Month: January 2024

Categories
Art & Culture Uncategorized

Pakke-Paga Hornbill Festival

  • The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) will be held in Arunachal Pradesh, promoting the region’s dedication to wildlife conservation, with a specific emphasis on hornbills.
  • This event, slated for 18-20 January, 2024, in Seijosa, Pakke Kessang area, brings together various communities to work together to safeguard these unique birds and raise environmental awareness.
  • Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival’s theme is “Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh”.
  • Meaning: This year’s theme, which translates as “Let Our Hornbills Remain” in Nyishi, emphasises the essential need of maintaining these wonderful birds.
  • Conservation Advocacy: The PPHF acts as a platform to campaign for the preservation of hornbill populations and their natural habitats.

Emphasis on Wildlife Conservation

  • Hornbill Species: The Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Arunachal Pradesh is home to four hornbill species: wreathed, great Indian, oriental pied, and the endangered Rufous-necked hornbill.
  • Nyishi Tribal Contribution: The celebration honours the Nyishi, Arunachal Pradesh’s biggest tribal community, for their important involvement in hornbill conservation. They went from hunting hornbills to advocating for their preservation.
  • Alternative revenue: PPHF’s goal is to provide alternative sources of revenue for the region and promote awareness of PTR and its environs, so promoting economic growth while protecting the environment.
Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/india/arunachal-pradesh-s-pakke-paga-hornbill-festival-gears-up-for-its-9th-edition-93924
Categories
Highlights from Newspaper

The Selection Process for Republic Day Tableaux and Recent Controversies

  • The idea by the Defence Ministry for a rollover plan for states and UTs to display their tableaux at the Republic Day parade comes amid continuous issues and protests from several states.
  • The strategy intends to ensure that every state and territory has a chance to participate over a three-year period, solving the issue of restricted slots (about 15) available each year.

Republic Day Tableaux Selection Process

  • Tableaux may be sent by State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Ministries/Departments.
  • Application Procedure: Interested firms must submit a concept note and design blueprints to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) before a deadline.
  • Evaluation by an Expert Committee: The Ministry of Defence establishes a committee of art, culture, and related subject professionals to review the ideas in two stages:
    • Stage 1: Initial evaluation of concepts and design sketches, with probable rejections or revisions suggested.
    • Stage 2: Three-dimensional model evaluation, leading to final selection or further revisions.

Factor Selection Criteria 

  • Visual appeal, thematic relevancy, detailing, accompanying music, usage of local artists, and conformity to the year’s overarching theme were all taken into account.
  • “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and “Bharat: Loktantra ki Matrika” (India: the Mother of Democracy) are the themes for 2024.
  • Guidelines: The Ministry of Defence establishes standards for the use of young designers, electronic displays, robots, 3D printing, augmented/virtual reality, and environmentally friendly materials. Compliance with these criteria is encouraged.

Disagreements and Rejections

  • Concerns of Opposition-Ruled States: States such as Karnataka, Punjab, and West Bengal have voiced discontent with the rejection of their tableaux.
  • The Centre’s Position: The Centre has upheld its decision without elaborating on the basis for its rejection.
  • Possible Rejection Reasons: Misalignment with the wider subject, as stated by MoD sources about the plans from Punjab and West Bengal.
  • Political Allegations: A lawmaker argued that the Delhi government’s exclusion was unjustified, with the intention of highlighting the state’s governance paradigm.

@the end

  • Navigating Difficulties: The revised rollover plan and selection process strive to strike a compromise between equal state representation and respect to thematic and aesthetic requirements.
  • Addressing Dissatisfaction: While the proposal aims to reduce yearly complaints, it also raises concerns about openness and political factors in the selection process.
  • Prospects for the Future: Maintaining the integrity and joyous atmosphere of the Republic Day parade requires an open, inclusive, and theme-compliant selection procedure.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-states-union-territories-may-get-to-showcase-tableau-once-in-three-years/article67727789.ece
Categories
Highlights from Newspaper

Surat and Indore are the cleanest cities in India, according to the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023

  • Surat in Gujarat and Indore in Madhya Pradesh were named India’s cleanest cities at the Union Urban Affairs Ministry’s annual clean city awards 2023.

