News:The U.S.-Russian space crew has reached the International Space Station(ISS) after a launch was carried out by Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan. Facts: The International Space Station(ISS) is a space station located in the low Earth orbit. Participating agencies:It is a joint project between five space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA… Continue reading International Space Station(ISS)
Category: Daily Factly articles
Coronavirus: What is ‘R0’, or reproduction number?
News:Researchers are calculating mathematical figure ‘R0’ to understand the nature of transmission of Coronavirus, Facts: Basic reproduction number(R0):It measures the rate at which a virus is transmitted based on the average number of people who will contract the virus from a person who has already been infected.R0= new infections/existing infections Example:If the number of people… Continue reading Coronavirus: What is ‘R0’, or reproduction number?
Green Bonds
News:State Bank of India(SBI) has raised $100 million in green bonds through private placement. Facts: Green Bonds:They are fixed-income financial instruments issued for funding of specific projects which have positive environmental and climate benefits. Categories: SEBI has allocated eight categories as green projects: a) renewable energy b) clean transportation c) sustainable water management d) climate… Continue reading Green Bonds
Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data
News:India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the coronavirus with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GISAID). Facts: The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GISAID) Initiative was launched on the occasion of the 61st World Health Assembly in 2008. In 2010, Germany became the official host of the GISAID Initiative through a… Continue reading Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data
World Health Organization(WHO) Funding
News:The US President has threatened to freeze US funding to the World Health Organization(WHO) due to negligence on coronavirus pandemic and for its China Centric approach. Facts: Funding:There are four kinds of contributions that make up funding for the WHO which are: Assessed contributions:These are the dues countries pay in order to be a member… Continue reading World Health Organization(WHO) Funding
Certificate of Origin
News:Commerce ministry has created an online platform for issuance of ‘certificate of origin’ for exporters. Facts: Certificate of Origin: It is a document used in International trade declaring in which country a commodity or good was manufactured. Significance:They are essential for exporters to prove where their goods come from and therefore stake their claim to… Continue reading Certificate of Origin
Dhauladhar range
News:Dhauladhar mountain range has become visible from Jalandhar, Punjab for the first time because of less air pollution caused by the ongoing lockdown. Facts: Dhauladhar range:It is part of a lesser Himalayan chain of mountains.It rises from the Indian plains to the north of Kangra and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh and ends near Badrinath,Uttarakhand. Elevation:It… Continue reading Dhauladhar range
SnowEx Programme
News:National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has launched a programme called SnowEx. Facts: SnowEx is a five year programme launched in 2016. Objective:To address the most important gaps in snow remote sensing knowledge and thus lay the groundwork for a future snow satellite mission. The geographical focus of the programme is proposed as the North America… Continue reading SnowEx Programme
Madhuban Gajar
News:A farmer Scientist from Gujarat has been awarded Padma Shri for developing Madhuban Gajar- a biofortified carrot variety. Facts: Benefits: High yielding, Highest carotene content, Deep red color, long size and longer shelf life. Additional Facts: Biofortification:It is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant… Continue reading Madhuban Gajar
COVID-19:Scientific initiatives and Organizations in News
Facts: Intensification of Research in High Priority Area (IRPHA) scheme: It was launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB) to support projects in high priority areas from the viewpoint of advances in fundamental science. Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB): It is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament in 2008. It is… Continue reading COVID-19:Scientific initiatives and Organizations in News
