Eight govt entities hit by info-stealing malware

Raccoon Stealer:

• It is a kind of malware that steals various data from an infected computer.
• It is a classic example of information-stealing malware, which cybercriminals typically use to gain possession of sensitive data saved in users’ browsers and cryptocurrency wallets.
• In the case of browsers, targeted data typically includes cookies, saved login details, and saved credit card details.
• In the case of cryptocurrency wallets (henceforth, ‘crypto-wallets’), targeted data typically includes public keys, private keys, and seed phrases
• Once sensitive browser and crypto-wallet data is in the hands of cybercriminals, it will likely be used to conduct harmful activities, such as identity theft, cryptocurrency theft, and credit card fraud.
• Like most info-stealers, Raccoon Stealer is purchasable.
• The operators of Raccoon Stealer sell Raccoon Stealer samples to their customers (called ‘affiliates’), who then use the info-stealer to gain possession of sensitive data saved on users’ devices.

NASA Announces the Astronaut Crew for Artemis II Lunar Flyby

• It will be the first mission to carry humans to the moon''s vicinity since 1972.
• It is the second scheduled flight of the Artemis program and the first crewed Artemis mission.
• During Artemis II, four astronauts will fly around the moon before returning to Earth.
• It will use the huge Space Launch System (SLS) mega-rocket and Orion spacecraft to launch the crew on the lunar flyby mission.
• The astronauts and mission controllers will collect data on Orion and the crew''s performance to assess how ready the Artemis program is to send people to the moon''s surface.

Artemis Program:

• It is NASA''s program to return astronauts to the Moon, preparing the way for human missions to Mars.
• It aim to "land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon", explore the lunar surface.
• The Artemis program includes the construction of the Lunar Gateway space station in orbit around the Moon.
• Artemis I: An uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on November 16, 2022.

Miyawaki forest coming up at Deonar in Govandi

• It is a method of afforestation developed by the Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert Professor Akira Miyawaki.
• It involves planting two to four types of indigenous trees within every square meter.
• In this method, the trees become self-sustainable and grow to their full length within three years.
• Miyawaki forests grow 10x faster, are 30 x denser and contain 100x more biodiversity.
• They are quick to establish, maintenance-free after the first two-to-three years, and can be created on sites as small as 3 sq m.
• The goals of a Miyawaki technique include improving biodiversity, sequestering carbon, increasing green cover, lowering air pollution, and preserving the water table.
• Miyawaki forests are viable solutions for cities looking to rapidly build climate resilience.

Country''s first 3D-printed post office coming up in Bengaluru

• Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor, Bangalore.
• It is being implemented by Larsen & Toubro, which has experience in constructing 3D-printed buildings.
• It is a 1,100 sqft building which is expected to cost 30-40 per cent less than conventional buildings because of the technological intervention.
• It is being built at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

3D-printing

• 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file.
• The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes.
• In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object.
• 3D printing enables you to produce complex shapesusing less material than traditional manufacturing methods.

Large deposits of 15 rare earth elements found in Andhra Pradesh

• REE are a set of seventeen elements in the periodic table. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium.
• REE are all metals, and the group is often referred to as the "rare earth metals.
• Although called "rare", they are actually found relatively abundantly in the Earth''s crust.
• Why they are called "rare"? These metals are very difficult to mine because it is unusual to find them in concentrations high enough for economical extraction.
• These metals have many similar properties, and that often causes them to be found together in geologic deposits.
• They are also referred to as "rare earth oxides" because many of them are typically sold as oxide compounds.
• Applications:
  • REE and alloys that contain them are used in many devices that people use every day such as computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lighting and much more.
  • Rare earths are used as catalysts, phosphors, and polishing compounds.

Astronomers used machine learning to mine data from South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope

• It is situated in South Africa’s Northern Cape province and is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.
• It was originally known as the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT) which would consist of 20 receptors.
• At present, it is having an array of 64 interlinked receptors.
• It uses radio signals from space to study the evolution of the universe and everything it contains.
• Astronomers used a coding framework called Astronomoly and found Odd Radio Circle, which they named SAURON (a Steep and Uneven Ring Of Non-thermal Radiation).

