E&E + S&T Current Affairs

25/01/18 to 20/02/19

List of Topics

Environment

1. Superbug’ genes found in Arctic wildernesses

2. Plachimada Coca-Cola Case

3. Desertification

4. “Polar Vortex” Event in the US Midwest

5. REPORT ON ‘E-WASTE’ BY UN

6. Sunderbans tagged under Ramsar Convention

Science and Technology

1. Magnetic North Pole Shifting

2. Concerns with Plastic Consumption

3. Periodic Table completes 150 years

4. NASA Solar Probe Begins Second Orbit of Sun

5. Objective questions

1. ‘Superbug’ genes found in Arctic wildernesses

What is the news?

Scientists have found a “Superbug” bacteria gene in the Arctic region, Soil samples

from Arctic Norwegian archipelago have now confirmed the presence of NDM-

1(New Delhi-Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) gene. This multi-drug resistant bacteria was

first detected in New Delhi over a decade back. This was published by Environment

International journal.

What is a superbug?

Superbugs are bacteria that have acquired resistance to several types of antibiotic

drugs either through genetic mutation or through build-up of resistance over time.

That is, antibiotics will have no effect on such bacteria

Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for people. They’re also

given to livestock to prevent disease and promote growth. Antibiotics are effective

against bacterial infections, such as strep throat and some types of pneumonia,

diarrheal diseases, and ear infections. But these drugs don’t work at all against

viruses, such as those that cause colds or flu.

If superbugs are allowed to spread, we may reach a point where it is too dangerous

to conduct surgeries such as C-sections and transplants because of the risk of

superbug infection, which would have huge implications for the health of people

around the world.

Serious infections from 'superbugs' are no longer a rare occurrence. The increasing

use of antibiotics both in medicine and farming around the world is constantly

causing bacteria to mutate and become resistant to drugs. The problem is a global

one.

Reasons for drug resistance

Globally, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics helps to create drug-resistant

bacteria.

The other major misuse is in agriculture. Globally about 70 per cent of antibiotics are

used for animals, not people. Mostly that’s not for therapeutic treatment of a sick

animal, it’s either as a prophylactic against disease or as a growth promoter.

Wrong prescription of drugs by doctors.

Details:

An antibiotic resistant superbug NDM-1(New Delhi-Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) gene

first detected in India has been found in one of the last pristine places on Earth, the

arctic region.

The finding that a superbug has been found in an area where there is little human

development shows the scale of the challenge in the battle against antibiotic

resistance

Encroachment into areas like the Arctic reinforces how rapid and far-reaching the

spread of antibiotic resistance has become, confirming solutions to antibiotic

resistance must be viewed in global rather than just local terms

Researchers from the UK, United States and China extracted soil from eight locations

along Kongsfjorden and detected a total of 131 antibiotic resistant genes.

A gene linked to multi-drug resistance in tuberculosis was found in all samples,

whereas blaNDM-1 was detected in more than 60 per cent of the samples in the

study

The bacteria are carried in the gut of animals and people, and were likely spread

through the faecal matter of these animals, humans as well as migratory birds.

The finding has huge implications for global antibiotic resistance spread

A clinically important antibiotic resistance gene originating from South Asia is clearly

not 'local' to the Arctic. What humans have done through excess use of antibiotics

on global scales is accelerate the rate of evolution, creating a new world of resistant

strains that never existed before

India

India has witnessed an increase in antibiotic consumption — about 65 per cent in

2015 compared to 2000, while the rate of consumption increased from 3.2 to 6.5

billion daily defined doses (DDDs) in the same period.

India surpassed the United States’ antibiotic consumption rate for oxazolidinones in

2012 to become the highest consumer of the drug, says a study published by PNAS

journal on April 10, 2018

On the other hand, a report published by the New Delhi-based Center for Disease

Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) in November 2017 says that over 70 per cent

of acinetobacterbaumannii bacteria and 50 per cent of pseudomonas aeruginosa

bacteria are resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics like third generation

cephalosporin.

How to control:

Tougher policies on prescribing would be a relatively simple way to help, as would

controls on the agricultural use of antibiotics. That would take some of the pressure

off existing antibiotics that are yet to meet resistance.

We can slow the spread of the superbugs by taking antibiotics properly and only when needed.

Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a certified health professional.

Never demand antibiotics if your health worker says you don’t need them.

