SARS-COV-2-SPECIFIC T CELL IMMUNITY
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? A recently published research paper says natural exposure or infection with the novel coronavirus may “prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19”. This is because, once infected with SARS-CoV-2, the immune system elicits “robust, broad and highly functional memory T cell responses”. Details The study found SARS-CoV-2-specific T […]
NHRC MEMBERS FLAG LACK OF FORENSIC LABS
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Members of the National Human Rights Commission have raised concerns over the inadequate number of forensic science laboratories in the country that delays evidence gathering, leading to cases pending in courts and undertrial prisoners remaining behind bars. Details If forensic evidence was collected and preserved on time, […]
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IMPROVES BUT GAPS REMAIN
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Industry and Infrastructure Introduction to internet in India The internet was first used in India in 1980s, but was available to a limited educational and research community. It was thrown open to public use for the first time on India’s 49th Independence Day in 1995. Internet is now at the […]
HE-ENHANCED COOL BRIGHT STARS DISCOVERED
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? A team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) studied numerous stars of this cluster and discovered He-enhanced cool bright stars among the metal-rich sample of Omega Centauri. Details and Significance Though there are estimations of He-enhancement in the H-core burning main-sequence stars (like Sun) […]
INDIGENOUS AIR UNIQUE-QUALITY MONITORING (AUM)
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Air Unique-quality Monitoring (AUM) The AUM system (patent pending) is an innovative application of the principles of laser backscattering, statistical mechanics, optoelectronics, artificial intelligence, machine/deep learning, and Internet of Things. It can identify, classify, and quantify various pollutants simultaneously (of orders of less than one part per […]
WHAT IS THE PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER?
Focus: Prelims, GS-III Science and Technology Introduction The Perseids meteor shower is going to be active in August 2020, and the annual celestial event is considered the best meteor shower. What are meteor showers? Meteors are bits of rock and ice that are ejected from comets as they manoeuvre around their orbits around the sun. […]
MORE THAN A VACCINE, IT IS ABOUT VACCINATION
Focus: GS-II Science and Technology Introduction Globally, innumerable vaccine trials are progressing; in India, two candidates have advanced considerably. Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, created COVAX — a funding facility to ensure up-scaling vaccine production and its access to low income countries as soon as regulatory approvals emerge. India’s Universal Immunisation Programme is a vaccine-delivery […]
RUSSIA REGISTERS CORONAVIRUS VACCINE
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Russia became the first country to officially register a coronavirus vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism. President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated. Details Scientists in Russia and abroad have been sounding the alarm that the rush […]
STUDYING P. VIVAX MALARIA
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? The parasite Plasmodium vivax, responsible for 7.5 million malaria cases worldwide, remains understudied. An international team has developed a system to breed these parasites in the lab and then infect cultured human liver cells with it. How does vivax parasite work? Mosquitoes inject the sporozoite (spore-like) stage […]
CORONAL MAGNETIC FIELD MEASURED FOR THE FIRST TIME
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Introduction The Sun is our closest star and we have been studying it for a long time, yet, it has many associated puzzles that are unexplained. A significant advancement has been made by an international team of solar physicists who have measured the global magnetic field of the Sun’s […]