Month: November 2023

• The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed precise views into somewhat older galaxies, called as ‘teenagers’ in cosmic parlance, shed light on their history and distinctive traits.
• This study is part of the CECILIA Survey, which is named for astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin and uses Webb to analyse the chemical of distant galaxies.

Teenage Galaxies Formation Period: 

• The research focuses on galaxies that originated roughly 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang, which happened approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
• Researchers used Webb to analyse light at various wavelengths from 23 such galaxies, similar to researching their ‘chemical DNA.’
• Key Findings: These adolescent galaxies have different chemical compositions, indicating strong star creation and quick growth stages.

Characteristics of Teenage Galaxies in Comparison to Modern Galaxies: 

• These galaxies differ significantly in appearance and behaviour from modern galaxies.
• Developmental Mysteries: During this phase, they go through critical, but not entirely understood, processes that shape their eventual form and character.
• High Temperatures in Star-Forming Regions: Temperatures in star-forming regions in these galaxies are approximately 24,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is substantially higher than in present-day galaxies.
• Young Stars and Gas characteristics: The temperature fluctuation shows that the stars and gas characteristics of adolescent galaxies differ.
• Elements Observed: These galaxies were found to be blazing with elements like as hydrogen, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, argon, nickel, and silicon.

The Importance of Oxygen and Nickel

• The Importance of Oxygen: As the third-most prevalent element in the cosmos and a fundamental component of galactic DNA, oxygen is critical for tracing the evolution of galaxies.
• Nickel – An Unexpected Discover: The presence of nickel, which is generally not strong enough to be seen in adjacent galaxies, shows that big stars in these galaxies have special properties.
• Undiscovered Elements: Astronomers assume that more elements exist in these galaxies but have yet to be discovered owing to technical limitations.

The Findings’ Implications

• Chemical Immaturity and Rapid Growth: According to the study, these galaxies are in a rapid creation phase and are still chemically immature.
• Understanding the chemical nature of these galaxies offers significant information about the history and rate of star creation.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/james-webb-space-telescope-spies-precocious-teenage-galaxies/article67565120.ece

• The COVID-19 epidemic underlined the internet’s critical role in sustaining worldwide connectedness, which is accomplished mostly by high-speed internet connections.
• These connections, which enable video chats, online payments, and virtual meetings, rely heavily on optical fibre technology.

Understanding the Composition and Size of Optical Fibres: 

• Optical fibres are small strands of glass, almost as thin as a human hair, that are used to transfer data.
• They convey numerous types of data, such as text, photos, and movies, at speeds approaching to the speed of light.
• Optical fibres play an important part in everyday communications such as text messaging and phone conversations.
• Strength vs. Fragility: Despite their thinness, when wrapped in protective coverings, these fibres are robust and durable.
• They are versatile enough to be placed underground, underwater, or wrapped around spools.

Historical Consideration

• Contribution of Charles Kao: Around 60 years ago, scientist Charles Kao proposed employing glass fibres for telecommunications, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 2009.
• Kao’s invention was first viewed with scepticism, but it finally supplanted copper cables in communications.

How Do Optical Fibres Function?

• Light as an Electromagnetic Wave: Light, which is a component of the electromagnetic spectrum, may be controlled and steered using optical fibres.
• Total Internal Reflection: This phenomenon permits light to travel extended distances within a fibre with no power loss.
• Fibre Optic Communication System: This system encodes, transports, and reproduces data using a transmitter, an optical fibre, and a receiver.

Resistance and Data Transmission

• High Data-Transmission Rate: Optical fibres can transport data at terabit-per-second speeds.
• External Disturbances Insensitivity: Unlike copper wires, they are not impacted by external elements like as lightning or severe weather.

Development of Fiber Optic Cables

• Early Experiments: The concept of guiding light in transparent media dates back to the 19th century, with demonstrations by Jean-Daniel Colladon and others. 
• Medical and Defence Applications: Early glass objects were used in medicine and defence before being adapted for data transmission. 

Advances in the 20th Century: 

• Significant progress occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, including the development of glass-clad fibres and the invention of fibre optic cables.

Fibre Optics’ Future Applications: 

• Fibre optics technology is currently widely used in a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, medical science, and laser technology.
• The National Mission of India: The Indian government pledged a large investment in quantum technology and applications in its 2020 Union Budget, emphasising the future potential of fibre optics.
• Quantum Optics and Communication: With rising potential in quantum optics and home networking, the technology is at the vanguard of a new age.

