Mount Spurr: Mini-earthquakes occured in Alaska’s Mount Spurr recently, sparking fears among scientists that the towering 11,000-foot volcano may be on the verge of a major eruption. It is an ice- and snow-covered active stratovolcano complex located in the north-central Cook Inlet region about 100 kilometers west of Anchorage, Alaska, United States. The volcano sits […]
Blue Washing
Blue Washing: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recently introduced a new category of industries called the ‘Blue Category’, which falls under Essential Environmental Services (EES). ‘Blue Washing’ refers to the practice of portraying polluting industries as environmentally friendly by categorising them under less polluting or cleaner industry labels. This term is now used […]
Sunbird : Nuclear Fusion-Powered Rocket
Sunbird : Nuclear Fusion-Powered Rocket Sunbird is a nuclear fusion-powered rocket being developed by Pulsar Fusion, a British startup, to revolutionise interplanetary travel. Sunbird could potentially reach speeds of up to 805,000 km/h, which is faster than the Parker Solar Probe (692,000 km/h), currently the fastest human-made object. This technology could enable missions to Pluto […]
BM-04 Missile
BM-04 Missile: India unveiled the BM-04 missile at a defense exhibition in Hyderabad last month. This next-generation short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) reflects India’s focus on enhancing its conventional counterforce capabilities. The BM-04 is India’s latest short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Unveiled at the Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 defense […]
Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ Disease: Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW) have issued a public alert following a spike in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, prompting concerns over possible contaminated air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria commonly found in freshwater environments like lakes or streams but can also […]
Thar Desert : Annual increase in greening
Thar Desert : Annual increase in greening According to a new study, the Thar Desert in India has experienced a 38% annual increase in greening over the past two decades, driven by significant monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion.It is an arid region of rolling sand hills on the Indian subcontinent. It spans an area of […]
City Key of Honour Award to Indian President
City Key of Honour Award to Indian President: The President of India received the ‘City Key of Honour’ of Lisbon (Portugal), acknowledging the strong ties and goodwill between India and Portugal.It is the highest honour accorded by the city of Lisbon, given by the Mayor to recognise contributions to society or ties with Portugal.2025 marks […]
WMO Retired Hurricane Names for 2024
WMO Retired Hurricane Names for 2024: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has retired four hurricane names Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John from its Atlantic and East Pacific storm lists due to the devastation they caused in 2024, making their reuse inappropriate due to the associated trauma and sensitivity. Beryl became the earliest Category-5 hurricane (Winds […]
Hybrid Paddy Seeds : Banned
Hybrid Paddy Seeds : Banned Punjab government has banned the sale of hybrid paddy seeds ahead of the 2025 Kharif season.The decision follows rice millers’ refusal to accept hybrid rice due to low milling efficiency and broken grain output.Hybrid paddy is a crossbred rice variety developed from two different parent lines to increase yield, water […]
Thorium-based Small Modular Reactor
Thorium-based Small Modular Reactor: Maharashtra signed an MoU with Russia’s ROSATOM to jointly develop a thorium-based Small Modular Reactor (SMR) — a first-of-its-kind initiative by an Indian state in nuclear energy.A Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is a compact, scalable nuclear reactor designed for safe, efficient, and flexible power generation.Thorium-based SMRs utilise Thorium-232, a fertile material, […]
