Yak Latest News

Nepal observed its first-ever ‘National Yak Day’ on April 20, 2025, to honor the cultural, ecological, and economic value of the yak in the Himalayan region.

Why in the News?

• The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) urged stakeholders to elevate the yak to its rightful place in the sustainable development agenda, especially across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
• ICIMOD emphasised that indigenous communities like the Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, and Limbu have historically protected and practiced yak herding, linking it with food security, cultural identity, and biodiversity conservation.

Biological and Geographic Features of Yak

• Scientific Name:Wild yak: Bos mutus; Domesticated yak: Bos grunniens
• Habitat: Wild yaks inhabit alpine tundra at altitudes of 5000 to 7000 meters. They thrive in environments such as alpine meadows, alpine steppes, and desert steppes.
• Geographic distribution: Found throughout the Himalayan region, Tibetan plateau, Mongolia, and parts of South-Central Asia.
  • In India, yaks are reared in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Physical Characteristics of Yak

• Wild yaks are around 2 meters tall at the shoulder, while domesticated yaks are smaller.
• They have long, shaggy hair for insulation and curved horns, with larger horns in males.
• Their lung capacity is nearly three times that of cattle, with smaller red blood cells, making them highly adapted to high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.
• Yaks are herbivorous, feeding on grasses and alpine plants.
• Uses and Socio-Economic Importance:
  • Domesticated yaks are used for milk, meat, and as pack animals, transporting goods across mountain passes.
  • They are also used in climbing and trekking expeditions, capable of ascending up to 20,000 feet.
  • Yaks are often crossbred with domestic cattle to produce dzo or chauri gai, which are adaptable hybrids used in agropastoralism across altitudinal gradients.
• Conservation Status: Wild yaks are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, indicating the need for urgent conservation efforts to protect their habitats and genetic diversity.

Yak FAQs

Q1. What is a Yak?
Ans. A Yak is a long-haired, domesticated bovid species (Bos grunniens), primarily found in the Himalayan region, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

Q2. In which Indian states are Yaks commonly reared?
Ans. Yaks are mainly reared in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh (UT), and parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Q3. Why are Yaks important for high-altitude economies?
Ans. Yaks are a crucial source of milk, meat, wool, and transport for pastoral communities living in cold, mountainous regions.

Source: DTE

Nitrogen Latest News

India, the world’s second-largest emitter of N₂O after China, faces climate risks as N₂O has 300 times the global warming potential of CO₂.

About Nitrogen

• Nitrogen is the most abundant atmospheric gas, constituting ~78% of Earth’s atmosphere.
• Nitrogen is vital for forming DNA, ATP (cellular energy currency), proteins, chlorophyll, and acts as a neurotransmitter via nitric oxide (NO).

Nitrogen Cycle: Natural Balancing Act

• Atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) is inert and unusable by plants or animals.
• Plants rely on diazotrophs (N-fixing bacteria) through symbiotic association (e.g., in legumes).
• Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then nitrates (NO₃⁻) – the form plants can absorb.
  • Nitrification: Ammonia → Nitrites → Nitrates (plant-usable form).
• Denitrification returns excess nitrates back to the atmosphere, maintaining the natural nitrogen cycle.

Haber-Bosch Process

• Developed in the early 20th century, allowed industrial fixation of nitrogen to produce ammonia.
• Uses fossil fuels, high heat and pressure, and an iron catalyst.
• Enabled synthetic fertiliser revolution → contributed to Green Revolution and exponential population growth.

Environmental Risks of Excess Nitrogen (Latent Time-Bomb)

• Reactive nitrogen (ammonia, nitrate, nitrous oxide) is now overproduced through chemical fertilisers.
• 80% of applied nitrogen is lost to the environment via leaching and emissions, causing:
  • Eutrophication of water bodies → Algal blooms, Dead Zones (e.g., Gulf of Mexico).
  • Soil acidification and air pollution from NOx emissions.
  • Formation of ground-level ozone and acid rain.
  • N₂O (Nitrous oxide) is now the third most potent greenhouse gas after CO₂ and CH₄.

Nitrogen FAQs

Q1. What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?
Ans. Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, making up about 78% of the air by volume.

Q2. What is the Nitrogen Cycle?
Ans. The Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants and animals, involving processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.

