Chital
Why in News: The significant increase in the number of Chital deer has posed a costly and intrusive challenge for the authorities in the Andaman Union Territory.
About Chital
Scientific Classification
- Scientific Name: Cervus axis; Axis axis
- Description: A herbivorous deer native to Asia, belonging to the Cervidae family.
Habitat and Appearance
- Habitat: Grasslands and forests in India and Sri Lanka, often found in herds.
- Appearance: Possesses a spotted coat, reddish-brown above and white below.
- Sexual Dimorphism: Male chital are larger and heavier than females, with only males sporting three-tined antlers.
State Symbol
- State Animal: Designated as the state animal of Telangana.
Conservation Status
- IUCN: Classified as Least Concern.
- CITES: Not listed under this convention.
Issue in Andaman
- Introduction: Chital were brought to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the British in the early 1900s for hunting purposes.
- Uncontrolled Population Growth: The absence of natural predators facilitated unregulated reproduction, leading to a problematic increase in population.
- Location: Mainly concentrated in the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, east of Port Blair.
- Management Efforts: Authorities are exploring options, such as rehabilitation or relocation, to address the invasive species issue.
- Legal Framework: The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 allows for translocation under the supervision of the Chief Wildlife Warden, with a focus on minimizing animal distress.
Source: IE
C-Dome
Why in News: Israel has utilized its ship-based defense system, known as the C-Dome, for the inaugural time.
About C-Dome
Introduction to C-Dome
- Description: The naval counterpart of Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, designed to safeguard against rocket and missile threats.
- Functionality: Operates similarly to the Iron Dome by utilizing radar detection and interceptor missiles to neutralize short-range projectiles.
Development and Deployment
- Unveiling: First introduced in 2014.
- Operational Status: Declared operational in November 2022.
- Platform: Installed on Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, which are German-made warships.
- Technology: Shares technology with the Iron Dome and integrates with the ship’s radar for target detection.
Features and Benefits
- Defensive Capability: Provides comprehensive protection for vessels in all directions against a wide range of modern threats, both maritime and coastal.
- Interceptor: Utilizes the same interceptor as the Iron Dome to ensure high kill probability.
Key Details about Iron Dome
- Description: Israel’s air missile defense system designed to intercept short-range rockets.
- Developer: Created by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, operational since March 2011.
Operational Features:
- Power Source: Operated by missile-defense batteries.
- All-Weather Capability: Can function regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
- Interceptor Variety: Capable of launching various interceptor missiles.
- Range: Designed to engage missiles within a range of approximately 40 miles.
- Mobility: Can be deployed on both land and ships to adapt to defense requirements.
- Reloading Requirement: Needs to be reloaded to maintain continuous interception capability.
Operational Components:
- Radar: Detects incoming rockets.
- Command-and-Control System: Determines threat levels.
- Interceptor: Destroys incoming rockets before impact.
Source: IE
Peter Higgs (Higgs theory)
Why in News: Physicist Peter Higgs, renowned for his theoretical work on the Higgs boson particle, has died at the age of 94.
About Higgs boson
Higgs Mechanism
- Proposed in the 1960s, the Higgs mechanism, co-developed by Higgs and fellow physicists, addresses the origin of mass in elementary particles. It predicts the existence of the Higgs boson, confirmed by its discovery at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in 2012.
- This mechanism is integral to the Standard Model of particle physics, explaining mass origins for particles like the W and Z bosons.
Development of Higgs Field Theory
- Introduced the concept of the Higgs field, which imbues space with mass, elucidating how subatomic particles acquire mass post-Big Bang.
Higgs Boson
- Authored papers on the Higgs boson, contributing to its eventual discovery and comprehension. This particle confers mass onto other particles, with mass determined by their interaction strength with the Higgs boson.
Nobel Prize in Physics
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013, jointly with François Englert, for their theoretical work on a mass origin mechanism, corroborated by the Higgs boson discovery.
Significant Awards and Honors
- Recognized with numerous prestigious accolades for his pioneering contributions, including the Hughes Medal, Rutherford Medal, Dirac Medal and Prize, Wolf Prize in Physics, J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, and the Copley Medal. Additionally, he was bestowed with the distinguished Higgs Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Higgs’s Ethical Attributes
- Exemplified qualities of humility, integrity, and commitment to scientific progress throughout his life. Despite global renown, he maintained modesty, prioritizing scientific exploration over personal acclaim. His legacy profoundly enriched our comprehension of the cosmos.
Source: mint
