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in

Researchers The power Sanjana Thakur Study finds

use algae to of laughter: wins 2024 a new way to
create clean How humour helps Commonwealth make AI fairer
electricity 03 us and others 07 Short Story Prize 11 for everyone 16

StudentEdge
Volume : 4 | Issue : 4 | July 2024 | Price : ~ 125 (Newspaper Only) | ~ 150 (With Online Discussion and Support)
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thousand lives
before he dies. The
man who never
reads lives only one.
- George R.R. Martin

A newspaper especially crafted for school going children

News, Hobbies, Education, Entertainment, Exposure, Personality Development, Competitions

India creates history:

Men’s Cricket Team wins T20
World Cup after 17 years
n Jun. 29, the Indian Men’s Klaasen changed the game quickly. He their retirement from the T20I format. This organised by the International Cricket
O Cricket Team created history by
winning the finals of the T20
stayed cool under pressure. Towards the
end, South Africa just needed 30 runs from
was also the last game for Dravid as the
coach of the Indian Cricket Team.
Council. It is generally held every two
years. The first tournament was held in
World Cup 2024. This year, the 30 balls. 2007 in South Africa. It was won by India
finals was between India and But like classic Bollywood, Interesting facts! Did who defeated Pakistan in the finals! MS
South Africa and the men in Hardik Pandya said, “Picture you know? Dhoni was the first-ever captain
blue won the nail-biting Abhi Baaki Hain.” He took • Bumrah became the player to win the T20 World Cup.
match by seven runs. Klaasen’s wicket, and the of the tournament by The Cricket World Cup is
The tournament was match took a dramatic taking 15 wickets in eight organised for the ODI and
co-hosted by two turn! matches. T20 formats only and not
countries – the USA and Jasprit Bumrah then • This was the first for the test match
West Indies. This was clean-bowled Marco major tournament for format. The ODI World
the first time that a major Jansen, and Suryakumar the United States Cup takes place every
cricket tournament was Yadav took an unbelievable Cricket Team. They four years. The 2026 T20
hosted in America. catch to dismiss David Miller. He were given a chance to World Cup will also be
caught the ball near the boundary participate, as they were hosted by two countries – Sri
The men in blue played well line while losing his balance, threw the ball one of the host countries. Lanka and India. Who knows?
The final match in Barbados was a in the air, went outside the field, came back • India didn’t lose a single We might get to see India win
contest between two great teams​​, both of and caught the ball again! Sounds match in this year’s T20 World Cup. another final in our own country!
which hadn’t lost a single match until the unbelievable, right? You need to see it to This is the first time that a team was Now, all eyes will be on the Indian
final game. The teams were hungry for the believe it! undefeated throughout the tournament Women’s Cricket Team as they are set to
win. South Africa was hoping to win After Kagiso Rabada’s wicket, and won the finals. participate in the T20 Women’s World Cup
their first-ever T20 World Cup India surely won the finals. It was • The Indian Cricket Team has received a in October.
trophy. The Indian fans, on an emotional experience for the prize money of `125 crore from the
the other hand, wanted to men in blue after the win. Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Background Information
see Captain Rohit Sharma Pandya and Sharma sat on • The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy is
lift a World Cup trophy. the ground with tears in made of rhodium and silver. It weighs T20, ODI and Test Match
Luckily for India, their eyes while Rahul 7 kg. In cricket, T20 or Twenty20 matches
Sharma won the toss Dravid celebrated with • This is the first time that 20 teams feature each team playing 20 overs.
and chose to bat first. the trophy in his hand. participated in the T20 World Cup. It The matches last around three hours for
Sharma and Virat Kohli This is the second was also the first tournament for the a fast-paced experience. ODI or One
opened the game. All time that our country has USA, Canada and Uganda. Day International matches involve each
eyes were on Kohli, as his won the T20 World Cup. • Sharma has joined the list of Indian team playing 50 overs. Typically, these
performance had been quite Remember how MS Dhoni winning captains who have won World matches last about eight hours and
down throughout the won it for the first time in 2007? Cups. Kapil Dev was India’s first World offer a balance of quick action and
tournament. But he proved himself in the Yes, Sharma was part of that team, too! Cup winning captain in 1983, winning extended gameplay. Test matches, the
finals by scoring 76 for India and winning the ODI World Cup. Dhoni won the longest format, span up to five days.
Man of the Match. This was Kohli’s first Goodbye, legends… 2007 T20 World Cup as well as the Each team plays up to two innings. Test
half-century in this year’s tournament. We saw many Indian players get 2011 ODI World Cup. matches emphasise endurance, strategy
Axar Patel and Shivam Dubey were the emotional after the win. It could because it and skill without any limits of overs.
perfect partnership. They helped India was the last Twenty20 International (T20I) More about the ICC
score an impressive 176-6. game for many. T20 World Cup
Then, it was time for the South African Captain Sharma, all-rounder Ravindra The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is the To subscribe StudentEdge call :
players to chase the score. Heinrich Jadeja and star cricketer Kohli announced Twenty20 International cricket tournament, 9513309917, 7042833117 or Visit
www.studentedge.in
Books and Movies StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 02
Coco
Why Pursue a Dream? English I Age: 7+ Available on
Author: Annie Sheoran I English I Age: 6+ I Available on Amazon.in Prime Video

oco” is a 2017 animated movie

W
e have many dreams as children but are
often afraid to pursue them when we grow
“C by Pixar. It tells the story of
Miguel, a young boy who loves
up. “Why Pursue a Dream?” is an music but whose family has banned it for
interesting book that encourages us to never give generations. On the Mexican holiday
up on our dreams. called the Day of the Dead, Miguel finds
The story is about a young girl with many himself magically transported to the
dreams. One day, her dreams leave her house and Land of the Dead. There, he meets
go to the top of a mountain. Even though she is colourful skeletons and his ancestors.
scared to climb the mountain on a stormy night, she Miguel is helped by a charming trickster
decides to chase after her dreams. Read the book named Héctor. Together, they search for
to discover the challenges she faces and why she his great-great-grandfather, a famous
refuses to give up. musician, to uncover his family’s history
This book is a fun read and explains why it is and end the ban on music.
important to follow our dreams. The simple yet The film is beautiful, with vibrant colours and animation. It is funny and
powerful story offers charming illustrations. It also unusual to see skeletons talking and acting like humans. The music is
uses easy-to-understand ideas to make us feel wonderful as well. It has the Oscar-winning song “Remember Me.” “Coco”
happy and brave. Even adults who are scared of is a heartfelt movie that teaches the importance of family, traditions and
pursuing their dreams will find it inspiring. The book remembering loved ones. It’s a fun and touching story and is a must-watch
also includes a special message for children from for both children and adults.
Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.
Worksheet : BM162
Explain how the film depicts the Mexican tradition of Día de los
Worksheet : BM164 Muertos (The Day of the Dead). Are there any comparable
traditions in India?
What are your dreams in life?
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Laapataa Ladies
Hindi I Age: 12+ Available on
Netflix

Biju Spins Some Magic aapataa Ladies” is a fun and

Author: Jaya Jaitly I Age: 6+ IHindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, etc.
Available on www.storyweaver.org.in
“L educational movie directed by
Kiran Rao and produced by
Aamir Khan. The movie is set in rural
India. It shows the biases and beliefs
that persist in some villages.
iju Spins Some Magic” is a book by The film tells the story of two young
“B Jaya Jaitly with beautiful illustrations
by Bhramara Nayak. It is an engag-
brides, Phool and Jaya. They are
accidentally exchanged due to a
ing story about a young boy named Biju. Biju misunderstanding during the train
lives in a small village in Odisha and helps his journey after their wedding. Phool is
family make colourful ikat sarees. He dreams shy and nervous, while Jaya is brave
of seeing the world beyond his village. One and clever. The movie is full of humour
day, he gets his chance when he travels to and adventure as Phool and Jaya try to
Delhi with his father to sell their saris. find their way back to their homes. They face many challenges, meet
The story shows the difference between interesting people and learn a lot about themselves.
Biju’s quiet village and the busy city of Delhi. The movie has a strong message about the importance of women’s
Biju meets a city boy named Bubbles and empowerment. It shows that a respectable girl does not need to follow the
teaches him how to spin cotton into yarn. This usual rules. It’s okay for her to be smart, clever, brave and proud. The actors,
amazes Bubbles. The book is full of interest- especially Nitanshi Goel (as Phool) and Ravi Kishan (as the inspector), excel
ing details about weaving and Indian culture. in their roles. The movie is worth watching for its beautiful storytelling and
What makes the story even more fun to strong performances. It can be watched with the whole family, and it will
read are the illustrations inspired by the tradi- leave you feeling inspired and happy.
tional Patachitra art of Odisha. “Biju Spins
Some Magic” is a delightful book that teach-
es about tradition, family and adventure. Worksheet : BM163
Identify and name the characters from the film. Which one is
your favourite?
Worksheet : BM165

Find and write the meanings of these words from the book:

• Ikat…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……........

• Handloom……………………………………………………………..………………………….………….…

• Patachitra……………………………………………………………..……………………….................

• Spindle…………………………………………………………....…..……………………….................
Science StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 03
Ships and satellites may soon It uses iodine atoms: This new clock uses iodine atoms
instead of caesium atoms like most atomic clocks. This
makes the clocks more accurate and cost-effective.

get better atomic clocks It is more compact: Atomic clocks are usually large but
this new clock is small enough to fit on a table.
It is more practical: Currently available atomic clocks are
more sensitive to environmental changes. This is why they
are used in a special lab. However, this new clock can handle
real-world conditions outside the lab. Researchers tested it
on a moving ship for three weeks and found that it did a great
job. That means it kept time well even with the ship moving
and shaking. That is a big deal because most atomic clocks
are too delicate to take on a trip.
It works in normal conditions: This clock works in normal
conditions. This is unlike some other atomic clocks that need
to be very cold environment or in a vacuum.
Scientists hope these clocks will soon be used on ships
Class III+ and satellites.
Clocks Power Words
cientists have developed a new type of clock that However, computer systems work so fast that we need
S keeps time more accurate than ever before. They
can even be used on ships. These are
even better clocks. This is why scientists built atomic
clocks. In these clocks, electrons move
Atom (n.)
Smallest building block of everything, made
of a centre called a nucleus with tiny
particles called electrons around it
called atomic clocks. These clocks are so between energy levels because they are hit
precise they lose only one second every six with special microwaves. Scientists can Gear (n.) A toothed wheel that transmits motion
million years and can keep time to the tiniest observe these movements to tell the time in An instrument showing time by the shadow
fractions of a second. the tiniest fractions of a second. Sundial (n.) of a pointer cast by the sun onto a plate
These clocks are being used in many places, marked with the hours of the day
What are atomic clocks? such as satellites, telecommunication
We can tell if it is morning, noon or evening equipment, computer data centres and
by observing the Sun. However, we can tell time more research. These clocks are bulky and need a peaceful Worksheet : SC091
precisely by observing shadows. This is how the earliest environment like a lab to work properly.
clocks called sundials were invented. Next came water Search five hidden words.
clocks and hourglasses, measuring time with flowing water or The new atomic clock M L P W Q V E E L M
sand. Mechanical clocks with gears and springs followed, Researchers from an engineering company called Vector
leading to more accurate pendulum clocks. Modern times Atomic built this clock in California, USA. This clock is N Z A L C G A B C E
brought us quartz clocks and digital clocks. special because: T V C T U H Q S I C
J Z A H I U Q L M H
R B O P A G A E O A
T K H R X I I U T N
U O T Z D M F D A I
J Z S N G Q U R F C
Q Q U T A K I M J A
Y S C I E S N F W L
Atomic Clock

