1. China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station
Tags: Science and Technology International News
In China, three astronauts, including a civilian, were launched to the Tiangong Space Station on Shenzhou-16 on 30 May.
An overview of the news
The civilian, Professor Gui Haichao of Beihang University, was the first to be placed in orbit in space.
This is the first mission for Shenzhou-16 Tiangong since it entered the application and development phase.
Tiangong is the crown jewel of China's space program, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. The launch was a complete success and the astronauts are in good condition.
The Shenzhou-16 crew was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket at 9:31 a.m. local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
China's first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to send a man into space from its own resources.
2. XPoSat
Tags: Science and Technology
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru.
An Overview of the News
XPoSat aims to develop and launch the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) later this year.
XPoSat aims to study the polarisation of X-rays emitted by celestial sources.
The study of X-ray polarisation can provide valuable insight into the nature and behaviour of astrophysical sources such as neutron stars, black holes and active galactic nuclei.
XPoSat is India's first and world's second polarimetry mission.
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), the only other major mission of its kind, is slated to launch in 2021.
About ISRO
It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Establishment - 15 August 1969
Founder - Vikram Sarabhai
Headquarters - Bengaluru
Chairman - S Somnath
3. ISRO to launch Chandrayaan-3 in July this year
Tags: Science and Technology National News
ISRO Chairman S Somnath has announced that Chandrayaan-3, the successor of Chandrayaan-2, will be launched in July this year.
An Overview of the News
The announcement was made after the successful launch of second generation navigation satellite NSV-01 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to demonstrate India's end-to-end capabilities in lunar exploration and its ability to safely land on and orbit the Moon.
The mission will consist of an indigenous lander module, a propulsion module and a rover.
Both the lander and the rover will be equipped with scientific payloads, which will enable them to conduct experiments and collect valuable data on the lunar surface.
Important Points
Chandrayaan-1:
It was the first Indian lunar probe launched by ISRO.
It was part of the Chandrayaan program and was launched in October 2008 and the mission lasted till August 2009.
Chandrayaan-1 consisted of a Lunar Orbiter and an Impactor.
The Lunar Orbiter conducted scientific research and collected data about the Moon.
The objective of the mission was to make a detailed map of the Moon's surface and study its composition.
Chandrayaan-1 had advanced instruments to test the presence of water ice and minerals.
The spacecraft carried both Indian and international scientific payloads.
Chandrayaan-1 made important discoveries including evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-2:
India's second lunar exploration mission developed by ISRO.
Components: Lunar Orbiter, Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover.
Scientific Objective: Study the composition of the lunar surface and find lunar water.
Launch: July 22, 2019, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Landing Site: Intended for the south polar region of the Moon at a latitude of 70°S.
Planned Landing Date: September 6, 2019
Landing Result: The lander crashed due to a software glitch.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO):
It was established on 15 August 1969.
It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S Somnath
4. ISRO to launch navigation satellite, NVS-1
Tags: Science and Technology
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch its next-generation navigation satellite, NVS-1, from Sriharikota on 29 May.
An Overview of the News
- The spacecraft is part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) series.
- NVS-1 weighs approximately 2,232 kg and will be launched by a GSLV F12 rocket from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- NVS-1 is the first of the second generation satellites envisaged for the NavIC series.
- The NVS series of satellites aims to maintain and enhance the NavIC system with advanced features.
- NavIC provides two services: Standard Positioning Service for civilian users and Restricted Service for strategic users.
- After this mission, India will join three other countries of the world with its navigation system.
- The satellite will carry an indigenously developed rubidium atomic clock for accurate GPS location timing.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO):
- It was established on 15 August 1969.
- It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Chairman: S Somnath
5. India's AI supercomputer 'AIRAWAT' ranked 75th in Global Supercomputing list
Tags: INDEX Science and Technology
The AI Supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT’, installed at C-DAC, Pune has been ranked 75th in the top 500 Global Supercomputing List.
An overview of the news
The announcement was made during the 61st edition of the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2023) held in Germany.
The establishment of 'AIRAWAT' at C-DAC Pune is part of the National Program on AI initiated by the Government of India.
About supercomputer AIRAWAT
AIRAWAT is the name for an in-house cloud platform for big data.
The proposed AIRAWAT system is a 100+ petaflop AI-focused supercomputer.
There are parallels drawn to Japan’s AI Bridging Cloud Interface supercomputer in the NITI Aayog report.
This system is a 130 petaflop computer focused on providing compute for AI, ML and big data tasks.
What are supercomputers?
A supercomputer can perform high-level processing at a faster rate than a normal computer.
They work together to perform complex operations that are not possible with normal computing systems.
Fast speed and fast memory are the characteristics of supercomputers.
The performance of a supercomputer is generally evaluated in petaflops.
National Supercomputing Mission
The National Supercomputing Mission was launched In 2015.
The aim of the mission was to enhance the research capacities in the country to form a Supercomputing grid.
It supports the government's vision of 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.
The mission is being jointly operated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
It is implemented by Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and IISc, Bengaluru.
Some important facts about supercomputer
China has the maximum number of supercomputers followed by the US, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom..
India’s first supercomputer - PARAM 8000
first supercomputer assembled indigenously - PARAM Shivay, installed in IIT (BHU)
PARAM Shakti, PARAM Brahma, PARAM Yukti, PARAM Sanganak are some name of india's supercomputers.
India's PARAM-Siddhi AI, has been ranked 63rd in the Top 500 list of most powerful supercomputers in the world.
