FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

Did You Know  🤔

Earth’s place in the cosmos is incredibly tiny compared to the vastness of the universe. In our own galaxy, the Milky Way, scientists estimate there are about 3.2 trillion planets, many of which could be very different from Earth some gas giants, some rocky worlds, and possibly some with conditions suitable for life. Our Sun, while essential to us is just one of 200 billion stars shining in this galaxy, each with its own potential system of planets.But even the Milky Way itself is not special in the grand scheme of astronomers have discovered that the observable universe contains around 2 trillion galaxies each with billions of stars and countless planets.This means the universe may hold sextillions of worlds, making Earth just a tiny dot in an ocean of cosmic possibilities.The sheer scale reminds us that while our planet feels vast to us, in the universe it is almost unimaginably small.

#space #science #fact #facts

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

*Key Changes in Income Tax Slabs under New Tax Regime for Financial Year 2025-26 (Assessment Year 2026-27)*

Income up to ₹4,00,000 – No tax (previously ₹3,00,000).

₹4,00,001 to ₹8,00,000 – 5% tax.

₹8,00,001 to ₹12,00,000 – 10% tax.

₹12,00,001 to ₹16,00,000 – 15% tax.

₹16,00,001 to ₹20,00,000 – 20% tax.

₹20,00,001 to ₹24,00,000 – 25% tax (new slab introduced).

Above ₹24,00,000 – 30% tax.

*Additional Points*

The basic exemption limit has been raised from ₹3 to ₹4 lakh, providing greater tax relief for lower-income groups.

A new 25% tax slab has been introduced for income between ₹20 and ₹24 lakh.

The tax rebate under Section 87A has been expanded to cover incomes up to ₹12 lakh, effectively making tax liability zero for incomes up to this limit.

The highest surcharge rate has been capped at 25%.

The new tax regime remains the default tax regime, with fewer deductions allowed, making it more beneficial for those with few exemptions to claim.

Salaried and pensioned individuals get an enhanced standard deduction of ₹75,000.

These changes simplify the tax structure, reduce tax burden on many taxpayers and make the new regime more attractive , relative to the old regime.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Brazil has launched a slew of measures to support exporters hit by a 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US government. The initiative, called Sovereign Brazil, provides around 5.562 billion US dollars in affordable loans, tax breaks and other measures, prioritising small businesses and those dealing in perishable foods. 

FACTS AND FIGURES: PERILS OF SMOKING

Today’s focus: Smoking — a habit that has destroyed countless lives, families, and futures.

"Tobacco isn’t just a smoker’s menace. Its deadly reach extends to innocent bystanders, too.”

A Shocking Historical Truth

By the mid-20th century, about 80% of men and 40% of women in the UK smoked.

The warning bells rang loudly in 1957, when medical research conclusively linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer. The news was serious enough to be debated in Parliament — yet change was painfully slow. It took years before public policy and personal choices caught up with the science.

The Perils in Numbers – Today

(Source: WHO, World Bank, CDC, India’s Ministry of Health)

🌏 Worldwide

Smokers: Over 1.3 billion people

Annual Deaths: More than 8 million (including 1.3 million from secondhand smoke)

Economic Cost: Over US $1.4 trillion every year in healthcare and productivity loss

Biggest Killers: Lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, COPD

📍 India

Smokers: ~267 million (includes cigarettes, bidis, chewing tobacco)

Annual Deaths: Over 1 million

Youth at Risk: Nearly 30% of teens aged 13–15 have tried tobacco in some form

Healthcare Burden: ₹1.8 lakh crore per year

Why These Numbers Matter

One cigarette contains over 7,000 chemicals — 70 of them are proven carcinogens.

Smoking harms every organ of the body.

Secondhand smoke kills, too — even brief exposure is dangerous.

Quitting works: Within 1 year of quitting, the risk of heart disease drops by half. In 10 years, lung cancer risk falls to nearly that of a non-smoker.

🚭 If you smoke, quit today.

Every day without tobacco is a gift to your lungs, heart, and loved ones.

If you don’t smoke — never start.

Sources: WHO Tobacco Fact Sheet 2025, GATS India, CDC Global Tobacco Atlas, UK Parliament Archives.

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for the help in creating this blogpost, WHO for the statistics and Wikimedia Commons for the images 

> 💬 What’s your message to someone who smokes or is thinking of starting? Share your thoughts in the comments — your words might save a life.

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES : GRAND CANYON HIT BY A MASSIVE METEORITE

Scientists have found evidence of a massive paleolake in the Grand Canyon, which was likely formed around 56,000 years ago due to a giant meteorite impact. This impact, which created the Meteor Crater in Arizona, is believed to have triggered a massive landslide that dammed the Colorado River, creating a lake approximately 50 miles long and 300 feet deep.

*Key Findings:*

- *Paleolake Existence*: Driftwood and lake sediments found in Stanton's Cave, located 150 feet above the current river level, suggest that a massive lake once existed in the area.

- *Meteorite Impact*: The impact of the meteorite is estimated to have generated an earthquake equivalent to a magnitude 5.4 to 6.0, causing shockwaves that shook loose unstable cliffs in the Grand Canyon.

- *Landslide and Dam*: The resulting landslide likely blocked the Colorado River, forming a natural dam that created the paleolake.

*Evidence and Research:*

- Researchers dated the driftwood to around 56,000 years ago, correlating it with the timing of the meteorite impact.

- Similar caves throughout the Grand Canyon region were examined, and ancient beaver tracks were found in areas inaccessible to water-dwelling animals today, further supporting the paleolake theory ¹ ².

*Implications:*

- This discovery provides new insights into the geological history of the Grand Canyon and the potential consequences of massive meteorite impacts on Earth's landscape.

- The study highlights the significance of considering the impact of such events on the environment and the potential hazards they pose ³.

Grateful thanks to WhatsApp Meta AI 

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

FACTS AND FIGURES

CHEQUES TO DEAD PEOPLE! 

$1.4 billion worth of stimulus checks was sent to more than 1 million dead Americans, a congressional watchdog said yesterday. 

That happened partially because the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which was in charge of sending out stimulus checks, didn’t have access to the Social Security Administration’s set of death records.  

Excerpt from

MORNING BREW,  dt June 26, 2020.

Grateful thanks to MORNING BREW.