Now, a bacteria that can eat methane. Can it reduce global warming?

A strain of bacteria could potentially remove methane from major emission sites such as landfills, paddy fields, and oil and gas wells, according to a new study.

• The bacterial strain Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C consumes methane, which is over 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) on a 20-year timescale. It is responsible for nearly 30 per cent of the total global warming.
• Methane-eating bacteria (methanotrophs) can be an attractive option. But they grow best when the  methane concentration is around 5,000-10,000 parts per million (ppm).
• However, methane levels in key emission sites are around 500 ppm. So the researchers screened a range of existing methanotrophs to identify those that consume such low methane (500 ppm) at significantly higher rates.
• They found that Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C performed the best at 500 ppm. Further tests also showed that this strain grew well even at 200 ppm.
• It can grow at low methane concentrations ranging from 200-1,000 ppm. “These features make this strain a promising candidate for methane removal technology,” the researchers explained.
• Bacteria produce biomass after consuming methane. This biomass can be used as feed in aquaculture.
• For every tonne of methane consumed, the bacteria can generate 0.78 tonne biomass dry-weight methane. It has a value of roughly $1,600 per tonne, the study found..
• They also recommend making genetic changes to the bacterial strain. This can be done by inducing gene mutations and choosing strains with desired characteristics.
• By incorporating these changes, nations across the globe can prevent 240 million tonnes of methane from major emission sites from entering the atmosphere by deploying 50,000-300,000 treatment units for 20 years.
• Researchers expect a few challenges if the technology is scaled up. For instance, controlling temperature is tricky. As the optimal temperature range is 25-30oC, both too-low and too-high temperatures become problematic for bacterial growth, the researchers noted.

Highly contagious virus hit 49 countries since 2021

Only way to contain the virus is to cull the infected, in-contact pigs and bury them in lime-treated deep trenches

African Swine Fever (ASF)

• Large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family.
  • Only virus with a double-stranded DNA genome known to be transmitted by arthropods.
  • Affects domestic & wild pigs.
• Symptoms: Includes weight loss, intermittent fever, respiratory signs, chronic skin ulcers & arthritis. Acute forms are characterised by anorexia, loss of appetite & haemorrhages in the skin.
• Transmission: Through natural hosts (warthogs, bushpigs & ticks) acting as vectors & by direct/indirect contact with infected pigs, their faeces & body fluids.
• Vaccination: No approved vaccine yet.
• Geographical Distribution: First detected in Kenya in 1909 & currently found in Asia, Europe & Africa.
• Public Health Risk: Not risky for humans.

G20 health ministers prioritise, commit to tackling AMR with One Health approach

The two-day G20 health ministers meeting concluded in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on August 19, 2023. The ministers met in order to discuss major issues and challenges pertaining to global health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was part of one of the three key health-related priority areas of the meeting set under India’s G20 presidency.

Antimicrobial Resistance

• Antimicrobial Resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs that are used to treat infections.
  • It occurs when a microorganism changes over time and no longer responds to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top ten threats to global health.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
• In India, over 56,000 newborn deaths each year due to sepsis caused by organisms that are resistant to first line antibiotics.
• A study reported by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) from 10 hospitals showed that when Covid patients acquire drug-resistant infections in hospitals, the mortality is almost 50-60%.
• The multi-drug resistance determinant, New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), emerged from this region.
  • Africa, Europe and other parts of Asia have also been affected by multi-drug resistant typhoid originating from South Asia.

Concerns Regarding AMR

• Life-threatening Condition: The growth of AMR has proved to be a major challenge in the treatment of sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition and, unfortunately, the failure of antibiotics is leading to deaths which are preventable.
• Reduction in Medical Advances: AMR is also undermining and undoing medical advances made over decades, especially for high-burden diseases like tuberculosis and various cancers.
• Achievements of Goals: It is putting the gains of the Millennium Development Goals at risk and endangers achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Increase in Superbugs: Untreated wastewater from medical facilities is awash with chemical compounds that promote superbugs.
• Expanding with Time: The concoction of self-medication and over the counter (OTC) antibiotic availability has led to one of the highest rates of antibiotic resistance in the world.

