News: The Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018 has been released. Facts: STI: It is prepared by National Science and Technology Management Information System, a division of the Department of Science Technology, The report is based on data provided by a range of scientific establishments across the country. Key Takeaways: India’s private sector research companies… Continue reading Private firms employ more women in R&D: Study
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.
Union Minister launches “Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge”
News: Union Minister of Communications and Electronics & Information Technology has launched “Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- Innovate Solutions for #Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. Facts: Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge: It aims to invite innovators, startups and students to use microprocessors to develop various technology products. Features: IIT Madras and Center for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) have developed two… Continue reading Union Minister launches “Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge”
Malaysia Detects New Coronavirus Strain ‘D614G’
News: Malaysia has detected a new strain of the novel coronavirus called ‘D614G’, which is considered to be ten times more infectious. Facts: D614G: It is the official name given to the new mutated strain of COVID-19. It was first detected in Europe.However, it is now being seen in different parts of the world and… Continue reading Malaysia Detects New Coronavirus Strain ‘D614G’
FDA approves rapid, inexpensive saliva test for novel coronavirus
News: United States Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has approved SalivaDirect test for Covid19. Facts: Who developed the test? The SalivaDirect test has been developed by researchers from Yale School of Public Health in partnership with the National Basketball Association(NBA). How is the test different? SalivaDirect test uses saliva samples as opposed to the more invasive… Continue reading FDA approves rapid, inexpensive saliva test for novel coronavirus
NASA data suggests ocean of ‘salty water’ on dwarf planet Ceres
News: According to the data collected by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, dwarf planet Ceres reportedly has salty water underground. Facts: Ocean World: These findings have given Ceres the status of an ocean world as it has a big reservoir of salty water underneath its frigid surface. Subsurface Oceans on other Celestial Bodies: Jupiter’s moon Europa, Saturn’s… Continue reading NASA data suggests ocean of ‘salty water’ on dwarf planet Ceres
Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine
News: Spacetech startup Skyroot Aerospace has become the first Indian private company to successfully test fire a rocket engine named Raman. Facts: Raman: It is a 3-D printed upper stage rocket engine that can send satellites of 250-700 kgs into a lower earth orbit.The engine has fewer parts and weighs less than a conventional rocket… Continue reading Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine
CSIR moots ‘mega labs’ to boost COVID-19 testing
News: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) is working on developing “mega labs” to ramp up testing for COVID-19 as well as improve the accuracy rate. Facts: Mega Labs: These labs will use Next Generation Sequencing(NGS) machines (NGS) which are normally used for sequencing human genomes to sequence 1,500 to 3,000 viral genomes at… Continue reading CSIR moots ‘mega labs’ to boost COVID-19 testing
Explained: What is the Perseids meteor shower set to peak mid-August?
News: The Perseids meteor shower is going to be active from August 17th to 26th,2020. Facts: Perseids: It is a meteor shower that peaks every year in mid-August.It was first observed over 2,000 years ago.It occurs as the Earth runs into pieces of cosmic debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. Additional Facts: Comets: They… Continue reading Explained: What is the Perseids meteor shower set to peak mid-August?
Explained: What are Sunspots?
News: A massive Sunspot group, AR2770 was observed using images of the Sun’s surface from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory(SDO). Facts: Sunspots: It is an area on the Sun that appears dark on the surface and is relatively cooler than surrounding parts. Why are sunspots relatively cool: It’s because they form at areas where magnetic fields… Continue reading Explained: What are Sunspots?
Explained: What is the tick-borne virus spreading in China?
News: A new infectious disease called Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome(SFTS) caused by a tick-borne virus has killed seven people and infected 60 others in China. Facts: SFTS virus: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) belongs to the Bunyavirus family and is transmitted to humans through tick bites. Origin: The virus was first identified… Continue reading Explained: What is the tick-borne virus spreading in China?
