www.studentedge.
in
Garba: Gujarat’s
vibrant dance
is now a UNESCO
treasure! 05
StudentEdge
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A newspaper especially crafted for school going children
News, Hobbies, Education, Entertainment, Exposure, Personality Development, Competitions
ecently, the World Meteorological
R Organization announced that the
year 2023 was the hottest year
yet. However, this record may be broken
again in 2024, as the Earth is getting hotter
every year. This increase in the Earth’s
temperature is causing climate change.
That is why leaders from around the world
meet every year to discuss ways to reduce
global warming and climate change. This
meeting is known as the United Nations
Climate Change Conference. This year, the
conference was held in Dubai, UAE.
The story so far
From the beginning of the 20th century,
many scientists have warned world leaders
about global warming. They said that
increased use of fossil fuels such as coal,
diesel and petrol causes global warming.
Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases (like
CO2 and NO2) when burned. This causes
global warming, which leads to climate
change. In 1992, world leaders met in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss various
environmental issues in a meeting called
the Earth Summit. Here, the leaders agreed
on a new climate change treaty called the
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). The countries
who accepted the treaty are called parties.
These countries meet every year to review
the progress of the treaty and decide future
plans. These meetings are called the
conference of parties (COP). This year, it
was the 28th meeting of the countries
(parties), so it was called COP28.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the
most important things that happened at the
COP28:
The term “fossil fuels” was used for
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The Power of
Self-Confidence:
How Believing in
Yourself Makes
Everything Easier! 07
United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP 28) – Is this
the end of fossil fuels?
the first time: Global warming is mostly
caused by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels produce
75% of all greenhouse gases and about
90% of global carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions. However, these conferences
avoided using the term “fossil fuel” directly
in the meeting documents because many
oil-producing countries did not want that.
This was the first time this term was used.
The countries agreed to work on
“Transitioning away from fossil fuels in
energy systems, in a just, orderly and
equitable manner”. This means countries
agreed to reduce the use of fossil fuels, but
they did not say anything about stopping
the usage of fossil fuels completely or
setting a time limit for using fossil fuels.
Nevertheless, this development has
increased expectations that the era of fossil
fuels might end in the future.
Operationalisation of Loss and
Damage Fund: During the previous
conference (COP27) in 2022 in Egypt,
member countries reached an agreement to
create a Loss and Damage (L&D) fund that
will financially help countries that are most
affected by climate change.
The idea behind this fund is that richer
countries should pay poorer countries
because poorer countries face the effects
of global climate change. In most cases,
richer countries are the ones that use fossil
fuels the most. This is why many experts
believe that wealthier countries should pay
smaller or developing countries.
In COP28, the Loss and Damage Fund
came into existence. It will be operated by
the World Bank. Many countries, including
the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the
United Kingdom, the European Union and
Japan have pledged an amount of around
France honours
ISRO scientist
Lalithambika VR
with highest
civilian award 09
$700 million. However,
this amount is much less
compared to the estimated
$400 billion needed annually
to fight climate change.
Tripling renewable energy
capacity: Countries at the meeting talked
a lot about renewable and clean energy
sources such as solar, wind and nuclear.
They focused on speeding up the switch to
clean energy. Countries agreed to increase
the production of clean energy by three
times by 2030.
Net-Zero Goals: Many countries, like
Canada and Belgium, made even stronger
promises to reach net-zero emissions by
2030. Net-Zero means making the carbon
dioxide released by cars, buses, and
factories equal to that consumed by plants.
This means that there will be no excess
carbon dioxide, no global warming or
climate change.
Progress on the Paris Agreement:
One of the main focuses of the COP28 was
reviewing the progress on the Paris
Agreement. This agreement was adopted in
2015 during COP21. It aims to limit global
warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally
1.5 degrees. However, many experts believe
that world leaders need to do more to keep
global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
India At COP28:
India took important steps to protect
the environment at the COP28 summit.
Some of them are given below:
1. GRCA: India introduced the Global River
Cities Alliance (GRCA). It brings
together over 275 river cities worldwide
for river conservation and better water
management.
Hope for Rare
Diseases: Affordable
Treatment Now
Available! 17
Do one
thing every
day that
scares you.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
2. Green Credit Initiative: It was launched
by India and the UAE. This initiative is
like earning rewards (Green Credits) for
planting trees and saving water. These
credits can be traded or sold for money.
Some companies, like airline companies,
are required to plant trees to compensate
for using fossil fuels in their aeroplanes.
Instead of planting trees themselves,
they buy Green Credits to show that
someone else planted trees on their
behalf.
3. LeadIT 2.0: India took over the
leadership of the LeadIT (Leadership for
Industrial Transition) initiative. This
initiative is now entering its second
phase (LeadIT 2.0). It focuses on
supporting developing countries in
shifting their industries towards low-
carbon and sustainable practices.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French
President Emmanuel Macron, and Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among
the world leaders who attended the
summit. US President Joe Biden and
China’s Xi Jinping did not go, but both
countries sent their representatives.
Power Words
Long-term shifts in
Climate
temperatures and weather
Change (v.)
patterns
Pledge (v.) To promise
A formal agreement
Treaty (n.)
between countries
Books and Movies StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 02
The Sea Beast
The Magic of the Lost Temple
Author: Sudha Murty
he Magic of the Lost Temple” is a
English | Age: 8+
Available on www.amazon.in “T wonderful storybook. It is about a city girl
named Nooni who visits her grandparents
Age: 8+
English
in a village during her summer break. In the village,
Nooni finds a whole new world filled with fun, Available on
friends and adventure. NetFlix
She finds an old, mysterious temple that
everyone has forgotten about. With her new he Sea Beast” is a fun and
friends, she goes on an exciting adventure to
uncover the secrets of this lost temple. The story
“T exciting movie. It is an
animated film full of adventure
feels like a treasure hunt, which takes Nooni and and amazing sea monsters.
her friends through old tales, interesting puzzles The story is about a young girl who
and lots of fun. secretly gets on the ship of a famous
What makes this book special is how it shows hunter who chases giant sea monsters.
village life in India. It is full of descriptions of nature, They go on a big adventure across the ocean, facing lots of challenges and
festivals and daily activities that make you feel like making new friends. The movie is not just about the thrill of hunting; it’s also
you’re right there with Nooni. The book is easy to about learning new things and understanding that sometimes what we’ve
read and understand, with short chapters that keep always believed might not be the whole truth.
you excited about what will happen next. The movie is very colourful and has great animation, which makes the sea
It teaches important values like friendship, and its creatures look amazing. The characters are fun and brave, and you’ll
courage and curiosity. It’s a book that will make you probably wish you could join them in their adventure.
smile, think and maybe even want to go on your “The Sea Beast” is more than just a regular adventure movie. It teaches
own adventure. It is perfect for young readers who us about bravery, friendship and asking questions about the world. It is sure
love stories that mix real life with a bit of magic. to be a hit among kids who love exciting stories and cool imaginary creatures.

Worksheet : BM138
Worksheet : BM140
Draw your favourite monster from the movie ‘The Sea Beast’.
“Excellence is not gained by accident; it is by habit”. Explain it in your own words.

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Atkan Chatkan
Creatures of Old
Author: Veena Prasad Age: 6+
reatures of Old” is an exciting book
Age: 6+ | Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, etc.
Available on www.storyweaver.org.in
“C about dinosaurs and other ancient
animals. It is written by Veena Prasad
Hindi

and has beautiful illustrations made by Kabini Available on

Amin. This book takes us on a journey into the YouTube
past, exploring how dinosaurs like the mighty
Tyrannosaurus Rex and the huge Diplodocus
lived. It’s not just about dinosaurs; you’ll also tkan Chatkan” is a truly
learn about creatures like woolly mammoths.
The book explains how scientists, called
“A inspiring movie. It is about a
boy named Guddu who loves
palaeontologists, dig up old bones and fossils music more than anything. He doesn’t
to learn about these creatures. You’ll discover have a lot of money, so he can’t buy any
how fossils are found, what they tell us about musical instruments. But Guddu is very
the past, and why these amazing animals are creative and smart. He finds ways to make instruments out of things like
not around anymore. The book is filled with pots, pans and other things that you can find around the house.
interesting facts and makes history and science Guddu has a dream to play music for the world. He meets other kids who
fun. The pictures are very detailed and make are just like him, and they start a band. They use their homemade instruments
you feel like you’re travelling back in time. and make amazing music together. They decide to enter a big music
Whether you’re already a fan of dinosaurs or competition to show the world what they can do.
just curious about the ancient world, this book The movie is full of fun music, and you’ll probably find yourself tapping
is a great read. It is perfect for children who your feet to the beat. It’s also about how important it is to follow your
love adventure and want to know more about dreams, even when it’s hard. Guddu and his friends show us that you can do
the mysterious creatures that once roamed the anything if you work hard and believe in yourself.
Earth. “Creatures of Old” is not just a “Atkan Chatkan” teaches us hope, friendship and the magic of music. It’s
storybook; it is a journey into a world that a perfect movie for both children and grown-ups.
existed millions of years ago!
Worksheet : BM139
Worksheet : BM141 Sit silently for two minutes, observe the sounds around you, and
list them.
Fill-in-the-Blanks

● • Woolly Mammoths had tusks that were ______ feet long.

● • Bear dogs were related to both ______ and ______.

● • Ichthyosaurs lived in the ______.

Science StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 03
difficult, but with both, it becomes
possible. Similarly, while one ear can
detect the direction of sound, two ears
make it clearer. In the same way, using
Human Senses

both nostrils can even help determine the

direction of a smell.
Why is this discovery
Class V+

important?
This discovery isn’t just about smelling
things. It tells us more about how our brains
process information from all our senses. It

Why We Have Two also opens up new, exciting possibilities for

scientists to explore the amazing power of
our brain. This can help us develop new

Nostrils: Scientists Explain

n a recent study, scientists have
I found out why humans have two
nostrils instead of just one. The
reason is related to how our brain works and
processes information about smells.
Who did the study?
Scientists from the University of
Pennsylvania, the Barrow Neurological
Institute and the Ohio State University in the
United States of America conducted this
study. The study involved ten epilepsy
patients. Scientists asked these patients if
they could help with this research about
nostrils, and they happily agreed.
Why epilepsy patients?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes a
person to have repeated seizures. A seizure
is a sudden event where someone might lose
consciousness or have uncontrolled
movements. This happens due to unusual
electrical activity in the brain. These ten
patients had electrodes implanted in their
brains. These electrodes helped doctors see
what happened in the patients’ brains when
the seizure occurred. So, scientists
considered using the same electrodes to
observe what happens in the brain when we
smell something.
When humans smell things, their brains
treatments for conditions like anosmia,
which is the loss of smell.
Power Words
produce tiny electrical signals. The electrodes A small piece of metal that is
read these brain signals and send them to a
computer through a wire, where scientists
Electrode
(n.)
used to take an electric
current or signal to or from a
analyse them. In the current experiment, the source.
epilepsy patients smelled three different To insert an object into a
scents. They did this with one nostril, the Implant
person’s body, especially
other nostril, or both at the same time. The (v.)
through surgery
researchers then watched how the brain
responded each time.
Worksheet : SC079
What did they find?
1. Each Nostril is Unique: When the same Explain how the nose helps us to
scent was presented to each nostril stay safe.
individually, the patterns of brain signals
looked similar but not identical (same).
This suggests that each nostril has its
own distinct sense of smell.
2. Nostrils work independently: When
both nostrils smelled a scent at the same
time, the brain got two different signals.
3. Two Nostrils Are Better Than One:
Patients using both nostrils identified
smells more accurately and quickly. This is
similar to how two eyes improve our
vision and two ears enhance our hearing.
With one eye, estimating depth can be

Unlocking the Secrets of Cancer: cancer have their own unique sticky notes (epigenetic
changes), like a signature. These changes are necessary for
cancer to grow and spread.

