Dragon Copilot Latest News 

Recently, Microsoft has introduced a new voice-activated AI assistant called Dragon Copilot.

About Dragon Copilot

• It is the new healthcare AI tool which is being offered as part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.
• It is designed to help doctors and healthcare professionals transcribe clinical notes and draft paperwork as well as quickly search for information from medical sources.

Features of Dragon Copilot

• It harnesses the natural language voice dictation and ambient listening technology developed by AI voice company Nuance.
• These capabilities have been further fine-tuned using generative AI and adapted to incorporate healthcare safeguards.
• It is built on top of existing tools such as Dragon Medical One (DMO) and DAX rolled out by speech recognition company Nuance Communications.
• It can be used to draft memos and notes in a personalized style and format.
• Besides voice-to-text transcription, the Dragon Copilot user interface also allows users to submit prompts or use templates to create AI-generated notes.
• Apart from documentation work, the AI assistant allows clinicians to search for general-purpose medical information from trusted sources.
• It can also be used to automate key tasks such as conversational orders, note and clinical evidence summaries, referral letters, and after-visit summaries, in one centralised workspace,
• It is accessible through a mobile app, browser or desktop, and it integrates directly with several different electronic health records.

Dragon Copilot FAQs

Q1: What is Microsoft Dragon Copilot?

Ans: It is the new healthcare AI tool which is being offered as part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare. As part of the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers secure architecture to ensure privacy and compliance. 

Q2: What is Generative AI?

Ans: Generative AI works by using a Machine Learning model to learn the patterns and relationships in a dataset of human-created content.

Source: IE

Seagrass Latest News

According to recent study, seagrass has been declining at a rate of 1-2 per cent per year for the past century and nearly 5 percent of species are now endangered.

About Seagrass

• It is a flowering plant that grows submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
• They are so-named because most species have long green, grass-like leaves.
• Characteristics of Seagrass
  • Seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves and produce flowers and seeds.
  • Like terrestrial plants, seagrass also photosynthesizes and manufactures their own food and releases oxygen.
  • They evolved around 100 million years ago, and there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups.

Distribution of Seagrass

• They are found on all continents except Antarctica.
• The tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific hold the highest diversity of seagrasses in the world.
• India too has vast seagrass meadows, home to 16 species of seagrass with major concentrations in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and the Gulf of Kutch.

Advantages of Seagrass

• They are better than trees for capturing carbon and providing food for millions of people. Beyond supporting marine life, seagrass also acts as a natural barrier, protecting coastal communities from storms and erosion. 
• These underwater plants can store carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, locking it away for thousands of years. 
• Threats: Pollution from cities, industries, and agriculture continues to degrade these meadows, while coastal development and tourism put additional pressure on fragile habitats of Seagrass.

Seagrass FAQs

Q1: What is sea grass used for?

Ans: Seagrasses support commercial fisheries and biodiversity, clean the surrounding water and help take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere

Q2: What is the significance of sea grass?

Ans: Seagrasses provide shelter and food to an incredibly diverse community of animals, from tiny invertebrates to large fish, crabs, turtles, marine mammals and birds.

Source: DTH

Gond Tribe Latest News

The Gujarat High Court recently sought a response from a power distribution company, the Ahmedabad district collector, and a residential society after 95 families of the Rajgond tribe sought HC directions for electricity connections to their households.