Researchers use algae to

photosynthesis, water is split into protons (H+), electrons (e-)
and oxygen (O2 ).
Water splitting : 2 H2 O → 4H + + 4 e − + O 2

create clean electricity We get an electric current when electrons flow in an

electric circuit. The researchers have found a way to capture
the electrons that algae produce during photosynthesis and
use them to create electricity.
How does it work?
Researchers have created a small power cell. This cell is
like a tiny battery. It is only about 2 centimetres wide and 4
millimetres thick. This power cell has two parts: one where
the algae live and another that collects the electrons. The
power cell grabs the electrons during photosynthesis and
creates an electric current.
Can it power our electric devices?
Class VI+ This algae cell creates very little electricity. One cell can
Electricity Professor Muthukumaran Packirisamy only make about 1.0 V. This is enough to power tiny things
like sensors. Algae still give off some electrons at night
cientists are always looking for new ways to create they lack many other structures of true plants. For example, because they keep breathing. However, they make even
S electricity that does not harm the environment. A
team of researchers at Concordia University in
algae do not have roots, stems or leaves. However, algae can
be seen as the closest relatives to plants because they can
less electricity. So, it can power devices all day and night
but with less power at night. Scientists are working to make
Canada has discovered a new method to make electricity also make their food using photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is it more powerful.
using algae. a process where plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide
and water into oxygen and glucose.
What are algae? Carbon dioxide (6CO2) + Water (12H2O) + Sunlight+ Worksheet : SC092
Algae are tiny living things that live in water. You might Chlorophyll → Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen (6O2) + Water Unscramble the words to find the magic word.
have seen them in ponds, lakes or even in your fish tank. (6H2O)
They can be green, red, brown and blue in colour. They are This process also releases tiny particles called electrons.
neither animals nor fungi. They are also not plants because Electrons are important for making electricity. During

6 algae power cells connected together

Geography StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 04

Class VI+
NASA Launches

The Poles
Climate
Satellites to
Study Earth’s
Class IX+
Space debris
Poles
12 nations, 40 plus organisations
he National Aeronautics and Space Administration
T (NASA) is the world’s leading space agency. Its
centres are located across the USA. Recently, it
unite for zero space debris has launched two climate satellites to study Earth’s poles.
This mission is part of the agency’s PREFIRE project. PREFIRE CubeSat
oday, we rely a lot on satellites for lead by launching the Zero Debris Charter.
T many purposes. However, just
like on Earth, we have left trash in
This plan aims to make the space debris-
free by 2030. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus,
What is the PREFIRE project?
PREFIRE stands for Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment. This
space, and it’s time to clean it up. Hence, 12 Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, mission uses two small satellites. The satellites are called PREFIRE CubeSats. A CubeSat
European countries and more than 40 Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and is a tiny satellite, like a small box, that can be a cube or cuboid in shape. The first CubeSat
organisations have signed the Zero Debris the United Kingdom have already signed was launched on May 25, 2024. The second one was launched on June 5. The mission will
Charter. This important agreement aims to the charter. last about 12 months. During this time, the CubeSats will measure how much heat goes
keep space clean and safe for future gen- Here are the main points of the plan: from Earth’s poles into space and send back data.
erations. 1. No more junk: People working in space
should try their best to avoid creating Why study Earth’s poles?
What is the Zero additional debris. If debris is generated, The North Pole (Arctic) and South
Debris Charter? it must be cleaned up. Pole (Antarctica) are the top and
Space debris refers to useless objects 2. Clean up the mess: By 2030, everyone bottom points of Earth, respectively.
that are in Earth’s orbit, e.g. broken satel- working in space missions should make They are very cold and covered with
lites, empty rocket tanks, pieces of metal, sure that 99% of the debris is removed ice and snow throughout the year.
and many more. These objects pose a after the missions. They help control Earth’s climate.
threat to active satellites and spacecraft. In 3. Safety first: The risk of injury from fall- When sunlight hits the Earth, it heats
2009, an inactive Russian satellite, Cosmos ing space debris should be reduced to the surface. This heat is then sent back into space as infrared radiation. Infrared radiation
2251, collided with an active US satellite, almost zero. is a type of light that we cannot see but can feel as heat.
4. Share information: Space agencies and However, ice and snow bounce back a lot of the Sun’s heat. This helps keep the Earth
companies should share data about cool. The poles are like Earth’s air conditioners, which let out lots of heat.
space debris and work together to pre- The poles affect global weather patterns and sea levels. If they let out heat faster or
vent collisions. slower than usual, it could change the weather and climate in other parts of the world.
5. Better data: Improved methods for Learning about the poles can help us understand global warming and climate change.
tracking space debris, including very Scientists will use the data from PREFIRE to improve climate models. Climate models
small pieces, should be developed so are like weather forecasts. They predict how the climate will change in the coming years
that safer decisions can be made. and decades. Better data means more accurate predictions. This can help us prepare for
As per ESA, there are currently more future climate changes.
than one million pieces of space debris
Iridium 33. This collision created thousands larger than one centimetre that are orbiting
of pieces, increasing the risk of further col- Earth. If quick action is not taken to clean
lisions and highlighting the dangers of up space debris, it could destroy satellites
space junk. and make Earth’s orbit unusable. Therefore,
Countries have been having talks to find it is crucial to address this issue now and
ways to reduce space debris. The European ensure the sustainability of space for
Space Agency (ESA) has now taken the human use.

Background Information
Global warming and Climate change:
Global warming means Earth’s temperature is getting hotter. This happens
because gases from cars and factories trap heat from the Sun. Climate change is
how this warming affects long term weather, like how it can cause more storms,
hotter days or changes in rain.

Power Words
Power Words
Polar (adj.) Related to Earth’s poles
Charter (n.) A document that explains the rules and goals of a group or project
Radiant (adj.) Sending out heat or light
Debris (n.) Broken pieces of something larger
Radiation (n.) The energy transmitted in the form of rays, waves or particles
Sustainability (n.) Ability to maintain or provide support to something for a long time
Infrared (n.) A type of light that we cannot see but feel as heat

Worksheet : GR091
Worksheet : GR090
Draft a brief charter promoting zero waste in the classroom.
Put the following words in the appropriate column:
Antarctica Arctic Ocean
Continent Polar Bear Emperor penguin
North Pole South Pole
Art and Culture StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 05
Ancient Lord Vishnu Sculpture
However, the local community wants the sculpture to
stay in Sindkhed Raja. They plan to build a temple for the
idol, making it a tourist attraction and a source of pride for

Found in Maharashtra
the town.
Background Information
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) looks after old
buildings, monuments and ancient sites in India. They
study, repair and protect these important historical places.
Lakhuji Jadhavrao Chhatri
Indian sculptures

Lakhuji Jadhavrao was a prominent

Maratha chief and the father of Jijabai,
who was the mother of Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj. The Chhatri, which
Class VI+

means “cenotaph” or “memorial,”

honours Lakhuji Jadhavrao’s contribu-
tions and legacy.

Power Words
rchaeologists have made an exciting discovery in The sculpture also tells the famous story of
A Maharashtra: a beautiful sculpture of Lord Vishnu.
This sculpture is a great example of ancient Indian
Samudramanthana, where gods and demons churn the
ocean together.
Archaeologist
(n.)
A person who studies the past by
examining the remains of things such as
art and culture. The sculpture is made of a special rock called chlorite buildings and tools
schist. Similar sculptures have been found in the region, but A work of art that is a solid figure or
The Discovery they were made from a harder rock called basalt. Chlorite Sculpture (n.) object made by carving or shaping wood,
A team of experts from the Archaeological Survey of schist is commonly found in South Indian sculptures and its stone, clay, metal, etc
India was working at a monument called Lakhuji Jadhavrao’s use makes this a rare and valuable discovery for the region.
Chhatri in Sindkhed Raja, a town in Maharashtra’s Buldhana The ASI has proposed to move the idol to Nagpur.
district. They spotted some stones arranged in a specific Worksheet : AC091
order. This made them curious. They dug further and
discovered the base of an old temple and a statue of Goddess Do you agree with the ASI’s proposal to move the
Laxmi. After more digging, they discovered a huge sculpture sculpture, or do you wish for it to remain in Sindkhed Raja?
of Vishnu, which measures 1.70 metres long and 1 metre high.
The sculpture is around 800 years old and dates back to the
12th century.
In Hinduism, Lord Vishnu is a very important god and is
believed to be the protector of the world. He has many forms,
and this sculpture shows him as Sheshashayi Vishnu. The
word Sheshashayi comes from two Sanskrit words: “Shesha,”
which is the name of the divine serpent Shesha Naga, and
“Shayi,” meaning one who reclines or rests. Thus,
Sheshashayi means “one who reclines on Shesha,” describing
Lord Vishnu resting on the serpent Shesha Naga.

PM Modi Inaugurates New

The way ahead
Prime Minister Modi spoke at the opening
of Nalanda University. He said that Nalanda

Campus of Nalanda University

University is not just a name. It is an identity
and a symbol of India’s rich history in
education. He said that the new campus will
combine the old wisdom of Nalanda with
modern technology and learning.
The new Nalanda University aims to
attract students from around the world, just
like the ancient Nalanda did. It offers a range
of courses. The courses include humanities,
science, philosophy and spirituality. The
university focuses on interdisciplinary
learning. Hence, students will learn how
different fields of study can work together.

Class VI+ Power Words

PM Modi at the ancient
Nalanda University ruins of Nalanda University Manuscript A very old book or
(n.) document written by hand
rime Minister Narendra Modi learning centre. Students from many European university, the University of
P recently opened the new campus of
Nalanda University in Bihar. This was
countries studied different subjects. These
subjects included science, mathematics,
Bologna in Italy. Monastery
(n.)
A building in which monks
live and worship
an important event. Nalanda University is an astronomy, philosophy and medicine. Many The New Campus
important part of India’s history and culture. travellers from different countries came here. The new campus is in Rajgir, Bihar. It is
Hiuen Tsang was a Chinese traveller who less than 12 km from the ancient ruins of Worksheet : AC090
Ancient Nalanda University stayed in Nalanda both as a student and a Nalanda University. The campus is about 100 How do you think Nalanda
Nalanda University is one of the oldest teacher. The ancient Nalanda Library had km from Patna. It covers a large area of University will contribute to improving
universities in the world. It was built in the countless Sanskrit texts (manuscripts). about 455 acres. It has modern facilities. But India’s friendships with other
fifth century, about 1,500 years ago. Nalanda Nalanda University was destroyed in 1193 it still has the ancient architectural style of countries?
was a Buddhist mahavihara (a grand by an attack led by Bakhtiyar Khilji. He was the original Nalanda University. The campus
monastery) in ancient and mediaeval an Afghan conqueror. Nalanda was more also has a beautiful Bodhi tree. This tree is a
Magadha (today’s Bihar). It was a famous than six centuries older than the oldest symbol of peace and knowledge.
HISTORY StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 06
3,300-Year-Old Ship
Discovered in the
Mediterranean Sea
Class VI+
Sources of History

