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Prelims 2020 Current Affairs Revision

Science & Technology (May - December 2019)

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Table of Contents Annular Solar Eclipse ...... 20 and Space Technology ...... 4 Helium Hydride ...... 21 Chandrayaan 2...... 4 Ploonet ...... 22 Gaganyaan Project ...... 5 Tardigrade – Water Bear ...... 22 NaVIC ...... 5 ...... 22 ...... 6 New Moons of Saturn ...... 23 Tiangong-2 ...... 7 Health and Diseases...... 24 LCROSS Mission ...... 7 Dengue Vaccine ...... 24 Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment Mission .. 8 May Illness ...... 24 mission ...... 8 Antimicrobial Resistance Report ...... 24 DSCOVR Mission ...... 9 Acute Encephalitis Syndrome ...... 25 Artemis mission ...... 9 Nipah Virus Disease ...... 25 OSIRIS- Rex Mission ...... 9 Diphtheria ...... 26 Important missions of ISRO ...... 10 Malaria Detection Test kit ...... 27 and Satellites ...... 10 TB elimination ...... 27 Transiting Survey Satellite ...... 11 Antibiotic Colistin ...... 28 ICON Satellite ...... 11 Proton Therapy on cancer ...... 28 CARTOSAT 3 satellite ...... 12 Ebola Vaccine ...... 29 Lunar Evacuation System Assembly...... 12 National Animal Disease Control Programme ...... 29 International Astronautical Federation ...... 12 India Iodine Survey ...... 30 Defence Space Research Organization ...... 12 Bombay Blood Group ...... 30 New Space India Limited ...... 13 UMMID and NIDAN ...... 31 Spacecraft ...... 13 Hepatitis B Control ...... 31 RISAT-2BR1 ...... 14 Measles Infection ...... 31 Geotail ...... 14 IVF pregnancy...... 32 Perseid Shower...... 15 Influenza classification ...... 32 Thirty Meter Telescope ...... 15 African Swine Fever...... 32 ...... 16 Salmonella ...... 33 Jellyfish ...... 16 LRRK2 ...... 33 Gravitational Lensing ...... 17 Oligomannate (GV-971) drug ...... 33 Hygiea ...... 17 Acute Respiratory Infections ...... 33 Exoplanet K2-18b ...... 17 ETVAX vaccine ...... 33 Oumuamua ...... 18 Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) ...... 34 WDJ0914+1914 ...... 18 SAANS campaign...... 34 SnowEx ...... 18 Study on Mental disorders ...... 34 BRUIE ...... 18 Information Communication Technology ...... 35 Square Kilometre Array ...... 19 Microbots ...... 35 Naming of a Planet ...... 19 Smart India Hackathon - 2019 ...... 35 Bhibha & Santamasa ...... 19 Quantum Supremacy ...... 35

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Edge Computing ...... 36 Military Exercises...... 52 Data localization ...... 36 Schemes and Initiatives ...... 53 TechSagar ...... 37 Project MANAV ...... 53 system ...... 37 International Centre for Automotive Technology . 53 World Wide Web contract ...... 38 National Genomic Grid ...... 53 DTrack Malware ...... 38 DHRUV Programme ...... 54 IBM GRAF ...... 38 Gemini Device...... 54 StrandHogg bug ...... 39 National Broadband Mission ...... 55 Libra currency ...... 39 Meghdoot app ...... 55 Short-Wave Radio Transmissions ...... 40 INAPH Database ...... 55 Energy ...... 41 SUPRA scheme ...... 56 Superconductivity at Room temperature ...... 41 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize 2019 ...... 56 Thorium-Based Nuclear Reactors ...... 41 NHS and NDHB ...... 56 EV Battery Technologies ...... 41 Green Crackers...... 57 Hydrothermal Carbonization ...... 43 UNICEF cryptocurrency fund ...... 57 Indigenous Fuel Cell ...... 43 Nikshay Poshan Yojana ...... 57 Microbial Fuel Cells ...... 44 Red Atlas Map ...... 57 Winter-Grade Diesel ...... 45 Programme 3S ...... 58 Biotechnology ...... 46 Indian Brain Atlas ...... 58 Artificial Bio Organs ...... 46 Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India ...... 58 Artificial Life ...... 46 World Malaria Report 2019 ...... 59 Pig Organs ...... 47 Global Innovation Index 2019 ...... 59 SPIT-SEQ test ...... 47 India Innovation Index 2019 ...... 59 IndiGen Project ...... 48 Nobel Prizes 2019 ...... 60 Golden Rice ...... 48 Miscellaneous ...... 62 Food Fortification ...... 48 Citizen Initiatives ...... 62 Glyphosate-based Herbicides ...... 48 Units of measurement ...... 62 New HIV type ...... 49 Desalination of Water ...... 62 Parthenogenesis ...... 49 Sensitive Sensor ...... 63 Defence Technology ...... 50 Elastocaloric Effect ...... 63 VELA Submarine ...... 50 Ceramic Membranes ...... 64 ABHYAS Drone ...... 50 ICAR- FUSICONT ...... 64 ASRAAM ...... 50 Optoelectronics ...... 64 Bhabha Kavach ...... 50 Artificial ...... 64 Apache Helicopter ...... 51 FrogPhone ...... 64 Astra Missile ...... 51 Fog Pass device ...... 65 Agni -II missile ...... 52 Atmospheric Water Generator ...... 65 Dhanush Regiment...... 52 Microdot Technology ...... 65

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Space and Space Technology

Chandrayaan 2 India’s first attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon has been unsuccessful. Components:

Orbiter Lander (Vikaram) Rover () It is a spacecraft that It is a spacecraft which descends toward and After lander lands on the moon, orbits the moon comes to rest on the surface of the moon. It the rover comes out of it and without landing on it. is a protective "shell" that houses the rover move across the surface of the and protect it. moon. 1. The orbiter part is functioning normally but ISRO lost contact with the lander due to hard landing (spacecraft hit the ground with a greater vertical speed and force). 2. Lander was supposed to have a soft landing at the predetermined site close to the South Pole of the moon which has not been explored by any other countries till now. 3. The lander and rover had a mission life of 14 days and the orbiter will function for at least one . 4. About 80-90% of the science output of the mission has to come from the orbiter. 5. It was launched by GSLV MK-III. Instruments onboard: Rover 1. NASA-built Laser Retroreflector Array (a group of mirrors) used by control stations on the ground to reflect signals from the Moon. 2. Terrain Mapping Camera-2 to map the lunar surface and prepare 3D maps of it. 3. Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini SAR) to map the surface of water-ice in the lunar South Pole and calculate thickness of the lunar dust on the surface. 4. Dual Frequency Radio Science (DFRS) to study the density of the electrons in the moon’s ionosphere. Orbiter: 1. High-resolution camera (OHRC) to ensure the lander makes a safe touchdown on the lunar surface by taking 3D images of the landing site. 2. Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) to measure the intensity of the solar rays and the outer most part of the atmosphere or its corona. 3. CLASS (Chandrayaan 2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer) to measure the light absorbed by the Moon and to check for different metals that are in its spectrum. Reasons for Exploring Lunar south pole: a) Lunar South Pole remains in shadow is much larger than that at the North Pole. b) There is a possibility of the presence of water in permanently shadowed areas around it. Many recent surveys have identified the presence of water in the polar regions. c) South Pole region has craters that are cold traps and contain a fossil record of the early Solar System. d) Lunar south pole also has places where the never sets. These places are called ‘Peaks of Eternal Light’. Chandrayaan -1 1. It was launched in 2008. Its most important finding is irrefutable evidence of the presence of water on the Moon. 2. It had a mission life of two but remained function for nine . Other Spacecrafts on moon 1. China’s Shanghai spacecraft had landed on the moon's far side also known as the dark side because it faces away from the and is comparatively unknown. 2. All the programs and the earlier Soviet programs have all landed on the equator of the moon.

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3. Israel’s Bereshit was also unsuccessful because it tried to touchdown on a plane of solidified lava known as the sea of serenity which has a flattened surface and more exposure to the Sun. About GSLV Mk-III • It is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. • It has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage. • Capacity: Can carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to (LEO) Gaganyaan Project 1. Gaganyaan is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft that is intended to send 3-7 Indian astronauts to space for 3-7 days in space by 2022, as part of the Indian Programme. 2. It will be for the first that India will launch its manned mission to space, making the country fourth in line to have sent a human to space. Other three are USA, Russia and China. 3. The spacecraft is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It consists of a service module and a crew module, collectively known as the Orbital Module. 4. GSLV Mk III will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it has the necessary payload capability. 5. GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). 6. The launcher uses two S200 solid rocket boosters to provide the huge amount of thrust required for lift off. Vyomanaut Is the term used for astronauts who will be sent to space by ISRO. It is Sanskrit word which means the one who travels in the sky. Similarly, Cosmonauts is term used by Russia. Recent Developments 1. Four pilots from Indian Air Force has been selected for the programme, and they will receive training at Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Centre in Moscow, Russia. 2. French space agency CNES would train Indian space medicine personnel for Gaganyaan. 3. France has offered exchanges and training at its MEDES space clinic and CADMOS (Centre for the Development of Microgravity Applications and Space operation). India’s Space Station 1. India plans to have its own space station. 2. ISRO’s proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes and serve as a facility where astronauts can stay for 15-20 days, and it would be placed in an orbit 400 km above earth. 3. The time frame for launch is 5-7 years after Gaganyaan. NaVIC Global standards body 3GPP, which develops protocols for mobile telephony, has approved India’s regional navigation system NavIC (Navigation with Indian ). Benefits of approval 1. Boost commercial use of NavIC by international and domestic mobile device makers. 2. Indian companies and start-ups can design integrated circuits (ICs) and products based on NavIC which can be exported as well. 3. It will alleviate security concerns, as India need not depend on the US or European satellites for commercial operations. 4. India would be joining exclusive GNSS club comprising the US, EU, China and Russia, who depend on their own satellites for navigation applications in their respective regions. Capabilities of NavIC 1. It can provide accurate position information service to users across India and the region extending up to 1,500 km around the country. 2. IRNSS applications are terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management.

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3. It can be integrated with mobile phones for precise timing, mapping and geodetic data capture, terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers and visual and voice navigation for drivers. About 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 1. It comprises seven telecommunications standard development from across the world and provides their members with a stable environment to produce specifications that define 3GPP technologies. 2. It currently has global navigation satellite system support from BDS (Chinese), (European), GLONASS (Russian) & GPS (US) for cellular positioning systems. 3. Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) is one among the seven member of 3GPP from India. 4. TSDI will soon adopt these specifications as a national standard, and cellular internet-of-things devices will begin to use the NavIC system in contrast to the American GPS system. About NavIC 1. NavIC is the operational name of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) developed by ISRO. 2. It is an independent regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services. 3. It covers India and a region extending 1,500 km around it. ISRO has plans for further extension. 4. The system currently consists of a constellation of seven satellites, with two additional satellites on ground as back up. 5. NavIC provides two levels of service - standard positioning service for civilian use, and a restricted service (an encrypted one) for authorised users such as the military.

Other Developments 1. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a leading producer of semiconductor chips, had developed and tested NavIC-friendly chipsets across its user bases and that it would add NavIC to them. 2. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandated that all national-permit vehicles must have a tracking devices and as a pilot, many fishing boats have been fitted with NavIC devices. 3. Leading mobile manufacturer Xiaomi is set to use NavIC in its smartphones, it will be the first company to use chips supporting NavIC. Voyager 2 1. Voyager 2 is a space probe launched by NASA in 1977, to study the outer planets. 2. Recently, Voyager 2 has crossed the heliosphere and entered interstellar space, it has sent the signals from their which will help scientists paint a clearer picture of cosmic shoreline. 3. It is the spacecraft to enter the interstellar space apart from . Heliosphere:

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1. The solar wind, emanating from the Sun, creates a bubble that extends far the orbits of the planets. This bubble is the heliosphere after which interstellar space starts. 2. The boundary between solar wind and interstellar wind is the heliopause, where the pressure of the two winds are in balance.

Tiangong-2 1. Tiangong-2 was a manned Chinese space station that was destroyed upon its controlled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean 2. Recently it was retired from service after it had completed its experiments in space. It was launched in 2016 and housed two Chinese astronauts also. 3. It’s precursor ‘Tiangong-1’ was China’s first space station, it was crashed into the southern Pacific Ocean. 4. China expects to complete its space station, Tianhe, which will be able to host three astronauts for long durations, around 2022. About International Space Station (ISS) 1) It is a space station in low Earth orbit. 2) ISS program is a joint project between five participating space agencies, a) NASA (United States) b) ROSCOSMOS (Russia) c) JAXA (Japan) d) ESA (European Union) e) CSA (Canada) 3) The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements. 4) ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, etc. LCROSS Mission NASA planned to revive the efforts to explore the ice reserves under the Moon’s surface, with this regard it has launched the LCROSS mission, but it got crashed. About the Mission 1. Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission’s objective was to confirm the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater near a lunar polar region. 2. The LCROSS data showed that the lunar soil within shadowy craters is rich in useful materials, such as hydrogen gas, ammonia and methane, and water. Importance of lunar water 1. NASA aim at making Moon as a fuel station for eventual missions to Mars. It would reduce the expensive fuel loads from Earth. 2. Lunar water could be extracted and broken down into its two main components- hydrogen and oxygen to create fuel.

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Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment Mission NASA and European Space Agency are planning to deflect Asteroids away from the Earth by hitting it with a spacecraft. AIDA Mission 1. It is a double-spacecraft mission to deflect an asteroid in space. It can prove the deflection technique as a viable method of planetary defence. 2. The mission is intended to test and validate impact models of whether a spacecraft could successfully deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. 3. The mission will be targeting two smaller bodies in the ‘Double Didymos asteroids’ that are in orbit between Earth and Mars. ‘Didymos’ is a near-Earth asteroid system. Components of the Mission 1. Double Asteroid Impact Test (DART) spacecraft built by NASA for launch in 2021 and it is planned to collide with the target in 2022. 2. It will be accompanied by the Italian-made miniature CubeSat i.e. LICIACube to record the of impact. Van Allen Probes mission 1. NASA announced that it has decommissioned its 7-year old Van Allen Probes 2. The mission was launched to study space weather and the radiation belts around the Earth. 3. It comprised of two satellites that were placed in Van Allen belts which studied how these rings acquire and lose electromagnetic particles. 4. The probes also studied invisible activities around the radiation belts and made other discoveries, such as how electrically charged molecules, also known as ions, can change the Earth’s magnetic field. Van Allen belts 1. It is a radiation belt zone of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind, that are captured by and held around a planet by that planet's magnetic field. 2. Earth has two such belts and sometimes others may be temporarily created.

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DSCOVR Mission The scientists prepared the contour map of the Earth to show how the Earth may appear to Aliens. Contour Map of Earth 1. Generally standard such as evidence of oxygen, liquid water, etc. help the astronomers to find the extra-territorial life but due to very long distances between planets, such evidence are barely visible even through a powerful telescope. 2. Scientists have prepared a contour map of the Earth to know how the Earth would appear to alien or extra- territorial life by taking images from Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite. 3. The images were taken at 10 wavelengths every one to two . The satellite was positioned so that it can see only the daytime side of Earth. DSCOVR mission 1. DSCOVR is the USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’ s space weather, space climate, and Earth observation satellite. 2. It was originally developed as a NASA satellite but now managed by NOAA. 3. EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) of NASA is a spectroradiometer onboard of DSCOVR spacecraft. It captures the images of the Earth at various wavelengths. 4. The DSCOVR spacecraft is located at the Earth-Sun Lagrange-1 point. It gives EPIC to measure ozone, aerosols, cloud reflectivity, cloud height, vegetation, etc. Artemis mission 1. NASA’s Artemis mission aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2024 with the ultimate goal to land humans on Mars. 2. Under the mission, the astronauts will be first sent to the spacecraft using the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. 3. The spacecraft will take the crew to the lunar orbit and will return them to Earth as well. 4. The Orion spacecraft will be docked at the Gateway, from where the astronauts will take expeditions to the surface of the Moon in the human landing system. OSIRIS- Rex Mission NASA has selected a sample collection site on the asteroid Bennu's boulder scattered surface, the site is name as Nightingale. About OSIRIS-Rex 1. ‘Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer’ (OSIRIS- Rex) is an asteroid study and sample-return mission. 2. The main goal of mission is to study the evolution of the solar system and the universe. 3. The spacecraft is tasked to obtain a sample of rocks from 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid. This asteroid’s regolith may record the earliest history of our solar system. 4. The spacecraft was launched in 2016. It is expected to return Earth's atmosphere in 2023. Bennu asteroid 1. This asteroid is a near-earth object (NEO) with less than five hundred meters diameter. 2. It completes an orbit around the Sun every 1.2 years and every 6 years comes very close to Earth. 3. These close encounters give Bennu a high probability of impacting Earth in the late 22nd . 4. Bennu’s size, primitive composition, and potentially hazardous orbit make it one of the most fascinating and accessible NEO.