Q3. Name an example of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Ans. Rhizobium is a well-known nitrogen-fixing bacterium that lives symbiotically in the root nodules of leguminous plants.

Source: TH

SpaDeX Mission Latest News

Recently, The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the second docking of its two satellites — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — under the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission.

About the SpaDeX Mission

• SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a technology demonstration mission developed by ISRO to validate the capability of docking and undocking two small satellites in low-Earth orbit.
• The mission involved two small satellites, each weighing around 220 kg: SDX01 (Chaser), SDX02 (Target)
• These satellites were launched by PSLV-C60 into a 460 km circular orbit with an inclination of 45 degrees.

Objectives of the SpaDeX Mission

• Primary objective: To develop and demonstrate the capability for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of spacecraft in orbit.
• Secondary objectives: To demonstrate the transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft a crucial component for future in-space operations.
  • To develop and validate composite spacecraft control systems.
  • To test payload operations after undocking — important for deep-space missions.
• With this achievement, India becomes the fourth country after the United States, Russia, and China to successfully conduct satellite docking operations.

SpaDeX Mission FAQs

Q1. What does SpaDeX stand for?
Ans. SpaDeX stands for "Space Docking Experiment," an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission aimed at demonstrating autonomous docking between two spacecraft.

Q2. Why is the SpaDeX Mission significant for India?
Ans. SpaDeX is critical for future Indian space missions involving crewed spaceflights, space station modules, and satellite servicing, as it will allow two spacecraft to dock in orbit without human intervention.

Q3. Which organization is behind the SpaDeX Mission?
Ans. The SpaDeX Mission is being developed by ISRO — the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Source: TH

Hindu Kush Himalaya Latest News

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region recorded its lowest snow persistence in 23 years during the 2024–2025 winter, according to a new report published recently.

About Hindu Kush Himalaya

• The HKH mountains extend around 3,500 km over eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
• It covers an area of approximately 4.2 million sq.km.
• It runs northeast to southwest and divides the valley of the Amu Darya (the ancient Oxus River) to the north from the Indus River valley to the south. 
• To the east the Hindu Kush buttresses the Pamir range near the point where the borders of China, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and Afghanistan meet, after which it runs southwest through Pakistan and into Afghanistan, finally merging into minor ranges in western Afghanistan. 
• The range has numerous high snow-capped peaks, with the highest point being Tirich Mir or Terichmir at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) in Chitral, Pakistan.
• It is considered the Third Pole (after the North and South Poles) and has significant implications for climate.
• The HKH forms the largest area of permanent ice cover outside of the North and South Poles and is home to 4 global biodiversity hotspots. 
• The HKH region is the source of ten large Asian river systems: the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow River, and Tarim.
• The basins of these rivers provide water to 1.9 billion people, a fourth of the world’s population.
• Contains diverse ecosystems: glaciers, alpine meadows, forests, wetlands, and grasslands.
• HKH may be divided into three main sections: the eastern Hindu Kush, the central Hindu Kush, and the western Hindu Kush, also known as the Bābā Mountains.
• The inner valleys of the Hindu Kush see little rain and have desert vegetation.

Hindu Kush Himalaya FAQs

Q1. What rivers originated from Hindu Kush Himalayas?

Ans. Ten large Asian river systems originate in the HKH – the Amu Darya, Brahmaputra (Yarlungtsanpo), Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Mekong, Salween (Nu), Tarim (Dayan), Yangtse (Jinsha) and Yellow River.

Q2. Which is the largest mountain in Hindu Kush?

Ans. Tirich Mir or Terichmir at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) in Chitral, Pakistan.

Q3. Why is the Hindu Kush Himalayas referred to as the “Third Pole”?

Ans. It has the largest ice cover outside of the polar regions

Source: TOI

Alamosaurus Latest News

In a remarkable find at Big Bend National Park, United States, geology students recently uncovered a rare and nearly complete fossil of the Alamosaurus.

About Alamosaurus

• Alamosaurus is one of the largest dinosaurs known to have existed.
• Native to North America during the late Cretaceous period (100.5 to 66 million years ago) , Alamosaurus is an herbivorous sauropod with armoured spikes on its back that protect it from predator attacks.
  • The sauropods were not only the largest dinosaurs but also the largest land animals ever to evolve. 
• Alamosaurus is the only known sauropod in North America from the Upper Cretaceous.
• It was the largest terrestrial animal in North America during the Upper Cretaceous. 
• Standing at least 11 meters (36 feet) tall, 30.5 meters (100 feet) long, and weighing 38-80 metric tons, it rivals the size of the biggest sauropods like Argentinosaurus, which lived in Argentina, South America around 97-92 million years ago.
• It has a long neck, tail, and pillar-like limbs characteristic of its family.
• Alamosaurus died out in the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, making it one of the last non-avian dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth.