Class VI+
Bronze Age

The first life forms

on Earth: A discovery
N
owadays, ships use the Global
Positioning System,
magnetic compasses, and
close to shore, this one was far out at
sea where no land was visible. Before
this discovery, experts believed that
in Saudi Arabia
other tools to navigate at sea. However, ancient trade happened close to the arth was home to simple life forms
how did ancient people sail far out in the
sea? Until now, many people thought
shore. They thought that mariners
would sail safely from one port to
E long before animals or plants
existed. Scientists have been trying
that they stayed close to the coast. But another, keeping an eye on the land. to find out where these first life forms lived.
a 3,300-year-old wooden ship was However, this discovery challenges that Recently, they found new clues suggesting
recently discovered in the Mediterranean assumption and proves that ancient that the first life forms might have come from
Sea. It has changed what we know sailors could travel much farther. Saudi Arabia.
about ancient sailors’ navigation skills.
So, how did these ancient What did the scientists find?
The discovery sailors manage it? In Saudi Arabia, scientists have found forms adapted to the rich oxygen in the air.
A company called Energean was We cannot be certain, but scientists special rocks called stromatolites on These days, you can find stromatolites only in
drilling for natural gas in the think they used the stars and the sun to Sheybarah Island in the Red Sea. These a few places such as Shark Bay in Australia
Mediterranean Sea near Israel when navigate. The night sky has star layered rocks were made by tiny living things and the Bahamas.
they discovered the ship deep patterns that remain constant all year called cyanobacteria. They prepare food as The recent discovery is important because
underwater. This shipwreck was from round. Sailors likely learned these plants do through a process called it helps us do the following:
the late Bronze Age. It was found patterns to know the direction they photosynthesis. This process produces • Understand the origin of life: Finding
about 90 kilometres from Israel’s were facing. The sun also moves across sticky stuff that glues sand and rocks together these stromatolites in Saudi Arabia is a big
Mediterranean coast, buried 1,800 the sky predictably, and sailors might to form bigger rocks. These stromatolites are deal because it might mean that life on
metres under the sea. The ship possibly have used its position to determine over 3.48 billion years old. This makes them Earth started there.
sank during a storm or due to a pirate east and west. some of the oldest life forms on Earth. • Understand that stromatolites can
attack. This is one of the oldest known survive rough conditions: The island
examples of a ship sailing far from land. Background Information where these stromatolites were found is a
tough place to live. It is hot and lacks food
What did this ancient Global Positioning or water. These conditions are similar to
ship carry? System those in places like the Bahamas, where
The ship is 12 to 14 metres long and This system uses satellites to help other stromatolites are found. This tells
was found with its cargo still intact. people find their location on Earth. It scientists that the bacteria that make
Hundreds of jugs that were likely used is used in maps and for navigation. stromatolite can survive in harsh areas.
for carrying oil, wine or fruit were Earth’s air lacked oxygen over two billion • Understand life on other planets: This
discovered on the ship. These jugs have
Magnetic compass years ago. Today, the air is made up of 21% discovery can also help us look for life on
been identified as Canaanite jars. The A magnetic compass is a tool with a oxygen but once only had 0.001% oxygen. planets like Mars. Scientists think that if
Canaanites were ancient people who needle that always points north, However, it had plenty of nitrogen and carbon bacteria could live on early Earth without
lived a long time ago in the area that is helping us find directions. The dioxide. So, cyanobacteria were consuming much oxygen, similar signs of life might
now Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Chinese first used it for sea carbon dioxide and producing oxygen while be found on other planets with rough
parts of Syria and Jordan. navigation around the 11th century. making food through photosynthesis. The conditions.
The discovery of the compass led to production of oxygen grew along with their
Why is this discovery the age of exploration, enabling Background Information
population. Over time, they filled the air with
important? global trade, the discovery of new oxygen. This helped other living things like Photosynthesis
Unlike most ancient ships found lands and cultural exchanges. plants and animals survive. This big change is It is the process where plants use sunlight,
called the Great Oxygenation Event. water and carbon dioxide to make their
Power Words Stromatolites used to be common in many food and produce oxygen. It is how they
places on Earth. However, the bacteria that turn sunlight into energy to grow.
A prehistoric period when weapons and tools were made of form them became less common as new life
Bronze Age (n.)
bronze (a mixture of metals) rather than stone
Navigate (v.) To plan a route for a ship or other vehicle
Worksheet : HT089
Pirate (n.) A person who attacks and robs ships at sea Unscramble the words to find the magic words.
Shipwreck (n.) Remains of a damaged ship

Worksheet : HT090
If you could communicate with the sailors from the past, what
questions would you ask them about their journey and discoveries?
Life Skills StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 07

The power
of laughter:
How humour
helps us and others
nce upon a time, there was Mr. Grumpy Giraffe. Mr. Grumpy Giraffe felt truly happy for the first time in a and classmates. This can lighten the mood and create a
O He was always in a bad mood. All the other
animals in the forest used to ignore him for that.
long while. His eyes sparkled with joy, and he smiled more.
The forest was filled with the sound of laughter. From that day
positive atmosphere. Make sure to avoid jokes that might
hurt others.
“Why be with someone who is always sad?” asked Mr. on, the animals made sure to include Mr. Grumpy Giraffe in all
Tortoise. their fun and games. Watch or read comedic cartoons/movies
Rabbit nodded. “That’s true. But have you ever This short story helps us understand how laughter and Spend some time watching comedy shows, funny
wondered why he is sad?” humour can bring everyone together no matter our movies or reading comics. These can help you learn about
“Well, it’s because he has such a long neck. It takes him differences. different types of jokes and share them with your friends
a few minutes to hear anything we say. It takes time for our and family.
voices to reach his ears up”, explained Mr. Tortoise. How can laughter benefit us?
This made Rabbit wonder. He decided to find out the Laughing does more than just make us feel good. It also
real reason behind Mr. Grumpy Giraffe’s sadness. Rabbit helps to create a positive atmosphere around us.
hopped over to Mr. Giraffe’s home the next day. • You can feel more positive if you are humorous or like to
“Hello, Mr. Grumpy Giraffe!” Rabbit shouted. be in a fun mood.
It took Mr. Grumpy Giraffe five minutes to turn his head • Laughter also encourages creative thinking. A relaxed and
slowly and look down at Rabbit. “Hello, Rabbit”, he said happy person is more open to exploring new ideas and
in a low, sad voice. solving problems.
“Mr. Giraffe, why are you always so grumpy?” • Humour and jokes can be natural stress relievers. They can
help you relax and reduce stress in your life.
• Sharing funny stories with friends and classmates can also
help you make new friends. You will be more confident if
you love to share jokes with your friends.
• You can also use laughter as a weapon. Well, a verbal Don’t take yourself too seriously
weapon, not a real one. Laughter creates a positive Learn to laugh at yourself. It’s okay if you make a
environment. This is why you can use it to stop negativity mistake or something embarrassing happens. Learn to
or manage arguments. You can simply share a humorous handle it with grace and humour. This not only makes you
idea during a conversation to lighten the mood. more confident but also helps you build mental strength.
Your body releases endorphins when you laugh. These are
also known as the natural “feel-good” chemicals. They help Be friends with positive people
you feel more positive about life. Spend time with friends who have a good sense of
humour. Being around positive people can help you
Want to be more positive? develop a more positive attitude yourself.
“It’s not that I want to be grumpy. It’s just that no one Here’s how you can do it!
seems to understand me. I miss out on all the fun because Power Words
by the time I hear a joke, everyone else has already moved Find the funny in everyday situations
Encourage (v.) To give support or hope to someone
on. I feel left out.” Look for humour in everyday life. Even the simplest
Rabbit felt sad for Mr. Grumpy Giraffe. He thought mistakes can make you laugh if you learn to see the funny Humorous (adj.) Funny and entertaining
about how to help him. side of everything.
Lighten (v.) To make something less serious
Rabbit gathered all the animals in the forest that
evening. “Friends, we need to help Mr. Grumpy Giraffe. Share jokes and funny stories
From now on, let’s make sure that Mr. Giraffe can hear us Make it a habit to share jokes or funny stories with friends
share our jokes and stories too.” Worksheet : ME044
The animals agreed. They started thinking of creative Describe a recent event where you found humour
ideas. Squirrel suddenly had a brilliant one. “Why don’t we in an unexpected place.
climb up the trees and share the joke directly into Giraffe’s
ear?”
“Not everyone can climb trees”, said Mr. Tortoise.
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Then we can gather around the short hill beside the
lake. What if Mr. Giraffe stands on the ground? We can
then all gather on top of the hill. This way, we will be face
to face with Giraffe”, explained Squirrel.
The animals loved the idea. They met Mr. Grumpy
Giraffe that evening on top of the hill. They started
sharing jokes and funny stories. Mr. Grumpy Giraffe’s
long neck was not an issue anymore as he could see
everyone before him.
Polity StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 08
Class VIII+
The Parliament Global Peace Index 2024 Reports the
Most Conflicts Since World War II

New Lok Sabha Is Class IX+

all set for action World Peace
he Lok Sabha is the lower house promise to do their job honestly and follow he Global Peace Index is like a countries have become more militarised.
T of the Indian Parliament. Its 545
members are called members of
the Indian Constitution.
The process: The pro-tem speaker calls
T report card that tells us how
peaceful or less peaceful countries
This means that they are spending more
on weapons and military equipment. The
Parliament. These members work together each member one by one. Each member around the world are. It is made by the United States has the highest military
to make laws for the entire country. The Lok comes forward, reads the oath and solemnly Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). power, followed by China and Russia.
Sabha just had a fresh swears to uphold the This organisation looks at different factors • Economic Impact: The global cost of
election in May 2024. The Constitution of India and to decide if a country is living peacefully or violence in 2023 was $19.1 trillion. This
newly elected members are faithfully serve the country. if it is having problems, like fights or wars. is a huge amount of money that could
all set to begin their work. This ceremony means that This year, the 18th edition of the Global have been used for other important
The first session of the 18th the members are now Peace Index has come out. Here are some things. The rise in global conflicts has
Lok Sabha in the new officially part of the Lok of the important information in the report: made it more expensive for businesses
parliament building was held Sabha. A member cannot fully and governments to carry out their work.
from June 24 to July 3. participate in the Lok Sabha’s
Several important events took place in activities if they do not take the oath. Why such global unrest?
this session. This included appointing a pro- Countries can fight for many reasons.
tem speaker, oath-taking of members and Choosing a leader Sometimes they might fight over land or
electing a new speaker. It is like setting up Finally, the Lok Sabha needs a permanent resources like water and oil. Other times,
a new classroom where students first take speaker, much like a class needs a monitor to they might not agree on rules or who should
their places and choose a class leader maintain order and ensure smooth functioning. be in charge. Fights can happen inside a
before starting their lessons. Role of the speaker: The speaker country too, between different groups of
makes sure meetings run smoothly and people who live there.
Getting started everyone gets a chance to speak during
Before the new MPs can start their work, discussions and debates. They also keep How does it affect people?
they need to take an oath. This is handled things orderly and check if everyone is Fighting hurts people’s lives. It can force
by the pro-tem speaker. The speaker makes following the rules. them to leave their homes and lose their
sure the meetings in the Lok Sabha run How they are elected: All members vote jobs. Kids might not be able to go to
smoothly and fairly. The speaker is elected and choose the speaker they think is best for school. Hospitals might get destroyed,
by the members from among themselves. the job. Sh. Om Birla was recently re-elected which means people can’t get medicine or
The President of India appoints the senior as the speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha. see doctors when they are sick.
most member as the pro-tem speaker until • More conflicts and deaths: More
a speaker is elected. In this case, Sh. Why is this important? countries are fighting now than at any What can be done?
Bhartruhari Mahtab became the pro-tem These events mark the beginning of a other time since World War II. As of The Global Peace Index reminds world
speaker. The word “pro-tem” means “for new chapter in Indian politics. Members now, 56 conflicts are happening around leaders to work harder to solve conflicts
the time being” or “temporarily”. can now discuss new laws, debate the world. Out of these, the ones before they get worse. The rising number
government plans and work together to happening in Ukraine and Gaza are of minor conflicts could turn into major
Taking the pledge make India a better place. This will shape significant. These conflicts have led to ones if not solved. Peace is important
The next step is the oath-taking of the the course of the country’s governance in many deaths. In 2023, there were because it makes people happy and helps
members. Taking an oath means they the coming years. 1,62,000 battle-related deaths. countries prosper.
• Decline in peacefulness: Peacefulness
dropped in 97 countries during the past
year. North America saw the biggest
drop in peacefulness, with more violent
crime and fear of violence. Europe is still
the most peaceful region. The Middle
East and North Africa remain the least
peaceful.
PM Modi Congratulating Sh. Om Birla • Most and least peaceful countries:
Iceland continues to be the most
peaceful country. Next in rank are
Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and
Singapore. Yemen is now the least
peaceful. Sudan and Ukraine are also
among the least peaceful nations.
• More refugees: These conflicts have Worksheet : PL088
caused many people to leave their homes. Why do you think it is important
110 million people are now refugees or for countries to help each other
displaced because of violence. when there is a conflict, even if the
• Militarisation: More countries are conflict is far away?
Oath taking ceremony
spending money on their military. 108
Power Words
Worksheet : PL087
Displace To compel a person to leave
If you could send a message to the new MPs about what you think is (v.) home, country, etc.
important for the country, what would you say?
A war that was fought from
1939 to 1945 between the Axis
World powers—Germany, Italy, and
War II Japan—and Allied powers, the
(n.) United Kingdom, France, the
United States of America and
the USSR (Russia)
Motivators StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 09