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Important missions of ISRO Sl.No Mission Objectives 1 Aditya-L1 To study the Sun’s corona. It will be the first Indian based Solar Coronagraph to study solar Corona in visible & near IR bands. In this mission a satellite will be placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system so that sun can be viewed continuously without any occultation/ eclipses. 2 Mangalyaan 2 India's 2nd interplanetary mission planned for launch to Mars. 3 EXPOSat It will study neutron , supernova remnants, pulsars and regions around Planetary black holes. The satellite will have multi-wavelength X-ray astronomy Exploration observatory studying X-ray sources in the universe. 4 Shukrayaan 1 It is mission to an orbiter to study the atmosphere of , which is also known as Earth’s twin sister. It is made up primarily of carbon dioxide. The Shukrayaan mission will study the dense, hot atmosphere of Venus and the planet's surface using a probe. 5 NISAR NASA-lSRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint project between NASA & ISRO. It is the 1st dual band radar imaging satellite. 6 Chandrayaan 3 India’s third lunar mission, it will try to land in the lunar south pole like Chandrayaan-2. Lagrangian point: It is a location in space where the combined gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as Earth and the sun or Earth and the moon, equal the centrifugal force felt by a much smaller third body.

Terra and Aqua Satellites 1. Terra and Aqua are NASA satellites which has MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) as a key instrument. 2. Both are Earth observatory satellite studying the climatic factors such as precipitation, evaporation, water cycle etc. 3. Both the satellites have tracked the cyclone Fani and it is also used to track forest fires in India. Global Green Cover 1 The images of satellites are also used to study the global green cover, based on the study, global green leaf area has increased by 5 percent since the early 2000s. 2. China and India account for one-third of the greening but contain only 9 percent of the planet’s land area covered in vegetation.

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Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite 1. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a space telescope for NASA's . 2. It is designed to search for using the transit photometry method. (Exoplanets are the planets that orbit the other than the Sun) 3. It also aims to build a catalogue of small, rocky planets in short orbits around very bright, nearby stars for atmospheric study. Transit Photometry Method 1. This method detects distant planets by measuring the dimming of a star as an orbiting planet passes between it and the Earth. 2. The passage of a planet between a star and the Earth is called a ‘Transit’. 3. Detection of dimming at regular intervals with a fixed length of time means that a planet is possibly orbiting the star once every orbital period. 4. It can also tell the planet’s size as well. Recent Developments 1. TESS has discovered a new planet- L 98-59b, the tiniest of its finds so far, which is in size between the sizes of Mars and Earth. 2. It orbits a bright, cool, nearby star. Apart from L 98-59b, two other celestial bodies are orbiting the same star. 3. TESS has discovered three new planets named as TOI 270 b, TOI 270 c and TOI 270 d. 4. These planets that orbit a nearby dwarf star (TOI 270) that is both smaller and cooler than our own Sun.

5. With the help of TESS scientists have captured a view of a black hole ripping apart a doomed star. Tidal Disruption a. The TESS satellite has captured the event from beginning to end for the first time and it reveals how the star was pulled into by the black hole using the gravitational pull, such capture of the stars by the black holes is known as ‘Tidal Disruption Event’. b. Black Holes are very dark regions in the universe with enormous gravitational force and these events happen when a star ventures too close to a supermassive black hole. ICON Satellite NASA launched Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite into the orbit. Objective of the ICON 1. The ICON will be studying the Earth’s ionosphere, which is a layer of earth’s atmosphere that overlaps with the boundary of space. 2. Ionosphere is a charged part of the upper atmosphere and faces constant change due to space weather bombarding it from the above and the weather of our planet from below.

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3. The spacecraft will help in better understand the link between space weather and earth’s weather, and how these two interact in the Earth’s ionosphere. CARTOSAT 3 satellite ISRO has successfully launched Cartosat-3 satellite and 13 commercial nanosatellites from USA. Cartosat-3 satellite 1. It is a high-resolution imaging satellite that will be used for largescale urban planning, infrastructure development, coastal land-Use and land cover among others. 2. This satellite is India’s highest resolution civilian satellite and most advanced earth observation satellite built by the ISRO till now. It is also likely to have a military use as well. Nanosatellite and Cubesats 1. These satellites are very tiny satellites weighing between 1 to 10 Kg and used for specific purposes at affordable prices. 2. CubeSats are a class of nanosatellites that use a standard size and form factor. 3. The standard CubeSat size uses a ‘one unit’ or ‘1U’ measuring 10x10x10 cms and is extendable to larger sizes; 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and even 12U. 4. CubeSats provide a cost-effective platform for science investigations, new technology demonstrations and advanced mission concepts using , etc. Lunar Evacuation System Assembly 1. Lunar Evacuation System Assembly (LESA) is developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). 2. LESA is a pyramid-like structure whose purpose is to rescue an astronaut if he/she suffer an injury on the lunar surface. 3. It can be operated by a single astronaut to rescue a fallen colleague. It enables an astronaut to lift their crewmate onto a mobile stretcher in less than 10 and carrying them to the safety of a nearby pressurised lander. International Astronautical Federation A delegation of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) recently extended India the invitation to participate in the upcoming International Astronautical Congress (IAC). About IAC 1. IAC is the biggest annual Space event in the world attracting more than 6000 participants including leaders of Space agencies and industry; young professionals and students. 2. It is organized annually by IAF in collaboration with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). 3. IAC-2019 was held in Washington D.C., the USA in October 2019. 4. IAC serves as a platform for knowledge sharing in astronautics and broadening international cooperation. About IAF 1. It is an international space advocacy and non-governmental organization based in Paris. 2. It was established in 1951 to foster the dialogue between scientists around the world and support international cooperation in all space-related activities. 3. It is the world’s leading space advocacy body with 366 members, including all key space agencies, companies, societies, associations and institutes across 68 countries. 4. Each year the IAC is held in different countries with an IAF member organization serving as its host. Defence Space Research Organization 1. Central government has approved the creation of the Defence Space Research Organisation (DSRO). 2. DSRO will provide technical and research support to its parent organization, the Defence Space Agency. 3. The objective of DSRO are: a. To develop capabilities to protect India's interests in outer space and deal with threats of space wars. b. To develop range of platforms and co-orbital weapons to protect Indian assets in space and to have deterrence.

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4. DSRO will be headed by a senior defence scientist who will lead a team of other scientists. Defence Space Agency 1. In April 2019, the government established the Defence Space Agency to command the space assets of the Army, Navy and Air Force, including the military’s anti-satellite capability. 2. The agency is also to formulate a strategy to protect India’s interests in space, including addressing space-based threats. 3. The creation of the two agencies is aimed at developing a multidimensional approach to utilize outer space for strategic purposes. 4. India’s existing military space agencies - Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre in New Delhi, and the Defence Satellite Control Centre in Bhopal — will be merged with DSA. Anti-Satellite Capability of India 1. In March 2019, DRDO conducted Mission Shakti, through which it conducted an anti-satellite missile test. 2. An anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) is anything that destroys or physically damages a satellite. 3. The test's success makes India the fourth country capable of destroying an enemy satellite, after the U.S., Russia and China. New Space India Limited 1. New Space India Limited (NSIL) has been incorporated as a new company for the commercialization of Research and Development work of ISRO. 2. It is a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking/Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS). Functions of NSIL: 1. Small Satellite technology transfer to industry, wherein NSIL will obtain license from DOS/ISRO and sub- license it to industries. 2. Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with the Private Sector. 3. Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian Industry. 4. Production and marketing of Space based products and services, including launch and application. 5. Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS. 6. Marketing spin-off technologies and products or services, both in India and abroad. Falcon Heavy Spacecraft SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy spacecraft on its third mission with a huge payload of 24 satellites from various organisations and government agencies placed in three different orbits. Important Satellites: Deep Space Atomic (DSAC) 1. Sent by NASA and collaborators on one of the 24 satellites. 2. Atomic work by observing the behaviour of atoms as precisely as possible and DSAC will provide accurate timekeeping, crucial for the performance of GPS. 3. It is expected to be stable to better than one per (one second per 10 million years), and about 50 more accurate than current atomic clocks in GPS satellites. ASCENT Green fuel 1. One of the satellites will be a test spacecraft for safer rocket fuel. 2. The traditional fuel used in satellites is hydrazine, which is extremely toxic to humans and the environment. 3. The new alternative is called ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-toxic Propellant), which is a hydroxyl ammonium nitrate fuel/oxidiser blend. 4. ASCENT is expected to significantly reduce toxicity levels compared to hydrazine, and potentially shorter launch processing times, resulting in lower costs. Solar-Powered Sail 1. LightSail 2 is a crowd-funded solar sail project from the Planetary Society. 2. It seeks to become the first orbiting spacecraft to be propelled solely by sunlight. www.skholar.com www.skholar.com

3. In 2005, the Planetary Society launched the world’s first solar sailing spacecraft, Cosmos 1 but lost due to a rocket failure. 4. In 2015, LightSail 1 spacecraft successfully completed a test flight. LightSail 2, which is aimed to go into orbit, is enclosed within Prox-1, a small satellite built by Georgia Tech students. About Planetary Society 1. The Planetary Society is an international NGO based in the USA. 2. It is involved in research, public outreach, and political advocacy for engineering projects related to astronomy, , and space exploration. Falcon Heavy Spacecraft 1. The Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX. 2. It is the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. With the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons. RISAT-2BR1 1. India’s PSLV-C48 has successfully launched RISAT-2BR1 along with nine commercial satellites from. It was also a 50th successful mission by PSLV. 2. RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging earth observation satellite. It will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management and has a mission life of 5 years. 3. The PSLV also launched satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA into their designated orbits. 4. These satellites were launched under a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL). Geotail Chandrayaan-2 had detected charged particles during its passage through the “Geotail”. About Geotail a. Our Sun emits a continuous outflowing stream of electrons and protons into the solar system, called the solar wind. b. The solar wind plasma has charged particles embedded in the extended magnetic field of the Sun. c. It moves at speeds of a few hundred km per second and interacts with solar system bodies, including Earth and the moon. d. The magnetic field of the Earth obstructs the solar wind plasma and forms a magnetic envelope around Earth, called the magnetosphere. e. The Earth’s magnetosphere is compressed into a region approximately three to four times the Earth radius on the side facing the Sun. f. But it is stretched into a long tail on the opposite side that goes beyond the orbit of Moon. This tail is called the Geotail. g. Approximately once every 29 days, Moon traverses the Geotail for about 6 days around the full moon. This region in space allows the best observations.

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Perseid Meteor Shower 1. On its journey around the Sun, the Earth passes through large swathes of cosmic debris. 2. The debris are the remnants of comets. As the Earth wades through this cloud of comet waste, the bits of debris create appears from the ground to be a fireworks display in the sky which is known as a meteor shower. 3. Several meteor showers can be seen around the year. Among the brightest and best known of them is the Perseid Meteor Shower. Comets are great frigid chunks of matter that leave behind dirty trails of rocks and ice that linger long after the comets themselves have passed. Thirty Meter Telescope 1. The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a proposed extremely large telescope. It being built on the Mauna Kea mountain, in the island of Hawaii, USA. 2. It has become controversial due to local protest against the construction, who consider the Mauna Kea mountain as sacred. About the Telescope 1. It is being built by an international collaboration of government organisations and educational institutions of Canada, China, India, Japan and USA at a cost of $1.4 billion. 2. “Thirty Metre” refers to the 30-metre diameter of the mirror, which makes it three times wider than the existing largest visible-light telescope. 3. The larger the mirror, the more light a telescope can collect, which means farther, and fainter objects can be observed. It can resolve object 12 times better than . 4. It is being designed and developed by the TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO).

Applications 1. The study of exoplanets and whether their atmospheres contain water vapour or methane. 2. The study of black holes and observe the Milky Way galaxy in detail. About TIO 1. It is a non-profit international partnership between a) California Institute of Technology b) University of California c) National Institutes of Natural of Japan d) National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences e) Department of Science and Technology of India e) National Research Council (Canada)

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2. It was established in 2014 to carry out the construction and operation phases of the TMT Project. 3. Major funding has been provided by the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation. 4. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is an associate member of the project. 5. AURA is a consortium of 39 US institutions and 6 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories. Milky Way Galaxy Scientists, based on data from the Gaia space observatory, have stated that Milky Way galaxy was merged with another smaller galaxy in a colossal cosmic collision. Observations 1. Milky Way’ s current shape was influenced as a result of collision with another smaller galaxy 10 billion years ago.

2. Milky Way was collided with dwarf galaxy Gaia- which increased our galaxy’s mass by about a quarter. 3. It triggered a period of accelerated star formation lasting about 2 to 4 billion years. 4. Galaxies of all types, including the Milky Way, began to form relatively soon after the Big Bang explosion but were generally smaller than those seen now. 5. Subsequent galactic mergers were instrumental in configuring galaxies existing now. Gaia Space Observatory 1. Its objective to chart a three-dimensional map of the Milky Way, in the process revealing the composition, formation, and evolution of the Galaxy. 2. It provides positional and radial velocity measurements with the accuracies needed to produce a stereoscopic and kinematic census of about one billion stars in our Galaxy. 3. It was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2013 and expected to operate until 2022. Jellyfish Galaxies ASTROSAT observatory has observed the star formation in the jellyfish galaxy named ‘JW100’. About Jellyfish galaxies 1. These galaxies are called ‘Jellyfish galaxies’ because they are shaped like discs that have many limb-like arms streaming away from the disc. 2. They are formed when a disc-shaped galaxy rams into a . The galaxy cluster is a dense region containing thousands of galaxies packed into a small region. GASP Programme 1. ‘Gas Stripping Phenomena in galaxies with MUSE’ programme is an international program of the European Southern Observatory. 2. It seeks to observe 100 gas-stripping jellyfish galaxies using the MUSE Integral Field Spectrograph in Chile. www.skholar.com www.skholar.com

3. ASTROSAT has joined the program by contributing data from its Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) instrument. ASTROSAT observatory 1. It is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. 2. It enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite. 3. The observatory observes the universe in the optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. 4. Its scientific objective is to understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes. Gravitational Lensing NASA plan to investigate how new stars are born with the help of a natural phenomenon called “gravitational lensing” and using James Webb Space Telescope. Gravitational Lensing 1. The phenomenon occurs when a huge amount of matter, such as a massive galaxy or cluster of galaxies, creates a gravitational field that distorts and magnifies the light from objects behind it, but in the same line of sight. 2. Gravitational Lensing like natural cosmic telescopes. Large celestial objects will magnify the light from distant galaxies that are at or near the peak of star formation. The effect allows researchers to study the details of early galaxies too far away to be seen. 3. The programme is called Targeting Extremely Magnified Panchromatic Lensed Arcs and Their Extended Star Formation (TEMPLATES). James Webb Space Telescope 1. The James Webb Space Telescope is considered as the successor to Hubble Space Telescope, both built by the NASA. It is scheduled to be launched in 2021. 2. It is most powerful and complex space telescope. Once it is sent into space, it will be exploring the universe using the infrared light, from the celestial bodies that are in our solar system to the old and distant galaxies. 3. It will be world’s premier space science observatory and solve mysteries of our solar system. It will also observe beyond to distant worlds around other stars and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe. 4. It will be placed in the L2 - Lagrange point.