The Role of Epigenetic Changes Why is it important to study

epigenetic changes?
Understanding the role of epigenetic changes in cancer is
Class VI+ keep us fit and healthy. Scientists noted that even if two crucial for developing new cancer treatments. By targeting
people have the same genes, their bodies may react these changes, we could restore normal gene functioning (to
Diseases differently. They explained this using epigenetics. code/form essential proteins) and stop cancer cells from
Epigenetics are like bookmarks or sticky notes. They do growing and spreading.
not change the recipes, but can put bookmarks on certain
pages to say, “use this recipe more” or sticky notes saying, Power Words
“don’t use this recipe now.” This is why even though all cells DNA (abb.) Deoxyribonucleic acid
in your body have the same DNA, they can do different
things. For example, even if your body has a gene to fight a
virus, you may still get sick. Epigenetics can change based on
what you eat, how much you exercise, and even things you
Worksheet : SC080
experience, like stress. Solve the puzzle.

What does the study say?

ancer is a disease where cells in the body grow out
C of control. Recently, scientists have found that a
specific kind of change in our cells, called “epigenetic
changes,” plays a big role in how cancer grows and spreads.
So, what are epigenetic changes?
All organisms are made of millions of tiny cells. Each one
of these cells contains a material called DNA. Genes are a part
of DNA. They store information about our features such as
skin, hair, eye and colour. DNA is like a recipe book. The body
uses these recipes to make different kinds of proteins that
Epigenetic changes can cause a healthy cell to become
cancerous. In cancer cells, these sticky notes are often
misplaced, causing genes to be turned on or off when they
shouldn’t be. This can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and
cancer progression. However, they don’t alter the information
in our genes; but they can affect how our cells read and use
that information to make proteins.
How did scientists find this?
To understand how epigenetic changes contribute to
cancer, scientists studied the DNA of cancer cells taken from
different types of cancer. They found that different types of

ACROSS
2. It determines certain physical characteristics of our body, such as hair
colour.
3. It is one of the causes of epigenetics.
5. It is a disease when cells in the body grow uncontrollably and spread to
other areas.

DOWN
1. These are environmental effects that turn on or off a gene in our body.
4. It is like the recipe book of the body.
Geography
25 years of the International
Space Station: A space marvel
Class VI+
The Universe
o you know that the International Space Station
D (ISS) is like a giant science lab floating in space?
This year, the world is celebrating its 25th birthday!
That’s right! For a quarter of a century, the ISS has been
orbiting Earth, helping us learn more about space and life
beyond our planet.
Though ISS is jointly owned by the United States (NASA),
Russia (Roscosmos), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and the
European Space Agency (ESA), it is actually a world project.
Astronauts from all around the world work together in the
ISS. They live, work and conduct exciting experiments in
zero gravity. Since it was first launched in 1998, over 270
astronauts from 21 countries have visited this amazing space
station. They’ve done more than 3,700 experiments.
Space Watch: Earthquake
Clues in the Sky
Class VIII+
Earthquake
cientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism
S found that earthquakes leave a mark on the
ionosphere. This discovery could help predict
earthquakes by studying space.
How is this possible?
What happens when you bounce a ball on the ground?
The energy spreads out, making waves in the air.
Earthquakes are like that. They make the Earth’s crust
shake and shift. This sends powerful waves that travel
through the ground into the air.
These waves don’t stop at the clouds. They travel all the
way up to the ionosphere. This is the upper part of the Earth’s
StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024
International
Space Station (ISS)
The ISS started with just two parts, called modules,
named Zarya and Unity. These were sent up into space
separately and then joined together in space. It’s like building
a huge LEGO set, but in space!
This space station is huge — it’s about as big as a football
field! Over the years, more parts have been added to make it
even bigger. The ISS travels around the Earth about 16 times
a day. So, astronauts on board see lots of sunrises and
sunsets every day.
The ISS has helped us learn so much, like how plants grow
in space and how being in space for a long time affects our
bodies. This helps scientists understand what is needed to
live on other planets one day.
Indian astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Sunita William have
atmosphere. The ionosphere is filled with shining bubbles of
charged particles like glow sticks. When the earthquake
waves reach the ionosphere, they do something amazing—
they cause the air (glow sticks) there to dance and wobble
like a disco ball in space!
Scientists call these wobbles “coseismic ionospheric
perturbations”. Now, here’s the interesting part—scientists
are realising that these wobbles might act like tiny
fingerprints of earthquakes, thus holding the key to
Ionosphere
www.studentedge.in 04
visited and experimented on the ISS. Now, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are working together to
send another Indian astronaut to the ISS by the end of 2024.
The ISS shows how countries can work together to
achieve amazing things. It’s like a floating symbol of teamwork
and adventure, high above the Earth.
Retirement and future plans
The ISS will be retired in 2030 as it is becoming old and
unusable. To replace it, NASA will build another space
station. China has already launched its space station, called
Tiangong Space Station. India also plans to build its own
space station by 2030. Many other countries, including
Russia, are planning to do the same.
Background Information
Zero gravity
A condition where a person cannot feel the effect of
gravity, for example, in space. Gravity is the natural
force that makes things fall to the ground when you
drop them from a height. A person in zero gravity
feels weightless and floats without falling.
Worksheet : GR078
India named its Moon mission ‘Chandrayaan’ and its
Mars mission ‘Mangalyaan’. What name would you
suggest for India’s space station, and why?
predicting them. By watching these dances (patterns of the
coseismic ionospheric perturbations) from space using
satellites, scientists might be able to foresee earthquakes
before they shake the ground. It’s like listening to the Earth
whisper clues about an earthquake.
But how? Think of it like reading a secret code. Each
earthquake dance has its own unique pattern, like a
fingerprint. By learning this code, scientists hope to
understand the strength and location of earthquakes, and
even predict when they might occur. It’s like reading the
Earth’s tremors in the sky.
Does Frank Hoogerbeets’s prediction
of earthquakes work in the same way?
Yes and no! Hoogerbeets is a well-known earthquake
forecaster. His predictions of earthquakes have come true
so many times. For example, last year in February, he
predicted an earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and it came
true. He makes his predictions by studying the position of
the planets and the moon in the sky. He believes that this
can give clues about possible earthquakes. This is similar to
studying the pattern of the coseismic ionospheric
perturbations, as both methods use space observations.
But Hoogerbeets’ predictions are not based on scientific
evidence. This makes it different from the coseismic
ionospheric perturbations method.
Power Words
To move from side to side in an
Wobble (v.)
unsteady way
Worksheet : GR079
Match the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere with their
distinctive events/features.
Layers Events/Features
Troposphere Outermost layer
Stratosphere Colourful lights of the
ionosphere
Mesosphere Ozone layer
Thermosphere Aeroplanes fly
Exosphere Meteors burn
Art and Culture
Garba: Gujarat’s vibrant dance
is now a UNESCO treasure!
ave you ever seen people with
H colourful traditional clothes
dancing in circles around a lamp,
clapping their hands and moving to the
beat of a vibrant drum? That’s Garba, a
traditional dance from the state of
Gujarat. It has just earned a special
recognition from UNESCO!
Recently, UNESCO added Garba to its
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
list. This is a huge honour for not only
Gujarat but all of India. It means that
Garba is now recognised as a valuable
cultural tradition that should be protected
and shared with the world.
So, what is an intangible
cultural heritage?
Heritage means something that we
get from our ancestors. Culture means
ideas, customs, and traditions such as
dress, songs,
dances, stories,
festivals, food
habits, and
historical buildings.
Intangible means
something that we
cannot touch and
hold, but we can
experience, such as
songs and dances.
So, intangible cultural heritage is the
songs, dances, stories, and traditions we
inherit from our forefathers. It’s important
to protect and celebrate these special
traditions because they make each group
of people unique and help us learn about
different cultures around the world.
Intangible cultural
heritage list
UNESCO keeps a list of important
intangible heritages of the world. They
work to save these cultural traditions.
They organise events around the world to
Power Words
To receive money, property, or possessions from someone after
Inherit (v.)
the person has died
A light that is enclosed in a container with a handle for carrying or
Lantern (n.)
hanging
Worksheet : AC079
Group the following cultural heritage items into tangible and intangible.
Tangible
Taj Mahal Sun Temple
Kathak Ganga Aarti
make people aware of the cultural
traditions of different countries.
Importance of Garba dance
Garba dance comes from Gujarat.
However, the dance is now performed in
most Indian states during the Navratri
festival. The name comes from the
Sanskrit word ‘Garbha’ (mother’s womb).
A clay lantern with a light inside is placed
at the centre. This light is called a Garbha
Deep (womb lamp).
Dancers dance around the lantern in a
circle. The circle represents the ever-
changing time, while the lantern
represents the unchanging God. So,
Garba is not just any dance. It has deep
meaning in it, and it needs to be preserved
and promoted.
Background Information
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) is a specialised branch of
the United Nations. Its goal is to
promote world peace and security
through international cooperation in
education, art, science and culture.
Intangible
Diwali Ramayan
Golconda fort
StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 05
Michael Douglas wins
Satyajit Ray Lifetime
Achievement Award
Satyajit Ray
enior Hollywood actor Michael
S Douglas has received the Satyajit
Ray Lifetime Achievement Award
during the 54th International Film Festival of
India. The award is an international honour
for contributions to world cinema.
Douglas is famous among children for his
role as Dr. Hank Pym in the movie Ant-Man.
Dr. Hank Pym is a super smart scientist who
created the Ant-Man suit that can shrink
someone to the size of an ant. He helps
Scott, the new Ant-Man, learn how to use
the suit and be a hero.
“Cinema unites people” –
Michael Douglas
In his award acceptance speech, Douglas
said that cinema has the power to change
and bring together people from different
backgrounds and countries. Douglas said he
really likes Indian movies such as ‘RRR’, ‘Om Instinct’ and ‘Fatal Attraction’. Throughout
Shanti Om’ and ‘Lunch Box’. his career, Douglas has been known for his
Michael Douglas was interested in acting acting skills and his ability to play the role of
from a very young age. He studied drama at a troubled hero perfectly.
the University of California before working in
theatre, television and movies. Douglas has Background Information
won several awards in his career as an actor.
He has won two Oscars, five Golden Globes International Film
and an Emmy. Some of his famous movies Festival of India
include ‘Wall Street’, ‘Ant-Man’, ‘Basic The International Film Festival of India
is one of Asia’s most important film
Power Words
festivals. It was held for the first time
Influential Having great power over in 1952. It is organised yearly in Goa
(adj.) someone or something by the Government of India and the
Rechristen To give a new name State Government of Goa. A film
festival is a big event where lots of
(v.)
different movies are shown and
A person who writes the celebrated. People who love movies,
Screenwriter
story and dialogue for a like directors, actors and fans, come
(n.)
film together to watch and talk about new
and exciting films.
Satyajit Ray Lifetime
Worksheet : AC078
Achievement Award
Unscramble the names of five Avengers In 1999, IFFI started an award called
superheroes whom Ant Man has the IFFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
worked with to find the magic phrase. In 2021, it was rechristened as the
IFFI Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement
Award. This change was in honour of
famous Indian director and
screenwriter Satyajit Ray. He is seen
as one of the greatest and most
influential movie directors in world
cinema. He is mostly known for his
emotional and thoughtful movies that
started a new wave of cinema in India.
He won many national and international
awards, including Bharat Ratna, India’s
highest civilian award.
HISTORY StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 06
Archaeologists in Iraq
discover twin temples linked
to Alexander the Great

