Source: Indian Express What is the News? NASA has announced that its new spacecraft named NEA Scout has completed all required tests and has been safely tucked inside the Space Launch System(SLS) rocket. NEA Scout is one of several payloads that will launch on Artemis I which is expected to be launched in November 2021.… Continue reading Explained: What makes NASA’s new spacecraft NEA Scout special?
Category: Factly: Science and Technology
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to Science and Technology. You can find all relevant Science and Technology related updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
Space Rice: China harvests first batch of rice that travelled around the moon
Source: Hindustan Times What is the News? China has harvested its first batch of ‘Space Rice’ at the space breeding research centre of the South China Agricultural University in Guangdong province. What is Space Rice? Space Rice is the rice harvested from seeds that went on a 23-day moon mission with China’s Chang’e-5 in November… Continue reading Space Rice: China harvests first batch of rice that travelled around the moon
Explained: ICMR’s fourth serosurvey and its findings
Sources: The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Mint, Times of India and Down to Earth About the news: The fourth nationwide serological survey was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in June-July. Its findings are significant because this is for the first time children aged 6-17 years were included in the national… Continue reading Explained: ICMR’s fourth serosurvey and its findings
Blue Origin launch: Jeff Bezos & crew complete successful space flight
Source: Livemint What is the news? Jeff Bezos and three passengers reached the edge of space and safely returned after a flight of just over 10 minutes. The Amazon.com Inc. founder and his fellow passengers were launched to the edge of space from a remote West Texas site on the New Shepard and enjoyed a… Continue reading Blue Origin launch: Jeff Bezos & crew complete successful space flight
Explained: What are zero-click attacks, and how do you get the better of them?
Source: Indian Express What is the News? Pegasus spyware 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. It is the worrying aspect of spyware. About Zero-click Attack: A Zero-Click attack helps spyware like Pegasus gain control over a… Continue reading Explained: What are zero-click attacks, and how do you get the better of them?
Explained: What is the Monkey B virus that caused the first human death in China?
Source: Indian Express What is the News? China has reported the first human infection case with Monkey B virus(BV) after a Beijing-based veterinarian was confirmed with the same a month after he dissected two dead monkeys in early March. About Monkey B virus(BV): Monkey B Virus(BV) is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic (endemic) found in macaque monkeys.… Continue reading Explained: What is the Monkey B virus that caused the first human death in China?
Scientists develop novel 3D robotic motion phantom that can reproduce human lung motion
Source: PIB What is the News? A group of Indian scientists has developed a novel and cheap three-dimensional (3D) robotic motion phantom that can reproduce human lung motion. This will help to deliver focused radiation in cancer patients. What was the need for 3D robotic motion phantom? Breathing motion is a problem for delivering focused… Continue reading Scientists develop novel 3D robotic motion phantom that can reproduce human lung motion
How does the moon ‘wobble’ affect rising tides?
Source: Indian Express Synopsis: Scientists are estimating that moon wobble would bring high tides in some coastlines of the world in the next decade. This may cause severe flooding, threaten coastal communities and lead to submergence of the coastal landscape. Background: The phenomenon of moon wobble is expected to enhance flooding on Earth in the… Continue reading How does the moon ‘wobble’ affect rising tides?
Pegasus spyware used to ‘snoop’ on Indian journalists, activists
Source: The Hindu What is the News? According to a report, Pegasus spyware may have been used to conduct surveillance on about 300 Indians including two Cabinet ministers three opposition leaders, a Constitutional authority, government officials, scientists and about 40 journalists. About Pegasus It is a spyware created by NSO Group, an Israeli cybersecurity firm… Continue reading Pegasus spyware used to ‘snoop’ on Indian journalists, activists
NBDriver – AI tool by IIT to study cancer-causing mutations
Source: The Hindu What is the news? Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an AI tool called NBDriver (neighborhood driver). About NBDriver tool NBDriver is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed to analyse cancer-causing mutations in cells. A mutation means a change in the genetic sequence of the Cell. Method: NBDriver works by looking at… Continue reading NBDriver – AI tool by IIT to study cancer-causing mutations
