About Ligdus Garvale:

• It is a new species of jumping spider.
• It was found in Garvale village of the Kodagu district, Karnataka, which is surrounded by agroforestry, with coffee plantations being prominent along with pepper and paddy fields.
• It marks only the second recorded instance of the Ligdus genus in 129 years.
  • The first, Ligdus Chelifer, was reported from Myanmar by Thorell in 1895.
• Ligdus Garvale was discovered under the leaf of a torch ginger plant and bears a resemblance to Pseudoscorpions.
• Due to its nature as a high canopy jumper, it often goes unnoticed and constructs a double-layered web for retreat.

What are Jumping Spiders?

• Jumping spiders are the largest family of spiders, with more than 6,380 species (family Salticidae).
• They are known for their ability to jump and pounce upon their prey. 
• They are very common in the tropics, but some also live in northern and even Arctic regions.
• Features:
  • They range in size from 2 to 22 mm (0.08 to 0.87 inch), although most are small to medium-sized.
• The largest, Hyllus giganteus, can be 0.98 inches (2.5 centimeters) in length.
  • Though there are a few species that have hairy bodies, most species have few hairs (setae).
  • The body is often brightly coloured orstrikingly patterned. 
  • They have impressive eyesight. These arachnids always have four pairs of eyes, including a large, forward-facing principle pair.
  • They are diurnal, and most jumping spiders are solitary.

Q1: What are Pseudoscorpions?

Pseudoscorpions are arachnids and are related to spiders, ticks, mites and scorpions. They have oval or teardrop shaped, flattened bodies with two conspicuous pedipalps (pincers). Pseudoscorpions prey on other invertebrates, including booklice, springtails, mites and small insects. Many are active hunters, stalking among leaf litter and dead wood, while others ambush their prey from crevices in trees and rocks.

Source: New spider species found in Kodagu

About Bulava Missile:

• RSM-56 Bulava (NATO reporting name: SS-N-32) is a Russian submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• Designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, development of the missile was launched in the late 1990s, and is designed to be deployed on Russia’s Borei-class submarines.
• Bulava represents a core component of Russia’s future strategic nuclear force.
• Features:
  • It is a three-stage solid-propellant missile.
  • The missile has a launch mass of about 36.8 tonnes and a throw weight of 1,150 kg.
  • It measures 12.1 meters in length in a launch container and 2 meters in diameter. 
  • Bulava has a maximum range of 8,300 km (5,160 miles) and a payload of up to 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, or MIRVs, capable of delivering nuclear warheads to different targets.
  • The missile’s RVs are capable of in-flight maneuverability and re-targeting to out maneuver any enemy defense.
  • The RVs have an expected accuracy of around 250 to 300 m.

Q1: What are Ballistic Missiles?

Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

Source: Putin Adds New Nuclear Missile To Russia's Arsenal: How Deadly Is Bulava Submarine-Launched ICBM?

About Global Report on Internal Displacement 2024:

• It is an annual report published by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
• It records internal displacements due to conflict and violence and disasters.
• Highlights of GRID-2024:
  • In 2023, the number of internally displaced people (IDP) increased to75.9 million, from 71.1 million in the preceding year.
  • Report says 7.7 million displaced by disasters (one-fourth of it was caused by earthquakes) and 68.3 million by conflict and violence.
  • Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Colombia, and Yemenhost nearly half of the world’s IDPs.
  • At 9.1 million, Sudan has the highest number of IDPs recorded for a single country.
  • Most of the new displacement this year happened in Sudan, the Palestinian territories, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, accounting for almost two-thirds of all new displacement.
• South Asia:
  • The IDMC said around 5.3 million people were living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violenceacross South Asia at the end of 2023, 80 percent of whom were in Afghanistan.
  • Conflict and violencetriggered69,000 displacements in South Asia in 2023, with Manipur violencealone accounting for 67,000.
  • It is the highest number of displacements triggered by conflict and violence in India since 2018.
  • There is a sharp decline in IDP in 2023 from 2.5 million internal displacements due to natural disasters in India in 2022. Internal displacements by natural disasters in 2023 was 528,000.

Key Facts about Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC):

• It is the leading source of information and analysis on internal displacement. 
• IDMC defines internal displacement as “the number of forced movements of people within the borders of their country recorded during (a) year.
• IDMC was set up in 1998 at the request of the international community to fill an important knowledge gap on the global scale and patterns of internal displacement.
• IDMC is part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), an independent, non-governmental humanitarian organisation.
• IDMC plays a unique role as a global monitor and evidence-based advocate to influence policy and action by governments, UN agencies, donors, international organisations and NGOs.

IDMC’s GRID is the official repository of data and analysis on internal displacement.

