A smiley face in the sky? Catch this rare celestial alignment
A rare celestial event is set to grace the Indian skies, as the crescent moon aligns with Venus and Saturn to form a 'smiley face'. This 'massing,' a gathering of celestial bodies, will be visible just before sunrise. Sky Watchers' Association highlights the crescent moon's perfect smile shape, with Venus and Saturn acting as eyes.
In a rare alignment, the crescent moon will cozy up with the planets Venus and Saturn, creating what's being playfully dubbed a 'smiley face' in the heavens. While astronomers know this gathering of three or more celestial bodies as a 'massing,' the unique configuration promises a visual treat you won't want to miss. The moon's delicate crescent will form the lips of this cosmic grin, with the bright gleam of Venus and the more subtle glow of Saturn acting as the eyes. Though these celestial wanderers are separated by unimaginable distances, their alignment along our line of sight offers a beautiful reminder of the solar system's intricate dance.
Decoding the cosmic wink: Why this alignment is special
While conjunctions, where two celestial objects appear close, are fairly routine due to the planets orbiting the sun on a similar plane but at varying speeds, this particular 'massing' stands out. As Samindra Basu, a member of the Executive Committee of the Sky Watchers' Association, Kolkata, explains, the crescent moon's phase perfectly mimics a smile, with the contrasting brightness of Venus and the fainter Saturn positioned to resemble eyes. This whimsical arrangement makes this celestial event particularly engaging and memorable.
Your Guide to Catching the Cosmic Smile Over India
Spotting this celestial smile will require a bit of planning, but it's an achievable feat from anywhere in India. Here's your guide to maximizing your chances of a successful viewing:
Time is Key :
This event will be visible just before sunrise, meaning you'll have a limited window. Saturn will be the last to rise around 3:19 am IST but wait approximately another 30 minutes for better visibility as the sky begins to lighten.
Horizon Hunt:
Find a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. Buildings, trees, or hills will block your view.
Light Pollution Beware:
Escape the glare of city lights. The darker your surroundings, the easier it will be to spot the fainter Saturn. Dust in the atmosphere can also hinder visibility.
Clear Skies are Your Best Friend:
Check weather forecasts for predictions of clear skies in your area. Clouds will obviously obscure the view.
Safety First - Eyes on the Prize, Not the Sun!
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN.
Even a fleeting glance can cause permanent and severe eye damage. Observe only before sunrise.
Location, Safety:
Assess your chosen viewing spot for safety in the pre-dawn hours. Ensure its accessible and free from hazards.
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Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Before Shubhanshu Shukla lifts off, the story of Rakesh Sharma: the first Indian to go to space
Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla on Wednesday will become only the second Indian to travel to space. The first was Rakesh Sharma, whose Soyuz T-11 spacecraft lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Soviet Kazakhstan on April 3, 1984. Here's the story. Sharma's voyage was a part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme which sent 17 non-Soviet cosmonauts to space between 1978 and 1991. First mooted in the 1960s, 'those behind [Interkosmos] described it as a means of establishing mutually beneficial relations with Eastern Bloc countries through unmanned and manned space ventures,' wrote Colin Burgess and Bert Vis in Interkosmos: The Eastern Bloc's Early Space Programme (2016). Although technically non-aligned, India had drifted towards the Soviet Union since the late 1960s. Among other things, this led to significant cooperation in the space sector. The Soviets provided equipment and technical assistance, apart from facilitating the launch of India's earliest satellites Aryabhatta (1975), Bhaskara I (1979) and Bhaskara II (1981). Sharma's spaceflight in 1984 was the pinnacle of Indo-Soviet cooperation in space. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev suggested a joint India-Soviet space mission to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during his visit to India in 1980. The mission received official confirmation a year later. The IAF was tasked with selecting two pilots who would be given cosmonaut training by the Soviets. Its eventual choice: Sharma and Ravish Malhotra, both accomplished IAF test pilots. Test pilots, adept at handling and analysing performance of all kinds of aircraft, are often considered to be the crème de la crème of pilots. This makes them ideal for manning spacecraft: historically many astronauts/cosmonauts — including Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the Moon — have been test pilots, as is Shubhanshu Shukla. From September 1982, Sharma and Malhotra underwent rigorous training, primarily at the Yuri Gagarin Centre in Star City, some 50 km from Moscow. Boris Volynov, the senior administrator at the cosmonaut training centre, said of the two trainees: 'They are goal-oriented people. Ravish and Rakesh came to us with no knowledge of Russian. Within a short time they not only learned it, but developed a good command of it; they take their lecture notes, read documents and take exams — all in Russian' (as per a report in Soviet Weekly on April 21, 1983). Sharma was eventually chosen to be a part of the three-member crew — along with veteran Soviet cosmonauts Yuriy Malyshev and Gennady Strekalov — which would travel to the Salyut 7 orbital station in 1984. Malhotra was a part of the backup crew. Sharma's week long stay in space The Soyuz T-11 spacecraft perched atop a 14-storey rocket lifted off from Baikonur at 6.38 pm IST on April 3, 1984. 