NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope observed the symbiotic system HM Sagittae (HM Sge) in Milky Way Galaxy.

About Symbiotic System:

• It is a type of binary star system that consists of a white dwarf and a red giant.
  • White dwarf is what stars become after they have exhausted their nuclear fuel. 
  • Red giant is a dying star in the final stages of stellar evolution.  
• Here, the cooler red giant loses material which flows onto the hotter compact dwarf star. 
  • The stolen material forms an accretion disk swirling around the white dwarf.

Empowered Programme Committee of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) has approved 7 startup proposals under the GREAT scheme.

About GREAT Scheme

• Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) is part of Research, Development, and Innovation Component of NTTM.  
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles  
• Grant-in-aid: Normally up to INR 50 Lakhs for a period of 18 months.
• Objectives: Utilizing the talent pool and expertise of India in Technical Textiles sector to bring innovative products/technologies to the market.

UN declared 2024 as International Year of Camelids (members of camel family) to build awareness of untapped potential of camelids.

About Camel

• Camels are found in Africa and Asia.
• Characteristics: Domesticated by people, Mammals, Herbivores, survive in hot conditions (Draught animal).
• Types of camel: Dromedary or Arabian camel (single hump) and Bactrian camel (two humps).
• Camels in India
  • State animal of Rajasthan.
  • Kharai Camel swim long distances (3 km at a time) in sea to eat Mangroves; found in Kutch (Gujarat).
  • Bactrian camels are found in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley.
  • Dromedaries camel are found in hot deserts (Rajasthan, Gujarat). 

South America’s Pantanal wetlands is grappling with devastating wildfires.

Pantanal Wetland

• It is the world’s largest tropical wetland, spread across three countries: Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
• It comprises a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve and two Ramsar sites.
• It is a seasonal floodplain, flooded by waters of Paraguay River System.
• Home to South America’s highest concentration of some wildlife species such as jaguar and caiman.
• Less than 5% of Pantanal is protected and around 95% is under private ownership. 
• Threats: Cattle grazing, untreated waste pollution, pesticide runoff, unsustainable infrastructure development, etc.

Armenia joins as the 43rd signatory nation to NASA's Artemis Accords for lunar exploration.

Artemis Accords

• Established in 2020 by NASA, in coordination with the US Department of State, together with seven other founding member nations (Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, UAE, and UK).
• Presently, there are 43 signatories including India.
• Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in 21st century.
• Vision: Peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation in space.

Recently, a Hyderabad-based information insights and data analytics company has come up with ZKP blockchain technology in country for the first time. 

About ZKP

• It is a cryptographic protocol that enables users to demonstrate their knowledge or validity of specific information without revealing the underlying documents or facts that support it.
• Benefits: 
  • Safeguard information in event of a cyber-breach.
  • Ability to assist businesses in meeting stringent requirements of data protection regulations.
  • Facilitate secure sharing of personal documents.

The Centre approved the Uttarakhand government’s proposal for renaming the Joshimath tehsil in Chamoli district to Jyotirmath, and Kosiyakutoli tehsil in Nainital district to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham.

About Jyotirmath

• It is one of the four cardinal mathas established by 8^th century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya across India to promote Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
• It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya performed penance in Jyotirmath under a tree known as Amar Kalpavriksha. 
• It is also known as winter abode of Lord Badrinath. 

• It is a base camp for mountaineers attempting to climb Nanda Devi peak.

Odisha has opened all four doors Shree Jagannath Temple for devotees.

About Shree Jagannath Temple

• Located in Puri, Odisha, and also called as White Pagoda.
• Dedicated to Lord Jagannath (incarnation of Lord Vishnu), sister Devi Subhadra and elder brother Lord Balabhadra (holy trinity).
• Constructed by Ganga Dynasty King Ananta Verman Chodaganga Deva. 
• One of the four Char Dhams (Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar) for pilgrimages in India. 
• Architecture style: Kalinga Architecture.
  • It has four component parts consisting of Vimana or Deula (Garbhagriha), Jagamohana, Natamandapa and Bhogamandapa.
  • Architectural style of temple is a combination of two types of temple structures, i. e. Rekha and Pidha.