In News:

In a paper published in the Cell Press journal Trends in Biotechnology, researchers demonstrate that the ink could boost coral settlement by more than 20 times, which they hope could contribute to rebuilding coral reefs around the world.

Recent Development in Coral Restoration

• Institution: University of California, San Diego
• Innovation: Development of SNAP-X, a specialized bio-ink.
• Significance: SNAP-X boosts coral larvae settlement by 20 times, marking a major advancement in coral reef restoration, especially vital in the context of climate change-induced reef degradation.

What are Coral Reefs?

• Coral reefs are diverse marine ecosystems formed by colonies of coral polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to create hard exoskeletons.
• These ecosystems thrive in warm, shallow, and clear tropical waters and are among the most productive on Earth.

Examples of Coral Reefs

• Global: Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
• India: Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep Islands

Importance of Coral Reefs

• Biodiversity Hotspots: Support thousands of marine species.
• Coastal Protection: Act as natural barriers against storms and erosion.
• Livelihoods: Sustain tourism and fisheries industries.
• Food Security: Provide fish and other resources to coastal communities.

Types of Coral Reefs

• Fringing Reefs
  • Found close to coastlines
  • Separated from land by shallow lagoons
  • Most widespread type
• Barrier Reefs
  • Located farther from shore
  • Separated by deeper, wider lagoons
  • Example: Great Barrier Reef
• Atolls
  • Ring-shaped reefs surrounding a central lagoon
  • Often form around subsiding volcanic islands
  • Found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans

Favorable Conditions for Coral Reef Growth

Factor                                                 Requirement

Water Temperature                 Around 20°C; typically in tropical zones (30°N to 30°S)

Sunlight                                            Shallow depths (up to ~55 meters) allow photosynthesis

Water Clarity                                 Low nutrient and sediment levels for light penetration

Salinity                                              Stable marine salinity levels

Pollution                                           Minimal; corals are sensitive to chemical/sediment pollutants

Food Supply                                   Plankton-rich water sustains coral polyp

Latest Winner

• Recipient: Mariangela Hungria, a microbiologist from Brazil.
• Achievement: Recognized for her groundbreaking research in biological seed and soil treatments that improve crop nutrition and yields.
• Her innovations reduce the dependency on chemical fertilizers by helping crops derive nutrients through soil microbes, enhancing sustainable agricultural practices.

About the World Food Prize

• Nature of the Award: A prestigious international honour for outstanding contributions to the global food system.
• Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.”

Objectives

• Recognizes exceptional efforts in improving the quality, quantity, and accessibility of food worldwide.
• Contributions can come from fields such as:
  • Agricultural science & technology
  • Food production and nutrition
  • Economics, policy, marketing
  • Poverty reduction & social science
  • Leadership in food security initiatives

Establishment

• Founded in: 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1970) and father of the Green Revolution.
• Administered by: The World Food Prize Foundation, with support from public and private sector partners.

Award Details

• Prize Amount: $500,000
• Award Ceremony: Held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, during the Borlaug Dialogue and around World Food Day (October 16).

Historical Note

• India’s Contribution: Renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan was the first recipient of the World Food Prize in 1987.
• Honoured for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties in India during the 1960s, contributing to food self-sufficiency.

In News:

A new species named Mosurafentoni—a small, three-eyed sea predator—has been discovered in fossils dating back 506 million years. The findings were published in Royal Society Open Science.

Key Highlights:

• Time Period: Cambrian Period (approx. 506 million years ago)
• Classification: Belonged to Radiodonts, an extinct group related to modern-day arthropods like insects, spiders, and crustaceans.
• Unique Traits:
  • Three eyes – with a large third eye on the head.
  • Jointed claws – similar to crabs or insects, possibly used for capturing prey.
  • Swimming style – moved like a stingray using multiple undulating flaps; referred to as “flying underwater”.
  • Body structure – featured a trunk-like segment with 16 parts and gills, aiding respiration.
  • Mouth – circular, resembling a pencil sharpener lined with serrated plates for slicing prey.
  • Size – around the length of a human finger.
• Nickname: Dubbed the "Sea Moth" due to its flapping motion and size.