About Gond Tribe

• The Gond or Gondi (Gōndi) or Koitur are a Dravidian ethno-linguistic group. 
• They are one of the largest tribal groups in India. According to the 2001 census, their population was nearly 11 million.
• Distribution: 
  • The states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha are home to the largest Gond populations. 
  • Gond tribes also live in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Gujarat.
  • Gonds are mainly divided into four tribes, namely Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds.
• History:
  • Gonds settled in the Gondwana region in the ninth and thirteenth century AD. 
  • In the fourteenth century they ruled several parts of central India. 
  • They built a number of forts, palaces, temples, tanks, and lakes during the rule of the Gonds dynasty. 
  • The Gondwana kingdom survived till the late 16th century. 
  • Gond dynasties ruled in four kingdoms - Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda, and Kherla - in central India. 
  • Gonds have been warriors since the British period.
  • During the British regime in India, Gonds challenged the Britishers in several battles. 
  • They also gained control over the Malwa after the decline of the Mughals followed by the Marathas in the year 1690.
• Language: 
  • The majority of Gond people speak dialects of Gondi, an unwritten language of the Dravidian language family. 
  • Some Gond have lost their own language and speak Hindi, Marathi, or Telugu, depending on which is dominant in their area. 
• Economy: The basis of the Gond economy is agriculture, but they also practice animal husbandry.  Some Gond also gather wild plants to eat. 
• Religion: The religion of the Gond tribes centers on clan and village gods, together with ancestor worship.
• Customs and Festivals:
  • Keslapur Jathra and Madai are important festivals of the Gonds. 
  • Apart from this, they also celebrate Hindu festival called Dusshera.

Gond Tribe FAQs

Q1. Where is the Gond tribe located?

Ans. The Gond tribe is primarily concentrated in the central regions of India, especially in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha.

Q2. How many types of Gonds are there?

Ans. Gonds are mainly divided into four tribes, namely Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds.

Q3. What are the four Gond kingdoms?

Ans. Gond dynasties ruled in four kingdoms - Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda, and Kherla - in central India.

Source: TOI

Civet Latest News

A rare civet cat, typically found in the Seshachalam forests near Tirumala, was recently spotted near Tadepalli in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.

About Civet

• It is any of a number of long-bodied, short-legged carnivores of the family Viverridae.
• The Viverridae family includes civets, genets, oyans, and linsangs. 
• There are about 15 to 20 species, placed in 10 to 12 genera. 
• Civets are found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. 
• There are 8 different species of Wild civets found in India, out of which Common Palm civets and Small Indian civets can be spotted across the subcontinent. 
• The rarest of all civets is the Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina), also known as the Malabar civet, endemic to the Western Ghats.
• It is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List.

Civet Features

• Rather catlike in appearance, they have a thickly furred tail, small ears, and a pointed snout. 
• The coloration varies widely among the species but commonly is buff or grayish with a pattern of black spots or stripes or both. 
• Length ranges from about 40 to 85 cm), with the tail accounting for another 13 to 66 cm, and weight ranges from 1.5 to 11 kg).
• Civets are usually solitary and live in tree hollows, among rocks, and in similar places, coming out to forage at night.
• They feed on fruits and insects, opportunistically supplemented with small animals.

Civet FAQs

Q1. In which national park is Malabar civet found?

Ans. Located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, Silent Valley National Park is one of the most important conservation areas for the Malabar Civet.

Q2. What is the IUCN status of Malabar civet?

Ans. Critically Endangered

Q3. Is Malabar civet endemic to India?

Ans. The Malabar Civet is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India. 

Source: TOI

Majuli Island Latest News

A recent six-day survey conducted on the escalating human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the Majuli River Island district of Assam sparks concern.

About Majuli Island

• Often called the soul of Assam, Majuli is the world's largest river island.
• It lies at the heart of Assam, spreading over an area of 421 sq. km.
• The island is formed by the Brahmaputra River in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north.
• In 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. 
• The island's landscape is characterised by lush greenery, water bodies, and paddy fields.
• The island has also been the hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, initiated around the 16th century by the great Assamese saint-reformer Srimanta Sankerdeva and his disciple Madhavdeva. 
  • They initiated the tradition of Satras (monastic institutions), and these Satras have preserved Sattriya dance, literature, bhaona (theatre), dance forms, mask making, and boat-making. 
• Most of the islanders belong to three tribes-Mishing, Deori, and Sonowal Kachari, with the non-tribal Assamese comprising the rest.
• Apart from Satras or Vaishnavite monasteries, Majuli is famous for mask-making and has a tradition of pottery making.
• Rice cultivation is the primary livelihood for the residents of Majuli, with several unique varieties of rice, such as Komal Saul and Bao Dhan, grown in the region. 