Never share or use leftover antibiotics.

2. Plachimada Coca-Cola Case

News:

The Plachimada panchayat, which had granted an exploitation license to the

Coca Cola Company, decided not to renew it because of the lowering of the

water table and decreasing water quality. Detailed sampling of the water

collected from the region revealed high concentration of calcium, and

magnesium ions.

The Panchayat also ordered the closure of the plant on the ground that over-

exploitation of water by the Company had resulted in acute shortage of

drinking water.

The company challenged the authority of the Panchayat before the High

Court of Kerala. The major legal issue was the right of a landowner to extract

groundwater from his land and the power of the Panchayat (or local bodies in

general) to regulate the use of groundwater by private individuals

Permatty Grama Panchayat v state of Kerala

The Court recognized that the State as a trustee is under a legal duty to

protect natural resources. It considered that these resources, meant for

public use, cannot be converted into private ownership.

The court asserted that the government had a duty to act to “protect against

excessive groundwater exploitation and the inaction of the State in this

regard was tantamount to infringement of the right to life of the people

guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”

The High Court ordered the plant to stop drawing the groundwater.

But at the same time, it ordered the Village Council to renew the licence and

not interfere with the functioning of the Company as long as it was not

extracting the prohibited ground water.

The 12-year-old case finally reached closure after much wrangling, when

Coca-Cola relinquished its license, stating in the SC that it did not intend to

resume production from Plachimada.

2.1 Ground Water

Water falls under the State List of the Constitution. This implies that state legislative

assemblies can make laws on the subject. In order to provide broad guidelines to

state governments to frame their own laws relating to sustainable water usage, the

central government has published certain framework laws or model Bills.

Groundwater overuse or overexploitation is defined as a situation in which,

over a period of time, average extraction rate from aquifers is greater than

the average recharge rate.

Groundwater is a critical resource in India, accounting for over 65% of

irrigation water and 85% of drinking water supplies.

Wells in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have registered highest declining trend of

ground water level during 2007-2012.

Rate of groundwater decline: Groundwater is a critical resource in India, accounting for over 65% of

irrigation water and 85% of drinking water supplies.

However, on current trends it is estimated that 60% of groundwater sources

will be in a critical state of degradation within the next twenty years.

In the most seriously affected north-western states, recent satellite

measurements indicate an average decline of 33 cm per year from 2002 to

2008. Local observations of annual water table decline exceeding 4 meters

are common throughout India.

The spaces, or pores, between grains of sand, soil or rocks are only partially

or not at all filled with water in the unsaturated zone/ Vadose Zone

In some places the unsaturated zone is absent, as is common where there are

lakes and marshes,

In some places it is hundreds of meters thick, as is common in arid regions.

The water table is the boundary between saturated and unsaturated ground

When groundwater fills all the pores in soil or rock, the soil is said to be

"saturated" ie the spaces are completely filled

A thin layer just above the water table is called the "capillary fringe."

Confined Aquifers

Confined aquifers are permeable rock units that are usually deeper under the ground than unconfined aquifers.

Unconfined Aquifers

Where groundwater is in direct contact with the atmosphere through the open pore spaces of the overlying soil or rock, then the aquifer is said to be unconfined

3. Desertification

Definition

Destruction of biological potential of land which can ultimately lead to desert

like conditions is desertification

Desertification is defined as “a type of land degradation in which a relatively

dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water

as well as vegetation and wildlife.”

Difference between Land Degradation and Desertification

The term land degradation involves both soil and vegetation degradation.

Desertification: Desertification is a type of land degradation in which

relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its

bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.

Hence desertification is last and worst step at the end of land degradation.

Statistics

According to State of India’s Environment 2017, nearly 30 per cent of India is

degraded or facing desertification.

Of India's total geographical area of 328.72 million hectares (MHA), 96.4

MHA is under desertification.

In eight states—Rajasthan, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Nagaland,

Tripura and Himachal Pradesh—around 40 to 70 per cent of land has

undergone desertification.

More to it, 26 of 29 Indian states have reported an increase in the area

undergoing desertification in the past 10 years.

As much as 105.19 million hectares (Mha) of the country's total geographical

area of 328.73 Mha is being degraded, while 82.18 Mha is undergoing

desertification.

The major forms of land degradation include soil erosion (which accounts for

over 71 per cent of the total degradation), and wind erosion (10.24 per cent).