'The liftoff was an awesome spectacle as the rocket streaked into a clear sky with its tail of flame filling the space with crimson glow and the roar of its mighty engine shaking the earth for miles around,' this newspaper's April 4, 1984 edition reported. Nine minutes after the launch, the spacecraft entered its pre-determined orbit around Earth, making Sharma the first Indian, and 138th person overall, to voyage into space. India became only the 14th nation to send a person to space. On April 4, 25 hours after lift-off, the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft docked with the Salyut 7 space station. The crew spent the next week conducting various scientific experiments aboard the staton, which orbited Earth at an altitude of more than 200 km. 'There was so much hectic activity on board the spaceship, so many things that each of us had to do, that we literally had no time to sit around and stare into space…,' Sharma later said in an interview (as quoted by Burgess and Vis). One of the most important scientific objectives of the mission was the Terra experiment for which Sharma and co clicked a series of pictures of India from space in order to 'study the natural resources of the subcontinent and adjacent areas of the Indian Ocean'. The cosmonauts 'photographed the Nicobar and Andaman islands with a view to detecting shoals that might yield oil and gas, inspected the forested areas and tree plantations in the central part of the subcontinent, the Ganges River basin, the glacial and snow cover of the Himalayas, and individual ocean areas in order to determine their biological productivity,' Burgess and Vis wrote. The crew also carried out several material science experiments exploring the possibility of exploiting conditions of micro-gravity to produce special forms of metallic materials which are impervious to radiation, high temperatures and aggressive media. Then there were a bunch of medical experiments geared towards learning more about the effects of microgravity on human physiology, including muscles and the cardiovascular system. One experiment actually began three months before lift-off, with Sharma and Malhotra switching from the Soviet fitness regimen to one based on yoga. The idea was to 'assess whether yoga might assist space travelers to cope better with weightlessness, and even overcome… 'space sickness' that impaired the performance of some astronauts and cosmonauts during their first few days in space'. Sharma even practised yoga — a set of five pre-determined asanas — daily on the space station, tethered to some gym equipment for support in the microgravity environment of space. A hugely symbolic event Rakesh Sharma went to space at a time when India's own space programme was in its infancy, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was decades away from even contemplating sending an Indian to space. As such, the mission had limited practical benefits for the Indian space programme. The ever-humble Sharma has repeatedly underplayed his personal achievement, calling the mission 'a hugely symbolic event' more than anything else. Of course, that does not make it any less important. Apart from being a major milestone in Indo-Soviet relations — Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the day of the launch said that the mission 'was yet another outstanding example of constructive cooperation for the good of our two peoples' — for millions of Indians, Sharma's flight was an inspirational moment, one that evoked national pride. Planners were very much conscious of the mission's symbolic importance. Sharma was sent to space with a small amount of soil from Raj Ghat, and portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, President Zail Singh, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and then Defence Minister (later President) R Venkataraman, as well as 'fresh mangoes and other Indian foods for all the crew to consume aboard the Salyut-7 station', Burgess and Vis wrote. During the stay, Sharma had a televised conversation with PM Gandhi which was broadcast to millions of Indians on Doordarshan. The cosmonaut's prompt reply to the Prime Minister asking him how India looked from space is today the stuff of legend. 'Sare jahan se achcha (Better than the entire world),' said Sharma, quoting Iqbal's iconic patriotic poem. The crew made a triumphant return to Earth on April 11, 1984.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Meet Vasuki Indicus: World's largest snake, 49-foot long, weighs...,; found in...