Majuli Island FAQs

Q1. Where is Majuli Island located?

Ans. Majuli Island is located in the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam.

Q2. Which is the world's largest river island?

Ans. Majuli Island

Q3. Is Majuli a Unesco site?

Ans. River island of Majuli is part of the Tentative list of India in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

Source: NEN

Ruellia Elegans Latest News 

A new study has flagged the threat to native biodiversity from a botanical Brazilian beauty Ruellia elegans.

About Ruellia Elegans

• It derives its name from its pleasing appearance or elegance is native to Brazil.
• It is predominantly thriving in wet tropical biome.
• It is commonly known as the Brazilian petunia, Christmas pride, elegant Ruellia, red Ruellia, and wild petunia.
• It is one of four invasive species of the Acanthoideae sub-family in India, the others being Ruellia ciliatiflora, Ruellia simplex, and Ruellia tuberosa.
• It was introduced in the Andaman Islands, apart from Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
• Beyond the Andaman Islands, the invasive plant was recorded from Odisha almost a decade ago.

Impacts of Invasive Species on Biodiversity

• Invasive plant species are a problem because they can rapidly spread and outcompete native plants for resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients.
• They disrupt ecosystems by altering biodiversity, impacting wildlife habitats, and potentially causing the decline or extinction of native species, often leading to significant economic and environmental damage.

Ruellia Elegans FAQs

Q1: Where do ruellia grow best?

Ans: Ruellia grows well in our humid Southern climate 

Q2: What is Ruellia used for?

Ans: For the treatment of flu, asthma, fever, bronchitis, high blood pressure, eczema, and diabetes.

Source: TH

Bollgard-3 Latest News 

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for Bollgard-3 in Punjab, ahead of the cotton sowing season.

About Bollgard-3

• It is a new pest-resistant genetically-modified (GM) cotton variety.
• It was developed by Monsanto more than a decade ago, and shows remarkable resistance to pests.
• It contains three Bt proteins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A that cause insect death by disrupting their normal gut function. This in turn allows for the growth of a healthier cotton crop, and increases yield.
• Farmers are demanding the introduction of Bollgard-3, which is particularly effective against lepidopteran pests like pink bollworm.
• Bollgard-1 was a Monsanto-developed Bt cotton introduced in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard-2 in 2006. The latter remains prevalent today.
• And although these do have some pest-repellent properties, they are not effective against the whitefly and the pink bollworm, which arrived in Punjab in 2015-16 and 2018-19 respectively.

What is Bacillus Thuringiensis?

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil-dwelling bacterium with potent insecticidal properties.
• In the past few decades, researchers have successfully inserted certain genes from Bt in various crops, like cotton, providing these with insect-repellent properties.

Bollgard-3 FAQs

Q1: What is the Bollgard 3 gene?

Ans: Bollgard III is a genetically modified (GM) cotton event primarily expressing three Bacillus thuringiensis genes encoding the in planta insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A.

Q2: What is Bt technology?

Ans: Bt technology uses genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to create plants that are resistant to certain pests. 

Q3: What is Bollgard 1 and Bollgard 2?

Ans: Bollgard I and Bollgard II are brand names of genetically modified cotton varieties that produce a protein to protect against bollworms. 

Source: IE

Taurus KEPD-350 Latest News

Sweden has taken a key step in strengthening its air force’s long-range strike capabilities by selecting the Taurus KEPD-350 air-launched cruise missile for integration with its Gripen fighter jets. 

About Taurus KEPD-350

• It is a modular, air-launched, long-range, precision-guided cruise missile.
• It is designed and produced by Taurus Systems GmbH, a joint venture between Germany’s MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Sweden’s Saab Bofors Dynamics.
• It can penetrate through dense air defence systems and destroy the hard and deeply buried stationary and semi-stationary military targets on ground.
• The missile entered operational service in 2005.
• The missile is used by air forces in Germany, Spain, and South Korea, among others.

