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Fourth Industrial Revolution ( also includes xenobots,global lighthouse…

- - - - The robots have been named after the species of aquatic frog Xenopus laevis, found across sub-Saharan Africa from Nigeria and Sudan to South Africa.
        
        Two species of Xenopus are regularly used by biologists, Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Both species are fully aquatic, and are easy to maintain in captivity.
        
        Xenopus is a valuable tool because they are
        
        Hardy, fully aquatic and easy to maintain in the laboratory,
        
        Produce eggs year-round,
        
        Eggs are a reliable and flexible material for research,
        
        Embryos are a good model for vertebrate development,
        
        Genetically similar to humans thus a good model for human disease
    - - The xenobots can move toward a target, perhaps pick up a payload (like a medicine that needs to be carried to a specific place inside a patient) — and heal themselves after being cut.
    - - MICROPLASTICS
        
        They are defined as plastics less than five millimeters in diameter—smaller in diameter than the standard pearl used in jewelry. It can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
        
        There are two categories of microplastics: primary and secondary.
        
        Primary Microplastics: They are tiny particles designed for commercial use and microfibers shed from clothing and other textiles.
        
        E.g. Microbeads found in personal care products, plastic pellets and plastic fibres.
        
        Secondary Microplastics: They are formed from the breakdown of larger plastics such as water bottles.
        
        This breakdown is caused by exposure to environmental factors, mainly the sun’s radiation and ocean waves.
        
        HUMAN CONNECTION IN LATEST FINDINGS
        
        Tiny particles of plastics, called Microplastics, were detected in human blood for the first time, according to a study by a group of researchers in the Netherlands.
        
        Half the samples contained PET plastic, which is commonly used in drinks bottles.
        
        A third contained polystyrene, used for packaging food and other products.
        
        A quarter of the blood samples contained polyethylene, from which plastic carrier bags are made.
        
        The researchers adapted existing techniques to detect and analyze particles that were as small as 700 nanometers in size.
        
        They targeted five common plastics, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene.
        
        The particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on health is as yet unknown.
        
        PROBABLE CONCERNS
        
        Microplastics can latch on to the outer membranes of red blood cells and may limit their ability to transport oxygen.
        
        The particles have also been found in the placentas of pregnant women, and in pregnant rats they pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains and other organs of the foetuses.
        
        Microplastics cause damage to human cells in the laboratory and air pollution particles are already known to enter the body and cause millions of early deaths a year.
        
        In general, babies and young children are more vulnerable to chemical and particle exposure.
        
        GOVT initiatives
        
        Elimination of Single Use Plastic: In 2019, the Prime Minister of India pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic in the country by 2022, with an immediate ban in urban Delhi.
        
        Important Rules: Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 state that every local body has to be responsible for setting up infrastructure for segregation, collection, processing, and disposal of plastic waste.
        
        Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018 introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
        
        Un-Plastic Collective: Un-Plastic Collective (UPC) is a voluntary initiative launched by the UNEP-India, Confederation of Indian Industry and WWF-India.
        
        On World Environment Day, 2018 the world leaders vowed to “Beat Plastic Pollution” & eliminate its use completely.
        
        The Collective seeks to minimise externalities of plastics on the ecological and social health of our planet.
        
        Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML): The GMPL was launched at the Earth Summit in 2012 in response to a request set out in the Manila Declaration.
        
        London Convention, 1972: The 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter was signed to control all sources of marine pollution and prevent pollution of the sea through regulation of dumping into the sea of waste materials.
        
        Plastic Pacts: The Plastics Pacts are business-led initiatives to transform the plastics packaging value chain for all formats and products.
        
        Single-use Plastic is to be banned from 1st July, 2022. The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has now defined a list of single use plastic items that will be banned
        
        Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have announced a ban of
        
        Earbuds;
        
        Balloon sticks;
        
        Candy and ice-cream sticks;
        
        Cutlery items including plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, trays;
        
        Sweet boxes;
        
        Invitation cards;
        
        Cigarette packs;
        
        PVC banners measuring under 100 microns; and
        
        Polystyrene for decoration
        
        The Ministry had already banned polythene bags under 75 microns in September 2021, expanding the limit from the earlier 50 microns.
        
        From December, the ban will be extended to polythene bags under 120 microns.
        
        While manufacturers can use the same machine for 50- and 75-micron bags, the machinery will need to be upgraded for 120 microns.
        
        According to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there is also a complete ban on sachets using plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala..
        
        Those found violating the ban can be penalised under the Environment Protection Act 1986 – which allows for imprisonment up to 5 years, or a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
        
        WORLD
        
        Half of the world’s single-use plastic is made by 20 big companies.
        Two US companies followed by a Chinese-owned petrochemicals giant, and another one based in Bangkok.
        
        About 40% of the largest single-use plastic makers are partly owned by governments, including China and Saudi Arabia.
        
        2 more items...
        
        European Union issued a directive calling for consumer brands to use at least 30% recycled content in plastic bottles by 2025.
        
        out of 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste generated every year in our country, 43% is single use plastic.
        
        Problems
        
        In the process of breaking down, it releases toxic chemicals (additives that were used to shape and harden the plastic) which make their way into our food and water supply
        
        Petroleum-based plastic is not biodegradable and usually goes into a landfill where it is buried or it gets into the water and finds its way into the ocean
        
        MADE FROM FOSSILFUEL
        
        HUGE CARBON FOOTFRINT
        
        WILL BE THERE FOR 100S OF YEARS
        
        ONLY TINY PERCENTAGE IS RECYLED
        
        LEACHES TOXINS IN FOODS AND DRINKS
        
        CAUSES HORMONE DISRUPTION AND CANCERS
        
        ENTERS OUR FOOD CHAIN
        
        KILLS OUR MARINE ANIMALS
        
        POLLUTES OUR OCEANS
- - - - It will help provide better and affordable health care through AI-driven diagnostics, personalized treatment, etc.
      - It can enhance the farmer’s income by introducing technologies for crop improvement, better yield, real-time advisory, advanced detection of pest attacks, and prediction of crop prices to inform sowing practices.
      - It will help strengthen infrastructure and improve connectivity from villages to cities- bridging the urban divide.
      - The ease of living and ease of doing business will improve by the use of smart technologies.
      - The smart city mission, drone policies, Gati Shakti scheme, etc, are the evidence of the revolution influencing the policy-making in the country.
- - - - The trusted web shares elements of Web3, the concept of a new and decentralized internet based on public blockchains, but its developers are specifically concerned with maximizing mechanisms for trust as a basis for data distribution.