Meet Vasuki Indicus: World's largest snake, 49-foot long, weighs...,; found in... For almost two decades, dedicated researchers from IIT Roorkee have meticulously studied these remains. Their findings reveal a fascinating connection to Vasuki Naag, the revered mythical serpent famously depicted as a divine ornament around Lord Shiva's neck. This scientific breakthrough not only challenges our previous understanding of the largest snake to ever grace the Earth but also adds an unexpected layer of credibility to ancient Indian scriptures that speak of mighty serpents like Vasuki. A fossil recently discovered in Gujarat has been identified as 'Vasuki Indicus', one of the largest snakes on earth. Its length is said to be between 36 to 50 feet. Researchers believe that it may have weighed up to 1 ton or 1,000 kilograms. This fossil has been named after the snake king Vasuki described in Hindu mythology. For a long time, the Titanoboa was considered the undisputed champion of ancient snakes, believed to be the longest at 42 feet. However, the newly uncovered Vasuki fossil changes everything. At a breathtaking 49 feet, it potentially takes the crown as the largest snake ever unearthed on Earth. The most astonishing fact is that this species managed to adapt and survive through catastrophic events, even those that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. Mythological significance Vasuki Naag is also associated with the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to this legend, the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu had said to a king Satyavrat, 'At the time of deluge, you tie a boat to my horn with the help of Vasuki Naag, on which you ride along with the Vedas and creatures. This will recreate the universe'. Vasuki Naag is the same Naag that sits around Lord Shiva's neck. It is considered to be Shiva's favorite servant and is also called the king of snakes. During the Samudra Manthan between the Gods and Demons for Amrit, instead of a rope, Vasuki was tied to Mount Meru and Samudra Manthan was done.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Axiom-4 mission, Project Cheetah, and Tardigrades
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 10, 2025. If you missed the June 9, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: AS GROUP Captain Shubhanshu Shukla gets ready to become the first Indian to go to space in over 40 years, an 18-member team from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), led by chairman V Narayanan, has reached NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the launch of Axiom-4 mission, which has been postponed by a day due to weather conditions. It is now set for lift-off on Wednesday, 5.30 pm India time. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Axiom-4 mission? • What is the significance of the International Space Station (ISS)? • What is the theme of the Axiom-4 mission? • What is the Gaganyaan mission? • What is India's roadmap for setting up the Bharatiya Antariksha Station? • How does the Indian space sector benefit from private-sector participation? • How is Shukla's experience going to help India in future space missions? • How is India planning to exploit the space market? • What is the NISAR mission? • What is the Artemis accord? Key Takeaways: • Shukla is the designated pilot for the Axiom-4 mission that will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) — after a journey of 28 hours in space. The mission's Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with ISS around 10 pm India time on Thursday. The transfer of astronauts, from the spacecraft to the ISS, could take another couple of hours after the docking. • Shukla is the first Indian to go to the ISS, a permanent space laboratory, that has been orbiting the Earth for the last 25 years, and is constantly manned by astronauts. He is only the second Indian to go to space, more than 40 years after Rakesh Sharma went on a Soviet mission in 1984. • Shukla's participation in the Axiom-4 mission has been facilitated by an agreement between ISRO and NASA. Axiom Space, a private US company, has been enabled by NASA to carry crewed missions to the ISS as part of the effort to encourage private sector participation in space transportation, to low-Earth orbits and the ISS. • Axiom-4 is carrying four astronauts who will spend two weeks at the ISS. Besides Shukla, there is an astronaut each from Poland and Hungary, countries that, like India, are returning to space travel after over four decades. This is the reason why the theme of the mission is 'Realize the Return.' • The fourth member, also the commander of the mission, is space travel veteran Peggy Whitson, who holds the record for spending the maximum number of days, 675, in space over multiple trips. • Shukla's flight comes months ahead of the scheduled launch of Gaganyaan mission, which is ISRO's maiden attempt at sending a crewed mission to the Moon. • India now has its own human spaceflight mission in the works — the rocket has been human rated, the crew escape systems and parachutes have been tested in various conditions, the astronauts have completed their training. India's first crewed mission is scheduled for 2027. And, the learnings from the Axiom-4 mission will feed into it. • Human spaceflight missions are extremely challenging, more so when you are doing it for the first time. They are maybe a couple of orders of magnitude more complex than uncrewed missions because of the safety protocols that have to be integrated. This is the challenge that ISRO faces with the Gaganyaan mission. • That is why Shukla's experience with the Axiom-4 mission is important. He will bring real-life exposure that can be utilised in Gaganyaan. Shukla is the designated pilot of the Axiom-4 mission. He will learn a lot and gain in many ways during this mission. • Also, Shukla will be the first Indian to go to the ISS. He will have an opportunity to see how the ISS functions and operates. ISRO's next big project, after Gaganyaan, is to build its own space station. That is a massive infrastructural endeavour. • Space is a costly endeavour, and the sector can benefit hugely from private-sector participation. It will also make the sector more vibrant, facilitate innovation, expedite technology development, and attract new, young talent. It can also boost economic growth. • Globally, the space market is worth about $500 billion, and is expected to double by the year 2030. India, despite being a major spacefaring nation, accounts for a just 2% share of this market. We have the ambition of increasing our share to at least 10% in the coming years. Do You Know: 'Realising the return'— how an Indian became part of Axiom-4 • In June 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington, India and the US announced a decision to finalise a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation. It was also revealed that Indian and American space agencies, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), would mount a joint effort to enable an Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2024. • Only three nations — the US, Russia and China — have a human spaceflight programme of their own. Shubhanshu Shukla's flight, which came about on the back of the 2023 announcement, is thus being seen as another preparatory step ahead of the Gaganyaan mission. • Their space agencies have been working on a joint NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission for over a decade now, enabling a closer-than-ever partnership. That mission is finally ready now, and likely to be launched in the next few weeks from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. • This closer collaboration was formalised a couple of months after Modi's Washington visit in June 2023, when India signed the Artemis Accords, a US-devised set of principles for responsible behaviour and cooperation in space exploration, particularly in lunar and deep planetary missions. • Shortly after the Artemis Accords were signed, Axiom Space, a private US-based space company, invited India to participate in its mission to the ISS. Axiom Space has been the first and till now the only beneficiary of a NASA programme to enable private US industry to send commercial crewed missions to low-earth orbits and the ISS. • Axiom Space has sent three multinational missions to the ISS so far, each carrying four astronauts. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Gaganyaan's first uncrewed mission to be launched in 2025 last quarter: Isro chief V Narayanan 📍Knowledge Nugget: Axiom-4 mission — What you must know for UPSC Exam UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (1) With reference to the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), consider the following statements: 1. Ax-4 is a private spaceflight to the ISS operated by Axiom Space, using the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. 2. The mission will carry an all-Indian crew on its journey. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. What's the ongoing story: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Monday announced in a special one-day session of the Assam Assembly that the state government has decided to bring a 1950 Act into action to 'push back' into Bangladesh anyone who District Collectors prima facie find to be foreigners — without going through the state's existing system of Foreigners Tribunals. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the role of the Foreigners Tribunals? • What are the constitutional provisions related to tribunals? • What are the criteria to declare someone a foreigner in India? • What is Section 6A of the Citizenship Act? • What is the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950? • Who is considered a citizen in India? • What are the constitutional provisions related to citizenship in India? • What are the issues around the National Register of Citizens (NRC)? Key Takeaways: • He said this will be implemented in addition to the ongoing 'pushbacks' of people who have been declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs); around 330 such declared foreigners have been pushed into Bangladesh in the past couple of weeks. • Speaking in the Assembly, Sarma referred to the October 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court in which a majority of a five-member Constitutional Bench headed by then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which makes March 24, 1971 the cut-off date for citizenship in Assam. • Under the existing system in the state, the identification and declaration of 'foreigners' is done through Foreigners Tribunals (FTs). • FTs are quasi-judicial bodies that determine whether a person presented before them — usually referred by the border police or listed as 'D-voters' in electoral rolls — is a 'foreigner' or an Indian citizen. Those declared foreigners by these tribunals have the option to appeal against the order by approaching the Gauahti High Court and the Supreme Court. • In the judgment, after upholding the validity of Section 6A, the court had issued a set of six directions, of which one was: 'The provisions of the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 shall also be read into Section 6A and shall be effectively employed for the purpose of identification of illegal immigrants.' Do You Know: • The Foreigners' Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies meant to 'furnish opinion on the question as to whether a person is or is not a foreigner within the meaning of Foreigners Act, 1946'. • In 1964, the Centre passed the Foreigners' (Tribunals) Order under provisions of Section 3 of the Act. The FTs get two kinds of cases: those against whom a 'reference' has been made by border police, and those whose names in the electoral rolls have a D (Doubtful) against them. • Section 9 of the Foreigners Act says that 'the onus of proving that such person is not a foreigner or is not a foreigner of such particular class or description, as the case may be, shall, not withstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, lie upon such person'. • Previously, under the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, the onus of proving one's nationality or otherwise lay on the complainant. In 2005 (Sarbananda Sonowal vs Union Of India), the Supreme Court struck down the IMDT Act and held that it 'has created the biggest hurdle and is the main impediment or barrier in the identification and deportation of illegal migrants'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: How do Foreigners' Tribunals work? UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Consider the following statements: 1. The FTs are constitutional bodies formed by the central government through the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964. 2. According to the 1964 order, an FT has the powers of a civil court in certain matters, such as summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'The Central Administrative Tribunal which was established for redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government employees, nowadays is exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority.' Explain. (2019) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: Amid continuing criticism of various aspects of Project Cheetah, wildlife officials and field scientists from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have authored a paper seeking to counter what they termed 'persistent criticism' and 'sensationalised media narratives' against the project, and defended its progress. Key Points to Ponder • What is Project Cheetah? • Cheetah in India- Know in detail • What is the IUCN status of Cheetah? • Trans-continental translocation of Animals-know the Issues and Challenges • How was the Reintroduction of the cheetah in India executed? • What are the challenges of the Project Cheetah? • Cheetah Project Steering Committee—Know its role, vision and powers • What is the significance of the Project Cheetah? • What are the other similar projects of the Indian government? • Read about the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Cheetah Project Steering Committee. • Map work (World)- Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. • Map work (India)- Kuno Palpur National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Key Takeaways: • The officials and scientists said some of the criticism against the project was 'rooted in ideological biases'. Published in Frontiers in Conservation Science journal, the paper said that cheetahs imported to India have adapted ecologically and that the project had demonstrated significant progress in 2.5 years. • It added that the project was on a promising trajectory, even as cheetah reintroduction was a 'gradual and risky process, with inevitable and adaptive learning'. NTCA's assistant veterinary officer Sanath Krishna Muliya is the paper's lead author, and Project Tiger head Gobind Sagar Bharadwaj is among the co-authors. • The paper delved into issues such as the project's scientific merits, 'misplaced concerns about cheetahs in captivity', 'misinformed ethical and justice concerns', and 'misconceptions about veterinary capabilities and field interventions.' • The government officials said in the paper that the cheetahs were held in 'soft-release bomas' or large enclosures, where they hunted locally available prey, and no prey was provided. They added that the soft-release practice was internationally recognised for carnivore reintroductions. • The government is also negotiating with the governments of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, for more cheetah translocations, the paper said. Do You Know: • Project Cheetah was launched in September 2022 and introduced African cheetahs into India from Namibia and South Africa. Initially, 20 cheetahs were imported from the two countries. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Project Cheetah: Where things stand after two years Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) Consider the following: (2012) 1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard Which of the above are naturally found in India? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, General Science Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Science and Technology, Awareness in the fields of Space What's the ongoing story: Among the scientific experiments astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will undertake during his two week stay at the International Space Station (ISS) is one that will examine the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades in space. Key Points to Ponder: • What are tardigrades? • What makes tardigrades one of the most resilient life forms on Earth? • What is the Voyager Tardigrades experiment? • Why do scientists study these microscopic, eight-legged organisms? • What is the Axiom-4 mission? • Read the biological structure and habitat of tardigrades and how these features contribute to their adaptability and widespread distribution. Key Takeaways: • Tardigrades, also known as 'water bears', are robust aquatic animals that have been around for roughly 600 million years, 400 million years before dinosaurs walked the planet. They have survived all the five major mass extinction events to have taken place thus far, and scientists believe they could be around long after humanity has died out. • Typically about 0.5 mm long when fully grown, tardigrades have four pairs of legs, with 4-6 claws on each foot. They also have a specialised mouth which helps them suck nutrients from plant cells, algae, and other small invertebrates. • Tardigrades can be found almost everywhere — from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans. Their most common habitat, however, is the thin film of water found on mosses and lichens, which bestows upon these animals the moniker of 'moss piglets'. • Siddharth Pandey, an affiliate research scientist with