Researchers successfully teleported a quantum state of light over 30 kilometers of fiber optic cable.

• This breakthrough shows the potential for quantum and classical networks to share the same infrastructure.

About Quantum Teleportation

• It is a method for transferring quantum information between two points using entangled states & preserving their identities across distances.
  • This entanglement links two particles in a way that changes to one particle instantly affect the other, even over long distance.
• Significance: It paves the way for a quantum internet, offering benefits like faster encryption, improved sensing, and global connectivity for quantum computers.

Quantum-based atomic clock has been developed in United Kingdom. 

About Atomic clock

• Atomic clock, type of clock that uses certain resonance frequencies of atoms (usually cesium or rubidium) to keep time with extreme accuracy.
  • It is claimed that Quantum-based atomic clock will lose less than one second over billions of years, allowing scientists to measure time at an unprecedented scale.

Benefits of Quantum-based atomic clock:

• Increasing accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS),
• Enhance the accuracy of advanced weapon systems, like guided missiles etc.

India’s indigenous Surgical robotic system, SSI Mantra, performed two world-first robotic cardiac telesurgeries with latency of only 40 milliseconds. 

• Telesurgery uses robotics and cameras to allow surgeons to perform operations from any location with a high-speed data connection.

About SSI Mantra

• It is the only robotic system worldwide to receive regulatory approval for telesurgery and tele-proctoring. 
  • Recently, it was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), central regulatory body under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
• It performed the robotic beating heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), considered one of the most complex cardiac surgical procedures.

Other Key Applications of Robotics in Healthcare

• Safety & Monitoring Robots: Telepresence systems use computer vision technology to monitor the patient’s vitals
• Robotic Prosthetics: Advanced robotic prosthetics improve mobility and functionality for amputees. E.g. Robotic limbs and exoskeletons
• Sanitation and Disinfection Robots: Utilises ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light or hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) for cleaning identified areas.
• Medical Transportation Robots: Deliver supplies, medications, and meals to patients etc.

Associated Challenges

High initial cost, skill and training gap to operate intricate robotic systems, ethical concerns (who will be accountable for potential errors), Patient trust, etc. 

Recently the US Administration released 'Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion', which aims to establish export and security regulations for the global AI market.

• Under the framework, certain restrictions are imposed on India for import of GPUs unless the computing power is hosted in secure environments.

About the Framework for AI Diffusion

• It seeks to control the spread of advanced AI technology in a manner that promotes its potential economic and social benefits, while also protecting U.S. interests. 
• Built on 3-part strategy:
  • Exceptions for certain allies and partners for the export, re-export to certain set of allies;
  • Exceptions for supply chains to allow export of advanced computing chips;
  • Low volume exceptions to allow limited amounts of compute to flow globally, except to arms-embargoed countries.

Scientists have developed a nanopore based tool that could help diagnose illnesses much faster and with greater precision by analyzing signals from individual molecules. 

About Nanopore Technology

• Refers to nano-scale holes embedded in a thin membrane structure to detect potential change when charged biological molecules smaller than nanopore pass through hole.
• It makes possible to sequence nucleic acids - DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid) - directly from biological samples in real time.
• It has potential application value for detection of disease markers, and non-invasive early diagnosis of cancer. 

Union Minister of State for Environment launched 'Nano Bubble Technology' for cleaning and purifying water of National Zoological Park, Delhi.

About the Nano Bubble Technology

• Nanobubbles: They are 70-120 nanometers in size, 2500 times smaller than a single grain of salt. 
  • Nanobubbles have a strong negative surface charge that prevents them from coalescing and
    • It also enables them to physically separate small particles and droplets like emulsified fats, oils, and grease from water.
  • Hydrophobic nature of nanobubbles combined with their surface charge enable lifting organic and inorganic materials off surfaces similar to surfactants.

Applications of Nano Bubble Technology

• Water Purification, Agriculture (Enhance oxygenation of irrigation water), Healthcare, food industry, Industrial cleaning etc.

The Union government has re-constituted the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

About AEC

• Establishment: First set up in August 1948 within the Department of Scientific Research, later it was brought under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) 
• Mandate: To plan and implement the various measures required for the expansion of the atomic energy programme and responsible for formulating the policy of the DAE.

Space docking (joining of two fast-moving satellites in space) was performed by using two small spacecraft i.e. SDX01 (Chaser), and SDX02(Target) of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission.

• The US, Russia, and China are the other three countries to perform space docking.

