Subject: Science and tech Context: Scientists warned that Coronavirus has a great risk for airborne spread and wants WHO to revise guidelines. Concept: Airborne diseases are illnesses spread by tiny pathogens in the air. These can be bacteria, fungi, or viruses, but they are all transmitted through airborne contact. In most cases, an airborne disease […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) launched a special winter-grade diesel in Ladakh. Concept: Motorists in high-altitude sectors like Ladakh, Kargil, Kaza and Keylong face the problem of freezing of diesel in their vehicles when winter temperatures drop to as low as -30◦Celsius. Indian Oil has come up with an innovative solution […]
Subject:Science and tech Context: Various serological tests to detect antibodies against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) could improve diagnosis of COVID-19 and be useful tools for epidemiological surveillance. Concept: ELISA ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a plate-based assay technique designed for detecting and quantifying peptides, proteins, antibodies and hormones. In an ELISA, an antigen must be immobilized […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Researchers have foundfungi Ophicordycepsnutans for the first time in central India and show how it infects a stink bug and trying to explore the potential of using this fungus as biopesticide and medicine. Concept: Animals or plants used wilfully to destroy pests are called Biopesticides. These are pest management tools that are […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre has used Raman Spectroscopy to detect RNA viruses present in saliva samples. Concept: Raman Spectroscopy is a non-destructive chemical analysis technique which provides detailed information about chemical structure, phase and polymorphy, crystallinity and molecular interactions. It is based upon the interaction of light with the chemical […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: The Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission has captured the image of Phobos, the closest and biggest moon of Mars. Concept: Mars Orbiter Mission is India’s first interplanetary mission to planet Mars with an orbiter craft designed to orbit Mars in an elliptical orbit. It has been […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has envisaged launch of a Covid vaccine “Covaxin” for public health use latest by August 15. It sparked debate that whether it is possible to check efficacy and safety of vaccine in short time. Concept: Covaxin has been developed by the company Bharat Biotech […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: India has completed its 50% contribution to ITER in France Concept: ITER is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that has been designed to prove the feasibility of […]