Lost Genes: How Dinosaurs

Shaped Human Ageing

Class XI+
World History
magine a world where people could live up to 200 years! You
I would have the chance to watch your great-grandchildren
grow. You could learn something new every day and enjoy
many more adventures. Well, some scientists believe that if dinosaurs
had never existed, humans might have achieved this.
A scientist named Joao Pedro de Magalhaes from the University of
Birmingham in the UK has been studying Alexander the Great Replica of Temple dedicated to Hercules and Ningirsu
how dinosaurs may have affected our
lifespan. Magalhaes has proposed a rchaeologists in Iraq have made who is the sky and thunder god in Greek
new theory about human ageing.
Magalhaes noticed that mammals
A a rare discovery linking
Alexander the Great to the
mythology. Hercules was his son, and
Alexander also claimed to be the son of
(like humans) age much faster than ancient city of Girsu. They have found Zeus. Therefore, archaeologists have
other animals (like reptiles and two temples, one on top of another. concluded that “Adad, the giver of
amphibians). After studying a lot, he They say that the newer temple (on brothers” refers to God Zeus, and the
came to the conclusion that this is top) was built around 2400 years ago, two brothers are Hercules and Alexander.
Brick with
because dinosaurs ruled the Earth for probably as a memorial to Alexander. Inscription Archaeologists are not sure if Alexander
millions of years, which forced smaller visited the city. But they are confident that
mammals to live short and fast lives. Who was Alexander the Great? the coin was made in the nearby city of
To survive, these mammals needed Alexander the Great was a famous Greek king who Babylonia, under Alexander’s authority. Alexander
to have babies (reproduce) quickly. Magalhaes thinks it affected the lived in the 4th century BC. He built one of the largest conquered Babylonia in 331 BC.
way humans age. Our ancestors were among these small mammals. empires in history, stretching from Greece to India. He This discovery not only helps us learn about
Their world was dominated by the dinosaurs. So, they had to adapt and is remembered as one of the greatest military leaders ancient cultures but also shows that people had
lost some important genes along the way. For example, they didn’t need in history, who spread Greek culture and ideas through mixed beliefs long ago and respected gods from
genes for long lifespans, so these genes were lost over time. Genes are his conquests. different cultures.
part of our body cells. They carry information about skin colour, hair
colour and every other thing that makes us a living being. How was the discovery made? Background Information
Magalhaes calls this the “longevity bottleneck.” This bottleneck Archaeologists are digging in the ancient city of
may even explain why we use sunscreen! When our ancestors became Girsu in Iraq to learn about its history. Girsu belonged Sumer civilisation
nocturnal (night-active) to avoid dinosaurs, they may have lost the to the Sumer civilisation. Archaeologists first The Sumer civilisation is one of the world’s
genes that repair damage from the Sun. discovered a temple dedicated to the Greek god, earliest civilisations. It existed in ancient
While Magalhaes’ idea is still a theory, it’s fascinating. It could explain Hercules and the Sumerian god, Ninurta. Both of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500–
why we age faster than other animals. It also suggests that cancer may these gods are related to war. When they dug further, 1900 BC. This civilisation is known for its
be more common in mammals because they age more rapidly. they found a brick with the inscription, advanced city-states like Ur and Uruk, their
“Adadnadinakhe”, which means “Adad, the giver of new style of writing, advanced irrigation
brothers”. They also found a silver coin. On one side systems, and social hierarchies. They shaped
of the coin, there was an image of Hercules, which early human history by making various
closely resembled Alexander. On the other side of inventions, such as the wheel, mathematics,
the coin, there was a figure of a lightning bolt and an and the concept of a calendar.
eagle. These are symbols of the Greek god, Zeus,

Power Words
Amphibian (n.) An animal that can live both on land and in water
Bottleneck (n.) Something that slows down progress
An animal that has hair or fur and gives birth to
Mammal (n.)
live babies
About an animal that sleeps during the day and
Nocturnal (adj.)
stays active at night
An animal (like a snake or turtle) that lays eggs
Reptile (n.) Greek god, Zeus Greek god, Hercules Sumerian god, Ninurta
and has a body covered with scales
A possible explanation of something which is Power Words
Theory (n.)
accepted by most scientists
Archaeologist (n.) A scientist who studies the history of a place by digging it
A carved or written message or text on a surface, often found on things like stones,
Worksheet : HT077 Inscription (n.)
monuments, or historical artefacts
Find six hidden words in the puzzle. Resemble (v.) To look like someone or something
Z M P X W L R C N M
A C A S C E X A O M Worksheet : HT078
B X R M P L I H C X
In ancient times, kings often claimed to be the sons of gods. Why do you think they did this?
M X Z T M B I X T F
O G I S I A F E U C
M L I H M I L E R A
E I P P Q R S F N K
Q M Y R O E H T A L
A Q C P U K B Z L F
B O T T L E N E C K
Life Skills
The Power of Self-Confidence:
How Believing in Yourself
Ma k es E v ery t hi n g E a sier !
am, Varun and Abhay were best friends. When
R the school’s Annual Day function came around,
Varun decided to participate in the Talent Show.
He wanted his friends to join him as well.
“I’m going to participate in a dance. Come on, let’s
do this together. It will be so much fun!” said Varun.
“I don’t know how to dance, Varun. All I do is
study. I think I spend more time with my books
than even my parents. Ha ha! You guys go
ahead and participate,” said Ram,
laughing.
“Well, I’m going to sing at the Talent
Show. Why don’t you sing a song to show
how much you love studies?” said Abhay,
poking fun at Ram.
They all laughed, but this gave Ram a great
idea.
On the day of the Talent Show, everyone was
rushing to the back of the stage, waiting for their turn to
perform.
“Hey Ram, what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you
have no talent?” asked Abhay.
“I thought I could recite a poem about my favourite
subjects. I thought of sharing it with everyone,” said Ram.
“Are you serious? Oh God! I was cracking a joke that
day, Ram. Did you take it seriously?” laughed Abhay,
mocking Ram.
Ram felt embarrassed all of a sudden. He didn’t feel
very confident about his poem anymore. He started
thinking about what the other students would think about
him. He wondered if they would also make fun of him, just
like Abhay.
As Ram was about to walk away, Varun stopped him.
“Hey Ram! Where are you going? Aren’t you going to
share your poem with everyone? I have been waiting to
hear it,” said Varun.
“I am not sure. After what Abhay said, I think it’s a bad
idea,” said Ram.
“Oh, forget about Abhay. People will say anything. Just
because one guy didn’t like your idea, it doesn’t mean it
won’t be good. If you are confident about your talent, then
show it to the world. Let them see what you can do.
People like us who believe in you will always support you,”
said Varun.
That made Ram believe in himself again. He felt
confident to go on stage and show his talent.
When Ram’s name was called on stage, he felt a little
nervous, but he knew he was ready.
StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024
“I love writing short poems as a hobby. I just wanted to
share one of my favourite poems with you all,” he said. He
then began to recite his poem:
In the land of textbooks, where subjects play,
Maths is a wizard, casting numbers all day.
History is an old storyteller, spinning tales.
Science is a detective, chasing mysteries with trails.
English is a poet, dancing with words so sweet.
Art is a painter, creating portraits so neat.
Together they gather, like friends at play,
In the school adventure, every single day!
Everyone LOVED Ram’s poem! The entire school
started clapping, and Ram could see his friend Varun
cheering the loudest. This made Ram feel very proud of
himself.
Just like Ram, we also come across many moments in
life when we don’t feel so sure about ourselves. A
thousand questions go through our minds: “Am I doing
the right thing?” “Should I do it?” “Will it be right?”
“What will people think?” And the biggest question of all:
“What if I fail?”
And yes, just like Ram, we can get over our fears by
being confident in ourselves. If you are self-confident, you
will believe in yourself. This is the most important thing to
achieve success in life.
www.studentedge.in 07
So, how to be self-confident?
When you feel confident about doing something,
you try your best and do it well. Having self-confidence
is very important as it also helps you accept your
mistakes. If you always feel you are not good
at something or that you can’t do it, it will
make you feel negative about yourself.
What is important is believing that you can
do it. This will give you the mental strength to
deal with anything, be it positive or negative.
Here are five ways through which you can
build your self-confidence:
• Focus on your strengths and skills:
Be it singing, dancing, cooking or
anything, do what makes you happy. Not
everyone can be great at everything, but
every one of us is great at something. Don’t
focus on the things that you can’t do. Rather, focus on
what you can do best and be confident in your skills.
• Stay positive:
You can build your self-confidence with the power of
positivity. Keep negative thoughts out of your mind and
focus on the positives. Don’t focus too much on what
unkind people say; try to give your best ALWAYS, no
matter what.
• Take risks:
Don’t be scared to take up challenges or risks. So what
if you fail? What will happen? Will it be the end of the
world? No. You will get a chance again to prove yourself. If
you don’t take risks due to the fear of failure, you will never
be able to know what you need to improve in yourself.
• Accept your mistakes and learn from them:
Everyone in the world makes mistakes. It is a natural
part of the journey of life. Mistakes give you a chance to
learn something new. You can ask yourself, “How can I
be better at this?” and then bounce back to give it
another shot!
• Spend time with people who encourage you:
Lastly, be around people who make you feel good. If
you stay with positive-minded people who love and
support you, you will always feel confident about your
actions. Such people will not only encourage you but also
guide you on how to give your best. It is important to have
such people in your life as it helps you feel valued and
accepted by all.
Power Words
Cast (v.) To throw something in a specific direction
Embarrass
Feeling awkward or uncomfortable
(adj.)
A negative situation in which there is a
Risk (n.)
chance of something bad happening
Trail (n.) A track or path
Worksheet : ME038
On a scale of 1-10, rate your current level of self-
confidence. What can you do to improve it by one
point?
•Rating: _______
•Improvement Strategy:
Polity StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 08
Five states get new

How the government works

Class VIII+
chief ministers

Elections
he state assembly elections were held in five Indian states in
T November 2023. These states are Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. All these
states now have newly elected chief ministers (CM). Let’s have a closer

Class VII+
look at the new CMs:
Sh. Bhajan Lal Sharma 
He is a first-time Member of the Legislative
Assembly (MLA). However, he has been in the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for years and knows
the state inside out. He wasn’t a big name in
politics, but his dedication to the BJP impressed the
party leaders. He is a big supporter of Prime
Minister Modi and wants to bring ‘double engine ki
sarkar’ to Rajasthan, meaning both state and
central governments working together for progress.
He replaced Sh. Ashok Gehlot of the Congress

