These women are called lioness of sea, can remain inside water without oxygen for hours , scientists are...., they are from....
Special women of South Korea: You must have heard stories about sea mermaids which, according to folklore are aquatic creatures with the head and upper body of a female human and they they can easily swim and live in water as long as they need to. Would you believe if we tell you that there are humans who can deep dive into frozen cold waters and stay there for a very long time without any oxygen support?
As per a report carried by DW, there exists a small island off the Korean coast which is home to a genetically distinct population of humans who have special powers to protect their body in extreme cold temperatures. Here are all the details you need to know about the special women of the South Korea island. Special women of South Korea
The report calls the special humans of South Korea as Haenyeo — literally 'sea women'. They are Korean cultural divers who have specific adaptations in their body allowing them to dive for longer periods than other people. Moreover, the inhabitants of the South Korean island appear to have unique genes that protect their bodies against blood pressure changes while they are diving in extremely low temperatures.
'They now wear wetsuits, but up until the 1980s they were diving in these cotton bodysuits,' Melissa Ilardo, a geneticist at the University of Utah working with these women, was quoting as saying. Special genes of South Korean women
As per the report, the special genes of these women provides them an increased tolerance for cold – a trait that allows these women to endure wind-chilled waters hovering near zero degrees Celsius.
'If we can understand how their bodies manage oxygen and regulate blood pressure so effectively, we may be able to translate these insights into therapies for cardiovascular diseases.' Ilardo added.
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Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on dial-up internet, Artemis Accords and more (Week 123)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), consider the following statements: 1. It is a climate pattern affecting the Indian Ocean. 2. During a positive phase, cold waters are pushed to the Western part of the Indian Ocean. 3. The IOD does not influence the local weather. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation The sea surface temperatures recorded along the equatorial Pacific Ocean in June ranged between 0 and 0.4 degree Celsius. The coupled ocean-atmospheric system in the tropical Pacific Ocean reflected ENSO neutral conditions. The Indian Ocean Dipole is a climate pattern affecting the Indian Ocean. During a positive phase, warm waters are pushed to the Western part of the Indian Ocean, while cold deep waters are brought up to the surface in the Eastern Indian Ocean. This pattern is reversed during the negative phase of the IOD. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct. The IOD influences the local weather. During the positive phase of the IOD, the high temperatures along the coast of Africa cause heavy rains and droughts in Australia. During a negative phase the high temperatures and rainfall patterns are reversed. The sea-level changes associated with the IOD can also lead to increased threats of coastal flooding and associated impacts. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to the dial-up internet, consider the following statements: 1. It is a form of accessing the internet using a computer's modem and a home telephone line or landline. 2. It was accompanied by characteristic beeps and digital screeches. 3. It was a way of exchanging messages and files between computers using the UNIX-to-UNIX copy protocol (UUCP). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — AOL's remaining dial-up internet customers will sign off for the last time as the company is permanently shutting down the service that brought the internet to millions in the US during the early 1980s and 90s. — The origins of dial-up internet service is rooted in Usenet developed in 1979 by two graduate students at Duke University in the United States. It was a way of exchanging messages and files between computers using the UNIX-to-UNIX copy protocol (UUCP). Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Dial-up internet is a form of accessing the internet. It uses a computer's modem and a home telephone line or landline to connect to the internet at 56 kilobits per second or less, which are painfully slow internet speeds by today's standards. Access to the web via dial-up internet was accompanied by characteristic beeps and digital screeches. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — CompuServe was among the first companies to begin 'offering a dial-up online information service to consumers' in 1979. AOL's dial-up internet service made its debut in 1991, as per a report by Gizmodo. — However, by 1995, dial-up internet was being left behind in favour of faster cable internet service that relied on existing cable TV infrastructure. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. NVS-03, NVS-04 and NVS-05 are the satellites related to: (a) Navigation services (b) Communication services (c) Weather-related services (d) Lunar satellites Explanation — ISRO will launch three navigation satellites for its Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by next year, according to a reply in Parliament by the Union MoS for Space Dr Jitendra Singh. — The first of the three, NVS-03, is scheduled to be launched by year-end. The other two, NVS-04 and NVS-05, will be launched after that 'with a gap of six months,' as per data. — The IRNSS was envisioned as a seven-satellite constellation that could provide navigation services over the Indian landmass and a radius of 1,500km around it. — So far, 11 satellites have been launched for the IRNSS constellation. Of these, two failed to reach the intended orbit. In what was ISRO's 100th launch, NVS-02 was sent to space in January this year, but the further orbit raising manoeuvres needed to put the satellite in the proper orbit could not be completed because of a technical glitch. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. The term 'tripledemic' refers to the simultaneous circulation of three respiratory viruses. Which of the following respiratory viruses is not included in tripledemic? (a) COVID-19 (b) Influenza (c) Respiratory syncytial virus (d) Respiratory adenoviruses Explanation — As the UK prepares for a possible 'tripledemic' this autumn and winter, health experts are concerned about the simultaneous spread of three respiratory viruses. As the cold season approaches and respiratory illnesses become more prevalent, India may experience similar issues. — According to Dr. Vibhu Kawatra, a pulmonologist, paediatrician, and allergy expert in Delhi, 'the term 'tripledemic' refers to the simultaneous circulation of three respiratory viruses: COVID-19, influenza (the flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)'. — This circumstance puts pressure on healthcare resources because all three viruses can cause an increase in hospitalisations, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with underlying health issues. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the neutron stars, consider the following statements: 1. They are superdense astrophysical objects formed at the end of a massive star's life in a supernova explosion. 2. They constantly lose energy by emitting gravitational waves until they eventually collide and merge. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — Neutron stars are superdense astrophysical objects formed at the end of a massive star's life in a supernova explosion. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Sometimes, neutron stars orbit each other in binary systems. — These systems constantly lose energy by emitting gravitational waves until they eventually collide and merge. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — Researchers may now examine the physical characteristics of the universe's most severe states because of these mergers. For instance, heavy metals like gold are formed under the circumstances of these high-energy collisions. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. What is the aim of PM-WANI? (a) To promote exclusive high-speed broadband connections for government offices. (b) To replace all existing mobile networks with a single government-run network. (c) To provide free Wi-Fi in public places nationwide. (d) To provide free rechargeable points for cellphones in public places across the country. Explanation — The Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme, launched by the government earlier this year, aims to provide free Wi-Fi in public places nationwide, enabling citizens to access the internet while traveling. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Consider the following: 1. The motion of lift from an airfoil, the air is deflected downward by the airfoil's action, and in reaction, the wing is pushed upward. 2. The motion of a spinning ball, the air is deflected to one side, and the ball reacts by moving in the opposite direction. 3. The motion of a jet engine produces thrust and hot exhaust gases flow out the back of the engine, and a thrusting force is produced in the opposite direction. Which of the above mentioned motions are examples of Newton's Third Law ? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation Newton's Third Law: Action & Reaction — Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first. — All three are examples of action and reaction involving aerodynamics. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (source: With reference to Artemis Accords, consider the following statements: 1. They provide a common set of principles to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space. 2. There are seven nations, along with NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, that are signatories to this accord. Which of the statements given above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation According to — NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and seven other initial signatory nations, established the Artemis Accords in 2020. With many countries and private companies conducting missions and operations around the Moon, the Artemis Accords provide a common set of principles to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space. — As per data, there are 56 signatory parties on 24 July, 2025. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 122) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Four new chip plants cleared
The Union cabinet on Tuesday approved four semiconductor units under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), taking the total semiconductor units in India to 10. The four upcoming units - two in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, one in Andhra Pradesh and one in Punjab's Mohali - will have total investments worth ₹4,594 crore. Four new chip plants cleared 'The highest value addition for electronics in the world is at 38% (China), which they achieved in three decades. India will reach there in 1.5 decades,' said Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of electronics and information technology, at a media briefing at Rail Bhawan. The minister said that with these four additional units, value addition in electronics in India will rise from the current nearly 20% to over 30%. The newly approved projects include SiCSem Pvt. Ltd. in Odisha, with a ₹2,066 crore investment, which will produce silicon carbide-based diodes and MOSFETs; Heterogeneous Integration Packaging Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (HIPSPL) which will invest ₹1,943 crore to produce 70,000 glass panels annually; Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd. (CDIL) which will set up a facility high-power discrete semiconductor components in Mohali with an investment of ₹117 crore and a production capacity of up to 158 million units per year; and Advanced System in Package Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ASIP) which will invest ₹468 crore to manufacture 96 million units of chips used in consumer electronics annually. 