About

  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Survekshan in 2016 as a competitive framework to encourage urban sanitation improvements and community engagement.
  • Swachh Survekshan has expanded over time to become the world’s largest urban sanitation survey.
  • The emphasis of the 2023 version (SS 2023) is on waste source segregation, expanding city waste processing capacity, and minimising trash delivered to dumpsites.
  • SS 2023 adds additional indicators with greater significance, concentrating on phased plastic reduction, improved plastic waste management, “waste to wonder” parks, and zero-waste events.
  • SS 2023 encourages the ranking of wards within cities.
  • The survey rates cities based on specific indications such as ‘Open Urination’ (Yellow Spots) and ‘Open Spitting’ (Red Spots).

Highlights from the 2023 Clean City Awards 

  • Top Rankings: Surat and Indore tied for first place, with Navi Mumbai taking third place in the category of cleanest cities.
  • Indore’s Consistent Success: Indore has been named the cleanest city for the seventh consecutive year.
  • Other notable cities include: Greater Visakhapatnam, Bhopal, Vijayawada, New Delhi, Tirupati, Greater Hyderabad, and Pune are also among the top ten cleanest cities in India.

Special Categories and State Rankings

  • Maharashtra has emerged as the top performer in the state rankings, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
  • Smaller Cities and Cantonment Boards: Sasvad and Lonavala in Maharashtra, and Patan in Chhattisgarh, were the best achievers in cities with a population of less than one lakh. Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow Cantonment Board was named the cleanest cantonment board.
  • Cleanest Ganga Towns: Varanasi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh were named the cleanest towns on the Ganga.

Themes and Awards

  • Awards for Swachh Survekshan: These awards, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), have grown to become the world’s largest urban sanitation survey.
  • Themes: The topic of the 2023 poll was “Waste to Wealth,” whereas the forthcoming 2024 survey will emphasise “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.”

Indore’s Ascension to the Top of the Rankings

  • Indore’s extraordinary rise from 25th place in 2016 to regular first place is impressive.
  • Key Success Factors: The success of the city is credited to a sustainable waste collection, processing, and disposal system, as well as community engagement and innovative sanitation initiatives.

Sanitation Initiatives in Indore

  • trash Segregation and Disposal: Indore updated its sanitation and trash collection system, enlisting the help of non-governmental organisations and altering the routes of rubbish disposal trucks.
  • Legacy rubbish Management: The city cleaned and handled a considerable volume of legacy rubbish at the Devguradiya landfill in a timely and effective manner.
  • Infrastructure Development: Funds have been set up for the construction of garbage transfer terminals and treatment plants.
  • Community Engagement: Efforts were made to instill good cleanliness practices in residents, such as the provision of free trash cans and the imposition of fines for littering.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/swachh-survekshan-awards-2023-indore-surat-cleanest-cities-in-india/article67729762.ece#:~:text=Surat%20in%20Gujarat%20and%20Indore,Mumbai%20bagged%20the%20third%20spot.
Categories
International Relations

Understanding the Change in India-Maldives Relations

  • The Maldives, a country noted for its maritime beauty, has recently made political headlines.
  • The strained diplomatic relations with India are at the heart of these developments, after undiplomatic statements by members of Muizzu’s government against the Indian Prime Minister and Indians in general.
  • As a result of this circumstance, the Maldives’ foreign policy and ties with regional countries, notably India and China, have undergone considerable changes.
  • The recent diplomatic fallout was precipitated by insulting statements made by Maldivian politicians towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians.
  • The Maldivian government responded by removing the three ministers implicated.
  • In India, there is a rising push to boycott the Maldives as a tourist destination and instead boost Lakshadweep tourism.

The Most Important Issues in the Maldives-India Relationship

Decadal Bonds

  • The diplomatic and political alliance established over six decades is under threat.
  • India’s historical links with the Maldives extend back to 1965, following British sovereignty, and include significant relationships in a variety of areas.

What is India’s need for the Maldives?

  • Strategic Location: Because of its proximity to India’s west coast and its location in major water lanes, the Maldives is strategically essential for maritime security.
  • Defence Training: With attempts to improve marine strength, India has been a big donor to the Maldives’ defence training.
  • China’s Influence: India is concerned about the expanding Chinese involvement in the Maldives, particularly under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Why do the Maldives require India?