The other major forms of land degradation are water-logging and salinity-

alkalinity

In its fifth National Report on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought,

the government has conceded that land degradation continues to be a

major environmental concern for the country, with consequent implications

for sustainable development. The report has been submitted to the

Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, to which India is

a party.

Rajasthan accounts for the most desertified land (23 Mha), followed by

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir (13 Mha each), Orissa and Andhra

Pradesh (5 Mha each).

According to the report, 68 per cent of the country is prone to drought, and

this will be further heightened because of the impact of climate change,

particularly in dry lands.

Causes

Loss of soil cover, mainly due to rainfall and surface runoff, is one of the

biggest reasons for desertification.

Water erosion is observed in both hot and cold desert areas, across various

land covers and with varying levels of severity. The next big reason is wind

erosion.

Loss of vegetation due to deforestation, cutting beyond permissible limits,

unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation,

encroachment into forest lands, forest fires, overgrazing, inadequate soil

conservation measures, improper crop rotation, indiscriminate use of agro-

chemicals, improper management of irrigation systems and excessive

extraction of ground water.

Desertification takes a significant toll on the economy

The loss in agricultural production due to desertification is estimated to be at

2.5 percent of India’s GDP and 15.9 percent of the gross value added (GVA)

from agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors.

Forests degradation accounts for over 55 percent of the total economic loss

due to vegetation degradation while water erosion accounts for about 14

percent of the total economic loss of desertification.

Wetland areas account for the highest economic losses due to land use

change followed by pastures and forests.

What does land degradation mean for health?

higher threats of malnutrition from reduced food and water supplies;

more water- and food-borne diseases that result from poor hygiene and a

lack of clean water;

respiratory diseases caused by atmospheric dust from wind erosion and

other air pollutants;

The spread of infectious diseases as populations migrate.

To reduce the severity of the desertification process, adoption of proper and

regular management practices such as:

Identifying suitable areas for afforestation with the selection of suitable

climate-resilient multipurpose tree species, perennial forage and fodder

species.

Managing soil erosion by adopting location-specific soil and water

conservation practices.

Dealing with soil salinity in agricultural lands through proper irrigation water

management, development and maintenance of surface and subsurface

drainage systems.

Adopting proper agriculture and land management practices.

Converging these activities with the ongoing national and state government

programmes like Joint Forest Management, Integrated Watershed

Management Programme and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment

Guarantee Act, etc.

Conclusion

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

(UNCCD), India is committed to reducing its land degradation and

desertification.

In fact, India's goal is to achieve land degradation neutral status by 2030

whereby increases in land degradation would be offset by gains in land

reclamation.

South India

The topography of the region and the local land use patterns and practices

have an impact on the levels of desertification.

Karnataka has the most land area affected by desertification followed by

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Desertification in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka has increased by 0.19

percent and 0.05 percent respectively, while Telangana seems to show some

improvement due to land reclamation where desertification seems to have

decreased by about 0.52 percent.

Vegetal degradation is the dominant cause for desertification in Andhra

Pradesh followed by water erosion and waterlogging while water erosion is

dominant followed by vegetal degradation and salinization in Karnataka.

Causes

The main causes for vegetal degradation in Andhra Pradesh are a number of

manmade activities such as over-mining for minerals and metals, excessive

use of firewood, severe deforestation and forest fires.

Anantapur district shows high levels of land degradation followed by Kurnool,

Prakasam and Chittoor districts.

In Karnataka, deforestation and mining activities are triggering water erosion

and an increase in salinity due to lack of trees, high evaporation and low

precipitation are main drivers of desertification.

Belgaum, Gulbarga, Tumkur and Bijapur districts have a high area under

desertification.

Bellary district experiences high vegetal degradation due to increased mining

activities and extraction for timber.

4. “Polar Vortex” Event in the US Midwest

Why in news?

A record-breaking cold wave has swept through the US Midwest, with 22 states

hitting sub-zero temperatures.

What is the condition at present?

Many cities recorded around -30 degree C

The extreme cold has been caused by a blast of Arctic air, which in turn is a result of

what is known as a “polar vortex” event.

What is a "polar vortex" event?

Normally, when the vortex is strong and healthy, it helps keep a current of air (the

jet stream) travelling around the globe in almost a circular path.

This current contains the cold air north of it and the warm air south of it.

