The earthquake that recently struck Turkey logged a magnitude of 7.8 on the Moment Magnitude Scale – a measurement system that has evolved to give a more accurate reflection of seismic events compared to its predecessor, the Richter Scale. While the Richter Scale – developed by Charles Francis Richter in 1935 – provides a logarithmic measure where each step represents a tenfold increase in seismic activity, it’s most effectively applied to certain frequency and distance ranges.
To address these limitations, the Moment Magnitude Scale (often abbreviated to Mw) was established. This scale calculates the total energy discharged during an earthquake event, offering a more precise estimation of magnitude, particularly for larger scale seismic events. Unlike the Richter scale, Moment Magnitude factors in additional variables to compute the energy released using seismic moment.
Two other scales – the Modified Mercalli Scale (MMS) and the Rossi-Forel Scale – are also used in the field of seismology, but these primarily focus on measuring earthquake intensity, or the amount of shaking experienced at a given location.
The Hazards of Asphyxiation
Tragically, seven workers in Andhra Pradesh recently lost their lives due to asphyxiation while performing oil sludge removal tasks in an edible oil tank. Asphyxiation is a potentially lethal interruption of the respiratory process, resulting from inadequate oxygen reaching the brain. This lack of oxygen often leads to unconsciousness and, in severe cases, death.
Aside from oxygen deprivation, asphyxia can also be triggered by physical damage or obstruction of breathing passageways, such as in cases of choking, strangulation, or near-drowning incidents when large quantities of fluid are inhaled.
Addressing Cyber Threats with Section 69 (A) of IT Act
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently exercised powers under Section 69 (A) of the IT Act, 2000 to impose an urgent blockade on 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending applications. Many of these sites and apps were reportedly linked to China and deemed to contain content prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.
Over the last three years, a wave of complaints involving extortion and harassment related to these money-lending apps has emerged. Borrowers reported being subjected to exorbitant interest rates for relatively small loans.
Section 69 of the IT Act empowers the government to issue content-blocking orders to online intermediaries such as Internet Service Providers, telecom service providers, and search engines if their content is deemed a threat to India’s national security, sovereignty, or public order.
Recognizing Musical Achievements with the Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards – originally known as the Gramophone Awards – have been celebrating musical achievements annually since 1959. These awards are bestowed by two main bodies: the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (LARAS), with the latter recognizing recordings in Spanish and Portuguese languages.
Bengaluru-based Indian composer Ricky Kej added to the rich history of the Grammys by scooping up the award for Best Immersive Audio Album for his latest creation, Divine Tides. This win takes Ricky’s Grammy tally to three, making him the only Indian to achieve such a feat. His previous wins came in 2015 and 2022 when he bagged the Best New Age Album category for ‘Winds of Samsara’ and Divine Tides respectively.