Conclusion

• Fibre Optics’ Impact: The advancement of fibre optics has transformed communication and networking by providing high-speed, dependable data transfer.
• Continued Growth and Innovation: As technology advances, its uses are anticipated to extend further, generating breakthroughs in a variety of industries and improving global communication.

SOurce: https://utilitiesone.com/the-evolution-of-fiber-optic-technology-in-aerospace#:~:text=The%20Future%20of%20Fiber%20Optics%20in%20Aerospace&text=Improved%20Data%20Rates%3A%20Ongoing%20research,doors%20for%20advanced%20aerospace%20applications.

• More than just a pleasant sensation, the scent of newly cut grass is part of a sophisticated plant communication system including Green Leaf Volatiles (GLVs).
• These GLVs are critical signals for plants, alerting them to impending risks such as herbivore assaults.

Plant Eavesdropping Inter-Plant Communication Concept: 

• Plants have an amazing capacity to ‘eavesdrop’ on their neighbours’ distress signals, preparing themselves for comparable threats.
• Implications for Agriculture: Understanding this natural warning system has the potential to revolutionise pest control in agriculture, thereby eliminating the demand for toxic chemicals.

Plant Defence Mechanisms: An Overview

• Calcium is important in plant defence, according to research on mustard plants (Arabidopsis thaliana), with calcium levels increasing in response to harm.
• Researchers were able to visually follow plant reactions to physical injury and GLV exposure by using genetically engineered plants that glow in response to calcium surges.
• Experiments have shown that plants, as revealed by fluorescence in modified mustard plants, can detect and respond to GLVs generated by neighbouring plants.
• Among the GLVs, substances such as E-2-HAL and Z-3-HAL were discovered to cause substantial reactions in plants.

Response to Gene-Level Defence

• Activation of Defence Genes: Plants respond to GLVs by activating particular defense-related genes, suggesting that they perceive these volatiles as danger signals.
• Plant Protection Implications: Gene activation might be a critical stage in natural plant defence systems against herbivores.

Implications and Future Prospects

• Natural Pest management: The research opens the door to the use of GLVs in agricultural pest management, potentially lowering the need for chemical pesticides.
• Alternative Strategies: While promising, researchers are also considering alternative chemicals such as jasmonic acid for pest management while balancing plant growth and fruit output.
• Expanding Plant Sensory Research: The findings stimulate greater research into plant perception and response to external stimuli, particularly in natural contexts with more complicated signalling dynamics.
• Dilution of these chemicals in the open air is one of the major obstacles in researching plant volatile signalling in natural settings.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/plants-danger-green-leaf-volatiles-fluorescence-new-study/article67550984.ece

Farm fires, particularly those caused by paddy crop waste, contribute to air pollution in northern India. Satellite data is used to monitor and treat this issue.

CREAMS Laboratory: Farm Fire Monitoring

• The Consortium for Research on Agro-ecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is in charge of gathering and distributing daily bulletins on paddy residue fires.
• Coverage: The information includes Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
• The following information is provided: The bulletin provides district-specific fire incidence counts, prior year comparison data, location, satellite information, time, and fire intensity.

Satellite Data Collection Satellites: 

• Three NASA satellites acquire data by capturing land surface temperatures (VIIRS on Suomi NPP, MODIS on Terra and Aqua).
• Coverage: These satellites fly over the Indian subcontinent twice a day, at different times.
• Resolution: VIIRS has better resolution than MODIS, which has a coarser resolution.
• Data Application: Satellite data is used to distinguish agricultural fires from other forms of flames, such as forest fires or industrial fires.

Standardisation of Monitoring Protocols: 

• In 2021, a uniform methodology for monitoring agricultural fires using satellite data was created.
• Data Comparison: Comparable data is available beginning in 2020.
• Data from Punjab: The Punjab Remote Sensing Centre offers comparable data for Punjab.

Identifying Paddy Fires Reflectance Signature:

• Paddy crop residue fires are characterised by their distinct reflectance signature.
• Land Surface Temperature: Active fires are determined based on differences in land surface temperature from surrounding locations.
• Fire Intensity: The quantity of residue burnt is indicated by intensity, which is represented as energy released per unit area per unit time.

Agencies Receiving Bulletins:

•  Bulletins are distributed to central and state-level agencies such as the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, and state agriculture departments.
• Action develop: Authorities utilise the data to identify hotspots and develop steps to mitigate farm fires, such as machinery availability.
• Objectives: Using satellite data, certain governments, such as Punjab and Haryana, established objectives for lowering farm fire incidence.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-farm-fires-are-counted-punjab-stubble-burning-9040003/