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1. A study in the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology discovered that the Brazilian velvet ant (Traumatomutilla bifurca) has "ultrablack" body parts, absorbing over 99.5% of visible light. These ants, which are actually wasps, display unique microstructures in their exoskeletons that trap light, providing camouflage, temperature regulation, and mating advantages. Only females exhibit the ultrablack coloration, while males reflect more light. Velvet ants serve as pollinators, contributing to ecosystem balance. The ultrablack property also highlights convergent evolution, seen in species like birds-of-paradise. This discovery could inspire innovations in stealth technology and solar panel efficiency. Additionally, ants, known for their eusocial behavior and efficient cooperation, exemplify complex problem-solving without central control, as demonstrated by their collective ability to solve obstacles in experiments.
2. In recent years, Private Members' Bills in India's Parliament have seen a decline due to limited time allocation, raising concerns about the diminishing role of individual MPs and the health of parliamentary democracy. These bills, proposed by MPs who are not part of the government, allow them to introduce laws or amendments on issues important to their constituencies. Historically, only 14 Private Members' Bills have been passed since independence, with none since 1970. The decline is attributed to factors like lack of time, minimal discussion opportunities, and low participation from MPs, with the 17th Lok Sabha allocating just 9.08 hours to such bills. Shifting these bills to midweek sessions could boost MP participation, ensuring active involvement in shaping legislation and protecting the constitutional space for individual parliamentary expression.
3. Recently, a 4th century CE Sanskrit inscription was discovered near Gilgit in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), written in Brahmi script, mentioning "Pushpasingha" installing a Mahesvaralinga for his guru's merit. This discovery, along with a previous 10th-century Sanskrit and Sharada script inscription near Peshawar referencing Buddhist Dharini chants, highlights the importance of historical inscriptions. These inscriptions serve as primary historical sources, providing direct evidence for reconstructing ancient history, shedding light on political history, administrative systems, linguistic evolution, and socio-economic structures. Notable inscriptions like the Junagarh Inscription of Rudradaman and Bhitari Pillar Inscription offer insights into rulers, military victories, and administrative priorities, while land grant inscriptions such as the Paharpur Inscription and Gwalior Inscription provide details about governance, religious patronage, and socio-economic practices.
4. The Union Cabinet has approved several critical measures to support Indian farmers, including the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) till 2025-26. Key measures include the extension of a special DAP fertilizer subsidy beyond January 2025, ensuring affordable Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizers for farmers during Kharif and Rabi 2024-25, despite global market volatility. The Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT), with a corpus of Rs 824.77 crore, has been established to support technological initiatives like YES-TECH (which uses remote sensing for yield estimation) and WINDS (which installs automatic weather stations for hyper-local weather data). The PMFBY provides crop insurance against financial losses from unforeseen events, covering various crops, and requiring low premiums. Unlike PMFBY, the RWBCIS compensates based on weather parameters such as rainfall and temperature, eliminating the need for field-level assessments.
5. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024, with notable recipients including Gukesh D (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics), and Manu Bhaker (Shooting) receiving the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Arjuna Awards went to Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics), Annu Rani (Athletics), Nitu (Boxing), Rakesh Kumar (Para-Archery), and Navdeep (Para-Athletics), while Lifetime Arjuna Awards were given to Sucha Singh (Athletics) and Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming). Dronacharya Awards were conferred on Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting) and S. Muralidharan (Badminton). The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar was awarded to the Physical Education Foundation of India, and Chandigarh University received the MAKA Trophy. The National Sports Awards also recognize achievements such as the Khel Ratna for exceptional four-year performances, the Arjuna Award for consistent excellence, the Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaching, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for university sports, and the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for contributions to sports promotion.