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
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.
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
Explained:What is Kawasaki Disease?
News: Around the world, including in India, children with Covid-19 infection have shown some symptoms similar to those associated with a rare illness called Kawasaki disease. Facts: Kawasaki disease:The disease derives its name from a Japanese paediatrician, Tomisaku Kawasaki who reported the first case in 1961 — a four-year-old boy — and later found similar… Continue reading Explained:What is Kawasaki Disease?
Explained: NASA research says the Moon is more metallic than thought before.What this means
News: NASA has found evidence of greater quantities of metals such as iron and titanium on the Moon’s subsurface. Facts: The metallic distribution was observed by the Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter(LRO) spacecraft. Significance of the study: The observations could help in drawing a clearer connection between Earth and the… Continue reading Explained: NASA research says the Moon is more metallic than thought before.What this means