Alcanivorax borkumensis Biofilms Enhance Oil Degradation By Interfacial Tubulation

Alcanivorax borkumensis

• It is a marine bacterium that uses exclusively petroleum oil hydrocarbons as sources of carbon and energy (and is therefore designated “hydrocarbonoclastic”).
• It is found in low numbers in all oceans of the world and becomes abundant in oil-contaminated waters.
• It may now serve as a model organism to understand bacterial alkane metabolism.
• It is a rod-shaped bacterium without flagella that obtains its energy primarily from eating alkanes (a type of hydrocarbon).
• It is aerobic, meaning it uses oxygen to gain energy.
• It is halophilic, meaning it tends to form in environments that contain salt, such as salty ocean water.
• It also can flourish in areas with heavy tides and other sea-related currents.
• It is found only on or near the surface of the water.
• It can live in salinities ranging from 1‐12.5% and in temperatures ranging from 4‐35°C.
• Its ubiquity, unusual physiology and demonstrated role in biodegradation show that it is globally important in the removal of hydrocarbons from polluted marine systems.

IREDA signs MoU with MNRE, setting annual performance target for the year 2022-23

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)

• It is a Mini Ratna (Category–I) non-banking financial institution under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFC) in 1987.
• IREDA has been notified as a “Public Financial Institution” under Section 4 ‘A’ of the Companies Act, 1956, and registered as NBFC with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• IREDA is primarily engaged in promoting, developing, and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation.
• Motto: ENERGY FOR EVER
• Objectives:
  • To give financial support to specific projects and schemes for generating electricity and/ or energy through new and renewable sources and conserving energy through energy efficiency.
  • To maintain its position as a leading organisation by providing efficient and effective financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency/ conservation projects.
• Funding: IREDA generates its revenue through the interest and principal repayments from the projects it finances, as well as by raising funds from the market and through borrowings.

FDA approves first vaccine to protect newborns from RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

• It is a common respiratory virus.
• RSV is one of the most frequent causes of childhood illness.
• It usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
• Premature infants, babies younger than 6 months old, people over age 65, and people who have a compromised immune system, chronic lung disease, or congenital heart condition can get a more severe case of RSV.
• A severe infection leads to pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
• Transmission: RSV spreads from person to person through-
  • The air by coughing and sneezing;
  • Direct contact, such as kissing the face of a child who has RSV;
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands;
• People who have an RSV infection are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days. But sometimes infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus for as long as 4 weeks.
• Symptoms: The symptoms of RSV infection usually start about 4 to 6 days after infection. They include-
  • Runny nose,
  • Decrease in appetite,
  • Cough,
  • Sneezing,
  • Fever,
  • Wheezing,
  • RSV can also cause more severe infections, especially in people at high risk. These infections include bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region releases new

North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS)

• It was approved by the Government of India as a Central Sector Scheme in 2017.
• Under the scheme guidelines of NESIDS, 100% of the central funding is provided to the State Governments of North Eastern Region.
• The funding is provided for projects of physical infrastructure relating to water supply, power, and connectivity, enhancing tourism, and Social infrastructure relating to primary and secondary sectors of education and health.
• New guidelines:
  • For the period from 2022-23 to 2025-26, Cabinet approved two components, , NESIDS-Road and NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure (OTRI).
  • The scheme is a central sector scheme with 100% central funding.
  • The decisions of the Government, including the merger of the erstwhile North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) into the NESIDS-Road component etc., necessitated the formulation of fresh guidelines to administer and implement the restructured NESIDS during the balance period of the 15th Finance Commission.
• The objective of schemes
  • To supplement the efforts of the different Central Ministries & Departments for uncovered development/welfare activities.
  • These schemes help in gap-filling support to the eight North Eastern States as per their felt needs by taking up projects.

NHPC signs pact with RITES to construct railway siding for 2,880 MW Dibang project

Dibang Multipurpose Project

• It is a flood control and hydroelectric power project planned to be developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh.
• At 2,880 MW of installed capacity, it will be the country’s biggest hydropower facility.
• It is being developed by India’s state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• Dibang hydroelectric plant makeup:
• The project envisages the construction of a 278m-high and 375m-long concrete gravity dam, which will be the highest dam structure in the country.
• The dam will create a 43 km-long reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 3.85 billion cubic metres.
• It includes six horseshoe-shaped head race tunnels of length varying from 300m to 600m with 9m diameter, an underground Power House, and six horseshoe-shaped tail race tunnels of length varying from 320m to 470m with 9m diameter.