But in winter, in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex sometimes becomes less

stable and expands.

So a wave of cold air will be pushed down south.

This is called a polar vortex event, defining the “breaking off” of a part of the vortex.

Where does it happen?

A polar vortex event is not confined to the US.

Portions of Europe and Asia also experience cold surges connected to the polar

vortex.

The risk lies in the magnitude of how cold temperatures will get when the polar

vortex expands, sending Arctic air southward into areas that are not usually that

cold.

5. REPORT ON ‘E-WASTE’ BY UN

News:

The report, titled ‘A new circular vision for electronics’ on e-waste was released on January

24, 2019. It notes that the waste stream has already reached 48.5 million tonnes (MT) in

2018 and the figure is expected to double if nothing changes. Moreover, only 20 per cent of

global e-waste is recycled.

E-waste:

Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to all items of electrical and electronic

equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by its owner as waste

without the intent of re-use.

It includes a wide range of products – almost any household or business item with

circuitry or electrical components with power or battery supply.

In this methodology, defined by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development,

the definition of e-waste is very broad. It covers six waste categories:

Why more e-waste is getting generated?

Most of the IT products, especially computers and mobile phones, have a short

lifespan

Further, the availability of choices, changing pace of life, rapid urbanization, and

increased purchasing capacity of the middle class have all contributed to the growth

of the electrical and consumer durable industry.

Some of the consumer products like refrigerators, televisions and so on were once a

lifetime purchase. But today consumers outgrow older models as new products

come into the market and find that it is easier and cheaper to buy new electronic

equipment than repair an old product.

Details

Increasing levels of electronic waste, and its improper and unsafe treatment and

disposal through open burning or in dumpsites, pose significant risks to the

environment and human health.

They also present several challenges to sustainable development, and to the

achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ICT Uptake and Shorter Replacement Cycles Are Contributing to the Growth of E-

waste.

By 2017, close to half the world’s population uses the internet and most people in

the world have access to mobile networks and services. Many people own more than

one information and communication technology (ICT) device, and replacement

cycles for mobile phones and computers, and also for other devices and equipment,

are becoming shorter.

At the same time, disposable incomes in many developing countries are increasing

and a growing global middle-class is able to spend more on electrical and electronic

equipment, consequently generating more e-waste.

Current trends suggest that the amount of e-waste generated will increase

substantially over the next decades, and that better data to track these

developments are needed.

Generation of E-waste has grown to 44.7 Million Metric Tonnes Annually –

Equivalent to Almost 4,500 Eiffel Towers.

The amount of e-waste is expected to increase to 52.2 million metric tonnes, or 6.8

kg/inh, by 2021.

Only 20% of E-waste Generated Is Documented To Be Collected and Recycled

o Of those 44.7 Mt, approximately 1.7 Mt are thrown into the residual waste in

higher-income countries, and are likely to be incinerated or land-filled.

o Globally, only 8.9 Mt of e-waste are documented to be collected and

recycled, which corresponds to 20% of all the e-waste generated.

World scenario of e- waste

INDIA SCENARIO:

The total e-waste generating in India is 146180.7 tonnes. The State of

Maharashtra tops the list generating 20,270 tonnes of e-waste annually. The

other States leading in the generation of e-waste are Tamil Nadu, Andhra

Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The problems associated with electronic waste are now being recognized. E-

waste is highly complex to handle due to its composition.

Health Hazards

Pollutants or toxins in e-waste are typically concentrated in circuit boards, batteries,

plastics, and LCDs (liquid crystal displays). Given below is a table showing the major

pollutants occurring in waste electrical and electronic equipment

6. Sunderbans tagged under Ramsar Convention

News:

The India side of the Sunderbans has received the prestigious ‘Wetlands of International

importance ‘tag under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, making it largest protected

wetland in the country.

What is Ramsar Convention?

The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, named after the Iranian city

where it was adopted in 1971, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework

for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention came

into force in 1975.

What does the Ramsar Convention do?

The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local

and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving

sustainable development throughout the world”. Under the three pillars of the Convention,

the Contracting Parties commit to:

work towards the wise use of all their wetlands through national plans, policies and

legislation, management actions and public education;

designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the

“Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;

cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems,

shared species, and development projects that may affect wetlands.

What do wetlands do?

Wetlands store water and ensure its quality, providing resilience against drought.

They protect against flooding and the impacts of storms.

