UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 20-09-2024

Advanced PAP (A-PAP) pen, paper based device sensing contaminants

Scientists have recently developed fabricating paper-based devices using an Advanced PAP (A-PAP) pen.

• An Advanced PAP (A-PAP) pen is a hydrophobic barrier pen used in laboratory applications to draw barriers on glass slides to confine the flow of reagents.
• A-PAP pen offers a practical alternative to conventional sensing methods that necessitate specialized equipment and expertise making it suitable for resource-limited settings.
• PAP pen that does not require any machinery or heating/drying steps and adopts a DIY approach.
• Recent analysis - Using the A-PAP pen, the fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) paper-based devices for chemical detection of heavy metal and nitrite can be done.
• The versatility of fabrication technique for biological sensing using 2D lateral flow paper-based devices for the detection of dopamine can be done.
• Furthermore, the technique is also validated for fabricating complex three-dimensional (3D) paper-based devices using a paper origami technique for heavy metals sensing.
• The omission of the heating/drying step thereby enabling the rapid fabrication in around 10 seconds with superior contact angle suitable for testing and sensing applications.
• Benefits - This technique provides a valuable tool for creating affordable, efficient, and accessible chemical and biological testing solutions.
• Its versatility extends to fabricating simple and complex devices like lateral-flow-based and 3D origami devices.

Paper-based devices

• It is also known as paper-based analytical devices (PADs) or microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs).
• They are made by patterning paper to create channels and barriers, and can be used with a variety of detection methods.
• These are analytical tools that use paper to perform a variety of tasks
• Detection - PADs can detect biological analytes associated with disease, such as glucose, or foodborne pathogens.
• Monitoring - PADs can monitor environmental, health, and food issues.
• Diagnosis - PADs can be used for clinical diagnosis.
• Drug development - PADs can be used in drug development.
• PADs are inexpensive, portable, and disposable.

Reference

PIB | Advanced PAP (A-PAP) pen

Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has recently approved the development of Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM).

• The Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) is a planned mission to study the surface and atmosphere of Venus.
• Agency - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Aim – It aims for scientific exploration and for better understanding of Venusian atmosphere, geology and generate large amount of science data probing into its thick atmosphere.
• The mission is expected to be accomplished during March 2028.
• By studying Venus, Indian scientists hope to unlock answers to key questions about planetary evolution, particularly Venus, despite its similarities to Earth, developed so differently.
• By studying Venus, scientists hope to uncover how planetary environments can evolve differently despite similar beginnings.

Venus

• Venus is the 2^nd planet from the Sun Earth's closest planetary neighbor.
• Size - Venus is the sixth largest planet and is similar in size to Earth.
• Due to its similar size and composition, Venus is often referred to as Earth's "twin”.
• Temperature - Venus is believed to have once harbored conditions suitable for life.
• However, the planet underwent a dramatic transformation, evolving into an extremely hostile environment with surface temperatures exceeding 450°C and an atmosphere filled with toxic gases.
• Venus's dense atmosphere creates an intense greenhouse effect, trapping heat and making it the hottest planet in the solar system.
• NASA explained that its surface temperatures are so extreme that they can melt lead.
• Beneath the thick, perpetual clouds, the planet features volcanic landscapes and distorted mountain ranges.
• Distance from the Sun - Venus is said to orbit the Sun at an average distance of 67 million miles (108 million kilometres), or 0.72 astronomical units (AU).

1 AU represents the distance between Earth and the Sun.

• At this range, sunlight takes about 6 minutes to reach Venus.
• Moons- Venus is one of only two planets in our solar system without a moon, but it does have a quasi-satellite called Zoozve.

References

1. PIB | Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)
2. Economic Times | Venus Orbiter Mission

Antimatter

• Antimatter is the twin of almost all the subatomic particles that make up the universe.
• The matter in universe comes in many forms like solids, liquids, gasses, and plasmas.
• These forms of matter all consist of subatomic particles that give matter its mass and volume.

