India’s National Technology Day (May 11) has been observed. 

About National Technology Day

• It is celebrated each year to commemorate the successful nuclear tests (Operation Shakti) conducted in Pokhran, Rajasthan, in 1998 and maiden flight of the indigenously developed Hansa-3 aircraft.
  • These were India's second such tests after the 1974 nuclear tests (Smiling Buddha) conducted at Pokhran.
  • Significance of Pokhran Tests: These tests marked India’s emergence as a nuclear power, showcasing its scientific and technological prowess.

In Maharashtra’s Kadbanwadi grassland, the already endangered Indian grey wolf is now at an added risk from dog attacks.

About the Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

• The Indian grey wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent.
  • Itoccupies a top predator niche in arid and semi-arid open plains and grasslands of India.
• Behavior: It travels in smaller packs and is less vocal than other variants of the Grey wolf.
• Protection status:
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• Threats: Loss of grasslands to agriculture and industrial expansion, modification of habitats, depletion of its natural prey and disease spread through feral dogs.

An infructescence of about 4.2 metres has been recorded in a species of wild banana Musa indandamanensis, making it the longest infructescence recorded in bananas.

• Infructescence is a group or cluster of fruits arranged on an axis/stem that is composed of a main stalk, and often having a complex arrangement of branches. 

About Musa indandamanensis

• Discovery: First recorded from a remote tropical forest near Krishna Nala reserve forest in the Andaman and Nicobar islands in 2012.
• Characteristics: 
  • It bears unique green flowers and fruit bunch lux (axis) thrice the size of a regular banana species. 
  • It is about 11 metres high, whereas the usual banana species is about three to four metres high.
• Benefits: It can provide natural genetic resource for plant breeders to develop high yielding and disease resistant varieties.

NASA announced that there are small chances that YR4 could collide with the moon in 2032.

About Asteroid YR4

• Discovered using Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) (located in Chile).
  • ATLAS comprises several telescopes around the world. 
• It is a near-earth asteroid.

About Asteroids

• These are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system.
  • These are often referred as called minor planets. 
• Most asteroids can be found orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. 
• Near-Earth Asteroids have orbits that pass close by that of Earth. 
  • Asteroids that actually cross Earth's orbital path are known as Earth-crossers.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is reconsidering the concept of safe harbour for social media platforms.

safe harbour

• Safe harbour: It is a legal concept that protects individual websites that allow third party users to share content from legal liability for any unlawful posts.
• Need: As a key safeguard to encourage innovation online and prevent website owners from being unfairly hounded for content they had no hand in publishing. 
• Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000: Grants intermediaries such protections in India.
  • But if an intermediary receives “actual knowledge” of illegal content on their website, they lose liability protections if they don’t work to take content down within a certain time period.

A groundbreaking Study has offered hope in treating Lafora Disease.

About Lafora disease

• It is a rare, lethal and serious genetic disorder that affects the brain and nervous system.
• It belongs to a group of conditions known as autosomal recessive progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME).
  • These diseases cause seizures, loss of motor skills, and mental decline.
• Genetic Factor: Caused by mutations in the EPM2A or EPM2B (NHLRC1) genes.
• Prevalence: Mainly found in regions where consanguineous marriages (marriage between close relatives) are more common.
  • Particularly in Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, France), Northern Africa, the Middle East, and in some regions of Southern India.

Declaration on Disaster Preparedness has been adopted at the 4th Ministerial Conference of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

About Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), 2009

• It is an intergovernmental body that provides early warning services, disaster risk reduction strategies, and capacity building to its Member States.
  • It evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, to establish a regional early warning system.
• Membership: It has 22 member states and 26 collaborating states.
• It operates from its regional early warning center located at Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand.

Study finds geotubing at Poonthura, Thiruvananthapuram effective in controlling coastal erosion.

About Geotubing

• Geotubes are large, permeable fabric tubes filled with dredged materials or other hydraulically filled materials.
  • Geotextile fabric allows water to escape while retaining the solid particles, making them effective for dewatering purposes and retaining soil from erosions.
• These tubes are constructed from high-strength, permeable materials, typically polypropylene woven geotextile, ensuring durability and resistance to environmental factors.
• Significance: Controls erosion, reduces wave impact, and promotes beach stabilization.