1. 'NISAR' satellite made by ISRO-NASA to be launched from India in September
Tags: Science and Technology
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An Earth-observation satellite jointly developed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO will be sent to India in late February 2023 for a possible launch in September.
An overview of the news
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath recently visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California to oversee the final power test of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite before it is sent to India.
The mission will help study Earth's land and ice surfaces in greater detail than ever before.
This SUV-sized payload will be carried in a special cargo container for the 14,000 km flight to the UR Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru.
About 'NISAR' satellite
ISRO and NASA had tied up in 2014 to build a satellite weighing 2,800 kg.
In March 2021, ISRO sent its S-band SAR payload developed in India to NASA for integration with the L-band payload manufactured by JPL.
This is an important step in better understanding the Earth and the changing climate.
It will provide important information on the Earth's crust, ice sheets and ecosystems.
The NISAR spacecraft will be integrated into the satellite bus at the UR Rao Satellite Center for launch.
2. Google introduces AI chatbot 'Bard'
Tags: Science and Technology
Recently, Google has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered chatbot named "Google Bard"to compete with ChatGPT.
An overview of the news:
Bard is built on Google's existing language model LaMDA, the language model for the firm's Dialog Application System.
According to Google, it will be used by a group of testers first, after which Bard will be introduced to the general public.
Bard has been developed to compete with the currently fastest growing user application, ChatGPT, which has overtaken platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram.
Through Bard, users can access complex information in simple language as before, not only that, but also get fresh, high-quality and accurate information from Google's chatbot.
What is Chatbot?
A chatbot is a software application used to conduct on-line chat conversations via text or text-to-speech in lieu of providing direct interaction with a live human agent.
Chatbot in simple language means talking robot.
There are 2 types of chatbots -
rule-based chatbot
AI-based chatbot
AI-based chatbot
AI-based chatbots do not have any pre-saved questions and answers in their database, rather they answer with their intelligence. You can ask any question from them and get your answer.
It learns according to user behaviour and questions asked by them and keeps on evolving itself very fast.
3. Reliance introduces India's first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) truck
Tags: Science and Technology National News
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India's first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) truck was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 'India Energy Week' in Bengaluru.
An overview of the news:
The ICE in the H2-ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine.
It is developed by Reliance Industries (RIL) in association with Ashok Leyland.
The H2-ICE truck is the first of its kind in India to be powered by hydrogen.
The truck uses hydrogen instead of conventional diesel fuel or liquefied natural gas (LNG), reducing carbon emissions to almost zero.
Hydrogen is considered the cleanest fuel. This emits only water and oxygen.
It is quieter compared to conventional diesel trucks while delivering the same performance. Its operating cost is also less.
The combustion principle in H2-ICE is as follows:
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
Two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form water. The heat energy released during this reaction is used to ignite the spark plug.
The first H2-ICE was developed by Francois Isaac de Rivaz in the year 1806. It ran on a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
4. Naval Light Combat Aircraft, MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft successfully take-off on INS Vikrant
Tags: Science and Technology
Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) and MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft on 6 February successfully performed a maiden landing and take off from India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant.
An overview of the news
This shows India's prowess in designing, developing, producing and operating aircraft carriers with indigenous fighter aircraft.
India's first Made in India aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Navy by Narendra Modi on 2 September 2022 at the Kochi Shipyard.
With this, India has joined the list of countries with the capability to build more than 40,000 ton class aircraft carriers.
INS Vikrant is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. It has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau, formerly known as the Directorate of Naval Design. It is the in-house design organization of the Indian Navy.
MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft
Navy's MiG-29K aircraft has been upgraded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.
The MiG-29K, which is procured by the Navy directly from Russia, is equipped with weapons of Russian origin.
HAL has also initiated integration of indigenous weapons such as Astra on the MiG-29K.
5. Union Health Minister unveils world’s first intranasal COVID19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on 26 January unveiled world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
The vaccine was launched in the presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge).
It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance (BIRAC).
An initial manufacturing capacity of several million doses per year of the vaccine has been established, to be scaled up to one billion doses as needed.
iNCOVACC has been priced at Rs 325 per dose.
On September 9, 2022, Bharat Biotech's iNCOVACC, the world's first nasal COVID-19 vaccine, was approved for emergency use in adults.
On November 28, 2022, Bharat Biotech announced that the vaccine has been approved for restricted emergency use in adults.
About iNCOVACC Vaccine
Bharat Biotech's intranasal COVID-19 vaccine is a recombinant replicating adenovirus vectored vaccine.
A recombinant vaccine means that it has been manufactured using bacterial cells or yeast cells or parts of a virus to introduce viral proteins into the host.
It removes critical parts of the genome of SARS-CoV-2, so that the viral vector can no longer replicate.
Phase I, II and III clinical trials of the vaccine have yielded successful results.
The vaccine will be given intranasally through drops in the nose, a system that has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries.
The maximum temperature range for storage and distribution of iNCOVACC is two to eight degrees Celsius.