Ecological Role

• Likely fed on smaller marine organisms like worms and crustaceans.
• Possibly preyed upon by larger predators such as ancient jellyfish.

Evolutionary Significance

• Shows early arthropod diversity and evolutionary complexity.
• Body structure similarities with modern species like horseshoe crabs and woodlice suggest parallel evolutionary adaptations.
• Helps understand the transition from simple worm-like organisms to complex body plans in early marine ecosystems.

In News:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the revamped National Manuscripts Mission, which was announced in the Union Budget earlier this year, on June 9.

Key Highlights:

• Implementing Body: Ministry of Culture, Government of India
• Earlier Version: National Manuscripts Mission (est. 2003), under Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
• Objective:To survey, document, conserve, and digitize over one crore (10 million) Indian manuscripts located in academic institutions, libraries, museums, and private collections.

Key Features

• Massive Coverage: Targets over 1 crore manuscripts, making it India’s largest manuscript preservation project.
• Digital Repository: Creation of a National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge Systems to ensure accessibility for researchers and the public. Includes AI-powered tools for metadata tagging, translation, and archiving.
• Modern Techniques: Uses advanced scientific conservation methods, including AI and 3D imaging.
• Collaborative Model: Engages academic institutions, libraries, museums, private collectors, and international bodies.
• Budgetary Support: Budget raised from ?3.5 crore to ?60 crore, with a total outlay of ?482.85 crore for 2024–31.

Background and Need

• The earlier NMM (2003) made limited progress. Out of 52 lakh manuscripts surveyed, only 3 lakh titles were digitized, and only 70,000 are currently viewable due to lack of access policy.
• 80% of manuscripts in India are privately owned, underscoring the need for public-private collaboration.
• Over 9 crore folios have been conserved (preventive and curative) in the last two decades.

What is a Manuscript?

A manuscript is a handwritten document (on paper, palm leaf, birch bark, etc.), at least 75 years old, and of historical, scientific, or artistic significance.

Example: The Bakhshali Manuscript (3rd–4th century BCE) is a key Indian text on mathematics, featuring the earliest known use of the symbol for zero.

In News:

The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, exhibits a striking hemispheric contrast. The nearside, visible from Earth, is dominated by dark, flat basaltic plains (mare), while the farside is rugged, heavily cratered, and lacks these features. This asymmetry has long puzzled scientists.

Recent findings from NASA's GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) mission, launched in 2011, have provided critical insights into this phenomenon.

GRAIL Mission: An Overview

• Objective: To map the Moon’s gravitational field in unprecedented detail.
• Spacecraft: Two identical probes named Ebb and Flow.
• Method: By measuring the tiny variations in the distance between the probes as they orbited the Moon, scientists could infer differences in crust thickness, interior composition, and subsurface structures.

Key discoveries:

• The Moon’s crust is more porous and thinner than previously thought.
• Detection of long, linear features called dikes, indicating early lunar expansion.

Reasons for Lunar Asymmetry

• Tidal Deformation and Gravitational Asymmetry
  • The nearside flexes more than the farside during the Moon’s elliptical orbit, a result of tidal deformation caused by Earth’s gravity.
  • The increased internal heat and flexibility on the nearside suggest it is warmer and more geologically active at depth.
• Volcanic Activity and Heat Distribution
  • The nearside experienced intense volcanic activity billions of years ago, forming the large mare regions.
  • This activity led to the concentration of radioactive, heat-producing elements (like thorium and titanium) in the nearside mantle.
  • The nearside mantle is 100–200°C hotter than the farside, establishing a long-term thermal imbalance.
• Crustal Thickness and Surface Composition
  • The nearside crust is significantly thinner, allowing magma to reach the surface more easily, contributing to extensive lava flows.
  • The thicker farside crust restricted such activity, preserving its rugged, cratered appearance.

Implications for Space Science and Earth

• The findings aid in developing precise lunar navigation and positioning systems, essential for future human missions.
• The methodology can be applied to other celestial bodies like Enceladus (Saturn) and Ganymede (Jupiter), both candidates in the search for life.
• Understanding the Moon's structure enhances our grasp of Earth-Moon gravitational dynamics, which affect tides and planetary stability.