Taurus KEPD-350 Features

• Measuring 5 meters in length and with a wingspan of 2.1 meters, the missile weighs approximately 1,400 kilograms.
• It has a range of more than 500 km.
• It is powered by a turbofan engine, which provides the missile with a cruise speed of about Mach 0.6 to 0.95 at very low altitudes. 
• The missile is made of modular sections which can be configured based on the individual missions.
• Its electronic systems are also modular.
• It is suitable for day and night and all-weather deployment. 
• Navigation of the missile is controlled through the Tri-Tec navigation system. 
• It combines data from an inertial navigation system (INS), MIL-global positioning system (GPS), terrain reference navigation (TRN), and infrared seeker based image based navigation (IBN) sensors.

Taurus KEPD-350 FAQs

Q1. What is the range of the Taurus KEPD-350 missile?

Ans. It has a range of more than 500 km.

Q2. What is a Cruise Missile?

Ans. It is a type of low-flying strategic guided missile.

Q3. Which is the fastest cruise missile in the world?

Ans. The fastest cruise missile in the world is the BrahMos, which can reach speeds of Mach 3.5.

Source: ET

World Food Programme Latest News

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is closing its southern Africa office in the wake of the Trump administration’s aid cuts.

About World Food Programme

• It is a branch of the United Nations that deals with hunger eradication and promotes food security in the world.
• It has been functioning in India since 1963.
• It is operating in more than 120 countries, which provides food assistance during emergencies and works with communities to enhance nutrition and generate resilience.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• It is the largest humanitarian agency saving lives in emergencies and using assistance to help communities become self-sufficient and resilient to shocks.
• Funding: WFP is funded by voluntary donations from governments, corporates and private donors.
• Report released by the WFP is Global Report on Food Crisis
  • The Global Report on Food Crises describes the scale of acute hunger in the world.
  • It provides an analysis of the drivers that are contributing to food crises across the globe.
  • The report is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, an international alliance working to address the root causes of extreme hunger.

World Food Programme FAQs

Q1: What does the World Food Programme do?

Ans: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

Q2: What are the objectives of WFP?

Ans: The foremost objective of WFP is to eradicate hunger from the world. In emergencies, save lives and safeguard sources of income. Promote nutrition and food security and re-establish livelihoods in vulnerable areas and after emergencies.

Q3: Who launched World Food Day?

Ans: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) designated 16 October as World Food Day in 1979.

Source: TG

Mount Erebus Latest News

Beneath Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, a hidden world of volcanic ice caves harbors thriving microbial life, offering a glimpse into how life could exist on alien worlds.

About Mount Erebus

• It is the world’s southernmost active volcano.
• It is located on the western half of Ross Island, off the coast of Antarctica in the Ross Sea. 
• It is a glaciated intraplate stratovolcano, part of the Ring of Fire that encircles the Pacific Ocean basin. 
• It was discovered in 1841 by the British explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who named it after his ship, the Erebus.
• Its summit is 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) above sea level, making it the second tallest volcano in Antarctica, after Mount Sidley.
• It is also one of only a few volcanoes in the world that contain an active lava lake.
  • The lava within the lava lake is alkalic in composition. Alkalic lava is common in rift volcanoes.
• It has been continuously active since 1972. Most eruptions are small and Strombolian in character, tossing bombs onto the crater rim. 
• The largest Antarctic settlement—McMurdo Station, operated by the United States—stands within sight of the volcano (about 40 kilometers or 25 miles away). 

Mount Erebus FAQs

Q1. Where is Mount Erebus situated?

Ans. It is located on the western half of Ross Island, off the coast of Antarctica in the Ross Sea.

Q2. Is Mount Erebus in the Ring of Fire?

Ans. Mount Erebus is part of the Ring of Fire that encircles the Pacific Ocean basin. 

Q3. Is Mount Erebus still active?

Ans. Mount Erebus is the world’s southernmost active volcano.

Source: IDR