Have you been following the news headlines? Answers on page 3 1 West Bengal’s __________ artists are battling odds to keep tradition alive. 2 Sotheby's is auctioning the biggest piece of ______ in New York. 3 Madhubani is a traditional art from _________ region. 4 Chihuahua is a city in ___________. 5 Who won the Wimbledon men's singles title this year? PHOTO: REUTERS C M Y K A ND-X www.thehindu.com FOLLOW US facebook.com/thehinduinschool twitter.com/the_hindu CONTACT US school@thehindu.co.in Vol.148 No.169 Printed at » Chennai » Coimbatore » Bengaluru » Hyderabad » Madurai » Noida » Visakhapatnam » Thiruvananthapuram » Kochi » Vijayawada » Mangaluru » Tiruchirapalli » Kolkata » Hubballi » Mohali » Malappuram » Mumbai » Lucknow » Cuttack » Patna THURSDAY July 17, 2025 DELHI 6 Pages ₹ 6.00 The Panchvaktra Mahadev Temple at the confluence of the Beas and Suketi rivers flowing in spate after cloudburst, in Mandi district on July 1, 2025. PHOTO: PTI Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country’s farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Climate experts say the high temperatures and heavy rain are also contributing to the melting of glaciers in the mountainous Himalayan region, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. The South Asian region has traditionally had two monsoon seasons. One typically lasts from June to September, with rains moving southwest to northeast. The other, from roughly October to December, moves in the opposite direction. But with more planet-warming gases in the air, the rain now only loosely follows this pattern. This is because the warmer air can hold more moisture from the Indian Ocean, and that rain then tends to get dumped all at once. It means the monsoon is punctuated with intense flooding and dry spells, rather than sustained rain throughout. “We are witnessing a clear climatic shift in monsoon patterns across South Asia,” said Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune and author of several United Nations climate reports. What has changed? Traditionally, people in India and neighbouring countries excitedly awaited the monsoon rains, which would finally mean the end of summer heat. But attitudes are changing as disasters increase during the and Himalayan mountain ranges. The study found that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream. Heavy monsoon rains can exacerbate the problem. “A lot of the mountain areas tend to have more warming than the global average, resulting in more glaciers melting,” said Miriam Jackson, glaciologist at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. An October 2023 glacial lake overflow in the Indian state of Sikkim triggered flooding that killed 55 people and damaged bridges, buildings and a hydropower dam that was under construction. Increasing extreme events Heavy rainfall and increasing heat are leading to snow and ice avalanches, rockfalls and other events that can trigger the lakes to breach or overflow, Shreshta said. “Even small glacial lakes are now breaching and causing damage,” she said. Installing early warning systems and building in less risky areas can help reduce damage from heavy rains, climate experts say. “If you know a flood is coming, then people can get to higher ground and there could be a sort of standard early warning system along a river that sends out a siren,” Jackson said, adding that social media and messaging applications can help people spread warnings to those downstream. Koll, the Pune-based scientist, said that rapid urbanisation, shrinking floodplains and loss of natural drainage also exacerbate damage from heavy rains. Koll said that most government response currently comes after disasters, and there is a lack of long-term planning. “In the future monsoon, extreme rains are projected to intensify further, in addition to sporadic water shortages. Hence, we need proactive, long-term strategies that combine science, policy, and community engagement,” he said. Jackson said the biggest issue, however, is to try to reduce emissions of planet-heating gases because there are limits to adapting to extreme weather. “If we continue with, you know, business as usual, and we have the same kind of emissions, then the world is going to keep on getting warmer, and there will be more intense rain and floods. At some point, we could go beyond the limits of adaptation,” she said. AP rainy seasons. “The frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are increasing, often overwhelming drainage infrastructure in urban areas and triggering flash floods,” Koll said. Higher temperatures and longer periods of drought are also making farming harder in South Asia, climate experts said. “More than 60% of the people in South Asia are dependent on agriculture, and almost all of them are dependent on monsoon rainfall,” said Finu Shreshta, a climate scientist at Kathmandu, Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. A 2023 report by Shreshta's organisation found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush Mountain regions are seeing more glacial lakes overflowing; early warning systems and long-term planning can help, say experts Climate change makes India’s monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains A villager wades through floodwaters in Kampur, Assam, on June 2. PHOTOS: AP Army soldiers and rescuers evacuate patients and medical staff from a flooded hospital in Imphal. A motorcyclist with his family drive on a street during heavy rainfall in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on June 27. A chihuahua saved a hiker who fell eight metres (26 feet) into a glacier crevasse high in the Swiss