Meet the 2024 Kavli Prize winners

umanity has gained so much from scientific research, and that’s why science is so • Neuroscience: This science explores the brain and how it works.
H exciting. Fred Kavli, a Norwegian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist,
loved science his whole life and created an amazing science prize before passing
Fred Kavli called these three the sciences of the largest, the smallest and the
most complex. He believed that these fields were the most exciting for the 21st century
away in 2013. He started the Kavli Prizes in 2008. These prizes celebrate fascinating and beyond.
discoveries in three scientific fields: The Kavli Prize winners receive a gold medal, a scroll and a cash award of $1 million in
• Astrophysics: This is the science of stars, planets and everything in space! each field. The prize encourages scientists to continue their research and helps the public
• Nanoscience: This is the study of super tiny things we can’t see, like atoms and molecules. understand the importance of science in daily life.

• Prof. Mirkin introduced the concept of Power Words

Who won the 2024 Kavli Prize? • Nanoscience: spherical nucleic acid (SNA). These are
This year, eight scientists were awarded tiny, ball-shaped structures with many Entrepreneur A person who starts and
the Kavli Prizes. Let’s meet the winners: active parts on the surface. SNAs can (n.) runs their own business
be used to diagnose and treat difficult A person who helps
• Astrophysics: diseases. Philanthropist
society by donating
(n.)
• Neuroscience: money to good causes

Worksheet : MT093
Winners: Robert Langer (MIT), Armand Out of astrophysics, nanoscience,
Paul Alivisatos (University of Chicago) and and neuroscience, which fascinates
Chad Mirkin (Northwestern University) you more and why?

Winners: David Charbonneau (Prof. at

Harvard University) and Sara Seager (Prof.
at Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Winners: Nancy Kanwisher (MIT), Doris
Tsao (University of California) and Winrich
Freiwald (Rockefeller University)
• Prof. Langer has developed methods to
send medicines directly to specific
organs of our body. This will help treat
diseases such as brain cancer and
prostate cancer.
• These two scientists won the prize for • Prof. Alivisatos has achieved remarkable
their work on exoplanets, which are progress in the development of quantum
planets outside our solar system. They dots. These are tiny particles with • They have done important work in
have been able to study the atmospheres unique electrical properties that can be understanding how our brains recognise
of these planets and are searching for used in solar cells, LED lights and faces and objects. This helps us learn more
signs of life on them. medical cameras. about how we think and see the world.

Major Radhika Sen wins

especially focused on helping them. They taught them
important things like women’s health, education, childcare
and gender equality in schools. They also gave them training

the UN’s prestigious award

on how to learn new skills and get jobs, allowing them to
support themselves and their families.
The head of the UN, António Guterres (UN Secretary-
General), was highly impressed with Major Sen’s work. He
said that her work is a great example for future UN soldiers.
Major Sen’s work shows that soldiers can help people in many
ways, not just by fighting.
More about Major Radhika Sen
Major Radhika Sen comes from Sunder Nagar in Mandi
district, Himachal Pradesh. She has a bachelor’s degree in
engineering and was pursuing an M.Tech. at IIT Bombay
before joining the Indian Army in 2016. She has also served in
places like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim.
Major Radhika Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to
get this award, following Major Suman Gawani, who won it in
2019 for her work with the UN in South Sudan. Their awards
are not only personal achievements but also moments of
Class VIII+ national pride for India and symbols of hope for women and
United Nations girls worldwide. They are true heroes and role models for
young people everywhere.

ndian Army officer Major Radhika Sen has been If there is any disturbance or calamity in any country, the Power Words
I honoured with the prestigious United Nations
Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. This
UN sends its peacekeeping forces to maintain peace. These
forces include the police, armed forces and other experts
Gender equality
(n.)
The act of treating women and men
equally
award is given to peacekeepers who show exceptional from member countries.
dedication to advancing gender equality in their Major Sen got this award for her peacekeeping work in Peacekeeping The activity of preventing war and
peacekeeping work. the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country in (n.) violence, especially using armed forces
Africa that has been struggling with conflicts and violence
What is peacekeeping? for many years.
After World War II, many countries agreed to establish an Major Sen’s team did many important things to help the Worksheet : MT094
organisation to prevent future wars and ensure world peace. local people in the country. Women and children often suffer Unscramble the words to find the magic words.
This organisation was named the United Nations (UN). the most during wars and violence, so Major Sen’s team is
Environment StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 10
Over half of the world’s
Mangroves collapsing will directly affect 2.1 million people
around the world who might face coastal flooding. Local
communities will also lose 17 million fishing days per year.

m a n g rov es a r e in da n g e r The study shows how important it is for countries to

protect our mangroves. Healthy mangrove forests can stop
the rising sea levels and provide coastal areas protection from
hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones. This is why countries need
to work together to restore the mangrove forests that we
have lost and protect the ones we still have.

Background Information
International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The International Union for Conservation of Nature
works to protect nature and wildlife. It checks how
plants and animals are doing, helps save endangered
Class VII+ species and makes plans to keep our planet healthy. It
Mangroves keeps the Red List of Threatened Species (or Red Data
Book) to monitor animal species and the Red List of
Ecosystems to track ecosystems.
recent study shows that over 50% across 44 countries. The mangrove
A of mangroves around the world are
in danger. This is because of a
ecosystems of South India, Sri Lanka, the
Maldives and North West Atlantic are in the Power Words
combination of harmful human activities and “red” zone or critically endangered. On the Collapse (v.) To fall or break down completely
climate change. Human activities that harm other hand, the mangroves in the Central
mangrove ecosystems include deforestation, Pacific, Australia, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden All the plants, animals, land and water of
urban development, pollution, and dam construction. and the South China Sea are in the “orange” zone of Ecosystem (n.) a particular area and relationships among
Moreover, global warming is causing mangroves to face more danger. The study shows that 50% of the world’s mangroves them
storms and high sea levels. will collapse by 2050 if we do not take any action. Urban (adj.) Related to a city or town
How important are mangroves for us?
Mangroves are trees that grow in salty ocean water in Worksheet : EE091
warm places. They are special because they protect the shore
Fill in the blanks to reveal the Indian states that are
from big waves and storms. This saves 15.4 million people
home to these five Mangrove forests.
and $65 billion worth of homes each year. Mangroves also
give homes to fish and crabs and support 126 million fishing Mangrove Forests States
trips for food and jobs. Their roots hold the soil together. Vembanad Kol K_r_l_
They also clean the air by storing carbon three times more
Chorao Island G_a
efficiently than tropical forests.
Pichavaram Ta _ _ l N _ _ u
What did the study find? Bhitarkanika _ _ isha
The study was carried out by the International Union for Sundarbans We _ _ Ben_ _ _
Conservation of Nature. It studied 36 mangrove regions

Why is CNF-SP aerogel so special?

• Reusability: This sponge can be used repeatedly just by
putting it under UV light and then ordinary light.
• Works even in cold waters: What’s even more impressive
is that this sponge works well even in cold environments
when the water temperature drops. This is very useful for
places like Canada and Russia, where temperatures can
get extremely cold.
• Biodegradable: The sponge is mostly made of plant
fibres, making it more environment-friendly when
disposed of.
Class VIII+
Water Pollution Background Information

Scientists develop a new UV light

UV light, or ultraviolet light, is a type of light that is

sponge to clean up oil spills

invisible to the human eye. It comes from the sun and
can cause sunburn. It can kill bacteria and viruses. So,
it is also used for disinfecting surfaces, in tanning beds
and in certain medical and scientific applications.
il spills are accidents where large amounts of oil leak
O into water bodies like rivers and oceans. This can
happen due to accidents, like a broken oil tank or a Power Words
crashed ship. These incidents harm sea creatures and plants. A natural material found in the plants
It is essential to clean up these spills quickly to protect our Cellulose (n.) that helps them stay strong and
environment. So, a team of scientists from the USA and sturdy
Canada has come up with a solution.
They have developed a new material that works like a Something made by humans through
Synthetic (adj.)
sponge. They have named it spiropyran-assisted cellulose chemical processes
aerogel (CNF-SP).
What is aerogel? contain 95–99% air, yet they are solid. They look like frozen Worksheet : EE090
A gel is a thick, squishy material that feels like jelly. It’s smoke and are super light and almost see-through.
made up of liquid mixed with tiny particles that bind everything Unscramble the words to find the magic words.
together. When all the water is removed from a gel and How does CNF-SP aerogel work?
replaced with air, it becomes an aerogel. Aerogels usually The CNF-SP aerogel that scientists have created is made
of two materials. The first is plant fibres (cellulose), and the
second is a synthetic material called spiropyran. Spiropyran
is an incredible material that changes its behaviour in different
kinds of light. Scientists used this property to make it an oil-
cleaning aerogel.
When scientists put CNF-SP aerogel under ordinary light,
it becomes hydrophobic (water-repelling) and oil-loving. This
allows it to soak oil from the sea without soaking water. Now,
when exposed to UV light, CNF-SP becomes hydrophilic
(water-loving) and oil-repelling. So, it releases all the soaked
oil and is then ready to be reused.
STREAM StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 11
Sanjana Thakur wins
2024 Commonwealth
Short Story Prize

Indian-Americans shine at
the 2024 Scripps National
Spelling Bee contest
n a remarkable display of talent
I and hard work, 12-year-old Indian-
American Bruhat Soma has won
the prestigious Scripps National Spelling
Bee contest. It was held in the United
States and is an important event where
students from all over the world come the sixth grade. Both of them had 90
together to showcase their spelling skills. seconds to spell as many words as they
Soma is in the seventh grade. His could from a given list. Soma’s speed and
journey to victory was not easy and accuracy in spelling 29 out of 30 words
involved intense preparation. He had to were unmatched.
study the spellings of thousands of words Soma’s final word was “abseil.” It
means to go down a mountain using a
rope. He spelt this word correctly and ndian writer Sanjana Thakur has
earned the title of champion. He not only
won a trophy but also received over
I made history by winning the
prestigious 2024 Commonwealth
$50,000 in prizes. This was his third time Short Story Prize. Her winning story
participating. In previous years, he didn’t “Aishwarya Rai” was chosen from the best
make it as far. Zaki secured 2nd place and stories submitted from 56 countries.
won $25,000. The third place was tied
between two Indian-American students: Who is Sanjana Thakur?
Shrey Parikh from California and Ananya Thakur is a 26-year-old talented writer,
Prassanna from North Carolina. born and brought up in Mumbai, India.
Winning the National Spelling Bee is a Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Fine
huge achievement. It demonstrates Arts course in Fiction at the University of
Soma’s dedication to learning and his love Texas at Austin, USA. Thakur loves to write
for words. His victory is celebrated by his stories inspired by her own life experiences
family, friends and the Indian-American and the world around her.
as well as their meanings and origins. community. They all see him as an Bouchard for Canada and Europe, Portia
Spelling Bee contests are known for their inspiration for other young students. Subran for the Caribbean and Pip Robertson
challenging words. Participants must be for the Pacific region. They will each receive
prepared for anything that comes their Indian-American dominance £2,500. These winners were chosen from a
way as they compete to spell English Since 1999, 29 Indian-American record 7,359 entrants.
words correctly. students have won the Scripps National
Soma won the contest by spelling 29 Spelling Bee championship. Last year, An inspiration
words correctly in a tiebreaker final round. Dev Shah, also an Indian-American, won Thakur is the third Indian to win this prize
He spelt words faster and more accurately the competition. In 2022, another Indian- after Kritika Pandey (2020) for “The Great
than 12-year-old Faizan Zaki from Texas, American, Harini Logan was the champion. Indian Tee and Snakes” and Parashar
who got 20 words right in the same round. This year too, out of eight finalists, six Kulkarni (2016) for “Cow and Company.”
Zaki is also an Indian-American, who is in were Indian-Americans. Their achievements make us proud and
inspire us to write and share our experiences
with the world.

