03/04/2024 : Daily Current Affairs : Micro Notes (Revision Notes) (Arora IAS)

Artificial Sun Achieves Record High Temperatures

South Korean Breakthrough

• South Korean scientists achieved a record in nuclear fusion research.
• Their “artificial sun,” Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR), produced heat of 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds.
• This temperature is seven times hotter than the Sun’s core (15 million degrees Celsius).

What is an Artificial Sun?

• Nuclear fusion reactor facility mimicking the Sun’s energy production.
• Uses hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) as fuel.
• Achieves extremely high temperatures to create plasma (hot, charged gas).

Nuclear Fusion: Promising Clean Energy Source

• Fusion is the process of combining light atomic nuclei to form a heavier one, releasing massive energy.
• It powers the Sun and other stars.
• Significance:
  • Clean energy source: No greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Highly efficient: Generates more energy per fuel unit than fission.
  • Abundant fuel sources: Deuterium from seawater, tritium from lithium.
  • Intrinsically safe: Low risk of meltdowns or long-lived nuclear waste.

 

Konda Reddi Tribe: Indigenous Knowledge Aids Conservation

Konda Reddi Tribe

• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Andhra Pradesh.
• Inhabits Papikonda hills of Godavari region.

Indigenous Knowledge of Indian Laurel Tree

• Konda Reddi tribe claimed the Indian laurel tree (Terminalia tomentosa) stores water, especially in summer.
• Andhra Pradesh Forest Department verified this knowledge by cutting the bark and finding water reserves.
• This knowledge can aid forest conservation efforts in dry seasons.

Indian Laurel Tree

• Also known as Indian Silver Oak.
• Timber has high commercial value.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• Identified by the Dhebar Commission (1973).
• More vulnerable than other tribal groups.
• Characteristics:
  • Primitive traits
  • Geographical isolation
  • Low literacy
  • Stagnant or declining population
  • Dependence on hunting and gathering
• Face exploitation from more developed tribes.
• Odisha and Madhya Pradesh have the highest PVTG populations (2011 Census).

 

One Vehicle, One FASTag Rule Enforced

• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)enforces “One Vehicle, One FASTag” rule from April 1st, 2024.
• FASTag:Electronic toll collection system using RFID technology.
• Aim:Improve efficiency and seamless movement at toll plazas.
• Benefits:Discourages misuse of FASTags (one tag for multiple vehicles or vice versa).

Drought Damages Cardamom Plantations

• Kerala:Drought causes extensive damage to cardamom plantations.
• ICAR-KVK Idukki Supports Farmers:
  • Foliar application of Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria (PPFM):
    • Enhances plant growth and yield.
    • Increases photosynthetic activity.
  • Screening PPFM strains for plant growth promotion:
    • Nitrogen fixation.
    • Phytohormone production.
  • PPFMs:Aerobic bacteria used in agriculture for foliar sprays and seed applications.
  • Cardamom:
    • Ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
    • Native to Western Ghats of South India.
    • Perennial herbaceous plant.
    • Thrives in warm, humid climate with 1500-2500 mm annual rainfall.
    • Ideal temperature: 15°C to 35°C.
    • Prefers deep, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

 

Carbon Fibre: A Lightweight Alternative

• What is it?Carbon fiber is a strong, lightweight material made by heating organic materials like PAN at high temperatures.
• Key Features:High modulus and specific tensile strength due to well-aligned graphite crystallites.
• Applications:
  • Aerospace manufacturing (aircraft parts)
  • Civil engineering (construction)
  • Defence (military equipment)
  • Sports equipment (e.g., bicycle frames)
  • Medical devices (prosthetic limbs)
• India’s Status:Currently relies on imports (US, France, Japan, Germany) due to no domestic production.

 

NICES Programme Combating Climate Change

• Joint Initiative:ISRO, Department of Space & other bodies under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Launched in 2012:Aims to monitor climate change through space technology.

Objectives:

• Generate long-term Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) from Indian & other Earth Observation satellites.
  • Over 70 geophysical variables on land, ocean & atmosphere available.
• Focus areas: Space-based ECVs, climate indicators, challenges, extreme weather & climate services.

 

India Aims for Atomic Clock Development

• Goal:Join a select group (US, UK, Japan, South Korea) with indigenous atomic clocks.
• What is it?A timekeeping device using atomic vibrations for exceptional precision (billionths of a second).
• Working Principle:Combines quartz crystal oscillators with atomic ensembles for superior stability.
• Benefits in Space Navigation:
  • Precise distance measurement for spacecraft.
  • Achieved by calculating signal travel time (known speed of light).
• India’s Scenario:
  • NAVIC navigation system relies on Indian atomic clocks.
  • ISRO-NPL MoU aims to:
    • Authenticate precise timings for ISRO.
    • Reduce dependence on US-built GPS.