Alps. The lapdog's "extraordinary" heroics surely saved his master, the Air Zermatt rescue service said, refusing to leave the spot where the man disappeared into the crevasse, leading rescuers straight to him. While the man was able to call for help with a walkie-talkie, rescuers struggled to locate him. "The glacier surface was wide and the hole was barely visible," they said. But then they spotted the tiny shivering Chihuahua perched on a rock, refusing to budge. "Thanks to the dog's behaviour, the crew was able to abseil down to the casualty and save him." AFP Chihuahua to the rescue A Chihuahua dog sits on snow in Zermatt, Switzerland. PHOTO: AP LONG STORY C M Y K A ND-X 1290 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU IN SCHOOL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 2 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ACTIVITY GK Corner (3 mins) A person is seen whisking matcha while preparing a drink at a café in Berkeley, California. Matcha — a finely ground green tea powder — has seen a surge in global popularity, leading to a shortage. This is because producing high-quality matcha is extremely labour-intensive, and the number of tea farmers has declined over the years. The best-quality matcha is still grown in its traditional region, where farmers carefully shade, harvest, and process the leaves by hand to preserve their rich flavour and nutrients. Matcha, the vibrant green tea powder, is traditionally grown and produced in which country? PHOTO JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES Ans: Japan Six teams, each in the men's and women's categories, are set to battle for medals in an upcoming tournament. With 90 athlete quotas allocated for each tournament, participating nations can name squads of up to 15 members. Following the announcement of the confirmed number of teams and the venue for LA28 back in April, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the T20 competitions for the men's and women's categories at LA28 will run from July 12 to July 29, 2028. The medal matches will be held on 20 July (women's) and 29 July (men's) respectively. The announcement marks another landmark moment for the sport, which will be making its second-ever Olympic appearance, 128 years after its debut in Paris 1900, when Great Britain claimed gold in a one-off match against France. The return of cricket to the Olympics signals another major step forward in the sport's global expansion, and to celebrate the game on one of the world's biggest sporting stages. This is only the second time the sport has made an appearance at the Olympics since 1900. Back then, only two teams, Great Britain and France, had played a two-day match, with the former winning the gold medal. Cricket's inclusion in the Olympics demonstrates its growing popularity, with women's cricket making its Commonwealth Games debut in 2022 at Birmingham. Meanwhile, both men's and women's cricket have been part of the Asian Games programme since 2010, 2014, and 2023. 1) When are the medal cricket matches for men and women being held according to the paragraph? .............................................................................................................. 2) When was the last time cricket made an appearance at the Olympics? .............................................................................................................. 3) When did women's cricket make its Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham? .............................................................................................................. Two-minute comprehension Read the paragraphs below and answer the questions This work is a book of texts from the Dutch-language diary of a young Jewish girl named Anne Frank, which she kept while she was in hiding with her family, evading the Nazis during their occupation of the Netherlands. The book details all of the scary experiences she endured and the violence and chaos that ensued. A LIT-WIT IN TWO MINUTES c Guess the book Answer: The Diary of a Young Girl PHOTO: AFP WORD BUILDER How many words can you make with the letters in the word CONSOLIDATION ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ _____________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ 1) What does LLM stand for? 2) What are the three types of AI? 3) Who is the CEO of OpenAI? 4) Who is the father of AI? 5) Who invented AI in India? MINI QUIZ 2 mins... Today’s quiz is all about Artificial Intelligence Answers: 1) Large Language Model, 2) Narrow or weak AI, strong or regular AI, and Superintelligent AI or Artificial Superintelligence, 3) Sam Altman, 4) John McCarthy, 5) Dr Raj Reddy PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS In how many minutes did you complete today’s activities? If I were a pirate captain, I would... 5 minutes A noun, the word means a significant stage or event in the development of something. Unscramble - in a minute Ans: Milestone O E I N M S L T E x x x x x x x x x Pronounced as loo·muh·nuh·ree Meaning: Luminary is a noun that describes a person who is highly inspirational and motivates others, mostly within a specific field. Origin: The word ‘luminary’ is derived from the 15th-Century Old French word luminarie or the Latin word luminarium , with the term ‘lumin’ meaning ‘light’. Usage: The student was excited to meet the literary luminary who was visiting his school. Activity: Use the word in a sentence or two of your own. __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Word of the Day - 2 minutes LUMINARY Character Crossover Given below are two characters from different fictional worlds. How would a conversation between them go? Continue the conversation provided. Description Zuko Description Mia Zuko from ‘Avatar The Last Airbender’ is the banished prince of the Fire Nation who wanted to catch the Avatar and regain his honour. Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries is a schoolgirl who was hit with the news that she was a princess. Zuko: You want to talk about unfair? I got banished by my father, just for speaking out of turn! Mia: You got banished for that?! And here I am complaining about my grandma telling me not to slouch! PHOTOS: FLICKR / VTDAINFO, THE HINDU C M Y K A ND-X CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU IN SCHOOL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 3 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC PLANET EARTH Published by Nirmala Lakshman and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRP Act). Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X Shubhanshu Shukla returns to Earth! India celebrates astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla return from space after ‘historic’ mission ISRO said the Ax-04 mission will provide valuable inputs for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission and offer hands-on experience in the nuances of international crew integration, medical and psychological preparation, real-time health telemetry, experiment execution and crew–ground coordination. It said these insights will directly influence mission planning, safety validation and astronaut readiness for India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission. Seen here is Axiom-4 mission crew assisted out of the Dragon Spacecraft onto the recovery vehicle, after their return to earth. PHOTO: AXIOM SPACE/ YOUTUBE/ANI. ALL TEXT: PTI As soon as Shukla made a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, thousands of miles away, his hometown of Lucknow erupted with festivities and applause. At his alma mater, the City Montessori School’s (CMS’s) Kanpur Road campus, tears flowed freely as Shukla’s family members, along with students, teachers and dignitaries, greeted the touchdown by waving the Indian flag. IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s father Shambhu Dayal Shukla and mother Asha Shukla and family cut a cake as part of the celebrations. PHOTO: ANI Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force ocer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space. PHOTO: @NASA VIA PTI Waving and smiling to cameras, Shukla and three other Axiom-4 mission astronauts emerged from the Dragon Grace spacecraft on Tuesday, taking their first breath of fresh air after completing their space sojourn. The Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the San Diego coast in southern California at 3:01 PM IST, capping a 20-day space travel of which 18 days were spent at the International Space Station. President Droupadi Murmu hailed Shukla’s role in piloting Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station that created a new milestone for India’s space exploration. PHOTO: @AXIOM_SPACE ON X VIA PTI The Axiom-4 crew conducted 60 scientific experiments during their stay, including seven designed by ISRO along with Indian research institutions and universities. In this screengrab from a video posted by @NASA on July 14, 2025, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla with other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission aboard the Dragon Grace spacecraft during their journey back to Earth. PHOTO: @NASA VIA PTI Shubhanshu Shukla’s space odyssey as part of the commercial mission to the International Space Station has set the stage for achieving India’s own ambitions of human spaceflight – Gaganyaan – and building the Bharat Antariksha Station soon after. India plans to undertake human spaceflight – Gaganyaan – in 2027 on a home-built rocket and a crew capsule that is at an advanced stage of preparedness. Seen here is Shubhanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station. PHOTO: AXIOM SPACE VIA PTI On Tuesday, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after spending 18 days at the International Space Station. Shukla is the first Indian to have visited the International Space Station. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he has inspired a billion dreams with his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. Lauding Shukla’s feat, the prime minister said it marks another milestone towards India’s own human space flight mission - Gaganyaan. Axiom-4 mission crew member and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reached Earth with other crew members of the mission after the Dragon spacecraft splashed down off California. PHOTO: @AXIOM_SPACE ON X VIA PTI Disclaimer: Readers are requested to verify & make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Director/s, Employees of this newspaper/company be held responsible/liable in any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper. 1) Pattachitra 2) Mars 3) Mithila 4) Mexico 5) Janik Sinner TODAY’S QUIZ: ANSWERS C M Y K A ND-X CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU IN SCHOOL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 4 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC SCIENCE VERA RUBIN’S LEGACY The VRO was originally proposed in 2001 and was then called the ‘Large Synoptic Survey Telescope’ (LSST). It was renamed as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in 2019. Rubin (1928-2016) was an American astronomer. She was the first to show that spiral galaxies rotated so fast that if their constituents were just stars, they should fly apart. The implication was that there are