Background Information
Commonwealth
Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is
Sanjana’s winning story a contest for writers. This contest is
Thakur won the prize for her story open to writers from 56 countries that
“Aishwarya Rai.” The story takes its name are part of the Commonwealth. The
from the famous Bollywood actress Commonwealth is a group of countries,
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. It’s a beautiful most of which were once part of the
story of a young woman named Avni. She British Empire. They work together for a
visits a shelter home searching for the better future for their citizens.
Power Words perfect mother. Avni tries out different
mothers to see which one is the best fit for
A group of people living in the same place or having a her. The story is full of humour, irony and a
Community (n.) Worksheet : IN082
particular characteristic in common touch of Bollywood glamour.
Indian-American (n.) Citizens of the United States with backgrounds from India. Thakur’s story first won in the Asia Find five types of writing.
category before being selected as the
Y W E M X Y U I G Q
overall winner. She will receive a cash prize
Worksheet : IN081 of £5,000. The other regional winners were U R V C R A F F V W
Reena Usha Rungoo for Africa, Julie D G O T E S B V T N
Indian-Americans have won many times in recent years. What do you think
might be some reasons for their success in the Spelling Bee? L H E T K S G U I L
Power Words S O Y Z S E N L U W
A building serving as a P S J W I T L G H W
Shelter
temporary residence for
home (n.) M E M O I R R R L A
homeless persons
A type of story that is U C S A U W N O O P
Short Story shorter than a book (novel) V J D E K C K P H Z
(n.) but still very interesting G L E V O N N X W S
and fun to read.
LIFESTYLE StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 12
So, what are the FSSAI rules?
• Allowed: Liquid nitrogen can only be used to keep food
cold during processing (freezing). For example, it can be
used in factories for freezing ice cream or any other dairy-
based products quickly.
• Not Allowed: Using liquid nitrogen directly in food or
drinks when serving customers in food businesses
(restaurants, bars or any other dining places) is against
the rules. If restaurants break them, they will face fines
and penalties.
Takeaway
It is important for us to

FSSAI Advisory: Beware of Liquid

know about this because we
all love trying new and exciting
foods. But we also need to be

Nitrogen Usage in Food and Drinks safe. If you see a dish with
smoke coming out of it, ask
the waiter or waitress if it is
made with liquid nitrogen. And
remember, just because
something looks cool does not mean it is safe to eat.
Power Words
An official announcement that contains
here is a government agency that makes sure food ice. Moreover, consuming liquid nitrogen can cause a hole in Advisory (n.)
T
advice, information or a warning
in India is safe and healthy and meets quality your stomach. In fact, there have been cases where people Frostbite (n.) An injury caused by freezing of the skin
standards for consumers. It is called the Food got hurt after eating food with liquid nitrogen. A serious
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). FSSAI has incident happened this year when a 12-year-old girl in
just issued a serious warning about the use of liquid nitrogen Bengaluru got very sick after eating a smoky paan having
Worksheet : LS093
in foods and drinks. liquid nitrogen at a wedding event. She ended up in hospital
because it caused a hole in her stomach. That is why FSSAI Your friend offers you a drink with liquid nitrogen.
So, what is the big deal? has stepped in to say “No more!” to this practice. How would you explain to them why it’s not safe
Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen gas in liquid state at to drink?
temperatures far below 0 degree Celsius (-196 degrees
Celsius). Liquid nitrogen creates a foggy or smoky effect. So,
some food businesses use it to make their food items look
more attractive. It is often used in restaurants, bars and other
places where food is served. You might have seen it being
used in ice creams, drinks, “smoky” sweet paans and bakery
items like biscuits and desserts. However, FSSAI says that
using liquid nitrogen this way is not safe and is not in line with
current food safety regulations.
Why is it not safe?
Liquid nitrogen is so cold that it can cause frostbite if it
touches your skin. If you eat or drink something with liquid
nitrogen, it can burn your tongue and throat badly, just like

If we do not get proper sleep, the neurons

still send signals to different parts of the
brain, but the signals are weak and not
continuous. Overall, the neurons cannot
reactivate parts of the brain if you do not let
your brain rest.
This study has helped researchers
understand how long hours of proper sleep
are important to let the neurons reactivate at
night. The reactivation of our brains when we
go to sleep is highly important to stop our
memories from fading away. Give your brain
some proper rest every day to help it be its
best, always.

New Study: Power Words

Sleep WELL to
A cell is the smallest unit of
the body that can live on its
Cell (n.)
own. Our bodies are made
up of trillions of cells.

Remember More Responsible

(adj.)
To be in charge of something

Worksheet : LS092
ometimes, before a big exam day, Neurons are nerve cells in your brain that
S we decide to not sleep and hope to
just easily write whatever we study
send messages all over your body. This
allows you to do everything from breathing
Find the six hidden words from the
puzzle below!
the next morning. This might sound like a to talking, eating, walking and thinking.
P C N I K N S M
good plan, but as per researchers, a lack of
proper sleep can greatly reduce your memory E E T I K L F E
power.
After studying what happens inside the When our brain is resting, the neurons E U P D A T E M
brain during sleep, scientists have found the present in the hippocampus send electrical
L Y U N Z R U O
very important role of sleep when it comes to signals to the rest of the brain after every
remembering our memories. few seconds. The hippocampus is a S X G I V V B R
seahorse-shaped structure in our brain. It is
So what happens the part of our brain that is responsible for B I S H J Z P Y
when we sleep? forming and remembering memories. S N O R U E N Z
When we sleep, the neurons in our brain The electrical signals are continuous; they
work on spreading information from one part travel from one part of the brain to another to V M O W X P E F
of the brain to another. “update” information in our brain.
SPORTS StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 13
Puja Tomar becomes the first
Indian woman to win the
Ultimate Fighting Championship

India’s Divya Deshmukh wins

World Junior Girls Chess title
ndian chess prodigy Divya
I Deshmukh has made the
country proud by winning the
World Junior Girls Chess Championship.
Eighteen-year-old Deshmukh won
against Bulgaria’s Beloslava Krasteva
in the final round. Deshmukh remained
unbeaten throughout the competition.
She scored an impressive 10 points
out of 11. She also became the fourth Inspiration to many
Indian to win this title after Koneru Tomar’s win is inspiring for many young
Humpy in 2001, Harika Dronavalli in Indians who wish to make a career in mixed
2008 and Soumya Swaminathan in uja Tomar is a 30-year-old Indian martial arts. She has shown that anything is
2009. P mixed martial arts fighter. On June 9,
2024, she made history by becoming
possible with hard work. This is why she is
often called “the Cyclone” for her strong and
The championship Deshmukh’s journey the first Indian woman to win the Ultimate determined personality. Her success also
The FIDE World Junior Chess Deshmukh started playing chess at Fighting Championship. She won her debut reflects the growing popularity of mixed martial
Championship is for young players a young age. She has always been a fight against Rayanne dos Santos from Brazil. arts in India. This win is likely to inspire more
under 20. Its two categories are a good performer in national and people to take up the sport.
girls’ section and an open section for international competitions. Her several The historic win
both girls and boys. The 2024 titles include the Sharjah Challenger in Tomar defeated dos Santos in the Background Information
championship was held from June 2 May 2024. Her recent win has made strawweight division at Louisville City in
to 13 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. About her the second-highest rated girl player Kentucky, USA. It is the category for players Mixed martial arts (MMA)
230 players from 44 countries joined under 20. This has put her in 20th weighing between 48 and 52 kg. She scored It is a sport that combines different fighting
in total. This included 125 players place on the FIDE Women’s list. 30-27, 27-30 and 29-28 in her favour. The fight styles such as boxing, wrestling and
from 39 countries in the open section was tough, but Tomar was determined to win. martial arts like judo and karate. Fighters
and 101 players from 27 countries in What’s next? She was proud to be fighting for India and use a mix of techniques to compete against
the girls’ section. Deshmukh’s win in Deshmukh currently has an wanted to show the world that Indian fighters each other.
the girls’ section has earned her a international master’s title with a are just as good as anyone else.
spot in the Indian team for the 2024 FIDE rating of 2,456. She aims to
The Ultimate Fighting
Chess Olympiad in Budapest, become a grandmaster. The only Tomar’s journey to success Championship
Hungary. Kazakhstan’s 20-year-old Indian women to have held the Tomar’s journey to success was not easy. It is a premier mixed martial arts company
Kazybek Nogerbekwon the title in grandmaster title are Koneru Humpy, She was born in a small village called Budhana based in Las Vegas, USA. It hosts
the open section. Harika Dronavalli and R Vaishali. in Uttar Pradesh. Her passion for fighting competitive fights worldwide where
developed at a young age. Her father wanted fighters from various martial arts disciplines
Background Information compete in an octagon-shaped cage.

