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
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.
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?
Explained: Two black holes merged billions of years ago. Why is this puzzling scientists?
News: Billions of years ago, collision between two black holes sent gravitational waves rippling through the universe.In 2019,signals from these waves were detected at the gravitational wave observatory LIGO (United States) and the detector Virgo(Italy). Facts: GW190521: It is a gravitational wave signal resulting from the merger of two black holes near a third supermassive… Continue reading Explained: Two black holes merged billions of years ago. Why is this puzzling scientists?
Explained: The asteroid twice as big as Giza Pyramid about to cross Earth’s orbit soon
News: NASA has been tracking asteroid 465824 2010 FR which is twice as big as the Pyramid of Giza and is expected to cross the Earth’s orbit on September 6.It is classified as a Near-Earth Object(NEO) and a potentially hazardous asteroid(PHA). Facts: Near-Earth Object(NEO): NASA defines NEOs as comets and asteroids nudged by the gravitational… Continue reading Explained: The asteroid twice as big as Giza Pyramid about to cross Earth’s orbit soon
India aims to achieve 100 MT coal gasification target by 2030: Union Minister
News: Union Coal Ministry has organised a webinar on Coal Gasification and Liquefaction.During the webinar, Union Minister has said that India aims for 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030. Facts: Coal Gasification: It is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide(CO), hydrogen(H2), carbon dioxide(CO2), natural gas(CH4) and water vapour(H2O)—from… Continue reading India aims to achieve 100 MT coal gasification target by 2030: Union Minister
DST encourages research on Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage(CCUS)
News: Department of Science & Technology(DST) has invited proposals from Indian researchers in the area of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) under Accelerating CCUS Technologies(ACT) initiative. Facts: Accelerating CCUS Technologies(ACT): It is an initiative of 16 countries, regions and provinces to fund research and innovation projects that can lead to safe and cost-effective CCUS… Continue reading DST encourages research on Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage(CCUS)
Africa declared free of wild polio
News: Africa Regional Certification Commission, an independent body has declared Africa free from wild polio. Facts: Polio: It is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. Transmission: The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or… Continue reading Africa declared free of wild polio
Take Steps to prevent Glanders Disease in animals: Delhi HC
News: The Delhi High Court has asked municipal bodies to take steps to prevent spread of glanders disease in animals. Facts: Glanders: It is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei.It is primarily a disease affecting horses, but it also affects donkeys, mules, goats, dogs and cats. Symptoms: Fever with chills… Continue reading Take Steps to prevent Glanders Disease in animals: Delhi HC
Explained: What are super apps?
News: Tata Group is planning to launch an all-in-one super app by the end of this year or early next year. Facts: Super apps: It is a platform developed by a company offering various services under one umbrella. Examples: China’s WeChat which started out as a messaging app expanded into payments, cabs, shopping, food ordering,… Continue reading Explained: What are super apps?
Indian satellite AstroSat makes rare discovery
News: Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics(IUCAA) has said that AstroSat has detected an extreme ultraviolet(UV) light from a galaxy called AUDFs01 which is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth. Facts: AstroSat: It is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory launched on a PSLV-XL in 2015. Aim: The mission aims for a detailed understanding… Continue reading Indian satellite AstroSat makes rare discovery
