News in Shorts: 14 January 2025

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

Context: A new copper-based catalyst with a “morning star” like Nanostructure has been developed through the controlled growth of copper oxide nanostructures on a sporopollenin template.

• Developed By: Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Published In: The innovation was published in ‘Nanoscale 2024’ 
• Material: The new catalyst has utilized spores (an abundant biomass waste) as a foundation for high-value catalysts.
• Application: The new catalyst formed is useful in organic reactions and can be used in environmental remediation, nanoscale electronics, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

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About Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

• SERS is a highly sensitive technique that enhances the Raman scattering of molecules supported by some nanostructured materials. 
  • It allows for the structural fingerprinting of low-concentration analytes through the plasmon-mediated amplification of electrical fields or chemical enhancement. 
• Material Used: SERS uses nanostructured materials, usually gold or silver  to enhance the Raman scattering of molecules 
• Significance: It provides detailed information about the molecular composition, structure, and environment of the analyzed molecules or analyte.
  • SERS can also detect molecules at very low concentrations, often down to single molecule levels.
• Application: SERS can be used in a vast array of applications like,
  • Biomedicine: SERS has been used to analyze DNA, RNA, cancer markers, bacteria, and viruses
  • Food science: SERS has been used to analyze bacteria on food and food contamination. 
  • Environmental analysis: SERS has been used to analyze toxins, dyes, and pesticides
  • Forensics: SERS has been used to analyze trace evidence from a crime scene
  • Materials Science: SERS is used for analyzing surface properties and molecular compositions

Haj Agreement

Context: India has signed a new Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia establishing a quota of 175,025 pilgrims from India for Haj 2025.

• Quota Allocation for 2025: The Haj quota will be allocated between the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and Haj Group Organizers (HGOs) at a ratio of 70:30.
  • Specifically, 52,507 spots will be available for HGOs.

About Haj Committee of India

• Nodal Ministry: It  is a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Act: It is set up under the provisions of the Haj Committee Act, 2002 
• Aim: It is responsible for making arrangements for the pilgrimage of Muslims for Haj and for matters connected therewith.

About Hajj

• The Hajj pilgrimage is an annual Islamic pilgrimage made to Kaaba in the sacred city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia (the holiest city for Muslims).
• Duty: Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
• Duration: The pilgrimage is performed for a period extending from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
• Pillars of Islam: Performing Hajj is considered as one of the Five Pillars of Islam
  • Other Pillar: Shahadah (oath that one believes there is no god but Allah (God)),  salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving) and sawm (fasting of Ramadan).

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Japan Tsunami advisory for the ring of fire

Context: A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan on January 13 2025

What is the Ring of Fire?

• The Ring of Fire is a large area around the Pacific Ocean that has many volcanoes and earthquakes.
• Shape and Size: It is shaped like a horseshoe and stretches for 40,250 kilometers.
• Countries Affected: It passes through countries like Japan, USA, Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, Russia, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.
• Tectonic Plates: It includes plates like the Pacific, Eurasian, Philippine which often move and collide.
• Volcanic Activity: Most volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are stratovolcanoes (steep-sided volcanoes built by layers of lava and ash).
  • Famous volcanoes in the Ring of Fire : Mount St. Helens in the United States, Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, and Mount Merapi in Indonesia. 
• Natural Resources: The region has rich deposits of minerals, oil, and gas, which contribute to the economies of countries along its coast.
• Why Do Earthquakes Happen in the Ring of Fire?
  • Plate Movements:
    • Tectonic plates move, slide, or collide with each other.
    • The rough edges of the plates get stuck, and when they finally move, earthquakes occur.
  • Earthquakes in Japan: Japan faces earthquakes because four plates—Pacific, Philippine Sea, Okhotsk, and Eurasian—meet near it.

Why Are There Many Volcanoes in the Ring of Fire?

• Subduction Process:
  • Subduction happens when a heavier tectonic plate goes under a lighter plate, creating a trench.
  • The heavy plate melts and turns into magma, which rises to form volcanoes.
• Concentration of Volcanoes: Most subduction zones are in the Ring of Fire, which is why there are so many volcanoes in this region.

Z-Morh Tunnel

Context: Recently the Prime Minister inaugurated the 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district Jammu and Kashmir.

About Z-Morh Tunnel

• Location: The Z-Morh tunnel is a 6.5 km tunnel located near Gagangir village, connecting Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town in Ganderbal district, central Kashmir.
  • It is situated on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Leh highway at an altitude of over 8,500 feet.
• It is named after the Z-shaped road stretch at its construction site.

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Significance of Z-Morh Tunnel

• All-Weather Connectivity: Provides uninterrupted access to Sonamarg and ensures year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh, overcoming challenges of heavy snowfall during winters.
• Boosts Tourism and Logistics: Facilitates tourism in Ladakh and strengthens military logistics by improving road access to Dras, Kargil, and Leh.
• Strategic Military Importance: Enhances troop mobility and supply chains for the Indian Army, reducing reliance on costly air transport for forward positions.
• Border Security Enhancement: Strengthens military readiness against Pakistan in Siachen and China in Eastern Ladakh, addressing regional tensions.