Published on: June 7, 2024
Snippets : 7 JUNE 2024
Snippets : 7 JUNE 2024
- The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first confirmed human fatality due to the H5N2 bird flu variant. The case was identified in Mexico and raises concerns about the virus’s spread and impact on human health
- Fossils found on the shoreline of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe represent a completely new dinosaur species named Musankwa sanyatiensis
- A distinctive plant named Thismia malayana, which steals nutrients from underground fungi, has been published as a new species
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a three-year, multi-state implementation research study on student mental health across eight states and union territories, including Karnataka. The objective is to establish an implementation model for promoting mental well-being and reducing suicide risk among students. In Karnataka, the initiative is being executed by NIMHANS in collaboration with the State Health and Education departments, covering 67 educational campuses in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural. The project aims to develop resources that are evidence-informed, scalable, and sustainable, focusing on mental well-being promotion and addressing common mental health issues and stress among youth.
- The underground tunneling for Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line is at risk of delays due to rocky terrain challenges encountered by the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). While seven of the nine TBMs have completed their tasks, two TBMs, Tunga and Bhadra, are still operational and facing difficulties with rock formations, which is slowing their progress. This could extend the project timeline beyond the original August 2024 deadline. The Pink Line, spanning 21.26 km with a significant 13.76 km underground segment, has already faced delays due to various issues including tender cancellations, alignment changes, and land acquisition problems. The entire stretch may now open in 2025
- The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) policy panel has kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the eighth consecutive time while increasing the GDP growth projection for FY25 to 7.2% from the previous 7%. The inflation forecast remains at 4.5%. The decision to maintain the repo rate is driven by persistent inflation concerns, particularly in food prices due to supply disruptions and heatwave conditions. The unchanged repo rate means external benchmark lending rates will not rise, though marginal cost of fund-based lending rates may increase. The GDP growth projection hike is based on expected improvements in rural and urban demand, along with strong performance in manufacturing and services. The RBI continues its ‘withdrawal of accommodation’ stance, focusing on tight liquidity management to support the rupee and manage short-term yields.
- ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has developed PraVaHa, a software for aerodynamic and aero-thermodynamic analysis of aerospace vehicles. It simulates external and internal flows for various vehicles, aiding in aerodynamic design, evaluation of configurations, and analysis of loads. Key applications include human-rated launch vehicles for the Gaganyaan program. PraVaHa uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to predict loads and solve conservation equations, addressing challenges like unsteady aerodynamics. The software is operational, with ongoing validation for chemical reactions and combustion, and aims to benefit academia and institutions in aerospace design.
- UNESCO’s State of Ocean Report highlights significant knowledge gaps regarding the role of oceans in climate regulation, the need for improved data and research, and the challenges posed by oceanic warming, increased Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI), deoxygenation, acidification, rising sea levels, and marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) technologies. The report emphasizes the necessity for better understanding and validation of these issues to effectively address multiple ocean crises.
