Samples from Asteroid Bennu

Context: Two analyses of the rock and dust samples retrieved by NASA from the asteroid Bennu were published in two separate journals recently.

Key Findings from the Analysis

• 1st Analysis: It was published in the journal Nature Astronomy,
  • The study found that the samples contained a diverse mixture of organic compounds. 
• 2nd Analysis: It was published in the journal Nature,
  • It was found that the samples contained minerals formed when brine (salty water) evaporated on Bennu’s parent body.
    • It is the type of wet environment where prebiotic organic chemistry may have brewed.
• Presence of Amino Acids: 14 of the 20 organic compounds called amino acids (used to make proteins) were found in the samples.
  • Proteins are complex molecules that play indispensable roles in the structure, function and regulation of living organisms. 
• Presence of Genetic Components: All  the five nucleobases (the genetic components of DNA and RNA in all life on Earth) were also found in the samples.
• Significance:
  • Supports Theory of Emergence of Life: The Bennu samples analysis supports the theory that asteroids and their fragments seeded the early Earth with the raw ingredients that led to the emergence of life
  • ExtraTerrestrial Life: Since chemical building blocks of life can be formed in space and are widespread throughout the solar system, the chances of extraterrestrial life is real.

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About Asteroid Bennu

• Bennu is a small carbon rich asteroid that passes close to Earth about every six years. 
  • Origin: Asteroid Bennu is a fragment of its larger icy parent body which may have formed in the outer solar system and was later destroyed, possibly 1-2 billion years ago.
• NASA Mission OSIRIS-REx:  Asteroid Bennu was the target of NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-REx launched in 2020
  • The samples were delivered to Earth in 2023 by parachute inside a capsule released by OSIRIS-REx that landed in the Utah desert.

Low-Sodium Salt in place of table salt: WHO

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines recommending the use of lower-sodium salt  substitutes that contain potassium  in place of regular salt. 

Key recommendations from WHO

• Primary Advice: Replace regular table salt with lower-sodium salt substitutes (containing potassium chloride, KCl).
• Goal: Reduce global sodium intake to less than 2 grams/day to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Why is Reducing Salt Important?

• Salt affects human physiology because sodium and water move together in the body.
• High salt intake leads to water retention, increasing blood volume and raising blood pressure.
• Reducing salt lowers blood pressure, improving heart health and preventing strokes.

Risks of high salt intake 

• High salt intake is linked to 1.9 million deaths worldwide each year.
• Excess sodium contributes to heart disease, kidney disease, and even gastric cancer.
• Reducing sodium helps lower blood pressure, reducing risks of major health issues.

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PolyCycl’s Chemical Recycling Technology

Context: An indigenous patented chemical recycling technology to address the plastic waste problem has been launched recently.

• The technology is launched by a Chandigarh-based startup PolyCycl 

About the Technology

• It is an indigenous patented innovation enabling the conversion of single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics into food-grade polymers, renewable chemicals, and sustainable fuels.
• PolyCycl’s Technology: The technology offers a closed-loop recycling solution combining its patented ContiFlow Cracker™ (a fully continuous thermo-chemical pyrolysis process) with PyOilClean™ refining technology.
• The Process:
  • Waste plastics are broken down into liquified hydrocarbon oils, which is further purified to remove contaminants.
  • Recycling: The resulting chemical feedstocks can be used by petrochemical and hydrocarbon industries to produce new low-carbon materials, including circular polymers.
• Significance: The technology allows circularity by continuously recycling without any loss in quality and preventing commonly used plastics, such as polyolefin packaging, from ending up in landfills or incinerators.
  • India generates over 10.2 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with over 40 per cent being single-use plastics such as grocery bags and flexible packaging.
• Features:
  • Scalability: The modular processing lines are capable of handling 15 to 100 tonnes per day of plastic waste
  • Commercially Attractive: The technology delivers an EBITDA (operating profit) exceeding 50 per cent.
  • Supporting India’s EPR Targets: It produces virgin-quality recycled polymers that meet the stringent standards required for food-contact and pharmaceutical packaging
    • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Target: It mandates 10 per cent of flexible packaging and 30 per cent of rigid plastic packaging must contain recycled content by 2025-26.
  • Conversion Rates: The technology has a 65-75 per cent plastic waste conversion rates validated by multiple global petrochemical companies.

Approval for Projects to Mitigate Disasters such as Lightning, Forest Fires and Drought.

Context: A high-level committee headed by the Union Home Minister has approved ₹3,027.86 crore worth projects to mitigate disasters such as lightning and drought. 

The Approved Projects

• Projects for Catalytic Assistance for Drought: The committee approved Catalytic Assistance to 49 districts of 12 most drought-prone States at a total outlay of ₹2,022.16 crore.
  • Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
• The Mitigation Project on Lightning Safety: Projects for mitigating lightning strikes and safety is approved in 10 States  at a total outlay of ₹186.78 crore.
  •  Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• Scheme for Forest Fire Risk Management: It was approved for implementation in 144 high-priority districts in 19 States at a total outlay of ₹818.92 crore
  • Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttarakhand 
  • Objective: To implement a mitigation project for transforming the forest fire management approach and to strengthen and support vital forest fire prevention and mitigation activities.
• Funding for all the projects (central government’s share) will be provided from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).

MoU signed with Bhashini for Multi-lingual Governance

Context: The Government of Tripura, has signed a MOU agreement with Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India,

About New MOU

• The MOU signing ceremony was held at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala, during a State Level Workshop– ‘Bhashini Rajyam” 
• Objective of the MoU
• • Promote Regional Languages: Increase usage of Tripura’s native languages (e.g., Kokborok) in governance and digital platforms.
  • Bridge Digital Divide: Enable citizens, especially rural/tribal populations, to access digital services in their local languages.

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About Bhashini Initiative

• It is India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) led language translation platform.
• Launched: August 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Name Meaning: “Bhashini” stands for “Bhasha Interface for India”, reflecting its focus on India’s linguistic diversity.
• Managed by: Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD), an Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
• Developed by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• Primary Goal: Enable seamless translation of digital content across 22 Indian languages to reduce language barriers and promote inclusive communication.
• Key Features:
  • Real-time translation between Indian languages and English.
  • AI & NLP Tools: Speech-to-text, text-to-speech, voice-to-voice translation.
  • Focus on voice-based solutions to tackle literacy challenges.

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