S.I.V.

A
(Sharing Information for Value Addition)

Issue No 01 – Jan, 2025

Compiled by Sekhar Pariti
+91 94406 41014

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 Preface

With the help of Internet and AI we are able to

know many interesting things.

With a view to share such interesting issues to

others, I have decided to share whatever I come
across while surfing the Internet, in the form a
booklet titled Let Us Know (LUK) once a month,
on the last day of the month, starting from this
month.

I am contemplating to share about 10 interesting

facts in Monthly booklet.

Sekhar Pariti
31-01-2025 +91 9440641014

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Page 3 of 24
 Index

S No Topic Page Nos

01 Dark Oxygen 04-04
02 X Mark on the back of Train 05-05
03 Track Ballasts 06-07
04 Mean Sea Level (MSL) 08-09
05 Weighbridges 10-11
06 Interesting facts about the Moon 12-14
07 Republic Day (India) 15-16
08 Facts about India – 01 17-18
09 Facts about India – 02 19-20
10 Facts about India – 03 21-22

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01. Dark Oxygen
Dark oxygen is oxygen produced in the ocean without sunlight or
photosynthesis. It's produced by electrochemical activity in nodules on
the ocean floor.

It's produced thousands of feet below the ocean surface.

It's produced by electrochemical activity, not photosynthesis.

It's produced by nodules made of rare metals like manganese, iron, cobalt,
nickel, copper, and lithium.

The nodules act like natural batteries, splitting water molecules into
oxygen and hydrogen.

In July 2024, researchers discovered dark oxygen in the Clarion-Clipperton

Zone of the Pacific Ocean.

The discovery challenged the traditional understanding that sunlight is

necessary for oxygen generation.

It reveals a new mechanism of oxygen production in the ocean.

It expands our understanding of oxygen cycles and marine ecosystems.

It could impact deep-sea mining, which involves extracting minerals from

the ocean floor.

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02. X Mark on the back of Train

The X mark on the back of an Indian train indicates that the train has
passed without any coaches missing. It's a symbol of passenger safety that
helps railway officials confirm that the train is complete.

The X mark is located on the back of the last coach of the train.

The X mark is essential for passenger safety.

The X mark helps railway officials confirm that the train has passed
without any missing coaches.

If the last coach of the train doesn't have the X symbol, it could mean that
there is an emergency situation or the train is missing coaches.

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03. Track Ballasts

The gravel on railway tracks is most commonly called "ballast," which is

the technical term used to describe the crushed stone or gravel material
that supports and levels the tracks; other less common names might
include "track ballast" or "railway ballast.".

Track ballasts are used to ensure….

Stability - Track ballast keeps the tracks stable so trains can run safely and
smoothly.

Drainage - Track ballast prevents water from reaching the tracks and
softening the ground.

Vegetation prevention - Track ballast prevents vegetation from growing

on the tracks, which could weaken the ground.

Vibration reduction: Ballast reduces vibrations from passing trains, which

can extend the life of the railway infrastructure.

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Track ballast is spread out on the ground to raise the level of the track.
The ballast is packed below, between, and around the railroad ties, which
are the large beams that support the rails. The rails are bolted to the ties.

Traditionally, track ballast has been made of crushed stone, such as

granite or limestone. In recent years, other materials such as recycled
concrete and slag have also been used.

Heavy freight trains require a stronger and more durable ballast than
lighter passenger trains.

A funny name for crushed gravel could be: "Rock Dust", "Stone Shards",
"Gravel Grunt", "Rocky Crumbs", "Pebble Powder", "Mini-Mountain
Mash", "Stone Snack", "Gravel Goop", "Rock Rubble", or "Tiny Terror
Tumbles".
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04. Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Mean Sea Level (MSL) is written on railway station boards to help train
drivers and guards control the speed and power of the train. It also helped
with the construction of the first railway stations in India. MSL written on
railway stations to ensure……

Safety: MSL helps keep passengers safe by informing drivers and guards
about the altitude of the train.