About SpaDex mission

• Background: SpaDeX and 24 PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4) payloads were launched by ISRO via PSLV-C60 from the Sriharikota space centre in December 2024.
• Mission Goal:
  • Develop and demonstrate technology for rendezvous and Autonomous docking using two small spacecraft (SDX01 and SDX02).
  • Once docked, the mission will evaluate the combined system’s controllability. This includes maintaining stability, maneuvering the docked spacecraft as a single entity.
  • Demonstrate the potential for extending the life of the target spacecraft.
  • Test power transfer between docked spacecraft.
• Mission Life: Up to two years post-docking operations.
• Use of Indigenous technologies: 
  • Inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft.
  • GNSS Based Novel Relative Orbit Determination and Propagation (RODP) processor: To determine relative position and velocity of other spacecraft.
  • Other indigenous technologies developed for enabling this mission: Docking mechanism, Sensor Suite, autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy etc.

Indian private space-tech company Pixxel launched India’s first private satellite constellation ‘Firefly’

• First three satellites of the Firefly constellation were successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. 
• Firefly is Pixxel’s flagship Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) satellite constellation, featuring six of the highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites to date.

About Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) Satellites

• HSI analyses a wide spectrum of light instead of just assigning primary colours (red, green, blue) to each pixel, effectively spectrally fingerprinting the Earth.
• HSI provide more information on what is imaged. For instance, while a typical satellite can identify a forest from space, HSI can distinguish between different types of trees and determine health of each individual tree.

About Satellite Constellation

• It is a network of identical artificial satellites with the same purpose and shared control, designed to work as a system. 
  • They communicate with global ground stations and, at times, interconnect to complement each other’s functions.
• Starlink, with 2,146 active satellites, is the largest satellite constellation. 
• Types: Based on orbital altitude there are three types: 
  • Geostationary orbit (GEO):  At an altitude of 36,000 km, it synchronizes with Earth's rotation. 
  • Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): At altitude of 5,000 to 20,000 km, traditionally serving navigation purposes. 
  • Low Earth Orbit (LEO):  At altitude of 500 to 1,200 km, primarily support research, telecommunication and Earth Observation needs.

ISRO achieved a milestone as cowpea seeds aboard PSLV-C60's CROPS experiment sprouted leaves in space within four days. 

• It was ISRO’s first biological experiment in space and part of CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies).

About CROPS Experiment 

• It is an automated platform designed to cultivate and sustain plant life in microgravity environment of space.
• Developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
• Current accomplishment not only demonstrates ISRO’s capability to grow plants in space but also provides valuable insights for future long-duration missions. 

International solar conference celebrates 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.

About Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

• Genesis: Currently owned & operated by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, it was established in 1899. 
• Location: Kodaikanal, Palani range of hills (Tamil Nadu). 
  • Kodaikanal was chosen for its proximity to equator & its dust-free high-altitude location.
• Objective: It was set up to obtain more data on how the sun heats up Earth’s atmosphere and to understand monsoon patterns.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Digantara team for the success of Mission SCOT.

About Mission SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking)

• Aim: Creating maps for space by tracking object, 
• Benefits:
  • precise object tracking and imaging in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • Better tracking accuracy of satellites
• Contribution: growing Indian space industry towards enhancing space situational awareness.

FSSAI provided clarification in Guidelines for usage of Methylcobalamin in health supplements, medical purposes and nutraceutical products under certain conditions.

• FSSAI had banned Methylcobalamin in 2016 and lifted the ban in 2021 but is yet to notify the same

About Methylcobalamin

• It is an activated form of Vitamin B12 essential to regulate vital bodily functions like cell multiplication, blood formation and protein synthesis.
  • Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin integral to DNA synthesis, RBC production, and neurological function. 
  • Other forms of Vitamin B12 are cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin.
• Source: Milk Products
• Uses: Pain alleviation in diabetic neuropathy,treatment of anaemia, Alzheimer's disease.

China experienced a surge in HMPV cases, particularly in children under 14 years of age.

About HMPV

• A respiratory virus that causes mild infections similar to that caused by a common cold.
  • Discovered in 2001, it belongs to the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
• Transmission: Spreads from person to person or surfaces to person.
• Symptoms: Cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no specific antiviral therapy to treat HMPV and no vaccine to prevent HMPV.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported significant surge in Norovirus cases. 

About Norovirus

• It is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, commonly known as "stomach flu."
• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
• Noroviruses are relatively resistant in environment as they can survive freezing as well as high temperatures (up to 60°C).
• Transmitted primarily through faecal-oral route, either by consumption of contaminated food or water, or by spreading directly from person to person.
• There's no specific medication for norovirus.