  • India is an important source of food, medicine, and construction materials to the Maldives.
  • Education: India provides primary education to Maldivian youngsters.
  • Economic Dependence: India is a major economic partner for the Maldives, with large exports to the island country.
  • Disaster Relief: India has historically been the first responder to Maldives emergencies, such as the 2004 tsunami and the 2014 water crisis.

Political Transitions in the Maldives

  • Muizzu’s Ascension to Power: Mohamed Muizzu, a former minister in Yameen’s ministry, won the presidential election on the promise of diminishing Indian influence.
  • international Policy Shifts: President Muizzu’s first official visit was to Turkiye, breaking with convention, and he has subsequently visited China, signalling a shift in international relations.
  • Military Presence and Agreements: The Muizzu administration has asked India to withdraw its military troops and has annulled a crucial agreement with India for conducting hydrographic studies in Maldivian seas.

Tensions and Recent Developments

  • Muizzu’s demand on the removal of Indian military forces has been a source of controversy.
  • Defence Connections: The lack of a Maldivian delegate at the Colombo Security Conclave, as well as the cancellation of a vital water survey accord with India, indicate a deterioration in defence relations.
  • China’s Role: The Muizzu administration’s choices appear to be in line with a deeper connection with Beijing, which might benefit China’s maritime surveys in the region.

@the end

  • The Maldives’ recent political events under President Mohamed Muizzu represent a dramatic shift in the island nation’s foreign policy, notably in its relations with India.
  • Domestic politics and China’s expanding power have affected these shifts, which have ramifications for regional security and diplomacy.
  • It remains to be seen how these changes will affect the Maldives’ foreign relations and its position in the crucial Indian Ocean area as the situation progresses.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-maldives-diplomatic-tensions-controversies-recent-explainer-muizzu-modi/article67722833.ece#:~:text=Aiming%20to%20reset%20ties%20with,Hindu%20in%20a%202021%20interview.
Categories
Highlights from Newspaper

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link: The Longest Sea Bridge in India

  • The Prime Minister will officially open the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as the Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link.
  • This 22-kilometer bridge, which was conceived six decades ago, is a key breakthrough in India’s infrastructure, promising to alter connectivity and economic possibilities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Bridge is known as Atal Setu

  • The MTHL is a 22-kilometer-long, six-lane twin-carriageway bridge that spans Thane Creek in the Arabian Sea. It links Mumbai’s Sewri to Raigad’s Chirle.
  • The construction consists of a 16.5 km maritime connection and 5.5 km of land viaducts at both ends.
  • The MTHL is projected to boost economic growth, cut travel time, and relieve congestion on current routes by improving connectivity within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Historical Context and Evolution

  • The notion of a bay crossing was initially presented by Wilbur Smith Associates in 1963, but it lay dormant for decades.
  • Revival and Obstacles: The project was resurrected in the late 1990s, and the first bids were issued in 2006. Following Reliance Infrastructure’s initial involvement and later withdrawal, the project encountered a number of bidding hurdles.
  • Funding and implementation: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) collaborated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to secure funds, allowing construction to begin in early 2018. The project cost Rs 21,200 crore in total, with a major financing from JICA.

Impact of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link 

  • Travel Time Reduction: According to a study conducted by the MMRDA and JICA, the MTHL would reduce the average travel time between Sewri and Chirle from 61 minutes to less than 16 minutes.
  • Economic and connectivity advantages: The bridge is planned to integrate Navi Mumbai’s economy with that of Mumbai and to increase access to vital areas like as the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Mumbai Pune Motorway, and the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
  • Vehicle Traffic: 40,000 cars are projected to utilise the route daily during its first year.

Concerns and Difficulties

  • Commuter Accessibility: The bridge’s value for everyday travellers between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai remains in doubt, given the high toll cost and the distance of landing locations from major residential areas.
  • Additional Transportation Costs: The toll rate of Rs 250 for a one-way passage, as well as the bridge’s landing sites being more than 10 km from major residential areas like Vashi and Nerul, may raise commuting costs.
  • There are currently no announcements for public transit infrastructure, such as dedicated bus lanes, on the bridge.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mumbai-trans-harbour-link-atal-setu-indias-longest-sea-bridge-to-be-inaugurated-by-pm-modi-2487661-2024-01-12#:~:text=ALL%20ABOUT%20THE%20MUMBAI%20TRANS,about%205.5%20km%20on%20land.
Categories
Environment & Biodiversity

Tea Industry Challenges in India: A Call for Introspection and Resilience

  • Echoes of the Past: According to the Tea Association of India (TAI), India’s tea sector is confronting problems akin to the “dark phase” of 2002-07.
  • Key Issues: Major difficulties affecting the sector include price stagnation, oversupply, a demand-supply mismatch, and a tendency towards cheaper teas.

