1.Ceramics

Ceramics can typically withstand very hot or acidic environments, many forms of chemical erosion, and are hard and difficult to compress. But they are also brittle — i.e. can shatter — and don’t handle shear, or sliding, stress well.

● The science of preparing and studying ceramics’ microscopic properties is called ceramography.

● In modernity, scientists have used ceramics on space shuttles (as part of the heat shield during atmospheric reentry) to produce heat in microwave furnaces, as abrasives, in the production of varistors and semiconductors, as nuclear fuel, in fighter aircrafts’ windows, and in tomographic scanners, among other settings

● The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in some ceramic materials won two scientists the 1987 physics Nobel Prize

2.Basal melt in Antarctica

● An ice shelf is a mass of glacial ice, fed from land by tributary glaciers, that floats in the sea above an ice shelf cavity.
● Dotson Ice Shelf is part of the West Antarctic ice sheet and next to Thwaites Glacier, which is considered to have a potentially large impact on future sea level rise due to its size and location.
● Brought to the Amundsen Sea through ocean circulation, warm salty water is a significant driver of ice meltand, thus, sea level rise.
● This bottom-up melting, called basal melt, thins and hollows out cavities at the base of floating ice shelves, reducing or eliminating structural support for grounded ice that flows into them.
● Now, researchers have described basal melt patterns at the base of the Dotson Ice
Shelf (DIS) located in West Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea

What is Basal melt ?

● Basal melt refers to the melting of ice or snow that occurs at the base of a glacier or ice sheet.
● This process is a critical component of the overall mass balance of glaciers and ice sheets, which in turn affects sea level rise and regional water resources.

Basal melt is influenced by several factors,

Geothermal Heat: The Earth’s internal heat can warm the base of a glacier or ice sheet, leading to melting.

Pressure: The weight of the overlying ice can increase the pressure at the base, lowering the melting point of ice through a process known as pressure melting

Frictional Heat: As the glacier moves over its bed, friction can generate heat, contributing to basal melting.

Subglacial Hydrology: The circulation of water at the base of a glacier can transport heat and influence the rate of basal melt.
Climate Change: Increasing global temperatures can lead to warmer air and water temperatures, which can penetrate to the base of glaciers and accelerate basal melt.

● The meltwater produced at the base of a glacier can play a significant role in the dynamics of the glacier by lubricating the interface between the ice and the underlying bedrock or sediments, potentially leading to faster glacier movement.
● This meltwater can also contribute to the formation of subglacial lakes, which can influence the stability of ice sheets and the potential for rapid ice discharge.
● Understanding basal melt is essential for predicting the behavior of glaciers and ice sheets in a changing climate.
● Scientists use a variety of methods to study basal melt, including borehole measurements, radar imaging, and numerical modeling. These studies help to inform projections of sea level rise and water resource management strategies in glacier-fed river systems.

3.Porja, Bagata, and Konda Dora Tribes

Why in News?

The plight of TRIBES  in Andhra Pradesh, who played a crucial role in constructing the Lower Sileru Hydro-Electric Project (LSP), has recently gained attention.

• Despite their crucial contributions in the 1970s, villages nearby Visakhapatnam settled by the Porja, Bagata, and Konda Dora tribes continue to face severe shortages of electricity and clean water.

What are the Key Facts About the Porja, Bagata, and Konda Dora tribes?

• Porja Tribe:
  • The Porja tribe (sub-groups: Bondo Porja, Khond Porja and Parangi Porja), residing in the Visakhapatnam area of Andhra Pradesh, has a population of approximately 16,479 (Census, 1991).
  • The Porjas migrated from Odisha around 300 years ago in search of cultivable land. Historically, they were employed as palanquin bearers and for other menial tasks.
  • The term “Porja” is derived from Oriya words meaning “son of a king,” reflecting their historical employment by the Jeypore rulers.
  • They inhabit the hilly terrains and practice shifting cultivation, known locally as Podu.
  • The Porjas practice a patriarchal system with patrilineal descent. Property inheritance and succession to hereditary offices follow this system, with the eldest son receiving an extra share.
  • Their social practices include cross-cousin marriages, a formal bride price system, and acceptance of pre and post-marital relations. Tattooing is an integral part of their socio-religious culture.
  • The Porjas endogamous sub-groups, each with unique customs, languages, and food habits. Most Porjas in Visakhapatnam belong to the Parangi Porja group

