About New Shepard Spacecraft: 

• It is a suborbital space travel vehicle, offering a unique experience for both scientific research and space tourism.
• It is named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, New Shepard is a fully reusable rocket system designed for human spaceflight.
• It consists of two main components: a reusable booster and a pressurized crew capsule.
  • The capsule can accommodate six passengers, providing each with a window seat to witness breathtaking views of Earth.
  • Among its notable features are the largest windows ever flown in space, offering an unparalleled visual experience for astronauts.
• New Shepard's 11-minute journey takes passengers beyond the Karman line. During the flight, passengers experience several minutes of weightlessness before making a controlled descent back to Earth aided by parachutes.
• In addition to its space tourism potential, New Shepard serves as a valuable platform for scientific research.

What is the Karman line?

• Located at 100 km (62 miles) above sea level, it is an imaginary line that demarcates the earth’s atmosphere from space.
• It was established in the 1960s by a record-keeping body called the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
• It was named after aerospace pioneer Theodore von Kármán.
• Though not all scientists and spacefarers accept it (for example, the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and the U.S. military place the line between outer space and the atmosphere at 80 km (50 miles) above the Earth’s surface) , a majority of countries and space organisations recognise this boundary between earth sky and space. 
• Anything traveling above the Kármán line needs a propulsion system that doesn’t rely on lift generated by Earth’s atmosphere—the air is simply too thin that high up.

Q1:What is a suborbital spaceflight?

It refers to a height of around 100km from the Earth's surface, and is done at a lower altitude than an orbital flight, which reaches at least a low-Earth orbit — between around 200km to 2,000km from Earth.

Source: Meet New Shepard: Blue Origin's spacecraft set to take Indians to space

About Mars Odyssey:

• It was an early mission in NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
• It was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 7, 2001.
• The Odyssey spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since 2001.
• Odyssey's original goals were to search for signs of water, make detailed maps of the planet’s surface materials, and determine radiation levels for humans.
• The spacecraft holds the record for the longest continually active mission in orbitaround a planet other than Earth. Its mission is scheduled to last until 2025.
• It created the first global map of chemical elements and minerals that make up the Martian surface.
• Odyssey continues to study Mars’s surface to see how the planet changes over time. 
• The spacecraft also serves as a communications relay to Earth for spacecraft on the surface that lack high-powered antennas and cannot beam information to Earth very quickly. 

Key Facts about Olympus Mons:

• It is a shield volcano located in Mars’ western hemisphere.
• It is the highest point on Mars and the largest known volcano in the solar system.
  • It is 16 miles (24 kilometers) high, which makes it about three times higher than Mt. Everest.
  • It is also very wide (340 miles or 550 kilometers) and covers an area larger than the entire chain of Hawaiian Islands.
  • In contrast, the largest volcano on Earth, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, is 120 kilometers across and 9 kilometers high.
• It is some 3.5 billion years old, which means the volcano formed early on in Mars’ history.
• It is a very flat mountain which slopes by only 2 to 5 degrees.
• Its summit is marked by a caldera, a large depression formed by volcanic activity, spanning 50 miles (80 kilometers) wide.
  • The summit caldera consists of several overlapping pits. These pits were created by different eruptive phases.
  • In contrast, many Earth-based volcanoes typically feature a single, less complex caldera.

Q1: What is a Shield Volcano?

Shield volcanoes are a type of volcano that tend to erupt basalt lava, a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted. Although shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth, they do not form soaring mountains with conical peaks like composite volcanoes. Instead, they are broad volcanoes with gentle slopes. Eruptions at shield volcanoes are only explosive if water somehow gets into the vent, otherwise they are characterized by low-explosivity fountaining that forms cinder cones and spatter cones at the vent. The Hawaiian shield volcanoes are the most famous examples.

Source: NASA captures view of largest volcano in our solar system using Mars Odyssey orbiter

About LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR):

• It is a highly innovative, pan-European distributed radio interferometer and the first of its kind.
• It observes the Universe at low radio frequencies, close to the FM radio band, from 90 to 200 MHz. 
• It was developed by the Dutch Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) with the goal of exploring the early, distant universe, solar activity, and the terrestrial atmosphere.
• LOFAR can observe in several directions simultaneously, which allows for a multi-user operation. 
• For this reason, LOFAR is novel in its design because it is the first telescope that can look at the entire sky at the same time, unlike other telescopes which you have to point. 
• LOFAR does not have moving parts; steering and tracking across the sky are achieved by treating the signal from the individual antennas in each station with advanced digital beam-forming techniques that make the system agile, allowing for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as giving the potential for multiple simultaneous observations in different directions.
• The LOFAR main coreis based in the north of the Netherlands, with other stations located in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

What are Radio Galaxies?

