About Epilepsy:

• Epilepsy — also known as a seizure disorder — is a chronic brain disorder where nerve cells don’t signal properly, that causes recurring seizures.
  • During a seizure,many neurons send signals at the same time, much faster than normal.
  • This surge of excessive electrical activity may cause involuntary movements, sensations, emotions, and/or behaviors.
  • The disturbance of normal nerve cell activity may cause a loss of awareness. 
  • Some people recover immediately after a seizure, while others may take minutes to hours to feel like themselves again.
• Causes:
  • Epilepsy has many possible causes, but about half of people living with epilepsy do not know the cause.
  • In some cases, epilepsy is clearly linked to genetic factors, developmental brain abnormalities, infection, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, brain tumors, or other identifiable problems. 
• Seizure symptoms can vary widely:
  • Some people may lose awareness during a seizure while others don't.
  • Some people stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure.
  • Others may repeatedly twitch their arms or legs, movements known as convulsions.
• Having a single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed if you've had at least two unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart.
• Anyone can develop epilepsy. It affects both men and women of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and ages.
• Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.
• Treatment:
  • Treatment with medicines or sometimes surgery can control seizures for most people with epilepsy.
  • Some people require lifelong treatment. For others, seizures go away.
  • Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.

Q1: What are neurons?

A neuron, also known as a nerve cell, is a specialized cell in the nervous system that is responsible for transmitting information through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system and play a crucial role in processing and transmitting information within the body.

News: National Epilepsy Day 2024: History, Seizure Types, Symptoms & Prevention Tips

About Midnight Zone:

• The ocean water column is made up of five zones: the sunlight zone (epipelagic), the twilight zone (mesopelagic), the midnight zone (bathypelagic), the abyssal zone (abyssopelagic), and the hadal zone (trenches).
• Sunlight is rapidly absorbed as it travels through water. Red, orange, and yellow are absorbed quickly, leaving water a brilliant blue, but even these wavelengths disappear as light travels deeper.
• By about 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) depth, even the faintest light has been extinguished, leaving these deep ocean waters in perpetual darkness. 
• The resulting bathypelagic, or midnight, zone extends to about 4,000 meters (about 13,100 feet), which reaches the ocean floor in many places.
• The midnight zone is the single largest habitat on the planet, accounting for 70% of all seawater.
• In addition to the lack of light, the midnight zone is characterized by a steady temperature of around 4° Celsius (39° Fahrenheit). 
• Life that exists in this zone must be able to function in cold temperatures and withstand extreme hydrostatic pressure.
• Pressure varies with depth, and in this zone, it ranges from 100 to 400 atmospheres.
• Organisms here have special adaptations including well-developed visual systems, bioluminescence used both to lure prey and attract mates, and well-developed auditory systems that allow them to hear other animals moving nearby.

Key Facts about Bathydevius Caudactylus:

• It is a new species of mollusk discovered within the ocean's midnight zone.
• Although the apple-size species is classified as a sea slug, the marine animal is unlike any sea slug scientists have seen before.
• It is a swimming sea slug that glows with bioluminescence and has a body with a paddle-like tail and a large gelatinous hood, and it’s the first sea slug found to live in the deep ocean. 
  • Typically, sea slugs live on the seafloor or in coastal environments like tide pools, while only a few are known to live in open water near the surface.
• Bathydevius moves up and down the water column by flexing its body or drifting in the currents.
• It is hermaphrodite, which includes both male and female reproductive organs. 

Q1: What is bioluminescence?

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Bioluminescent creatures are found throughout marine habitats, from the ocean surface to the deep seafloor.

News: Apple-Sized "Mystery Mollusk" Discovered In Ocean's Midnight Zone

About Long-Range Hypersonic Missile: 

• The missile can carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km for the Armed Forces.
• It has been indigenously developed by laboratories of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, along with various other DRDO labs and industry partners.

What are Hypersonic missiles?

• The term “Hypersonic” refers to a speed at least five times the speed of sound (also called Mach-5).
• Another key feature of such missiles is manoeuvrability, setting them apart from a ballistic missile that follows a set course or trajectory.
• Hypersonic Cruise Missiles use scramjet engines to sustain hypersonic speeds throughout their flight, flying at lower altitudes and also possessing manoeuvrability.
• The two types of hypersonic weapons systems are Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles.
  • The HGVs are launched from a rocket before gliding to the intended target while HCMs are powered by air-breathing high-speed engines or ‘scramjets’ after acquiring their target.
• Advantages of hypersonic missiles
  • Hypersonic weapons can enable responsive, long-range strike options against distant, defended or time-critical threats (such as road-mobile missiles) when other forces are unavailable, denied access or not preferred.
  • Conventional hypersonic weapons use only kinetic energy, i.e. energy derived from motion, to destroy unhardened targets or even underground facilities.
  • They fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, which means that they may be harder to track at long distances with some surface-based sensors, such as certain radar
• Russia and China are believed to be ahead in developing hypersonic missiles while the US is developing a range of such weapons under an ambitious programme. 

