Why is it in the News?

Recently rhododendron blooms in parts of Uttarakhand in November, worries experts.

About Rhododendron:

• Rhododendron is a diverse genus of flowering plants, encompassing over a thousand species, which include trees, shrubs, and creepers.
• These woody flowering plants belong to the heath family (Ericaceae) and are recognized for their appealing flowers and handsome foliage.
• Habitat: Rhododendrons thrive in various habitats, ranging from alpine regions and coniferous and broadleaved woodlands to temperate rainforests and even tropical areas.
• Distribution: Native to temperate regions of Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as tropical regions in Southeast Asia and northern Australia, rhododendrons have a broad geographical distribution.
• They flourish in slightly acidic soil conditions.
• Diversity: This genus displays an extensive range of sizes and shapes, from low-growing prostrate ground covers to towering trees exceeding 100 feet in height.
• In India, there are 132 taxa, including 80 species, 25 subspecies, and 27 varieties of rhododendrons.
• Local Names and Significance: In the local language, rhododendrons are known as "Lali Guras."
• Notably, they hold cultural significance as the national flower of Nepal and the state tree of Uttarakhand in India.

Why is it in the News?

Researchers have found "compelling evidence" supporting the existence of the uncommon nitrogen-9 isotope. This discovery challenges previous interpretations and provides a fresh perspective on subatomic structures.

About Nitrogen-9 Nucleus:

• Nitrogen-9 is a radioactive isotope of nitrogen.
• This means that it is unstable and will eventually decay into a different isotope of nitrogen or a different element.
• It is considered unusual because it has an uncommon combination of seven protons and two neutrons (7:2) in its atomic nucleus.
• This creates an unusually high ratio of protons to neutrons.
• Generally, elements have a balanced ratio for stability, but Nitrogen-9’s high proton content makes it less stable, challenging the conventional stability thresholds.
• This oddity raises questions about its existence in this state and how it maintains stability, introducing complexity to our understanding of atomic nuclei.
• The reason for nitrogen-9's short half-life is that the strong force, which is responsible for holding nuclei together, is not strong enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion between the positively charged protons in the nitrogen-9 nucleus.
• The discovery of nitrogen-9 is a major breakthrough in our understanding of nuclear physics.
• It showed that nuclei with very high proton-to-neutron ratios can exist, even if they are only for a very short time.
• This discovery has led to new research into the limits of nuclear stability and the role of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in holding nuclei together.

What is an Isotope?

• An isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in its atomic nucleus.
• This variance in neutron count results in different atomic masses for isotopes of the same element.
• Isotopes of an element share similar chemical properties but may exhibit differences in physical properties, such as stability and radioactivity.

Why is it in the News?

Efforts are being made to expand the cultivation of geographical indication (GI)-tagged Onattukara sesame.

About Onattukara Sesame:

• Onattukara sesame is a special sesame seed variety native to the Onattukara region of Kerala.
• It is renowned for its distinctive flavor, rich aroma, and exceptional nutritional and health value.
• In 2023, it received a geographical indication (GI) tag, recognizing its unique characteristics and link to the Onattukara region.
• This recognition serves as a testament to the exceptional qualities of Onattukara sesame and is expected to propel its demand and further empower the farmers of the region.
• Onattukara sesame distinguishes itself from other sesame varieties through its unique flavor profile.
• This distinctive flavor profile makes Onattukara sesame an indispensable ingredient in traditional Kerala cuisine, where it graces a variety of dishes, from curries and chutneys to sweet snacks.
• Distinguishing Features:
• Flavor and Aroma: Onattukara sesame has a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and a rich, earthy aroma.
• Nutritional Value: It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
• It also contains healthy fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
• Medicinal Properties: Traditionally, Onattukara sesame oil has been used in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties, including its ability to promote skin health, reduce inflammation, and relieve joint pain.

Why is it in the News?

Farmers in agricultural settings often identify freemartins by observing their physical and/or behavioral traits since these animals are unable to reproduce.

About Freemartins:

• A freemartin is an infertile female cattle with masculinized behavior and non-functioning ovaries.
• This condition is caused by the exchange of cells between female and male twins in utero.
• The male twin produces a hormone called anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which suppresses the development of the female reproductive tract.
• As a result, the female twin is born with an underdeveloped reproductive system and is unable to reproduce.
• Freemartinism occurs in about 90% of female cattle twins that share a placenta with a male twin.
• This is because the placentas of cattle twins are often fused together, allowing cells to move between the two fetuses.
• The fusion of placentas usually occurs between 40 and 120 days of gestation.
• In addition to being infertile, freemartins may also exhibit some masculine characteristics, such as a deeper voice, coarser hair, and a more muscular build.
• This is because they have been exposed to AMH from their male twin.
• There is no treatment for freemartinism, as the animal is infertile and cannot produce offspring.
• However, freemartins can still be used for other purposes, such as meat production or draft work.

Why is it in the News?

The cancellation of a call for proposals under the Department of Science and Technology's SATHI program by the Centre has raised concerns among higher education institutions.

About Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI) initiative:

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is starting a project to create a shared Science and Technology infrastructure facility called Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI).
• This facility will be available for use by academic institutions, startups, manufacturing units, industries, and R&D labs.
• The goal is to offer efficiently managed services with high transparency, accessibility, and effectiveness all in one place, catering to the needs of industries, startups, and academia.
• In the first phase, SATHI facilities will be set up at IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kharagpur, and BHU-Varanasi.
• This initiative aims to benefit less-endowed organizations like MSMEs, startups, state universities, and colleges, fostering a strong culture of research collaboration across different institutions and disciplines.

Aims & Objectives of SATHI:

• Provide shared, professionally managed Science and Technology services and infrastructure.
• Ensure efficiency, accessibility, and transparency for the demands of faculty, researchers, scientists, and students from various institutes and organizations.
• Enable round-the-clock R&D activities with minimal downtime.
• Offer facilities for fabrication work, rapid prototyping, material testing, characterisation, device fabrication, smart manufacturing, and more.
• Attract and support R&D labs, industrial R&D, MSMEs, Incubators, Start-ups, etc.
• Organize short-term courses, workshops, seminars, and hands-on training programs on the use and application of various instruments and techniques.
• Provide technical help and scientific knowledge to both external and internal users/researchers.
• Train technicians for maintaining and operating sophisticated scientific instruments.
• Maintain a record of trained personnel for better societal outreach and utilization of trained manpower across different SATHI centers when needed.