6. New species of flying lizard found in Mizoram
Tags: Science and Technology State News
Mizoram's flying lizard species has been officially named as Gecko mizoramensis.
An Overview of the News
The research for this discovery was done through a collaborative effort between Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, Germany.
The study detailing the findings of the research on the gliding gecko species was published in a renowned German journal on herpetology.
Specimens of Gecko mizoramensis were collected from different places of Mizoram.
Collection sites include the Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolasib District, Dampa Tiger Reserve, and Lawngtlai District.
Mizoram:
It is a state located in Northeast India.
The name "Mizoram" is a combination of two words: "Mizo" and "Ram."
"Mizo" refers to the self-described name of the original inhabitants of Mizoram.
Establishment - 20 February 1987
Capital - Aizawl
Chief Minister - Zoramthanga
Official flower - Renanthera imschootiana
Official Animal - Sumatran Serow
Official Tree - Ceylon Ironwood
7. Union Government approves signing of Project Cooperation Agreement between DHR and WHO on Assistive Technology
Tags: National Science and Technology National News
The Union Government approved the signing of a Project Collaboration Agreement between the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Assistive Technology.
An Overview of the News
The agreement aims to draw global attention to access to assistive technology, promote research and innovation, and develop training programs.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) was approved during the meeting.
The MoU focuses on promoting and strengthening cooperation in competition law and policy through information exchange, sharing of best practices and capacity building initiatives.
The objective of the MoU is to develop and strengthen the relationship between the CCI and the ECA and to facilitate learning and cooperation in the enforcement of competition law.
The Union Cabinet approved the signing of an MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Chartered Accountants of Maldives.
The objective of the MoU is to establish mutual cooperation for the advancement of accounting knowledge, professional and intellectual development, and development of the accounting profession in Maldives and India.
World Health Organization (WHO):
It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that focuses on global public health.
The headquarters of WHO is in Geneva, Switzerland.
It operates through six regional offices and 150 field offices around the world.
It was established on April 7, 1948 with the aim of addressing international health issues.
Department of Health Research (DHR):
It was created in September 2007 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Its creation was notified through an amendment to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.
It was formally launched on 5 October 2007.
DHR functions as a separate department within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Its primary objective is to take modern health technologies to the masses through research and innovation.
8. Phase-3 trial for Panacea Biotech’s Dengue Vaccine
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The phase-3 trial of a dengue vaccine developed by Panacea Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is likely to begin in August or September 2023.
An overview of the news
Phase-III clinical trial is being done for evaluation of efficacy, along with safety and immunogenicity of tetravalent dengue vaccine.
Serum Institute of India and Panacea Biotech have applied for expression of interest for clinical trials for indigenous manufacturers of dengue vaccine.
What is Dengue?
Commonly known as break bone fever, it is a flu-like illness caused by the dengue virus.
It occurs when an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy person.
The disease is mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.
Causes of Dengue
It is caused due to four viruses, namely - DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
The virus enters the mosquito when it bites an already infected person.
The disease is transmitted when it bites a healthy person, and the virus is spread through the person's bloodstream.
Symptoms of Dengue
Headache, Muscle, bone and joint pain, Nausea, Vomiting, swollen glands, Rash.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for dengue.
Early detection of severe dengue-associated illness and access to appropriate medical care reduce deaths from severe dengue.
Diagnosis of dengue infection is done with a blood test.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Malaria - This disease is caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito.
Malaria fever is caused by a virus called Plasmodium vivax.
Dengue - Dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dengue is the most widely spread disease by mosquitoes worldwide.
Chikungunya - Chikungunya, like dengue, is caused by the bite of the Aedes mosquito.
Yellow Fever - This disease is caused by the bite of a human from the Aedes mosquito, especially Aedes aegypti.
Yellow fever is caused by flavivirus.
9. ICMR successfully tests blood bag delivery under iDrone initiative
Tags: Science and Technology
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently successfully tested the delivery of blood bags by drone under its iDrone initiative.
An overview of the news
The trial run was conducted on May 10, 2023, a drone carrying a blood bag weighing 500 grams flew for a distance of 12 kilometres and delivered it safely at the designated location.
The drone then returned to the base station with another blood bag.
Its objective is to address the challenges of blood transfusion services in rural and tribal areas, where access to blood banks and transportation facilities is limited.
About iDrone initiative
It was launched by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It aims to assess the feasibility of using drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies.
The i-Drone was first used by the ICMR during the COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of vaccines to inaccessible areas.
It is now being used to deliver blood and blood-related products that need to be kept at low temperatures.
10. Indian Council of Medical Research and Ministry of AYUSH signed MoU
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Indian Council of Medical Research and AYUSH Ministry on 11 May signed an MOU for collaborative and cooperative momentum on health research in the field of Integrated Medicine.
An overview of the news
The MoU was signed by Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH and Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary DHR & DG, ICMR in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.
The MoU envisages collaboration in areas of convergence and synergy between the two organizations to strengthen integrated health research and research capacity.
The MoU also envisages exploring the possibility with the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR to work on public health research initiatives to address diseases of national importance.
A Joint Working Group will be formed between the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR which will meet quarterly to explore other areas of collaboration and work on deliverables.
Both the institutes will formulate and implement joint research projects and programmes.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world headquartered in New Delhi for the coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
It works under the Department of Health Services (DHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA).
Later in 1949 its name was changed to ICMR.