Q1: What are Ballistic Missiles?

A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target. They 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.

News: With DRDO successfully testing India’s first long-range hypersonic missile, all you need to know about the weapon

About King Cobra:

• It is the world’s largest venomous snake and an active hunter.
• The main feature that distinguishes the king cobra from other cobras is the possession of 11 large scales on the crown of its head.
• It preys almost exclusively on other snakes, prowling in forests, fields, and villages in the daytime as well as at night. 
• It was in 1836 that a broad spectrum of king cobra species was named as Ophiophagus hannah by Danish naturalist, Theodore Edward Cantor.
• The amount of venom that they can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 10 people or even an elephant.
• The neurotoxin venom of king cobra affects the respiratory centres, causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure.
• The king cobras are the only snakes in the world to build nests that are 4 ftx 3 ft and the female king cobras are found ferociously guarding them. 
• The study identified four species of king cobra:
  • Ophiophagus kaalinga: Found in the Western Ghats of southwestern India, this species has fewer than 40 bands on its body.
  • Ophiophagus hannah: Inhabiting northern and eastern India, the Andaman Islands, eastern Pakistan, Indo-Burma, Indo-China, and Thailand, this species displays 50 to 70 bands.
  • Ophiophagus bungarus: Found in the Malay Peninsula, Greater Sunda Islands, and parts of southern Philippines, it features more than 70 bands.
  • Ophiophagus salvatana: Native to Luzon in the northern Philippines, this species lacks bands altogether.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix II
• Threats: Their survival is threatened by habitat destruction and exploitation for their skin, food, medicine, and the pet trade.

Q1: What is Snakebite Envenoming?

Snakebite Envenoming is a life-threatening medical condition caused by venomous snake bites. It is a major health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions. It poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and subtropical areas. 

News:‘Kaalinga’ will be the scientific name for ‘Kalinga Sarpa’

About Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is situated in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district, Karnataka.
• It lies north of Bandipur National Park.
• The sanctuary includes the backwaters of Nugu Dam on its western side and shares borders with Alaganchi State Forest, a part of Bandipur Tiger Reserve on the southwest side. 
  • Nugu Dam is built across the Nugu River, a tributary of the Cauvery.
• It is also an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Rainfall: The area receives rainfall from both southwest and northeast monsoons. The average amount of rainfall received in this area is 1000 mm.
• Vegetation: The forests comprise of southern mixed deciduous trees and dry deciduous scrubs.
• Flora: Some of the tree species found in this region include Dipterocarpus indicus, Calophyllum tomentosum, and Hopea parviflora.
• Fauna:
  • The sanctuary supports a diverse range of fauna, including elephants, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, striped hyenas, sloth bears, gaurs, sambhars, chitals, and four-horned antelopes.
  • It is also home to two important riverine wildlife species: the smooth-coated otter and the marsh crocodile, emphasizing its rich biodiversity.

Q1: What is the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)?

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) constituted for strengthening tiger conservation. NCTA was created in 2005 following the recommendation of the tiger task force and was given the status of statutory authority under Section 38L of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006.

News: NTCA recommends declaring Nugu as a core critical area of Bandipu

About Dead Sea:

• The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is a saline lake in southwestern Asia located between Jordan and Israel.
  • Its eastern shore is in Jordan, and the western shore is in Israel.
  • However, the western shore’s southern half belongs to Israel, while the shore’s northern half is in the West Bank, an area claimed by both Israel and Palestine. 
  • It lies to the east of the Mediterranean Sea and south of the Sea of Galilee.
• It is located at an elevation of 430.5 meters below sea level, making it the Earth’s lowest land-based feature.
• It covers approximately 605 sq.km. It is 50 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide at its widest point.
• Salinity: The Dead Sea is one of the Earth’s saltiest water bodies, almost ten times saltier than ordinary seawaters. It has a salinity of 34.2%.
  • It is the fourth saltiest body of water in the world, ranking behind Antarctica’s Don Juan Pond and Lake Vanda, and Djibouti’s Lake Assal.
• The Dead Sea has one main inlet (the Jordan River) but does not have an outlet and so loses its water mainly through evaporation.
• The high saline level and the harsh climate make the lake devoid of life,except for algae and other microorganisms.
• It has a density of 1.240 kg/L, which makes swimming in its waters similar to floating.

