IIT Bombay develops India’s first Quantum Diamond Microscope under the National Quantum Mission.

About Quantum Diamond Microscope

• Technology: Uses nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond to image magnetic fields at nanoscale resolution at room temperature.
• Applications: Enables advanced research in neuroscience, materials science and non-destructive semiconductor testing.
• Significance: Secures India’s first patent in quantum sensing and strengthens national capabilities in frontier instrumentation.

Recent reports highlight the use of FTIR spectroscopy as a rapid and effective tool for detecting material evidence in post-blast forensic investigations.

About Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

• It is a technique used to analyze materials by measuring how they absorb infrared light. 
• It uses a special device called an interferometer to record data, which is then processed by a computer to make a graph (called a spectrum).
• Significance: non-destructive (preserve sample); require minimal material, provides both qualitative & quantitative data etc.
• Applications: Commonly used across fields such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, environmental analysis, and forensics.

Scientists in Thailand discovered a rare spider that is half-female and half-male (gynandromorphism) named Damarchus inazuma.

About Gynandromorphism

• It is an abnormal reproductive condition in which both female and male characteristics are displayed in the same individual.
• It is most frequently recognized in organisms that have strong sexual dimorphism such as certain butterflies, spiders and birds.
• Cause: It is typically an event in mitosis during early development. 
  • One of the dividing cells does not split its sex chromosomes, producing mixed male/female cell lines.

DNA Identification/profiling used to identify suspects or victims at Red fort blast site.

DNA Identification

• It is a technique used to identify individuals by analyzing unique patterns in their DNA. 

Key Methods 

• Short Tandem Repeat (STR): Examines short repeating DNA sequences in the nucleus. 
• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Used if nuclear DNA is degraded. mtDNA is abundant and maternally inherited, allowing matches with maternal relatives.
• Y Chromosome: Focuses on STRs on the Y chromosome, inherited father to son. Identifies male victims by matching paternal male relatives.
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs): Used for highly degraded DNA. 
  • SNPs are single-base differences unique to individuals, matched with personal items like toothbrushes.

Recently terror attacks were averted related to Ricin poison and Ammonium Nitrate.

About Ricin

• It is a protein found naturally in castor beans and can be made from waste residue of castor beans.
• Lethal poison: Even 1 mg mixed in food can kill an adult. There is no antidote or specific treatment for ricin poisoning.
• It works by getting inside the cells of a person's body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need.

Ammonium Nitrate

• Pure ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white, water-soluble, crystalline substance with a melting point of 170°C.
• It is not explosive by itself. However, it is one of the ingredients used for the manufacture of explosives.

‘Plant Genome Saviour Awards Ceremony’ was held to celebrate 25 years of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FRA) Act, 2001.

About PPV&FRA Act, 2001

• Objectives: To establish an effective protection system for plant varieties, farmers' and breeders' rights; encourage new variety development and seed industry growth.
• It recognizes following rights:
  • Farmers’ rights: Registration and protection of new, farmers', and extant varieties; rewards for conservation. 
  • Researchers’ rights: Use of any registered variety for experiments. 
  • Breeders’ rights: Exclusive rights to produce, sell, import or export etc.
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA): Established in 2005 as a statutory body under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Functions: Registration of new plant varieties, national gene bank etc.

Auroras were witnessed in Northern America, Australia etc. due to a cannibal solar storm.

• A cannibal solar storm happens when a faster solar storm catches up with an earlier storm, resulting in a stronger storm, affecting GPS and power systems.

About Aurora

• An aurora is a natural light display in the night sky, usually only appearing in lower Polar Regions.
• They occur when high-energy charged particles from the Sun collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere.
  • E.g. Oxygen (green and red light), Nitrogen (blue and purple).
• Near the North Pole, it is called an aurora borealis or northern lights and near the South Pole, it is called aurora australis or the southern lights.

A SEBI-appointed High-Level Committee (HLC), under the chairmanship of Pratyush Sinha recommended stronger rules to prevent conflicts of interest among top officials within SEBI.

Key Recommendations of the Committee

• Mandatory Disclosure: Of assets and liabilities by the Chairperson, whole-time members and senior officers.
• Insider Classification: Top SEBI leadership to be categorised as “insiders” under insider-trading regulations.
• Investment Restrictions: Senior officials and dependent family members allowed investing only through pooled, professionally-managed funds.
• Ethics Oversight: Creation of an Office of Ethics & Compliance, digital disclosure registry, and formal recusal reporting.

• Dedicated whistleblower channel for conflict of interest reporting.