Jerezo
Recently NASA’s rover Perseverance have confirmed that there is evidence of ancient lake sediments deposited by water in this site.
- Jerezo – A crater on Mars that is about 45 kilometers in diameter.
- Located in – Syrtis Major quadrangle
- Feature – Once covered in water and may have harboured microbial life.
- Recent Findings -Revealed sedimentary-like features resembling river deltas on Earth.
Rakthashali and Rajamudi
Recently a couple in Karnataka have documented 840 paddy varieties including Rakthashali and Rajamudi for preservation of rare native varieties.
- Rakthashali – Is a rare and precious variety of rice.
- Features – Dark red in colour and medium in quality, Small and slender-grained rice
- Usage – Used in Ayurveda to treat imbalances in the body.
- Rajamudi – A rice variety cultivated in Karnataka
- Features – Variety of red rice that was earlier grown exclusively for the Wodeyars of Mysore
Alpenglow phenomenon
Astronaut Captures Stunning Alpenglow Phenomenon near Hindu Kush from ISS.
- Aplenglow – Indirect sunlight reflected or diffracted by the atmosphere before sunrise or after sunset
- Significance – Give a horizontal reddish glow near the horizon opposite the Sun.
- Appears in – Range of colors between red, pink, and orange.
- Occurs during – Twilight hours before sunrise or after sunset.
Carbon Market
Centre has prepared a framework to promote Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in the agricultural sector
- Carbon markets – A tool for putting a price on carbon emissions
- Establish trading systems where carbon credits or allowances can be bought and sold.
- Regulated by – Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment
- Two types of Carbon Markets – Compliance Market (officially regulated) and Voluntary Market
Photonic Crystals
New research shows that in reciprocal photonic crystals, backscattering is unavoidable.
- Photonic crystals – Optical nanostructures in which the refractive index changes periodically.
- Refractive index – Measure of the bending of a ray of light when passing from one medium into another.
- Formation – Occur in nature in the form of structural coloration and animal reflectors.
- Examples found in nature – Opal, butterfly wings, peacock feathers, etc., exhibiting distinct iridescent colours.