Pegasus spyware Subject: Science and Technology Context: One of the worrying aspects of the Pegasus spyware is how it has evolved from its earlier spear-phishing methods using text links or messages to ‘zero-click’ attacks which do not require any action from the phone’s user. Concept: A “zero-day exploit” is a completely unknown vulnerability, […]
Deep fake Subject: Science and Tech Context: In a new documentary, Roadrunner, about the life and tragic death of Anthony Bourdain, there are a few lines of dialogue in Bourdain’s voice that he might not have ever said out loud. Concept: Deep fake technology can seamlessly stitch anyone in the world into a video or […]
AI tool developed to study cancer-causing mutations Subject: Science & tech Context: Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an AI tool called NBDriver (neighborhood driver) for use in analyzing cancer-causing mutations in cells. Concept: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras researchers have formulated an artificial intelligence-based mathematical model. The AI algorithm will […]
Ultraviolet radiation Subject : Science and Tech Context: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, recently announced that the government would install Ultraviolet-C or UV-C Disinfection Technology in Parliament to mitigate the possibility of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Concept: Ultraviolet is the Sun’s natural radiation or light and covers […]
Hubble space telescope Subject: Science and Tech Context: NASA plans to fix a glitch that has stopped the Hubble space telescope from being used for science work for more than a month. Concept: The Hubble, launched in 1990, is the most important scientific tool ever to be built, the observatory is the first […]
Antimicrobial resistance Subject: Science and Technology Context: A new joint inter-agency report has found positive associations between antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals and antimicrobial resistance in animals as well as in humans. The report, titled Antimicrobial consumption and resistance in bacteria from humans and animals According to the report: Penicillins, first- and second-generation cephalosporins […]
Few electron bubbles (FEBs) in superfluid helium Subject: Science and Technology Context: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have experimentally shown the existence of two species of few electron bubbles (FEBs) in superfluid helium for the first time. Concept: The electron bubbles FEBs can serve as a useful model to study how the energy states […]
Booster Doses Subject: Science and Technology Context: Israel has started administering the third dose of Pfizer-Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine to elderly people with compromised immune systems. Concept: The fully vaccinated people by now clearly shows that immune responses last up to 8-12 months ,Hence a booster is a means of strengthening one’s immune system against a […]
Kármán line Subject: Science and Technology Context: British businessman Richard Branson beat rival Jeff Bezos to reach the edge of space, giving space tourism an official kickstart. But experts and space enthusiasts are in doubt whether the height to which he travelled can be termed ‘space’. Concept: The most widely accepted boundary of space […]
Suborbital Subject: Science and Tech Concept: Suborbital” is a term you’ll be hearing a lot as Sir Richard Branson flies aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity winged spaceship and Jeff Bezos flies aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle to touch the boundary of space and experience a few minutes of weightlessness. Concept: it means that while […]