Published on: May 10, 2024
Snippets : 10 MAY 2024
Snippets : 10 MAY 2024
- Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin, recipients of the 2024 World Food Prize, are honored for their pivotal roles in creating a global seed vault to protect agricultural diversity. Their initiative, initiated around 2004, aimed to safeguard over 6,000 crop varieties from political and environmental threats, contributing significantly to addressing global hunger. They will share a USD 500,000 award for their critical work in advancing crop biodiversity
- The recent study revealed that dice snakes have a unique defense mechanism of faking their own death when attacked by predators, employing a theatrical display that includes oozing “mouthfuls” of blood. These nonvenomous snakes, also known as water snakes, are mainly found in Eurasia, including Egypt, and prefer habitats near water bodies and grasslands. Despite their interesting behavior, they face threats such as habitat loss, pollution, roadkill, persecution, and collection for the pet trade, although their conservation status according to the IUCN Red List is currently “Least Concern.”
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently organized a groundbreaking initiative called the “Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint,” bringing together 15 startups, academia, and research institutions. This collaborative effort focused on deep-tech rapid ideation and solution development to pave the way for a future-ready telecom ecosystem. The initiative aimed to leverage collective strengths, foster holistic solutions, and create market opportunities, with a strong emphasis on advancing towards 6G technology. This pioneering effort reflects DoT’s commitment to nurturing innovation and fostering industry collaboration, positioning India’s telecommunications sector for global leadership in the 5G era and beyond.
- Karnataka is intensifying efforts to tackle the annual loss of 70-75 lives due to lightning strikes, driven partly by climate change. Recent data shows a potential escalation in cases, with 17 incidents reported since April compared to last year’s 66 cases. Most fatalities occur in rural areas, affecting farmers, cattle grazers, fishermen, laborers, and children. Men face a higher risk due to their exposure during outdoor activities. The government is implementing preventive measures, including awareness campaigns and identifying vulnerable regions, particularly in North Karnataka.
- The ‘Bandipur Yuva Mitra’ initiative, launched in 2023 with a focus on villages near the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, has secured a spot in the Indian Book of Records. The program aims to engage local stakeholders for effective conservation by adopting a learning-by-exploring approach for underprivileged students. It involves over 800 government schools, 30 colleges, benefiting around 10,000 students annually. The program’s community engagement and partnerships involve a ‘Teacher to child, child to child, child to parents, parents to community’ approach and include collaboration with UNDP, UNEP, and other donors for realizing Sustainable Development Goals.
- Google DeepMind has launched AlphaFold3, its latest version of the AlphaFold AI model, with a focus on improving drug discovery and disease targeting. Key features include precise molecular mapping, accurate prediction of protein interactions, generation of 3D molecular structures, and modeling chemical modifications. The impact includes reduced time and cost in developing treatments, a free online tool for testing hypotheses (AlphaFold server), and improved accessibility for non-commercial researchers since 2021, fostering collaboration and innovation in the scientific community.
- The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has developed a biocontrol agent, Trichoderma asperellum (2% WP), registered against foot rot in Basmati rice crops. Foot rot is caused by Fusarium verticillioides, spreading through roots and causing yellowing and drying of seedlings. Current management practices include preventive measures and chemical treatments like Trichoderma harzianum and Sprint 75 WS. PAU’s biocontrol agent is eco-friendly, effective, and developed through joint efforts, reducing yield loss and soil toxicity, with successful experimental results.
