SNIPPETS 15 MARCH 2026

Deinococcus radiodurans: Bacterium famous for its extreme resistance to harsh conditions+ Known as radiation-resistant extremophile bacterium+ Can survive extreme pressure of 14,000– 24,000 Earth atmospheres+ Supports theory of life transfer between planets+ Importance: Expands search for extraterrestrial life, shows microbes can survive planetary collision conditions

Quasi‑2D Tellurium Nanosheets: These nanosheets combine magnetism and catalysis in a single material+ Developed by – INST, Mohali (DST)+ To enable energy‑efficient hydrogen production by lowering voltage and speeding up reactions+ Uses liquid-phase exfoliation, lattice strain engineering, and spin-sensitive probes to manipulate surface spins+ Used to boosts hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)+ It offers a single-material solution for sustainable hydrogen production and flexible clean-energy devices.

Special 301 Report:  US launched Section 301 investigations into the manufacturing policies of 16 major trading partners, including the EU, China and India + This Section 301 investigation – under Trade Act 1974 – culminates in Special 301 Report published annually by the Office of the US Trade Representative+ Identifies countries that are considered by the US as not providing adequate and effective protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) or fair and equitable market access to IP rights holders from the US+ It designates countries as “priority foreign country”, “priority watch list”, and “watch list”.