large amounts of unseen matter holding galaxies together, the substance we call dark matter today. Despite her pizoneering work, gender bias denied Rubin a Nobel Prize. Now, the VRO honours her and her colleagues by observing billions of galaxies as part of the ‘Legacy Survey of Space and Time’, which will help astronomers understand the nature of dark matter, whose existence first came to light in Rubin’s work. The author, Smriti Mahajan, is an astronomer and science communicator promoting STEM education through astronomy. theastronomyclass@gmail.com Ever imagined seeing a golf ball on the surface of the moon in an image taken from Earth? This is now possible with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO), the world’s latest astronomy facility, located on one of the peaks of Cerro Pachòn in northern Chile. Jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, this 8.4-metre telescope offers an unprecedented view of the universe. The 3,200-megapixel (MP) camera installed on the VRO has 67 times more pixels than an iPhone 16 Pro camera. The large mirrors and unique design allow the telescope to capture wide-angle 3.5-degree-diameter images, equivalent to the size of seven full moons in the sky. These unique features will allow the VRO to scan the entire southern hemisphere sky every three nights, which it will do continuously for 10 years. This ultra-high definition, wide-angle survey of the sky will thus create the longest astronomical time-lapse movie of all time, allowing for many discoveries in the solar neighbourhood and deep space alike. Ten million alerts While the future holds endless possibilities for this next-generation observing facility, the VRO was constructed to serve four major science goals. One of them is understanding the nature of dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up 80% of all matter in the universe. But while dark matter can’t be seen, it causes galaxies to clump together in specific ways. Astronomers will study the distribution of galaxies near and far in order to understand the properties of dark All galaxies interact with their neighbours gravitationally. Small satellites are torn apart by the gravity of bigger galaxies as they merge with them. The VRO will map the distribution of stars in the Milky Way, helping astronomers identify ‘streams’ of stars that once belonged to smaller galaxies that blended with the Milky Way millions of years ago. Given its unique long-term survey capability, the VRO will also discover millions of objects of variable brightness. For instance, dying stars explode as supernovae (a powerful and bright stellar explosion that signifies the end of a star's life), which brighten up for a few days before their nuclear furnace is extinguished. Some stars may have planets, or another star orbiting them, blocking their light from reaching us occasionally. Other variable stars may change in brightness because their outer surfaces pulse over a few hours to a few days. The first images In a June 23 press conference, the observatory revealed that the $473 million facility had already discovered 2,104 asteroids in a week of observations. All other efforts combined currently find around 20,000 asteroids a year. While one of the initial images displays swirling clouds of dust and gas in the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae (a well-known region of star formation lying within our own Milky Way Galaxy) 9,000 light years from Earth, another shows a section of the Virgo galaxy cluster located 54 million light years away. The giant images captured by the VRO are a journey through space and time: Milky Way stars shining in an array of colours from blue to red in the foreground, groups of galaxies with reddish hues moving away from us in distant space, and a suite of gravitationally interacting galaxies in a nearby cluster sandwiched in between. The VRO is distinguished from its predecessors, including the James Webb Space Telescope, as they are more sensitive; it can only observe a small patch of the sky at a time. PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS between Mars and Jupiter — have been discovered, only 30% of those smaller than 140 m are known so far. The VRO is expected to increase this figure to 90% and allow scientists to locate ‘killer asteroids’, which, despite their relatively small size, could devastate our planet if they strike it. With its unprecedented resolution, the VRO can raise the count of known solar system objects by 10x, discovering many new comets and asteroids, dwarf planets like Pluto, and even a ninth planet if it exists. changes are detected. When fully operational, the VRO will generate around 10 million alerts from 20 TB of raw data collected every night. That’s equivalent to more than three years of streaming videos. The changing sky While most of the changes in the sky are due to fast-moving objects such as comets, there exist other celestial entities whose position and brightness can change over time. For instance, while 1.5 million asteroids — rocky bodies orbiting the sun matter and figure out what it is made of. Since the VRO will scan the entire southern hemisphere sky over and over again, scientists will also get a pretty good idea of how the sky looks generally. This will allow them to pick up any changes in the sky relative to images taken a few days ago, a few weeks ago, and, eventually, a few years ago. In fact, its state-of-the-art technology allows the VRO to compare each image to the ‘general’ image of that part of the sky within 60 seconds and issue an alert if any The first images from the Vera Rubin Observatory, released on June 23, show a