• These particles include protons and neutrons (also known as baryons), electrons and neutrinos (also known as leptons), and a variety of other particles in the Standard Model of Particle Physics.
• Protons and neutrons are themselves made up of particles known as quarks and gluons.
• But matter can have an opposite in the form of antimatter.
• All the subatomic particles in matter either have their own anti-twins (antiquarks, antiprotons, antineutrons, and antileptons such as antielectrons).
• These anti-particles can combine to form anti-atoms and, in principle, could even form anti-matter regions of the universe.
• Antimatter is made up of special particles that are like opposites to the ones in regular matter, having opposite electrical charges.
• In antimatter, there are antiparticles like positrons (positively charged electrons).
• When antimatter particles meet their matching matter particles, they cancel each other out, releasing a lot of energy.
• Antimatter is rare in the observable universe, but scientists find it in places with lots of energy, like cosmic rays and certain experiments in labs.
• British physicist Paul Dirac predicted antimatter in 1928 while trying to combine quantum mechanics, which describes subatomic particles, and Einstein's theory of relativity.
• Positrons were discovered by American California Institute of Technology physicist Carl Anderson.
• Dirac and Anderson received the Nobel Prize in physics for their work on this discovery in 1933 and in 1936 respectively.
• Humans have created antimatter particles using ultra-high-speed collisions at huge particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider, located outside Geneva and operated by CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research.
• Several experiments at CERN create antihydrogen, the antimatter twin of the element hydrogen.
• The most complex antimatter element produced to date is antihelium, the counterpart to helium.

References

1. Dept of Energy | Antimatter
2. Live Science | Anti matter

Bio-RIDE Scheme

The Union Cabinet approved the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme to support cutting-edge research and development in biotechnology.

• The 2 umbrella schemes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) and
  • Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED) merged as one scheme-‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio- RIDE)’.
• It is merged with a new component, ‘Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry’.
• Aim - To accelerate research, enhance product development, and bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications.
• It is designed to foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s position as a global leader in biomanufacturing and biotechnology.

• Components of Bio-RIDE
  • Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D).
  • Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED).
  • Biomanufacturing and Bio foundry (a new component).
• Nodal ministry- The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Implementation – During the 15^th Finance Commission period (2021-2026).
• Key Features
  • Promote Bio-Entrepreneurship- Seed funding, incubation, and mentorship for startups.
  • Advance Innovation- Grants and incentives for cutting-edge research in areas like synthetic biology, biopharmaceuticals, bioenergy, and bioplastics.
  • Facilitate Industry-Academia collaboration- Strengthen partnerships between academic institutions, research organizations, and industry to commercialize biotech products.
  • Encourage sustainable biomanufacturing- Focus on environmentally sustainable practices aligned with India's green goals.
  • Support researchers- Extramural funding for researchers in biotechnology fields like agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
  • Nurture human resources- Develop skilled manpower through holistic support and capacity building in biotechnology.

References

1. PIB | Bio-RIDE scheme
2. Business Standard | Bio-RIDE scheme

Spotted deer

Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh faces Habitat Strain recently due to Spotted Deer Overpopulation.

• The chital deer, also known as the spotted deer, chital deer, or axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Scientific Name - Axis axis.
• Family - Cervidae.
• Size - 35 inches tall and weighs about 187 pounds.
• Distribution - The major area of their distribution is Sri Lanka and India, though they are introduced to USA and Australia as well.
• Habitat - is found in large numbers in dense deciduous or semievergreen forests and open grasslands.
• Appearance - The deer’s golden-rufus coloring is speckled with white spots, and it has a white underbelly.
• Its curved, three-pronged antlers extend nearly 3 feet and shed each year.
• Diet – They are herbivores, they feed upon tall grass and shrubs.
• Breeding - The spotted deer has a prolonged mating season, as the perpetually warm climate allows females to remain fertile and to give birth to fawns any time of year.
• It is a social animal, usually occurs in herds of 10 to 50 individuals.

• Conservation status
  • IUCN – Least concern.
  • Not listed in CITES.
  • WPA, 1972 - Schedule III.

Reference

Deccan chronicle | Spotted Deer