Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy skies throughout the day.
🧐 Did you know? According to the horticulture department, Bengaluru is home to close to about 5,000 species of plants including Mahogany, Kadamba, and Rain tree among others.
🏭 Deterioration in air quality
The air quality in Bengaluru has witnessed a 40% deterioration in the past year and the AQI has been fluctuating since the last week of October.
Story so far: As the temperature decreases, the city’s air quality is rapidly deteriorating. The “winter inversion” is a natural phenomenon, according to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), and increasing traffic density is making things worse.
- Since the last week of October, when winter officially began, the air quality index (AQI), as measured in the city and reported by KSPCB, has been varying between moderate and very poor.
Traffic emissions: The air we breathe is being further degraded by modern traffic pollutants in addition to winter-related natural conditions, according to Jayaprakash, a scientist with the KSPCB. The primary pollutant in the city is fine suspended particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 to 10 micrometres.
👮 Traffic wardens aid Bengaluru traffic woes
Volunteers with the Bangalore City Police Traffic Warden Organisation (BCPTWO) have contributed immensely to the cause of regulating traffic in the city.
Story so far: To assist the traffic police, the 37-year-old organisation employs roughly 750 traffic wardens, including 62 women. These volunteers are not compensated in any way for their efforts. According to the traffic wardens’ body, during Covid-19, they went above and beyond the call of duty to help the community by providing meals, educating people about social distancing, and cremating unclaimed bodies.
- The wardens also volunteer to serve during events such as Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches.
- Some of the wardens include CEOs of companies, doctors, bank managers and others.
Different wings: Engineering, Education, and Enforcement are the three wings of BCPTWO. The wardens follow an all-encompassing methodology. In addition to managing traffic (enforcement), the wardens visit schools and colleges to impart knowledge to young people. The engineering wing researches the traffic patterns in Bengaluru and makes recommendations to the local police for enhancing the traffic system.
🔋 New energy-efficient computing platform
Researchers from the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a highly energy-efficient computing platform.
Story so far: In comparison to the present metal-oxide conductors (CMOS) circuit-based chips, the researchers have created a computing platform that is 93 times faster and 47 times more energy-efficient. Instead of using the common CMOS, they were able to accomplish this by using parts known as memristors. Memristors have the benefit of being able to compute and store data.
- The computing platform’s physical footprint has also shrunk by 9%, taking up less space.
Current computing platforms: Data must be physically kept separately in the present computing architectures based on CMOS, which is an issue. As a result, the back and forth between the platform and data clusters consumes a lot of energy and reduces the efficiency of CMOS-based circuits. Additionally, it consumes a lot more computational power.
🤖 Facial recognition at Bengaluru airport
Travellers at the Kempegowda International Airport can now utilize facial recognition technology.
Story so far: Owing to the Digi Yatra app’s usage of facial recognition technology, domestic travellers at Kempegowda International Airport can now anticipate quicker passage through the terminal. As of December 1, all users were able to access the app, which was previously only accessible to a specific group of users.
- Passengers can use this feature after signing up for the app by noting their identifying information and face biometrics.
- Only passengers travelling out on Vistara, Air India, Air Asia, or IndiGo airlines from Bengaluru Airport may use the facility.
Convenient experience: The app delivers a contactless, paperless, and seamless check-in-to-boarding process for a straightforward and practical travel experience. In consideration of privacy concerns, the data is safely kept and erased 24 hours after the passenger’s trip.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Would you rather read a book or watch the movie based on it?
- I would rather read the original book.
- I would rather watch the movie based on the book.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
If you could be a pro at a sport, which one would it be?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- 2.1 lakh passengers employed the use of Namma Metros QR-code ticketing system in November.
- The Bangalore Literature Festival (BLT) 2022 is a two-day fest that kicked off on Saturday, hosting about 250 authors and speakers.
- PVR Cinemas has launched the first Director’s Cut in South India located on Brigade Road with 243 seats and five auditoriums.
- The investors’ conclave on commercial coal mines’ auctions and opportunities in the mining sector was held jointly by the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Mines on Saturday.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Gita Daan Yajna Mahotsava on the occasion of Gita Jayanti at ISKCON Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple located in Vasanthapura.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!