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DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS
Time: 45 Min.
Date: 21-05-2021
Science and Technology
Plasma: Fourth State of Matter
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life; Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.
In News: Indian Scientists have recently developed a theory to shed light on the mystery behind complex phenomena in Plasma, the fourth state of matter.
Major Findings Regarding Different Phenomena
● Sun-Earth interactions: The theory helps understand the complicated nature of Sun-Earth interactions happening in the magnetosphere, an area of space around Earth that is controlled by the Earth’s magnetic field.
● Ion-hole structures: This new theory has opened up a plethora of opportunities to unlock the mysteries of the ion-hole structures (a localized plasma region where the ion density is lower than the surrounding plasma). Scientists are now working towards a detailed study of the ion hole structures observed in various space and astrophysical environments using the developed theory.
● Solving the Uncertainty: They developed a theory that solves every bit of uncertainty regarding the conflict between the observations from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission. They were also supported by Prof. Peter Yoon from the University of Maryland, USA.
● Bernstein Green Kruskal (BGK) waves: They have completely ruled out the necessity of the upper limit in the temperature ratio between ions and electrons for the generation of a special kind of wave called Bernstein Green Kruskal (BGK) waves, named after the scientists who predicted this wave. They revealed that the electrons that are not part of ion hole dynamics also play a vital role. This work has also been published in the journal ‘Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society’.
2 Significance of New Theory
● NASA's latest expedition to unlock Sun-Earth interaction's complicated nature, the MMS spacecraft, observed negative monopolar potential (electric field potentials which can be visualized in the form of single-humped pulse-type structures).
● The scientific community suddenly recognized its importance, and publications were presented. However, none of the available theories could explain the characteristics of these structures due to the exotic background conditions.
● The new theory developed by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) team provides a better understanding of their characteristics and sheds light on the generation of these structures leading to the unraveling of nature's greatest mystery that causes phenomena - plasma transport and heating of plasma.
States of Matter ● Solids
● Have a definite shape, distinct boundaries and fixed volumes, that is, have negligible compressibility.
● Solids have a tendency to maintain their shape when subjected to outside force. ● Solids may break under force but it is difficult to change their shape, so they are
rigid. ● Liquids
● Have no fixed shape but have a fixed volume.
● They take up the shape of the container in which they are kept.
● Liquids flow and change shape, so they are not rigid but can be called fluid. ● Gases
● Highly compressible as compared to solids and liquids.
● Due to its high compressibility, large volumes of a gas can be compressed into a small cylinder and transported easily.
● Plasma
● The state consists of super energetic and super excited particles. These particles are in the form of ionised gases.
● The fluorescent tube and neon sign bulbs consist of plasma.
● The plasma glows with a special colour depending on the nature of gas. ● Bose-Einstein Condensate
● In 1920, Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose had done some calculations for a fifth state of matter.
● Building on his calculations, Albert Einstein predicted a new state of matter – the Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC).
● In 2001, Eric A. Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle and Carl E. Wieman of the USA received the Nobel prize in physics for achieving “Bose-Einstein condensation”.
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● The BEC is formed by cooling a gas of extremely low density, about one-hundred-thousandth the density of normal air, to super low temperatures.
Image Courtesy: Science Notes Plasma: The Fourth State of Matter
● What it is: It is a mixture of negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions. It is also defined as ionized matter.
● Formation: It is formed when high voltage or temperature knocks off the outermost electrons from an atom, which in turn knock off electrons in the neighbouring atoms. Mostly plasmas are formed at very high temperatures but scientists can also produce plasmas at low temperatures.
● Unique State: Plasma is that unique state of matter where charged ions abound in gaseous form but since the whole mass is charged they behave uniquely unlike any other known form of matter.
● Energy to Sun: The most intense and dense state of plasma that we see every day is the Sun, where plasma releases solar energy that literally powers life on Earth.
Uses of Plasma
● Micro-plasma welding is a method which is used to join paper thin sheets of metals, which is extensively used in the manufacture of stainless steel water storage tanks and other kitchen implements.
● Plasma spray is the only process that enables us to coat any material on to any other one: ○ Metal on to metal: titanium on to steel, to prevent corrosion.
○ Metal on to non-metal: copper on to porcelain, used in capacitors.
○ Non-metal on to metal: alumina on to stainless steel, to reduce wear and tear on stainless steel.
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● Cold plasmas are used in sterilizers and hand-washers. The cool plasma is used to cure human fungal infections.