Recent Developments and Historical Context

  • Previous Crisis: The sector had a substantial downturn from 2002 and 2007 as a result of regulatory obstacles, declining demand, competition from cheaper overseas teas, and export quality issues.
  • Current Situation: Despite India’s economic progress, the tea business faces stagnating pricing and rising input costs, resulting in estate closures and a reliance on subsidies.
  • Imbalance in Demand and Supply, as well as Quality Concerns
  • overstock Issues: The discussion focused on the essential issue of overstock, which causes an imbalance between availability and demand.
  • Quality Decline: In order to make tea more accessible, quality has suffered, resulting in a “race to the bottom.”

Proposed Measures and the Role of the Tea Board of India

  • TAI advises repositioning tea to improve its perception and consumption habits.
  • Regulatory Steps: Measures include regulating tea waste sold in the United States, limiting the import of low-quality teas, and promoting the health advantages of tea.
  • Impact: Regulating waste might cut supply by 15-20 million kg, while restricting imports could eliminate an additional 30 million kg of low-quality teas.

Statistics and Trends in the Tea Industry

  • Tea output in India rose by 39% from 2008 to 2022, with a minor rise expected in 2023. However, shipments until October 2023 are down 2% from 2022.
  • Tea imports increased from 27 million kg in 2021 to 30 million kg in 2022.

Overview of the Indian Tea Industry 

  • Global Position: India is the world’s second-largest tea grower and fourth-largest exporter, with a sizable domestic consumption market.
  • Employment and Regulation: The sector directly employs 1.16 million people, with cultivation regulated by the Tea Board of India.
  • The Northeast, comprising Assam and north Bengal, is a key tea-growing region, with substantial cultivation in the Nilgiris in south India.

Problems and Issues

  • Global Competition and Quality Decline: Competition from nations such as Kenya, as well as a growing demand for organic tea, have harmed India’s market position.
  • Worker Conditions and Small Tea producers: Poor working conditions and the problems that small tea producers confront, such as price and recognition issues, are major concerns.
  • External Factors: Global events such as the Russia-Ukraine war have exacerbated the industry’s woes.

Initiatives of the Tea Board of India 

  • Establishment: The Tea Board was established under the Tea Act of 1953 and works as a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce. The Board is reformed every three years and has its headquarters in Kolkata.
  • Promotional Efforts: The Board promotes packaged Indian tea via different initiatives and subsidises participation in foreign fairs.
  • Promotional Activities: The Board encourages the promotion of packaged Indian tea and subsidises participation in international fairs.
  • Tea Development and Promotion Scheme: The Tea Development and Promotion Scheme seeks to improve productivity, quality, worker welfare, and market promotion.
  • Small Grower Assistance: The Board has established SHGs, FPOs, and FPCs to support small tea growers.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tea-association-of-india-warns-of-return-to-dark-phase-for-industry/article67727326.ece
Categories
Polity

Following the ECI standards, creating a course for disability inclusion in politics

The Indian Election Commission released recommendations directing political parties on how to use disability-sensitive language and procedures. These principles address inclusive communication, accessible information, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) inside party structures. The goal is to challenge disrespectful statements and prejudices about people with disabilities in politics. Concerns have been raised concerning the usefulness of these recommendations, necessitating additional revision and inclusion in the Model Code of Conduct.

Highlights include:

  • The principles cover disability-inclusive communication, information accessibility, and inclusion within the frameworks of political parties.
  • Recent disparaging statements by political figures highlight the need of these principles.
  • According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, derogatory language leads to attitudinal obstacles.
  • The recommendations are advisory, lack consistency, and require a more explicit requirement.
  • The Model Code of Conduct’s absence of certain principles limits their enforcement.
  • To avoid misinterpretation, ambiguities in language use and terminology must be clarified.
  • Political inclusion of people with disabilities is not addressed in the proposed National Policy for People with Disabilities.
  • Political inclusion is hampered by a lack of statistics on lawmakers with impairments and the absence of a disability category on election forms.

