Factly: Science and Technology Archives

China successfully launches first Mars mission

News: China has successfully launched a Mars mission called Tianwen-1. Facts: Tianwen-1 mission: It is China’s first Mars exploration mission.The name comes from the long poem “Tianwen,” meaning Questions to Heaven. Objectives: The mission was launched to fulfil three objectives: To orbit the red planet for comprehensive observation. To land on Martian soil and send… Continue reading China successfully launches first Mars mission

Solar Orbiter Mission Returns First Data, Snaps Closest Pictures of the Sun

News: European Space Agency has released the closest pictures ever taken of the Sun captured by the Solar Orbiter Mission. Facts: Key Takeaways: Camp Fires: There are mini-flares on the sun that are millionths of the size of the Sun’s massive flares that are routinely observed by Earth telescopes. Significance: These camp fires could have… Continue reading Solar Orbiter Mission Returns First Data, Snaps Closest Pictures of the Sun

Coronavirus: Oxford vaccine triggers immune response

News: The human trial of COVID-19 vaccine named ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and backed by AstraZeneca Plc has shown a positive result. Facts: How was the vaccine produced? The vaccine was made from a genetically engineered virus(adenovirus) that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. However, the virus was heavily modified… Continue reading Coronavirus: Oxford vaccine triggers immune response

BlackRock malware steals password, credit card details from 337 Android apps

News: A new Android malware named BlackRock has been discovered that steals data such as password and credit card details from apps such as Gmail, Amazon, Netflix, Uber and more. Facts: Blackrock: It is a Trojan malware that is based on the source code of the Xeres malware, itself derived from malware called LokiBot. How… Continue reading BlackRock malware steals password, credit card details from 337 Android apps

Explained: Why community transmission no longer matters at this stage

News: The Government of India insists that COVID-19 has still not reached a stage of community transmission in spite of more than 1.1 million people having been infected with the novel coronavirus in India. Facts: Stages of Transmission: Stage 1- Imported Transmission: It is when cases are imported from affected countries without any local origin… Continue reading Explained: Why community transmission no longer matters at this stage

Zydus Cadila begins human trials of its potential Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D

News: India has started the clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine – ZyCoV-D. Facts: ZyCoV-D: It is a plasmid DNA vaccine designed and developed by Zydus, a pharmaceutical company. The vaccine comes under the Vaccine Discovery Programme supported by the Department of Biotechnology under the National Biopharma Mission. Additional Facts: National Biopharma Mission(NBM): It is an… Continue reading Zydus Cadila begins human trials of its potential Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D

Explained: What is Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise?

News: The recently discovered comet called C/2020 F3 also known as NEOWISE after the NASA telescope that discovered it will make its closest approach to the Earth on July 22. Facts: Additional Facts: NEOWISE Telescope: The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is a NASA infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope active from 2009 to 2011. In 2013,… Continue reading Explained: What is Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise?

Biocon Gets Regulatory Nod To Use Drug Itolizumab On COVID-19 Patients

News: Biocon drug Itolizumab has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India(DCGI) for treating moderate to severe Covid-19 patients. Facts: Itolizumab: It is a monoclonal antibody drug manufactured by Biocon for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system and… Continue reading Biocon Gets Regulatory Nod To Use Drug Itolizumab On COVID-19 Patients

Unite human, animal and environmental health to prevent the next pandemic – UN Report

News: United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) and the International Livestock Research Institute(ILRI) has released a report titled “Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission”. Facts: Aim: The report focuses on the context and nature of potential future zoonotic disease outbreaks during the Covid-19 pandemic by identifying the anthropogenic (changes… Continue reading Unite human, animal and environmental health to prevent the next pandemic – UN Report

Detecting RNA virus in saliva samples using Raman spectroscopy

News: Researchers have turned to Raman Spectroscopy to detect RNA viruses present in saliva samples. Facts: Raman Spectroscopy: It is an analytical technique where scattered light is used to measure the vibrational energy modes of a sample. Significance: Raman spectroscopy can provide both chemical and structural information as well as the identification of substances through… Continue reading Detecting RNA virus in saliva samples using Raman spectroscopy

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