Source: The post is based on the article “Kyasanur forest disease: Study confirms its presence in 2 more Karnataka districts” published in “Indian Express” on 22nd November 2023 Why in the News? A study by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has for the first time confirmed… Continue reading Kyasanur forest disease: Study confirms its presence in 2 more Karnataka districts
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.
Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE): How a NASA experiment will study ‘air glow’ to understand Space weather
Source: The post is based on the article “Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE):How a NASA experiment will study ‘air glow’ to understand Space weather” published in “Indian Express” on 21st November 2023 Why in the News? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE). What is the Atmospheric Waves Experiment… Continue reading Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE): How a NASA experiment will study ‘air glow’ to understand Space weather
International Space Station turns 25
Source- This post is based on the article “International Space Station turns 25! Know all about this groundbreaking initiative” published in “The Financial Express” on 20 November 2023. Why in the News? The International Space Station has completed 25 years of its journey since the first module launched into orbit in 1998. What is the… Continue reading International Space Station turns 25
Source– This post is based on the article “Meet the Langlands Program, the world’s biggest maths project | Explained” published in “The Hindu” on November 21, 2023.
Why in the News?
Langlands Program provides a beautifully intricate set of connections between various areas of mathematics, pointing the way toward novel solutions for old problems in mathematics.
What is the Langlands Program?
| Aspect | Details |
| What is it? | 1. It is the world’s biggest maths project and can be likened to building bridges across mathematical cultures with different objects and languages. 2. It is named after Robert Langlands, a mathematician at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. 3. In 2018, he was awarded the Abel Prize for “his visionary program connecting representation theory to number theory” |
| Objective | To find connections between two far-flung areas of mathematics – number theory and harmonic analysis. – It seeks to do this by connecting every Galois group with automorphic functions, allowing mathematicians to investigate polynomial equations using tools from calculus. |
| Initiation | 1967 |
| Significance of the program | 1. Solving old Maths problems– In 1994, Andrew Wiles and Richard Taylor applied Langlands’ conjectures to prove Fermat’s last theorem. 2. Creating new functions– It can help mathematicians create new automorphic functions from preexisting ones. Such efforts could be crucial to prove the Ramanujan conjectures (speculations), many of which remain unsolved. 3. Can evolve into new fields of mathematics– For example, Geometric Langlands. It investigates connections between algebraic geometry and representation theory. 4. Multidisciplinary significance– Mathematicians have suggested connections between Geometric Langlands and physics, particularly for studying electromagnetic waves. |
Note-
1. Number theory: It is the arithmetic study of numbers and the relationships between them. For example, the pythagoras theorem.
2. Harmonic analysis: It is interested in the study of periodic phenomena. Unlike number theorists, who deal with discrete arithmetic’s (like integers), harmonic analysts deal with mathematical objects more continuous in nature (like waves).
3. Galois group: In 1832, mathematician Évariste Galois concluded that it is impossible to have a general formula to find the precise roots of polynomial equations and instead suggested focusing on symmetries between roots as an alternate route. Galois group is a collection of such symmetries of the roots of a polynomial equation.
4. Automorphic functions: Functions that turn back into themselves when the variables are changed by some process are called automorphic functions. The sine function is a simple example.
UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology
Tantalum, the rare metal found in Sutlej
Source: The post is based on the article “Tantalum, the rare metal found in Sutlej” published in “Indian Express” on 22nd November 2023 Why in the News? A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar has found the presence of tantalum in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab. What is Tantalum?… Continue reading Tantalum, the rare metal found in Sutlej
Unusual Nitrogen-9 Isotope: Strong evidence’ unusual nitrogen-9 nucleus exists, scientists say
Source: The post is based on the article “Unusual Nitrogen-9 Isotope: Strong evidence’ unusual nitrogen-9 nucleus exists, scientists say” published in “The Hindu” on 21st November 2023 Why in the News? Scientists have discovered “strong evidence” for the existence of the unusual nitrogen-9 isotope. What is Nitrogen-9? Atoms of the nitrogen-9 isotope are characterized by… Continue reading Unusual Nitrogen-9 Isotope: Strong evidence’ unusual nitrogen-9 nucleus exists, scientists say
Indian researchers detect X-Ray Polarization in Extragalactic black hole
Source: The post is based on the article “Indian researchers detect X-Ray Polarization in Extragalactic black hole” published in “Hindustan Times” on 16th November, 2023 Why in the News? Researchers from the IIT Guwahati and the UR Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO have achieved a groundbreaking discovery by detecting polarized emissions from a black hole… Continue reading Indian researchers detect X-Ray Polarization in Extragalactic black hole
Fractals to study Quantum Systems
Source– This post is based on the article “How fractals offer a new way to see the quantum realm | Explained ” published in “The Hindu” on 17th November 2023. Why in the News? Physicists are using fractal geometry to study quantum systems, providing a unique perspective on the uncertainties of quantum physics. For more… Continue reading Fractals to study Quantum Systems
‘Kill Switch’ to eliminate Cancer Cells
Source– This post is based on the article “In major breakthrough, scientists discover ‘kill switch’ that can eliminate cancer cells” published in “Wion” on 14th November 2023. Why in the News? Recently scientists from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, California discovered a ‘kill switch’ that triggers the death of cancer cells. What is the ‘Kill… Continue reading ‘Kill Switch’ to eliminate Cancer Cells
Ixchiq: How was the first vaccine for chikungunya approved?
Source: The post is based on the article “Ixchiq: How was the first vaccine for chikungunya approved?” published in “The Hindu” on 17th November 2023 Why in the News? The United States(US) has approved the world’s first vaccine for chikungunya named Ixchiq. What is Chikungunya? Specifications Details What is it Mosquito borne Viral Disease Caused… Continue reading Ixchiq: How was the first vaccine for chikungunya approved?
