DO YOU KNOW

 How FASTag works?

     FASTag is an electronic toll collection system used on Indian highways to make toll payments more efficient. It operates on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Here's how it works in brief:

RFID Sticker: Vehicle owners affix a unique FASTag sticker with an embedded RFID chip and bar code on their vehicle's windshield.

Prepaid Account: Users link their FASTag to a prepaid account with a bank or authorised agency. They load funds into this account.

Toll Booth Entry: When a vehicle approaches a toll booth, the FASTag RFID reader scans the tag's bar code and reads the RFID data.

Payment Deduction: The toll amount is automatically deducted from the linked prepaid account as the vehicle passes through the booth.

Instant Payment: The toll gate's barrier opens, and the vehicle can pass through without stopping, making toll collection faster, reducing congestion and promoting cashless transaction. 

     FASTag helps streamline toll collection, minimise traffic delays and improve overall road transport efficiency.

FROM A DACOIT TO DIVINITY

 Story of Valmiki

     Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, there lived a notorious highway robber by name Ratnakar. He had chosen robbery as his profession to financially support his family. He was cruel, ruthless and merciless person. His modus operandi was to first prey upon and kill the travelers and then rob them of their belongings and wealth. He continued with his gruesome ways for many years and his notoriety spread far and wide. People became scared of travelling and if it was absolutely essential to travel, they started traveling in groups to avoid being attacked by Ratnakar.

     One day as Ratnakar was waiting for a victim, hiding behind the trees on the side of a road, he saw an unusual traveler pass by. The traveler was walking alone, wearing a dhoti and playing a musical instrument Veena and singing the glories of God.

 

    As soon as the traveler walked in front of Ratnakar, Ratnakar suddenly appeared from behind the trees and landed himself in front of the traveler. The traveler was none other than the great saint Narad. Sage Narad did not flinch at the sight of the robber. Instead he stood there calmly and in a very kind voice addressed the robber, saying, "Brother! I do not have anything that would be of interest to you".

     Ratnakar had no idea that he was standing face-to-face with a great saint. But he was certainly very surprised by the traveler's even disposition and could not help asking the traveler, "I am Ratnakar, the notorious robber and a merciless killer. Aren't you scared of me?" 

     Sage Narad replied, "No, I am not scared of you. I do not have any treasures on me that you'd want to kill me for. Yet, if it gives you pleasure to kill me, then go ahead and make yourself happy. But before you do so, do tell me the purpose behind this senseless killing of innocent people." 

     Ratnakar replied, "I have a big family to support. I use the money that I collect from robbing people to feed my family and look after them."

     Out of his boundless mercy, the great sage Narad, decided to grace the sinner Ratnakar. Sage Narad told Ratnakar that livelihood earned by sinful means was a grave sin. He further asked Ratnakar, if his family members, for whom he was amassing such sins would be willing to partake a share of his sins. Ratnakar very confidently replied, "Why not? I do all this, only for their sake." Narad ji suggested that he go and confirm his understanding with his family.

     Ratnakar though almost positive that his assumption was correct, decided to go home to re-confirm his assumption with his family, but before that he decided to tie up the traveler with a rope, lest he escape. Upon reaching home, he posed the question to each member of his family --- father, mother, wife and children, "Are you all willing to partake in the sins that I accumulate as a result of killing and robbing people to support each one of you." He was shocked to hear their unanimous response. None of them were willing to accept the consequences of his sinful actions. They told him very clearly, that it was his choice whether he wanted to support them through pious and virtuous means or sinful means. In either case he was responsible to bear the fruits of his good or bad actions.

     Ratnakar was stunned. He could not believe that his family, who he worked so hard for and supported in every way would be so selfish and uncaring towards him. He realised the selfish nature of the world and instantly became completely disenchanted and indifferent towards everyone. He decided to come back to see the traveler who he had left on the side of the road tied to a tree with ropes. He untied Narad Muni, begged his forgiveness and thanked him for opening his eyes. Furthermore, he requested him to accept him as his disciple and guide him on the right path.

     Narad Muni then instructed Ratnakar to chant the name of Lord "Rama" constantly. Being a great sinner, Ratnakar was unable to utter the name of the Lord. But saints have their mysterious ways of gracing great sinners. Narad ji suggested him to repeat the word "Mara" since after pronouncing this word once, he would naturally pronounce "Rama" in rotation. Ratnakar started pronouncing Mara Mara. Narad ji instructed him to continue chanting Mara Mara till such time as he came back.

     So strong was his renunciation and so firm was his faith in the words of his Guru, that questions such as when would my Guru come back, how long should I chant Mara Mara etc. did not cross his mind. He continued to chant for many years. During this time, termites made his body their home.