Construction: MSL helped with the construction of the first railway

stations in India by helping to avoid flooding and high tides.

Building plans: MSL helped with the planning of building constructions

near the station.

Train power and speed: MSL helps drivers decide how much power and
speed to use for the train.

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MSL help train drivers…………..

Altitude changes - When the altitude changes, drivers can adjust the
power and speed of the train. For example, when the train climbs a hill,
the driver increases the power.

Surface conditions - When the train passes over a hill or a slope, the driver
can adjust the power and speed of the train.

MSL not be written on newer stations as modern technology has made it

possible to plan and monitor train speeds without relying on MSL.

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05. Weighbridges
Weighbridges, also known as truck scales, are used to weigh vehicles and
their contents. They are used in many industries, including shipping,
construction, and waste treatment.

Uses

Safety - Weighbridges ensure vehicles are not overloaded, which can be

dangerous and damage roadways.

Compliance - Weighbridges ensure vehicles comply with weight

restrictions and regulations.

Efficiency - Weighbridges help businesses improve efficiency and

productivity by providing insights into loading and transportation
processes.

Cost savings - Weighbridges help businesses save money by avoiding fines

and penalties, and by reducing unnecessary costs.

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Inventory tracking - Weighbridges help businesses track inventory and
shipments by recording the weight of vehicles and their loads.

Tolls and fees - Weighbridges are used to assess tolls and other fees.

Weighbridges weigh vehicles by calculating the difference between the

weight of the vehicle when empty and when loaded. The weight is
recorded and stored in a computer system.

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06. Interesting facts about the Moon

1. The Moon is Earth's only permanent natural satellite

It is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System, and the largest
among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits.

2. The Moon is the second densest satellite

Among those whose densities are known anyway. The first densest is
Jupiter's satellite Io.

3. The Moon always shows Earth the same face

The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth. Its near side is marked by
large dark plains (volcanic ‘maria’) that fill the spaces between the bright
ancient crustal highlands and the prominent impact craters. Learn more
about the Moon's phases

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4. The Moon’s surface is actually dark

Although compared to the night sky it appears very bright, with a

reflectance just slightly higher than that of worn asphalt. Its gravitational
influence produces the ocean tides, body tides, and the slight lengthening
of the day.

5. The Sun and the Moon are not the same size

From Earth, both the Sun and the Moon look about same size. In fact the
Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun, but also 400 times closer to Earth.

6. The Moon is drifting away from the Earth

The Moon is moving approximately 3.8 cm away from our planet every
year.

7. The Moon makes the Earth move as well as the tides

Everyone knows that the Moon is partly responsible for causing the tides
of our oceans and seas on Earth, with the Sun also having an effect.
However, as the Moon orbits the Earth it also causes a tide of rock to rise
and fall in the same way as it does with the water.

The effect is not as dramatic as with the oceans, but nevertheless it is a

measurable effect, with the solid surface of the Earth moving by several
centimetres with each tide.

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08. The Moon was made when a rock smashed into Earth

The most widely-accepted explanation is that the Moon was created when
a rock the size of Mars slammed into Earth, shortly after the solar system
began forming about 4.5 billion years ago.

9. The Moon has quakes too

They're not called earthquakes but moonquakes. They are caused by the
gravitational influence of the Earth. Unlike quakes on Earth that last only
a few minutes at most, moonquakes can last up to half an hour. They are
much weaker than earthquakes though.

10. There is water on the Moon!

This is in the form of ice trapped within dust and minerals on and under
the surface. It has been detected on areas of the lunar surface that are in
permanent shadow and are therefore very cold, enabling the ice to
survive. The water on the Moon was likely delivered to the surface by
comets.

