{"id":14946,"date":"2021-04-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/26-04-2021\/facts-in-news-135\/"},"modified":"2024-05-06T18:49:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T13:19:48","slug":"facts-in-news-135","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-04-2021\/facts-in-news-135","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Facts in News<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Snow Leopard<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Panthera uncia.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Habitat:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Cold High Mountains.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • These are found in 12 countries including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia & Mongolia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Diet: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Carnivore & hunt blue sheep, Argali wild sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas, hares, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Features<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • One of the world\u2019s most elusive cats & are perfectly equipped to thrive in extreme, high-elevation habitats.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Insulated with thick white-gray coats spotted with large black rosettes & wide, fur-covered feet act as natural snowshoes. Tail helps in balancing and also covers the body while sleeping.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Shy & rarely seen in the wild.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Threats<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • Increased conflict due to expansion of human settlement & livestock grazing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Poaching for trade in body parts and fur.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Climate change & shrinkage in habitat.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Conservation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • Establishment of protected areas like sanctuaries & corridors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Strengthen enforcement against poaching.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Building awareness.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Protection Status<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Cotton Pygmy Goose<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Scientific Name: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Nettapus coromandelianus.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Habitat:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Freshwater wetlands with extensive floating vegetation especially water lilies.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • They are distributed in South East Asia & parts of eastern Australia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Features<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Tiny duck belonging to the anatidae family which is constituted by ducks, geese and swans.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Male has a bright white head and neck with a dark crown and eyes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Female is plainer, with a strong dark eye-line that does not continue back to the nape.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • In India, they breed between June and August, seeking tree hollows to build the nests.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Concerns<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • Decreasing population due to habitat loss.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Climate change and natural disasters (hurricanes, global warming, tsunamis, etc).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Disease & anthropogenic threats.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Conservation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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          • Geographically spaced populations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Protecting wetlands from storms & sea level change.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Post-disaster contingency plans for population restoration.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Protection Status<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Unicorn Black Hole<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • It is <\/span><\/span><\/span>possibly the smallest-known <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>black hole<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the Milky Way galaxy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and the <\/span><\/span><\/span>closest to the solar system<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
      \n
    • The black hole is located <\/span><\/span><\/span>about 1,500 light years <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(the distance light travels in a year, 9.5 trillion km) <\/span><\/span><\/span>from Earth<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • It is <\/span><\/span><\/span>roughly three times the mass of the sun<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • A<\/span><\/span><\/span> luminous star<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> called a <\/span><\/span><\/span>red giant orbits <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>with the black hole in a so-called<\/span><\/span><\/span> binary star system named V723 Mon<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Black holes are electromagnetically dark so they are difficult to find. However,<\/span><\/span><\/span> tidal distortion<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> on the companion star of Unicorn indicated its presence.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • Its strong gravity <\/span><\/span><\/span>alters the shape of the companion star<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in a phenomenon known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>tidal distortion<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, making it<\/span><\/span><\/span> elongated rather than spherical <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and causes its light to change as it moves along its orbital path.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        (Image Courtesy: <\/span><\/span><\/span>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Oxygen Concentrators<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • An oxygen concentrator or generator is a device recommended by doctors to <\/span><\/span><\/span>fulfill the shortage of oxygen<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and it functions with the help of <\/span><\/span><\/span>atmospheric air and electricity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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    • The oxygen concentrator takes in this air, filters it through a sieve, releases the nitrogen back into the air, and works on the remaining oxygen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Oxygen concentrators are the easiest alternatives to cylinders but can only supply<\/span><\/span><\/span> 5-10 litres of oxygen<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> per minute (critical patients may need <\/span><\/span><\/span>40-50 litres per minute<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>) and are best suited for <\/span><\/span><\/span>moderately ill patients<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • An oxygen concentrator can only be used under medical supervision and prescription and it should not be considered as a treatment for COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Image Courtesy: Zee news\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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EXERCISE VARUNA \u2013 2021<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • India and France commenced their <\/span><\/span><\/span>annual \u201cVaruna<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>” joint <\/span><\/span><\/span>naval exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> with large-scale drills in <\/span><\/span><\/span>the western Arabian Sea.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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    • This is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>19th edition<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • India and France have been holding these exercises since <\/span><\/span><\/span>1993.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • The joint exercise will comprise <\/span><\/span><\/span>various drills <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>across the spectrum of maritime operations, \u201cwith the goal of <\/span><\/span><\/span>fostering interoperability<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>mutual learning<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> between the two navies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The exercise plays a key role in the two countries\u2019 joint vision for a \u201cfree, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific\u201d and a rules-based international order.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Other Military Exercises of India\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      • Malabar Exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>: Navies of India, USA, and Japan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • JIMEX: <\/span><\/span><\/span>India-Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Ex-Desert Knight 21 exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>– It is a bilateral air exercise to be held between Indian Air Force and the French air and Space Force.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Indra Dhanush<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>-It is a joint air force exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Exercise Pitch Black-<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> India and Australia.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
          \n
        • The main aim of the exercise is to practice Defensive Counter Air combat and Offensive Counter Air Combat<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • AUSINDEX<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Australian Navy.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • Both countries hold bilateral army exercises named\u00a0 AUSTRAHIND.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Dharma Guardian<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>-The joint military exercise named \u201cDharma Guardian\u201d between India and Japan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Aviaindra <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2013India and Russia joint air exercise.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Nomadic Elephant-<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>India and\u00a0 Mongolia joint exercise.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Deep Time Project<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Scientists at the Human Adaption Institute leading the 1.2 million-euro (US$1.5 million) <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cDeep Time\u201d Project.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Under the Project, Eight men and seven women lived for 40 days in the dark, damp depths of the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Lombrives cave in the Pyrenees <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>southwestern France.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • There was<\/span><\/span><\/span> no sunlight inside<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>temperature was 10 degrees Celsius <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(50 F) and t<\/span><\/span><\/span>he relative humidity stood at 100 percent<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The cave dwellers had <\/span><\/span><\/span>no contact<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> with the <\/span><\/span><\/span>outside world, no updates<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> on the <\/span><\/span><\/span>pandemic nor any communications <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>with friends or family.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The project aimed to test how people respond to losing their sense of time and space.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • It will help scientists to better understand how people adapt to drastic changes in living conditions and environments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Facts in News Snow Leopard Scientific Name: Panthera uncia. Habitat: Cold High Mountains. These are found in 12 countries including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia & Mongolia. Diet: Carnivore & hunt blue sheep, Argali wild sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas, hares, etc. Features One of the world\u2019s most elusive cats & are perfectly equipped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[30,26,25,42],"class_list":["post-14946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs-2","tag-gs-3","tag-gs1","tag-literature"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/7240878current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14946"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24369,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14946\/revisions\/24369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}