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Current Edge Daily Brief 5th November 2025
Quote of the Day
“It is the spirit and not the form that keeps justice alive.” – EARL WARREN
What the Others Say
“Beijing’s decision to wield access to rare earths as a weapon has increased concerns about China outside the US too.” – THE GUARDIAN
Table of Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
- TH Science: Gamma-ray bursts from black hole ‘morsels’ could expose quantum gravity (Qudsia Gani)
- TH Text & Context: How BRICS is challenging SWIFT (Biswajit Dhar)
NEWS IN SHORT
- Researchers discover new species of Pilia genus of jumping spider in Chikkamagaluru
The Big Picture
TH Science: Gamma-ray bursts from black hole ‘morsels’ could expose quantum gravity
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Science & Tech
Why in News?
→ New theoretical study proposes detection of “black hole morsels” — tiny remnants from cosmic collisions — as probes of quantum gravity via gamma-ray bursts.
Quantum Gravity & Black Holes
- Gravity ↔ weakest fundamental force → quantum effects hard to test
- Quantum mechanics works for other forces → not yet unified with gravity
- Black holes = natural labs → extreme curvature of spacetime
- Hawking (1970s) → predicted Hawking radiation (quantum emission near event horizon)
Black Hole Morsels (BHM) Concept
- Hypothetical micro–black holes → asteroid-scale mass ✦ ultra-hot
- Possibly formed during black hole mergers → “pinched-off” spacetime pockets
- Evaporate via Hawking radiation → lifetime: ms–years (mass-dependent)
- Published in Nuclear Physics B (Aug 2024) → by CNRS & Univ. of Southern Denmark team
Radiation & Detectability
- Large BH → too cold → radiation undetectable
- Small BHM → ↑ temperature → strong γ-ray & neutrino emission
- Signature → delayed, isotropic high-energy γ-ray burst post-merger
- Detectable by current observatories → HAWC (Mexico), HESS (Namibia), LHAASO (China), Fermi Telescope (orbit)
Observational Evidence & Implications
- HESS data reanalysed → placed upper mass limits for possible morsels
- Delay time of burst ↔ directly linked to morsel mass
- Detection → would confirm Hawking radiation & expose quantum spacetime structure
- Could reveal deviations → “new physics” beyond Standard Model
- Acts as cosmic accelerator → probing energy scales beyond LHC capability
Challenges & Next Steps
- Formation conditions of morsels → still uncertain
- Need full merger simulations → realistic mass–lifetime models
- Future goal → refine predictions, mine γ-ray data for delayed burst patterns
Significance
- Potential first experimental access to quantum gravity
- Bridges gap between general relativity & quantum mechanics
- May unravel true nature of space, time, and gravity.
Test Your Knowledge 01
Q. The detection of gamma-ray bursts from black hole morsels would primarily help scientists to:
(a) Determine the age of the universe
(b) Test the unification of gravity with quantum mechanics
(c) Measure the mass of black holes in distant galaxies
(d) Prove the existence of dark energy
Hint: Such bursts could reveal quantum gravitational effects and help probe how gravity behaves at the quantum level.
TH Text & Context: How BRICS is challenging SWIFT
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – International Relations
Why in News?
BRICS unveiled a prototype of BRICS Pay (Oct 2024, Moscow) → aims to challenge SWIFT & dollar dominance in cross-border payments.
Background & Evolution
- 2014 Fortaleza Summit → NDB & Contingent Reserve Arrangement (1st Global South-led institutions).
- Post-2014 Crimea sanctions → Push for national currency use in intra-BRICS trade.
- 2017 → Agreed on currency cooperation: swaps, local settlements, direct investments.
- 2020s → BRICS Payments Task Force (BPTF) created → framework for integrated payment network.
- 2024 Kazan Summit → Focus on “Cross-Border Payments Initiative” & unveiling of symbolic BRICS banknote.
