Probiotic
Scientists have uncovered a new strain of lactic acid bacterium that could be a promising probiotic for food and pharmaceutical industry.
- Live microorganisms (bacteria and yeasts) that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to body.
- Naturally occurs in human gut and other parts of body
- Helps digestive system to break down sugars like lactose into lactic acid.
- Found in – Yogurt and other fermented foods, dietary supplements, and beauty products.
- Benefits – Improve intestinal tract health; Help body to maintain healthy community of microorganisms and stimulate systemic immune response etc.
Greenium (Green Premium)
Indian sovereign green bonds hardly received any Greenium from private investor’s according to Economic Survey 2023-24.
- Additional cost of choosing a clean technology over one that emits more greenhouse gases.
- Based on the logic that investors are willing to pay extra or accept lower yields in exchange for sustainable impact (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)).
Curiosity Rover
NASA’s Curiosity rover discovers yellowish-green crystals of pure (elemental) sulfur on Mars.
- Launched in – 2011 to study where and when the planet’s ancient terrain could have provided the nutrients needed for microbial life.
- About the Discovery –
- Sulfur is one of the 6 building blocks, along with carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus.
- Presence of Sulfur on Mars suggests possibilities of life-bearing conditions.
Graphite
Coal India Limited got its first critical-mineral asset, a graphite block in Madhya Pradesh.
- Crystalline allotropes of carbon.
- Other carbon allotropes – Diamond and Fullerene.
- Natural graphite available in 3 forms – Amorphous, flake, and crystalline vein graphite.
- Non-metal but has many properties of metals.
- Good conductor of electricity and has high natural strength and stiffness.
- Corrosion-resistant against most common acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid) and has high natural lubricity and one of the lightest of all reinforcing agents.
Clarion clipperton Zone
India will apply for licences from International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore deep-sea minerals in Clarion-clipperton Zone of Pacific Ocean for Critical Minerals.
- A region across the central Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Mexico, that are rich in polymetallic nodules.
- Polymetallic nodules – Potential mineral resource for copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, and rare earth elements.
- Essential for electric vehicles and solar panels, including manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt.