18^th August 2025    

1. Pattern of Biodiversity: Recently, a study in Nature Ecology & Evolution (July 2025) found that biodiversity follows an onion-like pattern — with dense, unique species at the core and mixed, less distinctive ones at the edges. The insight could help conservationists target areas where protection will have the greatest impact.

• Key Findings: The researchers identified seven biogeographical sectors that repeat across continents and taxonomic groups, revealing a common structural rule in biodiversity.
• Core vs. transition zones
• Core hotspots: High richness, high endemicity, almost no foreign species.
• Inner layers: Still species-rich, with slightly more widespread species.
• Middle layers: Less richness, some overlap with neighbouring regions.
• Transition zones: Species-poor, dominated by wide-ranging generalists.
• Outer-layer species were usually subsets of inner-layer species, not entirely different specialists.
• In 98% of region–taxon cases, temperature and rainfall reliably predicted which biodiversity layer a location fell into.
• The onion-like pattern held true for birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, rays, dragonflies, and trees
• Relevance to India: In the Indian Himalayas, the study suggests focusing not just on traditional protected areas but also on altitudinal zones, natural corridors, and climate-sensitive habitats.

2. Reindeer: Recently, an international study warned that reindeer, could decline by up to 80% by 2100 if climate change remains unchecked. The researchers stressed that without sharp emission cuts and urgent conservation measures, these iconic Arctic animals may face near extinction by the end of the century.

• About Reindeer: Also known as caribou in North America, are among the largest species of deer. They are mammals belonging to the Cervidae family.

• Uniquely, reindeer are the only mammals capable of seeing ultraviolet light, which helps them detect predators, as white fur becomes more visible under UV.

• Their noses are specially adapted to warm the cold air before it reaches their lungs.

• Both males and females grow antlers, though the males’ antlers are nearly twice as large as those of females.

• Habitat & Distribution: Reindeer thrive in polar and Arctic regions.
  - They are distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Diet: As herbivores, they primarily feed on plants, grasses, lichens, and other vegetation.

• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List, Vulnerable.

3. Sakura Science Programme 2025: Recently, the Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, flagged off a delegation of 34 Indian school students and 3 supervisors to participate in the prestigious Sakura Science Programme 2025.

• Sakura Science Programme: Launched in 2014, the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science—popularly known as the Sakura Science Programme, invites students from Asia and Africa to experience Japan’s advances in science, technology, and culture.
• India joined the programme in 2016, and so far, 639 students and 93 supervisors have participated.
• The most recent Indian batch visited Japan in June 2025.
• This year, along with India, students from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia are also participating.

4. Ionic Liquids (ILs): Recently, scientists discovered that life could potentially exist on rocky super-Earths with volcanic activity and little water, made possible by the unique properties of ionic liquids (ILs).

• About Ionic Liquids: Are salts that exist in a liquid state at room temperature, composed entirely of ions.

• Criteria: Only salts with melting points below 100°C (212°F) are classified as ionic liquids.

• Formation: Any salt that melts without decomposing or vaporizing can form an IL.
• Difference from Ordinary Liquids: Unlike common liquids such as water (made of neutral molecules), ILs consist of ions and short-lived ion pairs.
• Examples: Tetrabutylammonium nitrite, 1-(Cyanomethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, Choline acetate.
• Also known as liquid electrolytes, ionic melts, ionic fluids, fused salts, liquid salts, or ionic glasses.
• General Properties:  Non-volatile and Non-flammable
• Thermally stable (up to 200–400°C) and chemically resistant (to water and oxygen)
• Hydrophobic or hydrophilic in nature
• Excellent ionic conductivity (good electrolytes)
• Wide electrochemical stability window

5. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park: Recently, a scientific study revealed that along with invasive species, certain native trees are also disrupting the fragile ecosystem of Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (DSNP), the only habitat of feral horses in India.

• The findings, published in Earth, a peer-reviewed international journal on earth sciences, warn of the shrinking grasslands in DSNP, changes that could endanger several rare and endemic species.
• Key Findings: Native species as invaders: Two native flowering trees — Bombax ceiba (Simalu) and Lagerstroemia speciosa (Ajar) — are behaving like “grassland invaders”, altering the park’s natural structure alongside invasive alien species.
• Major invasive plants identified: Chromolaena odorata, Ageratum conyzoides (shrubs), Parthenium hysterophorus (herb), and Mikania micrantha (climber) are spreading rapidly and degrading grasslands.
• Decline of grasslands: In 2000, grasslands covered 78% of the park (425 sq. km).
  • By 2013, large portions converted to shrubland (31 sq. km) and degraded forest (75.56 sq. km).
  • By 2024, degraded forest further expanded to 52 sq. km (23.47%), showing a consistent decline in grassland.
  • Notable declining species: Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), hog deer (Axis porcinus), swamp grass babbler (Prinia cinerascens).

6. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals: Recently, on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, the President of India awarded seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals to the leaders of Operation Sindoor, recognising their exceptional service during conflict operations.

• About the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal: Instituted on 26 June 1980, is awarded to personnel who have demonstrated exceptional distinguished service during war, conflict, or hostilities.
• Eligibility: All ranks of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including Territorial Army Units, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, and other lawfully constituted armed forces when embodied.

• Nursing officers and other members of the Armed Forces Nursing Services.
• The medal may be awarded posthumously.
• Design and Features: Medal: Circular, 35 mm diameter, gold-gilt, suspended from a plain horizontal bar.

• Obverse: State Emblem with the inscription “SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL” in English.
• Reverse: Five-pointed star.
• Ribbon: Golden with a central red vertical stripe dividing it into two equal parts.
• Bar: Additional awards of the medal are indicated by a bar on the ribbon, with a miniature insignia added when the ribbon is worn alone.
  
  

7. Veterinary Blood Banks: Recently, recognising the rising need for critical veterinary care, the Union Government announced plans to set up a national network of veterinary blood banks across India. The initiative will ensure safe, standardised, and readily available blood transfusion services for pets, livestock, and other animals.

• Key Highlights: India has a large livestock (536 million) and pet population (~125 million) but lacks standardized protocols and regulatory framework for veterinary blood transfusion.
• Importance of transfusions: Blood transfusions are essential for managing trauma, severe anemia, surgery, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders in animals.
• Animal blood facts: Blood volume: 7–9% of body weight.
• Blood groups vary by species: Cattle (11), Dogs (9), Horses (8), Cats (4).
• Examples of blood volume: Cattle (~16.5 L), Dogs (86 ml/kg), Horses (76 ml/kg).
• Donor eligibility: Healthy, vaccinated, disease-free, and dewormed.
• Age/weight: Dogs 1–8 yrs & ≥25 kg, Cats 1–5 yrs & ≥4 kg, livestock as per species norms.
• Female donors must not be pregnant or recently lactating.
• Donation frequency: Dogs every 4–6 weeks, Cats every 8–12 weeks, with ≥30-day gap between donations.

8. SWAYAM Portal: Recently, the Ministry of Education launched five free Artificial Intelligence courses on the SWAYAM portal. These courses are designed to help students from science, commerce, and management backgrounds gain skills in AI, machine learning, and data science.

• About SWAYAM Portal: Stands for Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds, is India’s indigenous Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, launched by the Ministry of Education in 2017.

o  It aims to bridge the digital divide by providing students, who have limited access to digital resources—an opportunity to participate in the knowledge economy.
o  The platform hosts courses from Class 9 to post-graduation, making them accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time. All courses are interactive, designed by top educators in India, and are free of cost for residents.
o  Features of SWAYAM: Courses are structured into four quadrants: Video lectures

• Downloadable/printable reading material
• Self-assessment tests through quizzes and assignments
• Online discussion forums for doubt clearing
• Course categories include Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Language, Mathematics, Arts, Commerce, General Education, and Library Studies.

9. Escherichia Coli: Recently, researchers engineered Escherichia coli bacteria to function as self-powered chemical sensors, enabling direct interaction with electronics and advancing affordable bioelectronic devices.

• About Escherichia coli (E. coli): A type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. It is rod-shaped and belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae
• Most strains are harmless and can even be beneficial, but some strains can cause illness.
• Types of Illnesses: Certain strains can cause diarrhea.
• Others may lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs), respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, and other infections.
• Transmission: coli spreads through contaminated food or water.
• It can also be transmitted via contact with fecal matter from infected humans or animals.
• Mechanism of Illness: Harmful strains produce a toxin called Shiga toxin.
• The toxin damages the lining of the small intestine, leading to diarrhea.
• These harmful strains are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
• Treatment: Most E. coli infections are self-limiting and resolve without medical treatment.
• Hydration is crucial during the course of the illness.