International Master
and Grandmaster Worksheet : SP083
An international master in chess is
a high-level title awarded to strong Match the following fighting sports.
chess players. It is one step below
the grandmaster title and above
I II
the FIDE master. An international
master has a chess rating of about
2,400 while a grandmaster has a Wrestling
rating of about 2,500. These titles
are granted for life by FIDE. to make her and her sister athletes. Sadly, he
died in an accident when she was only 7. She
Power Words liked martial arts so much that she decided to
make it her career. She started training and
Federation International des Echecs is the world chess became a five-time national wushu champion. Boxing
FIDE (n.) organisation that sets rules, organises championships and Wushu is a Chinese martial art that is like a mix
promotes chess globally. of gymnastics and kung fu. It focuses on quick
Prodigy (n.) A highly talented child or youth moves and agility. Tomar has also won mixed
martial arts fights at ONE Championship,
Matrix Fight Night and many other fights in MMA
Worksheet : SP084 different countries. Her hard work paid off when
she signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting
What qualities does the game of chess teach us?
Championship last year. This made her the first
Indian woman to compete in the biggest mixed
martial arts platform.
Karate
Power Words
Related to a person’s first
Debut
appearance or performance in a
(adj.)
particular role
The ability to move quickly and
Judo
Agility
easily, often with precision and
(n.)
coordination
States News StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 14
Jammu & Kashmir: J&K boosts Assam: State government
sheep farming partnership launches a new scheme to
with New Zealand promote girls’ education

Uttarakhand: India’s first

private forest biosphere opens
Jai Dhar Gupta and Vijay Dhasmana are two Indian environmentalists.
They recently created India’s first private forest biosphere called
Jammu & Kashmir has taken an important step in the Rajaji Raghati Biosphere (RRB) near Rajaji National Park in
agriculture by teaming up with New Zealand. They Uttarakhand. A biosphere is an area with land, water and air that
have signed an agreement with New Zealand to learn support life. A biosphere reserve is a special area where people
smart ways of farming sheep and goats. New Zealand take care of nature and use natural resources wisely so that both The Assam government has recently started a new
is good at breeding animals, managing farms and nature and people can live well together. scheme called Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina in the
keeping animals healthy. Experts from New Zealand The RRB used to be almost barren and in poor condition. But Jai state. This scheme aims to encourage girls’ education
will teach local farmers in J&K these smart farming and Vijay transformed this barren land into a new healthy forest by and stop child marriages. It will give financial help to
ways. This will help farmers in J&K make their sheep planting local trees such as haldu, rohini, mala, jamun and saal. So about 10 lakh girl students. Girls in higher secondary
and goat farming better. The agreement will also far, they have planted around 80 different kinds of trees and plan school will get `1,000 every month. Girls in graduation
focus on better ways to produce wool and meat from to add more. They also work with local people to take care of the courses will get `1,200 every month. Those in post-
sheep. This will make sheep farming more successful forest. Their goal is to help nature and fight deforestation. graduation or B.Ed. programmes will get `2,500
and help local farmers earn more money. Capital: Dehradun Chief Minister: Sh Pushkar Singh Dhami every month.
Capital: Srinagar (Summer); Lieutenant governor : Capital: Chief Minister:
Jammu (Winter) Sh Manoj Sinha Dispur Sh Himanta Biswa Sarma

Haryana: State government Bihar: Two bird sanctuaries

plans new project to in Bihar join the Ramsar list
fight air pollution

The Haryana government is starting a new project to

fight air pollution. The project is called the Haryana
Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development.
Under this project, the government will spend
`10,000 crores with help from the World Bank. The Two bird sanctuaries in Bihar, Nagi and Nakti, are now
project will improve air quality by better monitoring on the Ramsar list, bringing India’s total to 82. They
pollution levels and setting up a new lab. The project got this honour on 5 June, World Environment Day.
aims to reduce pollution from vehicles, industry and Both sanctuaries are man-made. Nakti was created
other sources. It promotes using electric vehicles and
Karnataka: NIMHANS honoured after the Nakti Dam was built. It has over 150 species,
cleaner fuels. It also encourages planting more trees with the 2024 Nelson Mandela including elephants and a special type of catfish. Nagi,
and stopping farmers from burning leftover crops. Award for Health Promotion formed after blocking the Nagi River, has over 75 bird
This initiative will last for 10 years, with the goal of species. The Ramsar Convention is an international
making the air in Haryana cleaner for everyone. The National Institute of treaty that was signed in 1971. It focuses on protecting
Capital: Chief Minister: Mental Health and Neuro wetlands around the world. Wetlands are areas
Chandigarh Sh Nayab Singh Saini
Sciences (NIMHANS) in covered by water that provide homes for many animals
Bengaluru is a top health and plants and help keep the environment healthy.
Maharashtra: Young institute in India. Recently,
it received a special award
Wetlands that get added to the Ramsar list get local,
regional, national and international help.
Farmer wins the UN called the 2024 Nelson Capital: Chief Minister:
land hero award Mandela Award for Health Promotion from the World Health
Patna Sh Nitish Kumar

Organization . This award is given for excellent work in public health.

NIMHANS got this award because it helps people with mental health Odisha: India successfully
problems, stress and addiction. Dr. Pratima Murthy is the director of
NIMHANS, and she got the award during a global health meeting in
tests RudraM-II missile
Geneva. The award is named after Nelson Mandela, a famous leader
in South Africa known for fighting for people’s rights and health.
Capital: Bengaluru Chief Minister: Sh Siddaramaiah

Power Words
A protected forest area where nature and animals
National Park (n.)
are kept safe
Use of natural resources carefully to preserve the
Siddhesh Sakore, a young farmer from Maharashtra, Sustainable (adj.)
environment in the long term
won the “Land Hero” award from the United Nations. An international institution that lends money to The Defence Research and Development Organisation
He received this award in Bonn, Germany, for his World Bank (n.) (DRDO) recently tested a new missile called RudraM-
developing countries
sustainable farming methods. Siddhesh grew up in a II. They launched it from an Indian Air Force aircraft
farming family and saw many problems like drought (fighter jet) called the Su-30 MK-I. The test happened
and poor soil. After studying mechanical engineering, Worksheet : SN045 near the coast of Odisha. RudraM-II is an air-to-
he learnt new farming methods without using harmful surface missile. This means that it is launched from an
chemicals. He used compost to make the soil better Which news on this page did you find most interesting and why? aircraft and hits targets on the ground. This successful
and did organic farming. His farm started growing test showed the missile’s accuracy and its ability to be
more crops, even in dry seasons. Siddhesh taught launched from high-speed aircraft. The RudraM-II will
other farmers his methods through his group, AGRO help the Indian Air Force carry out precise attacks on
RANGERS, helping them grow more food and earn enemy targets. The test shows that India is improving
more money. The UN honoured him for his work to its defence technology. This achievement makes
make farming better and protect the land. India’s defence system stronger and more advanced.
Capital: Chief Minister: Capital: Chief Minister:
Mumbai Sh Eknath Sinde Bhubaneswar Sh Mohan Charan Majhi
World News StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 15
USA: Gopi Thotakura becomes China: Chang’e-6 spacecraft Russia: Oleg Kononenko
first Indian space tourist lands on the far side of the moon sets record with 1,000
Gopi Thotakura is an China’s Chang’e-6 days in space
Indian entrepreneur spacecraft landed on
and pilot who lives in the far side of the
the USA. He made Moon to collect soil
history as the first samples. This mission
Indian space tourist. follows China’s
He was part of a Chang’e-4 mission in
group of six people 2019. China is the only
who took a short trip country to land on this
to space for fun. Gopi flew with a spacecraft from Blue Origin, a side of the Moon twice. The Chang’e-6 spacecraft will spend 53
private American company that offers space rides. The whole trip, days on its mission. It will use a robot arm and drill to collect rocks
from take-off to landing, lasted only about ten minutes. During and soil from the Moon’s surface. These samples will be kept in a
this time, the spacecraft reached a height of about 105 km from special box and sent back to Earth. This mission will help scientists Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, aged 59, has
Earth. The passengers got to feel weightlessness for a few learn more about the Moon’s history and compare its far side with become the first person to spend 1,000 days in
minutes and see Earth from high above. the side we see from Earth, which is already well-known. space. He achieved this record on 5 June, 2024,
Capital: Washington, D.C. Currency : U.S. dollar Capital: Renminbi (Yuan) Currency : Beijing after five missions to the International Space
Station (ISS) since 2008. Kononenko’s latest
journey to the ISS started on 15 September, 2023,
and will end in September 2024. He is currently on
the ISS with astronauts from NASA. By the end of
his mission, he will have spent a total of 1,110 days
in space. He feels proud of his achievement and is
happy to have reached this milestone. The ISS is a
big laboratory in space where astronauts from
different countries live and work together to do
scientific experiments and learn more about space.
Capital: Currency :
Moscow Ruble

South Korea:
President declares
a “demographic
national emergency”

Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum Spain: Iberian lynx

becomes Mexico’s first population grows
female president in 200 years The Iberian lynx is one of
the rarest cats in the
Claudia Sheinbaum, aged 61, world, found in Spain and
has been elected as Mexico’s Portugal. It was once in The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, has
first female president. She danger of disappearing declared a “demographic national emergency”
won the election with 58% of forever. But now, it is no because not enough babies are being born in the
the vote, beating her closest longer considered country. This means that the population of South
rival, Xochitl Galvez, who got “endangered.” This is Korea is getting older and smaller. To solve this
29%. Sheinbaum will start because its population problem, the government will help people balance
her new role on 1 October, has grown a lot, from only their work and family lives, provide free childcare
2024. She belongs to a left- 62 adult lynxes in 2001 to 648 in 2022. Altogether, there are now more for young children and make it easier for young
wing political party called than 2,000 lynxes, including young ones. Efforts to protect them have couples to buy homes. The government wants to
Morena. This party was founded by the current (outgoing) also helped to increase their main food source, the European rabbit, and encourage people to have more babies to make
president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Sheinbaum is a have also restored their habitats. So, the lynx population has grown, sure that the country stays strong in the future.
scientist by profession and has a Ph.D. in energy engineering. and it is now called “vulnerable” instead of “endangered” under the Capital: Currency :
This is a very special moment for Mexico, and Sheinbaum IUCN Red List. Under the IUCN Red List, “critically endangered” Seoul South Korean won
said it’s not just about her but about all women. species are at the highest risk of extinction, followed by “endangered”
species and “vulnerable” species.
Capital: Mexico City Currency : Mexican Peso Kazakhstan: Researchers
Capital: Madrid Currency : Euro
discover 3,500-year-old
France: The 2024 French Power Words petroglyphs
Open concludes Left-Wing
Refers to parties that emphasise social equality,
welfare programmes and government intervention in
(adj.)
the economy
Species (n.) A group of living organisms that are of the same kind

Worksheet : WN046
Solve the crossword.

ACROSS Volunteers cleaning up the environment in

2. At serious risk of extinction. Kazakhstan found about 100 petroglyphs that are
The 2024 French Open has finished. It took place in Paris 4. The remains or impression around 3,500 years old. Petroglyphs are pictures
of a prehistoric organism.
from 26 May to 9 June, 2024. It was the second important carved into rocks made by chiselling directly on the
5. Relating to the structure of
tennis event of the year, after the Australian Open. Many top populations.
rock surface with a stone tool and hammer. These
tennis players from all over the world came to play. However, carvings show animals like wild sheep and double-
Rafael Nadal, a famous Spanish player who is world No. 1, did DOWN humped camels as well as people hunting. The
not play this year. Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles 1. Rock carvings made by pictures are on a big rock face, about 20 to 25
championship. Iga Swiatek won the women’s singles prehistoric people. metres long and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. Some
championship. The French Open is special because it’s the 3. A Russian astronaut. experts say that archaeologists already knew about
only Grand Slam tournament played on clay. Clay makes the the site but kept it a secret for safety reasons, as
ball bounce higher and move slower, so it’s a tough test for they are still studying these petroglyphs to learn
players. Some people even say it’s the most difficult tennis about their history.
tournament because of that. Capital: Currency :
Capital: Paris Currency : Euro Astana Kazakhstani Tenge
Computer StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 16
Study finds a new way to
make AI fairer for everyone

