 crore

Researchers from Cornell University found that there was an increase of 67 crore people in India exposed to extreme levels of humid heat during monsoon from 1951-2020. The area exposed to extreme and detrimental wet bulb temperatures exceeding 31 degree Celsius increased by close to 43 million Square kilometres. Humid heat results from high temperatures and high levels of moisture in the air. 

Key Points: 

A) The increase in exposed area (about 43 million square kilometers at 31 degrees Celsius) could affect work intensity during summer vacation, the authors wrote in the study published in the journal World Future.

B) They also found that the regions most vulnerable to moist heat extremes with wet-bulb temperatures higher than 38 degrees Celsius were primarily along the Indo-Gangetic plain and eastern coast.

C) Heat and humidity can directly affect the estimated 37-46 million people living in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

RUDRAM-1 Missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully test fired its first indigenous anti-radiation missile namely RUDRAM-1 Missile for Air Force. It is an air to surface Missile integrated with IAFs Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. The speed of the Missile is upto 2 Mach.

Key Point:

A) The missile features INS-GPS navigation and a Passive Homing Head for final attack, allowing it to accurately hit radiation-emitting targets. 

B) This precision is crucial for Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations, enabling the destruction of enemy radars and communication sites from long standoff ranges.

C) This significant milestone not only strengthens India’s defense capabilities but also places it among a select group of nations with advanced anti-radiation missile technology.

Meta 3D Gen AI system

A new AI tool was recently introduced by Meta namely Meta 3D Gen AI system that can generate or retexture 3D objects in under a minute. The AI system uses two AI-powered sub-systems called Meta 3D AssetGen and Meta 3D TextureGen. The system can generate high quality 3D assets.

Key Points:

A) Meta has published a research paper detailing “Meta 3D Gen AI,” which it says can create 3D models using maps.

B) The 3D Gen is a combined AI system that can generate high-quality 3D assets, with both high-resolution textures and material maps, all within one minute.

C) According to the paper published by the Researchers at Meta, Meta 3D Gen is a combined system that uses two AI-powered sub-systems called Meta 3D AssetGen and Meta 3D TextureGen.

16th edition of Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT

The 16th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise namely NOMADIC ELEPHANT was conducted in Umroi, Meghalaya. It is an annual training event aimed to enhance joint military capability of both India and Mongolia. It is conducted alternatively in India and Mongolia. 

Key Points: 

A) The 16th edition of the Wandering Elephant event will be attended by Indian Army Sikkim Scouts and other service personnel, while the Mongolian contingent will be represented by the army’s 150th Rapid Response Force Battalion.

B) Annual training to improve the joint military capabilities of the armed forces of the two countries in counter-insurgency operations is carried out alternately between the two countries.

C) This exercise will also help improve the friendship between the two militaries, improve the level of defense cooperation and expand relations between the two friendly countries.

Senna Spectabilis

The Environmental Groups in Wayanad have demanded transparency in the Forest Departments project to eradicate Senna Spectabilis from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.  It is an alien species known to hurt the habitats of native animals in the Nilgiri Biosphere.  The plant species grows quickly and has allelopathic qualities that stop native plants from growing.

Key Points: 

A) The Forest department had recently decided to eradicate the plant from the sanctuary and Kerala Paper Products Limited (KPPL) had expressed its willingness to remove debarked and dried senna trees.

B) The Chief Wildlife Warden issued an order to permit KPPL to remove 5,000 tonnes of trees from the sanctuary at a rate of ?350 a tonne to make paper pulp. 

C) While the tree is extracted at ?1,800 a tonne in the South Wayanad forest division, the department is trying to sell it at ?350 from the sanctuary.

Hardik Pandya becomes No. 1 T20 all rounder in ICC rankings

In the recent ICC all-rounder rankings, Hardik Pandya of India became the first Indian man to become Number 1 T20 All rounder. He levelled up with Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka. Harfik had an impressive T20 World Cup campaign scoring 144 runs and picking 11 wickets in 8 games.

Key Points:

A) The star player rose to two places to go level with Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga as the top-ranked men’s T20I all-rounder.

B) He emerged as India’s hero in the final against South Africa at the Kensignton Oval in Barbados on June 29.

C) India’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah moved up by 12 spots to go just outside the top ten, his highest position since the end of 2020.