General Science
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
▪ Context: Two more persons in Kozhikode district of Kerala have been diagnosed with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
▪ PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and poorly maintained swimming pools.
▪ This free-living microorganism primarily feeds on bacteria but can become pathogenic in humans.
▪ This one-celled organism can infect the brain and destroy the tissues, also called ‘brain-eating
amoeba’.
▪ These rare infections are fatal, with 97% mortality. Most people die within one to 18 days.
▪ PAM does not spread from person to person.
▪ The amoeba enters the body through the nose and reaches up to the brain to infect it.
Phoenix roxburghii
▪ Recently, researchers have identified a new palm species and named it as Phoenix roxburghii.
▪ It is a new palm species named after William Roxburgh, considered the father of Indian Botany.
▪ Distribution: It is found on India’s eastern coast and Bangladesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Pakistan.
Green Ammonia
▪ Ammonia (NH3) is a nitrogen and hydrogen based chemical compound widely used in the production of fertilisers and industrial chemicals.
▪ Ammonia is currently produced from natural gas and, in its production process, emits 2 tonnes of CO₂ for every tonne of ammonia.
▪ For this reason, conventional ammonia is referred to as grey ammonia.
▪ Green ammonia, on the other hand, does not emit CO₂ in its production process.
▪ Uses of Ammonia: Essential for nitrogen in fertilizers, raw material for chemicals (nitric acid, fibres, explosives, dyes, pharmaceuticals), and as a fuel for engines and power generation.