Hygiea 1. Space scientists have discovered a new dwarf planet called Hygiea. 2. It might be the smallest dwarf planet to exist in our solar system which is sized 430 kilometres in diameter. 3. According to the criteria which defines celestial bodies as dwarf planets instead of asteroids, is that it needs to have sufficient mass for the gravity to pull it into a shape of a sphere. Exoplanet K2-18b Scientists have found signatures of water vapour in the atmosphere of Exoplanet K2-18b. The discovery 1. K2-18b is the only exoplanet that is known to have both water and temperatures that could support life. 2. But K2-18b’s size and surface gravity are much larger than Earth’s and its radiation environment is hostile which question the possibility of life on this planet. About the K2-18b 1. K2-18b was discovered in 2015 by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft which resides in a habitable zone, also known as ‘Goldilocks Zone’ and it is significantly heavier and has a different atmospheric composition. 2. Recent reports show the presence of hydrogen and helium in the planet’s atmosphere.

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The Goldilocks Zone refers to the habitable zone around a star where the temperature is just right - not too hot and not too cold - for liquid water to exist on a planet

Kepler Space Telescope 1. It was a space telescope developed by NASA and designed to survey a portion of the Milky Way galaxy in search of exoplanets. 2. It made more than 2,600 planet discoveries from outside our solar system. 3. The mission came to an end in 2018 as it ran out of fuel. Oumuamua 1. An interstellar object ‘Oumuamua’ discovered in late 2017, was then the first known object from outside the Solar System to do a fly-by of Earth. 2. Now it is scientists are suggesting that Oumuamua might have been part of an alien spacecraft. 3. Another research found that before Oumuamua, a meteor from another solar system may have actually hit Earth in 2014. It burned up in the atmosphere and fell into the South Pacific. 4. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Database helped in identifying the fastest meteors with strange trajectories. 5. If an object moves extremely fast, it can be a sign that it is not tied to an orbit around the sun and found that it might have come from the interior of another planetary or star system in the Milky Way. WDJ0914+1914 1. Astronomers have reported the first indirect evidence of a giant planet orbiting a white dwarf star ‘WDJ0914+1914’. 2. It is the first time any such planet has been found. The study suggests there could be many more planets around such white dwarf stars. 3. The evidence is in the form of a disc of gas, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur, formed from its evaporating atmosphere. SnowEx 1. It is a seasonal campaign initiated in 2016-17 by NASA to understand how much water each winter’s snowfall contains and how much will be available when it melts, focused in North America. 2. The overall target is optimal strategies for mapping global snow water equivalent (SWE) with remote sensing and models leading to a Decadal Survey “Earth System Explorer” mission. 3. NASA currently has no global satellite mission to track and study SWE. Working of Snow Ex 1. SnowEx assesses where snow has fallen, how much there is and how its characteristics change as it melts by using airborne measurements, ground measurements and computer modelling. 2. The airborne campaign will fly and observe via a. Radar and lidar (light detection and ranging) to measure snow depth, b. Microwave radar and radiometers to measure SWE, c. Optical cameras to photograph the surface, d. Infrared radiometers to measure surface temperature, and e. Hyperspectral imagers for snow cover and composition. 4. Ground teams will measure snow depth, density, accumulation layers, temperature, wetness and snow grain size — the size of a typical particle. BRUIE 1. NASA has developed a robot known as Buoyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration (BRUIE). 2. It is being developed for underwater exploration beyond earth in search of life. 3. It could be used to explore Jupiter’s moon or Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

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Square Kilometre Array 1. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with over one square kilometre of collecting area. 2. SKA will use thousands of dishes and about million low-frequency antennas to monitor the sky in detail and survey the entire sky faster than other current systems. 3. Its observations will provide the higher image resolution quality than the Hubble Space Telescope. 4. It will be co-hosted by the South Africa’s Karoo region and Western Australia’s Murchison Shire, both areas were chosen for many scientific and technical reasons. 5. It has 13 member countries viz. Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. 6. Apart from member countries, around 100 organisations across 20 countries are participating in the design and development of the SKA. Hubble Space Telescope 1. The Hubble Space Telescope is a collaboration between European Space Agency and NASA launched in 1990. It is one of the greatest advances in the field of astronomy. 2. Hubble is a telescope that orbits Earth. Its position above the atmosphere gives it a view of the universe that surpasses that of ground-based telescopes. 3. Currently it is the only space-based telescope providing spectroscopy and high-resolution imaging at UV, optical, and near-infrared wavelengths. Naming of a Planet 1. A minor planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter has been named after the legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj. 2. Minor planets are celestial objects orbiting the Sun that are not large enough for their gravity to pull them into a spherical shape. Naming a celestial body: 1. Names of celestial bodies are finally approved by a committee at the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a global organisation of professional astronomers, which also decides on definitions of fundamental astronomical and physical constants. 2. In the case of small Solar System bodies, the discoverer has the privilege to suggest the name. The discoverer holds this privilege for 10 years since the discovery. But there is a process to be followed, and not all names are acceptable. 3. Once it is determined that a celestial body is new, a provisional name is given. This name has the year of discovery, two letters of the alphabet and two numbers. 4. Once more information is available about the body, particularly its orbit, and after it has been sighted on at least four occasions, it is entitled to have a permanent number. Requirements for Naming 1. The proposed name must have 16 characters or less, it must be “non-offensive”, and not too similar to an existing name. 2. Names of political or military leaders can be suggested only 100 years after their death. 3. Names of pets or names of commercial nature are “discouraged”. There can be restrictions depending on where the body is located — for example, new objects discovered beyond Neptune are supposed to be given names of creation deities. Bhibha & Santamasa 1. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced that a. White-yellow star in constellation previously referred to as HD 86081, will be called ‘Bhibha’ and b. Jupiter-like exoplanets of the constellation (86081b) will be known as ‘Santamasa’. 2. The star has been named in honour of Indian woman scientist Bibha Choudhury, who discovered subatomic particle, pi-meson. ‘Bhibha’ also means “a bright beam of light” in Bengali.

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3. The planet has been named ‘Santamasa’ to reflect the cloudy nature of its atmosphere which means clouded in Sanskrit. 4. The IAU chose the name at a global contest called ‘NameExoWorlds’ organised as part of its centenary celebrations. Annular Solar Eclipse Annular solar eclipse, also known as a ‘Ring of Fire’ was witnessed recently. About the eclipse 1. An eclipse happens when the moon, while orbiting the Earth, comes in between the sun and the Earth, due to which the moon blocks the sun’s light from reaching the Earth.

2. Major types of the solar eclipse are Partial eclipse, Annular eclipse and Total Eclipse. 3. The total solar eclipse is visible only from a small area on Earth and it happens when the sun, moon, and Earth are in a direct line. 4. People who are able to view the total solar eclipse are in the centre of the moon’s shadow as and when it hits the Earth. 5. In Partial solar eclipse, the shadow of the moon appears on a small part of the sun. 6. In an annular solar eclipse the moon does not block the sun completely but looks like a dark disk on top of a larger sun-coloured disk forming a ‘Ring of fire’.

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Eclipse shadows 1. During a solar eclipse, the moon casts two shadows on the Earth, a. Umbra- It is the dark central portion of a shadow. b. Penumbra- It the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. 2. According to NASA, people in the umbra shadow see a total eclipse and those standing in the penumbra shadow see a partial eclipse. Other Developments: 1. During this event solar physicists from Centre for Excellence in Space Sciences (CESSI), IISER Kolkata have predicted the shape of Sun’s corona by capturing its image. 2. It was imaged by NASA and European Space Agency’s space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) using the LASCO instrument. 3. The corona is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. Significance of the prediction 1. The dynamic events on the Sun can affect Earth’s outer atmosphere and our technologies, leading to disruption in communication and navigation networks such as GPS. 2. These are more frequent during solar maxima and pose a threat to space reliant technology and astronauts. 3. Understanding the shape of sun’s corona gives advance knowledge and a large window of preparedness for space weather driven by coronal magnetic . Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) 1. SOHO is a spacecraft launched by a European Space Agency to study the Sun. It has also discovered over 3,000 comets. 2. The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is an onboard optical system of SOHO to produce images of the corona. Helium Hydride 1. Scientists have detected Helium Hydride for the first time ever in our universe in space. It is considered as the most ancient type of molecule. 2. Helium hydride ion (HeH+) was the first molecule that formed when, almost 14 billion years ago, falling temperatures in the young universe allowed recombination of the light elements produced in the Big Bang. 3. Despite its importance in the history of the early Universe, HeH+ has so far couldn’t be detection in astrophysical nebulae (cloud of gas and dust in outer space). Role of Helium hydride:

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Ploonet 1. If the moon of an exoplanet breaks away or being forced of its orbit by the planet and starts rotating in new orbit around a star and act like a planet, it is called as Ploonet (Moon + Planet = Ploonet). 2. They modelled the likely behaviour of giant exomoons predicted to form around massive planets. 3. Roughly 50% of these ejected moons would survive the immediate expulsion and avoid any subsequent collision with the planet or the star, ending up in orbit around the star, but in eccentric orbits. 4. It is hypothetical concept, but If such a scenario does take place, these “ploonets”, could explain several puzzling phenomena. Tardigrade – Water Bear Israeli spacecraft Bereshit crashed on the lunar surface. It was carrying a number of items including the tardigrade microorganism. About the Tardigrade 1. It is among the toughest and most resilient creatures on Earth. 2. It is a water-dweller but also inhabits the land and can also survive in the cold vacuum of outer space. 3. Even after catastrophic events, such as a supernova or a large asteroid impact, the tardigrade would be the likeliest to survive. 4. The tardigrade can endure extreme hot and cold temperature levels. It is also known to feast on bacteria and, in some cases, to kill and eat other tardigrades.

Methane on Mars NASA’s rover discovered high amounts of methane in the air on Mars, later the methane had fallen back to usual levels. Significance of Methane 1. On Earth, most of the methane (CH4) is produced due to biological processes, especially by methane- producing microbes living in the digestive systems of animals. 2. Some also occur in formations such as rocks, springs and aquifers, formed by chemical reactions between carbon and hydrogen atoms at low temperature. 3. Once it is released into the atmospheres of either Earth or Mars, methane is relatively short-lived. 4. Methane in Mars was first detected in 2003 and has been considered a potential biomarker (tracers for life on early earth and Mars). 5. The recent increase in concentration could help to detect the source of methane but Curiosity doesn’t have instruments that can identify the source of the methane, i.e. biological or geological. Other findings on Mars 1. Marsquake: NASA's InSight lander sensed its first confirmed marsquake, a phenomenon such as earthquake on earth. Measuring the Martian equivalent of earthquakes, seismic waves traveling through the interior of the planet, was among the lander's key science goals. 2. Avalanche on Mars: a. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has managed to capture the phenomenon of ice avalanche on Mars. b. Every spring the sun shines on a stack of layers at the North Pole of Mars called the north polar layered deposits. c. When the warmth destabilizes the ice, blocks break loose, producing huge plumes of reddish-brown dust.

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d. The MRO and its Hi-Rise camera have been orbiting Mars for over a decade, sending back the images of Mars' landscape. Curiosity Rover Mars Reconnaissance InSight Lander Orbiter (MRO) 1. Curiosity rover was 1. MRO is a spacecraft sent 1. The Interior Exploration using Seismic designed to explore Mars as by NASA that beams back Investigations, Geodesy and Heat a part of Mars Science high-resolution imagery of the Transport (InSight) mission is a robotic Laboratory mission (MSL) of Red Planet's surface. lander designed to study the deep interior NASA. 2. It has helped in finding a of the planet Mars, launched by NASA. 2. Objective: landing spot for the Mars 2. Objectives: To investigate the climate Curiosity rover. a. To place a seismometer, called SEIS, and of Mars and 3. It has three cameras – on the surface of Mars to measure environmental conditions a. High Resolution Imaging seismic activity and provide accurate 3D favourable for microbial life Science Experiment (HiRISE), models of the planet's interior; and in the Mars. b. Context Camera (CTX) and b. measure internal heat flow using a heat c. Mars Color Imager probe called HP3 to study Mars early (MARCI). geological evolution. New Moons of Saturn 1. Twenty new moons have been found around Saturn, making the total of 82 moons, which is more than 79 moons of Jupiter. 2. Jupiter is the biggest planet of our solar system and it has the biggest moon – Ganymede which is almost half the size of Earth. About newly discovered 20 moons: 1. These are tiny moons, each less than 5 km in diameter, more tinier moons may be orbiting Saturn, but larger telescope are required to discover. 2. Seventeen moons orbit the planet in the opposite direction and other three circle in the same direction that Saturn rotates and take two to three years to complete a single orbit. 3. These baby moons may have come from larger parent moons that broke apart right after Saturn formed.

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Health and Diseases

Dengue Vaccine 1. The Dengvaxia vaccine for dengue disease was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (US- FDA). 2. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, about 400 million dengue virus infections occur around the world. About the Dengvaxia vaccine 1. Dengue is transmitted mainly through the female Aedes Aegypti mosquito. 2. Dengvaxia is a live, attenuated dengue virus. 3. An attenuated virus retains its properties of triggering an immune response in the body but its ability to lead to disease is compromised. 4. Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had a prior infection of dengue disease. 5. So, US-FDA approved vaccination of Dengvaxia only for persons who were previously infected by the disease. Other developments 1. Recently the Spanish health authorities confirmed world’s first case of dengue being transmitted sexually. 2. It was known to be transmitted through Mosquitoes only until now. May Illness High number of patients suffer from respiratory diseases in Kashmir region annually in May due to the shedding of cotton-covered seeds by Russian poplar trees. About Russian poplars 1. It is a Western American species which was introduced in Kashmir in 1982 under a Word Bank-aided social forestry scheme. 2. Russian poplar was preferred over the native Kashmiri poplar for its quick growth in 10-15 years, compared to 30-40 years for the Kashmiri poplar. 3. It is used to make wooden boxes for transportation of apples and other fruits from the Valley. 4. Russian poplars causes allergy to less than 20% of population. Antimicrobial Resistance Report United Nations Ad Hoc Interagency Coordinating Group on Antimicrobial Resistance has published the global report on antimicrobial resistance. Highlights of the report 1. Currently, at least 7,00,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. It includes 2,30,000 people who die from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. 2. Common diseases such as respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, and urinary tract infections, are becoming untreatable. 3. By 2030, antimicrobial resistance can push 24 million people into extreme poverty and drug-resistant diseases can cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050. About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 1. It is the resistance of a microorganism to an antimicrobial medicine to which it was originally sensitive. 2. Resistant organisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and some parasites are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, antifungals etc. 3. Standard treatments become ineffective in such cases. Infections persist increasing risk of spread to others. 4. The evolution of resistant strains is a natural phenomenon that happens when microorganisms are exposed to antimicrobial drugs. Resistant traits can be exchanged between certain types of bacteria. 5. The misuse of antimicrobial medicines accelerates this natural phenomenon along with poor infection control practices encourage the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance.