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07. Republic Day (India)
Republic Day is celebrated annually on January 26. The day marks the
adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, which declared India a
republic. The Republic Day parade, a key highlight of the celebrations,
takes place on Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Some facts related to R
Day……>

01. Republic Day is celebrated on January 26 to commemorate the Purna

Swaraj Declaration made by the Indian National Congress in 1930. The
declaration called for complete independence from British rule.

2. The preparation for the Republic Day parade begins in July, a year
before. The participants get formally informed of their participation, and
on the day of the parade, they arrive at the venue by 3 am. By then, they
would have practiced for about 600 hours.

3. Every year, a Prime Minister or a President or the ruler of a nation is

invited as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day parade.

4. The gun salute firing matches the timing of the National anthem. The
first gunshot is fired at the start of the anthem, and the next one is fired
after 52 seconds. The cannons from which the shots are made were made
in 1941 and are involved in all formal programmes of the army.

5. Every year, a theme is decided for the Republic Day, which is followed
by various states and government departments.

6. The grand parade begins from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan
(President’s House), along the Kartavya Path, past India Gate, and onto
the historic Red Fort.

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7. Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, played
a pivotal role in drafting this landmark document, which replaced the
Government of India Act of 1935.

8. The first Republic Day celebrations took place at Irwin Stadium (now
Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium) in New Delhi in 1950. The event
featured the participation of more than 100 aircraft and 3,000 personnel
from the Indian military.

9. On Republic Day, the National Bravery Awards are announced to

honour children who have shown exceptional courage in saving lives or
standing up against injustices.

10. The Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian honours of India – are
presented by the President of India in a grand ceremony, 17ecognizing
those who have had a significant impact on the nation.

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08. Facts about India – 01
01. India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.

02. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000
years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus
Valley Civilization)

03. The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around
which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred
to the river Indus as the Sindhu.

04. The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan'
combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.

05. Chess was invented in India.

06. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in

India.

07. The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in
India in 100 B.C.

08. The world's first granite temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at

Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single
80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five
years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.

09. India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest country in
the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.

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10. The game of Snakes & Ladders was created by the 13th century poet
saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the
game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was
played with cowrie shells and dices. In time, the game underwent several
modifications, but its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds take
people to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.

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09. Facts about India – 02
01. The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built
in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea
level.

02. India has the largest number of post offices in the world.

03. The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a
million people.

04. The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More
than 10500 students from all over the world studied more than 60
subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the
greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

05. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The

Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.

06. India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the
early 17th century.

07. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking

for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.

08. The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over
6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit
word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word
'Nou'.

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09. Bhaskar Acharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit
the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his
calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was
365.258756484 days.

10. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician
Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the
Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before
the European mathematicians.

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10. Facts about India – 03
01. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India. Quadratic
Equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century.

02. Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world (Source:
Gemological Institute of America).

03. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the
Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan
mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

04. Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over 2600 years ago
Sushrata and his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract,
artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and
brain surgeries.

05. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine.

Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,
physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient
Indian texts.

06. The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population. Jainism and
Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.

07. Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.

08. There are 300000 active mosques in India, more than in any other
country, including the Muslim world.

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09. Martial arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by
Buddhist missionaries.

10. Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5000 years.

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 S.I.V.A
List of Books shared
S No Date Name of the Book
01 01-08-2021 Life Lessons – Volume 01
02 30-07-2023 Life Lessons – Volume 02
03 08-03-2024 Life Lessons – Volume 03
04 09-08-2024 Book of Books - Volume 01
05 05-09-2024 Life Lessons – Volume 04
06 25-09-2024 J.O.K.E - Interesting words of English language
07 01-10-2024 Best Quotes –

In S.I.V.A (Sharing Information for Value Addition), I am sharing one

Article in English once in 4 days (4th, 8th, 12th, 16th…………).

Those who want to join WhatsApp Group or Telegram Group of S.I.V.A

may send a message to my WhatsApp - + 91 9440641014. Please furnish
your Name, Profession (if any) and Place in the message.

Sekhar Pariti
31-01-2025 +91 94406 41014

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