Context: The Biomass Mission is the seventh Earth Explorer mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), focusing on understanding Earth’s forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. Key Objectives Organisations Involved Key Features of the Biomass Mission About the Earth Explorer Programme Previous Missions

Context: As of 2025, over 60% of the global population approximately 5.5 billion people—are online. The most visited websites globally reflect familiar patterns, according to DataReportal. Dominating the list are: Despite changing technologies, user behavior shows consistent intent: to seek knowledge, connect, and express. However, the internet’s evolution also reveals a stark contrast between initial ideals and current realities. The Promise of the Internet: Breaking Barriers The Reality in 2025: A Double-Edged Sword Despite the enduring user desire for information and community, the internet today is marked by: 1. Misinformation & Manipulation 2. Algorithmic Division 3. AI Anxiety India’s Digital Behaviour: A Mirror of Global Use Hope Amidst the Clutter The internet’s original spark may have dimmed, but its core utility remains intact. For those who seek, niche communities still thrive be it fans of P.G. Wodehouse or quantum physics enthusiasts. The potential for meaningful engagement is alive if one knows where to look. The Indian Express

Context: While the universe contains grand mysteries, some of the most confounding are found in subtle physical details. One such enigma is iron’s unexpectedly high opacity inside the sun a factor that is now forcing scientists to re-evaluate solar models and potentially rewrite theories on stellar structure and evolution. What Is Opacity and Why It Matters The Role of Stellar Models in Astrophysics Discovery of the Iron Opacity Discrepancy New Findings: March 2025 Research Confirms Model Errors Technological Breakthroughs Enabling the Research Implications for Solar and Stellar Physics Next Steps and Remaining Challenges The sun, our nearest star, continues to reveal how small inconsistencies in physical properties like opacity can cascade into major scientific questions. The new findings point toward a paradigm shift in stellar physics, suggesting that our theoretical understanding of the sun may need fundamental revision. TH

Context: Launched on World Health Day, Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation 2025 report presents alarming trends in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India. The findings reveal that NCDs often originate early in life, escalate with age, and intensify post-menopause, especially in women. The report also highlights a dramatic surge in fatty liver disease, now largely driven by metabolic dysfunction rather than alcohol use. Key Insights from the Report 1. Early Onset of NCDs Among Youth 2. Alarming Trends in Women’s Health Post-Menopause 3. Rising Fatty Liver Burden Across Population Fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic steatosis, is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, often with few or no symptoms, but can lead to liver damage and complications if left unmanaged.  Key Takeaways for Public Health Strategy The Health of the Nation 2025 report paints a sobering picture of India’s NCD landscape, revealing that prevention and intervention must begin much earlier in life than previously assumed. With childhood obesity, metabolic disorders, and menopausal health risks on the rise, a multi-stakeholder response is imperative to safeguard future generations.