AI Ethics
Class IX+
Class VI+
Algorithms

Arab Bank Switzerland

Announces Winner of
Digital Art Prize 2024
rench-born artist Richard Vigniel
F is known as RVig. He has won
the 2024 ABS Digital Art Prize
for his amazing digital artwork “Fleurs Du
Mal.” His painting is inspired by Charles
Baudelaire’s famous 1857 poetry of the
same name. The painting has colourful
ribbons with lines of the poem. Hence, the
poem seems to flow like a ribbon.
The judges selected RVig’s work from
more than 400 applications. It was chosen
for its creativity, elegance and emotion.
RVig has been a generative artist since
1999. He combines his skills in software
coding with his passion for art. Generative
art uses computer code to create art. This
process includes writing code, using is used by cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
algorithms and making adjustments to Digital art is not new. Artists have been
create balanced and beautiful images. creating art using technology for many rtificial intelligence (AI) has How does it work?
Nowadays, generative art can be made
using many software programs, such as
years. But human-art artists get more
recognition for their work than them. The
A become a part of our lives more
than ever. It helps us in many ways,
Imagine an AI system that decides who
gets a loan from a bank. The old way of
Midjourney, DALL·E and Stable Diffusion. ABS Digital Art Prize is sponsored by Arab from suggesting videos on YouTube to making AI fair would only make sure that an
RVig started long before this. He often Bank Switzerland. This prize honours all helping doctors diagnose diseases. But appropriate number of people from different
uses his custom-made, audio-reactive types of digital artists who create art on a there’s a big problem: AI is not always fair. groups get approved. However, the new way
software to generate stunning digital computer, like drawings, music, videos, etc. This means it doesn’t treat everyone the looks at how much each person is affected by
images. These images are then printed on same way. For example, Amazon developed the decision. For example, if being rejected
various materials and in different sizes. an AI recruiting tool to automate the hiring for a loan is much worse for someone who is
Background Information
The artwork “Fleurs Du Mal” is available process. However, the tool was found to be poor, the AI system will consider that and
in multiple formats. These formats include Blockchain technology biased against women. It downgraded make a fairer decision.
digital images, prints and a looping video. Blockchain technology is like a digital resumes that included the word “women’s”
The artwork is available in non-fungible notebook shared by many computers. and favoured those presenting more Why is it important?
token art. This means it cannot be copied Everyone checks when someone writes masculine language and experience. This led Many experts agree that AI should be used
by anyone. These tokens function like a a new entry (transaction) in the to the tool being scrapped. A new study to help people, not hurt them. By making AI
digital certificate of ownership. This notebook. This entry is added to a offers a new way to fix such problems. fairer, we can create systems that make
technology helps prove that a digital item chain of entries and locked with a decisions that are good for everyone, no
is unique. Thus, it cannot be copied or secret code. This makes it very hard to matter who they are or where they come from.
reproduced without the owner’s knowledge change. Therefore, everyone knows
and permission. The tokens are based on the information is correct. Background Information
blockchain technology. This technology
Alpha Fairness
Suppose your school organises a magic
Why can AI be unfair? show and everyone gets one ticket. This
AI can be unfair because it learns from seems fair, but some students aren’t
data given by humans. If the data has biases interested, while others want to bring
(unfair views or ideas), the AI can also friends. So, it’s better to give tickets
become biased. For example, let’s look at based on interest. Alpha fairness uses a
the below scenarios: mathematical formula to decide the best
• Getting a job: If an AI used for hiring way to distribute tickets or any other
employees is trained with data that mostly thing fairly, considering everyone’s
includes men, it might think men are different needs and interests. It is called
better for the job. This is unfair to women alpha fairness because the formula uses
and others. a variable named alpha (α).
• Getting a loan: An AI system might reject
a loan application from someone who is Power Words
poor due to improper data. This can have
Power Words a bigger negative impact on them Artificial A technology that makes a
Algorithm (n.) A set of instructions that a computer follows to solve a problem compared with someone who is rich. Intelligence computer learn, think and
In the new study, researchers suggest (n.) make decisions on its own
A set of instructions written in a programming language to perform
Code (n.) using a method that looks at how AI decisions A brief document that lists
specific tasks on a computer
affect individuals. This method is called a person’s work experience,
Fungible (adj.) Something that can be replaced with something similar Resume (n.)
“social welfare optimisation,” and the education, skills and
Sponsor (v.) To provide funds for a project or activity concept used is called “alpha fairness.” achievements

Worksheet : CS089 Worksheet : CS090

If you were given the option to choose between a digital piece of art or a If you could teach an AI one rule about fairness, what would it be, and why?
human-drawn piece of art, which one would you choose? Let us know your reason!
Money Matters StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 17
Nvidia becomes the most The $3 Trillion Club

valuable public company best at making them, and they make about
80% of the AI chips used in big data centres.
Because of this, their sales have increased

Class VI+
by 262% in just one year.

Financial Literacy
Companies like AMD and Intel also make
GPUs, but Nvidia is currently leading the
market. Nvidia’s success is a story of
innovation and hard work. They started by
making graphics cards for gamers and have
now become leaders in AI technology,
making a big impact on the world.

Jensen Huang – CEO & Cofounder of NVIDIA

ast year, Apple made history by get a small piece of the pie, called a “share”. is divided into 24.6 billion shares, each Power Words
L becoming the first company to reach
a $3 trillion valuation. Now, the $3
So, when you buy a share of a company
like Nvidia, you become a part-
valued at $135.5. So, on June 18, the
company was worth $3.33 trillion Equip (v.)
To provide something needed
for a particular purpose
trillion club has grown to include Microsoft owner of Nvidia, just like you (25x135), more than Microsoft
Valuation The act of deciding how much
and Nvidia. In an exciting twist, on June 18, own a part of the pie. ($3.31 trillion) and Apple
(n.) money something is worth
Nvidia zoomed ahead to claim the title of the When the ($3.28 trillion).
most valuable company in the world. company does
well and makes a But how did Nvidia Worksheet : MM092
How is the value of a lot of money, its pie become so valuable?
company calculated? gets bigger. Your piece All computers and mobile A company has 500,000 shares.
Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft are all public also becomes more devices are equipped with a Each share is worth `662. What is the
companies. This means that they are owned valuable since you own a processor, called the Central valuation of the company?
by many people who have shares in the share of that pie. In other Processing Unit (CPU). Some
company. A share is like a certificate that words, a company’s share value computers used for playing games or
shows that you own a part of the company. increases if it performs well. editing videos have an additional processor
Imagine a company as a big pie. When The value of public companies is calculated called a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).
someone buys a share of that company, they by adding the value of all their shares. Nvidia These GPUs are important for showing
pictures and videos quickly and clearly.
Nvidia is famous for making powerful GPUs.
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI),
people are using GPUs to help computers
think and learn like humans. Nvidia makes
powerful GPUs that are very good at AI
tasks. Big companies like OpenAI, Microsoft,
Google and Amazon need these chips to
make their AI systems work. Nvidia is the
Class VIII+

aquaculture production must increase by

at least 10% by 2030. Expanding and
Aquaculture

promoting aquaculture is crucial for

ensuring fish remain a key part of ending
hunger and improving lives worldwide.

Background Information
Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO)
The FAO is a specialised agency of the
United Nations. Its aim is to eradicate

Fisheries and aquaculture global hunger. Its Latin motto, fiat

panis, translates to ‘let there be
bread’. It was founded in 1945.

production creates a new record Power Words

Commercial Related to buying and
he Food and Agriculture fish, which happens in natural bodies of The benefits of aquaculture (adj.) selling of goods
T Organisation (FAO) has
exciting news. A new report
water like oceans, lakes and rivers.
Overfishing in these waters can harm fish
Aquaculture is promoted by the FAO to
protect the environment and meet the
Expand (v.)
To become larger or
bigger
shows that we are now growing more fish populations, marine ecosystems and even growing need for food. It provides a Water bodies where fish
on farms than we are catching in the wild. endangered species. sustainable way to produce more food Fisheries
are caught for commercial
In 2022, the total amount of fish without harming natural ecosystems. (n.)
reasons
produced through both farming and
catching reached a whopping 223.2 Aquaculture around the world
million metric tonnes. Of this, fish China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Worksheet : MM091
farming, also known as aquaculture, Bangladesh, the Philippines, South Korea, Unscramble the words to find the
produced 130.9 million metric tonnes, Norway, Egypt and Chile are leaders in magic phrase! Hint: They all start
while fishing in the wild produced 92.3 aquaculture. This record-breaking production with the word ‘aqua’.
million metric tonnes. This marks the first shows how powerful aquaculture can be in
time that farmed fish production has fighting food shortages.
been higher than wild fish catches. Ocean Fish Farm Fishing and aquaculture provide jobs for
millions of people. In 2022, around 61.8
What is aquaculture? million people worked in these industries.
Aquaculture is like farming, but it Women play a big role, especially in fish
takes place in water instead of on land. It processing.
involves raising fish, shellfish and even Aquatic animals are a good source of high-
algae in tanks or ponds to sell them. quality proteins, making up 6% of global
Examples include fish farms and proteins, as well as essential nutrients like
commercial fisheries where fish are omega-3 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.
grown in man-made environments. The FAO predicts that by 2032, 12% of
This is different from catching wild Pond Fish Farm people will eat fish. To meet this demand,
Open Page StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 18

Surasree Ankur Sufiya Kashaf Shanaya Namdeo

Class:VII, Gitanjali Public School, Class: IX, Green Valley English School, Class: II, Bal Bhawan School ,
Birbhum, West Bengal Bengaluru, Karnataka Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

"You wrote it. We liked it!" A Parent’s

Grace
In the quiet of the night,
they carry loads,
Their faces show no signs, no roads.
But as they enter,
their smiles shine bright,
Hiding all the worries,
making everything right.
Their tired eyes, their heavy hearts,
Avi Aggarwal VENKATA KARTHIKEYA SEETHA Never let me see the tough parts.
Class: VI, Birla Open Minds International School, Class: VI, Meru International School, But when they come home,
Kollur, Hyderabad, Telangana Hyderabad, Telangana all that fades away,
Their love fills the room,
like sunshine every day.
Through ups and downs,
they never frown,
Their love, a treasure
I've always found.
So grateful for their smiles,
so wide and true,
My heart overflows with love for you.

J. Jashwiny Mahalakshmy
Shatakshi Pandey Nikhil Class:VIII, Nazareth Convent High school
Class: VIII, City Montessori School Cambridge Section, Class: VII, Rajni Devi Global Village School, and Junior College, Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Kanpur (Dehat), Uttar Pradesh

Teachers
Study with your buddy teacher,
They teach us with manners,
To be upcoming stunners.
They motivate us to be gainers,
They take us into the learning world
like divers.
They teach us to follow our
destinations like drivers,
They give us steps like dancers.
The good lessons you taught us will be
taught to others,
You teach us to support like barriers.
Teacher, the best creature.
Dhackshitha
Class:VII, Advaith International Academy,
Shrinkhla Mishra Rishika Kathuria Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Class: V, Chrysalis High Kadugodi, Class: VIII, Delhi Public School,
Bengaluru, Karnataka Vadodara, Gujarat

