ENDEMIC STAGE OF A PANDEMIC TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- California has announced a shift to an endemic approach to Covid-19 that will focus on watching out for new variants and reacting quickly to outbreaks rather than issuing mandates for masking indoors. Concept- Infectious disease: Infectious diseases are spread by either bacterial or […]
LEPROSY TOPIC: Science & Tech. Context- The COVID-19 pandemic leading to social distancing and lockdowns caused a fall of 62.5% in the detection of active leprosy cases in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh due to COVID induced restrictions, says a study. Concept- About The Report: The latest report by the Leprosy […]
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY TOPIC: Science & Tech. Context- The Centre is working on a national policy on synthetic biology, an emerging science that deals with engineering life forms for a wide range of applications from making designer medicines to foods. Concept- The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology released a draft foresight […]
BLACK HOLES TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, which has a mass 4 million times greater than the Sun, is observed. Concept- Observations showing a roughly dough-nut-shaped cloud of cosmic dust and gas shrouding a supermassive black hole at the centre of galaxy […]
DARK MATTER TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- Astronomical observations suggest that a significant part of the universe is made up of dark matter which interacts with the rest of the universe only through the gravitational pull. Concept- Primordial black holes: One hypothesis is that dark matter comprises a large number of compact objects […]
FAST RADIO BURSTS (FRBs) TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- Astronomers of National Centre of Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) in Pune and the University of California in the U.S. have used the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to map the distribution of atomic hydrogen gas from the host galaxy of a fast radio burst (FRB) […]
NIGHT POLLINATORS TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- Moths vital to pollination in the Himalayan ecosystem, finds study. Concept- About The Study: Moths are widely considered as pests, but a recent study by scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has revealed that these group of insects are pollinators to a number of flowering […]
MH-60 R HELICOPTERS TOPIC: Science & Tech. Context- The first batch of three MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters contracted by the Navy from the United States are scheduled to arrive in India by mid-July, according to defence officials. Concept- India had signed a $2.2 bn deal for MH-60R helicopters built by Lockheed Martin during the […]
KISAN DRONES TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- PM Modi has flagged off 100 “kisan drones” in different parts of the country for spraying pesticides and other farm materials. Concept- Drones will also be promoted for crop assessment, digitisation of land records, spraying of insecticides and nutrients. Farmers can use high–capacity drones in the […]
Bt. BRINJAL TOPIC: Science & Tech Context- Maharashtra farmers, under the aegis of ShetkariSanghatana, launched a drive on Thursday to cultivate Bt brinjal from Ahmednagar district despite the genetically modified variety not being approved for commercial cultivation. Concept- To date, the Centre has approved only GM cotton for commercial cultivation in India. Under […]