Smuggling of Gum Arabic from war-torn Sudan is impacting global supply chains.

• Sudan produces ~80% of the world’s gum arabic.

About Gum Arabic (Acacia Gum)

• It is a dried water-soluble exudate obtained from the Acacia trees.
  • Acacia trees grow across Africa's Sahel region – known as the ‘gum belt’ and are well-known landmarks in the veld and savanna.
• Composition: Polysaccharides and its calcium, magnesium, and potassium salts, which on hydrolysis yield arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid.
• Uses: Emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in food industry, cosmetics; painting, soft drinks, pharmaceuticals etc.
  • It is an ideal functional dietary fiber ingredient in food.

WHO recommended trivalent Influenza vaccines for use in 2025–2026 northern hemisphere influenza season.

• It contains Egg-based vaccines and Cell culture-, recombinant protein- or nucleic acid-based vaccines for Influenza.

About Egg-based vaccines

• Made by growing viruses in fertilized chicken eggs.
  • Fluid containing virus is extracted from eggs, then virus is either inactivated (for killed-virus vaccines) or weakened (for live attenuated vaccines).
• Challenges: ‘Egg adaptation’ (vaccine seed viruses to adapt to avian receptors) leading to genetic mutations impacting effectiveness.
• Other Vaccines: 
  • Cell culture based vaccines: Utilize mammalian cells as substrate for virus growth.
  • Recombinant Protein-Based Vaccines: specific protein (antigen) from a virus is produced using genetic engineering.
  • Nucleic Acid-Based Vaccines: Deliver genetic instructions (DNA or mRNA) to cells, so they produce viral protein themselves.

The ‘Wallace Line’ explains the species differences across continents.

What is Wallace Line?

• Definition: An invisible biogeographical boundary proposed by Alfred Wallace (in 19th century), separating Asian and Australian fauna.
  • Marks a dramatic shift in species characteristics over a narrow distance. 
• Geography (Southeast Asia): Runs between Bali and Lombok, extends north between Borneo and Sulawesi, and curves south of Mindanao (Philippines).
• Reason behind distinct species development: The collision and interaction between the Australian and Asian tectonic plates formed volcanic islands (e.g., Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi). 
  • These islands acted as isolated habitats, separating species and allowing independent evolution.

Recent increase in number of solar missions has been attributed to approaching solar maximum in solar cycle.

• Recent solar missions include Aditya L1 by ISRO, Proba-3 by European Space Agency and PUNCH by NASA.

What is the solar cycle?

• Definition: Every ~11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field flips, switching magnetic poles, in a process called the solar cycle.
• Phases of the Solar Cycle
  • Solar Maximum: Considered the best period to study the Sun, it marks the peak of solar activity with most sunspots.
    • Characterized by eruption of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
  • Solar Minimum: Follows the solar maximum and marks the lowest solar activity with the fewest sunspots.

RBI has directed large NBFCs to stop new lines of credit and renewals.

About Line of Credit (LoC)

• A line of credit is a flexible, working capital-like debt facility often extended to self-employed individuals and small businesses.
• Features:
  • Funds can be withdrawn multiple times up to an approved limit.
  • Surplus funds can be deposited back into the loan account.
  • Interest-only payments are allowed initially, with the principal deferred.

An Australian blood donor who saved 2.4 million babies recently passed away

• His rare blood, rich in anti-D antibodies, helped develop 2.4 million doses of anti-D medication.
• Anti D injection prevents an Rh-negative mother's immune system from producing antibodies that attack fetal red blood cells causing HDFN.

About HDFN

• It is a blood disorder that causes red blood cells to break down quickly in a fetus (hemolysis). 
• Causes:  
  • When a mother and her unborn baby have different blood types.
  • Or if mother is Rh-negative and baby in womb has Rh-positive cells, her antibodies to Rh antigen can cross placenta and cause very severe anemia in baby.
    • Rhesus (Rh) factor is an inherited protein that can be found on surface of red blood cells.
• Complications: Can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, severe anemia, jaundice, and life-threatening complications in newborns.

A recent study revealed new insights into how anemonefish contribute to their host’s well-being by providing food. 

About Anemonefish

• Anemonefish are poor swimmers;forms symbiotic relationship with anemone species.
  • Anemones are stinging polyps closely related to corals and jellyfish.
• Anemonefish seek refuge in sea anemones, which protect them from predators with their stinging tentacles. 
• In return, anemonefish play a crucial role in maintaining their hosts by driving away organisms that could harm or compete with the anemones.

Researchers Find Strong Evidence of Bose Metal in Niobium Diselenide (NbSe2). 

About Bose Metal

• It is a kind of anomalous metallic state (AMS). In this Cooper pairs are formed but don’t condense into a superconductor.
• Exist in a state where conductivity is neither infinite (like a superconductor) nor zero (like an insulator).
• Cooper pairs are coupled electrons in a superconductor that behave like bosons and condense into a collective quantum state.
• Applications: It helps in probing Quantum Processes.