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Other Developments 1. India has become a part of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Development Hub launched during the World Health Assembly (2018). a. The hub is aimed at helping countries decide the allocation of resources for research and development (R&D) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by identifying gaps and overlaps. b. It promotes coordination among governments in the fight against AMR. c. This global partnership includes sixteen countries, the European Commission, philanthropic foundations and four international organisations as observers. 2. WHO has launched tool for safer use of antibiotics and curb resistance. The tool is known as ‘AWARE’. It classifies antibiotics into three groups: a) Access — antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections b) — antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system c) Reserve — antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort 3. It aims to achieve a 60% increase in use of antibiotics under the Access group. Access group antibiotic are cheap and narrow-spectrum drug that target a specific microorganism drugs. Study on AMR in India A study on AMR in India found the following bacteria with AMR to be prevalent in India, a. E. coli - Causes diarrhoea and enters the body through contaminated water or food b. K. pneumonia - enters the body through a cut or a wound c. E. cloacae - causes respiratory and urinary infection and d. Morganella morganii - occurs in post-operative and other infections such as those of the urinary tract. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar has resulted in the deaths of many children. About AES 1. AES including Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a group of clinically similar neurologic manifestation that includes mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma. 2. It mostly affects Children below 15 years of . 3. AES can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites or toxins. 4. It can also caused by infections such as scrub typhus, dengue, mumps, measles, Nipah or Zika. 5. In India, the most common cause is the virus that causes Japanese encephalitis (JE). 6. Hypoglycaemia (a condition of low blood sugar) is a sign associated with AES. 7. The combination of AES with hypoglycaemia is attributed to be caused by malnourishment and lack of proper diet. 8. Methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG), a content of litchi fruit has been shown to cause hypoglycaemia. 9. Eating unripe litchi fruit on empty stomachs by Children, results in lowering of blood sugar levels. 10. Conditions like heat, humidity, poor hygiene also contribute to the rise in AES. Nipah Virus Disease Recently the case of Nipah virus has been reported in Kerala. About the disease 1. Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, that is transmitted from animals to humans mainly from bats and pigs. 2. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. 3. The natural host of the virus is fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, widely found in South and South East Asia. 4. It was first identified in Malaysia in 1999. 5. Nipah virus causes an incurable infection in human beings, which can sometimes be fatal. 6. Patients either show no symptoms of the infection, thereby making it difficult to detect or develop acute respiratory problems, or encephalitis that often becomes fatal. 7. As of now there is no treatment available either for humans or animals nor any vaccine.

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8. WHO has identified Nipah as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. Diphtheria The cases of Diphtheria disease are increasing in India. About the disease 1. It is an infectious disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a bacterium. The primary infection is in the throat and upper airways. 2. The bacteria gets infected by a type of virus known as phage, which produce a toxin, causing diphtheria in humans. 3. Diphtheria are more common in the tropics region. It particularly affects children aged 1 to 5 years. In temperate climates diphtheria tends to occur during the colder months. About UIP 1. India launched the ‘Expanded Programme on Immunisation’ in 1978. The first three vaccines in the programme were a) BCG (against TB) b) DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) c) Cholera. 2. In 1985, the programme was converted to the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). It aims at providing free vaccines to all children born in India. Immunization and Vaccine 1. Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. 2. Vaccines are substances that stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. 3. Vaccines Provided under UIP are, Vaccine About Bacillus Calmette-Guerin It is given to infants to protect them from tubercular meningitis and vaccine (BCG) disseminated TB. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) It protects children from poliomylitis. Hepatitis B vaccine It protects from Hepatitis B virus infection. Pentavalent vaccine It is a combined vaccine to protect children from five diseases Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) It gives protection to infants and children against rotavirus diarrhoea. It is given in select states. Pneumococcal Conjugate It protects infants and young children against disease caused by the Vaccine (PCV) bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is given in select states. Fractional Inactivated It is used to boost the protection against poliomylitis. Poliomylitis Vaccine (fIPV) Measles/ MR vaccine Measles vaccine is used to protect children from measles. In few states Measles and Rubella, a combined vaccine is given to protect from both the infections. Japanese encephalitis It gives protection against Japanese Encephalitis disease. It is given in vaccine select endemic districts. DPT booster DPT is a combined vaccine; it protects children from Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis. Tetanus toxoid (TT) Tetanus toxoid vaccine is used to provide protection against tetanus. It is given to pregnant women.

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Mission Indradhanush 1. UIP has been in operational for many years but it has been able to fully immunize only 65% children in the first year of their life. 2. It was launched to strengthen and re-energize the programme and achieve full immunization coverage for all children under the age of 2 years and pregnant women at a rapid pace. 3. The ultimate goal of Mission Indradhanush is to ensure full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years of age and pregnant women. 4. To boost the Routine immunization (RI) coverage, Government has launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 from December 2019-March 2020. 5. The IMI 2.0 aims to achieve targets of full immunization coverage in 272 districts spread over 27 States. Malaria Detection Test kit 1. A group of researchers from IIT Guwahati has developed a simple detection method that uses a piece of chromatographic paper to detect malaria. 2. The kit can be used to detect Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria and also specifically detect Plasmodium falciparum, a notorious species. 3. The kit captures the antigen released by the parasites in the blood of malaria patients. 4. The formation of pink colour on the chromatographic paper is a direct indication of the presence of parasites in the blood serum. 5. The intensity of the colour increases when the concentration of antigen is high. About Malaria 1. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 2. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called ‘Malaria vectors’. 3. There are five parasite species that cause malaria in humans. Out of these species- P. falciparum and P. vivax- pose the greatest threat. 4. Malaria is an acute febrile illness. The first symptoms are fever, headache, and chills, may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria. 5. If not treated within a , P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness, often leading to death. TB elimination 1. The World Bank and Government of India signed a Loan Agreement of $400 Million to expand the coverage and the quality of interventions for the control of Tuberculosis (TB). 2. The disease kills approximately half a million people in India every year. The World Bank supported program will cover nine States of India. 3. The World Bank’s Program Towards Elimination of Tuberculosis will support the Government of India’s National Strategic Plan to end TB in India by 2025. 4. The Program is designed in close coordination with relevant development partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the WHO. About TB 1. It is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. 2. It is spread from person to person through the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. 3. About one-quarter of the world's population has latent TB. It means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not yet ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. 4. Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. 5. TB is a treatable and curable disease. But, some forms of TB are resistant to vaccines, that are known as ‘Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)’. 6. MDR-TB is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the most powerful anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.

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7. India’s TB burden is the highest in the world, followed by Indonesia and China. New TB Vaccine 1. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched India’s first large-scale trial for two new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. a) IMMUVAC (also known as mycobacterium indicus pranii or MIP), manufactured by Cadila Pharmaceuticals in Ahmedabad. b) VPM1002, manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune. 2. These vaccines are undergoing trials now. National Strategic Plan 2017- 25 for TB Elimination - It aims to achieve a rapid decline in the burden of TB morbidity and mortality. -It is in line with draft National Health Policy 2015, WHO’s End TB Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). NSP aims to achieve elimination of TB by 2025. During the plan period, targets are 1. 80% reduction in TB incidence 2. 90% reduction in TB mortality 3. 0% patient having catastrophic expenditure due to TB. -The requirements for moving towards TB elimination have been integrated into the four strategic pillars of "Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build" (DTPB). -It also provides for incentives like- a) Patient Support Incentive of Rs. 500 per month during the treatment of all TB patients notified in NIKSHAY (web enabled patient management system for TB control) under RNTCP. b) Incentives for TB Notification of Rs. 1000 for notification and reporting of treatment outcome. SeeTB device 1. Scientists have developed a small device that can be attached to a simple optical microscope to convert it into a fluorescence microscope. 2. This device is named as ‘SeeTB’ because it enables better TB diagnosis at the point-of-care. 3. The device is battery operated and allows quick identification of the bacteria. The device is affordable also. 4. The team has also developed a clearing reagent called CLR which helps in thinning the collected sputum thus enhancing the bacteria detection. 5. Compared to GeneXpert, diagnosis tool that looks for DNA markers of TB bacteria, SeeTB shows improved sensitivity. 6. It doesn’t require sophisticated infrastructure or exclusive training to handle and can be used across and can be used across primary health care centres in the villages. Antibiotic Colistin 1. The Union Ministry of Health has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of the antibiotic colistin and its formulations for food producing animals and animal feed supplements. 2. The ban has been imposed under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 because the use of Colistin involve the risk to Human. 3. Colistin is an antibiotic for therapeutic purpose in veterinary. But the drug is highly misused in poultry industry as a growth promoter for prophylactic purpose. 4. One of the reason for antibiotic resistance in India is due to unwanted use of Colistin in poultry industry. 5. It is being used as a last resort for treatment of patients suffering from infections caused by drug- resistant bacteria. Proton Therapy on cancer 1. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that it is aware of advances in proton therapy which is also called proton beam therapy. 2. This is a type of Radiation therapy which uses protons rather than x-rays to treat cancer.

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3. Protons can destroy cancer cells at high energy. It can also be combined with x-ray radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. 4. Proton therapy is a type of external-beam radiation therapy like x-ray radiation. 5. The machine synchrotron or cyclotron produces high speed protons that creates high energy. 6. This energy makes the protons travel to the desired depth in the body. The protons then give the targeted radiation dose in the tumor. 7. While there is less radiation dose outside of the tumor in proton therapy, in regular radiation therapy using x-rays radiation damages nearby healthy tissues, possibly causing side effects. Ebola Vaccine The preliminary data from Ebola vaccination trials in Congo suggest the ‘Merck’s vaccine (VSV-EBOV)’ has 97.5% efficacy in preventing Ebola. About the Vaccine 1. The vaccine is aimed to protect vaccinated individuals from getting infected with Ebola virus. 2. The of protection offered by the vaccine is not known, though a few studies suggest protection up to one year. 3. The vaccine was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and licensed to New-Link Genetics. About the Ebola disease 1. Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. 2. Virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to- human transmission. 3. EVD first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, one in South Sudan, and the other Democratic Republic of Congo. 4. Latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River from which the disease takes its name. 5. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, etc. 6. Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact. 7. But a person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms. National Animal Disease Control Programme 1. Government of India has launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. 2. The programme is fully funded by the central government for the years 2019 to 2024. 3. It aims to control Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by 2025 with vaccination and eventual eradication by 2030. 4. The programme aims at vaccinating over 500 Million Livestock including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs against the FMD. Foot and Mouth Disease 1. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other animals. 2. It is caused by a virus of which there are seven ‘types’, each producing the same symptoms, and distinguishable only in the laboratory. 3. Animals pick up the virus either by direct contact with an infected animal or by contact with things contaminated by such an animal, or by eating or coming into contact with some part of an infected carcase. 4. Vaccination can be used to reduce the spread of FMD or protect specific animals. Brucellosis 1. Brucellosis is an infectious disease that occurs from contact with animals carrying Brucella bacteria. 2. It can infect cattle, goats, camels, dogs, and pigs. The bacteria can spread to humans when contacted with infected meat or the placenta of infected animals, consumption of unpasteurized milk or cheese. 3. It is highly contagious and spreads easily between cattle as the calf, the membranes and the uterine fluids all contain large quantities of bacteria.

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4. In some areas, wild populations of buffalo, bison or cattle can carry the disease and infect domestic animals if they come into contact. 5. Vaccination is not a guarantee but can increase resistance to infection. India Iodine Survey 1. A national survey to measure the coverage of iodized salt in India was carried out. 2. It was conducted by Nutrition International in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Coalition for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD). 3. According to WHO guidelines, a daily iodine intake of 150 microgram is required to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. 4. About 76% of Indian households consumed adequately iodised salt, which is salt with at least 15 parts per million of iodine. 5. Only 13 out of 36 States/UTs have achieved Universal Salt Iodisation or have 90% of households with access to adequately iodised salt. 6. The five worst performers were Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand. 7. Gujarat produces 71% of salt in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 17% and Tamil Nadu at 11%. The rest of the country accounts for 1% of the salt produced. 8. The reason for salt-producing States to consume less of iodised salt is the ready access to common (or non-iodised) salt. 9. India made fortification of salt with iodine mandatory for direct human consumption in 1992. 10. Iodine is a vital micro-nutrient for the optimal mental and physical development of human beings. 11. Deficiency of iodine can result in a range of disabilities and disorders such as goitre, hypothyroidism, cretinism, abortion, still births, mental retardation and psychomotor defects. Bombay Blood Group The demand for ‘Bombay blood group’, a rare blood type has spiked but supply has been scarce. About the group 1. The four most common blood groups are A, B, AB and O. The rare, Bombay blood group was first discovered in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1952. 2. Each red blood cell (RBC) has antigen over its surface, which helps determine which group it belongs to. 3. The Bombay blood group (Hh) is deficient in expressing antigen H, meaning the Red Blood Cells (RBC) has no antigen H. 4. For instance, in the AB blood group, both antigens A and B are found. A will have A antigens; B will have B antigens. In hh, there are no A or B antigens. 5. Globally, the Hh blood type has an incidence of one in four million. It has a higher incidence in South Asia. 6. While there is no ill effect with being H deficient, in case of blood transfusion only donors who are also H deficient can donate.

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Antigens -Antigens determine blood type and can either be proteins or complexes of sugar molecules (polysaccharides). -Blood group antigens play a role in recognizing foreign cells in the bloodstream. -Functions of these protein include transporting other proteins and molecules into and out of the cell, maintaining cell structure, attaching to other cells and molecules, and participating in chemical reactions. UMMID and NIDAN Minister for Science & Technology has launched UMMID initiative and inaugurated NIDAN Kendra. About UMMID initiative 1. UMMID stands for Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders. 2. The initiative aims to meet the needs of a large number of persons with inherited diseases. 3. It is designed on the concept of ‘Prevention is better than Cure’ and started by the Department of Biotechnology. 4. UMMID initiative aims, a) To establish NIDAN Kendras to provide counselling, prenatal testing and diagnosis, management, and multidisciplinary care in Government Hospitals wherein the influx of patients is more. b) To produce skilled clinicians in Human Genetics. c) To undertake the screening of pregnant women and new-born babies for inherited genetic diseases in hospitals at aspirational districts. About NIDAN Kendras 1. Under UMMID initiative, five NIDAN Kendras have been inaugurated recently. NIDAN stands for ‘National Inherited Diseases Administration’. 2. Hospitals with interested doctors and infrastructure can become NIDAN Kendras. 3. Financial support would be provided to develop the state-of-art facilities in molecular diagnostics. Hepatitis B Control 1. According to World Health Organization, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand have become the first countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve Hepatitis B control. 2. Prevalence of the Hepatitis B disease has dropped to less than one per cent among five-year-old children. About Hepatitis B 1. It is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. 2. It is a major global health problem, and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. 3. It is estimated that about 780,000 people die each year due to consequences of hepatitis B, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. 4. The virus is highly contagious and is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. 5. Hepatitis B is preventable with currently available safe and effective vaccines. 6. India introduced hepatitis B vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme in 2002 and scaled-up nationwide in 2011. Measles Infection 1. World Health Organization has included ‘vaccine hesitancy’ as one of the 10 threats to global health in 2019 due to the rise in Measles infection cases. 2. ‘Vaccine hesitancy’ is defined as the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines. 3. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. 4. Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. 5. Initial symptoms include high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.

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6. Several days later, a rash develops, starting on the face and upper neck and gradually spreading downwards. 7. Being unvaccinated or having vitamin A deficiency increases the chances of infection through transmission. IVF pregnancy 1. 74-year-old woman set a world record by delivering twins through ‘In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) process’ at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur town. 2. IVF is one of the more widely known types of assisted reproductive technology (ART). 3. IVF works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg and help the fertilized egg implant in women’s uterus. 4. IVF is generally not used until less invasive or expensive options have failed or been determined unlikely to work. 5. In this process eggs from the woman's body is surgically retrieve and fertilized in a petri dish, culture the embryos 6. The embryos is transfer back into the woman's uterus for implantation. Influenza classification 1. India was declared free of the H5N1 virus recently, which causes avian influenza or bird flu. 2. According to the WHO, influenza is known to affect 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children across the world every year. 3. The WHO defines influenza as a contagious, acute respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, usually influenza A or B subtypes. Classification 1. The four kinds of viruses causing influenza are identified by a standard nomenclature issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980- A, B, C, and D. 2. Only the influenza A and B viruses are known to cause epidemics. The C type virus usually causes mild respiratory illness. The D type virus typically affects cattle and doesn’t infect humans. 3. Only the influenza A virus is divided into subtypes. The subtype is based on two proteins on the surface of the virus, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Diseases eradicated in India Yaws- Bacterial infection of skin, bone and joints Smallpox- Viral disease. First disease to be eradicated from India. Guinea Worm- Parasitic infection. Second disease after small-pox to be eradicated from India. Polio- Caused by polio virus. Results in muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move. Leprosy- Caused by infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. India declared leprosy free, but it has resurfaced again. African Swine Fever 1. An outbreak of ‘African Swine Fever (ASF)’ has taken place in China. It has led to mass culling of animals. 2. This fever does not affect humans but is catastrophic to pigs. It has been seen in other Asian countries also. About the fever 1. It is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family, which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. 2. It is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease that infects domestic and wild pigs, typically resulting in an acute form of haemorrhagic fever. 3. It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s. The mortality is close to 100 per cent. 4. Since the fever has no cure, the only way to stop it spreading is by culling the animals. 5. ASF is not a threat to human beings since it only spreads from animals to other animals.