They provide food and other services such as transport and recreation.

They provide diverse habitats which support genetic, species, and ecosystem

biodiversity and play key roles in the life cycles of many species and in annual

migration patterns

Details:

Home to the royal Bengal tiger, this is the second Ramsar site in Bengal after the East

Kolkata Wetlands, which got the tag in 2002.

The Bangladesh part of the Sunderbans had received the Ramsar tag way back in

1992. Together, both sides of the Wetlands spread over an area of over 10,000 sq

km rivals the famed Congo River basin and the Amazon estuary as one of the largest

transboundary wetlands in the world.

It would not only help the world’s largest mangrove to feature more

prominently in international treaties on bio-diversity and migratory birds, but

also help fight climate change and conserve the unique flora and fauna of the

region.

Importance of Sunderbans:

Sunderbans has already been declared a UN World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Sunderbans Wetland is located within the largest mangrove forest in the world,

which protects the mainland from cyclones, tidal surges and intrusion of salt water.

It is also home to many rare and critically endangered species like the northern river

terrapin, the Irrawaddy dolphin and fishing cat while attracting a large variety of

migratory birds.

Unlike the East Kolkata Wetlands which was recognized as a Ramsar site in 2002 for

its wise use, India Sunderbans has been listed as an ecological marvel

Ramsar tag will help promote the Sunderbans as an eco-tourism hotspot

Science and Technology

1. Magnetic North Pole Shifting

Why in news?

The magnetic north pole is, reportedly, drifting fast away from the Canadian Arctic and

towards Russia.

What are the two poles on earth?

The Earth has two pairs of north and south poles.

The geographic poles are defined by the axis around which the planet rotates, and

these are fixed.

The Earth behaves much like a giant bar magnet and this behaviour defines its

magnetic north and south poles.

But these are not static as the geographic poles. [A compass points towards

magnetic north.]

What causes the magnetic field?

The origin of Earth’s magnetism lies in its outer core which is a more than 2,000-km

layer that surrounds the central core or the innermost part.

The outer core is comprised of liquid iron and some other metals like nickel.

This liquid iron is in constant motion due to Earth’s rotation and various other

reasons, and this motion produces a magnetic field.

How have the positions changed?

The constant motion is the reason for the magnetic poles to not coincide with the

geographical poles.

It is also why the Earth’s magnetic behaviour is far more complex than that of a

simple bar magnet.

Resultantly, the magnetic north poles and south poles move around sometimes

erratically.

Over large periods of time, they change their locations significantly, sometimes even

interchanging their positions.

Around 780,000 years ago, the magnetic north pole was getting somewhere near

where the magnetic south pole currently is.

But this time period of shift in positions is not fixed.

What is the recent development?

In 1831, it was discovered that the magnetic north pole was located somewhere

over northern Canada.

Since then, the magnetic north pole has been moving hundreds of miles across the

Canadian Arctic towards Russia.

It has now been found that the pace of this movement has suddenly increased, quite

significantly.

It has been moving from about 14-15 km per year till the 1990s to about 55 km per

year in the last few years.

This, now, led to scientists updating the World Magnetic Model (WMM) that tracks

this movement.

Every 5 years, a new and updated version of the WMM is released; the current

update is a year ahead of the schedule.

The faster movement of the magnetic north pole had made WMM so inaccurate that

it was about to exceed the acceptable limit for navigational errors.

What is the significance?

Given the extremely hot temperatures, the phenomena happening inside the earth

can only be studied indirectly or through computer modelling.

So the causes for the fast movement are uncertain yet.

But the shifting of magnetic north pole would throw some new insights into the

phenomena happening deep inside the Earth’s surface.

What is the consequence?

A standalone school compass would not be affected by this change. It will reorient

itself to the new resultant magnetic north pole.

But given its less precise nature and deflections due to local magnetic fields, this is

no longer used for modern requirements of navigation.

The compasses that are used in modern instrumentation are much more

sophisticated, digital and more accurate.

The entire transportation sector, especially aviation and shipping, depends on

correctly knowing the position of magnetic north.

Similarly, it is crucial for militaries, for firing their missiles or for other purposes, and

other civilian applications as well.

The compasses now have to be recalibrated to reflect the change in the magnetic

north pole.

The WMM has released a set of software that will update these instruments to the

new positions of the magnetic north pole.

