‘Doordarshan’: In the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Why in news?

• Recently, DD Kisanlaunched two AI anchors, namely AI Krish and AI Bhoomi, that can speak in fifty languages.

About the AI Anchors (Krish and Bhoomi)

• DD Kisan is the first government TV channel in India to feature AI anchors.
• These AI anchors are designed to provide essential information to farmersacross the country, from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh.
• AI Krish and AI Bhoomiare the virtual news anchors who can work tirelessly, 24/7, without fatigue.

Key Features of AI Anchors

• Human-like Interaction:AI Krish and AI Bhoomi closely mimic human news anchors. They read news, deliver updates, and engage with viewers just like their human counterparts.
• Multilingual Capability:These anchors can communicate in fifty languages, bridging linguistic barriers and ensuring that farmers receive critical information regardless of their native tongue.
• Uninterrupted Service:Unlike human anchors, AI Krish and AI Bhoomi don’t need breaks. They tirelessly report on agricultural research, market trends, weather changes, and government schemes, ensuring farmers stay informed.

Zero Debris Charter

Why in news?

• Twelve nations and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed the Zero Debris Charterat the ESA/EU Space Council.

About

• The Zero Debris Charteris a world-leading effort to become debris neutral in space by 2030 that was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville meeting in November 2023.
• Parties:Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom have all pledged to adhere to the charter.

Need for the charter

• ESA estimates that there are currently more than one million pieces of space debrislarger than one cm in Earth orbit.
• Each of these objects is capable of causing catastrophic damage to space assets.
• Hence quick and decisive action is required to improve the sustainability of space activities.

Astronomical Transients

Why in news?

• Recently the Indian-American astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni was awarded the Shaw Prize for Astronomy in 2024 for his work on the physics of astronomical transients.

What are Astronomical Transients?

• In astronomy, a ‘transient’ is any celestial object whose brightness changes in short spans of time. 
• There are many kinds of astronomical transients, all of them united by phenomena that are violentin some measure.
• Astronomers study transients to understand where their violence comes from and what that can tell us about non-transient events.

Examples of Astronomical Transients

• Supernovae:A supernova is what happens when a star has reached the end of its life and explodes in a brilliant burst of light.
• Active galactic nucleus (AGN): The centers of massive galaxies host supermassive black holes. Sometimes, these black holes actively feast on matter in their orbit.
  • Interactions between the black holes and the matter in this process cause the latter to acquire energy and glow with a changing brightness.
• Fast radio burst (FRB): It was discovered in 2007and can emit more than 10-times as much energy as the Sun in a few milliseconds.