Alamosaurus FAQs

Q1. During which period did Alamosaurus live?

Ans. Upper Cretaceous

Q2. Where was Alamosaurus native to?

Ans. North America

Q3. Alamosaurus belonged to which group of dinosaurs?

Ans. Sauropods

Source: IDR

Strait of Gibraltar Latest News

Bengal swimmer Sayoni Das successfully managed to cross the Strait of Gibraltar as reportedly the first Asian woman recently.

About Strait of Gibraltar

• It is the body of water separating Europe from Africa and connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Bordering Countries: The Strait is bordered by Spain and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar in the north and by the African country of Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in the south.
• It is about 58 km long and has a width of about 13 km at its narrowest pointbetween Morocco’s Point Cires and Spain’s Point Marroquí. 
• The western end of the strait located between Spain’s Cape Trafalgar and Morocco’s Cape Spartel has a width of about 43 km. 
• The strait’s eastern end, locatedbetween the Rock of Gibraltar in the north and Mount Hacho or Jebel Moussa in the south, has a width of about 23 km. 
  • These two land features in the strait’s eastern extremity are known as the Pillars of Heracles. 
• The Strait of Gibraltar's depth ranges from 300 to 900 m and it forms a significant gap between the high plateau of Spain and the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa. 
• Formation: Geological studies have revealed that the Strait was formed due to the northward movement of the African Plate towards the European Plate.
• Waterflow: The Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea have different salinity levels, and therefore the highly saline waters from the Mediterranean Sea flow outward and underneath the currents from the Atlantic Ocean, whereas the less saline Atlantic waters flow inward and on top of the Mediterranean Sea current.
• It is the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. 
• An important port located on the Strait of Gibraltar is the Moroccan port of Tanger-Med, near Tangier.

Strait of Gibraltar FAQs

Q1. Which two countries are separated by Strait of Gibraltar?

Ans. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain (in Europe) and Morocco (in Africa).

Q2. What is another name for the Strait of Gibraltar?

Ans. Another name for the Strait of Gibraltar is the "Pillars of Hercules".

Q3. What is the closest point between Europe and Africa?

Ans. The closest point between Europe and Africa is at the Strait of Gibraltar.

Source: TSM

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Latest News

Kinshasa is one of 38 flood hotspots in the Congo Basin, due to its twin flood sources and urbanisation.

About Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Capital: Kinshasa
• 2nd largest country in Africa (after Algeria), and largest in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Borders: Angola, Burundi, CAR, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
• Coastline: Small boundary along the Atlantic Ocean
• Geography:
  • Major river: Congo River (second longest in Africa)
  • Vegetation: Predominantly tropical forests
  • Unique ecosystems: Congo Basin is home to the world’s largest tropical peatlands
• Mineral Resources: Rich in cobalt, copper, gold, lithium, iron ore, and coal.

Recent Events

• The April 2025 flooding in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was not solely due to rainfall but largely due to urban mismanagement and infrastructure failure.
  • The flooding, triggered by local rains and runoff from the Congo Central Province, overwhelmed urban tributaries like the Ndjili River and Lukaya tributary.
• Current instability in eastern DRC due to the M23 armed group, causing mass displacement.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) FAQs

Q1. Where is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) located?
Ans. The DRC is located in Central Africa and is the second-largest country on the African continent by area.

Q2. What is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Ans. The capital city of the DRC is Kinshasa.

Q3. Why is the DRC significant for global mineral supply?
Ans. The DRC is one of the world’s largest producers of cobalt, copper, diamonds, and coltan, all of which are critical for electronics and renewable energy sectors.

Source: DTE

Bullseye Galaxy Latest News

The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) was recently discovered by an international team of researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory.

