Scientists have found an alternative environment-friendly Na-ion batteries for Li-batteries

Na-ion Batteries

• The sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses sodium ions (Na+) as its charge carriers.
• Na-ion batteries are energy dense, non-flammable, and can operate well in cold temperatures.
• Sodium-ion batteries can use aqueous as well as non-aqueous electrolytes.

Na-ion vs Li-ion

• Na is thrice heavier and possesses a lower standard electrochemical potential than Li.
• Both types of batteries use a liquid electrolyte to store and transfer electrical energy, but differ in the type of ions they use.
• Na-ion battery is Cost-effective and using raw materials that is abundant from earth compared to Li-ion batteries.
• Both types of batteries are rechargeable.

Kuki Tribes demanded for a separate Kukiland

Kuki Tribes

• The Kuki ethnic group, which originated in the Mizo hills, includes the Chins of Myanmar, the Mizos of Mizoram, and the Kukis of Bangladesh.
• The three are collectively known as Zo people.
• Kuki Tribes are believed to be the native people of Mizoram.
• Kuki tribes inhabited in the regions of Myanmar, Manipur, Assam and Mizoram of India and Bangladesh.
• Around 50 tribes of kuki people in India are recognized as scheduled tribes based on dialect spoken and region of origin.
• Kuki Tribes are mainly followers of Christianity.
• Traditionally the Kuki lived in small settlements in the jungles, each ruled by its own chief called Lal.
• Kuki Tribes are not designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Manipur.

22 people had died after consuming spurious liquor in Chengalpattu and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu

Liquors

• Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid.
• It is also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, is an organic compound.
• Liquor is differentiated by its alcohol content from the 5% or so of beer to the 12% or so of wine to the 40% or so of distilled spirits (all by volume).
• Ethanol is a psychoactive drug in low doses, reduces the level of neurotransmission in the body, leading to its typical intoxicating effects.
• Spurious liquor – It is characterised by the liquid mixture containing methanol as well as Ethanol.
• The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 stipulate the maximum permissible quantity of methanol in different liquors.

Methanol

• Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989 includes methanol as a hazardous one.
• The accumulation of formic acid in methonal over time leads to a baneful condition called metabolic acidosis.

A new study shows a way to use calcium-41 the same way carbon-14 has been used in carbon-dating, but with several advantages.

Radiometric Dating

• When an organic entity is alive, its body keeps absorbing and losing carbon-14 atoms.
• When it dies, this process stops and the extant carbon-14 starts to decay away.
• Using the difference between the relative abundance of these atoms in the body and the number that should’ve been there, researchers can estimate when the entity died.
• Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years.
• Carbon-14 atoms occur once in around 10-12 carbon atoms.

Ca-41

• Calcium-41 has a half-life of 99,400 years.
• It's produced when cosmic rays from space smash into calcium atoms in the soil, and is found in the earth's crust, opening the door to dating fossilised bones and rock.
• Calcium-41 is rarer, occurring once in around 10-15 calcium atoms.

C-14 vs Ca-41

• Calcium-41’s half-life (99,400 years) is higher than the carbon-14’s half-life (5,730 years) which is used in conventional carbon dating method.
• C-14 uses the carbon content in an organic matter to determine the age and Ca-41 uses the calcium atoms to determine the age when exposed to cosmic rays.

Benin, Mali in Africa defeat trachoma as public health problem

Trachoma

• Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
• In its early stages, trachoma causes conjunctivitis (pink eye).
• Blindness from trachoma is irreversible.
• Trachoma infection is transmitted by direct or indirect transfer of eye and nose discharges of infected people.
• It particularly affects young children, who harbour the principal reservoir of infection.

India’s status

• According to WHO, the prevalence of trachoma should be less than 5% to mark it as eliminated.
• In its initial study, AIIMS has noted the prevalence of around 3.5% in India.
• WHO is yet to declare India trachoma free.

World Health Organization on Trachoma

• WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma. It includes
  • Surgery to prevent blindness in those who have trichiasis/entropion.
  • Antibiotics (tetracycline ointment or azithromycin) to combat active chlamydial infection.
  • Facial hygiene.
  • Environmental change.