Subject: Science and tech Context: Tests performed on Russian politician Alexei Navalny at the German hospital showed the presence of Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. Concept: The name Novichok means “newcomer” in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. They were known as fourth-generation […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Early this month, the Chinese-only website of Zhenhua Data Information Technology Co, the company monitoring foreign targets, was pulled down Concept: It targets individuals and institutions in politics, government, business, technology, media, and civil society. Claiming to work with Chinese intelligence, military and security agencies, Zhenhua monitors the subject’s digital footprint […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) performed a major technological feat by launching cruise vehicle Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The centrepiece of the HSTDV was the indigenously developed air-breathing scramjet engine. Concept: A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: While the fear of COVID-19 re-infection has dogged discussion on the novel coronavirus, it was in late August that the first ‘confirmed’ case of re-infection was officially recorded. Concept: The human body’s immunity acts in two forms — as innate, jumping to the task of protection immediately, and adaptive, meaning immunity acquired by […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: University of Oxford and AstraZeneca said they were resuming clinical trials for a new coronavirus vaccine across all U.K. sites. Concept: Vaccine trials follow a four-stage process when they are tested in people. After a drug has proven itself safe in a variety of animals — usually mice, rabbits, hamsters and primates […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: While use of convalescent plasma as a treatment modality for Covid-19 has received authorisation for off-label use in India, the aim of ICMR’s PLACID trial was to investigate its effectiveness for treatment of Covid-19. Concept: Convalescent plasma therapy uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: There have been several announcements of companies either entering into agreements to make Covid-19 vaccines or announcing human clinical trials for their candidates in India in the last few months. Concept: Covishield by University of Oxford-AstraZeneca This vaccine works on a mechanism that uses a weakened and non-replicating version of […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has published the Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020 to ensure the availability of safe and balanced diets for school children. It mentioned that on marketing foods to children in school premises or campus, […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: India has for the second time successfully flight-tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). Concept: HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet technology demonstrator that can cruise up to a speed of mach 6 (or six times the speed of sound) and rise up to an altitude of 32 kilometres in 20 seconds. […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: With the Central government issuing the Unlock 4 guidelines that will allow many activities that attract large crowds to gather outside the containment zones. So there is heightened risk of a surge in coronavirus cases. Concept: An individual affected with the first known case of an infectious disease or genetically […]