President calls for

Party to become the new CM of Rajasthan.
Dr Mohan Yadav Sh. Revanth Reddy

an all-India judicial
service: what is it?
ecently, President Smt. Draupadi are reserved for candidates from that state.
R Murmu expressed her opinion that
there is an urgent need for an All-India What are the benefits of an AIJS?
Judicial Service (AIJS). It will be an all-India • Fairness: No matter where they come from,
service for judges. It will give brilliant everyone will have a chance to become a
He replaced Sh. Shivraj Singh Chauhan He is the current CM of Telangana. youngsters a better chance to serve their judge.
to become the 19th CM of Madhya He belongs to the Congress Party. country. The proposed AIJS will be similar to • Talent pool: We can find the best judges
Pradesh. Both of them belong to the During the elections, he replaced other all-India services, such as the Indian from all over India.
BJP. He is a third-time MLA. He holds former CM Sh. K. Chandrashekar Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian • More diversity: This could mean more
a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) Rao (founder and leader of the Bharat Police Service (IPS). women and people from different religions
degree from Ujjain University. He Rashtra Samithi Party). and parts of the country becoming judges.
promises to focus on education, But what is an all-India service? • Faster justice: When we have enough
farmers and jobs for young people. Sh. Lalduhoma India is composed of many states. Each state judges, cases can be solved more quickly.
has its own government, such as the Government • Independence: AIJS judges will enjoy the
Sh. Vishnu Deo Sai of Bihar and the Government of Kerala. There is same freedom as IAS and IPS officers. This
also a central government called the Government would make them more independent and
of India. Each of these governments recruits impartial.
officers for different jobs. They become officers
of their respective governments. However, there What’s next?
is another type of officer in India, belonging to While the idea of an AIJS is supported by
both the state and central governments. They many, it still needs to be approved by the
are called officers of the all-India services. Parliament. This is a complex process, and it
Currently, there are three all-India services in might take some time. However, many people
India. These are the IAS, IPS and Indian Forest are hopeful that the AIJS will eventually become
Service (IFoS). These officers are selected a reality and help to create a stronger and fairer
He stands apart from the other CMs through an all-India open competitive justice system for everyone in India.
above due to his unique background. examination. So, anyone living in any state has
He is the first tribal leader to hold the He was a decorated Indian Police an equal chance of becoming an IAS, IPS or
CM position in Chhattisgarh. He is a Service (IPS) officer. He entered IFoS officer.
Worksheet : PL075
member of the BJP. He speaks for politics with the aim of bringing Unscramble the words to find the magic
the tribal people and promises to transparency and good governance to The case for an AIJS phrase.
improve their lives by building roads, Mizoram. He was the founder and The Constitution of India has made provisions
hospitals and schools for everyone. president of the Zoram Nationalist for creating more all-India services. It specifically
He replaced Sh. Bhupesh Baghel of Party. He replaced former CM Lal mentions the name All-India Judicial Service.
the Congress Party to become the Thanhawla of the Congress Party to Several committees have also recommended
4th CM of Chhattisgarh. become the 6th CM of Mizoram. the creation of the AIJS. However, it has not
been created yet.
Currently, judges in all the Indian states are
Worksheet : PL076 selected based on a state-level exam called the
Search five common terms related to elections. Provincial Civil Service (Judicial) or PCS (J)
exams. In these state exams, most of the seats
C Y U W N Q B V S I V
Power Words
H A C Y S M F H C G W
The highest rule book
Constitution (n.)
X W N L R R G A Z N V for a country
E G L D I U M N P D S
Z Y N V I P D D A A F
F F R I A D I I R Z R
D M U I L T A D T F T
B E G C E L O T Y P D
B N S R E T O V E T S
S W U R W Y V P Y X U
Q P W O K Z S G K A W
Motivators StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 09
First female Supreme Court judge medal. Law students who pass the All India Bar Examination
are approved by the Bar Council to practise law in the country.
After her retirement in 1993, Justice Fathima became a

M. Fathima Beevi passes away National Human Rights Commission member. Later, she also
acted as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.
Fathima Beevi’s life story shows how we can break the
norms and do something new if we just believe in ourselves.
Before Fathima Beevi became a Supreme Court judge, there
was no female judge in India’s highest court of law. Beevi
dreamt of changing that, and she succeeded, mainly because
of her determination, hard work and self-confidence.

Power Words
To choose someone officially for a job or
Appoint (v.)
responsibility
Norms (n.) Things that are usual or typical
Verdict (n.) A judgement made by a court

Worksheet : MT081
ustice M. Fathima Beevi, the first female Supreme
J Court judge, passed away at the age of 96. She was
a judge at the Supreme Court from 1989 to 1992.
1. Who was the first woman to become Prime
Minister of India?
She was also the first female Muslim judge appointed to the
Supreme Court of India.
The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in India’s 2. Who was the first woman to become President of
legal system. It was established in 1950 and is located in New India?
Delhi. As the highest court of law, its decision is treated as
the final verdict.
The Chief Justice of India is the head of the Supreme
Court. The Court also has 33 other judges appointed by the 3. Who was the first Indian woman to successfully
President of India. There have been very few female judges climb Mount Everest?
in the Supreme Court in the past. In the last 73 years, only 11
female judges have been appointed. M. Fathima Beevi was
the first one, appointed in 1989.
4. Who was the first woman to join the Indian Police
A close look into Fathima Beevi’s life Service (IPS)?
Justice Fathima Beevi was born in Kerala in 1927. Her
father’s name was Annaveetil Meera Sahib, and her mother’s
name was Khadeeja Beevi. Fathima Beevi was the eldest of 5. Who was the first Indian woman to win a medal
eight siblings. Her father, a government servant, encouraged in the Olympics?
his sons and daughters equally to study well.
She was not only the first female judge of the Supreme
Court but also the first woman to receive a Bar Council gold

France honours ISRO She is known for her contribution to the joint partnership
agreement between the French National Space Agency
(CNES) and ISRO in 2018. This agreement resulted in Indian
scientist Lalithambika VR and French scientists working together in the field of space
medicine.

with highest civilian award

Lalithambika played a key role in another Indo-French
agreement in 2021. Under this partnership, French scientists
will help to train Indian astronauts mentally and physically for
space flights.
Lalithambika’s contributions to these partnership projects
are valued highly by the governments of both countries. She
hopes to inspire more women to choose careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.

Background Information
Légion d’Honneur
It is the highest French award, established in 1802 by
Napoleon Bonaparte. It recognises outstanding
contributions to France or humanity in various fields,
including politics, arts, science and military. It is
graded into five degrees of increasing distinction:
Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur
(Commander), Grand officier (Grand Officer) and
Grand-croix (Grand Cross).

R Lalithambika, a scientist from the Indian Space

V Research Organisation (ISRO), has been awarded
the Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by the
Power Words
Humanity (n.) Human beings collectively
French Government. Lalithambika is the second ISRO
scientist to receive this French award for her contributions to
the Indo-French space partnership. ISRO chairman A S Kiran Worksheet : MT082
Kumar had received the same award before her in 2019.
Match the following Indian awards to their descriptions.
Meet Lalithambika VR
Lalithambika’s journey towards a career in space science Bharat India’s Second
began during her childhood in Kerala. She was inspired by Ratna Highest civilian award
watching rocket launches near her hometown.
A topper in her school, Lalithambika later studied electrical Param India’s highest
engineering. She secured a second rank from the University Vir Chakra peacetime military award
of Kerala. She went on to complete her MTech and PhD in
electrical engineering from the same university.
Ashok India’s highest wartime
Lalithambika became the first Director of the Human Space
Chakra military award
Programme at ISRO in 2018. ISRO is planning to send Padma India’s Highest
astronauts to space under this mission, which is also popularly Vibhushan civilian award
known as the Gaganyaan mission.
Environment StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 10
It’s time to act!

Class IX+
Urgent climate

Sources of Energy
action needed,
says UN report

Indian government
Class VIII+
Global Warming
declares biogas blending
as mandatory: What is it?
lobal warming is a major issue of However, this is still 25% higher than the
G our planet today. A recent report
from the United Nations
target of 2.0°C.
According to the report, global greenhouse
Environment Programme argues that we gas emissions reached a record high of 57.4
need to take stronger actions to prevent the gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in
Earth from becoming too hot. 2022. The top seven countries producing the
Think of our planet as a giant oven. When most greenhouse gas emissions are Brazil,
we burn fuels like coal, oil and gas, they China, India, Indonesia, the European Union,
release greenhouse gases like carbon Russia and the United States. They are
dioxide, nitrous oxide, etc. These gases act responsible for 65% of the world’s pollution.
like a blanket over the Earth, trapping heat The report also says that the wealthiest 10%
and making the Earth hotter. Since 1850, the
Earth’s average temperature has increased
by 1.2°C. This has resulted in extreme
climate changes, such as hot summers,
forest fires, untimely rains and cyclones. an you imagine what once Why will CBG be blended
C clouded the skies in Delhi, Punjab
and Haryana with pollution can
with other gases?
CNG and PNG are also mostly made of
now fill farmers’ pockets with cash? This methane gas. We use CNG for cars and
of people create almost half of all emissions, remarkable shift is all thanks to a forward- buses and PNG for cooking at home.
while the poorest 50% only create 12%. This thinking move by the Indian government, These gases come from underground oil
means that wealthier countries need to do making it compulsory for companies to wells. India mostly imports them from
more to reduce their pollution. blend compressed biogas with common other countries. On the other hand, CBG
The report encourages countries to fuels such as compressed natural gas comes from plants and waste material.
increase their emission reduction targets (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG). This Therefore, it can be produced in our
ambitiously to keep temperatures within means the stubble, previously burned and
the safe limit of 2.0°C. It also urges wealthy blamed for pollution, might become a
Scientists warn that if the temperature countries to provide funding and technology golden opportunity for farmers to earn.
increases by 2.0°C or more, it will be to poorer countries so that they can adopt
difficult for humans to live on Earth. environmentally friendly technologies, such So, what is compressed
Therefore, in 2015, 196 countries agreed to as solar- and wind-powered energy sources. biogas, and how is it
reduce greenhouse gases to prevent the Lastly, the report warns that time is linked to stubble?
temperature from increasing beyond 2.0°C. running out, and we need to act now. The Compressed biogas (CBG) is an
They even aim to keep the temperature next decade will shape our future. environment-friendly fuel that we get from
increase at 1.5°C or lower. This is called the plants. When leftover crops, cow dung, country. By making enough CBG, we can
Paris Agreement. To achieve this target, manure, waste from plants and sewage reduce our dependence on other countries
countries have promised to cut emissions. get broken down by microorganisms in the and save the environment as well.
They plan to do this by using less fossil absence of oxygen, a mixture of methane, Blending means mixing. As CNG and
fuels like coal and diesel, and increasing carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide CBG are almost the same, they can be
their use of renewable energy sources like gases is formed. This is known as biogas. mixed easily. Now, since the government
solar and wind. has made it mandatory to mix CBG with
However, the new Emissions Gap Report CNG, oil companies must produce CBG.
2023 warns that the current emission For this, they will buy stubble, animal dung
reduction targets are not enough. As per the and other farm waste from farmers. As a
Paris Agreement, the countries have result, farmers will collect and sell stubble
declared two types of emission cuts: the instead of burning it. Companies will also
first type includes cuts everyone commits to buy waste from homes in cities because
without fail, while the second type includes that is also used in making CBG. Thus, it
cuts countries will make if they feel will also help in the Swachh Bharat Mission.
comfortable doing so. The report states that Methane found in biogas burns like fuel. In 2025-26, companies will mix 99%
if countries could only fulfil the first cut, the This is why biogas is used for heating and CNG and 1% CBG. The part of CBG will be
temperature may increase to 2.9°C. If they cooking. However, it cannot be used in increased by 1% every year till 2027-28.
could meet both types of emission cuts, the many other places as it contains impurities. After that, the government will decide on
temperature would only increase by 2.5°C. When we remove impurities such as further plans. This mixing will similarly
carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from apply to PNG.
Power Words biogas, and only methane is left, it is called
biomethane. When this biomethane is
Ambitious (adj.) Setting high and challenging goals compressed to make it easy to transport,
Worksheet : EE078
The release or discharge of substances, such as gases or pollutants, it is called CBG. CBG is almost identical to Find the six hidden words from the
Emission (n.) puzzle below!
into the environment CNG. Thus, CBG becomes more useful as
it can be used in many more places, such
J C D S F N R L M E Z
as cars, buses and factories.
Worksheet : EE079 A W O H U D D A J L P
Power Words U A T M E O N T E C Z
Imagine you are Mother Earth. Write a message to world leaders, telling them Blend (v.) To mix and combine M H A E P D E U R R M
what they need to do to save you. To flatten or reduce in Q C S A A R F S V W Z
Compress A Y J T Q O E K A I R
volume by applying
(v.) T G O M I H E S C G C
pressure
Import To bring something into B R M B W A X G S Z U
(v.) the country from abroad Y E E N A H T E M E W
Impurity Substances which make N N Z X U A T Y P Z D
(n.) something less pure Q E H C I G S E L G C
STREAM StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 11
Indian Students Win the 2023 Finalists:
Team “Lightning McQueens” and
Team “The Ecotelligent”

“Climate Change Challenge” Team “Lightning McQueens”

Members: Zosia, Hania, Maja and Matylda from

Warsaw, Poland
Project: Making highways more sustainable
Their project aims to find a compromise between
transportation needs and reducing air pollution around
the world. The project focuses on changing highways so
that cars become more ecological.

