1. Hudson River Helicopter Crash & Mast Bumping

Recent Incident:
A tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River in Manhattan has drawn attention to a possible cause known as "mast bumping," according to aviation experts.

About the Hudson River:

• Located in New York State, USA, the Hudson River stretches for about 315 miles (507 km), primarily within New York, except for the final 21 miles (34 km), where it forms the border with New Jersey.

• The river is named after Henry Hudson, an English explorer.

• Its source lies in postglacial lakes in the Adirondack Mountains, near Mount Marcy—the highest point in New York. The main headstream is the Opalescent River, originating from Lake Tear of the Clouds.

• It empties into the Upper New York Bay and drains a basin of 34,628 sq.km.

What is Mast Bumping?

• Mast bumping refers to a dangerous rotor issue, commonly seen in two-bladed teetering rotor helicopters like those from Bell.

• It typically occurs during low-G maneuvers or abrupt control inputs, causing the rotor hub to strike the mast.

• This can result in rotor imbalance, loss of control, or even rotor separation, leading to potentially fatal crashes.

2. Pakke Tiger Reserve: Nine Tigers Spotted

Recent Update:
Camera traps have captured images of nine tigers at Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Pakke Tiger Reserve:

• Situated in Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng District, it spans 862 sq.km.

• Bordered by Tenga Reserve Forest (north), Doimara RF (west), Nameri National Park (south), and Papum RF and farmlands (east).

• Lies in the Eastern Himalayan foothills, flanked by the Kameng River (north & west) and the Pakke River (east).

• Home to the Nyishi tribe, who are active in conservation efforts.

• Recognized with the 2016 India Biodiversity Award for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme.

• Vegetation: Includes lowland semi-evergreen, evergreen, and Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests.

• Flora & Fauna: Features a rich biodiversity including hoolock trees, orchids, rhododendrons, tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, elephants, wild dogs, and various deer species.

3. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) Outbreak in Karnataka

Current Situation:
An outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as "monkey fever," has been reported in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka.

About KFD:

• A tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and other primates.

• First identified in 1957 in Karnataka’s Kyasanur Forest, hence the name.

• Caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus, part of the Flavivirus genus.

Transmission & Symptoms:

• Spread by hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera), affecting humans and animals like monkeys and rodents.

• Not known to transmit from person to person.

• Symptoms: Sudden chills, fever, headache, followed by muscle pain, vomiting, and bleeding. A second wave of neurological symptoms may occur in 10–20% of patients.

• Mortality Rate: 5–10%.

• Treatment: No specific cure; supportive care is essential.

• A formalin-inactivated vaccine exists but requires boosters and has shown limited effectiveness in some regions.

4. Mir Alam Tank: Major Urban Development Project

Latest Development:
The Telangana government plans to construct a 2.5 km-long bridge across Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad and create three island zones inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.

About Mir Alam Tank:

• Located in southern Hyderabad, it’s a freshwater lake with a 260-acre spread and a capacity of 21 million cubic meters.

• Fed by streams from nearby hills, it served as Hyderabad’s main water source before Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs were built.

• History: Named after Mir Alam Bahadur, the Prime Minister during the reign of the third Nizam, Asaf Jah III.

• Construction began in 1804 and was completed in two years with 21 semicircular arches, designed with French engineering influences.

• French officer Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, honored with the Raymond Tomb, is believed to have contributed to its design.

5. Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW): India Joins Elite Club

Recent Achievement:
India has successfully tested its Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), joining the ranks of only four countries with this advanced capability.

About Mk-II(A) Laser-DEW:

• A 30-kilowatt laser weapon developed by DRDO’s CHESS (Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences) in Hyderabad.

• Designed to target drones, helicopters, and radar systems with high precision and speed.

• It uses a powerful laser beam to disable targets by damaging critical components like sensors and antennas.

• Equipped with radar and Electro-Optic systems to detect and engage threats quickly.

• Offers strategic advantages like reduced collateral damage and lowered dependence on conventional ammunition.

• With this success, India joins the US, China, and Russia in possessing such cutting-edge defense technology.

