AYUSH-64 Subject: Science and Technology Context: Government of India has released “National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for management of COVID-19” prepared by the National Task force in consensus from various expert committees. The Ministry of AYUSH has formed an Inter-disciplinary AYUSH R&D Task Force having representation from Indian Council of […]
Covaxin against Delta Subject: Science and Technology Context: While the Delta variant mutated into ‘Delta Plus’, first detected in India in April 2021, researchers decided to study the efficacy of the Covaxin vaccine. Concept: Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The research study showed that Covaxin vaccine could […]
Virtual Reality Subject: Science and Technology In news: Indian Institute of Technology Madras has launched the country’s first consortium for Virtual Reality called ‘Consortium for VR/AR/MR Engineering Mission in India’ (CAVE). About CAVE: It aims to become a resource for industry, academia, consumers, and policy makers interested in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. […]
Breastfeeding Subject: Science and Technology Context: UNICEF states that “breastfeeding is among the most effective ways to protect maternal and child health and promote healthy growth and optimal development in early childhood. Concept: During the Renaissance period, breastfeeding came to be seen as unfashionable. Feeding bottles and formula milk were aggressively advertised leading […]
Ashwagandha Subject: Science and Technology Context: The Ministry of Ayush has collaborated with the U.K.’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to conduct a study on ‘Ashwagandha’ for promoting recovery from COVID-19. Concept: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, and the LSHTM recently […]
Stellar mid-life crisis Subject: Science and Technology Context: IISER scientist’s study peeks into Sun’s ‘stellar midlife crisis’ The Sun and other stars constantly spew electrically-charged particles also called the stellar wind. This steady drain causes stars to slow down their rotation over billions of years. Calcutta scientists have proposed an explanation for a […]
Reverse gear in some bacteria that can be mimicked for bio imaging Subject: Science and Technology Context: Some microorganisms exhibit a unique kind of reversing motion that can be mimicked for drug delivery, bio-imaging. Indian scientists have found a theoretical model explaining a unique kind of motion, called direction reversing active motion, exhibited […]
Herd immunity Subject: Science and Technology Context: The fourth sero survey conducted across India found that on an average 67.6% of the population has been infected. Also, over 25% of people have been vaccinated with one dose. It is Erroneous to conclude we have attained herd immunity,’ says Dr. Srinath Reddy Context: Herd […]
Covishield Efficacy Subject: Science and Technology Context: Covishield, the made-in-India variant of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s AZD-1222 formulation, is the predominant vaccine being used in India’s mass immunisation programme against SARS-CoV-2, the Covid-19 virus. Concept: Interim results of VIN-WIN cohort study’), published in a special issue of the peer-reviewed Medical Journal Armed Forces India. The VIN-WIN study mentions […]
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Subject: Science and Technology Context: NASA is set to launch the large infrared James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) touted as the “premier observatory” of the coming decade later this year. Concept: JWST will study various phases in the history of the universe, from the formation of solar systems […]