Crustaceans
Recently, a new water flea species (a crustacean) has been found near Pune.
- Aquatic arthropods with gills for respiration.
- However, some are semiterrestrial and terrestrial species
- Examples – Crabs, shrimps, lobsters, crayfish, woodlice etc.
- Plays Key role in marine food webs (Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings)
Shatavari
Ministry of AYUSH has launched a campaign to increase awareness about Shatavari’s health benefits.
- A medicinal woody climber
- Uses – Dried roots, leaves are used as a drug in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Habitat – Tropical climates.
- Spread across Asia, Australia and Africa.
Atacama Desert
Light pollution threatens the world’s largest telescope in Atacama Desert.
- Situated in – Chile, South America
- Between the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean.
- Includes salt pans, alluvial fans, dunes, and volcanic cones.
- One of the driest places on Earth, caused by Humboldt Current (cold ocean current) flowing off the Pacific Coast.
Quipu Superstructure
Astronomers identified the Quipu Superstructure
- Largest known structure in the universe
- Has mass of 200 quadrillion solar masses and stretches over 1.3 billion light-years.
- Superstructures – Extremely large structures containing groups of galaxy clusters and superclusters.
Pinaka Rocket Launch System
Defence Ministry signed contracts for ammunition procurement for the Pinaka MRLS
- A “multi-barrel rocket launcher” that offers extended-range precision strikes for artillery operations.
- Developed by – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Armenia became the 1st export customer for the Pinaka.