Team “The Ecotelligent”

ig cheers for India! A team of five girls have bagged the first position in the
B International Climate Change Challenge. These students are from Ryan International
School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. And that’s not all – another team of five Indian girls
from Dubai made it to the winner’s list!
The Climate Change Challenge is organised by Burjeel Holdings and Saïd Business School,
UK. They invited hundreds of teams from different countries. The students had to think of
solutions for five major environmental threats: air pollution, extreme weather, diseases spread Members: Ammar, Grace, Ninar, Rina and Zainab from
by insects, food security and water scarcity. Now, let’s meet our proud winners! Latakia, Syria
Project: Combating air pollution
Winners They want to reduce air pollution by promoting
1st Position: 2nd Position: environmentally friendly practices. They change people’s
Shared by two teams: “The Entofarm” and “The ECO2” behaviour by making people more aware of their daily
Team “Acquifier Guardians” choices and the products they use. They believe that if
Team “The Entofarm” Team “The ECO2” people start making better choices, we can have a
planet that’s cleaner and healthier for the kids who will
come after us. So they want to spread awareness and
make the world a better place for the future.
Power Words
Fungi A type of living organism that includes
(n.) yeasts, moulds, mushrooms and others

Members: Aniba, Anika, Jasreen,

Naina and Sonali from India
Project: Mitigating the effects of
water scarcity
The team developed a super-smart
drip irrigation system. They
powered it using something called
“Bio-floc Arduino technology.”
This basically means that they
used tiny computers and sensors
to make sure each drop of water
went exactly where it was needed.
And they also made sure not to
waste a single drop!
Members: Junhyeok, Gregory, Aiden, Dowon
and Jihan from South Korea, Indonesia and
the USA
Project: Revolutionising farming to tackle
diseases carried by insects
These students teamed up to solve the
problem of mosquitoes spreading diseases
due to climate change. They created
EntoFarm. It’s a smart solution using special
fungi that target mosquitoes. These fungi
can reproduce on their own and focus on
killing mosquitoes. The team wants to share
this solution with farmers around the world.
Members: Gayathri, Trisha, Unnimaya, Worksheet : IN070
Elvina and Nischala from Dubai Which team’s project from the above news
Project: BioGrow – Clear Pollution, Grow article did you like the most? Give a reason for
Solutions your answer.
They made a special product to fight climate
change called BioGrow. These students want
to clean the air by turning pollutants (CO2
and ammonia) into fertilisers. They use fancy
technologies like Direct Air Capture and
Zeolite-based Ammonia Capture to do this.
Using their product gives fertilisers that are
good for the environment and can be used by
farmers all over the world.

excitement grew. Finally, he got to the Power Words

question for `1 crore. It was tough. But
Mayank got it right! And now, he has made To impress someone
history by becoming the first 14-year-old Dazzle (v.) greatly with brilliance
Crorepati! or skill
News of Mayank’s victory spread like Very famous and
wildfire. The whole country cheered for legendary (adj.)
admired
Mayank. Everyone praised his intelligence
and hard work. Even the Chief Minister of
Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Worksheet : IN071
congratulated Mayank on social media. He Do you believe that general knowledge

Class 8 Student Wins th called the boy a source of inspiration for

young minds. Mayank’s story is not just
about the prize money. It’s a message to
remains important in the age of
Google and ChatGPT? Please provide
your reasons.

1 Crore on KBC Junior children everywhere. He shows us that age

ave you ever dreamt of sitting
H opposite the legendary Amitabh
Bachchan on India’s most popular
quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati? Well,
imagine achieving that amazing feat at just
14 years of age!
Meet Mayank a bright class eighth
student who recently wrote his name in the
KBC history books. This smart young man
was able to conquer the hot seat and bag `1
crore. He is the youngest contestant to reach
this milestone.
does not matter when you want to learn and
do great things. Mayank reminds us that with
Mayank is from Mahendragarh, Haryana. dedication and curiosity, anything is possible.
He studies at RPS School. His father,
Pradeep Kumar, is a head constable in the
Delhi Police. His mother, Babita, is a
homemaker. His success at KBC excited
people all over the country. Mayank’s
confidence and knowledge dazzled the
audience and Mr. Bachchan. He answered
questions about history, sports, geography
and science with great ease. The questions
were tricky, but he wisely used lifelines when
he had to. With each correct answer, his
LIFESTYLE StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 12
Living near green spaces
social discrimination in your neighbourhood.
These issues can cancel out the benefits of
green spaces.

may help you stay young

In a nutshell, green spaces are like a
breath of fresh air for our well-being. But we
still need to tackle other problems in our
neighbourhoods, like cleaning up the air and
fighting discrimination to keep everyone
healthy and happy.

Background Information
DNA
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic
material found in our cells. It is essential
for life. It tells our bodies how to grow,
stay healthy and be like our parents.
Chromosome
A chromosome is a thread-like structure
made up of DNA.
any believe that being in nature fails. And when organs fail, people die. So, their homes. They found that people in
M lifts our spirits and keeps us
physically fit. Recent research
longer telomeres usually mean our cells are in
better shape, and we have the chance to live
greener neighbourhoods generally had longer
telomeres. This is good for their health.
Power Words
confirms that living near lots of greenery is longer. Longer telomeres are also an But here’s the important part: even if you A sign or signal giving
Indicator (n.)
good for our health. It helps manage stress indicator of low stress. live near green spaces, it might not help if information or evidence
and may even slow down ageing, keeping The scientists wanted to see if living near there are other problems like pollution or Vibrant (adj.) Full of energy and life
us youthful and vibrant. green spaces made people’s telomeres
longer. They studied nearly 8,000 people
How did the scientists and checked how much greenery was around Worksheet : LS081
discover this?
Draw a township featuring numerous green spaces and colour it.
Our bodies are made of almost 37 trillion
cells. These cells keep dividing to make new
cells. This is to replace the cells in our bodies
that die or get damaged. All 37 trillion cells in
our bodies get replaced every seven years. If
our cell division and replacement continue to
work perfectly, we can live forever.
However, scientists found that something
called “telomeres” decides how many more
times a cell can divide. Telomeres are like
protective caps on the ends of our DNA or
Chromosome. These caps get shorter over
time as our cells divide. When they get too
short, the cells can’t divide anymore and die.
When many cells in an organ die, the organ

World Health Organization forms team to tackle

global health threat of social loneliness
college. Also, people who feel disconnected and unsupported
in their jobs choose to stay alone, and this may also affect
their work negatively.
The major goal of the team formed by the World Health
Organization is to encourage the world to value social
connections for better health. This team will study the role of
social connections in improving the health of people of all
ages. They will also study how connections between people
help communities, societies, and countries grow and do well.
Strong social bonds promote better mental health and
lead to overall development and progress. Having social
connections is important to build productive, strong and
stable societies. It will also promote the well-being of current
and future generations.

f you feel lonely and struggle with keeping up connection with others? Why are people becoming lonelier or Power Words
I friendships or connections with friends, family and
colleagues, remember you’re not the only one.
choosing to be alone? Many experts believe that people do
this because of too much stress. Another reason can be some Colleague (n.)
A person with whom one works in a
business or job
According to the World Health Organization, one out of four people’s inability to develop meaningful connections with The process of being separated
people in the world now suffers from social isolation. another person. Isolation (n.)
and lonely
According to research findings, 5%–15% of young people
between the ages of 10 and 19 stay socially isolated and How does social isolation
experience loneliness. affect your health? Worksheet : LS080
Now, the WHO has formed a team to tackle social People without strong social connections can suffer from
loneliness. According to the organisation, loneliness can lead anxiety, stroke, depression, heart disease or suicidal We can avoid feeling lonely and sad if we try to create
to health issues. thoughts. Having no connections can also lead to poorer strong relationships and friendships with people who
education. In fact, many lonely youths stop going to school or care about us. Tell us one thing that you do to keep your
What is social isolation? friendships strong.
Social isolation refers to
situations where people lack
social connections or interactions
with others. In simpler words, it
means avoiding people, either
intentionally or unintentionally.
While some stay alone because
they want to, others are alone
because they are unable to form
social relationships.
But why are we all losing
SPORTS StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 13
Grandmaster siblings Praggnanandhaa
and Vaishali rewrite chess history
During the pandemic, the siblings supported each other
emotionally. They started analysing their games together.
Vaishali’s determination and Praggnanandhaa’s confidence
complement each other perfectly. Their parents play crucial
roles in managing and supporting them.
From winning national championships to conquering
international tournaments, the siblings have achieved
remarkable feats together. As they continue to rewrite chess
history, Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali are a source of
inspiration for aspiring young chess players everywhere. Their
story proves that with passion, dedication and a supportive
eet the amazing brother-sister duo from India, 2018, she secured the title of woman grandmaster by family, one can do wonders.
M Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali. They
have made history by becoming the first brother-
achieving a 2300 Elo rating. On Dec. 1, 2023, during the IV
El Llobregat Open Tournament 2023 in Spain, Vaishali
sister pair to achieve the title of grandmaster. They are achieved a rating of 2500 Elo points, earning the title of Background Information
conquering the chess world and inspiring students everywhere! grandmaster. She is now the third Indian woman to get the
Praggnanandhaa, who is 18 years old, has achieved title after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. Overall, she Elo Rating
remarkable success in the game of chess. He became the became the 84th grandmaster from India. It is a rating system to determine how good someone is at
youngest international master at the age of just 10. Later on, playing games such as chess. It is named after its creator,
Minimum
he became the second-youngest grandmaster. Grandmaster Title Eligibility Arpad Elo, a Hungarian-American physics professor.
Elo Rating
is the highest title awarded to chess players by the World
Chess Organization, FIDE, whereas international master is Grandmaster (GM) 2500 Men and women both
the second-highest title awarded by FIDE. Praggnanandhaa International Master Worksheet : SP071
2400 Men and women both
defeated the world champion Magnus Carlsen three times (IM)
and made history by reaching the World Cup final. But that’s FIDE Master (FM) 2300 Men and women both If you could invite Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali to
not all. His sister Vaishali is also making waves! your school for a chess workshop, what interesting
Woman Grandmaster
Vaishali, who is 22 years old, is four years older than 2300 Women only activities or challenges would you plan for them?
(WGM)
Praggnanandhaa. She is also very good at playing chess. In
Woman International
2200 Women only
Master (WIM)
Woman FIDE Master
2100 Women only
(WFM)
Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa started playing chess as kids
under the guidance of Grandmaster RB Ramesh. Vaishali was
the better player at first. However, as Praggnanandhaa’s
achievements gained attention, it became challenging for
Vaishali. It wasn’t easy, and she even felt a bit sad when
everyone focused on Praggnanandhaa. But Vaishali didn’t
give up. She worked hard and earned the title of Woman
Grandmaster and now the Grandmaster.

Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj

Foundation to provide education and basic needs for women
and children in India.

Make it to the Tennis Hall of Fame

More about the International Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a global
organisation that aims to preserve, celebrate, and inspire the
sport of tennis around the world. With the induction of Paes
and Amritraj, India has now become the 28th nation to be
added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Power Words
Commentator A person who observes an event and
(n.) comments on it.
A tennis match played by two teams of
Doubles (n.) two players each, most often all-male or
all-female
A tennis match played by two teams of
Mixed Doubles
Leander Paes Vijay Amritraj two players each, with one man and one
(n.)
woman per team
ndian tennis legends Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj
I
Preserve (v.) To conserve and protect something
have become the first Asian men to be included in
the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Professional (In sports) Related to an expert player
Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and (adj.) who is paid to play
mixed doubles, has been selected in the player category. A person with creative and original ideas
Amritraj has been selected in the contributor category for Visionary (n.)
about something
being a true visionary leader in the world of tennis.
Leander Paes: One of the most successful
doubles players in the history of Tennis Worksheet : SP072
Paes began playing tennis at the age of five. He won the Match the names of the famous tennis players to the
1990 Wimbledon junior title and was ranked the number one countries that they play for.
junior player in the world. In 1996, he won a bronze medal in Vijay Amritraj: One of the best in the
the men’s singles tennis event at the Atlanta Olympic world during the 70s and 80s Andre Agassi Spain
Games. Amritraj was a professional tennis player in the
In total, Paes has won eight major 1970s and 1980s. He helped India reach the Davis Novak Djokovic Russia
championships in doubles and 10 in mixed Cup Finals in 1974 and 1987. He held the top
tennis tournaments. He was given the tennis player title in Asia for 14 straight years. Rafael Nadal Switzerland
Padma Shri award in 2001 for his outstanding In addition to his contributions as a tennis
achievements in the field of sports. player, Vijay has also promoted the game Martina Hingis United States of America
After learning that he would be added to around the world by working as a television
the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Paes commentator, especially during Wimbledon. Steffi Graf Serbia
said, “It has been my life’s honour to play for He was also selected as the Messenger of
my country for over three decades in a sport Peace for the United Nations in 2001. Maria Sharapova Germany
that has given and taught me everything.” In 2006, he established the Vijay Amritraj
States News
Delhi (UT): Prime
Minister Modi
inaugurates India’s
first Art, Architecture
& Design Biennale
On Dec. 8, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi inaugurated the first Indian Art,
Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB)
2023 at the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. From
Dec. 9 to 15, replicas of India’s architectural
wonders were showcased at the Red Fort.
Biennale is an Italian word that means “every
two years.” In the world of art, a biennale is
a big international art exhibition held once
every two years. Cities like Venice,
Singapore, Sydney and Sharjah have
organised such international biennales. PM
Modi wanted to do something similar for
India to celebrate its diverse heritage and
colourful culture.
Capital: New Delhi Chief Minister: Sh. Arvind
Kejriwal
Punjab: The first
woman writer WINS
the Dhahan Prize
StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024
Jammu and Kashmir (UT): The Supreme Court
upholds the removal of Article 370
The Indian Constitution used to have a special rule
called Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. This Article
gave the state some unique powers. Many thought this
rule was meant to be temporary. Indeed, the Indian
government ended this rule in 2019. However, some
people didn’t like this change and approached the
Supreme Court to bring the rule back. But after listening to everyone, five judges agreed
that the rule was always meant to be temporary. They said it was okay to end it. So now,
the State of Jammu and Kashmir has the same laws as the rest of India.
Capital: Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) Lieutenant Governor: Sh. Manoj Sinha
Himachal Pradesh: IIT Mandi wins the
Green University Award
The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT
Mandi) has been honoured with the prestigious
Green University Award at COP28 in Dubai.
They were awarded for their commitment to
eco-friendly practices, such as developing
microgels (i.e., eco-friendly insecticides and
fertilisers), microwave recycling methods for
old wind turbine blades and new ways to reduce
the environmental impact of solar cell waste. The award shows how much IIT Mandi
cares about the Earth. This recognition comes from Green Mentors, a non-governmental
organisation associated with the United Nations.
Capital: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter) Chief Minister: Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
www.studentedge.in 14
Arunachal Pradesh:
A new species of frog
discovered
Scientists from India and the UK found a
new type of frog in Namdapha-Kamlang in
Arunachal Pradesh, India. They named it
the Noa-Dihing music frog because it lives
near the Noa-Dihing river and makes a duck
sound like “quack... quack....” This frog is
unique because it has a light cream-coloured
line on its body and is as big as a large
spoon. This discovery is really exciting
because it’s the third new type of frog found
in that area in 2023. It shows that this part
of India has many different animals and
plants, and there might be even more new
creatures to find.
Capital: Itanagar Chief Minister: Sh. Pema
Khandu
Bihar: Jal-Jeevan-
Hariyali Mission
praised at COP28

Deepti Babuta from Mohali has become the
first woman to win the Dhahan Prize, which
she won for her book “Bhukh Eon Sah Laindi
Hai” (Hunger Breathes Like This). The book
is filled with beautiful short stories that
impressed everyone, including judges.
Deepti received $25,000 with the prize. She
dedicates her win to all girls chasing their
dreams. The Dhahan Prize is distributed
annually to the “best book of fiction”
published in either of the two Punjabi scripts,
Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi.
Capital: Chief Minister: Sh.
Chandigarh Bhagwant Mann
Gujarat: Ghol
declared as the state
At the recent climate conference (COP28)
in Dubai, Bihar’s Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali
programme received praise. The Bihar
government started this programme in
October 2019. The programme aims to
protect the environment and fight climate
change. It improves water resources by
cleaning ponds, canals and wells and by
building new water bodies. The programme
also plants new trees and encourages
organic farming. It was a great success,
winning the third prize in the National Water
Awards. COP28 (the 28th Conference of
the Parties) is a global event of the United
Nations where countries discuss and decide
Haryana: The world’s first portable on how to fight climate change.
hospital unveiled in Gurugram
Capital: Patna Chief Minister: Sh. Nitish Kumar

fish of Gujarat India has launched the Aarogya Maitri Cube in Gurugram, Power Words
Haryana. It is the world’s first portable disaster hospital.
This hospital is packed in 72 mini cubes or boxes with Architecture The art of designing and
medical equipment. It is like a giant LEGO set for (n.) constructing buildings
healthcare. Each cube is 38 centimetres in length, breadth Able to be easily carried
and height (38 cm × 38 cm × 38 cm) and weighs below 15 Portable (adj.)
or moved
kg. These cubes are so strong that they will not break even
An exact copy or model
when dropped from a plane or helicopter. These cubes Replica (n.)
of something
have various equipment, such as tents, portable ventilators, solar panels, ultrasound
machines, stretchers, surgical devices and even cooking items to keep everyone fed and
The Ghol fish, known as the black-spotted warm. The cubes can be set up in a working hospital in just an hour. Once set up, the Worksheet : SN039
croaker, has been chosen as the state fish of hospital will have different tent stations where doctors can treat 200 patients, perform
Gujarat. Ghol fish is really special because it 20 surgeries and handle bullet wounds and burns. The cubes are perfect for earthquakes, Find the hidden words in the puzzle.
tastes good and is used for medicine in many floods, war zones or any situation where people need urgent medical care.
places. It is one of the world’s most expensive Capital: Chandigarh Chief Minister: Sh. Manohar Lal Khattar
L F V R B W F Z P O Z P
marine fish. It’s nicknamed ‘Sea Gold’ A N V E I H H P Q Z O I
because of a special pouch in its stomach L N E P O O W K B R K S
that has powerful medicinal qualities and is Karnataka: Bengaluru author wins French award R E O L Y I F D T V W B
highly valued internationally. This fish lives in Bengaluru’s Arshia Sattar recently received the prestigious H P E I C W F A W K S K
a big area from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific French honour “Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.” I H H C G I B R N O K K
Ocean. Yet, due to increasing pollution, This award recognises her work in bringing Indian literature H G J A J L T P O E A Q
these fish have moved from the shore to to the world through her books. She has translated Indian W O S U E U Q R T G T Y
deeper sea areas. Naming the Ghol fish as classics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata in English for I F I S H N E N A Q J F
the state fish will help people learn more international readers. She has also written books for children, K X M G E V N L T X B G
about it and take better care of it. like the award-winning “Mahabharata for Children.”
E R U T C E T I H C R A
Capital: Bengaluru Chief Minister: Sh. Siddaramaiah
Capital: Chief Minister: Sh. T M E H S H A E Z O P J
Gandhi Nagar Bhupendra Patel
World News StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 15
Ireland: Irish author wins China: Scientists create Japan: Nuclear fusion
the 2023 Booker Prize green chimaera monkey reactor opened in Naka
Scientists in China have The world’s largest
made a special kind of and most advanced
monkey. They are calling experimental nuclear
it a “chimaera.” This fusion reactor has
monkey has cells from officially started in
two different monkeys Naka, Japan. Its
mixed together. The name is JT-60SA.
scientists made it by Fusion energy is a
using tiny cells called kind of nuclear
Irish author Paul Lynch has won the Booker Prize stem cells. Stem cells energy. It combines
for his novel “Prophet Song.” The novel is about a can turn into any kind of cell in the body. Scientists even put a small hydrogen
future where Ireland has a tyrannical government. green fluorescent protein in some cells. This was to check if the atoms to make heavier helium atoms. In the process, lots of
It tells the story of a brave family that tries to stay cells had mixed properly or not. The monkey was born and lived clean energy is released. This is how the Sun produces energy.
strong in difficult times. The novel is written in an for 10 days. This experiment is very important for science. Nuclear energy is produced by nuclear power plants. This
unusual way, without paragraph breaks. The Scientists say that this technique can help us in many ways. It can energy is called fission energy. Here, large atoms break into
Booker Prize is a well-known British award for the help us understand animal and human diseases better. The small atoms and release energy. But this creates dangerous
best English fiction published in the UK and Ireland. technique can also be used to save animals which might become radioactive waste. Fusion energy does not have such risks.
Capital: Dublin Currency : Euro extinct. Also, if scientists could mix human and animal cells in the So, it can provide energy without pollution one day. However,
same way, they could make organs for humans. However, many fusion reactors are still in the experimental stage. JT-60SA is
people think it is cruel to do such experiments on animals. a joint experiment between Japan and Europe.
UK: Samir Shah to become Capital: Beijing Currency : Renminbi (Yuan) Capital: Tokyo Currency : Yen
BBC’s new chairman

The BBC is the biggest TV and radio company in

the UK. Soon it might have a new leader. This
leader will be Samir Shah. Samir is 71 years old
and has a lot of experience in TV. He was born in a
city in India called Aurangabad. He has spent a lot
of time working on TV shows at the BBC and at
another place called London Weekend Television.
He is famous for being very smart and for telling
stories about different kinds of people and places.
Capital: London Currency : Pound Sterling