2. Concerns with Plastic Consumption

What is the issue?

Consumption of plastic in the Asia-pacific region is getting higher and hence companies

need to demonstrate their own reduction commitments.

Details

Asia consumes 50% of global plastic packaging, which could quadruple by 2050.

Food, beverage and healthcare represent 75% of plastic packaging use.

New consumption patterns, including Asia’s rising appetite for e-commerce and food

delivery add to demand for plastic packaging.

However, recycling rates are low, with the exception of Japan (83%) and Taiwan

(35%).

Hence the region contributes 82% of plastic waste which leaks into oceans with

China, India and ASEAN contributing 2.7-7.3million tonnes per annum.

Major concerns?

Plastic represents 37% of packaging in Asia, worth $150 billion.

Though there are obvious benefits of using plastic like durability, safety, hygiene, and

lightweight, 95% is designed for short-term (single) use and could take more than

500 years to biodegrade.

Since the early 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced

globally.

But only 9% of plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, 12% incinerated and

79% ended up in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.

Plastic waste dumping in the ocean is becoming an increasing environmental

concern.

The major rivers in Asia carry more than 90% of plastic waste in the ocean.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) estimates that the cost, due to plastic

pollution, to tourism, fishing and shipping industries was $1.3billion in the region

alone.

Also, majority of the plastic waste in Asia is “mismanaged”, wherein low economic

value contributes to nearly 45% of Asia’s plastic waste getting mismanaged (i.e.,

dumped).

What is the reason behind low plastic waste collection rate across the world?

Low economic value - 80% of plastic waste has low residual value such as plastic

bags.

Alternatively, higher recycling for aluminium cans (55%) fetches sufficiently high

selling prices relative to collection costs, thus making it economically attractive.

Poor separation at source – Plastic collection often involves co-mingling of paper,

glass and aluminium and majority of the sorting occurs manually.

High rate of pigment contamination - Clear plastics have the highest value and are

preferred in the recycling market.

Dyed and pigmented plastics contain contaminants and are often disposed rather

than recycled.

Cheaper to dump or export than to recycle - With the absence of subsidies from the

government, it is often cheaper to export and dump plastic waste in landfill.

What needs to be done?

In January 2018, China banned the import of plastic waste.

Prior to the ban, China imported up to 56% of global exported plastic waste.

The largest exporters of waste to China included the US, the UK, the EU and Japan.

After China’s ban, we are likely to see more stringent plastic waste policies

introduced across the globe and in Asia.

Also, there is growing acceptance of plastic reduction in many companies in Asia.

Thus, reduction in quantity of material per package and use of recycled materialby

the companies will demonstrate commitment to plastic waste reduction in the

future.

3.Periodic Table completes 150 years News:

The International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements was launched on

January 29, 2019, at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.

The UNESCO stated that the events and activities will be held throughout the year in

order to mark 150 years of the formation of the periodic table.

The International Year aims to recognize the importance of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements as one of the most important and influential achievements in modern science reflecting the essence not only of chemistry but also of physics, biology and other basic sciences disciplines.

The initiative for IYPT2019 is supported by the International Union of Pure Applied

Chemistry (IUPAC) in partnership with other science-related organization.

Dmitri Mendeleev was the man who published the periodic table for the first time in

1869

What is this Periodic Table of Chemical Elements?

The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is the tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, arranged by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties.

The important features of the periodic table are:

The seven rows of the table are called as periods and generally accommodate metals on the left and non-metals on the right.

The columns of the table are called groups and contain elements with similar chemical behaviours.

Until 1863, the world was aware of only 56 known elements, now 118 elements.

There are 118 confirmed elements in the periodic table. Among those, 90 elements can be found in nature, others are strictly man-made.

Technetium was the first man-made element.

Hydrogen is the lightest element with its atomic weight 1. Uranium is the heaviest element with an atomic weight of 238.

Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon are known as the Noble Gases as they were believed to be unreactive. But recent studies have shown reactive compounds of xenon, krypton, and radon.

The IUPAC is responsible for maintaining the periodic table.

Most of the elements on the periodic table are metals (almost 75 percent).

Different forms of pure elements are called allotropes. For example, diamond, graphite, buckminsterfullerene, and amorphous carbon are allotropes of Carbon.

