Relevance: GS1 (Geography), GS3 (Science & Tech, IR) | Source: Indian Express, Science Journal

1. Moss Spores Survive Nine Months in Space

News: A study in Science found that over 80% of moss spores survived 283 days outside the International Space Station and reproduced after returning to Earth.
Why it matters:

• Demonstrates extreme resilience of early land plants.
  
• Multi-layered cell walls offer passive protection from radiation, vacuum and temperature swings.
  
• Insight for long-term space missions: oxygen generation, humidity control, closed-loop life support.
  

2. Russia’s Push to Capture Pokrovsk (Eastern Ukraine)

News: Russia claims control of 75% of Pokrovsk, a major road-rail hub in Donetsk, aiming to advance deeper into the Donbas region.
Strategic significance:

• Hub for Ukrainian logistics and troop supply.
  
• Control strengthens Russia’s access to industrial Donbas and key mining zones.
  
• Could expose the Ukrainian-held western flank to greater vulnerability.
  

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Moss spores survived exposure to open space mainly due to active metabolic repair.
   
2. Pokrovsk lies in Ukraine’s Donbas region, a major industrial belt.
   

Which of the above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is incorrect because survival was due to passive structural protection, not active repair.