About Bullseye Galaxy

• The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) is a collisional ring galaxy (CRG) located approximately 534 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces..
  • The galaxy's distinct ringed structure is believed to have formed approximately 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.
  • This head-on collision is believed to have caused rippling gas waves, leading to star formation in ring-like patterns.
  • This discovery was termed “serendipitous” as ringed galaxies usually have only two or three rings.
• Observed Through Multiple Telescopes:
  • The Hubble Space Telescope confirmed eight rings.
  • The W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii confirmed a ninth ring, revealing the full structure.
• The Bullseye Galaxy spans 250,000 light-years in diameter — nearly 2.5 times larger than the Milky Way. Despite a current separation of 130,000 light-years, a thin trail of gas still connects it to the colliding dwarf galaxy.
• The Bullseye may evolve into a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxy, a rare, massive galaxy type believed to hold clues about dark matter.
• Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxy features: 
  • Composed of diffuse, low-density stellar disks.
  • Contain large amounts of neutral hydrogen but exhibit low star formation rates.
  • Include examples like Malin 1, which is 6.5 times wider than the Milky Way.
• GLSB galaxies are believed to be rich in dark matter, and their unusual mass distribution challenges the Standard Model of Cosmology.
• These galaxies display a uniform central mass instead of a dense core, suggesting discrepancies in current models.

Bullseye Galaxy FAQs

Q1. What is the Bullseye Galaxy?
Ans. The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) is a collisional ring galaxy (CRG) located approximately 534 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces.

Q2. How far is the Bullseye Galaxy from Earth?
Ans. The Bullseye Galaxy is located approximately 534 million light-years away from Earth.

Source: TH

Gonorrhoea Latest News

A new oral antibiotic named gepotidacin could be a breakthrough in the fight against stubborn gonorrhoea infections, according to a recent study.

About Gonorrhoea

• It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), also called a sexually transmitted disease (STD), caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea. 
• It is sometimes known as ‘the clap'.
• Gonorrhea bacteria can infect the urethra, rectum, female reproductive tract, mouth, throat or eyes.
• Transmission: 
  • It is most commonly spread during vaginal, oral or anal sexual activity. 
  • But babies can get the infection during childbirth. 
  • In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes.
• Gonorrhea can affect people of any age, anatomy, or gender, but it’s particularly common among teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.
• Symptoms: 
  • Many people with gonorrhoea won’t notice any symptoms. If you do get symptoms, it’s usually between 1 to 14 days after getting the infection.
  • Men are more likely to experience symptoms. Up to 50% of women won’t experience symptoms. 
  • Gonorrhoea can cause a sore throat, conjunctivitis,unusual vaginal or penile discharge, and pelvic and genital pain.
• Untreated gonorrhoea can cause:
  • infections affecting the skin, joints, heart (endocarditis) and brain (meningitis)
  • infertility in both females and males
  • pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • epididymitis and prostatitis (inflammation of your prostate)
  • Some of these complications can cause permanent damage to your health.
• Prevention: It can be prevented by practicing safe sex.
• Treatment: Most of the time antibiotics cures gonorrhoea.

Gonorrhoea FAQs

Q1. What is gonorrhoeae?

Ans. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Q2. What is the causative agent of gonorrhoea?

Ans. It is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea. 

Q3. How can newborn babies contract gonorrhoea?

Ans. During childbirth from an infected mother.

Source: IT

Article 355 Latest News

The Supreme Court recently appeared surprised over a petition seeking the invocation of Article 355 in West Bengal, citing violence in Murshidabad district during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act.

About Article 355

• It is a part of emergency provisions contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution of India, from Article 352 to 360.
• It empowers the central government to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances and external aggression.
• It empowers the Centre to take necessary steps to protect a state from any kind of threat, be it internal or external. 
• It allows the Centre to take charge of a state's law and order enforcement without dismissing the government, and is considered a step below the President's rule, which gives full control to the President.
•  The provision is designed to ensure that the government can act swiftly and decisively in the event of any disturbance or threat to the peace and security of the country.
• Exact definition:
  • The exact definition of Article 355 in the Constitution of India is, “It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”

Article 355 FAQs

Q1. Article 355 of the Indian Constitution is part of which section?

Ans. Emergency Provisions

Q2. What is the primary purpose of Article 355?

Ans. To empower the Centre to protect states against internal disturbances and external aggression.

Q3. Which part of the Indian Constitution contains the emergency provisions, including Article 355?

Ans. Part XVIII

Source: HT