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Salmonella 1. The United States Food and Drug Authority (FDA) tests has found ‘Salmonella’ in India’s MDH sambar masala. 2. Salmonella is a bacteria that causes salmonellosis, a common food borne illness with symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever. 3. Most people recover from it without treatment, but some may have diarrhoea so severe that they would require hospitalisation. 4. In more severe cases, patients develop a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rash, blood in the urine or stool. In some cases, salmonellosis may become fatal. 5. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. LRRK2 1. A study has revealed that the enhanced inflammation of ‘Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) enzyme’ can lead to collateral damage to the body. 2. The LRRK2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called dardarin. The LRRK2 gene is active in the brain and other tissues throughout the body. 3. It protects the body against viral and bacterial infections by triggering inflammation like swelling, redness, heat and pain. 4. The study stated that the total absence of LRRK2 function can make people more prone to infections. 5. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene cause dominantly inherited Parkinson's disease (PD). Oligomannate (GV-971) drug 1. China has approved the first home-grown drug ‘Oligomannate (GV-971)’ for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improving cognitive function. 2. The new drug, Oligomannate (GV-971), is the first to be approved for Alzheimer's disease globally since 2003. 3. Oligomannate will provide a new treatment option to fight Alzheimer's disease for patients. 4. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder that impairs memory, affecting the ability of patients to carry out simple tasks. 5. AD slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It often starts with mild symptoms and ends with severe brain damage. Acute Respiratory Infections 1. As per the National Health Profile 2019 report, Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) accounted for 69.47% of morbidity in 2018 in India. 2. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported a large number of patients and fatalities. About ARI 1. It is a serious infection that prevents normal breathing function. It usually begins as a viral infection in the nose, trachea, or lungs. 2. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the entire respiratory system. 3. It poses a high risk to pregnant women and the baby. The foetus receiving polluted air from mother can increase health risk of unborn babies. 4. The are infectious, that is it can spread from person to person. 5. Some of the causes of ARI are Adenoviruses (class of microorganisms), Pneumococcus (type of bacterium that causes meningitis), and Rhinoviruses (source of the common cold). ETVAX vaccine 1. ETVAX vaccine against diarrhoea has been proven safe and effective in an early stage clinical trial carried out in Bangladesh. 2. It is an oral vaccine acts against toxin-producing E. coli bacteria which caused diarrhoea.

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3. The vaccine inactivated E. coli bacteria expressing high levels of proteins that triggered the immune reaction, and a subunit protein called 'LCTBA'. 4. Diarrhoea is loose, watery stools caused by Bacteria, Viruses, parasites etc. 5. It is one of the most common health complaints. It can range from a mild, temporary condition, to a potentially life-threatening one. Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) 1. Pakistan has become the first country in the world to introduce World Health Organisation-recommended typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in its national immunisation program. 2. It is the first typhoid vaccine that can be given to children as young as 6 months of age and confers longer term protection against typhoid. 3. It has been developed by Indian company ‘Bharat Biotech’. Typbar TCV became the world’s first conjugate vaccine prequalified by the WHO. About Typhoid 1. It is caused by the salmonella typhi bacteria. It is spread through contaminated food and water. 2. Symptoms include prolonged fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhoea. Some patients may have a rash. 3. Severe cases may lead to serious complications or even death. It is common in places with poor sanitation and a lack of safe drinking water. About GAVI 1. It is the Vaccine Alliance that helps vaccinate almost half the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious disease. 2. GAVI stands for Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations. It was created in 2000. 3. GAVI has developed innovative approaches to international health and development. 4. It is supported by the WHO, WB, UNICEF and organizations such as Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. SAANS campaign Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the campaign Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS). Objectives 1. To reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, which contributes to around 15% of deaths of children under the age of five annually. 2. To mobilize people to protect children from pneumonia, and 3. To train health personnel and other stakeholders to provide prioritized treatment to control the disease. Key features 1. A child suffering from pneumonia will be treated with a pre-referral dose of antibiotic amoxicillin by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers. 2. Pulse Oximeter (device to monitor oxygen saturation) will be used at the Health and Wellness Centre for identification of low oxygen levels in the blood of a child. 3. If required, the child can be treated by the use of oxygen cylinders. 4. Awareness campaigns on effective solutions for pneumonia prevention like breastfeeding, age- appropriate complementary feeding, and immunization, etc. will be promoted. Study on Mental disorders 1. A recent study drafted by the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative has analyzed the situation of Mental disorders in India. 2. The study finds that roughly one in seven Indians, around 197 million persons, suffered from mental disorders of varying severity in 2017. 3. These include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, conduct disorders, and autism. 4. Prevalence of depressive disorders was highest in Tamil Nadu followed by Kerala, Goa, and Telangana. 5. Anxiety disorders are found in Kerala followed by Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

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Information Communication Technology

Microbots Microbots are robots that are the size of a dust particle. Thousands of these bots can be fitted on the computer chip. Technology used in Microbots 1. Microbots are made using conventional silicon technology. Scientists developed a technique to put layers of platinum and titanium on a silicon wafer. 2. When an electrical voltage is applied, the platinum contracts while the titanium remains rigid, and the flat surface bends. 3. Sensors are incorporated to measure temperature or electrical pulses. 4. These robots run on a fraction of a volt and consume only 10 billionths of a watt. Applications of Microbots 1. They could crawl into cell phone batteries and clean and rejuvenate them. 2. They can be used by neural scientists to understand and measure nerve signals in the brain. 3. Millions of them in a petri dish could be used to test ideas in networking and communications. Smart India Hackathon - 2019 1. Smart India Hackathon (SIH) -2019 (Hardware Edition) was inaugurated by the Ministry for Human Resource Development. 2. SIH provides a platform where students’ innovators can develop a smart solution to day to day problems. 3. Problems are associated with the areas such as Agriculture & Rural Development, Food Technology, Waste management, Clean Water etc. About SIH 2019 1. It is an initiative by Ministry of HRD, All India Council of Technical Education, Persistent Systems, i4c, and Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini. 2. It is the world's biggest Software and Hardware hackathon. 3. It aims to harness the expertise of students from IISc, IITs, NITs and AICTE/UGC approved institutions. Quantum Supremacy Google researchers are said to have achieved ‘Quantum supremacy’. About the Quantum Supremacy 1. It refers to a quantum computer solving a problem that cannot be expected of a classical computer in a normal lifetime. 2. This relates to the speed at which a quantum computer performs. 3. As per a report, the quantum processor took 200 to perform a calculation that the world’s fastest supercomputer ‘Summit’ would have taken 10,000 years to accomplish. 4. The phrase ‘Quantum supremacy’ was coined in 2011 by John Preskill, Professor at the California Institute of Technology. About Quantum Computing 1. It is the use of quantum-mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computation. 2. A quantum computer is used to perform such computation, which can be implemented theoretically or physically. 3. Quantum computing generally includes quantum cryptography and quantum communication. 4. Qubits are fundamental to quantum computing. They are somewhat analogous to bits in a classical computer. 5. Qubits can be in a 1 or 0 quantum state. But they can also be in a superposition of the 1 and 0 states.

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CONVENTIONAL COMPUTING QUANTUM COMPUTING It is based on the classical phenomenon of It is based on the phenomenon of Quantum electrical circuits being in a single state at a given Mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, time, either on or off. the phenomenon where it is possible to be in more than one state at a time. Information storage and manipulation is based Information storage and manipulation is based on on “bit”, which is based on voltage or charge; low Quantum Bit or “qubit”, which is based on the spin of is 0 and high is 1. electron or polarization of a single photon. The circuit behavior is governed by classical The circuit behavior is governed by quantum physics physics. or quantum mechanics. It uses binary codes i.e. bits 0 or 1 to represent It uses Qubits i.e. 0, 1 and superposition state of both information. 0 and 1 to represent information. Data processing is done in Central Processing Data processing is done in Quantum Processing Unit Unit or CPU, which consists of Arithmetic and or QPU, which consists of a number of interconnected Logic Unit (ALU), processor registers and a qubits. control unit. Edge Computing 1. Edge computing enables data to be analysed, processed, and transferred at the edge of a network. 2. The data is analysed locally, closer to where it is stored, in real-time without latency. 3. Edge computing allows for quicker data processing and content delivery. Edge computing vs Cloud computing 1. In Cloud computing, remote servers that are hosted on the Internet, store and process data, rather than local servers or personal computers. 2. The basic difference between edge computing and cloud computing lies in where the data processing takes place. 3. The existing Internet of Things (IoT) systems perform all of their computations in the cloud using data centres. 4. Edge computing essentially manages the massive amounts of data generated by IoT devices by storing and processing data locally. 5. An edge computing network reduces the amount of data that travels over the network. Only important data is sent. Need for Edge Computing 1. By 2025, companies will generate and process more than 75% of their data outside of traditional centralized data centres — that is, at the edge of the cloud. 2. Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google provide cloud computing infrastructure to major corporates and governments. 3. These companies want to leverage 5G wireless technology and artificial intelligence to enable faster response times, lower latency (ability to process very high volumes of data with minimal delay), and simplified maintenance in computing. 4. So, Edge Computing is a solution to this. It is seen as an extension of the cloud. Data localization 1. B.N. Srikrishna panel on draft e-commerce policy and the draft cloud policy have recommended ‘Data localization’ as the solution to protect Indian consumers. 2. Data localization is the act of storing data on any device that is physically present within the borders of a specific country where the data was generated. 3. At present, most of these data are stored in a cloud computing outside India. 4. Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power, without direct active management by the user.

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5. Localisation mandates that companies collecting critical data about consumers must store and process them within the borders of the country. 6. The main intent behind data localisation is to protect the personal and financial information of the country’s citizens from foreign surveillance. 7. It gives local governments and regulators the jurisdiction to call for the data when required. TechSagar 1. The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) along with the National Cyber Security Coordinator’s office unveiled a national repository called ‘TechSagar’. 2. The repository will enable the availability of information about India’s capabilities across 25 technologies such as Internet of things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, etc. 3. It will allow targeted search, granular navigation and drilldown methods using more than 3,000 niche capabilities. 4. The portal will list business and research entities from the IT industry, startups, academia, and individual researchers. 5. It will facilitate new opportunities for businesses and academia to collaborate, connect and innovate in . Data Security Council of India 1. It is a not-for-profit, industry body on data protection in India, setup by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM). 2. It is committed to making cyberspace safe, secure and trusted by establishing best practices, standards and initiatives in cyber security and privacy. 3. It engages with governments and their agencies, regulators, industry sectors and think tanks for policy advocacy, thought leadership, capacity building and outreach activities. National Cyber Security Coordinator 1. NCSC under National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security matters. 2. The center was set up to generate necessary situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing for proactive, preventive and protective actions by individual entities. 3. It scans internet traffic coming into the country to detect real-time cyber threat and alert various organisations as well as internet service providers for timely action. 4. The center is a multi-stakeholder body, implemented by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) at Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 5. The Centre derives necessary powers as per provisions of section 69B of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Starlink system 1. SpaceX launched a batch of satellites of its Starlink network into Lower-Earth orbit. 2. Starlink is a constellation of satellites aimed at providing low-cost and reliable space-based Internet services to the world. 3. It aims to start service in the northern United States and Canada in 2020 and expand to cover the whole world by 2021. 4. Currently, more than half the world’s population does not have access to reliable Internet networks. 5. Space-based internet can ensure reliable, uninterrupted internet services. 6. In the present space-based networks, data requests travel from the user to the satellite and are then directed to data centres on the ground and vice versa. 7. So, the satellites in geostationary orbit have a time lag or latency of about 600 milliseconds in data transfer. 8. Satellites in the Low Earth orbit (LEO) at 200-2000 km can reduce the lag to 20-30 milliseconds similar to the terrestrial systems of data transfer.

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World Wide Web contract 1. The inventor of the World Wide Web (WWW) Sir Tim Berners-Lee has announced a ‘Contract for the Web’. 2. The contract aims to save the future of the worldwide web (WWW) which is now an essential condition for human existence. 3. World Wide Web is an information system where documents and other web resources are identified by Uniform Resource Locators. These documents are accessible over the Internet. 4. The Contract consists of nine principles- three each for governments, private companies, and individuals and civil society to endorse, with 76 clauses each. 5. World Wide Web (WWF) foundation has created this contract for the web. DTrack Malware The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Kudankulam Nuclear Plant were alerted of a possible breach by suspected malware ‘DTrack’. About the DTrack Malware 1. Malware is designed to steal data and they can give the ‘threat actor (attacker or hacker)’ complete control over all infected devices. 2. DTrack is a virus used by a North Korea-based hacker group Lazarus. It serves the interests of the North Korea government. 3. DTrack is used by hackers to attack financial and research centres in India. It's earlier version ATM- DTrack was designed to hack ATMs in India. 4. There are at least 180 versions of the DTrack virus identified by a cyber-security firm Kaspersky Lab. 5. Such malware target organizations which may have issues such as- Weak network security policies, Weak password policies, Lack of traffic monitoring etc. 6. So, the organizations should tighten their network and password policies, use traffic monitoring software, use antivirus solutions etc. Malware They are malicious software, program or file that is harmful to a computer user. Types of malware can include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware. Virus- It is most common type of malware which can execute itself and spread by infecting other programs or files. Worm – It can self-replicate without a host program and typically spreads without any human interaction or directives from the malware authors. Trojan horse - It is designed to appear as a legitimate program in order to gain access to a system. Once activated following installation, Trojans can execute their malicious functions. Spyware – It is made to collect information and data on the device user and observe their activity without their knowledge. Ransomware- It is designed to infect a user's system and encrypt the data. Cybercriminals then demand a ransom payment from the victim in exchange for decrypting the system's data. IBM GRAF 1. It is a weather forecast model planned by International technology company IBM. 2. The model will rely on user-generated data to improve the accuracy of forecasts available in India. 3. It can generate forecasts at a resolution of 3km, significantly higher than Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)’s 12 km models. 4. IBM’s weather forecast techniques rely on dynamic modelling and collect huge atmospheric and ocean data, crunch it in supercomputers and generate forecasts over desired timeframes.

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StrandHogg bug 1. Union Home Ministry has sent an alert to all States warning them about the vulnerability of the Android operating system to a bug called ‘StrandHogg’. 2. The bug allows real-time malware applications to pose as genuine applications and access user data of all kind. 3. Pop-ups asking for permission to send notifications, messages, etc., are one of the main entry points for ‘StrandHogg’ to launch the attack. 4. This malware can listen to user’s conversations, access photo album, read or send messages, make calls, record conversations and get login credentials to various accounts. Libra currency 1. Facebook announced a digital wallet subsidiary called 'Calibra' that would launch Blockchain-powered cryptocurrency 'Libra' in 2020. Calibra is a digital wallet, which will store Libras. 2. The project aims to help nearly one billion people globally who don't have a bank account but do have a mobile phone. 3. Libra is a global cryptocurrency built on blockchain to promote financial inclusion. Libra currency will be based on ‘Blockchain Technology’. 4. A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses strong cryptography to secure financial transactions. 5. It is not backed or controlled by central banks. It will be controlled by non-profit ‘Libra Association’ which includes technology companies. About Blockchain technology 1. It is literally just a chain of blocks. These blocks are made up of digital pieces of information. 2. Blocks store information about transactions like the date, time, participants and amount of transactions etc. 3. These blocks are recorded on the database. So, in simple words, a blockchain is a database that is shared across a network of computers. 4. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use codes to encrypt transactions and stack them up in blocks, creating Blockchains.