Odd Radio Circles

• These are very large mysterious objects that are highly circular and bright along the edges at radio wavelengths.
• Although ORCs are bright at radio wavelengths, they cannot be observed at visible, infrared or X-ray wavelengths.

Machine learning

• It is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science which focuses on the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy.

Webb Reveals Never-Before-Seen Details in Cassiopeia A

• It is a remnant of a massive star that exploded some 340 years ago.
• It is the youngest remnant off a the massive star in our galaxy known to mankind.
• Cas A belongs to the prototypical type of supernova remnant and has been extensively studied by a number of ground-based and space-based observatories,
• The remnant spans about 10 light-years and is located 11,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
• It gives information related to the supernovae phenomenon and its complexities.

supernova explosion

• It is the explosion of a star and is the largest explosion that takes place in space.
• It happens when there is a change in the core, or center, of the star. A change can occur in two different ways, with both resulting in a supernova.
• The first type of supernova happens in binary star systems:
  • Binary stars are two stars that orbit the same point. One of the stars, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, steals matter from its companion star.
  • Eventually, the white dwarf accumulates too much matter. Having too much matter causes the star to explode, resulting in a supernova.
• The second type of supernova occurs at the end of a single star’s lifetime:
  • As the star runs out of nuclear fuel, some of its mass flows into its core. Eventually, the core is so heavy that it cannot withstand its own gravitational force.
  • The core collapses, which results in the giant explosion of a supernova.

NM-ICPS Mission can accelerate technology translation and commercialization through TIHs spanning all over the country

National Mission in Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems:

• It was launched in 2018 at a total outlay of Rs.3660 Crores for a period of five years.
• Objectives: It is comprehensive mission to address technology development, application development, human resource development & skill enhancement, entrepreneurship and start-up development in CPS and associated technologies.
• As part of the Mission implementation, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established in advanced technologies in reputed institutes across the country.
• Nodal Ministry: It is being implemented by Department of Science & Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology

Cyber-physical system

• It combines digital/cyber elements with physical objects (e.g. machines, autonomous vehicles) and data with capabilities of communication, data collection & processing, computing, decision making and action
• It is an integrated system involving Sensors, Communication, Actuators, Control, interconnected computing networks and data analytics.

NASA''s High-Resolution Air Quality Control Instrument Launches

Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution:

• It will monitor major air pollutants across North America.
• Observations:
  • It will make important scientific observations, including that of ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and formaldehyde levels.
  • It is capable of measuring air quality over North America hourly during the daytime with a resolution of several square miles.
  • It monitors the effects of everything from rush-hour traffic to pollution from forest fires and volcanoes.
  • The present pollution-monitoring satellites are in low Earth orbit (LEO), but this new monitoring instrument is hosted in geostationary orbit.
• After this launch NASA has joined South Korea’s Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-4 satellite to become an air quality monitoring satellite constellation.

Assam set to attempt a world-record Bihu performance

Rongali Bihu:

• It is one of the major festival of Assam which is commonly known as Bohag bihu
• It is the most popular Bihu that celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year and the coming of spring.
• The word ''Rongali'' is derived from ''Rong'' which means Happiness and celebrations.
• This festival reflects the rich culture of Assamese society.
• During the celebration, traditional pat or muga silk or cotton mekhela chadors are worn by ladies (the two-piece attire).
• As a sign of affection and respect, gamocha, the traditional Assamese towel, also known as Bihuwaan, is exchanged.

Bihu

• Bihu is a secular festival that is celebrated by people from all parts of Assam irrespective of caste creed or religious background.
  • The first Bihu is known as the Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, which is celebrated in the month of April.
  • The secand Bihu is known as Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu, which is celebrated during the month of October
  • Finally there is Magh Bihu, which is observed during the month of January.