6. Electroreception

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have found that fruit fly larvae can sense and respond to electric fields — a rare sensory ability called electroreception.

About Electroreception:

Electroreception is the ability of organisms to perceive weak electric fields in their surroundings. It is primarily observed in aquatic vertebrates such as sharks and electric fish, but this discovery in fruit fly larvae marks a rare case among invertebrates.

• First identified in the 1960s by scientists including Theodore H. Bullock, this sense plays a role in navigation, hunting, and even communication in some species.

• The study found a specific cluster of sensory neurons on each side of the larva's head responsible for detecting electric fields. One neuron was pinpointed as the key sensor.

• The neuron showed direction-specific sensitivity: it was activated when the negative electrode was behind the larva and inhibited when in front, prompting movement.

• The researchers ruled out other environmental cues, confirming the behavior was directly due to the electric field.

• This positions fruit fly larvae among a select group of electroreceptive species like bees, sharks, and platypuses.

7. BatEchoMon

India’s first automated real-time bat monitoring system, BatEchoMon, was developed by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru.

About BatEchoMon:

BatEchoMon (short for "Bat Echolocation Monitoring") is a pioneering system created by biologist Kadambari Deshpande and engineer Vedant Barje under the guidance of Jagdish Krishnaswamy.

• It autonomously detects, records, analyzes, and classifies bat echolocation calls — a process that once took months.

• Components include:

  • An ultrasonic microphone (modified AudioMoth)

  • Raspberry Pi for processing

  • Solar-powered battery and Wi-Fi unit

• It activates at sunset and records throughout the night.

• A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) distinguishes bat calls from other noises, classifying them by frequency and structure.

• Outputs include:

  • Spectrograms (visuals of call frequencies)

  • Audio recordings

  • Species-specific call data

8. ESA’s Biomass Mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch its Biomass Mission on April 29, 2025 — the first mission to provide global measurements of forest biomass.

Mission Overview:

• Launch Vehicle: Vega C rocket from Korou, French Guiana.

• Orbit: Sun-synchronous, ~666 km altitude for consistent observation lighting.

• Goal: To measure global forest biomass and improve understanding of the carbon cycle and forest-related CO₂ absorption.

Significance:

• Forests store ~861 gigatonnes of carbon and absorb ~16 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually.

• The mission addresses urgent deforestation issues — in 2023 alone, 3.7 million hectares of tropical forest were lost.

Key Technology:

• The satellite carries a 12-meter antenna using P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

• It's the first to use P-band SAR in space — capable of penetrating dense forest canopies.

• Enables 3D mapping of biomass from tree tops to roots.

9. Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC)

Indian scientists have developed new techniques to better understand and treat Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) — a rare, aggressive form of colorectal cancer.

What is SRCC?

• SRCC is a rare subtype of colorectal cancer characterized by mucus-filled cells with a ring-like appearance.

• It spreads rapidly, resists standard treatments, and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Innovative Approach:

• Researchers developed Patient-Derived Organoids (PDOs) and Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs):

  • PDOs: Lab-grown mini tumors from real human cancer tissue.

  • PDXs: Human tumor cells implanted in mice to observe real-time tumor growth.

• These models mimic actual tumor behavior and help create a biobank for drug testing and study.

• SRCC frequently spreads to the peritoneum, complicating treatment.

• Though SRCC accounts for ~1% of colorectal cancers globally, India reports nearly 10 times that incidence, often in younger patients.

10. Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME)

India and Tanzania jointly launched the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) — a major multilateral naval exercise held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

About AIKEYME:

• Launched: April 2025

• Participants: 11 nations — India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

• Purpose: Strengthen naval cooperation, address maritime challenges, and enhance interoperability in the Indian Ocean Region.

Strategic Significance:

• Supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions.

• Indian Naval Deployment: INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and INS Sunayna.

• INS Sunayna also participates in the IOS SAGAR mission, making goodwill port calls in the region.

Exercise Duration:

April 13–18, 2025 — featuring both harbour and sea phases.