detailed view of 10 million galaxies, thousands of new asteroids, and stars changing brightness The world’s largest digital camera starts observing the cosmos Smriti Mahajan C M Y K A ND-X CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU IN SCHOOL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 5 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC MEDLEY BRAZILWOOD Also called Pernambuco wood, brazilwood is the national tree of Brazil, and is a flowering plant belonging to the legume family of Fabaceae. The tree is composed of dense, orange heartwood, and holds a historically valuable red dye that was used since the middle ages for fabrics, paints and inks. Once the trees were discovered by the Portuguese, they became a powerful part of trade as a more ecient source of dye. Traders and sailors grew so enamoured by the wood that they started referring to the country as the ‘Land of Brazil’ thus giving it its current name. Due to its red dye, brazilwood became an incredible source of manufacturing costly textiles like velvet. Q W I K I P E D I A : A DAILY SEARCH-AN D-LEARN ACTIVITY VIOLIN Also called a fiddle, a violin is a classical stringed instrument that is used by musicians and composers. It is recognised by its wooden body that holds four strings which are tuned to be perfect fifths and generate music when in contact with a drawn bow (a tensioned stick for music used to create vibration). This instrument is most famously used in the classical genre, both in solo performances and in orchestras. It is also utilised in other genres like folk, country, jazz, etc. It was first constructed in the 16th Century in Italy and went through modifications over time. The main instrument is made of tonewood like ebony, maple, etc. The bow is normally composed of carbon, while costlier ones are made with traditional materials like brazilwood. Ever been on Wikipedia to search for something? More often than not we start with one topic, click a few links and within no time, are eagerly reading something else. Qwikipedia is a game that tries to quench our curiosity to learn something new. Start with one search from a specific article in this newspaper, and get started on a journey of learning with multiple clicks. Surprise yourself by finding new routes each time! THE THURSDAY’S TREKKER: VIOLIN → GENOA C M Y K A ND-X So, the path we have travelled today is Violin → Brazilwood → Velvet → Genoa Three clicks! Hop over! It’s time for the next question. Friday’s Freerider The Nutcracker → American Civil War Send in your paths for the above to school@thehindu.co.in with the subject: Qwikipedia GENOA Genoa is the sixth largest city of Italy. As of 2025, it hosts a population of 8,18,651, within its metropolitan area. It is considered to be one of the most important ports of the Mediterranean, and the busiest city of Italy. It covers 243 square kilometres of area between the Apennine Mountains and the Ligurian Sea. From the 12th to the 15th Century, the city was a prominent participant in trade and commerce throughout the continent of Europe. Following this it grew in naval power and came to be known as one of the wealthiest cities in the world, while also nicknamed la Superba, meaning "the proud one". VELVET Velvet is defined as a densely and closely woven fabric that has a unique soft texture. It is woven using a distinct loom that can weave two thicknesses at the same time. This is a long and complicated process, due to which it was incredibly expensive to weave this fabric in the olden days when industrial power looms were unavailable. Velvet can be created through the utilisation of different kinds of fibres like linen, cotton, and the most expensive one being silk. Due to its cost, quality, and diculty in production, in the past, velvet was a fabric associated with nobility. One of the earliest known velvet-producing places is the city of Genoa. A IN SCHOOL INBOX c Showcase your creativity A couple of artivity entries sent in by students. ART IVITY Read the newspaper and create an original artwork based on a news item that interests you and send your entry in JPEG format (not as PDF) to school@thehindu.co.in with the subject - Artivity. ONLY artworks based on current news or issues relating to Science, Space, Environment, Wildlife and Sports will be considered for publication. Please AVOID mailing other works. Mention your name, class, school and city in the same mail (not in separate mails). Name: Ananya Anil Class: IX School: Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra Thanisandra, Bengaluru, Karnataka Name: Charvi Chaudhary Class: XI School: Gurukul The School, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh A roebuck stands in the last light of day, shortly before sunset, in a field of grain in the Oderbruch region of eastern Brandenburg, Germany. The roebuck is referred to the male roe, a species of deer. It is small, reddish or grey-brown, and adapts well to cold environments. The species is widespread across the globe, in areas like Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, from Scotland to the Caucasus, and is even seen in northeastern Iran. PHOTO: AP “BUCK-FIELD” A mind game and a puzzle that you solve with reasoning and logic. Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. The solution to yesterday’s puzzle is at right. A SUDOKU c He was an Indian author, lawyer, journalist, diplomat, and politician. He is best known for the novel Train to Pakistan (1956), inspired by the Partition of India. He also was appointed as a journalist for All India Radio in 1951, and later the Department of Mass Communications of UNESCO at Paris in 1956. Between 1980 and 1986, he served as Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. GUESS WHO? Answer: Khushwant Singh PHOTOS: THE HINDU, FLICKR, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Familiar foes face each other in quarter-final ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: England's run to the Women's Euro 2022 title included a 4-0 semi-final victory over Sweden, but captain Leah Williamson said that thrashing at Bramall Lane was ancient history as the sides prepare to meet again on Thursday. England play their familiar foe in the European championship quarter-finals in Zurich, and while they would love to sweep them aside again, Williamson said England have tremendous respect for their opponents. "I think when you come up against a team, when you have had a previous fixture like that (2022 semi), then you're always probably going to remember it," Williamson said on Tuesday at England's base camp in Zurich. "But I think so much has happened since. It's different, two very different teams now compared to that night." C M Y K A ND-X CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU IN SCHOOL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 6 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC SPORTS A AT A GLANCE c ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: Women’s football is continuing to grow and this time it is Switzerland which is highlighting that trend. The Women’s European Championship is being played in the picturesque, Alpine country and it has become a festival of colour, with fans dancing in the streets as well as the stands. Records are tumbling on and off the pitch and are expected to continue to do so until the final on July 27 in Basel. Here’s a look at some of the numbers after the 24 matches of the group stage: 89 The number of goals scored in the group stage, surpassing the previous record of 78 set in 2022. Only seven goals would have to be scored to better the all-time mark of 95, also set in 2022. 4 The number of red cards that were shown, beating the record of three brandished in the 2017 group stage. Germany’s Carlotta Wamser, Norway’s Marit Lund, Iceland’s Hildur Antonsdóttir and Portugal’s Ana Borges were the players dismissed. 38 years, 176 days Jess Fishlock became the oldest goalscorer at the Women’s Euros when she netted Wales’ first-ever goal at the tournament in its 4-1 loss to France. 22 The number of group stage matches that were sold out. 4,61,582 Almost half a million people attended the group stage matches, breaking the mark of 3,57,993 set in England at Euro 2022. Among other records to fall were the highest attendance at a group stage match not involving the host nation (34,165 at Germany vs. Denmark) and the most fans at a Switzerland women’s national team match (34,063 against Norway in Basel). 1 Aleksander Ceferin, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA, has attended just one match — Switzerland’s opening game against Norway. 14,000 The number of supporters taking part in the lively fan walk — that was mainly a sea of red — to the Stadion Wankdorf ahead of Switzerland vs. Iceland. In total, around 60,000 people took part in the colourful fan walks before some of the matches in Switzerland. 4.5 million The peak audience on British broadcaster ITV for England’s 6-1 win over Wales. That match and France’s against the Netherlands was directly competing with the Club World Cup final between an English and French team — Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Euro 2025 won by far in the United Kingdom, with around 1.2 million viewers tuning into the Club World Cup final on Channel 5. However, 4.8 million viewers in France watched PSG’s loss compared to the 2.3 million people who watched France beat the Netherlands. AP Records fall and fans dance at Euro 2025 in Switzerland A BY THE NUMBERS c PHOTO: REUTERS Milan-Cortina medals unveiled VENICE, ITALY: Organisers of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics unveiled the medals for the Winter sports spectacular on Tuesday, designed to pay homage (special honour or respect shown publicly) to athletes and the team behind them. "We conceived a medal that represents purity and a return to essence," explained Raffaella Panie, the organising committee's brand director. "We celebrate the strength found in difference: two unique halves that join through the Olympic and Paralympic symbols to deliver a bold and unified message.” afp India U19 held to draw by England U19 in first Youth Test BECKENHAM, ENGLAND: The India Under 19 team was held to a tense draw after England Under 19 captain Hamza Shaikh (above) led from the front with a fighting century on the fourth and final day of the first Youth Test here. Chasing a stiff target of 350, England ended on 270/7 in 63 overs, frustrating the visitors' push for a win that would have given them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Shaikh was the mainstay of England's resistance, scoring a composed 112 off 140 balls with 11 fours and two sixes here on Tuesday. PTI "Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer, and I think she's very intelligent, she's a hard player to play against. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal – not so much now," Williamson said, laughing. The 28-year-old Williamson is in esteemed company having lifted a major championship trophy as England captain, and would be in a class of her own were she to lift a second. “You always want to do more” Asked if she was driven by the chance to make more history, Williamson said winning another major title definitely drove the team. "To do it alongside the team in 2022 was special. I'll b