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1. A study by the University of Glasgow explored aphantasia, a condition where individuals cannot visualize images in their mind. First noted by Francis Galton in the 1880s, the term "aphantasia" was coined in 2015 by neurologist Adam Zeman. Affecting about 2% of the population, its causes and implications are still being researched. In contrast, hyperphantasia refers to individuals with exceptionally vivid mental imagery, experiencing images as though they were real.
2. India’s GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite was successfully launched by SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite was placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), a step toward reaching a geostationary orbit (GSO). At apoapsis, the spacecraft fires its engine to circularize the orbit. This marks India’s first collaboration with SpaceX. The satellite, owned by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, is the second demand-driven satellite, following GSAT-24 launched in June 2022. NSIL is responsible for launching and operating satellites to meet user service needs.
3. Carbon has several allotropes with unique properties. Graphite is soft, conducts electricity, and is used as a lubricant. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, holds potential in electronics, energy storage, and biomedical fields. Diamond is the hardest natural material, an excellent thermal conductor, but does not conduct electricity. Fullerene, including Buckminsterfullerene, features a cage-like structure and is used in semiconductors and lubricants. Carbon Nanotubes, rolled graphene sheets, have applications in electronics, medical fields, and energy storage. Amorphous Carbon includes non-crystalline forms like charcoal and soot. Each allotrope serves diverse technological purposes.
4. The "One Day One Genome" initiative, launched by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) on its foundation day at the National Institute of Immunology (NII) in New Delhi, aims to showcase India's microbial diversity. The initiative will release a fully annotated bacterial genome from India daily, providing detailed summaries, infographics, and genome data. Coordinated by BRIC-NIBMG, it seeks to advance understanding of microbes, improving waste management, crop yields, and antimicrobial treatments. Genome sequencing, involving DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation, and sequencing, plays a key role in understanding microbial functions in the environment, agriculture, and human health.
5. The Coffee Board of India has launched a 10-year roadmap to double the country's coffee production and exports by 2034. Key highlights include establishing 100 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to support growers, identifying 10,000 small farmers to grow specialty coffee for export, and setting up 10,000 coffee kiosks, mainly run by women entrepreneurs, to boost domestic consumption. The plan aims to nearly triple coffee production from 3.7 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 to 9 lakh tonnes by 2047. India, which produces Arabica and Robusta coffee, is the 8th largest grower, with coffee exports reaching USD 1.19 billion by August 2024.