Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 19 Jan 2023
- 4 min read
GMRT Detects Atomic Hydrogen
Astronomers from McGill University, Canada and IISc, Bengaluru have detected a radio signal originating from atomic hydrogen in an extremely distant galaxy (so far, the largest distance) using data from Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
Atomic hydrogen is the basic fuel required for star formation in a galaxy. It emits radio waves of 21 cm wavelength, which can be detected using low frequency radio telescopes like the GMRT.
Until now, the most distant galaxy detected using 21 cm emission was at redshift z=0.376, (corresponding to the time elapsed between detecting the signal and its original emission – of 4.1 billion years). The one detected now was at redshift z=1.29.
Redshift represents the change in wavelength of the signal depending on the object's location and movement; a greater value of z indicates a farther object.
This detection was made possible by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing probes the distribution of matter in galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and enables observations of the distant universe.
Read More - Atomic Hydrogen, GMRT
AI-AQMS v1.0 for Air Quality Monitoring
Recently, the Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System - AI-AQMS v1.0 was launched by MeitY.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station to monitor environmental pollutants. It includes parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity, etc, for continuous air quality analysis of the environment.
Read More - Monitoring Air Quality
Biosensing based EDC Detection System
MeitY has recently launched the Technology for Biosensing system for the detection of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) in aquatic ecosystems. The technology has been developed by C-DAC, Kolkata in collaboration with ICAR-CIFRI for qualitative and quantitative analysis of EDC content in water bodies.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife.
Read More - Endocrine Disruptors
Loan Loss Provision
The RBI recently proposed a framework for adoption of an ‘expected loss-based’ approach for provisioning by banks. Presently, banks are required to make loan loss provisions based on an ‘incurred loss’ approach - the global standard till recently. It will be a more forward-looking ‘expected credit losses’ approach.
Under the proposed framework, Banks will be required to classify financial assets (primary loans and investments) into one of the three categories - Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3, depending upon the assessed credit losses on them
Loan Loss Provision - An expense that banks set aside for defaulted loans. Banks set aside a portion of the expected loan repayments from all loans in their portfolio to cover the losses either completely or partially. In the event of a loss, instead of taking a loss in its cash flows, the bank can use its loan loss reserves to cover the loss.
Read More - Reserve Bank of India
