About Borophene:

• It is an allotrope of boron.
• It is composed of a single-atom-thick sheet of boron atoms arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice.
• Unlike graphene, which consists of carbon atoms in a perfect hexagonal structure, borophene is highly polymorphic — meaning its atomic structure can vary depending on the synthesis conditions, leading to multiple possible configurations.
• First predicted by theory in the mid-1990s, different borophene structures were experimentally confirmed in 2015.
• Properties:
  • It is known for its ultra-light weight, flexibility, and exceptional strength.
  • It has excellent properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity, high capacitance, metallic nature, etc.
  • Its electrical and mechanical properties vary with direction, offering tunable features for specialized applications.
  • It is highly reactive, allowing strong interaction with other atoms or molecules, which is valuable in catalysis, energy storage, and sensor t
• Due to these outstanding properties, borophene is mainly used in a range of applications in the fields of thin-layer electronics, optoelectronics, capacitors, and biosensors.

Why Are Recent Findings Important?

• Friction and wear are major causes of energy loss and equipment failure in industries worldwide.
• Developing advanced lubricants that can effectively minimize these losses is therefore a key scientific and technological challenge.
• While castor oil is an attractive renewable and biodegradable lubricant, its performance can be further enhanced using suitable additives.
• The recent study found that adding just 0.1 percent borophene by weight to castor oil reduced friction by around 42 percent compared to pure castor oil, while also improving wear resistance and load-bearing capacity.
• The researchers found that borophene disperses uniformly in castor oil without requiring chemical modification.
• During operation, it forms a durable protective layer, known as a tribofilm, comprising iron oxides, carbon-based compounds, and boron-containing compounds.
• This layer reduces shear stress, protects contact surfaces, and minimises wear.
• This research has the potential to transform the lubrication industry by advancing renewable energy systems, marine applications, green lubrication technologies, and sustainable manufacturing. 

About Hedychium zubeengargianum:

• It is a new species of ginger lily.
• It was identified by botanists at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong, Meghalaya, after years of studying an unusual plant growing in the institute’s botanical garden.
• Although it had been growing there since at least 2018, its original source could not be traced because no collection records were available.
• The species was named after Meghalaya-born Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg.
• Popularly known as ginger lilies, Hedychium species are among the Northeast’s most striking flowering plants.
• India is home to about 41 taxa, most of them occurring in the biodiversity-rich landscapes of the Northeast and the Western Ghats.
• Hedychium zubeengargianum stands apart from its closest relative, Hedychium gracile, by its creamy-white fragrant flowers, yellow anthers, densely hairy flowering stalk, and an earlier flowering season from April to May.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the Telangana.
• It is along the banks of the river Godavari, forming part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
• Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves.
• Rivers: It is a major catchment of the river Godavari and local rivulets like Peddavagu and Kadam.
• Habitat: It has diverse habitats comprising dense forests, grasslands, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora: It consists of teak along with bamboo and other species like Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc.
• Fauna:
  • It has a faunal diversity which is typical of the Deccan Plateau.
  • The major wild animals include: tiger, nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, leopard, and the jungle cat.

About Karlapat Bauxite Block:

• It is a bauxite deposit in Odisha's Kalahandi
• It is a greenfield mining block, which means it has not previously been commercially mined.
• The deposit is classified under proved and possible resource categories and records an alumina content of about 45.2 per cent with low silica content.

Bauxite Deposits in Odisha:

• India’s major bauxite resources are concentrated in the East Coast deposits of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• Odisha accounted for 41 percent of India’s bauxite resources.
• In Odisha, bauxite occurs in Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendujhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Sundargarh districts.

Why is Bauxite important?

• Bauxite is the only commercial ore used to produce aluminium.
• Aluminium is the second most abundant metal used by industry after silica-based materials and finds applications across transport, construction, power, chemicals and manufacturing.

About Samudra Pradakshina:

• It was the first ever Tri-service all-women circumnavigation.
• The expedition brought together officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force on a single mission.
• The expedition successfully fulfilled all internationally recognised criteria for a circumnavigation by
  • crossing all meridians of longitude;
  • crossing the Equator twice;
  • crossing the International Date Line; and
  • rounding the Three Great Capes - Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (South America) and the Cape of Good Hope (Africa).
• The successful passage through the formidable Drake Passage and rounding of Cape Horn earned the crew membership of the prestigious fraternity of Cape Horners, an honour reserved for sailors who conquer one of the world’s most demanding maritime passages.
• The mission was made possible through meticulous planning, nearly two years of intensive training, and a dedicated 24X7 shore-based support network.

About National Chambal Sanctuary:

• It is also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary,
• It is a tri-state protected riverine sanctuary along the Chambal River and ravines.
• Location: It lies at the tri-junction of three states Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• The main focus of the sanctuary is to protect the critically endangered Gharial, Red-crowned roof turtle & endangered Ganges dolphin.
• Chambal supports the largest population of Gharials in the wild.
• It is listed as an important bird area (IBA).
• Topography: The topography is full of ravines, hills & sandy beaches.
• Vegetation: It is part of the Kathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest eco region.
• Fauna: It includes threatened category like mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otters, Striped Hyena & Indian wolfs, Indian narrow-headed soft shell turtle, three- striped roof turtle & crowned river turtle. 
  • Mammals are also seen, which include Sambhar deer, Neel Gai (blue bull), Indian gazelle, Rhesus Monkey, Hanuman Langur etc.env

About Methane:

• It is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas. 
• It is a potent greenhouse gas, responsible for about 30% of the global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution.
• It is the primary component of natural gas and a byproduct of fossil fuel exploration.
• It is more efficient at trapping heat over a 20-year-period than carbon dioxide.
• Major Sources: The three major anthropogenic sources of methane emissions are  agriculture, energy, and waste sectors.
• Characteristics of Methane:
  • It is a colourless, odourless, and highly flammable gas, also known as marsh gas.
  • It remains in the atmosphere for a shorter period — about 12 years — than carbon dioxide,
  • It traps far more heat in the near term, making it a key driver of short-term climate change, contributing to global warming, more than carbon dioxide for every tonne.