2 Minute Series_12th August 2025

2^th August 2025

1. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT): Recently, Kenya officially eliminated Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, as a public health concern, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) announcement. This achievement makes Kenya the 10th African country to reach this milestone and marks its second major victory over a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) after eradicating guinea worm disease in 2018.

• About HAT: A vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted through tsetse flies.
• In Kenya, only the rhodesiense form—found in eastern and southern Africa—was ever reported.
• This form progresses rapidly, invading vital organs like the brain, and can be fatal within weeks if left untreated.
• The disease was first detected in Kenya in the early 20th century.
• No indigenous cases have been reported since 2009.
• The last imported cases were recorded in 2012 in the Masai Mara National Reserve.

2. Blue Pinkgill Mushroom: Recently, a rare and striking bloom of Blue Pinkgill fungi was recorded in the Kagaznagar forest division of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana.

• About Blue Pinkgill Mushroom: Commonly known as the “sky-blue mushroom” (Entoloma hochstetteri), this species has distinctive pink to purplish gills.
• It is native to New Zealand and is famously depicted on the country’s $50 note.
• Appearance: The mushroom’s vivid blue colour comes from rare azulene pigments.
• Some specimens are entirely blue with slightly reddish-tinted gills due to spore pigmentation.
• Caps may be flat or funnel-shaped, with pink or white gills, and stems that can be centrally or laterally attached.
• The spore print is typically pink to salmon-coloured, aiding identification.
• Habitat: Found mainly in New Zealand’s broadleaf forests, growing on the forest floor among leaf litter.
• In India, it appears during the monsoon season, when abundant rainfall saturates forest soils, creating ideal conditions for its growth.

3. Glacier Erosion: Recently, a landmark study published in Nature Geoscience, revealed that 99% of the world’s glaciers erode at rates ranging from 0.02 mm to 2.68 mm per year.

• Key Highlights: Highest collective erosion rates: Alaska, Central & South Asia, Caucasus & Middle East, and New Zealand.
• Major erosion zones: Alaska, Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Scandinavia, southern Andes.
• Erosion Rates: 99% of the world’s glaciers erode at rates between 02 mm/year and 2.68 mm/year.
• Glaciers collectively erode around 23 gigatonnes (Gt) of bedrock annually.
• Fluvial sediment flux from exorheic drainage areas: 5–20 Gt/year.
• Scope of Study: Predictions made for 185,081 contemporary glaciers (85% of Randolph Glacier Inventory).
• Included key Indian glaciers such as Gangotri, Dokriani, and Siachen.
• Used a global-scale synthesis of 181 measured erosion rates and machine learning models.

4. Tritium: Recently, a global ocean model study by the University of Tokyo and Fukushima University confirmed that the release of tritium-containing wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant poses negligible environmental risk.

• About Tritium : Also known as Hydrogen-3
• Nature: Radioactive isotope of hydrogen; nucleus contains 1 proton + 2 neutrons — the heaviest bound isotope of hydrogen.
• Half-life: ~12.3 years.
• Occurrence: Natural: Formed in the upper atmosphere through cosmic ray interactions.
• Artificial: Produced in nuclear reactors (via lithium irradiation, as a fission byproduct) and during nuclear weapon explosions.
• Physical Properties: Colourless, odourless gas.
  • Combines with oxygen to form tritiated water (HTO).
  • Moves easily through the environment like normal water.
• Radiation: Emits low-energy beta radiation; cannot penetrate human skin; harmful only if inhaled or ingested.
• Health Impact: Low external hazard.
  • Internal exposure in large doses can increase cancer risk.
  • Environmental and health impact significantly reduced by ocean dilution.
• Uses: Lighting: Combined with phosphor for glow-in-the-dark devices (e.g., exit signs, emergency lighting, and runway lights).
• Medical Research: Used as a tracer in biomedical studies for heart disease, cancer, and AIDS.
• Energy: Potential fuel for fusion reactors to generate electricity.

5. OCO-2 and OCO-3 Satellites: Recently, the US government asked NASA to plan the shutdown of its OCO-2 and OCO-3 satellites. This move could end highly accurate space-based CO₂ tracking and impact climate and agricultural research.

• About OCO Missions: The Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) are a series of dedicated Earth remote-sensing satellites designed to measure atmospheric CO2 levels and track their sources and sinks globally.
• OCO-1: Failed to reach orbit in 2009 due to a launch vehicle malfunction.
• OCO-2: Launched in July 2014, measuring atmospheric CO2 and mapping crop health.
• OCO-3: Installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019, built from spare OCO-2 parts, capable of observing locations at different times of day.
• Why They Matter: Enabled global CO₂ mapping with high precision, surpassing the limited reach of ground-based stations.
• Found boreal forests absorb more CO₂ than previously estimated, challenging the view of tropical rainforests as the main carbon sink.
• Showed droughts and deforestation can turn forests into net carbon emitters.
• Tracked crop health via plant fluorescence, aiding drought monitoring, yield forecasting, and rangeland management.

6. Envelope Dimer Epitope (EDE): Recently, researchers have uncovered key insights into how the human body develops strong protection against the dengue virus (DENV), a breakthrough that could speed up the creation of safer and more effective vaccines.

• A joint US–Philippines study, published in Science Translational Medicine, identified envelope dimer epitope (EDE)-like antibodies as a crucial factor in broad, cross-serotype immunity — capable of protecting against all four strains of the virus.
• About EDE: A quaternary epitope on the dengue virus surface, located on the envelope (E) protein.
• Formed when two E proteins pair
• Present only in mature virus particles, making it a precise target for neutralising antibodies.
• Function & Significance: Key immune target that can trigger broad, cross-serotype protection against all four dengue virus types.
• Current Vaccines & Limitations: Dengvaxia: Licensed in some countries; recommended only for people with confirmed prior dengue infection due to Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE)
• QDENGA: Effective in pre-exposed individuals; approved in some regions.
• Limitation: Both work best in people with prior infection and cannot fully prevent ADE risk.
• Key Characteristics: Broadly Neutralising: Works against all four dengue serotypes.
• High Protective Value: Linked to reduced disease severity and hospitalisations.
• Induced by Multiple Exposures: Common in people with repeat infections or prior infection plus vaccination.
• Low in First Infection: Rare in primary dengue cases.
• Biomarker Role: High levels indicate strong, broad immunity and help assess vaccine performance.

7. PCV20: Recently, Pfizer launched its next-generation 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) for adults in India. The vaccine offers protection against 20 pneumococcal serotypes responsible for most pneumococcal infections.

• About Pneumococcal Disease: Encompasses a range of illnesses caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). This encapsulated bacterium has a polysaccharide capsule that plays a key role in its virulence. Although around 90 pneumococcal serotypes are known globally, only a few account for most cases.
• The disease can manifest as: Mild infections – e.g., ear infections
• Severe illnesses – such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis
• It is a global public health concern, with young children and the elderly in developing countries being most vulnerable. The disease is responsible for nearly one million child deaths annually. Transmission occurs through direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected individuals or healthy carriers.
• Treatment: Primarily with antibiotics.
• Prevention: Vaccination is crucial, especially for young children and older adults. However, growing antimicrobial resistance in pneumococci remains a significant global challenge.

8. Khelo India ASMITA: Recently, the Khelo India Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women (ASMITA) Football League 2025–26 was inaugurated in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

• About Khelo India ASMITA: A flagship initiative under the Khelo India programme, designed to promote gender-inclusive sports culture in India.

Launched in 2021, the programme is a targeted intervention to boost women’s participation in competitive sports through structured leagues and competitions.

• Objectives and Scope: Inclusive Sports Development: To create equal opportunities for women athletes across all regions.
• Grassroots Empowerment: To scout and nurture talent from the local level, ensuring representation from rural and urban areas alike.
• Nation-Building through Sports: A key element of the Khelo Bharat Niti, linking sports with social empowerment and national pride.
• Implementation: The Sports Authority of India (SAI), in collaboration with National Sports Federations, conducts ASMITA leagues across multiple age groups and sports disciplines at zonal and national levels. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• For the 2025-26 financial year, 852 ASMITA leagues are planned in 15 sports disciplines, with a target of engaging over 70,000 women athletes across all States and Union Territories.
• Significance: Challenging Stereotypes: Breaking barriers for women in traditionally male-dominated sports.
• Role Model Creation: Inspiring the next generation of women athletes.
• Talent Identification: Serving as a national platform to discover and train future champions.

9. Animal Stem Cell Biobank and Laboratory: Recently, the Union Minister inaugurated India’s first state-of-the-art Animal Stem Cell Biobank and Laboratory at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad.

• About Animal Stem Cell Biobank and Laboratory: A cutting-edge research and storage centre for animal stem cells, enabling advancements in regenerative medicine, disease modelling, tissue engineering, and reproductive biotechnology in livestock.
• Objectives: Develop innovative veterinary healthcare solutions using regenerative medicine and cellular therapies.

• Advance the One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health.
• Strengthen India’s biotechnology-based agricultural productivity and sustainable livestock development.