Hayflick Limit

About Hayflick Limit:

• Discovery: In the early 1960s, Hayflick discovered that cell division in somatic (non-reproductive) cells stopped after roughly 40-60 times. 
• Reason for Aging: This cessation in cell division is what Hayflick posited causes aging — as senescent cells (those that have stopped dividing) accumulate, one’s body begins to age and decline.
• In Built Clock: This means that there is an in-built cellular clock in the human body (and that of other organisms) which determines how long one can live. 
• Maximum Limit: This “ultimate Hayflick limit”, as scientists have termed it, is around 125 years for humans
• Beyond this no amount of diet, exercise, or even genetic tweaking against diseases can extend the human lifespan
• Various animals Limits: Hayflick’s discovery has been applied to cells from various animals, revealing different Hayflick limits based on species’ lifespans.
  • Example:  Galapagos turtles have cells that can divide approximately 110 times, whereas laboratory mice have a much lower limit of around 15 divisions.
• Significance of the Discovery: Hayflick’s discovery fundamentally changed the understanding of aging — especially the thesis that cells are capable of being immortal
  • Ageing is simply a factor of externalities such as disease, diet, and solar radiation.

About Telomeres:

• Discovery: In the 1970s, researchers discovered telomeres, which are repetitive Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) sequences at the end of chromosomes that protect them during cell division. 
• Eventually, the telomere loss reaches a critical point at which cell division ends.
• Ageing: While shortening telomeres is related to aging, the exact relationship between telomere length and lifespan remains unclear. 
  • For Example: Lab mice have telomeres that are five times longer than humans, but their lives are 40 times shorter.
• Critics: This is what has led to some researchers arguing that telomere loss and the Hayflick limit are not limits on aging, but rather symptoms of ageing

Nipun Munition

About Nipun:

• Location: At Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pashan, Pune
• Development: NIPUN is a Soft Target Munition designed and developed by the ARDE in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune.
• Nipun is known for being highly user-friendly and deadly effective against enemy targets.

India’s GI-tagged agro-product Figs

About Purandar figs: 

• Purandar figs are known for their unique tastes and textures. 
• It has high pulp content and a rich source of vitamins & minerals. Moreover, it has an excellent sweet taste, an attractive violet colour.
• Reason: The Specialties are attributed to the climatic factors, red-black soil & Salt-free well irrigation technique followed in the Region.

Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube

About Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube

• This cube is a part of the broader initiative named “Project BHISHM” – Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri, 
• It is tailored to treat up to 200 casualties, emphasizing rapid response and comprehensive care. 
• Features: The Aid Cube is equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies. 
  • Advanced Technology: It integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in the field.
  • Beneficial for Emergency: These cubes are robust, waterproof, and light, designed for various configurations, making them ideal for diverse emergency scenarios. 
  • Rapid Deployment: From airdrops to ground transportation, the cube can be rapidly deployed anywhere, ensuring immediate response capability.
    • Aid Cube stands out with its ability to be deployed within an astonishing 12 minutes.
  • Advanced medical equipment: RFID-tagged for efficient repacking and redeployment
  • The state-of-the-art BHISHM software system integrated into a provided tablet allows operators to locate items quickly, monitor their usage and expiry, and ensure readiness for subsequent deployments.

Waterspout

About Waterspout:

• A waterspout is a large column of air and mist rotating over a water body. 
• It is a weaker cousin of tornadoes and typically lasts for around five minutes — occasionally it can last up to 10 minutes. 
• The average waterspout can be around 165 feet in diameter, with wind speeds of 100 kilometres per hour. 
  • On the other hand, the largest tornado path widths can exceed one mile. The usual diameter of a tornado is between 50 and 1,000 m (average ~ 100 m)
• Reason for Formation: Although waterspouts are more common in tropical waters, they can appear anywhere. 
  • They occur when there are high levels of humidity and relatively warm water temperatures compared to the overlying air.
• Types of waterspouts: There are two types of waterspouts: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts.
  • Tornadic waterspouts: They are actual tornadoes that form over water or move from land to water. 
    • They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning
  • Fair-weather waterspouts: These are much more common, form over only water. 
    • As their name suggests, they are formed during fair weather. They are less dangerous and usually small.
• Frequency Increasing: as ocean temperatures are soaring, the frequency of waterspouts is increasing.
  • Currently, the sea surface in the region of Sicily is about 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1990-2020 average