Current Affairs 18-MAR-2024 (The Hindu)

Neutrinos

C => (Pg-20)

Why in News?

This article is about the IceCube neutrino observatory, a groundbreaking device located at the South Pole that detects subatomic particles called neutrinos. Recently, scientists reported significant findings from data collected by IceCube between 2011 and 2020, identifying instances of tau neutrinos with high confidence levels.

Neutrinos (Ghost Particles)

• Tiny elementary particle.
• Not a part of an atom.
• Very negligible mass, no charge.
• Half spin and high energy.
• Travel at a speed close to the speed of light.
• Do not interact with other particles.
• Difficult to detect.

Where They Are Produced

• Natural Sources: Nuclear reactions in the sun, radioactive decays, and high-energy cosmic events like supernovae.
• Manmade Sources: Produced in labs by smashing sub-nuclear particles at high speeds.

Why They Are Studied

• They don’t get deflected or hindered, making them valuable for studying stars, dark matter, and the Big Bang.

How They Are Detected

Ice Cube Observatory:

• 1 km² wide.
• Sensors placed under 2.5 km deep ice to filter out cosmic ray disturbance and background radiation.
• Neutrinos collide with atomic nucleus or an electron to produce electrons and muons.
• Collision produces Cherenkov light, which helps scientists reconstruct the properties of the neutrino based on timing and intensity.

Indian Neutrino Project

• Study neutrinos in a 1,200-meter deep cave.
• Focus on studying atmospheric neutrinos.
• Located in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.

Practice Prelims question

Which of the following statements about the IceCube Neutrino Observatory is correct?

a) IceCube is located in the Arctic region, directly under the North Pole.

b) IceCube primarily studies cosmic rays and their interactions with Earth's atmosphere.

c) IceCube uses a network of undersea sensors to detect neutrinos passing through the Earth.

d) IceCube's primary focus is the study of gravitational waves emitted by distant celestial objects.

AI in Politics

C => (Pg-8)

Why in News?

This article discusses the increasing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections worldwide, particularly focusing on the potential impact of AI on electoral dynamics and outcomes. It highlights concerns about the use of AI, such as Generative AI, in spreading misinformation, creating deep fakes, and influencing voter behavior. The author emphasizes the need for policymakers and the electorate to understand the positive and negative impacts of AI technology on democratic processes and to implement measures to prevent AI-driven misinformation from distorting electoral outcomes.

Practice Question – Mains GS – II

Discuss how AI can be used to solve political issues in India? And what are the challenges? (250 words)

Introduction

Elections are the cornerstone of any democratic system. They reflect the will of the people and foster responsibility and accountability of the leaders. In today's world, with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data, the politico-administrative sphere is experiencing significant invasion, playing a major role in politics.

Significance of AI in Politics

• Monitoring for Election Fraud: AI can utilize big data to scrutinize election-related data in real-time, capable of identifying discrepancies such as unusual patterns in voter registrations and ballot submissions.
• Cost-effective Campaign: AI can help in leveling the playing field for small parties by providing a cost-effective campaign platform, addressing the inequality in spending observed in traditional political campaigns.
• Increase Surveillance of the Election Process: Example: In 2021, the Bihar Election Commission tied up with an AI firm to use video analytics with optical character recognition (OCR) to analyze CCTV footage from counting booths during the panchayat elections.
• Voter Education and Awareness Programme: AI can tailor deepfake videos to spread awareness among voters, ensuring they are well-informed about political issues.
• Increase Outreach to Local Issues: AI can personalize political campaigns to address local issues and communicate with individual voters in their local dialects, ultimately benefiting marginalized communities.

Challenges in Using AI in Elections

• Spread of Misinformation: AI can be used to spread misinformation, affecting public opinion and outcomes of elections.
• Misuse for Creating Communal Disharmony: AI and big data analytics can be misused to create communal disharmony in society for political gain.
• Exclusion of Smaller Parties: Lack of effective regulations and ethical usage of AI and associated technology can lead to the exclusion of smaller parties from the electoral process.

Conclusion

AI is a double-edged sword with the potential for both disruption and enhancement of democracy. It is crucial to implement measures to counteract deepfakes and misinformation while increasing the usage of AI for voter education, fraud detection, and increased accessibility in politics.