The BRICS Pay Initiative
- Objective → ↓ dependence on dollar/SWIFT; ↑ financial sovereignty; shield from US sanctions.
- Prototype → Unveiled Oct 2024 (Moscow) → step towards operational BRICS Pay.
- Members’ systems →
SPFS (Russia) → SWIFT alternative since sanctions.- CIPS (China) → Global reach (120+ countries); RMB in IMF SDR basket.
- UPI (India) → 9 countries onboard; global expansion ongoing.
- Pix (Brazil) → Central Bank–run; regional acceptance in Latin America.
- Interoperability → Key challenge → integrate distinct national systems seamlessly.
SPFS (Russia) → SWIFT alternative since sanctions.
CIPS (China) → Global reach (120+ countries); RMB in IMF SDR basket.
UPI (India) → 9 countries onboard; global expansion ongoing.
Pix (Brazil) → Central Bank–run; regional acceptance in Latin America.Strategic & Geopolitical Drivers
- Sanctions resistance → Russia & Iran inclusion ↑ urgency to bypass US-led system.
- De-dollarisation push → Symbolic BRICS banknote signalled shift; provoked US threats (Trump’s 100% tariff warning).
- South-South cooperation → NDB + BRICS Pay = autonomous financial ecosystem for Global South.
- Trump factor → Harsh rhetoric may accelerate political consensus on unified system.
Challenges Ahead
- Divergent ambitions → India promotes UPI; China pushes CIPS → potential rivalry.
- Technical integration → Data security, settlement standards, cyber risk management.
- Limited geography → BRICS Pay viable regionally first; global scaling uncertain.
- Trust deficit → Political, regulatory, & technological heterogeneity among members.
Outlook
- Short-term → Continued trials, interoperability pilots, regional currency settlements.
- Medium-term → Possible operational BRICS Pay hub linking member systems.
- Long-term → Viable SWIFT alternative for Global South → gradual erosion of dollar dominance.
Essence
BRICS Pay = emerging South-led financial infrastructure → aims for autonomy from Western control, but success hinges on internal alignment & system integration.
Test Your Knowledge 02
Q. With reference to the BRICS grouping, consider the following statements:
- The New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement were established at the Fortaleza Summit.
- The BRICS Payments Task Force was created to enhance coordination among central banks on monetary policy.
- The BRICS Pay initiative seeks to reduce dependence on the SWIFT network.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Hint: Fortaleza Summit (2014) → NDB & CRA; BRICS Pay → reduce dollar/SWIFT dependence; Task Force → for payment systems, not monetary policy.
Q. BRICS Pay, recently in news, primarily aims to:
(a) Replace the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) system.
(b) Facilitate cross-border payments in local currencies among BRICS members.
(c) Establish a digital currency common to all BRICS nations.
(d) Create a credit-rating agency for developing countries.
Hint: BRICS Pay → Cross-border local currency settlements & interoperability of member payment systems
News in Short
Researchers discover new species of Pilia genus of jumping spider in Chikkamagaluru
Why in News?
→ New jumping spider species Pilia malenadu discovered in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka.
Discovery Highlights
- Found at → Madhugundi village, Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru (W. Ghats)
- Researchers → Biodiversity team incl. naturalist Ajit Padiyar
- Publication → Zootaxa (Int. journal)
- Significance → 1st Pilia species discovery after 123 yrs (last in 1902, Kerala)
- Specimens → 24 (17♂, 3♀, 4 juveniles)
- Both sexes identified → 1st time for genus
Ecological Importance
- Location → Foothills of Western Ghats → rich biodiversity hotspot
- Habitat specificity → Found only on Memecylon umbellatum & M. malabaricum
- Indicator → Healthy ecosystem ✦ need for conservation
Related Findings
Same researcher (Padiyar) earlier discovered → Saffron reedtail (rare damselfly, endemic to W. Ghats)
Conservation Message
→ Species–habitat linkage critical ✦ Protect Western Ghats microhabitats to prevent loss of unique taxa.