US-based Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, told The Indian Express that tardigrades owe their incredible resilience to cryptobiosis, a state in which organisms bring their metabolism to a near-complete standstill in the face of adverse environmental conditions. Tardigrades can reduce their metabolism to less than 0.01% of normal, and drop their water levels by more than 95%, a state called anhydrobiosis. • Both anhydrobiosis and cryptobiosis result in the emergence of a durable shrunken state, called tun, in which tardigrades are able to withstand extreme conditions. • Also, these animals produce unique proteins such as cytoplasmic-abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins which are key to their resilience. • Scientists will take tardigrades to the ISS in a state of tun, before reviving them and examining the effects of space radiation and microgravity on their biological processes. • The primary objective of the experiment is to identify the genes that are responsible for making these animals resilient. In other words, scientists hope to pinpoint the specific molecular machinery that enables tardigrades' survival and DNA repair in space. • This will help scientists develop strategies to protect astronauts during long-duration space missions, and preserve biological materials for extended space travel. Do You Know: • Tardigrades were discovered in 1773 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze, they have become a subject of intensive research in the past few decades. • This is because tardigrades are remarkably resilient creatures, known to survive in the harshest of conditions. Water bears have been known to withstand temperatures as low as minus 272.95 degrees Celsius or as high as 150 degrees Celsius; endure ultraviolet radiation of space and pressures of 40,000 kilopascals (equivalent to what can be experienced at a depth of 4 km under the ocean's surface); and live after being stored in a freezer for 30 years, according to a report by Front Line Genomics. • Tardigrades have been a part of space missions since 2007, when some 3,000 moss piglets hitched a ride to space aboard the European Space Agency's Foton-M3 mission. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍This Word Means: Water bears or tardigrades UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (4) Consider the following statements with regard to Tardigrades 1. Tardigrades were discovered in 1773 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze. 2. They have survived all the five major mass extinction events to have taken place thus far. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. What's the ongoing story: India is set to add 75 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy in 2025-26 (FY26) and FY27, up 53 per cent from 49 GW added in FY24 and FY25, Crisil Ratings said. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the share of renewable energy in the total energy production of India? • What are the geographical and economic challenges in utilizing the true potential of renewable energy? • What are the major initiatives taken by the government related to the adoption of renewable energy? • What are the Hybrid projects? • Understand the science behind the production of solar, wind, and tidal energy. • What are the power purchase agreements (PPAs)? • A key challenge facing the sector is the inability of the transmission infrastructure. Elaborate. Key Takeaways: • Investments in renewables are also expected to surge by 52 per cent from Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3.8 lakh crore in FY26 and FY27, largely on account of increasing share of hybrid projects that are more capital intensive, the ratings agency said. • Of the total 75 GW renewable capacity to be added over the next two financial years, around 37 per cent will come from hybrid and storage-linked projects, significantly larger than the 17 per cent share in FY24 and FY25. • Hybrid projects mix solar and wind capacities to support more consistent generation, while storage-linked projects use batteries and pumped hydro to save excess power generation for later use. • Crisil Ratings said investments in renewables were recorded at Rs 1.8 lakh crore in FY22 and FY23, which increased to Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the following two fiscals, and is expected to grow by half to Rs 3.8 lakh crore in FY26 and FY27. The surge in investments will partly be on account of rising share of hybrid and storage projects, which are more capital intensive. • A key challenge facing the sector is the inability of transmission infrastructure to keep pace with capacity addition. • Renewable projects are also facing difficulties in securing buyers through renewable energy implementing agencies (REIAs), with not enough states signing power purchase agreements (PPAs). Do You Know: • Renewable energy sources such as solar power, hydroelectric power, and wind power can be harnessed repeatedly without depleting natural resources, making them essential to a sustainable future. Therefore, expanding the scope and uses of renewable energy sources is critical to reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and combating climate change. 1. Solar Energy: Solar energy is harnessed from the sun's radiation. It can be transformed into electricity using solar panels (photovoltaic cells) or alternatively can be utilised to produce heat through solar thermal systems. 2. Wind Energy: It is generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using wind turbines. 3. Hydropower: It is created by harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water in rivers, dams, waterfalls, etc. It is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of renewable energy. 4. Biomass Energy: Biomass is produced from organic materials such as plant residues, animal waste, and wood. It can be heated or converted to liquid or gaseous fuels for consumption. 