Daily Current Affairs 2 and 3 June 2024

World Milk Day 2024

• World Milk Day is celebrated every year on 1 June.
• The theme for World Milk Day 2024 focuses on celebrating the vital role dairy plays in delivering quality nutrition to nourish the world.
• Dairy is an accessible, affordable, and nutrient-dense food, making it an essential part of balanced diets across the globe.
• The day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• This annual event aims to highlight the importance of milk as a global food and to promote dairy farming and the dairy industry.
• World Milk Day has been celebrated every year since 2001.

Korean scientists develop superfast method for producing diamond

• Korean scientists have made a groundbreaking advancement in diamond production.
• Traditionally, creating synthetic diamonds involved high pressure and high temperature methods, taking up to 12 days.
• However, the new method developed by researchers from the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea allows for the rapid growth of diamonds in just 150 minutes.
• The scientists used a blend of liquid metals, including gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon.
• By carefully mixing these metals, they achieved diamond growth at atmosphere of pressure (equivalent to sea level) and moderate temperatures.

SpaceX launches first satellites for New US Spy Constellation

• SpaceX successfully launched an inaugural batch of operational spy satellites as part of a new U.S. intelligence network.
• This deployment marks the first of several planned for this year. The spy network, revealed earlier this year, involves SpaceX building hundreds of satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
• The NRO’s system aims to significantly upgrade space-based surveillance capabilities, allowing rapid spotting of ground targets worldwide.
• The launch took place from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California, utilizing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
• The NRO plans additional launches through 2028 to enhance its space-based intelligence gathering.

Global Day of Parents 2024

• Global Day of Parents is celebrated every year on 1 June.
• The United Nations recognizes the critical role of parents in child rearing.
• The family environment, filled with love, understanding, and happiness, plays a vital role in children’s development.
• This year’s theme, “The Promise of Playful Parenting,” emphasizes expert advice and support for parents, covering topics from scientific play foundations to ensuring safe and positive online experiences for children.

Agnibaan Rocket’s launched with 1st Single-Piece 3D Printed Engine

• On 30 May 2024, Agnikul Cosmos achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching the Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) mission. The SOrTeD mission utilized a single-stage launch vehicle.
• The rocket was powered by the Agnilet engine, which is the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.
• The Agnilet engine was created through additive manufacturing, demonstrating the potential of 3D printing technology in space propulsion.
• The successful flight marked India’s first controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing.
• Agnibaan is expected to be highly customizable, capable of carrying up to a 300kg payload to a 700km orbit.

Japan builds World’s first Wooden made Satellite

• Japanese researchers have achieved a remarkable feat by creating the world’s first wooden satellite.
• This tiny cuboid craft, named LignoSat, measures four inches on each side and is made from magnolia wood.
• The innovative aspect lies in its potential to burn up completely upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
• By avoiding the creation of metal particles during re-entry, LignoSat contributes to environmental sustainability and reduces the impact on telecommunications.

Indian-American Bruhat Soma Triumphs at Scripps National Spelling Bee

• Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old Indian-American student from Tampa, Florida, emerged victorious in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
• In a gripping tiebreaker round, Bruhat spelled 29 words correctly out of 30 in 90 seconds, surpassing his closest competitor, Faizan Zaki from Texas, who managed nine words.
• Bruhat’s triumph marks him as the 28th Indian-American to win the prestigious title. His winning word, “abseil,” which means “a descent in mountaineering by means of a rope looped over a projection above,” clinched his victory.
• The rise of Indian-Americans in the Scripps National Spelling Bee over the past two decades is noteworthy, with the community making up about 1.3% of the US population but dominating the competition.

NASA’s Magellan Mission discovered ongoing Venus volcanic activity

• Direct geological evidence of recent volcanic activity on Venus has been observed for a second time.
• Scientists in Italy analyzed archival data from NASA’s Magellan mission to reveal surface changes indicating the formation of new rock from lava flows linked to volcanoes that erupted while the spacecraft orbited the planet.
• The Magellan mission, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, mapped 98% of Venus’ surface from 1990 to 1992, generating the most detailed images of Venus to date.
• This latest discovery builds upon the historic 2023 finding of images from Magellan’s synthetic aperture radar, which revealed changes associated with the volcano Maat Mons near Venus’ equator.

Badminton Star PV Sindhu appointed brand ambassador for Tobacco Control

• PV Sindhu, the ace badminton star, has taken on a new role as the brand ambassador for Tobacco Control.
• Appointed by the Union Health Ministry, she will lead various campaigns aimed at shielding the youth from the detrimental influences of tobacco consumption.
• Sindhu’s mission is to use her image and connect with the younger generation, inspiring them to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle.
• Her advocacy aims to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco and promote a tobacco-free future.

Axis Bank and Mastercard introduced NFC Soundbox

• Axis Bank, in collaboration with Mastercard, has launched an industry-first innovation called the NFC Soundbox.
• This compact device serves as an all-in-one solution for merchants, enabling them to accept various payment methods.
• The Soundbox allows secure transactions above ₹5000 using both tapping and PIN entry.
• It provides audio cues and visual feedback in over seven languages.
• This initiative aims to drive card payment acceptance among small merchants, promoting secure and convenient transactions.