Q1: Where is the Sea of Galilee?

Also referred to as Lake Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley between the Galilee region and Golan Heights in the northeastern part of Israel, close to its borders with Jordan and Syria. It is considered the lowest freshwater lake on the planet and the world’s second-lowest lake after the Dead Sea. 

News: White smokers on the lake floor: Spectacular chimneys discovered in the Dead Sea

About Willingdon Island: 

• It is among the most beautiful locations in the Kochi area of Kerala.
• This is a man-made island, named after Lord Willingdon who was a British Viceroy of India.
• It is among the biggest of its kind in India.
• It is also home to the Kochi Naval Base of the Indian Navy, the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and the Port of Kochi.
• The island is connected to the mainland by the Venduruthy Bridge.

Who was Lord Willingdon (1931 - 1936)?

• He was the 22nd Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
• Major events during his tenure
• Introduction of the Government of India Act, 1935.
• The Second Round Table Conference, held in 1931, saw the participation of Gandhi as a representative of the Congress. 
• British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald introduced the Communal Award in 1932.
• The Poona Pact of 1932 was reached between Gandhi and Ambedkar to address provisions related to fair representation of backward classes.
• The Third Round Table Conference, held in 1932, failed as neither Gandhi nor Congress attended.

Q1: What is an Archipelago?

An archipelago is an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in lakes, rivers, or the ocean.

News: Willingdon Island: A delayed restart

About Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme: 

• It is an international community-based recognition programme developed by Intergovermental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
• Aim: It aims to build resilient communities through awareness and preparedness strategies that will protect life, livelihoods and property from tsunamis in different regions.
• The main goal of the Programme is to improve coastal community preparedness for tsunamis and to minimize the loss of life, livelihoods and property.
• This is achieved through a collaborative effort to meet a standard level of tsunami preparedness through the fulfilment of a set of established indicators. 
• To get this recognition, communities must meet all 12 indicators, which cover Assessment, Preparedness, and Response, will be recognized as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the UNESCO/IOC. The recognition is renewable every four years.
• It is implemented as a voluntary, performance-based community recognition programme that promotes an understanding of the concept of readiness as an active collaboration among national and local warning and emergency management agencies, and government authorities, scientists, community leaders and the public.

What is a Tsunami?

• Tsunamis are large waves generated by sudden movements of the ocean floor that displace a large volume of water. These are usually associated with earthquakes
• A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor. This force creates waves that radiate outward in all directions away from their source, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins.

Q1: What is UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission?

It promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States, and India has been a member of this commission since 1946.

News:24 coastal villages in Odisha recognised by UNESCO as 'Tsunami Ready'

About Cao Bang crocodile newt:

• Cao Bang crocodile newt, or Tylototriton Koliaensis, is a new species of crocodile newt.
• It was found in Vietnam's mountainous farm.
• It lives in a mountain forest at elevations of 3,300 feet or more where the weather fluctuates from a colder dry season to a warmer rainy season.
• Features:
  • The Cao Bang crocodile newts are medium-sized and are about 5-inches in length.
  • It has stout bodies with rough skin, and its scales are like knobs or warts.
  • The heads of the crocodile are large, and their limbs are very long and thin.
  • It is completely black in colour with a uniform hue of bright orange on marks of fingertips and toes.
  • The bottom part of the crocodile has a dark gray stomach and an orange stripe down to the center of the tail.
  • The newts breed during the rainy summer in the slow-flowing streams or temporary pools, and they hide under rocks and cavities during the winter.

What is a crocodile newt?

• It is a genus of salamandersfoundprimarily in Asia.
• They are called "crocodile newts" because of their rough, textured skin that resembles the hide of a crocodile.
• Most species are dark brown or black with bright orange or red markings on their head, back, and tail.
• They often live near slow-moving streams, ponds, or marshes where they can lay eggs and find food.
• Species Examples: Tylototriton verrucosus (Himalayan crocodile newt), Tylototriton shanjing (Emperor newt), Tylototriton kweichowensis (Kweichow crocodile newt).

Q1: What are salamanders?

A salamander is an amphibian with a slender body and a long tail. They encompass approximately 500 species of amphibians. Most salamanders look like a cross between a lizard and a frog. They have moist, smooth skin, like frogs, and long tails, like lizards.

News: New species of crocodile with orange figer tips found in Vietnam's farm