Watermeal
Thailand’s Scientists are exploring the potential of watermeal, as a source of nutrition and oxygen for astronauts.
- World’s smallest flowering plant.
- It is a rootless, stemless plant and floats on water bodies.
- Its simplicity and rapid growth rate make it an ideal candidate for studying the effects of altered gravity on plant development.
- It is a prolific producer of oxygen through photosynthesis and a rich source of protein.
Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole)
As per study, overlapping prey availability or habitat suitability could dictate a positive association between dholes and tigers, facilitating co-existence between two species of carnivores.
- Sympatric refers to animals, plant species, and populations within the same or overlapping geographical areas.
- Range: Found in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia.
- IUCN status: Endangered.
- 1st Dhole conservation breeding center – Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), Visakhapatnam
Nobel Prize for Economics
Nobel Prize for economics was awarded to Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin.
- Reason – for her research that has advanced the understanding of the gender gap in the labour market.
Dam Failures
Damage to Chungthang Dam in Sikkim (source for hydropower plant) highlighted the risks of dam failures in India.
- Banqiao dam failure (1975) in China resulted in collapse of 60 other downstream dams and killed more than 80,000 people.
- Machchhu Dam failure (1979) in Morbi, Gujarat claimed over 2,000 lives.
- Top Indian States with large dams – Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Gujarat > Chhattisgarh > Karnataka
- Top Indian States with large dams more than 100 years old – Madhya Pradesh > Maharashtra > Gujarat > Rajasthan > Telangana