     After chanting for years, Mara became Rama and all his sins were washed away. Narad ji was immensely pleased with his devotion. He enlightened him, restored his body back to its original form and granted him a new name Valmiki (home of termites). Narad Muni also bestowed on him an exclusive title of Brahma Rishi (one who has highest divine knowledge). 

     Valmiki was the composer of the first Sanskrit poem (Adikavya) known the world over as the epic Ramayana (Story of Lord Rama), hence he is called the Adikavi or First Poet.

THE COLONIES UNDER WATER

Corals

      Have you seen soft jelly like structures deep under water, in a movie or pictures? You must have thought them to be marine structures as marine plants or rocks. But you are mistaken. These animals are called corals. They are marine invertebrates meaning, invertebrate animals that live in marine habitats.

     They are made up of number of very tiny creatures called as 'polyps' that are connected together. 

     A polyp is a sac-like cylindrical animal. They are a few centimeter in length and a few millimeter in diameter. At one end, it has a mouth which is surrounded by organs called tentacles. With the help of tentacles they snatch food. Apart from small fish and planktons, corals also form their food by photosynthesis done by photosynthetic unicellular algae present in their tissues. The tentacles kill the prey using venom, a toxin, which is released when the tentacles are in contact with other organism.

     Corals are reef builders. Reefs are underwater colonies of polyps. Stony corals are most important for this reef building. 

     A small coral swims under sea until it finds a suitable place to build a house. With the use of special glue like substance, it sticks to the rock or to another piece of coral. This starts the process of making the underwater colonies of reef. Over thousands of years, the colony formed by many generations creates a large skeleton like species. Calcium carbonate is the main compound which holds these colonies together. Warm, shallow and clear water is the best source for reefs. Coral reefs are earth's most diverse underwater ecosystem (Ecosystem is a community made up of living organism and non-living components such as air and water). They are just 0.1% of the total ocean area and still are the home for 255 of marine species.

     There are different types of reefs such as --- fringing reefs and atolls. Charles Darwin first identified and classified them. The most known example of reef is The Great Barrier Reef. It is the world's largest coral reef system. Located in the Queensland, Australia, it consists of 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is spread over an area of approximately 3,44,400 square kilometres. It is the world's largest and biggest structure made up of living organisms. In 1981, it was declared as a world heritage site.

     Apart from being home to many marine species, corals have other benefits and uses as well. The colonies are very rich in number of fishes and help the fisheries.

     They are used in jewellery and medicines as well. They are used in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and HIV. Coral calx, known as Praval Bhasm is widely used to treat the calcium deficiency and bone related problems. Reefs are now a part of global tourism economy. Tourists across the globe visit the reef areas to explore the coral ecosystem. But due to heavy human intervention, reefs are under threat. 

     Over fishing, pollution, coral mining, global warming are few of the major threats to coral ecosystem. Almost 60% of the world's coral reefs are in danger due to human activities. People and governments of different nations started serious initiatives and took steps to protect this amazing ecosystem through Marine Protected areas (MPAs), Biosphere reserves, marine parks, national monuments world heritage status, fishery management etc.

A HUMAN COMPUTER

                               Shakuntala Devi

 Who was Shakuntala Devi?

     Shakuntala Devi was born on 4th November 1929 in Bangalore, Karnataka. She had unparalleled talent in calculating complex mathematical numbers. She proved her exceptional talent in arithmetic through her math shows worldwide at a very tender age.

     Her excellent skill has brought her a renowned name as “Human-Computer.” Shakuntala Devi was also an author and showcased her wisdom through books on astrology, puzzles, and mathematics.

     She made our country proud by securing a place in “The Guinness Book of World Records” for her intellectual mathematical talent. Also a motivational speaker who enlightened the lives of many individuals towards mathematics.

     In 1960, she married Paritosh Banerjee and was blessed with a daughter. Internationally acclaimed mathematician Shakuntala Devi was genuinely a wonder on earth whose life journey needs to be known by students and parents.

Why is Shakuntala Devi famous?

     Most of the time, people were astonished by Devi’s mathematical excellence. People were always thinking about how Shakuntala Devi calculates such huge numbers randomly assigned to her in an instant. She was an extraordinary human with impeccable calculating skills that brought her the title “Human-Computer.”

     On 18th June, 1980 at Imperial College London she demonstrated multiplication of two complex 13-digit numbers such as 7,686,369,774,870 x  2,465,099,745,779.

     Those numbers were given randomly, and Devi answered it as 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730 in just 28 seconds, it has brought her worldly fame. She never used any paper or pen to calculate the numbers; it was her mental ability to determine the right answer in her mind.

     All of these outstanding accomplishments were achieved without taking any higher degree of education. Her talent for arithmetic calculation made her famous, and she deserved the magnificent titles given for her talents.

     Devi had an immense passion for numbers, and that extended her interest in astrology too. Her strength of numbers was applied to the pursuit of astrological knowledge. She even impressed many with her astrology predictions about them. Devi has also expressed her passion for writing through books, which made her author of diverse genres.

     Her perseverance in aspiring to be famous emerged when she acknowledged her rare supreme talents and utilized them for good. Her presence was an honor to the country, and she will always be remembered as one of the great mathematician.

Awards and Achievements of Shakuntala Devi

     The authenticity of Shakuntala Devi’s talents gained her many awards and achievements. One of the well-known titles that capped her talent is “Human-Computer.” She outperformed the most sophisticated computers at the time and mesmerised people with her mathematical capabilities.

     In 1980, Devi’s successful attempt to multiply two random 13-digits in 28 seconds was recorded for the year 1982 of The Guinness Book of World Records.

One of her talents include her writings such as:

•      Figuring: The Joy of the Numbers, More puzzles to Puzzle You, In The Wonderland of Numbers, The Book of Numbers, Awaken Genius in Your Child, Super Memory - It Can be Yours, Perfect Murder, Astrology For You, System of Education, Rural Credits and Agriculture Development, Caste System in India, Women’s Status and Social Change.

     Devi has written books on mathematical calculations, memory power, social issues, puzzles, and mysteries. A few books written by Devi have the tricks and tips to improve mathematical ability and enhance memory.

     She has also written books related to social issues that are inspiring and educational. Devi has added fun into Maths and explained it as the most easy-going concepts to learn. It has inspired many students to take forward their mathematical abilities. 

The early life of the mathematical prodigy

    Shakuntala Devi’s parents lived in Bangalore and belonged to a Kannada Brahmins community. At the tender age of 3, Devi’s father, Mr. Sudhararaja Rao, discovered her mathematical talent during a card trick. Later, he has also taken Devi for roadshows to demonstrate her mathematical skills in schools and colleges.

     At the age of 6, Devi has performed her arithmetic skills at the University of Mysore. She has achieved all these without any formal education. Thus, her tours to different parts of the world began and made her a world-famous Indian mathematician.

     People who attended her shows would randomly ask her numbers to calculate or find the day with the date provided. Her answers were always perfect and faster than they would expect. Many people at the top universities wondered, “How Shakuntala Devi Calculates?”.

 

     Devi’s greatest passion for calculating complex numbers has taken her to many unique places around the globe. She demonstrated her arithmetic abilities before many students and motivated young minds to discover mathematics’s beauty and simplicity.

Interesting Facts about the mathematical prodigy

     Devi did not like the title of Human-Computer given to her. She stated that the human brain’s ability is far greater than a computer and should never compare both.

     In the year 1980, she contested in the election for the parliament seat in two different localities against Indira Gandhi and lost. Devi has been a respected personal astrologer to many politicians, movie stars, and business personnel.

A movie titled “Shakuntala Devi” has been created based on her life. Released in the year 2020, it showcased the life of Shakuntala Devi and captured her indomitable spirit. 

When did Shakuntala Devi die?

     Shakuntala Devi’s demise has been a massive loss to the field of mathematics in India. The fantastic journey of mathematical prowess, respected astrologer, inspirational author, and an honourable individual ended on 21st April 2013.

     She passed away due to cardiac and respiratory failure. Before that, she also had kidney and heart complications. People will always remember her spell bound calculations and inspirational spirit.

SUCCESS STORY OF MOON EXPLORATION BY ISRO

 Chandrayaan 3

     Indians across the world are happy and proud because Chandrayaan 3, India's moon mission accomplished a successful lunar landing on August 23, 2023. The mission commenced its voyage on July 14, 2023, from space centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

     Before this mission, India had two other moon missions: Chandrayaan 1 in 2008 and Chandrayaan 2 in 2019. Chandrayaan 1 did some tests on the Moon before loosing contact, and Chandrayaan 2 tried to land softly but failed. Nevertheless, Chandrayaan 3 learned from these missions and landed softly.

     Chandrayaan 3 is India's third moon mission. It has a lander named Vikram (named in honour of Dr. Vikram A Sarabhai, regarded as the Father of the Indian Space Programme) and was launched using a big rocket called GSLV Mark 3, also known as the 'Bahubali Rocket'. Unlike Chandrayaan 2, it didn't have a satellite going around the Moon. ISRO made changes based on what they learned from their previous mission.

     The Chandrayaan 3 rover explored the Moon's South Pole, making a significant discovery of Sulphur. Additionally, it identified the presence of Aluminium, Calcium, Iron, Chromium and Titanium on the lunar surface. The rover Pragyan, which means 'wisdom' in Sanskrit, is a solar-powered vehicle with six wheels and aimed at exploring the less-known South Pole of the Moon for sources of ice, potentially usable drinking water or rocket fuel which could be useful for future astronauts who visit the Moon.

     The mission cost about $75 million, which is less than making a Hollywood space-themed movie. Chandrayaan 3 garnered significant interest because it landed successfully just after Russia's Luna-25, who had difficulties in the same area. This success shows that India is improving at exploring space and learning more about the Moon. It serves as a reminder that when people work hard and use their creativity, intelligence and knowledge, they can achieve amazing results. Chandrayaan 3's journey inspires us to keep exploring the mysteries of space.

Some amazing facts of the Chandrayaan - 3 mission:

🌓 India became the fourth country to safely land on the Moon's surface and first nation in the world to land on the Moon's South Pole.

🌓 The landing site of Chandrayaan 3 has been officially named the Shiv Shakti Point. It is about 600 km (370 miles) from the south pole of the Moon. The name was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 26th August 2023.

🌓 Besides announcing the landing point for Chandrayaan 3 on 26th August 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Chandrayaan 2's crash site as the Tiranga Point.

🌓 The Vikram Lander used in Chandrayaan 3 was equipped with four scientific instruments.

1) A seismometer designed to detect moonquakes.

2) Another instrument focused on studying heat transmission through the lunar surface.

3) The third aimed at understanding the plasma environment around the moon, and

4) The fourth one is retro-reflector, which helped to understand the gravitational interaction between moon and the planets.

     The Chandrayaan 3 was designed to survive one Lunar day or 14 Earth days. The rover completed its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into sleep mode.

     According to reports, Pragyan's batteries were fully charged and the receiver kept on. The solar panels were oriented so that they would receive sunlight when dawn broke on the moon.

     However, despite several tries, the rover and the lander did not wake up. There was no signal from Chandrayaan 3. The sun rose again on the moon on 20 September. The first three days – until 22 September – would have been the best window for the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to revive. But Vikram and Pragyan failed to respond but the task is accomplished and mission was a grand success!

DO YOU KNOW

 Why scientists experiment on mice?

     Most of us have watched cartoon Tom and Jerry. The mice have not just been used for entertainment but they have helped us in science also. Mice have a long history in medical research. In fact, they were the first mammalian species specifically domesticated to be used in laboratories. So why has this species been used for lab research? The reason behind this can be grouped into three categories:

1) Commercial reasons: Mice are relatively inexpensive and can be brought in large quantities from commercial producers. The cost of raising mice includes housing, food, time for maturing, reproduction etc. The mice are extremely cheap to be raised due to their small sizes.

2) Administrative reasons: Mice are small, easily housed and maintained, and adaptable to new surroundings. They also reproduce quickly and have a short life span of 2 - 3 years. So, several generations of mice can be observed in a relatively short period of time. These rodents are also generally mild-tempered and docile, making them easy for researchers to handle. The administrative protocols on mice are minimal when compared to other vertebrates.

3) Scientific reasons: Mice are biologically very similar to humans. They can be a good model for humans because of great similarities in the brain structure and functioning. They eat similar food, live around the same places and they even get many similar diseases to humans --- obesity and diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases just being few of them. Most of the mice used in medical trials are inbred or indigenous such that they are almost identical genetically, producing uniform results.

     So, the next time when you are taking some medicine, take a minute to thank mice for it.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT

 The White House

     Let's explore some facts about the White House, the historic residence and workplace of the President of the United States of America, symbolising American leadership and democracy.

1. Situated in the capital city of Washington, DC, the White House serves as the designated residence and workplace for the President of the United States.

2. The White House is made of white-painted sandstone, which gives it its distinctive appearance.

3. It has been the home of every US President since John Adams in 1800, except for George Washington, who never lived there.

4. The White House has a private movie theatre, bowling alley, and tennis court for the President and their family to enjoy.

5. The White House has a resident ghostly legend! It is believed that the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, haunts the buiding.

6. The White House has hosted some unique and unusual pets. President John Quincy Adams had an alligator that lived in the East Room bathroom. President Theodore Roosevelt had a small menagerie that included a snake, a bear, and a badger. President Woodrow Wilson had a flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn during World War I, to save on mowing costs.

7. The white house has an Easter Egg Roll tradition. Every year, on the Monday following Easter Sunday, the White House hosts the Easter Egg Roll on its South Lawn. Children from across the country participate in egg-rolling races and enjoy various entertainment activities.

8. The White House has a secret underground tunnel system. These tunnels connect various buildings in the White House complex, allowing for secure movement of the President and staff between locations.

9. The White House has a room called the 'Lincoln Bedroom', named after President Abraham Lincoln. This room is known for its historical significance. It has been used as a guest room for visiting dignitaries and special guests.

10. The White House has its own music series called 'In Performance at the White House'. It is a concert series that highlights diverse musical performances and has featured renowned artists and musicians from various genres.