Working of iNCOVACC
An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response by producing a wide range of antibodies including neutralising Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and mucosal Immunoglobulin A (IgA).
The vaccine also initiates T cell responses.
When the iNCOVACC vaccine is given to an individual, the immune cells in the body express the immobilized spike protein.
As a result, the body starts producing antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
After a person is exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the immune system will block Covid-19 infection in both the upper and lower respiratory tract due to the presence of antibodies.
Therefore, iNCOVACC has the potential to block SARS-CoV-2 and prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
6. IIT incubated firm develops indigenous Mobile Operating System
Tags: Science and Technology National News
An IIT Madras incubated firm has developed an indigenous mobile operating system 'Bharos’ that can benefit India's 100 crore mobile phone users.
About Mobile Operating System 'Bharos’
The software, named 'Bharos', can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets.
It was developed by JandK Operations Pvt Ltd (JandKops), a company set up by the IIT Madras Innovative Technologies Foundation.
It provides a secure environment for the users and is a significant contribution towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
It provides access to trusted apps from organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS).
A PASS provides access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly tested and have met certain security and privacy standards of organisations.
Its users can be rest assured that the apps they are installing are safe to use.
It comes under No Default Apps (NDA). That means users can't be forced to use apps they don't know about or can't trust.
Bharos provides 'Native Over The Air' (NOTA) updates that can help keep devices secure.
NOTA updates are automatically downloaded and installed on the device without the user needing to manually initiate the process.
7. 'Rare orange coloured bat' spotted in Chhattisgarh's Kanger Ghati National Park
Tags: Science and Technology
A 'rare orange coloured bat' known as 'painted bat' has been spotted in a banana plantation in Parali Bodal village of Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
An overview of the news
The scientific name of this painted bat is 'Kerivoula picta'. This species has been kept in the category of globally endangered.
This species is commonly found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
In India, this bat has so far been seen in the Western Ghats, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kanger valley of Chhattisgarh.
The painted bat is characterised by bright orange and black wings, dense orange fur on the back and warm buff underside.
There are about 131 species of bats in India and 31 of them are found in the central parts of the country.
Kanger Valley National Park
Kanger Ghati National Park was established in 1982.
The name of this national park is derived from the Kanger River. This park is located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, which is spread over an area of about 200 square kilometres.
Due to its high biodiversity it has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
The national park is famous for its limestone caves which also provide a suitable habitat for bats.
Other 2 National Parks of Chhattisgarh
Indravati National Park
Guru Ghasidas National Park
8. NASA awards 425 million to Boeing Company for agency's sustainable flight demonstrator project
Tags: Science and Technology International News
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded $425 million to The Boeing Company for a sustainable flight demonstrator project.
An overview of the news
Boeing will work with NASA to validate technologies aimed at 'building, testing and flying a full-scale demonstrator aircraft and reducing emissions'.
Over seven years, NASA will invest $425 million, while Boeing and its partners will contribute the remainder of the agreement, estimated to cost $725 million.
The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Demonstrator Single-Aisle is an aeroplane that aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent.
The goal of the project is to produce and test a full-scale demonstrator that will help build future fuel-efficient commercial airliners.
The United States has set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the US aviation sector by 2050.
About NASA
NASA was formed under the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 19, 1948, in place of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters- Washington D.C.
Administrator - Bill Nelson
9. Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System launched by MeitY
Tags: Environment Science and Technology
The Secretary, MeitY, Alkesh Kumar Sharma has launched the Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) developed under MeitY supported projects on 17 January in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad.
It has been developed under the 'National Program on Electronics and ICT Applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)'.
It will monitor environmental pollutants which include parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity etc. for continuous air quality analysis of the environment.
The transfer of technology (ToT) was done at MeitY, New Delhi in which a ToT agreement has been signed between Senior Director & Centre Head, C-DAC, Kolkata and Dr. Deepa Taneja, CEO, J.M.EnviroLab Private Limited.
10. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers new exoplanet named LHS 475b
Tags: Science and Technology
Recently, a new exoplanet named LHS 475b has been discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
LHS 475b
It is roughly the same size as Earth, with a diameter of 99% that of Earth.
It is a celestial, rocky planet located approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Octane.
It differs from Earth in two respects, first that it completes one orbit in only two days and secondly it is hundreds of degrees hotter than Earth.
It is closer to Earth than any other planet in our solar system.
It orbits very close to a red dwarf star and completes a complete orbit in just two days.
Exoplanet:
Exoplanets are planets that orbit other stars and are away from our solar system. The first confirmation of the detection of an exoplanet was in the year 1992.
According to NASA, more than 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered so far.
Scientists believe that there are more planets than stars because at least one planet orbits each star.
Exoplanets come in different sizes. They can be large and gaseous like Jupiter and small and rocky like Earth. There is also variation in their temperature, which can range from extremely hot (Boiling Hot) to extremely cold (Freezing Cold).
