Scientists discover liquid water on Mars | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 20 Aug 2024

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Scientists discover liquid water on Mars

A recent study, "Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust," suggests Mars may contain oceans’ worth of liquid water deep in the rocky outer crust of Mars.

  •  The liquid layer is located at 10 to 20 km in the Martian crust.
  • Data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander was used 

Significance

  • This is the first time scientists have discovered liquid water on the planet.
  • Better understand the water cycle of Mars, which in turn could unlock questions related to the evolution of the planet’s climate, surface, and interior. 
  • Tags :
  • Mars
  • Mars Insight Lander
  • Martian crust

Purandar figs

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export of India's first ready-to-drink fig juice, made from Purandar Figs, to Poland.

About Purandar Figs

  • It was awarded the GI Tag in 2016.
  • The fig is cultivated in many villages of Purandar Taluka in Pune district. 
    • Maharashtra has the highest area 2242 hectares under fig plantation.
  • It is bell-shaped, larger in size than other varieties, and has a distinctive violet skin colour that differentiates itself from other varieties.
  • Tags :
  • APEDA
  • Figs
  • Purandar Taluka

Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA)

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over the Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) of ‘Nipun’ munition to DGQA.

  • NIPUN is a Soft Target Munition designed and developed by the Armament Research & Development Establishment.

About DGQA

  • It’s an Inter-Service Organisation functioning under the Department of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence. 
  • It's responsible for second party Quality Assurance of all defence stores and equipment, both imported as well as indigenous.
  • It does quality checks for the Army, Navy (excluding Naval Armaments) and common user items for the Air Force procured from Private Sector, Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factories.
  • Tags :
  • DGQA
  • Department of Defence Production
  • NIPUN

Rapid Innovation and Start-up Expansion (RISE) Accelerator

Atal Innovation Mission, in collaboration with CSIRO,Australia is inviting applications from start-ups and MSMEs for the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the India-Australia RISE Accelerator.

About RISE Accelerator

  • Launched in 2023
  • The program is designed to aid businesses aiming for international expansion between India and Australia.
  • The platform has been instrumental in aiding start-ups and MSMEs in validating, adapting, and piloting their technologies for new markets.
  • Focus themes: Climate Smart Agriculture, Clean Energy, Circular Economy and Waste Management, Climate Smart Mobility.
  • Tags :
  • Atal Innovation Mission
  • RISE Accelerator

AI guardrails

Media reports have raised concerns around lack of guardrails in recently launched two AI models, Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini by Elon Musk's xAI.

About AI Guard Rails

  • These are frameworks and mechanisms designed to ensure ethical, legal, and technical compliance with AI systems.
  • They prevent AI from causing harm, making biased decisions, or being misused.
  • AI guardrails are a critical component of AI governance and the development, deployment and use of responsible AI.
  • Tags :
  • Responsible AI for All
  • AI Guard Rails

Zoopharmacognosy

Recently scientist highlighted a case of Zoopharmacognosy in  Sumatran orangutan.

  • Orangutan treated a wound on his body by using local plant Fibraurea tinctoria. 

About Zoopharmacognosy

  • Process by which wild animals use medicinal plants for treatment of diseases and protection from parasites.

Examples of Zoopharmacognosy

  • Dogs: Chew grass and vomit it to get rid of infections in the stomach. 
  • Pregnant lemurs: Nibble on tamarind leaves to aid milk production.
  • Pregnant elephants: Eat leaves of plants of Boraginaceae family to induce delivery. 
  • Tags :
  • zoopharmacgnocy
  • Sumatran orangutan
  • medicinal plants

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying recently reviewed measures taken towards achieving goal of FMD-Mukt Bharat by 2030.

About FMD

  • It is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs etc.
    • It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats.
  • FMD is caused by an Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae.
  • Symptoms: Fever and blisters on tongue and lips, in and around mouth, on mammary glands, and around hooves
  • Impact: Reduced milk yield, reduced growth rate, infertility, trade restrictions on animal products etc. 
  • Steps taken: 
    • National Animal Disease Control Programme: For eradicating FMD and Brucellosis.
  • Tags :
  • FMD
  • NADCP

Microplastic contamination in Food

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched an innovative project to tackle growing concern of microplastic contamination in food.

About Project:

  • Project is named “Micro-and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding Prevalence in Different Food Matrices.
  • Objectives:  Developing standard protocols for micro-plastic analysis, conducting intra- and inter-laboratory comparisons, and generating critical data on microplastic exposure levels among consumers.

About Microplastic & Nanoplastic:

  • Small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long are called microplastic while particles less than 100 nm (1 μm) are considered nanoplastics.
  • Can cause health issues such as endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, decreased reproductive health, and cancer.
  • Tags :
  • FSSAI
  • Microplastic
  • nanoplastics
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