11.04.25 Daily [Odisha] OPSC Current Affairs

Sunbird: A Nuclear Fusion Rocket: Developed by UK-based Pulsar Fusion, aiming to revolutionize interplanetary travel.

Speed and Travel Time: Potentially reaching speeds of 805,000 km/h, surpassing the Parker Solar Probe. Could reduce Mars travel time by half and reach Pluto in 4 years.

Orbital Demonstration: Scheduled for 2027, marking a significant milestone.

Nuclear Fusion Propulsion: Replicates the energy generation of stars, fusing atoms for cleaner, high-energy output.

How it Works: Uses compact linear fusion reactors to generate plasma, with escaping particles serving as exhaust for propulsion. Also provides up to 2 MW of electrical power.

Nuclear Propulsion Concepts:

• Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP): Heats liquid hydrogen to create plasma for thrust, potentially doubling or tripling payload capacity.
• Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP): Converts nuclear heat into electricity to power ion thrusters for sustained acceleration.

Early stages of construction: Sunbird is still in early stages of construction and has numerous challenges ahead

CEO Statement: Richard Dinan (Pulsar Fusion CEO) believes space is the ideal environment for fusion.

Future Plans: Initial Sunbirds may shuttle satellites in orbit and deliver payloads (up to 2,000 kg) to Mars in six months.

Challenges: Miniaturization and weight reduction of nuclear fusion systems are significant hurdles.

Competitors: Companies like Helicity Space and General Atomics are also working on nuclear fusion reactors, aiming for tests around 2027.

Sunbird Purpose: Sunbird won’t be operating independently but will attach to larger spacecraft to help them cover interplanetary distances.

Increased Greening: The Thar Desert has experienced a 38% annual increase in greening over the past two decades.

Driving Factors: This greening is attributed to increased monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion.

Groundwater Contribution: Groundwater significantly contributes to vegetation growth (55%), with precipitation accounting for 45% annually.

Unique Case: The Thar Desert stands out as the only desert globally with a simultaneous increase in population, precipitation, and vegetation in recent decades.

Location and Extent: The Thar Desert spans 200,000 sq kms across northwestern India (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana) and southeastern Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab).

Climate and Geography: It features a subtropical desert climate, bordered by the Indus River plain, Punjab Plain, Aravalli Range, and Rann of Kachchh.

Soil Composition: Soils are coarse-textured, well-drained, calcareous and composed of Desert, Red Desertic, Sierozems, Red and Yellow , Saline, Lithosols, and Regosols.

Biodiversity Hotspot: The desert supports diverse wildlife, including the Blue Bull, Blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard, and Indian Gazelle, and is home to Desert National Park.

Mineral Rich: It contains significant lignite coal reserves, gypsum, and salt deposits, including saltwater lakes like Sambhar and Kuchaman.

Human Impact: The study acknowledges that the Thar Desert’s landscape change is affected by climate change and human activities.

“Blue Washing” Defined: Portraying polluting industries as environmentally friendly through reclassification under less polluting categories.

CPCB’s New “Blue Category”: A new category under Essential Environmental Services (EES), including composting, biogas, sewage treatment, and material recovery facilities.

WTE Incineration Reclassification: Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration, previously in the “Red Category” (PI of 97.6), has been moved to the “Blue Category”.

WTE Incineration Process: Burning mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) to generate heat and electricity, similar to coal plants but with higher CO₂ emissions.

Pollution Index (PI): Introduced by MoEFCC to categorize industries based on pollution levels (air, water, hazardous waste, resource consumption). Ranges from 0 (least polluting – White) to 100 (most polluting – Red).

CPCB Consent Validity: The new categorisation grants WTE incineration plants an additional two years of validity for consent to operate (permission to pollute).

Why this is “Blue Washing”: Reclassifying highly polluting WTE incineration plants as “Blue” falsely presents them as environmentally benign, enabling them to operate longer without stringent pollution controls.

Implications: Undermines efforts to accurately assess and manage pollution from WTE incineration, hindering genuine progress towards environmental sustainability.

Contradicts Categorisation Rationale:The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced the concept of categorisation of industries for facilitating decisions related to the location of the industries, formulation of norms for inspection and surveillance, pollution caused and health impacts.

Bioluminescent backwaters observed in Kochi, Kerala, attract tourists but raise ecological concerns. The phenomenon, locally known as “Kavaru,” is a glowing effect caused by bioluminescent organisms.

Bioluminescence is caused by dinoflagellates (Noctiluca scintillans) that emit light when disturbed. This is due to chemical reactions in structures called scintillons. The glow is usually blue, but may appear red or brown.

Eutrophication, driven by nutrient overload from industrial runoff and sewage discharge, is a major factor. High salinity, rising temperatures, and reduced rainfall also contribute.

High concentrations of these organisms can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and red tides. This disrupts marine ecosystems, leading to hypoxia (oxygen depletion) and fish mortality.

HABs release toxins that affect marine and human health. This includes amnesic shellfish poisoning (domoic acid) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (Alexandrium).

Fishing communities suffer as fish migrate away from bloom-affected areas. Reduced catches and diminished income result.

Kerala’s Alleppey and Tamil Nadu’s Pitchavaram mangroves are prime examples of bioluminescent backwaters in India. Such phenomena have been observed along other beaches and islands in India.

Ecological imbalances are a key issue, requiring monitoring and preventive measures. International and national bodies are involved in monitoring and mitigating HABs.

Regulating coastal runoff, managing waste, promoting sustainable aquaculture, and restoring mangroves are key mitigation strategies. Citizen science and community engagement are crucial.

Outbreak in Sydney, NSW: Health authorities issued a public alert due to a spike in Legionnaires’ disease cases. This is newsworthy due to the potential health risk to the public.

Source Suspected: Contaminated Air Conditioning: The surge in cases raises concerns about potentially contaminated air conditioning systems. The source remains speculative, but this raises awareness on such incidents.

Legionnaires’ Disease Basics: It’s a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, often found in freshwater and man-made water systems.

Symptoms: Symptoms include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and shortness of breath; sometimes confusion, diarrhea, or nausea.

Transmission: Primarily through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from water systems. Importantly, it’s not contagious.

Treatment: Antibiotics are required. No vaccine is currently available.

Prevention: Regular cleaning and disinfection of water systems (cooling towers, hot tubs) are crucial.

Key Facts: Legionella is usually treatable, but severe cases can have lasting effects.

Rare Sighting: The Indian giant flying squirrel was recently spotted in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, marking the first recorded sighting in that region.

Local Significance: Locals consider the squirrel’s appearance a positive omen.

Photographic Evidence: Nature photographer Kamal Goswami captured an image of the squirrel, confirming its presence.

Rescue and Release: Forest department officials rescued the squirrel after being alerted and released it back into the wild.

Distinct Species: Despite resembling a regular squirrel, the Indian giant flying squirrel is a distinct species.

Physical Characteristics: The squirrel is one of the largest flying squirrels with body length 30–45 cm and tail up to 60 cm, has a rufous coat, grey underparts, and a membrane for gliding.

Habitat and Distribution: Typically found in tropical and subtropical forests across central and southern India, it is now confirmed in Ranikhet.

Nocturnal Behaviour: The squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal, gliding between trees to find food, and can cover distances up to 60 meters.

Diet: It primarily feeds on fruits, nuts, leaves, and bark, aiding in seed dispersal.

Ecological Role: The species plays a significant role in maintaining forest ecosystems.

Legal Protection: Listed in Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Conservation Status: Globally listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, but considered “Near Threatened” in India due to habitat loss and degradation.