• Bagata Tribe: The Bagata are an aboriginal tribe of India, primarily living in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. They are also known as Bagatha, Bagat, Bagodi, Bogad, or Bhakta.
  • Marriage pattern revealed that they strictly follow lineage exogamy (marrying outside one’s clan, or kinship). Marriage is by negotiation and elopement. Divorce and remarriage are permitted.
  • The staple food of Bagatha used to be millets of different varieties which are replaced by rice now.
  • Bagathas believe in supernaturalism, magic, witchcraft, evil eye, sorcery, luck, ghosts, shapeless phantoms, etc. They worship nature in the form of totems and clans.
  • Traditional tribal headman solves intra-family and intra-tribal disputes, village headman resolves inter-tribal issues, dishonouring or violation of traditional customs, etc.
• Konda Dora Tribe: They are a Scheduled Tribe of Odisha, inhabit the Konda Kamberu ranges of the Eastern Ghats, spanning south Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
  • The name ‘Kondadora’ translates to ‘Lords of the Hill,’ derived from ‘Konda’ (hill) and ‘Dora’ (lord). Also known as ‘Konda Kapu,’ ‘Oja,’ ‘Pandava Raju,’ and ‘Pandava Dora,’ they consider themselves descendants of the mythological Pandavas.
  • Their original language, Kubi/Konda, has largely been replaced by Telugu mixed with Odia.
    • Konda Dora settlements are typically homogeneous and they live in separate wards in multi-ethnic villages to maintain social distance and ethnic identity.
    • In their society, though polygyny and child marriages are not prohibited, adult marriage and monogamy are commonly practised.
      • Cross cousin marriages are preferred and parallel cousin marriages are strictly prohibited.
    • They have a traditional village council (Kulam Panchayat) headed by a Kula Peda, assisted by a Pillipudamari.
      • They also have an inter-village community council, these councils handle their customary affairs in their respective jurisdictions.
  • The tribe is endogamous, divided into two main groups: Pedda Kondulu and China Kondulu, each with several clans. Modernization and cultural contact are transforming their traditional lifestyle.

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4.Donor Agreement between Ayush Ministry and Who

The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a Donor Agreement during a signing ceremony organised at WHO Headquarters in Geneva in July 2024.

• It outlines the financial terms for implementing the activities of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• It acknowledges the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre as a major source of knowledge for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), aiming to improve the health and well-being of people and the planet.
• Through this collaboration, India will donate USD 85 million over a period of 10 years (2022-2032) to support the operations of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat is the first and only global out-posted Centre (office) for traditional medicine across the globe.
• Traditional medicine includes the knowledge, skills and practices from various cultures used for maintaining health and treating physical and mental illnesses.
• India has six recognised systems of traditional medicine i.e., Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy and Homeopathy.

5.ASI Copies Stone Inscriptions

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun a project to copy stone inscriptions at the Thalishwarar temple in the Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu.

• Estampage Method: It is a technique used by archaeologists to replicate inscriptions for analysis.
  • The process involves cleaning the inscribed stone with a brush, applying pre-soaked maplitho paper onto the stone to transfer engravings, and then inking the paper to highlight the characters.
  • After drying, details about the inscription’s location are noted on the back of the sheet.
  • These replicated inscriptions provide valuable insights into the lifestyles, economies, cultures, and administrative practices of historical rulers, allowing for a better understanding of dynastic history through corroboration with other historical sources.
• Inscriptions Identified: 8 inscriptions were discovered including one in Vattezhuthu (ancient Tamil script) from the 9^th century and seven in Tamil from the 12th century. These inscriptions document the temple’s construction by a Chera ruler (one of the 3 major dynasties in ancient Tamil Nadu, known for its contributions to art, architecture, and literature).
• The team recorded inscriptions from two hero stones (a memorial commemorating the honourable death of a hero in battle), an Ayyanar (a popular folk deity in South India) sculpture, and a Nandi (bull) sculpture near the temple.

6.Lost Sports of the Olympics

The Olympic Games have a long-standing tradition of featuring diverse sports, but certain events have been removed over time due to shifts in societal values, sportsmanship, and audience preferences.

• 5 Sports that are no longer included in the Olympic program are:
  • Live Pigeon Shooting (ended in 1900): Competitors killed nearly 300 pigeons, leading to its replacement by clay pigeon shooting.
  • Hot Air Ballooning (ended in 1900): Featured distance, altitude, and photography contests.
  • Tug-of-War (1900 to 1920): Ended after a controversy at the 1908 London Games over the British team’s heavy boots.
  • Plunge for Distance (1904-1908): The event required athletes to dive into the pool and coast underwater without moving.
  • Running Deer Shooting (1908-1924): Competitors shot at a wooden deer target on a moving cart from 100 metres away.
• Olympic Games: The international sporting events, take place every 4 years.
  • The Olympics originated in Ancient Greece around 776 BC and the modern games were revived in Athens in 1896.
  • Upcoming Events:
    • Summer Olympics 2024: Paris, France
    • Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
    • Summer Olympics 2028: Los Angeles, USA
    • Summer Olympics 2032: Brisbane, Australia
  • The 2024 Paris Olympics features a total of 32 different sports.