'The industry is witnessing a shift from silicon to silicon carbide, as the latter remains stable under high temperatures and high voltages,' said Vaishnaw. 'In applications like missiles or rockets, where electronics operate in extreme conditions, silicon carbide is the preferred choice.' The minister added that a dedicated research unit for silicon carbide has been established at IIT Bhubaneswar with an investment of ₹45 crore. 'Researchers there have successfully experimented with making wafers from silicon carbide powder,' he said. 'They heat the powder to 2,400 degrees Celsius, turning it into vapour, which is then deposited in layers onto a seed-sized piece of silicon carbide. This process is repeated until the crystal grows to about the size of a potato. Then they slice and make wafers out of it.' The facilities are expected to start construction in the next six months, as was the case with the six semiconductor plants announced previously. HT has learnt that the SiCSem facility in Odisha will be completed by 2027. 'India is making rapid strides in the semiconductor sector, building a robust ecosystem to power our digital future and drive global innovation. Today's Cabinet decision relating to approval of semiconductor units in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab will boost manufacturing capacity, create high-skilled jobs and position India as a key player in the global supply chain' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X. The ISM, launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore, has so far approved six units - four in Gujarat, one in Assam, and one in Uttar Pradesh. The minister said that the first made-in-India chip is expected to come out in the next two to three months, and that there is serious competition brewing between three of these units to produce the first made in India chip before 2025. A senior IT ministry official told HT that the three competing units are all located in Gujarat, namely the Tata-Micron OSAT facility, the CG Power-Renesas OSAT facility, and the Kaynes Technology OSAT facility. All three are located in Sanand. To be sure, the first 'made-in-India' chip will be a packaged chip, not one produced by a fabrication unit. The latest announcement positions India to meet at least 50–60% of its semiconductor demand in the coming decade, Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), told HT. 'There are significant geo-economic challenges and Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in a foundational industry, and friend-shoring are critical national policies for foundational industries like Semicon,' he added.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
When a NASA intern stole $21 million worth of Lunar rocks— to impress his girlfriend
In 2002, a shocking theft rocked NASA, literally. Former NASA intern Thad Roberts, along with his then-girlfriend Tiffany Fowler and two other friends, stole 17 pounds (7.7 kg) of lunar samples valued at $21 million. The motive? According to Roberts, it was to impress his love interest. But the FBI later revealed there was also a financial angle. The bizarre incident, detailed by People magazine and later in Ben Mezrich's 2011 book Sex on the Moon, saw the young intern and his team go to extreme lengths to pull off the heist. They tampered with security cameras, donned Neoprene bodysuits, and carried authentic NASA badges to access the highly secure Building 31, where the moon rocks were stored. At the time, Roberts was a 24-year-old prodigy with triple degrees in physics, geology, and geophysics from the University of Utah. During his internship at NASA, he met 22-year-old stem cell researcher Tiffany Fowler. The two quickly became romantically involved and moved in together within weeks. Roberts soon shared his audacious plan to steal moon rocks, which piqued Fowler's interest. They enlisted another NASA intern, Shae Saur, to help. On a July evening, Roberts and Fowler entered Building 31 while Saur kept watch, monitoring the compromised security system. The couple accessed an airless lab, removed a safe containing lunar samples, and later cracked it open with a power saw. In one of the strangest twists, Roberts reportedly placed some of the moon rocks under his bedcovers, claiming it was a symbolic gesture of 'having sex on the moon.' Speaking to CBS in 2012, he said: 'I mean, the simple answer is to say that I did it for love. I did it because I wanted to be loved. I wanted someone to know that I'd cared about them that much. And to have the symbol there to remind them of it. It was more about the symbol of what we were doing… And no one had ever had sex on the moon before. I think we can safely say that.' Roberts also claimed Fowler was unaware of the rocks under the blanket, though he hinted she might have felt them during their intimate moment. While Roberts maintained it was an act of love, the FBI uncovered another motive: money. Investigators found that he had been in contact with a potential buyer from Belgium who offered between $1,000 and $5,000 per gram for the rocks. When the buyer became suspicious of their origin, they alerted the FBI, triggering an undercover operation that led to the arrests. Roberts pleaded guilty in 2002 to stealing the moon rocks and was sentenced to eight years in prison. He also admitted to stealing dinosaur bones and fossils from the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City while at the University of Utah. He served just over six years before being released in 2008. Fowler and Saur pleaded guilty and were given house arrest, community service, and ordered to pay restitution. Another accomplice, McWhorter, was sentenced to six years in prison. Roberts and Fowler ended their relationship after the incident.