Q1: What is the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non- governmental organisation which provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. NRC strives to reduce the number of people affected by displacement, and advocates for the rights of those who are forcibly displaced, internally displaced or seeking asylum. Their humanitarian aid includes basic needs provision such as food, sanitation and shelter, as well as protection services such as legal aid and education on human rights.

Source: Weather-related disasters continue to displace more than conflict and violence

About Kanwar lake: 

• It is Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake located in Bihar.
• It is also known as Kabartal jheel which is a rainfed lake.
• It is a residual oxbow lake, formed due to the meandering of Gandak river, a tributary of Ganga. 
• It is covering the majority of the Indo-Gangetic plains in northern Bihar,
• The Wetland is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it to rest and refuel.
• It is also a valuable site for fish biodiversity with over 50 species documented.
• Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures – the red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) – and two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
• Threats: Major threats to the site include water management activities such as drainage, water abstraction, damming and canalization.

What is an oxbow lake?

• It is a curved lake formed alongside a winding river as a result of erosion and sediment deposition over time.
• Oxbow lakes are typically crescent-shaped and are common features in floodplains and low-lying areas near rivers.

Q1: What is the Central Asian Flyway?

The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) covers a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans and the associated island chains. The Flyway comprises several important migration routes of water birds, most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in the Russian Federation (Siberia) to the southernmost non-breeding (wintering) grounds in West and South Asia and other regions.

About Extra-pulmonary TB: 

• It refers to Tuberculosis infections affecting organs other than the lung (namely lymph nodes, brain, gut, eyes, or other organs).
• It is often stain negative, which means it is not detectable on regular TB stain tests.
• The infection may surface in any part of the body and present itself like other non-TB conditions. Many cases of EPTB may not have a corresponding lung infection.
• It can affect any organ and is more prevalent in people living with HIV.
• Issues with EPTB
  • A troubling aspect of EPTB infection is the prolonged presence of disease markers even after the infection is resolved with treatment.
  • Diagnosis and treatment protocols for all organs affected by EPTB do not exist.
  • The twin challenges in tackling EPTB are lack of awareness, even among physicians, and lack of accurate diagnostic and treatment criteria.
  • Some EPTB patients who complete anti-TB therapy may still find themselves affected by the disease.
  • INDEX-TB guidelines were formulated over a decade ago and need to be updated with the latest data and experience.

Q1: What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria is responsible for TB.

Source: The challenge of extra-pulmonary TB

About International Cryosphere Climate Initiative: 

• It was formed in 2009 following COP-15 in the Copenhagen meeting.
• It is a network of senior policy experts and researchers working with governments and organizations to create, shape and implement initiatives designed to preserve as much of the Earth’s cryosphere as possible.
• Its programs target the unique climate dynamics at work in the cryosphere, while at the same time lending increased urgency to global climate efforts aimed at CO2 and other greenhouse gases by communicating the unexpected rapidity and global implications of cryosphere warming.
• Its work focuses on three major areas of the cryosphere: the Arctic, the Antarctic and high mountain regions.

Key facts about Humboldt glacier of Venezuela

• It is also known as La Coronaglacier and it is 4,900 metres above sea level. 
• It was the only one left near the country's second-highest peak, Pico Humboldt.
• The Humboldt glacier was projected to last at least another decade but latest assessments have found the glacier melted much faster than expected.

Q1: What is the Cryosphere?

It refers to any place on Earth where water is in its solid form, where low temperatures freeze water and turn it into ice. The frozen water can be in the form of solid ice or snow and occurs in many places around the Earth.

Source: How did Venezuela’s Humboldt glacier shrink to an ice field?

About Sahul: 

• It can be termed as a supercontinent which stood exposed on the Earth's surface when humans were in the middle of what can be termed as the last ice age.
• Since the ice age led to glaciation of water levels on the planet, it ended up exposing parts of land like Sahul which connected to currently known Australia to Papua New Guinea in the north and Tasmania in the south,
• It helped humans in ancient times to cross continents from Asia to Australia almost 7,000 decades ago.

What is the Ice age period?

• It is any geologic period during which thick ice sheets cover vast areas of land. Such periods of large-scale glaciation may last several million years and drastically reshape surface features of entire continents.
• The earliest known took place during Precambrian time dating back more than 570 million years.
• The most recent periods of widespread glaciation occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago).
• Ice ages are not uniformly cold. There can be colder and warmer periods during the overall ice-age period.

Colder periods lead to more extensive areas of continental ice sheets, valley glaciers and sea ice, while warmer periods lead to reduced areas of ice.

Q1: What is the Little Ice Age (LIA)?

It was one of the coldest periods of the past 10,000 years, a period of cooling that was particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic region. It is best known for its effects in Europe and the North Atlantic region.

Source: Atlantis-like continent from ancient times found. Humans existed there 70,000 years ago. Know in detail