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Summary

Science and Technology August 2023 Part II Class

INDIA'S SPACE MISSION (1:10 PM)

 Key findings of Chandrayaan-3

 It found that the lunar surface temperature is much higher than expected, reaching 70
degrees Celsius

 The presence of elements like sulfur, aluminum, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium,
manganese, silicon, and oxygen was confirmed on the moon's surface by the Pragyan rover

 Thin plasma on the moon's surface was detected by the Langmuir probe, indicating improved
radio wave communication for lunar missions

 There is a possibility of natural seismic activity on the moon, as indicated by recordings from
the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)

 India's Race to Space

 The Space Race was a Cold War-era competition between the Soviet Union and the United
States for space exploration supremacy

 India's space research began in the 1960s, leading to the establishment of ISRO in 1969, with
notable milestones including the successful launch of SLV-3 in 1980 and the development of
PSLV and GSLV in the 1990s

 Emerging trends of the Indian space sector

 The Indian space sector is experiencing growing commercialization, with ISRO actively
promoting non-governmental entities (NGEs) for independent space activities through
agencies like IN-SPACe

 ISRO is increasingly engaging in international collaborations, including agreements like the

Artemis Accords and joint missions with agencies like Japan's space agency and NASA

 India is focusing on challenging exploration missions, such as reaching the Martian orbit with
the Mangalyaan Mission and achieving a soft landing on the lunar south pole

 ISRO is actively developing new technologies like reusable launch vehicles and Inflatable
Aerodynamic Decelerators (IAD) to advance space capabilities

 The expansion of satellite-based services in areas like remote sensing, satellite-based

navigation, and meteorology is a key aspect of ISRO's future plans

 Implication of India’s enhanced role in space exploration

 India's rising space capabilities position it to become a leading producer of space technology
as Russia's influence wanes

 India has nurtured a growing ecosystem of about 150 registered space-tech startups,
enhancing cost-competitiveness in the global space market
  With a high launch success rate of nearly 95%, India's evolving infrastructure and talent pool
make it a potential global leader in satellite launches, especially with the Small Satellite
Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

 India is developing its own Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capability in response to China's ASAT
capabilities, emphasizing the role of outer space in national security

SUPERCONDUCTIVITY (1:28 PM)

 Particle Physics

 Fermions are a class of subatomic particles with half-integer spin values, which means no
two identical fermions can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously

 Fermions include fundamental particles like electrons, protons, and neutrons, as well as
various types of quarks and leptons

 Fermi-Dirac statistics developed by Enrico Fermi and Paul Dirac, is a mathematical framework
used to describe the behavior of particles called fermions, which have half-integer spins

 The statistics define the probability distribution of finding fermions in various energy states,
taking into account their exclusion from occupying the same quantum state

 In contrast, bosons are particles with integer spin values, allowing multiple bosons to occupy
the same quantum state

 Bose-Einstein statistics, developed by Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein, apply to
particles called bosons, which have integer spins (e.g., 0, 1, 2)

 Superconductivity

 Superconductivity occurs when materials reach a critical temperature (Tc) and exhibit zero
electrical resistance

 It is a phenomenon where certain materials, when cooled below a critical temperature (Tc),
exhibit zero electrical resistance and the expulsion of magnetic fields

 Cooper pairs are pairs of electrons that form in superconducting materials below Tc

 These pairs of electrons are bound together by attractive interactions, and they move
through the material without scattering, leading to the absence of electrical resistance in
superconductors

 The Meissner Effect is the expulsion of magnetic fields from a superconductor when cooled
below Tc

 Superconductivity is currently achievable only at extremely low temperatures, with materials

like Mercury, Lead, Aluminum, Tin, and Niobium

 Scientists aim to find materials that can display superconductivity at room temperature

 Zero resistance in superconductors results from electrons forming Cooper pairs, which are
not easily scattered by lattice vibrations, allowing electrons to move freely through the
material

NEWS IN SHORTS (2:10 PM)

 India Stack

 It comprises open APIs and digital public goods aimed at enabling identity, data, and
payment services at a population scale, facilitating digital advancement

 Through MoUs with various nations, India is sharing India Stack solutions to promote
presence-less, paperless, and cashless service delivery, expand digital access, and foster
innovation in emerging technologies like AI and Machine Learning

 Release of radioactive water

 Japan plans to release 1.34 million tonnes of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima
nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean after 12 years, citing negligible radiological impact

 Concerns associated with the release include potential health risks from tritiated water
ingestion, soil and ocean pollution, and economic repercussions like China's ban on seafood
imports from Japan

 Digital India RISC-V Microprocessor (DIR-V) Program

 The program aims to foster the development of next-generation microprocessors in the

country, aiming for collaboration between startups, academia, and multinational companies

 RISC-V ( Reduced Instruction Set Computer - V), is an open-source instruction set

architecture used for creating custom processors, applicable to various technologies such as
wearables, smartphones, IoT devices, high-performance computing, and data centers

 Low pungent mustard

 Indian researchers have developed the first low-pungent mustard variety using Genome
Editing (GE) technology, reducing glucosinolate levels to match Canola quality limits, making
it more palatable and safer for livestock

 Unlike genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which involve introducing foreign genes, gene
editing improves existing genetic material, and such GE crops require clearance from the
Institutional Bio-Safety Committee (IBSC), simplifying the regulatory process

 Einstein Cross

 It is a specific case of gravitational lensing where the curvature of space-time around a

foreground object splits light from a distant object into four points resembling a cross

 Gravitational lensing, described by Einstein's theory of general relativity, occurs when

massive celestial bodies warp space-time, magnifying and distorting the light from objects
behind them, offering insights into the nature of the universe and the distribution of mass

 Demon Particle

 The "Demon particle" (or distinct electron motion) proposed by Pines is exceptional because
it is massless, lacks charge, and doesn't interact with light, making it unique in not requiring
additional energy to form

 Researchers have reportedly discovered the elusive "Demon particle" in the metal strontium
ruthenate, a phenomenon first predicted by physicist David Pines in 1956
  Pines hypothesized that electrons would exhibit unique behavior in solids, forming plasmons
when supplied with sufficient energy, but this usually required extremely high energy levels

 Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid or a plasma (a gas of charged

particles) that occur in response to an external stimulus, such as an electromagnetic field or
photons

Question: What do you understand by superconductivity? Discuss the significance of

superconductivity in both scientific research and practical applications. (150 Words/ 10 Marks)

The topics of Science and Technology for the month of August 2023 were completed