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Short-Wave Radio Transmissions 1. Prasar Bharati has asked ‘All India Radio’ to come up with a proposal to phase out Short-Wave transmitters. 2. Short Wave has very limited audience as a mode of transmission. 3. Short Wave is radio transmission using shortwave radio frequencies. The range generally extends from 3–30 MHz (100 to 10 metres). 4. Radio waves in the shortwave band can be reflected or refracted from a layer of electrically charged atoms in the atmosphere called the ionosphere. 5. Therefore, short waves directed at an angle into the sky can be reflected back to Earth at great distances, beyond the horizon. This is called ‘Skywave propagation’. 6. Shortwave radio is used for broadcasting of voice and music to shortwave listeners over very large areas. It is used for military radar, diplomatic communication, and international communication.

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Energy

Superconductivity at Room temperature 1. A team from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have discovered a material that exhibits major properties of superconductivity at ambient temperature and pressure. 2. A material is said to be a superconductor if it conducts electricity with zero resistance to the flow of electrons. 3. At present, materials were made superconductor only at temperatures much below zero degree Celsius, making practical utility very difficult. 4. The material that exhibited superconductivity at room temperature is in the form of nanosized films and pellets made of silver nanoparticles embedded in a gold matrix. 5. But, silver and gold independently do not exhibit superconductivity. Applications of Superconductors 1. Superconducting magnets are used to levitate trains above its rails thereby reducing friction and facilitating high speed with minimal energy. 2. They can be used as memory or storage elements in computers. 3. They reduce or eliminate energy loss due to resistance in power transmission cables. 4. It can generate very high magnetic fields that can be used in medical imagers such as MRIs, particle accelerators, nuclear fusion reactors etc. Thorium-Based Nuclear Reactors 1. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has planned the use of large deposits of Thorium available in the country as a long-term option. 2. India is estimated to have nearly 400 thousand tonnes of thorium reserves, close to 25% of the global total thorium reserves. 3. Thorium itself is not fissile due to its physics characteristics. But it is fertile as it can be converted to U- 233 which can then undergo fission to produce energy. 4. A three-stage nuclear power programme was planned to use Thorium. 5. The programme aims to multiply the domestically available fissile resource through the use of natural Uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors in the first stage. 6. In the second stage, the Plutonium obtained from the spent fuel of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors will be used in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR). Stage 1: Use natural uranium to fuel pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs). The byproduct, Pu-239 (Plutonium), of these reactors are key for Stage 2. Stage 2: Develop fast breeder reactors (FBRs) to produce excess Pu-239 which will then convert Th-232 (Thorium) to fissile U-233 (Uranium). Stage 3: Build thorium-based reactors that can be refueled using India's thorium reserves, which are converted to U-233 inside the reactor. Click Nuclear Technology to know more. EV Battery Technologies 1. Government of India is exploring newer battery technologies such as polymer-based solid-state batteries that may allow India to avoid dependence on lithium or cobalt imports. 2. The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage will also support this objective. 3. Chinese state-owned firms also have secured lithium mine concessions in countries such as Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, which forms ‘lithium triangle’. 4. Almost all-electric vehicles in the country run on imported batteries, mostly from China.

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5. Some of the advanced chemistry cells that offer an alternative to lithium storage batteries are metal hydride, zinc air, sodium air and nickel zinc. 6. In addition to currently available Lithium-ion chemistries, future developments in battery chemistry may yield a new generation of batteries which will include ‘solid-state’ batteries. 7. Solid-state batteries promise a storage capacity of about 1000 Wh/kg and 80 per cent charge in about 10 minutes. National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage It is a multi-disciplinary mission with an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee will be chaired by CEO NITI Aayog. -The Mission will recommend and drive the strategies for transformative mobility and Phased Manufacturing Programmes for EVs, EV Components and Batteries. -A Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) will be launched to localize production across the entire EV value chain. The Mission will determine the contours of PMP, and will finalise the details of such a program. -The details of the value addition that can be achieved with each phase of localisation will be finalised by the Mission with a clear Make in India strategy for the electric vehicle components as well as battery. -The Mission will coordinate with key stakeholders in Ministries/ Departments and the states to integrate various initiatives to transform mobility in India.

Solid Batteries It uses both solid electrodes and electrolytes. They serve to be a potential alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, which use liquid or polymer electrolytes. They offer high performance and safety at low cost. They have low flammability, higher electrochemical stability, higher potential cathodes, and higher energy density as compared to liquid electrolyte batteries.

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Hydrothermal Carbonization 1. A research team at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has developed a technology which can generate energy from solid waste with high moisture content. 2. The new technology is called as ‘Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC)’. It can convert municipal solid waste to biofuel, soil amendment and absorbents. 3. The moisture in the waste is used to the advantage of the process which uses water for the reaction. The biofuel generated as the recovered output can help curb air pollution. 4. The technology can be used by the civic bodies to effectively manage solid waste. Outputs generated are all usable. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical treatment of biomass in pressurized water at relatively low temperatures between 180°C and 250°C at or above saturated pressure. It is carried out mainly to produce solid product similar to coal. The energy density is much higher for this solid product. The mechanism for this process mainly entails decarboxylation, dehydration, and polymerization. This process can be compared with the process of coal formation from biomass millions of years ago. Indigenous Fuel Cell 1. The first Indigenous High Temperature Fuel Cell System developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was launched. 2. It was developed by CSIR in partnership with Indian industries under India’s flagship program ‘New Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)’. 3. The Fuel Cells developed are based on High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Technology (HT PEMT). 4. The fuel cell system generates power in a green manner using methanol or bio-methane with heat and water as bi-products for further use. 5. Its efficiency is greater than 70%, which may not be possible in other energy sources. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a semipermeable membrane designed to conduct protons while acting as an electronic insulator and reactant barrier. It uses a water-based, acidic polymer membrane as its electrolyte, with platinum-based electrodes. HT PEMFC is a variant of the PEMFC which operates at elevated temperatures. PEMFC cells operate at relatively low temperatures (below 100 degrees Celsius), while HT PEMFC can operate up to 200 degrees Celsius. While the PEMFC uses water-based electrolyte, HT PEMFC uses mineral-based electrolyte. Characteristics of HT PEMFC High impurity tolerance. Lower Power Density, compared to PEMFC Low cost

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Application 1. The fuel cell is most suitable for distributed stationary power applications such as small offices, commercial units, data centres etc. 2. This system will also meet the requirement of efficient, clean and reliable backup power generator for telecom towers, remote locations and strategic applications as well. 3. This development would replace Diesel Generating (DG) sets and help reduce India’s dependence on crude oil. About NMITLI 1. It is the largest public-private-partnership effort within the R&D domain in the country. 2. It seeks to build, capture and retain for India a leadership position by synergising the best competencies of publicly funded R&D institutions, academia and private industry. 3. It was launched in 2000-02. The responsibility of implementing the programme has been assigned to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). Microbial Fuel Cells 1. Scientists of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have powered camera traps and sensors by installing microbial fuel cells in Pete, a maidenhair fern. 2. Microbial fuel cells are devices that use bacteria as the catalysts to oxidise organic and inorganic matter and generate current.

3. Plants naturally deposit biomatter as they grow, which in turn feeds the natural bacteria present in the soil. This process creates energy that can be harnessed by fuel cells. 4. These cells are used to power a wide range of vital conservation tools remotely, including sensors, monitoring platforms and camera traps. Working of Microbial Fuel Cells 1. MFCs rely on living biocatalysts to facilitate the movement of electrons throughout their systems instead of the traditional chemically catalyzed oxidation of a fuel at the anode and reduction at the cathode. 2. Bacterial respiration is basically a redox reaction in which electrons are being moved around. 3. MFC consists of an anode and a cathode separated by a cation specific membrane. 4. Microbes at the anode oxidize the organic fuel generating protons which pass through the membrane to the cathode, and electrons which pass through the anode to an external circuit to generate a current.

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Winter-Grade Diesel 1. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) recently launched a special winter-grade diesel that remains unfrozen up to minus 33 degree Celsius. 2. The fuel would help provide year-round access to snow-capped border regions. It is part of India’s efforts to speed up strategic road connectivity. 3. This new fuel will help Indian security forces to stock up on crucial supplies and ammunition that gets cut off due to bad weather in winters. 4. This diesel has a low pour point (temperature below which liquid doesn’t flow) of -33° Celsius. It allows the fuel to remain fluid in extremely low temperatures. 5. Low pour point is achieved by treating the fuels with additives that change the low temperature characteristics of the fuel. 6. IOC is the largest oil-marketing company (OMC) in India with around 43% market share in fuel retailing.

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Biotechnology

Artificial Bio Organs 1. Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) organized workshop on Organ Bio Printing to achieve the development of the 3D printing industry in India and Australia. 2. 3D Bio-printing is an innovative technology that covers all medical disciplines and offers new opportunities in diagnostics and therapy. 3. AMTZ is one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world with diverse materials and diverse applications. About 3D bio-printing 1. Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing process where biomaterials such as cells and growth factors are combined to create tissue-like structures that imitate natural tissues. 2. The technology uses a material known as bio-ink to create these structures in a layer-by-layer manner. 3. The technique is widely applicable to the fields of medicine and bioengineering. Bioink It is used to produce artificial live tissue using 3D printing technology. They mimic an extracellular matrix environment to support the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of living cells. It can be composed only of cells, but in most cases, an additional carrier material that envelops the cells is also added. This carrier material is usually a biopolymer gel, which acts as a 3D molecular scaffold. Cells attach to this gel, and this enables them to spread, grow and proliferate. Artificial Life 1. Scientists have created a living organism whose DNA is entirely human made. It is a new form of life and a milestone in the field of synthetic biology. 2. Researchers have rewritten the DNA of the bacteria Escherichia coli, fashioning a synthetic genome four times larger and far more complex than any previously created. 3. The bacteria are alive, though unusually shaped and reproducing slowly. But their cells operate according to a new set of biological rules, producing familiar proteins with a reconstructed genetic code. 4. Recoding DNA also allow scientists to program engineered cells so that their genes won’t work if they escape into other species. Applications 1. Creation of organisms that produce novel medicines or other valuable molecules, as living factories. 2. These synthetic bacteria also may offer clues as to how the genetic code arose in the early history of life. 3. Many companies use genetically engineered microbes to make medicines like insulin or useful chemicals like detergent enzymes. 4. A microbe with synthetic DNA might be made immune to attacks from viral outbreaks. Rewriting DNA Genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells. The genome of an organism is inscribed in DNA, or in some viruses RNA. Rewriting the genetic code could lead to new biological functions and genetically isolating synthetic organisms from natural organisms and viruses.

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Pig Organs 1. Surgeons in the United Kingdom declared that they have planned to transplant a pig’s kidney into a human’s body. 2. This is a type of xenotransplantation or the transplanting of organs from one species to another. 3. The first attempts at animal-to-human transplants were made in 1838 when the cornea of a pig was transplanted into a human. 4. Due to the lack of human cadavers as donors, animal organs are considered an alternative. But, animal rights laws do not allow such experiments in India. 5. Pigs are preferred because a pig’s genetic make-up and internal organs are similar to a human. 6. Pig’s weight, the tendency to become obese, lipids, arterial pressure, heart rate, renal function, electrolyte balance, and digestive system match those in the human body. 7. But the rejection rate is higher in a pig-to-human transplant than in a human-to-human transplant. 8. ‘Rejection’ is what happens when the human body’s immune system starts working against any foreign organ. SPIT-SEQ test 1. Whole-Genome Sequencing-based test ‘SPIT SEQ (spit sequencing)’ can provide a detailed analysis of every single mutation present in any TB bacteria causing multidrug resistance (MDR-TB). 2. It can provide information on drug resistance mutation for all anti-TB drugs within 8-10 days. 3. Whole genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time. 4. SPIT SEQ is also culture-free WGS (whole genome sequencing) method. Culture tests involve studying bacteria by growing the bacteria on a different substance. 5. The test was developed by Med Genome Labs. It is a data-driven genetic diagnostic and drug discovery research organisation. MDR -TB in India 1. India has the largest number of multidrug-resistant TB cases in the world. 2. SPIT SEQ can be beneficial to TB patients, clinicians and healthcare agencies to achieve India’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of elimination TB by 2025. Genome Sequencing 1. A genome is the DNA or sequence of genes in a cell. Most of the DNA is in the nucleus and coiled into a structure called the chromosome. The rest is in the mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. 2. Every human cell contains a pair of chromosomes, each of which has three billion base pairs or one of four molecules that pair in precise ways. 3. The order of base pairs and varying lengths of these sequences constitute the ‘Genes’. They are responsible for making amino acids, proteins and other body functions. 4. Sequencing a genome means deciphering the exact order of base pairs in an individual. 5. It is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome. 6. These bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). 7. Genome sequencing will find the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA. 8. Genome Sequencing is helpful in a. Forensics to identify individuals, determine the paternity of child, identify endangered species. b. Medicine to detect diseases causing genes and develop medicines. c. Study and identification of virus. d. Study evolutionary process of organisms.

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IndiGen Project 1. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducted a ‘whole-genome sequence’ of around thousand Indians. 2. This exercise is part of a programme called ‘Project IndiGen’. About the project 1. IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India. 2. The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technologies applications using population genome data. 3. The project is funded by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) India. The First Indian Genome was announced in December 2009. 4. Anyone looking for a free mapping of their entire genome can sign up for the project. Those who get their genes mapped will get a card and access to the genetic information. Golden Rice 1. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have successfully cultivated Golden Rice in a controlled environment on its campus along with the partners. 2. It aims to address vitamin A deficiency (VAD). VAD is a serious public health problem affecting millions of children and pregnant women globally. 3. Golden rice differs from standard rice in that it contains extra genes one from maize and one from bacterial origin to generate Vitamin A. 4. Golden Rice seeds are expected to cost farmers the same as other rice varieties. About Vitamin A deficiency 1. Vitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids. 2. Vitamin A is important for growth and development, for the maintenance of the immune system, and for good vision. 3. Vitamin A deficiency can result from inadequate intake, fat malabsorption, or liver disorders. Deficiency impairs immunity and causes rashes and typical ocular effects. About IRRI 1. It is an international, non-for-profit agricultural research and training organization with headquarters in the Philippines. 2. It is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science and improve the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers. 3. IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought etc. Food Fortification 1. A centrally sponsored pilot scheme on fortification of rice and its dispersal through Public Distribution System (PDS) has been approved by Women and Child Development Ministry. 2. Food fortification is a complementary strategy to fight malnutrition. Under this strategy, key vitamins and minerals are added to staple foods. 3. Iron, iodine, zinc, vitamins A & D etc. are generally added to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. 4. Financial assistance of up to 90 per cent in case of North-Eastern, Hilly and Island States and up to 75 per cent in case of rest of the States has been extended. Glyphosate-based Herbicides 1. Thousands of cases have been filed against German pharma company Bayer because company’ herbicides have caused cancer to many people. 2. The herbicides are based on a compound called glyphosate. They were first developed in 1970.

