Daily Current Affairs
To the Point Notes
1.Infrasound: Low-Frequency Sound with Global Applications
What is Infrasound?
- Opposite of ultrasound (high-frequency): Low-frequency sound waves inaudible to humans.
- Generated by: Natural phenomena (meteors, volcanoes, earthquakes) and human activities (nuclear explosions).
- Historical observation: 1883 Krakatoa eruption caused infrasonic waves to circle the globe.
Applications of Infrasound:
- Monitoring: Structural health of buildings, dams, bridges (e.g., rocket stress detection).
- Resource management: Mine shaft integrity checks.
- Environmental monitoring: Wildlife tracking (e.g., whale movements).
- Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBTO): Detecting distant nuclear explosions.
- Future potential: Widespread use comparable to ultrasound (workshop goal).
Technical Details:
- Measured by: Microbarometers (detect tiny atmospheric pressure changes).
- Advantages: Travels long distances without losing energy.
Health Concerns:
- Potential unknown effects on human health (ongoing debate).
CTBTO’s Infrasound Network:
- Building the only global infrasound network (60 stations planned across 35 countries).
- Each station: Array of sensors, meteorological station, processing facility, communication system.
- Sharing technology with industries to promote wider infrasound use.
Key Takeaway:
Infrasound, though inaudible, has diverse applications in monitoring, resource management, and nuclear test detection. CTBTO plays a crucial role in developing and promoting this technology.
2.Legacy Waste Management:
- Slow Progress: Only 470 out of 2,424 dumpsites fully remediated under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.
- Goals: 100% source segregation, door-to-door collection, scientific waste management, and conversion of dumpsites into green zones.
- Financial Allocation: ₹3,226 crore approved for remediation.
- State Performance: Tamil Nadu and Gujarat leading in landfill reclamation.
3.Nagar Van Yojana (NVY):
- Launched: 2020 for creating urban forests.
- Goals: Green spaces, biodiversity awareness, in-situ conservation, environmental improvement, health benefits, climate resilience.
- Financial Assistance: ₹4 lakh per hectare for creation and maintenance.
- Area: Nagar Van areas range from 10 ha to 50 ha.
- Coverage: All cities with Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- Target: 1000 Nagar Vans by 2027 with National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (National CAMPA) support.
4.Nanozymes:
- Function: Enhance collagen’s integrity and resistance to enzymatic degradation.
- Study: CSIR-CLRI study demonstrated MnN nanozyme’s effectiveness against collagenase.
- Enzymes: Biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions.
- Nanozymes: Nanomaterials that mimic enzymes, offering advantages like stability, specificity, and ease of production.
- Applications: Biosensors, drug delivery, diagnostics, bioremediation, pollutant degradation, chemical synthesis, food processing.
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