France: A statue of a
Tamil poet shines in Cergy
In a historic moment, a
statue of Thiruvalluvar
was put up in the town
of Cergy, in France.
Thiruvalluvar was a well-
known Tamil poet. But
he wasn’t just any poet.
His book, “Thirukkural,”
is filled with timeless
wisdom on love, life,
and duty. Now, French
people can learn about
his teachings too. The statue is like a big handshake
between India and France. It connects cultures and
makes the world a little brighter.
Capital: Paris Currency : Euro
Italy: Italy withdraws from
China’s flagship project
Italy has waved
goodbye to China’s
big project called
the Belt and Road
Initiative. This is an
ambitious plan to
redevelop the
ancient Silk Road
trade routes. These
routes connected
China (Asia) with
the rest of the world
(Europe and Africa). China is giving money to other
countries to build roads and railways. China says
this will benefit all countries because trade and
travel will become easier. However, many people
think that China is doing this to increase its
influence in the world. Italy decided this project
wasn’t useful for them anymore. They signed up
for this project in 2019. But they didn’t see any
benefits, such as more jobs and businesses. More
than 150 countries are part of this project.
Capital: Rome Currency : Euro
Kenya: A former refugee wins U.N. award Papua New Guinea: India
Abdullahi Mire, a journalist from lends a helping hand
Kenya, has won the Nansen Refugee
Award. This award is given by the
after volcano erupts
United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees. A refugee is someone
who leaves their country because of
war or another difficulty. They take
shelter in another country. Abdullahi
came to Kenya from Somalia in 1991 because of war. He has won the
award for helping kids in Kenya’s refugee camp get a better education.
He started the Refugee Youth Education Hub to help those kids. The
Hub opened libraries and helped thousands of kids.
Capital: Nairobi Currency : Shilling
Recently, a volcano named Mount Ulawun erupted in Papua
Mauritius: Scientists plan New Guinea. This forced over 26,000 people to flee the
to bring back dodos country. Homes were lost, crops were ruined and communities
were devastated. But hope arrived from afar! India, a close
The dodo was a bird that couldn’t fly. It used friend of the country, stepped up with $1 million in aid. This
to live happily in Mauritius, but humans made aid will help rebuild lives and homes in Papua New Guinea.
it go extinct. Now, scientists want to bring it This act of solidarity shows how countries can support each
back! They will use special tools to “read” the other in times of need, even across the vast ocean.
dodo’s DNA code, like a recipe for a bird. Capital: Port Moresby Currency : Kina
Then, they will use this recipe to create a dodo
egg. This egg will hatch in another bird’s nest.
By bringing back the dodo, scientists hope to Worksheet : WN040
fix our past mistakes and restore Mauritius’ amazing ecosystem. It’s
a big challenge. It is like building a time machine for birds. Still, If you could choose one animal to bring back from
scientists hope that one day, children like you might see a real dodo! extinction, what would it be and why?
Capital: Port Louis Currency : Mauritian Rupee
Power Words
A mythical creature with parts from different animals.
It is often shown with a lion’s head, a goat’s body
Chimaera (n.)
and a serpent’s tail. Here, it means an animal made
using cells from two different animals.
Ecosystem (n.) All the plants and animals in a particular area
No longer existing (used about a type of animal,
Extinct (adj.)
plant, etc.)
Fission (n.) Division or splitting into two or more parts
Fusion (n.) The process of combining two or more things into one
Solidarity (n.) The support of one group of people for another
Tyrannical (ad.) Cruel, harsh or severe
Wisdom (n.) Knowledge deeply understood and aptly applied
Computer 16 StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in

Indian Government Takes Action on Deepfakes

Recently, deepfakes of popular actresses like Rashmika
Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol and Alia Bhatt went viral on
social media platforms. That’s why the Indian government
has stepped in and taken action. It has asked social media
platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube to fix rules
and policies to stop the spread of deepfakes. It has also
asked them to remove deepfakes within 24 hours of receiving
a complaint. The victims of deepfakes can even file an FIR at
their nearest police station.
Take away
Remember, just because you see something online, it
uppose your friend shows you a video of your people’s faces when you see them many times. Computers doesn’t mean it’s true. So, do not share it further. Also, never
S teacher dancing on a table. Should you believe it?
Maybe not. It could likely be a fake video made
use deep learning technology to learn to copy faces and
voices. “Fake” refers to the fact that the video or picture isn’t
share your pictures and videos with strangers or upload them
online without permission. If you notice anything doubtful, be
using advanced computer technology. Social media is filled real. It has been edited by a computer to make it look like sure to tell your parents.
with such deepfake videos. This is why the Indian government someone is doing or saying something they never really did.
has come up with guidelines on deepfake videos. So, put “deep” and “fake” together, you get “deepfake”
– a video or picture that looks real but is actually made by a
Worksheet : CS077
So, what are deepfakes? computer. Find the six hidden words from the puzzle below!
Deepfakes are fake videos or audios. Such creations are T A G P L M U D L A
called “deepfakes” because of the way they are made. The deepfake controversy
“Deep” refers to “deep learning” (artificial intelligence), which Deepfakes can be funny, but they can also be dangerous. D R W B I A E A D I
is a smart way through which computers learn to do things by They can be used to spread wrong information (lies), damage K Y Q T U E I S B D
looking at lots of examples. It’s like how you learn to recognise someone’s fame, hurt people’s feelings or even bully others.
A S C A P R S C K E
Y I O F O W B Y O M
V U A U J A K K G S
O K L T U H P V F F
E F M B Z T P S N C
S Q M W T F M J W P
L A I C I F I T R A

Web3: 8 Million Reasons

for Web3.
• Metaverse developers: They will build the
next generation of virtual worlds similar to
advanced video games where people can

to Get Excited!
work, play and socialise.
• Non-fungible token designers and
creators: They will create digital assets that
can be owned and traded in the Web3
world.
• Cybersecurity experts: They will keep the
Web3 world safe from hackers and other
threats.
These are just a few examples. The
possibilities are endless in Web3.

ave you ever wondered what
H the internet will look like in the
future? Well, the answer might
be Web3, and it has some exciting news
for young minds in India! A recent report
claims that Web3 can create 8 million
job opportunities in India within the next
ten years.
So, what exactly is Web3?
Web3 or Web 3.0 is the new version of
the World Wide Web (WWW or simply the
Web). The Web was invented by computer
scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, in 1989 and
opened to the public in 1991. It was a
simple system that could be used to share
information. It was called Web1. It was in
use from 1991 to 2004. Think of Web1 as
the basic internet. It had simple websites
on which you could read information (like a
digital book). It was like an online library,
where you could find and view content but
not interact with or make content. So, it
was like a one-way street, meaning we
could only use the content.
Web2 refers to the current version of
the internet after 2004. It offers many
services, such as chat, online games and
online shopping. It allows people to not
Power Words
A digital or graphical
representation of a
Avatar (n.) person or character in
virtual worlds, games,
or online platforms
The process of
distributing power,
control or decision-
only read but also share and make content. content using metaverse techniques. The Decentralisation making away from a
Users can interact with others through
websites and social media platforms like
metaverse is a digital universe in which
people use avatars to meet, play games,
(n.) central authority and
spreading it across
Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. work, and do other fun activities through a multiple entities or
Web3 will be even more powerful and computer or virtual reality headset. Web3 locations
useful. These days, big companies like will be more secure. It will use blockchain
To design something (or
Facebook, Google and Apple have full control technology to avoid forgery. Blockchain
change it) so that it is
over the data of people from around the technology is a digital system for recording Personalise (v.)
distinctly suited for one
world. Web3 will ensure that no company information in a way that makes it difficult to
specific individual
has such control over data. This is called change, hack or cheat.
decentralisation. Web3 will have
personalised content. For example, if you So, where do the jobs come in?
open your school website, it may show you Web3 will create a whole new wave of Worksheet : CS078
the noticeboard first. But if your father opens exciting careers, such as:
Unscramble the words to find the
the website, it may show the fee payment • Blockchain developers: These experts
magic word.
page first. It will have more interactive will build and maintain the infrastructure
Money Matters StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 17
Hope for Rare Diseases:
Affordable Treatment
Now Available!

Government Issues Guidelines

Against the Use of “Dark Patterns”
he Central Consumer Protection

H
ave you ever heard of “rare
diseases”? These are illnesses
health problems if not treated.
• Gaucher’s Disease: This disease
T Authority has asked e-commerce
platforms/online shopping
that affect very few people, affects the nervous system and can companies not to use techniques to trick
making them less well-known than things cause many symptoms, including users into buying or doing something they
like the flu or a broken bone. But even fatigue, pain and swelling. don’t want to. Such techniques used by
though they are rare, these diseases can be • Wilson’s Disease: This disease affects online apps and websites are called “dark
very serious and challenging to treat. your body’s reaction to copper. Think of patterns”. These guidelines are titled
So, these diseases need special care. copper like a spice. Too much spice can “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation
But often, the medicines for such make your food taste bad. In the same of Dark Patterns 2023”.
diseases are very expensive. Now, there way, too much copper in your body can
is comforting news about this problem. damage the liver, brain and eyes. The So, what are dark patterns? the process of closing or deleting an online
Recently, the Indian government has new medicine helps your body to use Dark patterns are unethical ways that account—it is not as easy as opening an
made available generic drugs copper as per its needs and get rid of websites or applications use to trick account, is it? Users are forced to visit the
(medicines) for four rare diseases. These the rest. internet users into doing things they do not Settings tab, and the section to delete the
medicines are much more affordable for • Dravet-Lennox Gastaut Syndrome: want to do. These websites or platforms account is hidden somewhere. This is an
people since they are 60 to 100 times This is a rare form of epilepsy that may also try to stop users from doing example of how companies make it difficult
cheaper than the current ones available in causes seizures from childhood. These online actions that are not useful to them. for users to quit their platforms.
the market. seizures can be very difficult to control. The guidelines mention 13 such dark
patterns. The guidelines will apply to
So, what are the four What’s next? e-commerce companies, sellers and
rare diseases? The government is also in the process of advertisers. These new rules show that the
Here are the four rare diseases that now making generic medicines for other rare government is working to make online
have affordable generic medicines: diseases, such as phenylketonuria and shopping fun, safe and honest for everyone.
• Tyrosinemia Type 1: This disease hyperammonemia. These medicines will be They aim to make sure that when you click
affects the liver and can cause serious available in the next few months. to buy something, it’s because you really
Dark patterns are used all over the want it, not because a website tricked you.
Background Information internet. Have you seen advertisements on
your screen when you are playing an online
Generic drugs game? If you try to close the ad by clicking
Generic drugs are medicines that do not have fancy brand names. For example, on the “x” mark, you may end up clicking
paracetamol is a generic drug that helps relieve pain and fever. Medicines like the ad instead, as the Close button would
Crocin, Calpol and Dolo are different brand names for the same drug (paracetamol). be so tiny! This will take you to the Google
They are often up to 90% cheaper than branded ones. This can help reduce the Play Store, where you will be asked to
cost of medicine bills. download the app.
One of the most common dark patterns
Nervous system used is called ‘false urgency’. This is like
The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and many nerves. It is when a website makes you think something
like the body’s messaging system, sending signals to and from the brain to help will run out soon or a sale will end quickly.
us move, feel, and think. So you feel you have to buy it right away.
Another example is deceptive offers
Background Information
that e-commerce platforms advertise Central Consumer
about. Let us suppose you see an ad that
says everything is 50% off. But when you Protection Authority
click on the link, you see that the offer is for It is a government organisation. Its
limited products only. That too, only if you task is to make sure people who buy
order within the next 30 minutes! things are treated fairly and not
Another example of a dark pattern is tricked by sellers.

Power Words
Deceptive (adj.) Misleading
E-commerce (n.) A method of buying and selling goods and services online
Unethical (adj.) Wrong or unfair

Worksheet : MM079
Power Words Have you ever seen any dark patterns in any mobile apps that you use? If yes,
A sudden event when someone might lose consciousness or have what was it, and what problem did you face?
Seizure (n.)
uncontrolled movements

Rare Disease Day is observed on the last day of February. What do you
think is the reason for celebrating such days?
Worksheet : MM080
Open Page StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 18
Glass Painting

Shalini.S Ojasvi Singh

Class: VII, Advaith International Academy, Ananya. S. Mallya Class: VIII, St.Peter School, Raebareli,
Hosur, Tamil Nadu Class: VIII, St. Thomas High School, Bengaluru, Karnataka Uttar Pradesh

"You wrote it. We liked it!"