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3. Glyphosate is scientifically N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine under the IUPAC system of nomenclature. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill weeds. 4. It is widely used in India also under various names. It is mainly used in tea sector in West Bengal and Assam, Sugar Plantation in Maharashtra etc. 5. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2015. Pesticides are chemicals that may be used to kill fungus, bacteria, insects, plant diseases, snails, slugs, or weeds among others. Insecticides are a type of pesticide that is used to specifically target and kill insects. Herbicides are used to kill undesirable plants or “weeds”. Some herbicides will kill all the plants they are applied to, while others are designed to target one species. New HIV type 1. Scientists have discovered a new strain of HIV virus recently. 2. The new subtype of the human immunodeficiency virus is called HIV-1 Group M, subtype L. 3. Scientists used a tailored method of the next-generation genome sequencing technology to identify the new subtype. 4. Group M viruses are responsible for the global pandemic, which can be traced back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Sub-Saharan Africa. About NGS 1. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) refers to the deep, high-throughput, in-parallel DNA sequencing technologies. 2. They were developed a few after the Sanger DNA sequencing method first emerged in 1977. 3. The NGS technologies are different from the Sanger method in that they provide massively parallel analysis, extremely high throughput from multiple samples at much reduced cost. Parthenogenesis 1. New England Aquarium in the US announced that a virgin female anaconda had given birth during the winter. The aquarium does not have a male anaconda. 2. Parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy that involves development of a female (rarely a male) gamete (sex cell) without fertilisation. 3. It occurs commonly among lower plants and invertebrate animals such as ants, wasps and bees etc. and rarely among higher vertebrates. 4. A gamete is the egg in females and the sperm in males. In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilised egg cell. 5. Many species that reproduce through parthenogenesis do not reproduce sexually. Others switch between the two modes taking cues from the environment.

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Defence Technology

VELA Submarine 1. VELA, the fourth Scorpene class submarine constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for the Indian Navy was launched. 2. Presently Eight Warships and five submarines are under construction at MDL. 3. MDL is one of India’s leading shipyards with a capacity to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy. 4. The Scorpene class of submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any modern submarine which include anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare. About Scorpene Class Submarine 1. The Scorpene-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines developed by the M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France. 2. Under a technology transfer agreement, MDL will manufacture the submarines for Indian Navy. ABHYAS Drone 1. Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight test of ABHYAS from the Interim Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha. 2. It is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) drone. 3. The flight test was tracked by various RADARS & Electro Optic Systems and proved its performance in a fully autonomous waypoint navigation mode. 4. The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine and uses indigenously developed MEMS-based navigation system for its navigation and guidance. About DRDO 1. It is an agency of the government, charged with the military's R&D, headquartered in New Delhi. 2. It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. 3. It is engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems. 4. DRDO is India's largest and most diverse research organisation. ASRAAM 1. Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to adopt a new European visual range air to air missile Advanced Short- Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) across its fighter fleet. 2. ASRAAM of European missile-maker MBDA has been approved for fitting on Jaguar jets. 3. It is an ‘heat seeking’ missile, as it uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it. 4. ASRAAM is widely used as a Within Visual Range (WVR) air dominance missile with a range of over 25km. 5. It accepts target information via aircraft sensors, such as radar or helmet-mounted sight. 6. It can also act as an autonomous infrared search and track system. Bhabha Kavach 1. India’s lightest bullet-proof jacket ‘Bhabha Kavach’ was launched at the International Police Expo 2019 in New Delhi. 2. It is developed jointly by the Ordnance Factories Board and the public sector metals and metal alloys manufacturer Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI). 3. It can withstand bullets from rifles such as the AK-47 assault rifle, INSAS rifle, etc. 4. The jacket is powered with nanotechnology from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and has a five-year warranty. 5. Bhabha Kavach meets US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level III standards, which guarantees protection against 7.62 mm NATO-standard bullets. Construction 1. It is built from layers of high-density, high-tenacity polyethylene, which are thermo-sealed by MIDHANI.

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2. This means the layers are fused together at high temperature. This forms a thick, hard armour plate, which is then sprayed with BARC’s carbon nanomaterial. 3. Soaking into the layers of the plate, the nanomaterial instils the toughness and tenacity needed to slow down and trap a bullet as it passes through the plate. About BARC 1. It is India's premier nuclear research facility involved in advanced research and development in nuclear science, engineering and related areas. 2. It carries out pioneering research on nuclear and accelerator technologies and industrial establishments such as NPCIL, NFC, ECIL, etc. 3. It spearheads nuclear power production, materials technology, electronics & instrumentation. 4. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra Apache Helicopter 1. Eight US made Apache AH-64E stealth attack helicopters, has been inducted into IAF. 2. Apache is the most advanced multi-role heavy attack helicopter in the world. 3. Its modern capabilities include, fire-and-forget, anti-tank missiles, air-to-air missiles, rockets, and other ammunition. 4. Apaches has their ability to operate at much higher altitudes, unlike the Russian Mi-24/Mi-35 attack helicopters. 5. It also has modern electronic warfare capabilities to provide versatility in network-centric aerial warfare. 6. It carries a 30 mm chain gun with 1,200 rounds as part of the area weapon subsystem. 7. The helicopter carries the fire control Longbow radar, which has 360-degree coverage. 8. It also has a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night-vision systems. 9. The Radar systems in the helicopter will enhance the capability of the IAF in providing integrated combat aviation cover. 10. It is day/night, all weather capable, and have high agility and survivability against battle damage. 11. These are easily maintainable even in field conditions and are capable of prolonged operations in tropical and desert regions. Astra Missile 1. Air-to-Air missile, ASTRA, has been successfully flight tested from Su-30 MKI as a part of User trials. 2. It was indigenously designed and developed by the DRDO. 3. It is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes. 4. It is beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile with a range of over 70 kms. 5. Modifications of the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets to accommodate Astra missiles has been carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 6. The main purpose of astra is to replace the R77 from IAF. 7. Being a 5th Generation missile, it would provide true beyond visual range capability with greater strategic depth. 8. It is smoke free, having two-way data link and provides very less chances to enemy to be alert about it. 9. The Astra missile is developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). 10. DRDO carried out mission analysis, system design, simulation and post-flight analysis of the weapon system.

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IGMDP It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable India attain self-sufficiency in missile technology. The missiles developed under this programme are: -Short-range Surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithivi. -Intermediate-range Surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni. - Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile Trishul. -Medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash. -Third generation anti-tank missile Nag. Agni -II missile 1. India successfully conducted the night trial of Agni-II missile for the first time. 2. The test was carried out by the specially formed Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army with logistic support from the DRDO. Strategic Forces Command It is also referred to as Strategic Nuclear Command and forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA). It is responsible for the management and administration of the tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile. It operationalizes the directives of the NCA in initiating the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads. SFC is led by a Commander-in-Chief who is a three-star rank officer. About AGNI-II missile 1. It is surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile. 2. It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 3. It has already been inducted into the armed forces. 4. It is 20-metre-long, and has a strike range of 2,000 km. It has a launch weight of 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg. 5. It is a two-stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, was guided by a novel state-of-the-art command and control system and propelled by solid rocket propellant system. Dhanush Regiment 1. It is an indigenously developed gun and upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured by India. 2. It is a 155 mm ammunition system with a range of 36 km. 3. It is compatible with all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) 155mm ammunition systems. 4. It is fitted with an inertial navigation system having GPS based gun recording, an automated gun sighting system equipped with camera, thermal imaging, and laser range finder. 5. The Indian Army, will have the first regiment in place by March 2020 and will get all 114 guns by 2022. 6. Last year, the Army inducted its first modern artillery guns system which include M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH) from the U.S. and K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery guns from South Korea. Military Exercises Counter-Terrorism Table-Top Exercise (CT-TTX): It is first counter-terrorism exercise for “Quad” countries (U.S., India, Japan and Australia) recently hosted by the National Investigation Agency in New Delhi. Exercise Surya Kiran- XIV: It is joint military exercise between India- Nepal Exercise Mitra Shakti-VII: It is joint military exercise between India-Sri Lanka. Exercise Shakti- 2019: It is biennial joint military exercise between armies of India and France, conducted alternately in India and France. Exercise Za'ir-Al-Bahr: It is joint maritime exercise between the navies of India and Qatar. Tiger Triumph: It is first ever tri service joint exercise between India and the United States. The exercise will primarily focus on humanitarian disaster and relief (HADR) operations. Dustlik-2019: It is first ever joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan.

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Schemes and Initiatives

Project MANAV 1. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology launched the Project MANAV. 2. ‘MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative’ is a project for mapping every tissue of the human body to help better understand the roles of tissues and cells linked to various diseases. 3. The aim of the project is to understand and capture human physiology in two stages - Normal stage and Disease stage. 4. The programme will seek to provide better biological insights through physiological and molecular mapping and develop disease models through predictive computing. 5. The comprehensive map of the human body, every tissue accounted for, will be created from all available scientific literature. 6. A MANAV team would be set up. It will encourage colleges and universities to register as teams. International Centre for Automotive Technology 1. It is an important element of the Indian automotive sector with its world-class infrastructure and domain expertise providing services in development, testing, validation. 2. It is located in Manesar, Haryana which is considered as the northern automotive hub of India. 3. It comes under the aegis of National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP). 4. ICAT aims at knowledge sharing and dissemination on important topics like Power Train, Emission, HEV and EV technology, NVH, Crash, Lighting, Inspection & Certification and Fatigue. About NATRiP 1. It is the largest and significant initiative in Automotive sector and fully funded by Government of India. 2. The project aims at creating core global competencies in automotive sector in India by facilitating seamless integration of Indian Automotive industry with the world. 3. It seeks to set up state-of-the-art automotive testing and Research and Development infrastructure facilities. 4. It enhances competitive skills for product development leading to deepening of manufacturing. 5. Under this four new centers have been setup a) International Center For Automotive Technology (iCAT) at Manesar (Haryana) in northern India. b) Global Automotive Research Center (GARC) at Oragadam near Chennai (Tamil Nadu) in southern India. c) National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) at Pithampur near Indore (Madhya Pradesh) in central India. d) National Institute of Automotive Inspection, Maintenance & Training (NIAIMT) at Silchar (Assam) in northeast India. The two existing facilities 'Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI-Pune) and Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE - Ahmednagar)' have been upgraded with new technologies. National Genomic Grid 1. The Government of India has planned to set up a National Genomic Grid. 2. The grid will enhance cancer research in India and make treatment viable for people of different economic classes. 3. The grid to be formed will be in line with the National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB) set up at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. 4. The grid will collect samples from cancer patients to study genomic factors influencing cancer and identifying the right treatment modalities for the Indian population. 5. The grid will have four parts with the country divided into east, west, north and south. About NCTB 1. It is a state-of-the-art non-profit community-based tissue bank. It is the first of its kind facility in India. 2. It is a joint initiative of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM).

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3. The biobank collects cancer tissue samples with consent from patients diagnosed with cancer. 4. Information about the previous medical history and treatment of the donors is documented along with the tissue samples. DHRUV Programme Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme- DHRUV’. About the DHRUV Programme 1. Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme- ‘DHRUV’ has been started by Ministry of Human Resource Development. 2. The program is to be launched from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 3. The programme is called ‘DHRUV- the Pole Star’ and every student to be called ‘DHRUV TARA’. 4. The objective of the program is to allow talented students to realize their full potential and contribute to society. 5. It aims to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge. Such students would be trained in centres of excellence across the country. 6. It will also make India a better place for innovation and help the country to achieve the target of 5 Trillion Dollar economy in stipulated time. 7. The programme covers two areas, a) Science- 30 students b) Performing Arts- 30 students 8. The students would be broadly from classes 9 to 12 and from all schools including government and private. Gemini Device 1. The Government of India launched the GEMINI device. GEMINI stands for Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation and Information device. 2. It is a low-cost device for ocean status forecast and mapping potential fishing zones. 3. It ensures seamless dissemination of emergency communication on disaster warnings, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts (OSF) to fishermen. 4. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have developed this app. 5. A low-cost GAGAN system-enabled GEMINI device receives and transfers the data received from GAGAN satellites to a mobile through Bluetooth communication. 6. It helps fishermen in maximizing their earnings, ensuring safety and in the planning of fishing activities. GAGAN system 1. GAGAN stand for ‘GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation’. It is a satellite system consisting of geosynchronous satellites which cover the entire Indian Ocean. 2. The objective of GAGAN to establish, deploy and certify satellite-based augmentation system for safety- of-life civil aviation applications in India. 3. It is a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for the Indian Airspace. The system is inter-operable with other international SBAS systems like US-WAAS, European EGNOS etc. 4. GAGAN footprint extends from Africa to Australia and has expansion capability for seamless navigation services across the region. About INCOIS 1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO). 2. It is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community. 3. It provides round-the-clock monitoring and warning services for the coastal population on tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, etc.

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National Broadband Mission 1. Ministry of Communications has launched the National Broadband Mission to provide broadband access to all villages by 2022. 2. The mission aims to fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion. 3. The Mission is structured with strong emphasis on the three principles of universality, affordability and quality. 4. Objectives a) Broadband access to all villages by 2022 b) Facilitate broadband services across the country and especially in rural and remote areas c) Laying of incremental 30 lakhs km of Optical Fiber Cable d) Increase the tower density from 0.42 to 1.0 tower per thousand of population by 2024 5. Investment from stakeholders of about USD 100 billion including Rs 70,000 crore from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The USO Fund has been established in 2002 with the objective of providing access to all types of telecom services including mobile services, broadband connectivity and creation of infrastructure like Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) in rural and remote areas. Meghdoot app 1. The Ministry of Earth Sciences and Ministry of Agriculture have launched a mobile application named ‘Meghdoot’. 2. The app would provide location, and crop and livestock-specific weather-based agro advisories to farmers in local languages. 3. It provides forecast relating to temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind speed and directions to the farmers on how to take care of their crops and livestock. 4. It has been developed by experts from the India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. 5. The app would provide information in the form of images, maps and pictures to help the farmer to have a clearer picture of weather. 6. It has been integrated with WhatsApp and Facebook. INAPH Database 1. Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) is being developed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). 2. INAPH will be the world's largest database of animals after the successful implementation of the project. 3. The dataset aims to assign a 12-digit Unique Identification Number (UID) to each animal and keep a record of all the necessary information about the bovines. 4. This UID is known as ‘Pashu Aadhar’. This database will help the government in managing the country's vast numbers of livestock. 5. India has the world's largest livestock population and biggest milk producer. About NDDB 1. It is an institution of national importance set up by an Act of Parliament of India. 2. Its programmes and activities seek to strengthen farmer cooperatives and support national policies that are favourable to the growth of such institutions. 3. Pioneer of the organization was Dr. Varghese Kurian. He is considered as the father of white revolution, also known as ‘Operation flood’.

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SUPRA scheme 1. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) planned the new scheme ‘Scientific and Useful Profound Research Advancement (SUPRA)’. 2. The main objective of the scheme is to provide funding exploration of new scientific and engineering breakthroughs with global impact. 3. The scheme is designed to attract high quality research proposals consisting of new hypotheses or challenge existing ones and provide out-of-box solutions. 4. The scheme is a part of the Government’s 100-day transformative ideas. About SERB 1. It is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament. 2. It supports basic research in emerging areas of Science & Engineering are the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board. 3. SERB supports research in frontier areas of Science and Engineering. 4. It extends partial financial support for organising scientific events in the country on selective basis. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize 2019 1. Twelve scientists from different institutions across the country have been chosen for the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize for 2019. 2. The award is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) India- Dr (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. 3. The Prize is given each year to recognize the outstanding Indian contributions to science and technology. 4. It is given in following areas, i) Biological Sciences ii) Chemical Sciences iii) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences iv) Engineering Sciences v) Mathematical Sciences vi) Medical Sciences vii) Physical Sciences 5. Any citizen of India who are engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years, are selected for the award. NHS and NDHB A committee led by the former UIDAI chairman J Satyanarayana has submitted the report on National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) and National Health Stack (NHS). National Health Stack (NHS) 1. It is digital infrastructure built with the aim of making the health insurance system more transparent and robust. 2. It is designed to provide the foundational components that will be required across Ayushman Bharat and other health programs in India. 3. It is a nationally shared digital infrastructure usable by both Centre and State across public and private sectors. 4. Components of the stack a) Electronic National Health Registry. b) Platform for large health protection schemes. c) Federated personal health records (PHR) framework d) National Health Analytics Platform e) Other components including a unique digital health ID, health data dictionaries and supply chain management for drugs, payment gateways, etc.

