SNIPPETS 7 JANUARY 2026

Arctic Report Card (ARC) 2025: Released by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration+ highlights that the region is warming far faster than the rest of the planet+ Arctic Surface Air Temperatures was highest on record during the past year + Atlantification is weakening Arctic Ocean stratification enhancing heat transfer

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was celebrated+ established in: 1987 + governed under the BIS Act, 2016+Headquarters: New Delhi+ India’s National Standards Body, responsible for standardisation, certification, hallmarking, and quality assurance of goods and services + initiatives launched: Beta launch of BIS Standardisation Portal, SHINE – Standards Help Inform & Nurture Empowered Women+ BIS–SAKSHAM (Annual Excellence Recognition Scheme)

Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF): Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has commissioned a state-of-the-art Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) in Andhra Pradesh+ capacity of 3.55 million metric tonnes per annum+ uses advanced residue hydrocracking (catalytic process widely used in refineries to convert heavy oil fractions into high quality middle distillates and light products such as diesel, naphtha and LPG)

Mpemba Effect: Indian scientists developed first supercomputer-powered simulation to capture Mpemba effect+ it is along-existing paradox suggesting that hotter substances can freeze faster than colder substances under certain conditions+ observed with water, but the effect is not limited to water