Key Terms:

  • Disability-sensitive language
  • Inclusive communication
  • Attitudinal barriers
  • Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
  • Model Code of Conduct
  • Derogatory remarks
  • National Policy for Persons with Disabilities
  • Political inclusion

Key Phrases:

  • “Advisory guidelines”
  • “Attitudinal barrier”
  • “Model Code of Conduct”
  • “Political inclusion”
  • “Derogatory remarks”
  • “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016”
  • “National Policy for Persons with Disabilities”

Highlighted Quotes: 

  • “These guidelines are only a ‘advisory,’ though the phraseology of a few guidelines is in mandatory language.”
  • “Instances have underlined the need for these guidelines, such as derogatory remarks by political leaders.”
  • “Political inclusion is an ignored aspect within the Indian realm of disability.”

Key Statements:

  • “A uniform mandate under all three heads is needed for effective implementation.”
  • “Guidelines must be included within the Model Code of Conduct to enhance their enforceability.”
  • “The lack of data has contributed significantly to the political exclusion of PwDs.”

Examples and resources:

  • In September 2023, A Raja makes a harsh analogy of Sanatan Dharma to persons with leprosy and HIV.
  • There is no disability column on nomination papers or affidavits submitted by candidates during elections.

Important information:

  • The rules encompass disability-inclusive communication, information accessibility, and party framework inclusion.
  • Section 92 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 is stated as a disciplinary penalty for failing to follow disability-inclusive communication rules.

Critical Analysis:

The essay evaluates the advisory recommendations objectively, identifying their merits, flaws, and potential for development. It emphasises the need for a more rigorous and enforceable structure within the Model Code of Conduct, as well as addressing linguistic ambiguities.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/after-eci-guidelines-charting-a-path-to-disability-inclusion-in-politics-9102376/
Categories
Science & Tech

Understanding High-Energy Cosmic Rays with Amaterasu Particles

  • In May 2021, Japanese scientists made a big scientific discovery when they identified an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray dubbed ‘Amaterasu’ after the Japanese sun goddess.

Discovery of Amaterasu

  • Dr. Toshihiro Fujii, an astronomer from Osaka Metropolitan University, found the Amaterasu cosmic ray.
  • Amaterasu has an exceptionally high energy level of 240 exa-electron-volt (EeV).
  • When compared to man-made accelerators, this energy is approximately 40 million times greater than that of protons accelerated by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

The Mysterious Origin of Amaterasu

  • Amaterasu seemed to have sprung from an empty region of the universe.
  • Theories advanced by Dr Fujii include an undiscovered source, interaction with a strong magnetic field, and the need for new physics models.
  • Previous Records: The “Oh My God” particle, discovered in 1991 with an energy of 320 EeV, is still the most energetic cosmic ray ever discovered.

The Nature and Impact of Cosmic Rays 

  • Cosmic rays are streams of energetic particles, including protons and alpha particles, that originate in space and from the sun.
  • Interaction with Earth: The majority of cosmic rays lose energy in the Earth’s atmosphere, preventing hazardous high-intensity rays from reaching the surface.
  • Historical Importance: Since the 1930s, studies of cosmic rays have led to the discovery of numerous subatomic particles, albeit their sources and high energy remain unknown.

Cosmic Ray Types and Origins

  • GCR (Galactic Cosmic Rays): Coming from outside our solar system, maybe from supernovae.
  • Cosmic Rays of the Sun: Emitted by the sun, particularly in solar flares, and predominantly composed of protons.
  • Composition Analysis: Studies demonstrate that the helium-to-hydrogen nuclei mass ratio in cosmic rays is similar to the composition of the early cosmos.

The Effects of High-Energy Cosmic Rays

  • UHECRs (ultra-high-energy cosmic rays): Extragalactic particles having energy greater than 1 EeV.
  • Space Travel Limitations: UHECRs with more than 60 EeV energy experience suppression owing to contact with cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, limiting their travel distance to 50-100 megaparsecs.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/amaterasu-cosmic-ray-physics-explained/article67690711.ece#:~:text=The%20Amaterasu%20cosmic%20ray%20had%20an%20energy%20of%20240%20EeV,%2Dsmasher%2C%20located%20in%20Europe.
Categories
Science & Tech

CLPS Initiative: First Commercial Robotic Moon Mission from the United States

  • A commercial US firm launched a spacecraft carrying NASA sensors with the goal of becoming the first US spacecraft to land on the Moon in well than 50 years.
  • This mission is an important part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which integrates private sector capabilities into the Artemis Programme.