● Healing Plasma: The high temperature plasmas are being deployed to destroy toxic hospital and organic waste, so plasmas are helping heal the Earth. Plasmas are also used to make plastics attract or repel liquids, which is used in printers.
● The Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar is trying to unravel the properties of plasma because of its potential to aid power generation from nuclear fusion, where two atoms are fused together and the energy they release can be used to generate electricity.
● Neon in its plasma form is used for lighting. Conclusion
● The fourth state of matter, Plasma, is the most natural and widely observed state of matter in the entire universe.
● The new theory is a significant achievement by the Indian scientists that will provide better understanding for nature’s complex phenomena.
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG)
● It is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
● It is one of the world's leading primary research journals in astronomy and astrophysics, as well as one of the longest established.
● It publishes the results of original research in positional and dynamical astronomy, astrophysics, radio astronomy, cosmology, space research and the design of astronomical instruments.
● It is published by Oxford University Press (since 2013) on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society (United Kingdom).
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission
● It is a NASA robotic space mission to study the Earth's magnetosphere and theoretical predictions.
● It investigates how the Sun's and Earth's magnetic fields connect and disconnect, explosively transferring energy from one to the other. This process occurs throughout the universe and is known as magnetic reconnection.
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Polity and Governance
Infrastructure Status for Convention Centres
Syllabus: GS2/Government Policies & Interventions
In News: Recently, The Ministry of Finance granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres to ease bank financing for such projects.
Objectives and Need
● India doesn’t have large convention centres or single halls with capacities to hold 7,000 to 10,000 people, unlike countries like Thailand that is a major global MICE destination
○ Becoming a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination can generate significant revenue with several global companies active in India but it will take time to become a preferred destination.
■ MICE is essentially a version of business tourism that draws domestic and international tourists to a destination.
‘Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre
● ‘Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre is included in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and Commercial Infrastructure.
● However, the benefits available as ‘infrastructure’ projects would only be available for projects with a minimum built-up floor area of 1,00,000 square metres of exclusive exhibition space or convention space or both combined.
○ This includes primary facilities such as exhibition centres, convention halls, auditoriums, plenary halls, business centres, meeting halls etc.
● As of now, the major projects underway in the sector are backed by the government – the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centres at Dwarka as well as Pragati Maidan in the capital.
Significance
● Inclusion in the list implies access to concessional funds, promotion of projects and continuity of construction for the specified sub-sectors.
● The infrastructure tag no longer involves significant tax breaks but would help such projects get easier financing from banks.
6 Harmonised Master List
● The Harmonized Master list approved by the cabinet committee on infrastructure has five main sectors and 29 infra subsectors.
● The five sectors include transport, energy, water sanitation, communication and social and commercial infrastructure.
● The infra tag allows certain benefits including access to easier borrowings overseas, the ability to raise funds through tax-free bonds, tax concessions, and access to dedicated lenders such as IIFCL, and the debt funds.
● In 2020, the government added affordable rental housing projects to the list of sectors recognised as infrastructure.
Source: TH
Science and Technology
New approach to drug delivery combines biologics and
antibody-drug conjugates
Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology
In News: Recently, Researchers from University of Massachusetts in the U.S designed a type of nanoparticle that embodies a new approach to treating diseases.
7 Major Points
● This combines concepts of biologics and antibody–drug conjugates to produce protein– antibody conjugates that can be used for targeted drug delivery – in the case of pancreatic cancer cells.
○ A biologic drug (biologics) is a product that is produced from living organisms or contains components of living organisms. The composition may include sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids or complex combinations of these substances.
○ it works by targeting a defective protein in the system by delivering proteins to it.
■ An example of this is the case of insulin treatment. If a person is short of insulin, which is a protein, they are given a shot of this protein to balance the system.
● This works because we need a circulation of insulin outside the cells and not inside the cells.
● Now, we have 20,000 proteins and when one of these is malfunctioning, we have no way of taking that protein specifically inside the cell. That is a big problem in biologics,”
● It will be a gamechanger if we can take the protein inside the cell. ● Antibody-drug Conjugates
○ Antibody-drug Conjugates or ADCs are highly targeted biopharmaceutical drugs that combine monoclonal antibodies specific to surface antigens present on particular tumor cells with highly potent anti-cancer agents linked via a chemical linker.
○ Unlike chemotherapy, ADCs are intended to target and kill tumour cells while sparing healthy cells.
