Badis limaakumi

Recently, a new species of fish Badis limaakumi, was discovered in Nagaland.

Background:-

Scientists have recently discovered a new fish species from the Milak River, Nagaland.

About Badis limaakumi:-

Family: Badidae.

Genus: Badis.

Location: Nagaland, Northeast India.

It was found in Nagaland’s Malak River.

Habitat: It is found in various freshwater habitats, including rivers, ponds, and marshes.

Distribution: These fish are primarily found in freshwater bodies across northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Around 25 recognized species, 15 of which are in India.

Naming: it has been named after Limaakum, assistant professor and head of the zoology department at Fazl Ali College, Nagaland.

Unique feature: This fish can change its colour like a chameleon.

It belongs to the often-called Chameleon fish for their ability to rapidly change colors during breeding, camouflage, or stress. (National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD))

Local Names: “Tepdang” and “Sempi,”.

Physical Features:-

It has a large and slender body.

It lacks blotches on its sides and fins and possesses a significant number of lateral-line scales.

Diet: These fish are predatory by nature and primarily feed on small freshwater invertebrates. (Zebrafish)

About Milak River:

Milak River is situated in Mokokchung district in Nagaland, India.

The nearest town to this river is Naga Town.

Main tributary of Milak River is Tsurong.

Hirakud reservoir

High levels of cancer-causing heavy metals such as lead and chromium have been found in eight wetlands in Odisha, including the Hirakud reservoir recently.

Background:-

The findings were recorded in a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports on September 28, 2023.

The selected eight wetlands were: Natural ones such as Chandaneswar, Chilika, Daringbadi, and Koraput as well as constructed ones like Bhadrak, Hirakud, Talcher, and Titlagarh.

The highest concentrations of heavy metal pollutants, lead (51.25 micrograms per gram) and chromium (266 micrograms per gram) were recorded in Hirakud.

Heavy metal pollutants that commonly accumulate in wetlands as a result of human activity include lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel, zinc, manganese, and arsenic. These metals can enter crops through the soil, which are then consumed by humans.

Location: Odisha.

Area: 65,400 ha

River: Mahanadi. (Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL))

The Hirakud reservoir is one of the largest human-made reservoirs in India.

It is built across the Mahanadi River by a combination of earth and modern dams with a total length of almost 26 kilometers.

The reservoir helps regulate the water level of the river.

It thereby moderates the impact of floods in the Mahanadi Delta.

It was designated a Ramsar site in 2021 (COP14 of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands)

Biodiversity: It provides habitat for over 130 bird species and about 54 fish, with one classified as endangered and six others as near-threatened.

Economic significance: 21 fish species are economically important to the region as they provide a total yield of 480 tonnes per year, supporting the livelihoods of over 7,000 fishermen.

The reservoir also produces around 350 megawatts of hydropower.

It also irrigates 436,000 hectares of land.

Tourism: The rich biodiversity and other recreational activities in and around the reservoir make it a popular tourist destination, with over 30,000 tourists visiting annually.

Sastra Ramanujan Prize

The 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize was awarded to Ruixiang Zhang of the University of California, Berkeley.

Background:-

His fundamental work spans analytic number theory, combinatorics, Euclidean harmonic analysis, and geometry.

The prize will be awarded at an International Conference in Number Theory on December 20-22 at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, Ramanujan’s hometown.

About Sastra Ramanujan Prize:-

Established in 2005.

Instituted by: Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA).

Time Period: annual.

Objective: to acknowledge and encourage exceptional achievements in mathematics.

It promotes mathematical research and honors exceptional achievements.

This prize is for outstanding contributions by individuals in areas of mathematics influenced by Indian mathematics great Ramanujan.

Decoration: A cash prize of USD 10,000. (Golden Globes Award)

Age limit: It is presented to individuals aged 32 and below.

The age limit of 32 years is to commemorate the fact that Ramanujan accomplished a phenomenal body of work in this short span.

SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2023 will be awarded to Ruixiang Zhang of the University of California, Berkeley. (Padma awards)

His fundamental work spans analytic number theory, combinatorics, Euclidean harmonic analysis, and geometry.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 was announced recently.

About Nobel Prize in Physics 2023:-

Awarded by: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier. ( Nobel Prize In Physics 2020)

They were awarded for their work in “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.

Attosecond pulses of light offer an unprecedented capability to study rapid electron movements and energy changes within atoms and molecules.

These pulses have revolutionized the field of electrodynamics in matter.

They provide a powerful tool for exploring fundamental processes in physics and chemistry.

These pulses can be used to provide images of the processes inside atoms and molecules.

They have opened new avenues for studying the behavior of electrons within atoms and molecules, revolutionizing the field of electrodynamics in matter.

While Ferenc Kraus is a German Physicist, Anne L’Huillier is from Sweden and Pierre Agostini is an American.

Anne L’Huillier is the fifth woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Significance: The laureates’ contributions have enabled the investigation of processes that are so rapid they were previously impossible to follow.

Application Potentials:-

Blood Sample Analysis: It can revolutionize disease diagnosis, including conditions like lung cancer.

Semiconductor Technologies: The technology can serve as a powerful imaging tool.

Understanding Nature Processes: This can deepen our understanding of complex natural processes, particularly photosynthesis.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

Recently, the Centre declared the National Liberation Front of Tripura, All Tripura Tiger Force, and their factions as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Background:-

The Home Ministry has banned these organizations for five years.

The Ministry said, the government is of the opinion that the activities of NLFT and ATTF are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and that they are unlawful associations.

About the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967:-

It is an anti-terror law aimed at the prevention of unlawful activity and associations in India.

Objective: to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

The Act assigns absolute power to the Central Government.

It can declare an activity as unlawful, by way of an Official Gazette. (Misuse of UAPA)

Applicability: Under the act, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged.

Punishment: The act has the death penalty and life imprisonment as the highest punishments.

Duration of punishment: Under section 43D, police are empowered to detain the accused in police custody for 30 days and in judicial custody for a period of 180 days without the charge sheet.

This duration can be extended further after information to the court.

The Act empowers the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval for the seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.

The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.

Recent Amendment:-

So far the Act has been amended six times and the last one being 2019.

The most recent amendment of the law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 (UAPA2019).

It has made it possible for the Union Government to designate individuals as terrorists without following any formal judicial process.