Silicon Identified as ‘Missing Element in Earth’s Core
- Silicon likely makes up a significant proportion of the Earth’s core after iron and nickel, say scientists who claim to have identified the ‘missing element’ in the deep interiors of our planet that has eluded us for decades on January 17,2017.
- The discovery could help us to better understand how our world formed.
- Silicon is a major element — about 5% (of the Earth’s inner core) by weight could be silicon dissolved into the iron-nickel alloys.
Higher Resolution Weather Prediction Model Commissioned
- The MoES commissioned a very high resolution (12 km) global deterministic weather prediction model for generating operational weather forecasts on January 17, 2017.
- The present model replaces the earlier version which had a horizontal resolution of 25 km. It was very helpful, especially in predicting the track and the intensity of the recent Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah and the cold wave over the northern parts of India.
- The EPS is adopted to overcome the problem of uncertainties in the forecasts. It involves the generation of multiple forecasts using slightly varying initial conditions. The EPS also help generate probabilistic forecasts and quantify the uncertainties.
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Sitalpati or Cool Mat from Cooch Behar Added in UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sitalpati or cool mat from Cooch Behar district has been recognised as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’ by the UNESCO, on January 16, 2017.
- These mats are used for sitting or to hang on doors or windows during summer. The mats are made up of weaved green cane slips of murta plants which are indigenous to the region.
- The gradual decline of sitalpati weaving was arrested by the proactive efforts of chief minister Mamata Baneijee who helped this traditional product gain global recognition.
New Primate Species ‘Star Wars Gibbon’ Discovered
- A gibbon living in the tropical forests of South-West China is a new species of primate discovered on January 11, 2017.
- It has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon — partly because the Chinese characters of Its scientific name mean ‘Heaven’s movement’ but also because the scientists are fans of Star Wars.
- Hoolock gibbons are found in Bangladesh, India, China and Myanmar. They spend most of their time living in the treetops, swinging through the forests with their forelimbs, rarely spending any time on the ground.
- All hoolock gibbons have white eyebrows and some have white beards—but the Chinese primates’ markings differed in appearance.
