News: Kathy Sullivan, known as the first American woman to walk in space has also become the first woman to reach a Challenger Deep. Facts: Challenger Deep: It is the deepest known point in the Earth’s oceans with a depth of around 10,984m.It is located in the Western Pacific Ocean at the southern end of… Continue reading Explained: What is Challenger Deep, the deepest spot in the ocean?
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.
Explained: 163348(2002 NN4) – the Asteroid that made a close approach to Earth
News: NASA has announced that a giant asteroid called as 163348 (2002 NN4) is expected to pass Earth.The asteroid is a Near-Earth Object(NEO) and is classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroid(PHA). Facts: Near Earth Object(NEO): These are comets and asteroids pushed by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits which allow them to enter the… Continue reading Explained: 163348(2002 NN4) – the Asteroid that made a close approach to Earth
Democratic Republic of Congo declares new Ebola outbreak
News:Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a new Ebola epidemic in the western city of Mbandaka. Facts: Ebola virus disease(EVD) formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a severe often fatal illness in humans. Origin: Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.… Continue reading Democratic Republic of Congo declares new Ebola outbreak
DRDO develops Ultra Swachh for disinfection of PPEs, electronic items, fabrics
News:Defence Research and Development Organization(DRDO) has developed a disinfection unit named Ultra Swachh. Facts: Purpose: To disinfect a wide range of materials, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), electronics items, fabrics and others. Bodies Involved: Developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, laboratory of DRDO with industry partner Gel Craft Health care Private Ltd.… Continue reading DRDO develops Ultra Swachh for disinfection of PPEs, electronic items, fabrics
IT Minister Launches National AI Portal of India
News: Union Minister for Electronics and IT has launched India’s National Artificial Intelligence(AI) Portal called www.ai.gov.in and National Program for the youth called “Responsible AI for Youth”. Facts: National Artificial Intelligence(AI) Portal: Bodies Involved: It has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT and IT Industry. The National e-Governance Division of Ministry… Continue reading IT Minister Launches National AI Portal of India
Proxima Centauri b confirmed as nearest Earth Sized Planet
News:Scientists have confirmed the existence of Proxima Centauri b as an Earth-sized planet. Facts: Proxima Centauri b is an exoplanet orbiting in the habitable zone of the star Proxima Centauri. It is located approximately 4.2 light-years from Earth making it the closest known exoplanet to the Solar System. Additional Facts: Proxima Centauri:It is the red… Continue reading Proxima Centauri b confirmed as nearest Earth Sized Planet
Hubble Space Telescope releases image of NGC 3895
News:NASA’s Hubble telescope has released an image of a spiral galaxy called NGC 3895. Facts: NGC 3895 was discovered by German-born British astronomer William Herschel in 1790.It was later observed by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is located at a distance of over 161 million light-years and is a part of Ursa Major. The image,… Continue reading Hubble Space Telescope releases image of NGC 3895
Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna(ANTIA) finds high energy particles from ice
News: NASA’s Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna(ANITA) have detected high energy particles from ice in Antarctica. Facts: ANITA instrument: It is a radio telescope to detect ultra-high energy cosmic-ray neutrinos from a scientific balloon flying over the continent of Antarctica. ANITA is also the first NASA observatory for neutrinos of any kind. How does ANITA detect… Continue reading Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna(ANTIA) finds high energy particles from ice
CBI alerts States, U.T.s and Central agencies to malicious software threat
News: Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has sent alerts to all the States, Union Territories and the central agencies on a malicious software named Cerberus threat that is taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Facts: Cerberus:It is a banking Trojan which is primarily used to steal financial data such as credit card numbers. It uses a… Continue reading CBI alerts States, U.T.s and Central agencies to malicious software threat
National community-based sero-survey to estimate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Facts: Sero Survey: It involves testing the blood samples of a group of individuals to monitor trends in prevalence of the novel coronavirus or SARS-COV-2 infection at the district level. Under this, a combination of Elisa antibody kits and RT-PCR will be used for testing.For RT-PCR tests, throat and nasal swabs will be collected. Bodies… Continue reading National community-based sero-survey to estimate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection
