Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌫️ Today’s weather: High: 27 ℃ | Low: 18 ℃ | Mist, mist and more mist.
🧐 Did you know? BTM gets its name from Byrasandra, Taverekere and Madiwala, which are the areas surrounding it.
💉 IISc’s heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine
IISc Bengaluru has developed a versatile and heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine.
What’s it about? Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru have created a groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine that is effective against all current virus strains and adaptable to future variants. Named RS2, this vaccine combines two parts of the virus’s spike protein, showing strong immune responses in animal models. Notably, RS2 can be stored at room temperature, significantly reducing storage and distribution costs.
- RS2 is a hybrid protein vaccine showing high efficacy in preliminary tests.
- Notably, RS2 can be stored at room temperature, significantly reducing storage and distribution costs.
Important milestone: This development is a major step forward in India’s fight against COVID-19, leveraging IISc’s extensive experience in viral vaccine research.
🛣️ Enhancing Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway
NHAI invests in amenities for the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.
What’s it about? The National Highway Authority of India’s Karnataka unit has allocated ₹36.5 crore for building facilities along the 118 km Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway. This includes constructing four toilet blocks, two Nest (Mini) facilities, and 24 foot overbridges.
- The initiative aims to address commuter concerns over the lack of basic amenities and improve road safety.
- The project, expected to be completed by December for the foot overbridges and March for the toilet blocks and refreshment outlets, also marks the introduction of a new GPS-based toll collection system.
Benefiting travellers: This development is part of NHAI’s broader effort to improve infrastructure and user experience on key highways, and is expected to significantly benefit both local and long-distance travellers on this route.
🚇 Record ridership for Bengaluru Metro
Bengaluru Metro achieves its highest monthly ridership in December.
What’s it about? Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) reported a record average daily ridership of 6.88 lakh passengers in December, totalling over two crores for the month. This marks a significant 30% increase within a year.
- The rise in ridership is attributed to the recent extension of the Purple Line, though it’s still below BMRCL’s initial expectations.
- The metro’s growing popularity has led to crowded conditions, especially during peak hours, and there’s an anticipation for new coaches to be added by late 2024.
Controversy: Amidst this success, there’s a local controversy regarding the naming of the Hebbagodi metro station after Biocon, reflecting community concerns about corporate influence and local identity.
☀️ Advancing CME thermal insights
New research on coronal mass ejections (CMEs) offers key insights into their thermal evolution, impacting space weather predictions.
What’s it about? Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, in collaboration with international partners, have developed a model to track the continuous thermodynamic evolution of CMEs. This research is crucial for understanding the sun-earth connection, particularly how these massive solar eruptions, composed of plasma and magnetic fields, affect Earth’s space weather and infrastructure.
- The study applied the model to analyze two historical CMEs, utilizing data from multiple telescopes and NASA/ESA space missions.
- Researchers found that CMEs exhibit both heat release and absorption phases during their journey, maintaining steady temperatures at later stages.
Looking for more: The Aditya-L1 mission is expected to enhance this research, providing more detailed insights into CMEs and their potential impact on space weather and Earth’s magnetic field.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you participated in a skit during your school days?
- I have participated in a skit during my school days.
- I haven’t participated in a skit during my school days.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which famous personality do you think you look like?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Four Seasons Hotel in Bengaluru is a notable urban retreat worth exploring.
- Udaya Kumar, a historian and heritage conservationist, delves into the deep ancient history of Bengaluru.
- A dress code prohibiting shorts and ripped jeans has been announced for Hindu devotees visiting a temple in Bengaluru.
- The Uttar Pradesh government has responded favourably to Karnataka’s proposal for constructing a Yatri Nivas in Ayodhya.
- Petrol outlets in Karnataka will display fuel prices in the Kannada language.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I own a credit card: 80.0% 🏆
- I don’t own a credit card: 20.0%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!