○ Antibodies are something the body produces to detect a foreign substance inside the body.
○ Antibodies can be developed to recognise anything that does not belong in our bodies.
○ That includes cancer cells as well. If there is something different on the surface of a cancer cell compared to a healthy cell, you can design the antibody that selectively goes to the cancer cell.
Significance
● Research could have an impact on incurable diseases, so-called undruggable ones like pancreatic cancer.
○ Undruggable cases
● Pancreatic cancer is an example. “There are [types] that are considered undruggable. In 90% of pancreatic cancers, this is the case.
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Facts in News
White Fungus (Candidiasis)
Recently, cases of ‘white fungus’ have been detected in Bihar. White Fungus/ Candidiasis
● Major reasons: Low immunity, patients suffering from diabetes, cancer, unsanitary use of oxygen cylinders, overuse of steroids. ● Affected body parts: Skin, stomach, kidney, brain, genitals, and
mouth besides lungs.
○ The exact mortality rate of the disease is still unknown, though it can be dangerous if the infection reaches the lungs.
● Like the black fungus, the white fungus is also more likely to afflict people with pre-existing medical conditions (diabetes, COPD, cancer, and sleep apnea), AIDS, kidney transplant. ● Treatment: The infection can be diagnosed through CT-Scan or
X-ray. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission
The nodal persons would be trained at state, district, and block-level to tackle the COVID-19 situation in rural areas under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)
● Aim: To uplift the urban poor folks by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.
○ The scheme is the integration of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
● Administered under: Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA).
Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission ● Launched in 2011 as National Rural Livelihoods Mission
(NRLM) but in 2015 renamed as Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM).
● Administered by: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) ● Aim:
○ Creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor.
○ Enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
9 Competition
Commission of India
Recently, the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India
(CCI) has been celebrated.
Competition Commission of India (CCI) ● It is the competition regulator in India. ● Establishment Year: 2003
● It is a statutory body established by an act of Parliament, the Competition Act, 2002.
● Aim: Promoting competition throughout India and preventing activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
● Composition: A Chairperson and 6 other members appointed by the Central Government.
Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007
● This act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises, and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control, and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
World Bee Day Every year, World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20 across the world.
Key Points
● Theme-2021: Bee Engaged - Build Back Better for Bees.
● Importance: On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was born in 1734.
● In 2017, the UN Member States approved Slovenia’s proposal to proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day.
● Objective: Acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators in the ecosystem.
○ Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems.
○ Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.
○ Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity. ● Aim: Protecting bees and other pollinators, which would
significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating hunger in developing countries.
10 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has mentioned that the pension Assets Under Management (AUM) have crossed the ₹6-lakh crore mark.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) ● Founded in: 2003
● Headquarters: New Delhi
● It is the pension regulatory body that works under the Ministry of Finance.
● It is a statutory body established by an act of Parliament.
● Aim: To promote, develop and regulate the pension sector in India. ● Composition: A chairperson and not more than 6 members.
● The National Pension System is regulated by the PFRDA. ○ It was notified in 2003 and came into existence in 2004. ○ It is a voluntary pension system.
■ Beneficiaries: All citizens of the country including employees of the central government, state governments and employees of private institutions/organizations, self-employed professionals, and others in the unorganized sector.
A-76 (World’s Largest Iceberg)
Recently, European Space Agency (ESA) mentioned that the world's biggest iceberg, named A-76, has formed after breaking off from Antarctica.
Key Points
● This iceberg is larger than the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca).
● The mass of ice is about 170 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide. ○ The iceberg is now floating in the Weddell Sea after breaking
away from the Ronne Ice Shelf in northwest Antarctica. ● Reasons: Global Warming
● Threats: Sudden rise in sea water level.
11 Antarctica
● It is Earth's southernmost continent. ○ fifth-largest continent
○ In size, it is near twice the size of Australia ● Population: Least populated.
● Geography:
○ Location: Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
○ About 98% of Antarctica’s landmass is covered by ice. ● Longest River: Onyx.
● Largest Lake: Vostok, is one of the largest subglacial lakes in the world.
● Treaty: The continent is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System.
○ Signed in: 1959 by 38 countries. ○ Focus Areas:
■ Prohibits military activities, mineral mining, nuclear explosions, and nuclear waste disposal. ■ It supports scientific research and protects the
continent's ecology.
Image Courtesy: Britannica