Dibang River

• It flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states of India.
• It is an upstream tributary of Brahmaputra.
• Origin: The Dibang originates near Keya Pass on the Indo-Chinese border in the Upper Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Tributaries: The Sisar, Mathun, Tangon, Dri, Ithun and Emra are the major tributaries of the Dibang.
• The Mishmi Hills are found along the upper course of the Dibang River.

Hubble Space Telescope captures image of irregular galaxy ESO 300-16

• An irregular galaxy is a galaxy that does not have a distinct regular shape, like a spiral or an elliptical galaxy.
• They range from dwarf irregular galaxies with 100 million times the Sun’s mass to large ones weighing 10 billion solar masses.
• They also contain abundant amounts of gas and dust.
• Formation: There are many ways in which an irregular galaxy can be formed.
  • For example, one can result from a collision between galaxies. When this happens, gravitational forces between separate galaxies interact, which causes an irregular type of rotation.
  • A young galaxy can also take an irregular form, suggesting that it has not yet reached a symmetrical rotation.
• Irregular galaxies born from galaxy interactions or collisions typically host a mix of older and younger stars.

Hubble Space Telescope:

• It was built under the supervision of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States and was named after Edwin Hubble, the foremost American astronomer of the 20th century.
• The HST was placed into orbit about 600 km (370 miles) above Earth by the crew of the space shuttle Discovery on April 25, 1990.
• It is considered by many to be the most important scientific tool ever to be built, having churned out more than 15 lakh observations that have been used to publish around 18,000 research papers.
• It is larger than a school bus in size, has a 7.9 feet mirror, and captures stunning images of deep space, playing a major role in helping astronomers understand the universe by observing the most distant stars, galaxies and planets.

Last survivors of Piripkura tribe found in Brazil

Piripkura Tribe

• They are a nomadic tribe from the Mato Grasso region of Brazil.
• The tribe is known for its isolation and efforts to maintain its traditional way of life.
• These people have faced significant challenges due to encroachment on their land by illegal logging, mining, and other forms of land exploitation.
• Their territory has been under threat from deforestation and resource extraction.

Amazon Rainforest

• Amazon Rainforest is large tropical rainforest occupying the drainage basin of the Amazon River and its tributaries in northern South America and covering an area of 2,300,000 square miles
• It comprises about 40 per cent of Brazil’s total area.
• It is bounded by the Guiana Highlands to the north, the Andes Mountains to the west, the Brazilian central plateau to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Children in Congo facing worst cholera outbreak since 2017

Cholera

• It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• It remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
• Symptoms
  • It is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea.
  • Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting, Leg cramps etc.
• The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate sewage and drinking water treatment.
• Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV**), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus**.
• All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.

UNICEF

• UNICEF stands for the United Nations Children''s Fund.
• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.
• It was established in 1946 and is headquartered in New York City, United States.
• The organisation operates in over 190 countries and territories around the world.
• It is working to ensure that every child has access to basic healthcare, education, nutrition, clean water, and protection from violence and exploitation.

ICSSR to study socio-economic impact of Centre''s schemes

Indian Council of Social Science Research

• It was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country on the recommendation of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee.
• It is an autonomous organisation funded by the Ministry of Education.
• Functions: It provides grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, surveys, publications etc., to promote research in social sciences in India.
• The Council aims to:
  • Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;
  • Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences.

Public policy initiatives

• It refers to the actions, programs, and strategies that governments, organisations, and institutions implement to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges.
• These initiatives are designed to influence and guide the behaviour of individuals, communities, and businesses while achieving specific policy goals.

TRAI to use AI to monitor, measure network quality

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

• It was established by an Act of Parliament called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• Purpose: To regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
• It is responsible for framing regulations, guidelines, and policies for the telecommunications sector in India. This includes setting rules related to tariffs, quality of service, and the allocation of spectrum.
• Composition:
  • It consists of a Chairperson and not more than two full-time members, and not more than two part-time members.
  • The chairperson and the members of TRAI are appointed by the Central Government, and the duration for which they can hold their office is three years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Government Control over TRAI:
  • TRAI is not a completely independent telecom regulator.
  • Under section 25 of the Act, Central Government has the power to issue directions which are binding on TRAI.
  • The TRAI is also funded by the Central Government.
• The recommendations made by the TRAI are not binding on the Central Government.
• Central Government has to mandatorily ask for recommendations from TRAI with respect to the need and timing of new service providers and the terms and conditions of the licence to be granted to the service provider.
• TRAI also has the power to notify in the official gazette of the rates at which telecommunication services are being provided in and outside India.