Aarushi Harish
Class: VIII, Sri Kumarans Children Academy, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Anaya Raghav M.Lathasri

Class: VII, KV Gole Market, New Delhi Class: VII, Advaith International Academy, Hosur, Tamil Nadu

Aditi Prakash Rane

Class: X, Advaith International Academy, Hosur, Tamil Nadu

NIVRITI SHARMA
Class: VI, KV BSF Camp, Chhawala, New Delhi

Rachana.S Rishika Kathuria Rishika Kathuria

Class: X, Green Valley English School, Bengaluru, Karnataka Class: VII, Delhi Public School, Vadodara, Gujarat Class: VII, Delhi Public School, Vadodara, Gujarat

digAnth YAdAv B s Ritisha Sharma PriYAnshi

Class: V, Green Valley English School, Class: VI, The Wisdom Global School, Class: 4A, Rajni Devi Global Village School,
Bengaluru, Karnataka Haridwar, Uttarakhand Kanpur (Dehat), Uttar Pradesh
Test Your Knowledge StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 19
1. What significant step was taken regarding fossil 11. Which of the following is/are true regarding the 21. Which of the following is NOT an All-India Service?
fuels at COP28? ‘Emissions Gap Report 2023’? (a) Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
(a) Countries agreed to completely stop using fossil (a) Emissions Gap Report 2023 says that the current (b) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
fuels immediately. emission reduction targets are enough for the (c) Indian Police Service (IPS)
(b) Countries agreed to completely stop using fossil countries. (d) Indian Forest Service (IFoS)
fuels by 2050. (b) The report encourages countries to keep
(c) Countries agreed to transition away from fossil temperatures within the safe limit of 2.0°C. 22. The world’s first portable hospital was unveiled in
fuels in an orderly and equitable manner. (c) The report urges wealthy countries to provide which of the following country?
(d) No mention of fossil fuels was made. funding and technology to poorer countries. (a) Japan (b) USA
(d) Both (b) and (c ) (c) India (d) China
2. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is
held: 12. Which of the following is/are the component(s) of 23. Monkeys that have cells mixed from two different
(a) Every year (b) Every two years Biogas? monkeys are known as:
(c) Every three years (d) Every four years (a) Biomethane (b) Carbon dioxide (a) Chimaera Monkey
(c) Water Vapour (d) All of the above (b) Capuchin Monkey
3. Which of the following civilisations has left (c) Spider Monkey
evidence that can be traced in Iraq? 13. When biomethane is compressed to facilitate (d) None of the above
(a) Mesoamerican Civilization transportation, what is it called?
(b) Indus Valley Civilisation (a) Compressed biogas 24. Which of the following is/are the ways to protect
(c) Sumer Civilisation (b) Compressed natural gas us from the threat of Deepfakes?
(d) Both (a) and (b) (c) Piped natural gas (a) Do not share your pictures with strangers.
(d) None of the above (b) Do not upload your photographs on unauthorised
4. Who among the following is the god for sky and platforms.
thunder in Greek? 14. The story of Fathima Beevi, who was the first (c) Both (a) and (b)
(a) Zeus (b) Hera female Supreme Court judge, has reflections on (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
(c) Hermes (d) Apollo which among the following?
(a) Women’s empowerment in India 25. Whatare the dangerous applications of Deepfakes?
5. Which of the following statement(s) regarding (a) Deepfakes may spread wrong pieces of
(b) Breaking the norms in society
chess and its championships is/are NOT true? information
(c) Both of the above
(a) Vaishali is the first Indian woman to get the title (b) Deepfakes may damage someone’s fame
(d) None of the above
of woman grandmaster. (c) Deepfakes may bully people
(b) Both men and women are eligible for the (d) All of the above
15. Which of the following is the mission of ISRO to
Grandmaster title.
send astronauts into space?
(c) Elo rating is a rating system associated with 26. Who invented the World Wide Web (WWW)?
(a) Mangalyaan mission
Chess. (a) Tim Berners-Lee
(b) Gaganyaan mission
(d) 2600 is the minimum Elo rating to achieve the (b) Douglas Engelbart
(c) ASTROSAT mission
Grandmaster title. (c) Ray Tomlinson
(d) RISAT mission
(d) None of the above
6. Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli are famous
personalities related to which among the following 16. What are the benefits of getting exposure to 27. Why is providing generic medicines to the public
sports event? green spaces? necessary for any society?
(a) Hockey (b) Tennis (a) Manages stress (a) Generic medicines are cheap and thus can be
(c) Chess (d) Volleyball (b) Slow down ageing availed by common men.
(c) Keeping us youthful and vibrant (b) Generic medicines are the only medicines available
7. Who among the following has won India’s first (d) All of the above to treat rare diseases.
and only Olympic medal in Tennis? (c) Generic medicines are only available in government
(a) Vijay Amritraj (b) Leander Paes 17. Why are strong social bonds very important for an hospitals.
(c) Rohan Bopanna (d) Mahesh Bhupati individual? (d) All of the above.
(a) It promotes better mental health.
8. What is the target set by countries to limit the (b) It Leads to overall development. 28. Where is an unethical practice called ‘False
increase in global temperatures to fight climate (c) It promotes the well-being of current and future urgency’ used?
change? generations. (a) Sales and marketing
(a) 1o C (b) 2o C (d) All of the above. (b) Education
(c) 3 C
o
(d) 4o C (c) Sports
18. _______________ is a brain disorder that causes (d) Medicine
9. Recently ‘Garba’ dance was added to the UNESCO a person to have repeated seizures.
Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Which state does (a) Epilepsy (b) Bipolar disorder 29. What initiative was introduced by India at COP28?
this dance belong to? (c) Stroke (d) Alzheimer’s (a) Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) for river
(a) Tamil Nadu (b) Kerala conservation.
(c) Gujarat (d) Assam 19. Which of the following countries/agencies are part (b) Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) for promotion of
of the International Space Station? biofuel.
10. Why is it important to protect intangible cultural (a) Russia (b) Japan (c) Both of the above.
heritage? (c) Canada (d) All of the above (d) None of the above.
(a) Those are the traditions we inherited from our
forefathers. 20. Which of the following is NOT a way to boost self- 30. The Paris Agreement is related to which of the
(b) Those traditions make each group of people confidence? following issue?
unique. (a) Compare yourself with others (a) Poverty
(c) Those traditions help us learn about different (b) Focus on your strengths and skills (b) Climate Change
cultures around the world. (c) Stay positive (c) Cyber Security
(d) All of the above (d) Accept your mistakes and learn from them (d) Human Rights

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Competitions and Scholarships StudentEdge • JANUARY 2024 www.studentedge.in 20
Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition
India’s got • Organised by: UNESCO
• Eligibility: Youth ages 10-24
with visual images, a song, artwork (with an explanation),
an app, a game (Sharing your game or app, in a visual

Edge Stars
• Topic: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015,
provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for
people and the planet, now and into the future. At its
Winners of November 2023 Month heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
which are an urgent call for action by all countries,
developed and developing, in a global partnership.
First Prize • Task: We want you to pick one of the 17 Sustainable
Goals (SDGs), create a video, a presentation loaded
ADVAIT SINGH
Class: VIII
presentation or movie). In your submission, teach us
about the goal you choose and how we can take action
to create positive change in our community and globally.
• Prizes: We will choose the top winner in each of the 17
Sustainable Goals (SDGs) to be highlighted and
showcased.
• Last Date: 25th March, 2024
• More Details and Registration:
https://tinyurl.com/4rvenr9s

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition

Little Scholars, Kashipur,
Uttarakhand

175 • Being part of a group and what happens when a

Stars person joins it
• About a group working together
• The poem or story should reflect the spirit of Geoffrey
• Organised by: The Chaucer Heritage Trust, U K Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. It is a collection of 24
Second Prize • Eligibility: Students between the ages of 5-18 years stories based on pilgrims. Students can read it through
• Categories: the link http://tinyurl.com/2cfvnatf
ANAYA RAGHAV • Junior (5-10 years old) • The maximum word count is 500.
Class: VII
KV Gole Market, • Intermediate (11-14 years old) • Prizes:
New Delhi • Senior (15-18 years old) • First prize: 300 Pounds (for each category)
• Theme: Being part of a group • Second prize: 150 Pounds (for each category)
174.5 • Instructions: • Third prize: 100 Pounds (for each category)
Stars • Students have to write a poem or story about any one • Last Date: 29th February, 2024
of the following topics: • More details and registration:
• Being new to a group http://tinyurl.com/4ev4vncu

Third Prize Wergle Flomp Humor

RIsHIKA KAtHuRIA
Class: VII Poetry Contest
Delhi Public School, • Organised By: Winning Writers, UK
Vadodara
• Eligibility: Open to all
• Topic: Any topic. Both unpublished and
174 previously published works accepted
Stars
• Prizes:
• First Prize: $2,000
Visit www.studentedge.in to view • Second Prize: $500
Edge Stars earned by you and the list
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• Honourable Mentions: 10 awards of $100 each
• Last Date: April 1st, 2024 PROMYS India 2024
• More Details and Registration:
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in Mathematics)
World Historian Student • Organised by: Boston University, USA, and the
Attempt the worksheets given in this edition
of StudentEdge and win exciting Cash Prizes,
Essay Competition Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru
• Eligibility: Students from classes 9-12
• Organised By: World History Association, USA • What is the program about?: It is a challenging
Edge Stars and Certificates. • Eligibility: Students from classes 9-12th six-week residential mathematics summer program
• Topic: How has studying world history affected my for mathematically talented students. Selected
Monthly Prizes understanding of the world in which I live? students from across India will gather on the campus
First Prize : Rs 1,000 • Guidelines: of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to
Second Prize : Rs 500 • The student can write a personal story relating to events immerse themselves in rigorous mathematics.
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Third Prize : Rs 300 ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to 2024 will receive a full scholarship covering all
10 Consolation Prizes : Rs 100 each fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832.” Students must use tuition, hostel, and meals
their imagination to the fullest. • Last Date: 15th June,2024
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Second Prize : Rs 5,000 • The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited.
Third Prize : Rs 3,000
• Students write their details in a separate document. No
personal information must be seen in the essay document. Engineer Girl
10 Consolation Prizes : Rs 1,000 each • Prize: $500 for the winner
• Last Date: 1st May, 2024 Writing Contest
Eligibility • More Details and Registration: http://tinyurl.com/mveua7pj
• Students studying in classes III to XII
Last Date to submit entries: 20th Feb. 2024
Rules:
• Attempt the worksheets nicely, including the Test
Your Knowledge Quiz. • Organised by: EngineerGirl, Washington
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• You can use additional sheets for descriptive • Categories:
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• Take a photo and submit your entries on
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• The winners will be announced in the March 2024 • Organised by: British International Education Association life cycle(production, use, and recycling) of an object
edition of Student Edge. (BIEA) except plants and foods they use daily.
• Annual Prizes will be decided based on the total • Eligibility: Students aged 6 to 18 • Prize:
Edge Stars earned in a year. • Theme: “Challenge ourselves to think deeply about • First-place winners will be awarded $1000 in each category.
• The aim of the competition is to promote original fashion waste!” [Use creative foresight to help come up • Second-place winners will be awarded $750 in each
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