NASA Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has made history by becoming the first spacecraft to “touch” the Sun, diving into its scorching corona to unravel long-standing solar mysteries. Launched in 2018, this mission aims to study solar wind acceleration, extreme coronal heating, and space weather impacts on Earth. With record-breaking speeds and cutting-edge heat shield technology, … Read more
Pink fire retardants are a critical tool in combating wildfires, especially in large-scale operations. Their distinctive pink color (achieved with fugitive dyes) helps pilots and ground crews track application areas. Context- Pink fire retardants are currently in the news due to several global and India-specific factors, like Wildfire incidents (California forestfire) UPSC Relevance GS III … Read more
In a quantum leap bridging physics and engineering, Italian scientists led by Dr. Daniele Sanvitto (CNR NANOTEC) have achieved the unprecedented: freezing light by merging photons with electron excitations in semiconductors. Published in Nature Physics, this experiment creates polaritons—hybrid light-matter particles—that temporarily trap light. Context- For UPSC aspirants, this breakthrough aligns with India’s National Quantum … Read more
Discover the fourth form of water (EZ water) –Water, the essence of life, is universally recognized in its three classical states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapor). However, groundbreaking research in the early 2000s unveiled a mysterious fourth form of water, challenging conventional scientific understanding. Termed “Exclusion Zone (EZ) water” or “fourth-phase water”. This … Read more