About 

  • The Initiative for Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)
  • At least 14 firms have been contracted to carry payloads to the Moon as part of NASA’s engagement with the private sector under the CLPS effort.
  • This collaboration intends to create a business and technological environment for lunar exploration in the commercial space sector.
  • The Peregrine lander and the Vulcan rocket, both created by private US space corporations, are used in the mission.

Payloads and objectives

  • Five NASA Payloads: The Peregrine lander is equipped with five NASA payloads for diverse exploratory purposes, including water discovery.
  • Laser Retroreflector Array: One payload will be permanently installed on the Moon’s surface for accuracy distance measurements.
  • Other payloads are projected to stay operational for 10 days after landing.

Return to the Moon in Historical Context

  • The last US spacecraft to land on the Moon occurred in December 1972, during the Apollo 17 mission.
  • Renewed Interest in Lunar Exploration: The United States revived its lunar exploration activities in the 1990s and publicly promised to returning in 2018.
  • The Artemis Program’s goals are to create a permanent base on the Moon, allowing for prolonged human and robotic stays for significant exploration and scientific study.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/private-us-spacecraft-land-moon-9100677/
Categories
Science & Tech

Study revives South Korea Superconductivity claim

A consortium of Chinese and Japanese scientists published discoveries that could show superconductivity in a problematic substance.

What exactly is superconductivity?

  • Superconductivity occurs when a substance has nearly no resistance to the flow of electric current, allowing for energy-efficient electrical appliances and lossless power transmission.
  • Magnetic Behaviour: Superconductors exhibit remarkable behaviour in magnetic fields, allowing technology such as MRI equipment and faster Maglev trains to be developed.

Investigating the Subject Apatite Structure LK-99: 

  • To synthesise LK-99, the Korean team used copper-substituted lead apatite, a phosphate mineral with distinctive tetrahedral patterns.
  • Superconducting qualities: LK-99 exhibited key superconducting qualities, including almost zero resistance to current flow and the rapid appearance of resistance above a critical current threshold.
  • Magnetic Resilience: LK-99 maintained superconductivity in the presence of a magnetic field until a critical threshold was reached.

The Meissner Effect: A Key Superconductivity Indicator

  • The Meissner effect is a phenomena that occurs when materials become superconductors and discharge magnetic fields from their interior.
  • The researchers discovered this behaviour in copper-substituted lead apatite, implying possible superconductivity.

Importance of the Search for Room-Temperature Superconductors 

  • The discovery of a superconducting material at room temperature and pressure (RTP) has enormous scientific and commercial importance.
  • Because of their capacity to transport electricity without loss, RTP superconductors have the potential to revolutionise power transmission, medical diagnostics, computing, and other fields.

Hype and Controversies in Superconductivity Research

  • Past Controversies: The field has undergone various conflicts, including assertions by Ranga Dias and a South Korean research group that were later questioned.
  • The Influence of Hype: The financial potential of RTP superconductors has led to several premature statements and disputes in the scientific community.

Methodology and Results of a New Study

  • Approach: Using modern techniques, the researchers synthesised LK-99 samples and evaluated for indicators of superconductivity beyond the specific claims made by prior investigations.
  • Direct Current Measurements: They performed hysteresis experiments in which they applied and removed a magnetic field to observe the material’s behaviour at different temperatures.

Understanding Superconductor Hysteresis

  • The Meissner effect is only seen with direct current since alternating current would disturb the phenomenon.
  • The study distinguishes between Type I and II superconductors based on how they respond to increased magnetic field strength.

The Study’s Difficulties and Limitations

  • Small Superconducting Components: Because the superconducting parts of the material were small, the critical magnetic field intensity was low.
  • Interference Problems: The presence of cuprous sulphide interfered with X-ray molecular structure analysis.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/lk-99-room-temperature-superconductor-meissner-effect-explained/article67706300.ece
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