Rare Diseases crowd-funding Subject: Science Context: After being pulled up by the Delhi High Court, the Centre on Wednesday said that it has operationalised a digital platform for crowd-funding for expensive treatment for rare diseases among children. Concept: The portal, http://rarediseases.aardeesoft.com has operationalised by the center government a digital platform for crowd-funding for […]
PDS 70 Subject: Science Context: Scientists for the first time have spotted a moon-forming region around a planet beyond our solar system Concept: The researchers used the ALMA observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert to detect the disc of swirling material accumulating around one of two new-born planets seen orbiting a young star called […]
BSL-3 Subject: Science Context: India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive is unlikely to get much help from public sector institutions roped in to push up production of the indigenous vaccine, Covaxin. Barring Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), the Hyderabad-based subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board Concept: Again building upon the two prior biosafety levels, a […]
m-RNA based vaccine Subject: Science Context: India will soon have a mRNA based vaccine from US-based biotech firm, Moderna Inc, joining the fight against Covid-19. Concept: The non-replicating vector vaccines such as Covishield and Sputnik V and the inactivated pathogen based Covaxin. India’s vaccination programme so far has relied mainly on Covishield and […]
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser Subject: Science Context: The Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (AAAR) in Karnataka has said that alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is at best, a substance that has disinfectant properties to prevent the spread and transmission of germs/bacteria/viruses, and does not have medicinal properties. Concept: Alcohol-based hand sanitiser, a substance that has disinfectant […]
Ambergris or ‘Whale Vomit’ Subject : Science / Environment Context : Recently, there have been two cases where the Mumbai Police has arrested five persons trying to sell Ambergris or ‘whale vomit’. Concept : Ambergris It is generally referred to as whale vomit. It is a solid waxy substance that floats around the surface […]