NASA has recently launched a next-generation satellite Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1), designed to monitor weather around the world and help improve forecasts.
It is a joint venture between the US space agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US scientific agency.
It will orbit the Earth 14 times each day from one pole to the other at 512 miles above the planet.
It is the first in NOAA's series of four, next-generation operational environmental satellites used for severe weather prediction and environmental monitoring.
Four smaller satellites called CubeSats, part of NASA's educational nano-satellite program, are to be released on the same mission.
Parasitic Plants
Scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic flowering plant belongs to the species “Gleadovia konyakianorum” in the Nagaland State.
Parasitic plant obtains all or part of its nutrition from another plant (the host) without contributing to the benefit of the host and, in some cases, causing extreme damage to the host.
The structural feature of a parasitic plant is the haustorium, a specialized organ that penetrates the host and forms a vascular union between the plants.
They lack chlorophyll and photosynthetic capacity.
It differ from plants such as climbing vines, lianas, epiphytes, and aerophytes, which use other plants simply as a structure to grow rather than as a source of water or nutrients.
All parasitic plant species are angiosperms (flowering plants).
Gleadovia konyakianorum
The species is named in honour of the Konyak tribe of Nagas.
It is a holoparasite [complete parasite] that derives its entire nutritional requirement from the host plant, which is a Strobilanthes species.
The plant was found in the semi-evergreen forest at an altitude of 1,500-1,600 metres,
This is only the fourth species from the genus Gleadovia to be found in the world.
The other three are Gleadovia banerjiana (discovered in Manipur), Gleadovia mupinense (found in China) and Gleadovia ruborum (discovered in Uttarakhand and also reported from China).
Veto in the UNSC
Russia has recently cast its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block the renewal of a probe to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
A draft resolution put forward by Japan would have extended the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) on chemical weapons attack.
The UN Security Council is composed of 15 Members.
The five permanent members are China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
Present ten non-permanent members (with end of term date) are Egypt (2017), Italy (2017), Japan (2017), Senegal (2017), Ukraine (2017), Uruguay (2017) Bolivia (2018), Ethiopia (2018), Kazakhstan (2018), Sweden (2018).
In this draft resolution, 12 council members (3 permanent members & 9 non-permanent members) voted in favor of the measure. China abstained, while Bolivia voted no.
Hunter’s Syndrome
Researchers have recently successfully attempted gene editing inside the human body to correct a defect in the DNA that causes Hunter’s syndrome.
It is a disorder where the body can’t break down sugar that builds bones, skin, tendons and other tissue.
These sugars can build up and damage the body.
It appears in children as young as 18 months. It mainly occurs in boys, although very rarely it has been observed in girls.
There's no cure for Hunter syndrome.
Baal Utsav
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has celebrated Baal Utsav as part of Hausla-2017.
Hausla-2017 is a week long festival for children living in Child Care Institutions across the country
It is being celebrated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi.
The main objective of the programme was to promote child participation and showcase their talents in other creative activities.