5. Geothermal Energy: This form of energy is derived from the Earth's internal heat. These can be naturally occurring hot water reservoirs or can be man-made. Occurring at various depths and varying temperatures below the earth's surface, these geothermal resources can be used for electricity generation and direct heating applications. 6. Tidal and Wave Energy: It harnesses the movement of ocean water to generate electricity. Tidal energy relies on the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, whereas wave energy captures the energy of surface waves. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Akshay Urja Day 2024: India making strides in advancing renewable energy 📍Renewable energy's dirty secrets: Hidden cost of going green Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (2018) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment, Science and Technology. What's the ongoing story: India's imports of permanent magnets—many containing rare earth elements (REEs)—nearly doubled to 53,700 tonnes in 2024-25 (FY25) from around 28,700 tonnes the year before, according to official trade data. Key Points to Ponder: • What are permanent magnets? • What are rare earth magnets? Why is it called rare earth minerals? • Which country has the most rare earth deposits? • What is the difference between critical minerals and rare earth elements? • What effects does China's dominance over the processing of rare earth magnets have on global supply chains? • What are the rare earth minerals found in India? • What should India do to prepare for future shortages of strategic minerals such as rare earth elements? Key Takeaways: • The surge in imports, with 93 per cent coming from China, preceded Beijing's April 4 export restrictions on rare earth magnets, which have since disrupted production lines globally. In India, with just 2-3 weeks of REE magnet supply remaining, industry executives are expected to travel to China in a bid to ease the shortage, sources told The Indian Express. • China is the dominant supplier of permanent magnets in India, accounting for upwards of 90 per cent share. Imports from China increased by 95 per cent year-on-year to 50,000 tonnes in FY25. Permanent magnets, especially those made with REEs, are widely used in electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, aerospace, and defence. • In contrast to FY25, imports in the ongoing financial year are expected to be tempered, after China imposed export restrictions on rare earth magnets and related materials from April 4, as a direct response to US imposing tariffs. • In India, a supply crunch is in the making, especially for neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets used in EV motors. Over the past month or so, Indian carmakers are learnt to have used up inventories and there is likely to be a shortage going forward. • Earlier, a senior executive from the Indian car industry told The Indian Express that importers are now required to give their Chinese suppliers an undertaking that the rare earth magnets procured from that country would only be used in vehicles and not for defence or military applications. • Currently, IREL (India) Ltd, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, refines rare earth oxides from heavy metal ores, containing REEs like cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium. However, production is limited. Moreover, the processing of refining oxides into alloys—and then into magnets—is highly technical and virtually non-existent in India. • Figuring out the supply chain for rare earth ores is a key challenge, with players looking at importing ores from Sri Lanka, Mongolia, and Myanmar, sources said. Another challenge for domestic players would be to remain viable as China significantly cuts prices of rare earth magnets. • According to the US Geological Survey's January 2025 data, India held the world's third-largest rare earth reserves in 2024—estimated at 6.9 million tonnes— behind China (44 million tonnes) and Brazil (21 million tonnes). However, on the production front, India ranked seventh at 2,900 tonnes, well behind China (255,000 tonnes), Myanmar (43,000), the US (41,600), Australia, Nigeria, and Thailand. • In the January 2024 report, India ranked fifth in reserves. The latest revision reflects reduction in other countries' estimates—Vietnam's reserves were cut from 22 million tonnes to 3.5 million, and Russia's from 10 million to 3.8 million. Do You Know: • Rare Earth Elements (REEs) or Rare Earth Metals are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table — the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium, which tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides, and have similar chemical properties. REEs are classified as light RE elements (LREE) and heavy RE elements (HREE). • The 17 Rare Earths are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y). • Some REEs are available in India — such as Lanthanum, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Samarium, etc. Others such as Dysprosium, Terbium, and Europium, which are classified as HREEs, are not available in Indian deposits in extractable quantities. Hence, there is a dependence on countries such as China for HREEs, which is one of the leading producers of REEs, with an estimated 70 per cent share of the global production. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Knowledge Nugget: Geopolitics and Minerals – What is the UPSC relevance of Rare Earth Elements? 📍China curbs on rare earth magnets: Electric Vehicle makers face shortage, approach govt UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (5) With reference to the Rare Earth Elements, consider the following statements: 1. These are crucial for manufacturing high-value goods in defence and clean energy. 2. The United States dominated rare earth elements, supplying 85 to 95 per cent of the world's demand. 3. Gadolinium (Gd) and holmium (Ho) are considered Rare Earth Elements. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
