Whatsapp 93125-11015 For Details

Important Daily Facts of the Day

23May
2024

23 May 2024, Quick Facts of the Day

23 May 2024, Quick Facts of the Day

1. Recently, scientists proposed that the HCO+ Dissociative Recombination Reaction (DR) occurring above Venus's surface contributes to the planet's water loss. DR breaks down HCO+ into CO and hydrogen, which escapes into space, depleting water without evaporation. Other factors include Venus's harsh atmosphere due to a CO2 greenhouse effect, proximity to the Sun causing water molecule breakdown, and Venus's unique characteristics: being Earth's twin, the second planet from the Sun, sixth largest, second brightest object in the night sky, lacking moons, and rotating clockwise. Remarkably, a Venusian day is longer than its year due to its slow axial rotation compared to its orbit around the Sun.

 

2. The Minamata Convention on Mercury Pollution is an international treaty aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of mercury on human health and the environment. Adopted in 2013 and enforced in 2017, it regulates mercury emissions and releases, encourages the phase-out of mercury-containing products, addresses mercury use in artisanal gold mining, and promotes safe storage and management of mercury waste. By regulating mercury globally, the convention aims to reduce human exposure to mercury pollution, prevent its harmful effects on health and ecosystems, and contribute to sustainable development.

 

3. The International Booker Prize, previously known as the Man Booker International Prize, was recently awarded to "Kairos" by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann. Established in 2005, the prize celebrates a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. It aims to promote global fiction and recognizes the crucial role of translators. The award carries a prize of 50,000 pounds (USD 64,000), shared equally between the author and translator. Additionally, shortlisted authors and translators each receive 2,500 pounds. The prize serves as a prestigious platform for showcasing international literature and honoring the collaborative efforts of authors and translators in bringing diverse literary works to English-speaking audiences.

 

4. The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), celebrated on May 22nd, 2024, highlights the significance of biodiversity for sustaining life on Earth. The theme "Be Part of the Plan" emphasizes collective action to combat biodiversity loss and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. IDB was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, commemorating the adoption of the initial text of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) on May 22nd, 1992. India, as a party to the UNCBD, enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Biodiversity, a concept introduced by Walter G. Rosen in 1985, encompasses the diversity of all life forms. The UNGA designated the years 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity to advance biodiversity conservation efforts globally.