Rishika Kathuria Anaya Raghav Aarna Misra Soham Kundu

Class:VIII, Delhi Public School, Class: VIII, KV Gole Market, Class: VI, Scottish High International School, Class:VII, Ryan International School,
Vadodara, Gujarat New Delhi Gurugram, Haryana Surat, Dumas, Gujarat
Test Your Knowledge StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 19
1. What is a non-fungible token (NFT)? 11. What are stromatolites? 21. Which of the following is not the benefits of sleep?
(a) An NFT is a unique digital asset verified on a (a) Stromatolites are fossilised dinosaur footprints (a) Consolidation of memories and neural
blockchain (b) Stromatolites are underwater caves connections in the brain
(b) NFTs are the fundamental unit of information in (c) Stromatolites are ancient rock formations created (b) Removal of toxins built up during wakefulness
artistic computing by tiny living organisms (c) Hormonal balance in the body
(c) Both options are correct (d) None of the above (d) Higher levels of cortisol and adrenaline in the body
(d) None of the above
12. Who was the mother of Shivaji? 22. What is Nvidia’s business?
2. Which of the following is not a Mangrove forest? (a) Kashibai (b) Jijabai (a) Nvidia makes AI tools like ChatGPT, MidJourney,
(a) Bhitarkanika (b) Pichavaram (c) Jodhabai (d) Mastani etc.
(c) Sundarbans (d) Satpura (b) Nvidia makes chips that can power advanced
13. The Kavli Prize is given in which of the following computers, games and AI.
3. Which space agency has taken the lead on the scientific field? (c) Nvidia makes smart transportation solutions for
Zero Debris Charter? (a) Molecular Biology (b) Astrology high-income countries.
(a) NASA (c) Neuroscience (d) Organic chemistry (d) Nvidia makes engines for space agencies.
(b) ISRO
(c) ESA 14. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true 23. What is aquaculture?
(d) NASA, ISRO and ESA have taken a joint lead about peacekeepers? (a) Catching fish from the ocean, lakes and rivers for
(1) Peacekeepers are people from the permanent human consumption.
4. Which of the following statement is correct about UN army. (b) Production of fish in manmade fish farms.
the PREFIRE project? (2) Peacekeepers fight war on behalf of the country’s (c) Growing plants for consumption of fish using
(a) The PREFIRE mission involves twin CubeSats government. hydroponics.
that study Earth’s polar regions (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (d) Culture of bacteria that enhance the water quality of
(b) PREFIRE focuses on visible light emissions from (c) Both of the above (d) None of the above lakes by decomposing plastic bags in water bodies.
the polar regions
(c) The mission aims to study ocean currents in the 15. Which of the following statements about mangrove 24. Which of the following game/sport is associated
Arctic forests are correct? with the organisation, FIDE?
(d) PREFIRE CubeSats are equipped with radar (1) Mangrove forests can store carbon three times (a) Football (b) Fencing
sensors to monitor sea ice thickness more efficiently than tropical forests. (c) Field Hockey (d) Chess
(2) All mangrove forests all over the world are now
5. The Sanskrit term “Sheshashayi” is associated on the Red List of Ecosystems. 25. The institute NIMHANS is associated with which field?
with which Hindu god? (3) Mangroves are home to large aquatic animals (a) Oncology
(a) Indra (b) Shiva such as whales, dolphins, orcas, etc. (b) Neurosciences and Psychiatry
(c) Vishnu (d) Agni (4) Mangroves prevent coastal areas from erosion. (c) Pulmonology
(a) 1 & 2 only (b) 1 & 4 only (d) Applied Physics
6. Which of the following is the most accurate clock? (c) 1 & 3 only (d) 2 & 3 only
(a) Quartz clock
26. What is an air-to-surface missile?
(b) Digital clock 16. Which of the following types of light is visible to (a) A missile launched from the ground aimed at
(c) Atomic clock the human eye?
airborne targets
(d) All clocks are equally accurate (a) Infrared (b) Ultraviolet
(b) A missile launched from an aircraft aimed at
(c) Both (d) None
surface targets
7. Who is a pro-tem speaker?
(c) A missile launched from an aircraft and controlled
(a) A temporary speaker appointed during the 17. Which of these can be the probable consequence(s)
from the surface
absence of the regular speaker of debris in space?
(d) A missile designed to destroy targets both in the
(b) The permanent speaker of the legislative (1) Interference with the work of existing satellites
air and on the surface
assembly (2) Collision with other satellites
(c) A speaker who only presides over special (3) Creation of more debris because of collision
sessions 27. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true
(4) Increased intensity of geomagnetic storms
(d) A speaker elected for a specific term to oversee (a) 1 only (b) 1, 2 & 3 only about humour and laughter?
legislative debates (c) 3 & 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 & 4 (1) It reduces our stress and helps us relax.
(2) It helps us bond well with our friends.
8. Which of the following statements are true about 18. Which of the following is/are a negative (3) It can never be hurtful and can be used with no
the ancient Nalanda University? consequence(s) of oil spills? thought.
(1) Foreigners used to visit Nalanda to pursue higher (a) Habitat Destruction (b) Marine life destruction (a) 1 & 2 only (b) 3 only
levels of education. (c) Both of the above (d) None of the above (c) 2 & 3 only (d) 1, 2 & 3 only
(2) The university dealt with subjects such as
philosophy, mathematics, Buddhism, 19. What is a biosphere reserve? 28. What is a short story?
astronomy, etc. (a) A protected area meant for the conservation of (a) A novel with a lot of chapters
(3) Fa Hien studied and taught at Nalanda. wildlife only (b) A brief fictional narrative, typically under 10,000
(a) 1 & 2 only (b) 1 & 3 only (b) A region managed for the sustainable use of words
(c) 1, 2 & 3 only (d) 2 & 3 only natural resources (c) A poem that tells a story
(c) An area designated for the preservation of (d) A play with only one act
9. How do algae make their food? cultural heritage sites
(a) By Photosynthesis (d) A zone where human activities are entirely prohibited 29. Which tennis grand slam event is played on a clay
(b) By taking nutrition from other plants court?
(c) Both of the above 20. Why is liquid nitrogen dangerous for direct (a) Wimbledon (b) French Open
(d) None of the above consumption? (c) Australian Open (d) US Open
(a) Liquid nitrogen is harmless and can be safely
10. How did ancient sailors navigate without a ingested in small quantities. 30. Which of the following is the correct order of chess
magnetic compass in the ancient era? (b) Liquid nitrogen can cause severe damage to the titles in ascending chronological order?
(a) Celestial navigation mouth and stomach. (1) FIDE Master (2) Grandmaster
(b) Keeping boats near the seashore (c) Liquid nitrogen can form dangerous (3) Candidate Master (4) International Master
(c) Both of the above Nitroxyhaemoglobin in the blood. (a) 1-3-2-4 (b) 3-1-2-4
(d) None of the above (d) Liquid nitrogen is carcinogenic. (c) 3-1-4-2 (d) 1-4-3-2

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Competitions and Scholarships StudentEdge • JULY 2024 www.studentedge.in 20
NASA’s Astrophoto Challenge Summer 2024
India’s got • Organised by: NASA for you at night and send it to you

Edge Stars
• Eligibility: Open to all by email the next day.
• Option A: You have to process • Video Tutorial:
images of supernova Cassiopeia https://youtu.be/hxioUmssb1o
A using NASA’s JS9-4L tool. ( • Step 6: Process it on
Winners of May 2024 Month https://tinyurl.com/2mdtkfv3 ) https://tinyurl.com/mwmz48ww
Or [Video Tutorial:
• Option B: Take the picture of https://tinyurl.com/ycksawy ]
First Prize supernova Cassiopeia A and • Recognition: Nicely processed
process(edit) it with JS9-4L tool images will be displayed on the
Vikhyati Bhaktha
Class: VIII (available online). Cassiopeia A MicroObservatory Challenge page
National Public School, • Step 3: Select Normal View, 60 and receive expert feedback from
Bengaluru, Karnataka How to do it? seconds and any filter NASA scientists!
• Step 1: Go to • Step 4: Enter your email and • Last Date: August 5, 2024
182 https://tinyurl.com/2p8vw7a6 other details and submit. • More Details and Registration:
Stars • Step 2: Click Observe button for • Step 5: NASA will take an image https://tinyurl.com/5han46v4

Second Prize
14th International Painting Competition for Children
• Organised By: The Golești Museum, address (street, city, no., country etc.) –
Rudransh Chirgainya Romania Artwork title with explanation text of the
Class: VI,
St. Paul’s School, Gwalior, • Theme: The traditional suit in my country subject depicted in the painting (at least two
Madhya Pradesh • Format: Drawing or Painting, Size not be phrases). – Mentor’s name
less than 30x42 cm How to participate:
181.5 • Eligibility: 4 groups • Send your painting by paid international post
Stars • until 7 years old to MUZEUL GOLESTI, STR, RADU GOLESCU
• 8 –11 years old NR. 34, ORAS STEFĂNESTI, GOLESTI, JUD.
• 12 -15 years old ARGES, COD: 117717, ROMÂNIA
• 16 –19 years old INTERNATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION
Third Prize • Prizes : I, II, III (medals) one for each age FOR CHILDREN – GOLESTI
group and Honorable Mentions Please write on the envelope: NO
Anaya Raghav • Identification texts: Mention the following COMMERCIAL VALUE.
Class: VII details on the back of the painting : – First • For more details: https://tinyurl.com/27m2pz6s
KV Gole Market, name – Last name – Girl or boy (sex) – Date • Last Date: August 31, 2024
New Delhi
of birth – Full postal address and email (stamped in your country)
181

2024 Art Contest

Stars

Visit www.studentedge.in to view

Edge Stars earned by you and the list • Organised By: Peace Pals on paper.
of consolation prize winners. International • Artwork must follow the
• Eligibility: Four Age Categories theme “LOVE” and must
• Age 5 – 7 include the Universal Message
• Age 8 – 10 of Peace “May Peace Prevail
• Age 11 – 13 On Earth” as part of the design

Attempt the worksheets given in this edition

• Age 14 – 16
• Theme: LOVE: Love begins with
of the artwork.
• Prizes: International
of StudentEdge and win exciting Cash Prizes,
Edge Stars and Certificates.
Me
• Does love begin with you?
• First Place Winners: 6 foot
Classic White Peace Pole. Day of Light
Monthly Prizes
• Where do you feel love?
• How do you express your
love?
• Second Place Winners:
Medium Size Desktop Peace
Pole.
Photo Contest
First Prize : Rs 1,000 • What makes you feel love? • Third Place Winners: Set of • Organised by: The international
Second Prize : Rs 500 • Why express Unconditional Mini Desktop Peace Poles. society for optics and photonics, USA
Love? • Finalists: Certificates and • Eligibility: Students aged 13 and
Third Prize : Rs 300 • Rules and Guidelines: letters above
10 Consolation Prizes : Rs 100 each • Size: Horizontal or Vertical • All participants: Certificate of • Theme: “The Power of Light,” which
design and must be 5 inches x Participation. aims to showcase the transformative
Annual Prizes 7 inches / 12.7 cm x 17.7 cm. • Last Date: August 31, 2024 and awe-inspiring impact of light on
First Prize : Rs 10,000 • All art must be original, hand- • More Details and Registration: our lives, communities, and planet.
Second Prize : Rs 5,000 drawn, sketched, or painted https://tinyurl.com/hbjets3n Two technology-specific divisions,
“Technology-Made Images” and a
Third Prize : Rs 3,000 “Technology Around the Globe,” are
10 Consolation Prizes : Rs 1,000 each
World Food Day Poster Contest
also available for entry.
Examples of content include, but are
• Eligibility not exclusive to, artistic images that
• Students studying in classes III to XII depict:
• Last Date to submit entries: 20th August 2024 • Various properties of light and how
• Rules: it interacts with the atmosphere,
Attempt the worksheets nicely, including the nature, and materials
Test Your Knowledge Quiz. • Light technology such as lasers,
• You can use additional sheets for descriptive LEDs, etc.
answers, but a concise and precise answer will • Images created with light
fetch you more stars. technology such as telescopes and
• Take a photo and submit your entries on • Organised by: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United microscopes
www.studentedge.in Nations • People interacting with light and/or
• The winners will be announced in the September • Eligibility: Children (ages 5-19) light technology
2024 edition of Student Edge. Annual winners • Topic: Design a poster that symbolises your favourite dish or recipe, • The betterment of the human
will be announced in the May 2025 issue. representing the importance of diverse, nutritious, safe and affordable condition with light
• Annual Prizes will be decided based on the total foods. Show us what this means to you, your community or the world • Prizes
Edge Stars earned in a year and published in the through art. • 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places: Surprise gift
May edition. • How to submit: Take a photo or scan your poster and submit your entry box of SPIE merchandise for ages
• The aim of the competition is to promote original by filling out the form on our website. 13 – 17
creative thinking in students. Parents are advised • Prizes: Winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition and a surprise • Last Date: September 16, 2024
not to dictate the answers. In case of any doubt, gift bag. • More Details and Registration:
StudentEdge reserves the right to take an online • Last Date: November 8, 2024 https://tinyurl.com/2p8hwrzd
interview of the student. • More Details and Registration: https://tinyurl.com/3xhn3r7f

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