• Radio Galaxies, also known as radio-luminous galaxies or radio-loud galaxies, are a particular type of active galaxy that emits more light at radio wavelengths than at visible wavelengths.
• These happen through the interaction between charged particles and strong magnetic fields related to supermassive black holes at the galaxies’ center.
• They are driven by non-thermal emissions.
• They are much bigger than most of the other galaxies in the universe. 
• The first radio galaxy to be discovered, and still the brightest, is called Cygnus A.

Q1: What are black holes?

A black hole is a region in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying. Because no light can get out, it is difficult to detect a black hole. The largest black holes are called "supermassive." These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together. Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of black holes in 1916, with his general theory of relativity.

Source: Astronomers discover new radio galaxy using LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR)

About Supercapacitors: 

• A supercapacitor is a next-generation energy storage device which is also known as an ultracapacitor.
• It has advantages such as high-power density, long durability, and ultrafast charging characteristics as compared to conventional capacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries (LIB).
• The main components of supercapacitors include an electrode, electrolyte, separator, and current collector.
• An electrode is a solid electric conductor that carries electric current into non-metallic solids, liquids, gases, plasmas, or vacuums.
• An electrolyte is a substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. 

Key findings

• It is found that the prototype supercapacitors made of coconut husk-derived activated carbon to be four-times more efficient that the existing supercapacitors.
• This innovative method not only saves time, but also yields activated carbon with an impressive surface area of 1,200 m2 g-1 and highly porous structures, making it an ideal material for various applications.
• The device’s high-power output is capable of powering two LEDs for 20 minutes.

What is a microwave-assisted method?

• It is relatively inexpensive and exhibits exceptional supercapacitor capability.
• By utilising an advanced microwave pyrolysis reactor one can produce high-quality carbon within five minutes, eliminating impurities like ash and generating zero waste.

Q1: What is Electrolysis?

Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reaction takes place in a unit called an electrolyzer.

Source: Researchers devise method to develop eco-friendly supercapacitors using activated carbon produced from coconut husks

About Nouka Baich Boat Race:

• It is a traditional boat race of West Bengal.
• Timing
  • The races occur in the month of September across riverine Bengal, when the river waters are swollen during the last weeks of the monsoons.
  • They continue till September, sometimes till October, even November in some places.
• These boat races were previously dominated by male but in recent years one can see participation of women too.
• These boat races in southern West Bengal are particularly linked with the worship of the Hindu deity Manasa, the goddess of snakes.
  • The worship of Manasa is the worship of snakes. And the local deity most commonly worshipped in rural south Bengal is Manasa, a deity worshipped by agrarian communities.
• Type of boats used
  • In this race four to five kinds of traditional boats are used for the races.
  • Other boats that are commonly used for races in Bengal include the Chhip, Kaile Bachhhari, Chande Bachhari, Chitoi and Sorpi.
  • A special type boat called Sorengi which is about 90 ft long which imitates nature is also seen in these races.

Q1: What is Vallam Kali (i.e Nehru Trophy Boat Race)?

It is a Snake Boat Race held every year in the month of August in Vembanad Lake. In 2002, it was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention.

Source: With onset of monsoon, boat races set to enthral rural Bengal

About Deep Brain Stimulation Device: 

• The device uses DBS, which is also utilised for movement disorders associated with Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions.
• Working
  • The neurostimulator delivers constant electrical impulses to the brain to disrupt or block abnormal seizure-causing signals.
  • A 3.5 cm square, 0.6 cm in thickness, the device was surgically implanted in Knowlson’s skull and anchored using screws.
  • The doctor then inserted two electrodes deep into his brain until they reached the thalamus — a relay station for all the motor and sensory information. The ends of the electrodes were connected to the neurostimulator.
  • The device was switched on after Knowlson recovered from his surgery. It can be recharged by a wireless headphone.

What is epilepsy?

• It is a condition that leads to recurring seizures, sees a person experience jerking of arms and legs, temporary confusion, staring spells, or stiff muscles. It is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• The disease has no identifiable cause in nearly 50% of the cases.
• Reasons for epilepsy: Head trauma, Tumours in the brain, some infections like meningitis, or even genetics can lead to epilepsy. It can increase the risk of accidents, drownings, and falling.

Q1: What is Neurocysticercosis?

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system and is caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Humans become infected after consuming undercooked food, particularly pork, or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs, or through poor hygiene practices.

