Daily Current Affairs – 7th October 2022

Noble prize in chemistry and medicine

Why in News?

Noble prize awarded to findings in the field chemistry and medicine.

About Noble prize: 

• Named after Swedish chemist, engineer, and industrialist Alfred Nobel, who is best known for developing dynamite.
• Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901.
• Given by : The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
• Given for:  To those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind in the preceding year. 
• Fields: Nobel Prizes are awarded in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or     Medicine, Literature, and Peace 

Nobel Prize in Medicine 2022: 

• Svante Paabo, a Swedish biologist, has received the 2022 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. 

Findings:

• For his studies on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution.
• He is credited for creating fresh, cutting-edge techniques to extract “clean” DNA from human relics and to sequence the genome of the Neanderthal.

Genome sequencing: 

 The process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism.

Miscellaneous: 

• David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian received the Nobel Prize in 2021 for their research on how the body perceives touch and temperature.

Noble prize in the field of chemistry: 

• Carolyn R Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K Barry Sharpless have been awarded the Nobel Prize 2022 in Chemistry “for the development of Click Chemistry and Bio orthogonal Chemistry”.(Sharpless won second time in the field of chemistry) 

• A simple branch of chemistry where Moleular building blocks can easily and quickly snap together.
• It is a type of straightforward chemistry that works consistently, allowing reactions to happen fast and preventing undesirable byproducts.

Miscellaneous: 

Benjamin List and David MacMillan received the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on asymmetric organocatalysis.

Astro tourism in India. 

Why in News? 

India will have its first Dark Sky Reserve in Hanle.

Location: 

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has declared that “Hanle” in Ladakh will become the first “Dark Sky Reserve” in India.
• It will be situated in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary’s Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) at a height of 4,500 metres above sea level.

Astro tourism: 

places where one can enjoy the black skies without artificial light pollution.

Dark reserve: 

• Place where there is little interference from artificial light in a region or piece of land.
• Depending on the requirements they satisfy, the International Dark Sky Association, a non-profit organisation with headquarters in the United States, recognises locations as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries, and Reserves.
• MOU has been  signed between Union Territory administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

The Indian­ Made LCH ‘Prachand’. 

Why in News?

• The indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand(meaning fierce) was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Jodhpur airbase on Monday.

Developed by: 

Designed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under project LCH

Features: 

• The Light Combat Helicopter(LCH) is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 ft).
• The helicopter is perfect for use in Siachen because of 
• combat radius – 500 km
• Service ceiling – 21,000 feet.
• maximum speed – 288 kmph.
• Engine: Powered by twin Shakti engines developed jointly by HAL and the Safran company in France.
• Weapons:  A 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rockets and air-to-air missile systems are onboard.
• It possesses various stealth characteristics, including diminished radar and infrared signatures.
• It can be used to support ground forces and conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR), bunker busting, and counterinsurgency operations in both urban and forest environments.

National Mission for Clean Ganga

Why in News?

The National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved 14 projects which includes sewerage management, curbing industrial pollution and biodiversity conservation among others.

About:

The National Mission for Clean Ganga is an initiative taken by the Government of India to address the pollution of river Ganga by providing financial and technical assistance.

1. Established in 2011 and registered as society under Societies Registration act, 1860.
2. Implemented by the National council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga.
3. Nodal ministry – Ministry of Jal Shakti
4. Director General – G Ashok kumar

Objective:

To reduce pollution and ensure rejuvenation of the river Ganga.

Functions:

1. To maintain the continuity of the water flow without changing natural season variations.
2. To restore and maintain surface flow and groundwater.
3. To regenerate and maintain the natural vegetation.
4. To allow participation of public in process of protection, rejuvenation and management of the river Ganga.

Justice Chandru committee

Why in News?

Tamil Nadu cabinet headed by Chief Minister MK Stalin has approved an ordinance banning online gaming with stakes in the State. The Governor’s approval would be obtained to promulgate the ordinance soon.

About:

Tamil Nadu government has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Retired Justice K Chandru to pass an ordinance regarding online rummy.

Primary tasks:

1. To find out the dangers of online rummy games including loss of money and suicides.
2. To research about the impact of the game by analysing proofs.
3. To find out the impact of advertisement that makes people play the game and how to control them in proper way.

Composition:

1. Chairperson – Justice K Chandru
2. Dr Sankarraman
3. Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar
4. Add. DGP Vinit Dev Wankhede.