The only two elements that are liquid in room

temperature are mercury and bromine. To celebrate the International Year of the Period Table of Chemical Elements the UNESCO would be organising events like online competition to test high school students’ knowledge of the table, and science experiments brought to schools around the world.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

IUPAC is the world authority on chemical nomenclature and terminology, including the naming of new elements in the periodic table; on standardized methods for measurement; and on atomic weights etc.

A neutral and objective scientific organization, IUPAC was established in 1919 by academic and industrial chemists who shared a common goal – to unite a fragmented, global chemistry community for the advancement of the chemical sciences via collaboration and the free exchange of scientific information.

Four new elements discovered in 2015 have been named by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

o These are Nihonium (113Nh), Moscovium (115Mo), Tennessine (117Te) and Oganesson (118Og).

o Of these elements, Nh-278 is highly radioactive with a very short half-life of 0.24 milliseconds

4. NASA Solar Probe Begins Second Orbit of Sun News:

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has begun its second orbit of the Sun and is on track for its closest approach to our star Details:

Just 161 days after its launch, the Praker Probe completed its first orbit of the Sun on January 19.

The spacecraft has now begun the second of 24 planned orbits, on track for its second perihelion, or closest approach to the Sun, on April 4.

Parker Solar Probe entered full operational status on January 1, with all systems online and operating as designed. The spacecraft has been delivering data from its instruments to Earth via the Deep Space Network, and to date more than 17 gigabits of science data has been downloaded.

The full dataset from the first orbit will be downloaded by April.

Learned a lot about how the spacecraft operates and reacts to the solar environment, “We’ve always said that we don’t know what to expect until we look at the data,”

“The data we have received hints at many new things that we’ve not seen before and at potential new discoveries. Parker Solar Probe is delivering on the mission’s promise of revealing the mysteries of our Sun,”

In preparation for the next encounter in April, the spacecraft’s solid state recorder is being emptied of files that have already been delivered to Earth.

In addition, the spacecraft is receiving updated positional and navigation information and is being loaded with a new automated command sequence, which contains about one month’s worth of instructions.

The closest approach in April will bring the spacecraft to a distance of about 15 million miles from the Sun – just over half the previous close solar approach record of about 27 million miles set by Helios 2 in 1976.

The spacecraft’s four instrument suites will help scientists begin to answer outstanding questions about the Sun’s fundamental physics – including how particles and solar material are accelerated out into space at such high speeds and why the Sun’s atmosphere, the corona, is so much hotter than the surface below.

Deep Space Network: When it comes to making a long-distance call, it's hard to top NASA's Deep Space

Network. It’s the largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunications system in the world.

The Deep Space Network - or DSN - is NASA’s international array of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, plus a few that orbit Earth.

The DSN also provides radar and radio astronomy observations that improve our understanding of the solar system and the larger universe.

The DSN is operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which also

operates many of the agency's interplanetary robotic space missions.

The DSN consists of three facilities spaced equidistant from each other – approximately 120 degrees apart in longitude – around the world. These sites are at

o Goldstone, near Barstow, California;

o near Madrid, Spain; and

o near Canberra, Australia.

The strategic placement of these sites permits constant communication with spacecraft as our planet rotates – before a distant spacecraft sinks below the horizon at one DSN site, another site can pick up the signal and carry on communicating.

The antennas of the Deep Space Network are the indispensable link to explorers venturing beyond Earth. They provide the crucial connection for commanding our spacecraft and receiving their never before seen images and scientific information on Earth, propelling our understanding of the universe, our solar system and ultimately, our place within it.

Q. Which of the following statements is true about the Deep Space Network?

1. The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is a worldwide network of U.S. spacecraft communication facilities that supports NASA's interplanetary spacecraft missions.

2. It also performs radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the Solar System and the universe, and supports selected Earth-orbiting missions

3. Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) is a network of large antennas and communication facilities operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation to support the interplanetary spacecraft missions of India.

4. Its hub is located at Byalalu, a village about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Bangalore, India.

5. The Indian Deep Space Network has been built to track and support India's first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, an unmanned lunar exploration mission it is being used to track the ongoing Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), known as Mangalyaan

Options:

a. Only 1 b. Only 1 and 3 c. All are correct

d. None is correct Q. Which of the given statements about the GSAT-31 Communication satellite is not correct?

a. GSAT-31 will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit. b. It will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. c. It will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to ATM, Stock-exchange,

Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications. d. It will be used for Military Purposes