Reykjanes peninsula |
Why in News: Recently, the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland has experienced a series of seismic activity, marked by over 5,500 minor earthquakes within the past three days.
About Reykjanes peninsula
- Reykjanes Peninsula Location: Situated in the southwestern part of Iceland, the Reykjanes Peninsula boasts vast lava fields, volcanic formations, and significant geothermal activity.
- Geological Setting: Positioned along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, the peninsula is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates diverge, contributing to its geological dynamism.
Super Bugs |
Why in News: Hospital sinks spread drug-resistant superbugs, new study finds
About Super Bugs
A superbug, also known as multiresistant bacteria, carries multiple resistance genes and can withstand exposure to various antibiotics.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) AMR happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve over time, rendering medications ineffective, thus complicating the treatment of infections and raising the likelihood of disease transmission, severe illness, and mortality. l Impact of Drug Resistance: Due to resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs lose their effectiveness, making infections progressively more challenging or even impossible to manage. |
l Mechanism of Mutation: Bacteria mutate during multiplication, driven by the evolutionary urge to survive.
l Evolutionary Adaptation: Mutations occur randomly, but bacteria with antibiotic resistance mutations survive exposure, leading to the proliferation of drug-resistant strains.
Various strains of bacterial superbugs are present and circulating within the population. The primary strains comprise:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
- Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter
Graphene |
Why in News: India must accelerate its efforts in graphene research to emerge as a frontrunner in artificial intelligence and position itself as a formidable contender in the field of quantum computing.
About Graphene
Graphene is a form of carbon characterized by a single layer of atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice nanostructure.
Discovery: Graphene was first identified in 2004, leading to the Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to the discovering scientists in 2010.
Properties:
- Graphene boasts remarkable attributes, being the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material for both electricity and heat.
- It surpasses steel in strength by 200 times while being six times lighter.
- Despite its strength, it is almost perfectly transparent, absorbing only 2% of incident light.
- Graphene exhibits impermeability to gases, including the lightest ones like hydrogen and helium.
- It shows promise in absorbing and dissipating electromagnetic waves.
- Graphene demonstrates high sensitivity to changes in its environment.
Sector | Description | Examples |
Metallurgy | Graphene is used in metallurgy to improve the strength and durability of metals. | Graphene-reinforced steel, graphene-enhanced aluminum alloys. |
Machinery | Graphene is used in the machinery sector to improve the efficiency and durability of machinery. | Graphene-coated bearings, graphene-enhanced lubricants. |
Electrical | Graphene is used in the electrical sector for its excellent conductivity and thermal properties. | Graphene-based transistors, graphene-enhanced batteries. |
Chemical | Graphene is used in the chemical sector for its high surface area and chemical resistance. | Graphene-based catalysts, graphene-enhanced membranes. |
Textile | Graphene is used in the textile sector for its durability and conductivity. | Graphene-reinforced fabrics, graphene-based conductive threads. |
National Defense | Graphene is used in the national defense sector for its strength and lightweight properties. | Graphene-enhanced body armor, graphene-based stealth materials. |
Aerospace | Graphene is used in the aerospace sector for its strength and lightweight properties. | Graphene-enhanced composites, graphene-based thermal management systems. |
Automotive | Graphene is used in the automotive sector for its durability and conductivity. | Graphene-enhanced tires, graphene-based sensors. |
Energy | Graphene is used in the energy sector for its high surface area and conductivity. | Graphene-based supercapacitors, graphene-enhanced solar cells. |
Biomedical | Graphene is used in the biomedical sector for its biocompatibility and conductivity. | Graphene-based biosensors, graphene-enhanced drug delivery systems. |
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle programme |
Why in News: India has achieved success in flight-testing the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) for the second time.
About HSTDV
It’s an unmanned aircraft designed for demonstrating hypersonic speed capabilities.
- Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Scramjet Technology: HSTDV employs scramjet technology for propulsion.
- Speed Achievement: It successfully traveled at Mach 6, which is six times the speed of sound.
Air Breathing Engine: Engines that breathe air utilize oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere during fuel combustion. This category encompasses various types such as turbojet, turboprop, ramjet, Scramjet and pulse-jet engines. |
Significance: India’s demonstration of this technology positions it as the fourth country globally to showcase such capabilities, following the lead of the USA, Russia, and China.