News: The Tata CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) test, powered by CSIR-IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology) FELUDA, received regulatory approvals from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for commercial launch. Facts: FELUDA is the acronym for FNCAS9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay. It is a low cost paper strip test… Continue reading India’s first CRISPR Covid-19 test, developed by the Tata Group and CSIR-IGIB, approved for use in India
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.
Brucellosis outbreak in China
News: Thousands of people in China have tested positive for brucellosis after a leak at a biopharmaceutical company. Facts: Brucellosis also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean fever is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs. Transmission: Humans generally acquire the disease through direct contact… Continue reading Brucellosis outbreak in China
Explained: What is serial interval, and how can it be managed to control Covid-19?
News: According to a study, China which has now gone over a month without any locally transmitted Covid-19 cases was able to contain Covid-19 due to its ability to manage the serial interval. Facts: Serial Interval: It is the duration between symptom onset of a primary case and symptom onset of secondary cases(contacts) generated by… Continue reading Explained: What is serial interval, and how can it be managed to control Covid-19?
Explained: What is Solar Cycle 25, announced by NASA and NOAA scientists recently?
News: Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) have announced their predictions about the new solar cycle called Solar Cycle 25 which they believe has begun. Facts: What is Solar Cycle: It is the cycle that the Sun’s magnetic field goes through approximately every 11 years. Solar Minimum: It is the beginning… Continue reading Explained: What is Solar Cycle 25, announced by NASA and NOAA scientists recently?
NIMHANS develops new Indian Brain Templates, brain atlas
News: A team of neuroscientists from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(NIMHANS) has studied over 500 brain scans of Indian patients to develop five sets of Indian brain templates and a brain atlas for five age groups covering late childhood to late adulthood(six to 60 years). Facts: Brain Template: It is a… Continue reading NIMHANS develops new Indian Brain Templates, brain atlas
Explainer: What is hybrid warfare?
News: A report in The Indian Express has suggested that China may be employing hybrid warfare strategy to gain an edge against India. Facts: Hybrid Warfare: It is a military strategy which employs political warfare and blends conventional warfare, irregular warfare and cyberwarfare with other influencing methods such as fake news, diplomacy, lawfare and foreign… Continue reading Explainer: What is hybrid warfare?
National Immunogenicity and Biologics Evaluation Center(NIBEC)
News: Department of Biotechnology(DBT) Secretary has inaugurated National Immunogenicity & Biologics Evaluation Center(NIBEC). Facts: About NIBEC: It is a first of its kind centre in the country developed for evaluation of the immunogenicity of vaccines & antiviral properties of drugs/preparations. Developed by: It has been established jointly by Bharati Vidyapeeth University through its constituent unit… Continue reading National Immunogenicity and Biologics Evaluation Center(NIBEC)
DRDO successfully tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
News: Prime Minister has congratulated Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) for the successful flight of Hypersonic Test Demonstration Vehicle(HSTDV). Facts: HSTDV: It is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight. Working: The HSTDV cruise vehicle is mounted on a solid rocket motor, which will take it to a required altitude and once it… Continue reading DRDO successfully tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
Togo first in Africa to end sleeping sickness
News: The World Health Organization(WHO) has declared that Togo has become the first country in Africa to eliminate human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness. Facts: Sleeping Sickness or Human African trypanosomiasis: It is a vector-borne parasitic disease. Caused by: It is caused by infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. Transmission: They are… Continue reading Togo first in Africa to end sleeping sickness
What is Novichok, the poison Germany says was used on Alexei Navalny?
News: German government has said that Russia’s opposition leader, Alexei Navalny has been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Facts: Novichok: 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. How was it developed? Novichok was developed under… Continue reading What is Novichok, the poison Germany says was used on Alexei Navalny?