Source: How the world’s first brain implant to control epileptic seizures works

About Syntrichia caninervis:

• It is one of the most abundant desert mosses in the world.
• It possesses remarkable tolerance to multiple environmental stress factors (drought, cold, and radiation).
  • Extreme desiccation tolerance: recover within seconds after >98% water loss.
  • Extraordinary freezing tolerance: withstand −196°C ultra-low temperature.
  • Super resistance to gamma radiation: with half-lethal dose estimated to be 5,000 Gy.
• Distribution:
  • It has a wide spread global distribution.
  • It is predominant in dryland regions, including the Gurbantunggut and Tengger Deserts in China and the Mojave Desert in the United States.
  • S. caninervis crusts are also present in mountainous regions of the Pamir, Tibet, Middle East, Antarctica, and circumpolar regions.
• It has a unique adaptation: it uses a tiny hair (awn) on the end of each leaf to collect water, in addition to that collected by the leaves themselves.

What is a Moss?

• A moss is a flowerless, spore-producing plant - with the spores produced in small capsules.
• Mosses are distributed throughout the world except in salt water and are commonly found in moist shady locations.
• They are best known for those species that carpet woodland and forest floors. 
• Ecologically, mosses break down exposed substrata, releasing nutrients for the use of more-complex plants that succeed them.
• They also aid in soil erosion control by providing surface cover and absorbing water, and they are important in the nutrient and water economy of some vegetation types.
• Economically important species are those in the genus Sphagnum that form peat. 

Q1: What is Peat?

Peat is the surface organic layer of a soil that consists of partially decomposed organic matter, derived mostly from plant material, which has accumulated under conditions of waterlogging, oxygen deficiency, high acidity and nutrient deficiency.

Source: Desert moss found with potential to thrive on Mars

About Artificial Intelligence (AI) washing: 

• It is a deceptive promotional practice that exaggerates or outright lies about a product or service’s use of artificial intelligence (AI).
• Objective: To capitalize on people’s interest in AI and make an offering seem to be more cutting-edge than it really is.
  • For example, a company may claim their chatbot is “Powered by the latest AI technology” when in reality, it simply matches keywords with pre-written responses.
• It is a term derived from greenwashing, where companies exaggerate their environmental friendliness to appeal to customers.
• Similarly, businesses that claim to have integrated AI into their products, when they’re actually using less sophisticated technology, can be accused of AI washing.
• It is found that the companies had made false statements to their clients about providing ‘expert AI-driven forecasts’ and using machine learning to manage retail client portfolios.
• Problems
• AI washing can have concerning impacts for businesses, from overpaying for technology and services to failing to meet operational objectives the AI was expected to help them achieve."
• Meanwhile, for investors it can make it harder to identify genuinely innovative companies.

Q1: What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

It is an emerging technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. It involves the development of algorithms and models that enable computers to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making.

Source: Hype over reality: How AI washing can dent businesses and delude users

About SEBEX 2:

• SEBEX 2 is said to be among the most powerful non-nuclear explosives in the world.
• It utilizes a high-melting explosive (HMX) composition.
  • This formulation significantly enhances the lethality of warheads, aerial bombs, artillery shells, and other munitions.
• It is 2.01 times more deadly than standard TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
  • Explosive performance is gauged by TNT equivalence, with higher values indicating greater lethality.
  • Currently, the most powerful conventional explosive used in India, specifically in the Brahmos warhead, has a TNT equivalence of about 1.50.
  • Most conventional warheads worldwide have a TNT equivalence ranging from 1.25 to 1.30
• SEBEX 2 was manufactured by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Nagpur, a subsidiary of Solar Industries, under the Make in India initiative.
• It has been evaluated, tested, and certified by the Indian Navy under its Defence Export Promotion Scheme. 

Complementary Technologies:

• In addition to SEBEX 2, the Indian Navy has certified SITBEX 1, a thermobaric explosive known for its extended blast duration and intense heat generation.
  • This makes it highly effective in demolishing enemy bunkers, tunnels, and fortified positions.

SIMEX 4, an insensitive munition, has also received certification, emphasizing safety in storage, transport, and operation.

Q1: What is Trinitrotoluene (TNT)?

Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a pale yellow, solid organic nitrogen compound used chiefly as an explosive, prepared by stepwise nitration of toluene. Because TNT melts at 82° C (178° F) and does not explode below 240° C (464° F), it can be melted in steam-heated vessels and poured into casings. It is relatively insensitive to shock and cannot be exploded without a detonator. For these reasons it is the most favoured chemical explosive, extensively used in munitions and for demolitions.

Source: India’s new explosive is 2.01 times more lethal than TNT! Top facts about SEBEX 2 - among world’s powerful non-nuclear explosives