Aral Sea
Research indicates signs of geological changes (elevation of the dried land of the basin) since the water disappeared on Aral Sea.
- Situated between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, it was once the world’s fourth-largest inland water body.
- Shrinking due to Soviet-era irrigation projects diverting feeder rivers (Syr Darya and Amu Darya), leading to ecological collapse.
- Global Recognition: UNESCO added documents related to the Aral Sea tragedy to its Memory of the World Register
Cradle of Humankind
South Africa’s ‘Cradle of Humankind’ caves reopened for public after being closed three years ago due to flooding.
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa, known for its rich fossil deposits.
- Contains evidence of early human ancestors, including Australopithecus fossils.
- Geological Features – Limestone caves like Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai are key excavation sites.
- Provides insights into human evolution and prehistoric life
NOTTO
Recently, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has written to states, UTs to implement swap organ transplant.
- A national-level organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for organ and tissue transplant coordination.
- Maintains a registry of donors and recipients, ensures equitable distribution, and prevents organ trafficking.
- Recent Mandate – Hospitals must generate unique NOTTO-IDs for all transplant cases to curb commercial dealings.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
A study commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser recommended the rollback of the 2015 policy mandating the installation of FGD systems in all of India’s coal-fired plants.
- A technology to remove sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from exhaust gases in thermal power plants.
- Process – Uses absorbents like limestone or ammonia to scrub SO₂, reducing emissions by up to 95%.
- Environmental Impact – Mitigates acid rain and air pollution, protecting ecosystems and infrastructure.
- Challenges – High installation costs and delays in compliance with emission norms
Vehicle to Grid Technology
Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have initiated a pilot project to explore the implementation of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.
- Enables electric vehicles (EVs) to send stored electricity back to the grid via bi-directional chargers.
- Benefits – Stabilizes the grid during peak demand, supports renewable energy integration, and reduces energy costs.
- Applications – Includes Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) energy transfers.