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National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) 1. It is the architectural document for the implementation of the NHS. 2. Its vision is to create a national digital health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner. 3. NDHB recognises the need to establish a specialised organisation, called the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) that can drive the implementation of the blueprint. 4. It promotes and facilitates the evolution of a national digital health ecosystem. Green Crackers 1. The Government of India has launched ‘Green Crackers’ to curb air pollution in National Capital Region area as well as the country. 2. A consortium of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) have developed fireworks 3. Types of eco-friendly fireworks includes sound emitting crackers, flowerpots, chakkar etc. 4. The emissions testing certificates have been issued to fireworks manufactures for new and improved formulations meeting the stipulated guidelines of green crackers. UNICEF cryptocurrency fund 1. United Nations Children’s agency UNICEF has become the first UN Organization to hold and make transactions in cryptocurrency. 2. It has launched the ‘Cryptocurrency fund’ to receive, hold and disburse donations of cryptocurrencies such as ether and bitcoin etc. 3. UNICEF will use cryptocurrencies to fund open source technology benefiting children and young people around the world. 4. Under the structure of the UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund, contributions will be held in their cryptocurrency of contribution, and granted out in the same cryptocurrency. 5. The launch of the UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund is part of UNICEF’s ongoing work with blockchain technology. Check Libra Currency under ICT section to know more about Blockchain Technology. Nikshay Poshan Yojana 1. It is a direct benefit transfer scheme, to provide nutritional support to TB patients. 2. Under the scheme, TB patients receive ₹500 per month for the entire duration of treatment. Nikshay Portal 1. It is the web enabled patient management system for TB control under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). 2. It is developed and maintained by the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and the World Health Organization India. 3. Nikshay is used by health functionaries at various levels across the country both in the public and private sector to register cases under their care. 4. Health authorities can order various types of tests from Labs across the country, record treatment details, monitor treatment adherence and to transfer cases between care providers. 5. It functions as the National TB Surveillance System and enables reporting of various surveillance data to the Government of India. Check TB Elimination under Health & Diseases section to know more. Red Atlas Map 1. 'Red Atlas Action Plan Map’, a first of its kind ready reckoner was launched. 2. It has been prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences to aid Tamil Nadu government in effective flood mitigation in Chennai. 3. It was prepared by the National Centre for Coastal Research, India Meteorological Department and National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting in association with TN State Disaster Management Authority and Greater Chennai Corporation.

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4. The atlas aims at flood mitigation, preparedness, operations and management aspects with probable scenarios for different rainfall periods. 5. Coastal Flood Warning System App (CFLOWS-Chennai) was also launched to tackle the flooding. 6. CFLOWS is a complete web-based decision support system that can be used both for mitigation planning operations before flooding and in real time to for aspects like relief work. 7. CFLOWS is an integrated system that involves coupling models of regional weather forecasts, storm surges and captures about 796 flood scenarios. Programme 3S 1. Central government has decided to expand the reach of the ‘Smart Safety Surveillance (3S) programme’ to optimize post-marketing surveillance of priority drugs and vaccines. 2. The 3S project was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) considering the limited safety data on vaccines introduced in India. 3. As part of the 3S project, India is evaluating the recently introduced rotavirus vaccines. 4. It is also trying to strengthen the collaboration among key stakeholders, such as Ministry of Health and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), to ensure high levels of vigilance. 5. WHO has been asking countries to adopt the 3S programme, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems in developing nations. 6. Pharmacovigilance is the practice of monitoring the effects of medical drugs after they have been licensed for use, to identify and evaluate previously unreported adverse reactions. CDSCO -It is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India. -It is under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. - CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs. - It also coordinates the activities of State Drug Control Organizations. - It along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for grant of licenses of certain specialized categories of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera. Indian Brain Atlas 1. The first ever Indian Brain Atlas (IBA) has been created by researchers at the IIIT Hyderabad. 2. This atlas is known as ‘IBA 100’. Other brain atlases include Chinese, Korean and Caucasian. 3. The atlas has revealed that the Indian brain is smaller compared to others. It is smaller in height, width, and volume compared to the western and eastern populations. 4. The India-specific brain atlas was created by using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of 50 individuals of different genders. 5. This study will help in the early diagnosis of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. 6. The first digital human brain atlas was created by the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI). This brain atlas was based on the Caucasian brain template. Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India 1. The ‘Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India’ was released for the first time. 2. It was developed by CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) for use by policy makers to assess environmental damage. 3. The atlas consists of 45 maps of metals, oxides and elements present in top and bottom soils across India. 4. It will serve as a reference for future generations of the country to assess the chemical compositional changes on Earth’s surface. 5. These maps help in finding out future contamination caused by industries or other bodies which cause pollution.

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World Malaria Report 2019 The World Health Organisation released the World Malaria Report 2019. About the report 1. It provides a comprehensive update on global and regional malaria data and trends. 2. It tracks investments in malaria programmes and research as well as progress across all intervention areas. 3. It also covers the consequences of malaria on maternal, infant and child health, the ‘High Burden to High Impact’ approach. Highlights of the report 1. Nineteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India accounted for 85% of the global malaria burden in 2018. 2. India has the highest-burden country in the South-East Asia region. It registered a fall of 2.6 million malaria cases in 2018 as compared to previous year. 3. African region contributes 93% cases to the global burden. This region also accounted for 94% of all malarial deaths. Global Innovation Index 2019 The Global Innovation Index 2019 was launched at New Delhi and for the first time, it was hosted by the Government of India. Key Findings 1. Switzerland is the world’s most-innovative country followed by Sweden, the United States of America (U.S.), the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (U.K.). 2. The report identifies regional leaders India (in the Central and Southern Asia), South Africa, Chile, Israel, and Singapore, with China, Viet Nam, and Rwanda topping their income groups. 3. India climbed five spots on the GII 2019 to the 52nd position among 129 countries from 57th last year. 4. The public R&D expenditures, particularly in some high-income economies, are growing slowly or not at all. 5. Most top science and technology clusters are in the U.S., China, and Germany, while Brazil, India, Iran, the Russian Federation, and Turkey also feature in the top 100 list. About the report 1. It ranks economies according to their innovation capacity and performance and provides valuable insights into the dynamics of global innovation. 2. It ranks 129 economies based on 80 indicators from research and development investments, international patent, trademark applications, mobile-phone app creation, and high-tech exports. 3. It was developed jointly by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Cornell University, INSEAD. India Innovation Index 2019 1. NITI Aayog has released the India Innovation Index 2019, along with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner. 2. It examines the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories. 3. It aims to create a holistic tool for policymakers to identify the challenges and strengths while designing the economic growth policies for their regions. 4. The India Innovation Index 2019 is calculated as the average of the scores of its two dimensions - Enablers and Performance Enablers Performance Human Capital Knowledge Output Investment Knowledge Diffusion Knowledge Workers Business Environment Safety and Legal Environment

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5. Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India. It is followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana. 6. Sikkim and Delhi take the top spots among the northeastern & hill states, and union territories/city states/small states respectively. 7. Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are the most efficient states in translating inputs into output. Nobel Prizes 2019 1. Nobel Prize in Physics a) This year’s physics prize is awarded to a new understanding of the universe’s structure and the first discovery of an exoplanet. b) Winners - James Peebles from Canada, Michel Mayor from Switzerland, Didier Queloz from Switzerland. c) Dr. James Peebles’ was awarded for his theoretical framework on the big bang theory that explored a new understanding of the universe. d) It showed that just five per cent universe’s content is known, the matter which constitutes stars, planets, trees – and us. The rest, 95 per cent, is unknown dark matter and dark energy. e) In October 1995, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz announced the first discovery of a planet outside our solar system i.e. an exoplanet, orbiting a solar-type star. Big Bang model -It describes the universe from its very first moments, almost 14 billion years ago, when it was extremely hot and dense. -It states that the universe started from a small singularity. - The universe expanded rapidly from a highly compressed primordial state, which resulted in a significant decrease in density and temperature. - Since then, the universe has been expanding, becoming larger and colder. 2. Nobel Prize in Chemistry a) It has been awarded to the development of lithium-ion batteries. b) Winners - John D Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham, Akira Yoshino c) Lithium-ion batteries are used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles. d) The development of lithium batteries is regarded to have laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil-fuel-free society. Lithium-ion Batteries a) They are rechargeable battery types. b) Lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging. c) Advantages of batteries - Highest energy densities of any battery technology. - Capable of having a very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume. - Can deliver large amounts of current for high-power applications, - Comparatively low maintenance, and do not require scheduled cycling to maintain their battery life. - Low self-discharge rate. - Does not contain toxic cadmium, making it easier to dispose of than Ni-Cd batteries. - Have no memory effect, a detrimental process where repeated partial discharge/charge cycles can cause a battery to ‘remember’ a lower capacity. d) Disadvantages - Have a tendency to overheat and can be damaged at high voltages causing battery fires. - Subject to aging, that is it loses capacity and frequently fail after a number of years. - Cost of adoption is higher than Ni-Cd. 3. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

www.skholar.com www.skholar.com a) It has been awarded to three scientists for the discovery of sensibility and adaptability of cells to oxygen. b) Winners - William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, Gregg L. Semenza. c) It was awarded to their work of identifying molecular machinery that regulates the activity of genes in response to varying levels of oxygen. d) The fundamental importance of oxygen has been understood for but how cells adapt to changes in oxygen levels has long been unknown. About the findings 1. Oxygen levels can vary in different parts of the body at different times- during exercise, after an injury, etc. 2. When oxygen levels drop, the metabolism of individual cells changes and the ability to sense oxygen levels can trigger the production of new red blood cells, or the construction of blood vessels after a wound. 3. It was found that a) The process of molecular switch to adapt when oxygen levels in the body vary, b) The most fundamental job for cells, that is to convert oxygen into food and c) The cells and tissues constantly experience variations in the availability of oxygen. 4. When the amount of oxygen that is available to a cell drops, a protein complex called Hypoxia-inducible factors or HIF increases. 5. This, in turn, increases the activity of a gene that is used in the production of a hormone erythropoietin (EPO) that increases the production of red blood cells. 6. Helps to understand the fundamental process that makes animals thrive in uninhabitable areas. 7. This also gives insights into possible treatment of diseases like cancer and anaemia as Oxygen sensing is central to a large number of diseases.

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Miscellaneous

Citizen Science Initiatives 1. Galaxy Zoo a) It is the pioneering online citizen science project. It is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. b) It has now known as ‘Zooniverse’. This project basically aims to make the research activities easier for the people. 2. Earth-watch Institute India a) It is a leader in implementing the citizen science concept. It engages people in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding for a sustainable environment. b) Their volunteers take part in biodiversity enumeration, collection of data on pollinators and studies related to lake conservation in Bengaluru. 3. Citizen Science Alliance a) It nurtures new citizen science projects in disciplines ranging from data engineering to oceanography. b) The University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota, amongst others, are part of this alliance. Units of measurement 1. General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) has unanimously adopted the resolution to redefine four of the seven base units. 2. The units redefined are a) Kilogram (SI unit of weight) b) Kelvin (SI unit of temperature) c) Mole (SI unit of amount of substance) d) Ampere (SI unit of current) 3. It has enabled scientists and researchers to base the SI units entirely on fundamental properties of nature. This will ensure their refinement and improvement in the future. 4. The new SI has been implemented worldwide from 20th May 2019 i.e. the World Metrology Day. 5. In India, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) introduced redefined SI Units to the nation in terms of constant of nature. About BIPM 1. It is the intergovernmental organization through which Member States act together on matters related to measurement science and measurement standards. 2. It is an international organization established by the Metre Convention. 3. It aims to promote and advance the global comparability of measurements for: -Scientific discovery and innovation, -Industrial manufacturing and international trade, -Improving the quality of life and sustaining the global environment. Desalination of Water 1. To address the water crisis, ideas of exploring technologies to harness fresh water are mooted. 2. One of the prominent ideas is desalination or obtaining freshwater from saltwater. It is being already used in Chennai, but it has limited application due to operating cost. RO technology 1. It is the most prevalent technology in the world to convert saltwater into freshwater. 2. Using this technology, salty or brackish water is pumped in the plant. Salts are separated from the water and then salty water is returned to the sea. Freshwater is sent to households. 3. Osmosis involves a solvent (such as water) naturally moving from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration through a membrane.

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4. A reverse osmosis system applies an external pressure to reverse the natural flow of solvent. So, seawater is pressurised against one surface of the membrane. 5. This causes the salt-depleted water to move across the membrane, releasing clean water from the low- pressure side. 6. An effective network of RO plants reduces the proportion of ‘Total Dissolved Salts (TDS)’ from 35000 ppm to about 200-500 ppm. TDS includes minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and carbonates. Other alternatives 1. Thermal energy sourced from the ocean can be used, such as Low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) technique. 2. It works on the principle that water in the ocean 1,000 or 2,000 feet below is about 4º C to 8º C colder than surface water. 3. In this the salty surface water is collected in a tank and subject to high pressure (via an external power source). This pressured water vaporises, and this is trapped in tubes or a chamber. 4. Cold water plumbed from the ocean depths is passed over these tubes and the vapour condenses into fresh water and the resulting salt diverted away. Sensitive Hydrogen Sensor 1. A Hydrogen-detecting sensor has been developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad. 2. This sensor can detect hydrogen gas even when present at extremely low concentration of 1 part per million (ppm). 3. Hydrogen gas is a pollution-free, renewable source of energy. It is seen as a fuel of choice in the future. 4. It is highly explosive and flammable in nature. It can readily mix with air, making it difficult to detect its leakage as it is colourless and tasteless. 5. So a sensor that can detect it even when present at very low concentration becomes essential. Working 1. Carbon nanofibers with minute pores are decorated on the zinc oxide semiconductor. 2. The carbon nanofibers increase the adsorption of oxygen on the surface of the semiconductor. 3. More oxygen adsorbed would mean the number of electrons available for conduction is reduced leading to increased resistance. 4. Hydrogen reacts with the adsorbed oxygen to produce water molecule thereby making more electrons available for current conduction. 5. In the presence of hydrogen, the resistance reduces drastically leading to more current flow, thus suggesting hydrogen gas leakage. 6. When hydrogen is removed, the resistance goes back to the initial state. Elastocaloric Effect 1. If Elastocaloric effect is harnessed the need of fluid refrigerants used in fridges and air-conditioners could be done away with. 2. These fluids are susceptible to leakages and contribute to global warming. About the effect 1. When rubbers bands are twisted and untwisted, it produces a cooling effect. This is called the ‘Elastocaloric’ effect. 2. In the Elastocaloric effect, the transfer of heat works much the same way as when fluid refrigerants are compressed and expanded. 3. When a rubber band is stretched, it absorbs heat from its environment, and when it is released, it gradually cools down. 4. Basically, Elastocaloric materials are solids capable of stress-induced reversible phase transformations during which latent heat is released or absorbed. 5. The elastocaloric effect occurs when stress is applied or removed, and a phase transformation is induced.

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6. As a result of the entropy difference between the two co-existing phases, the material heats up or cools down. Ceramic Membranes 1. Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI) has developed Ceramic Membranes to treat the contaminated water. 2. Ceramic membranes are commonly used in separation processes involving the filtration of particulate matter from a fluid stream. 3. This involves the use of controlled porosity ceramic materials, which essentially act as inert filters. Most common membranes are made of Aluminium, Silicon, Titanium etc. 4. Ceramic membranes are available from several manufacturers in different shapes, mainly round and hexagonal, and with various channel diameters. 5. Ceramic membranes are increasingly being used in a broad range of industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical, dairy, food and beverage etc. About CGCRI 1. It is a Kolkata based National research institute under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 2. It focuses on the area of glass, ceramics, mica, refractories etc. ICAR- FUSICONT 1. The Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) has recently developed a bio-formulant to protect banana crops from fungal infection 'fusarium oxysporum TR4' or ‘Panama Wilt’. 2. ‘Banana emergency' was declared in Columbia & other Latin American nations parts of Africa. 3. ICAR fusicont is basically a mix of fungi & bacteria that has succeeded in combating the deadly disease known as Panama Wilt 4. 4. Fusarium wilt is a common vascular wilt fungal disease. It exhibits symptoms similar to Verticillium wilt. This disease is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Optoelectronics 1. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a material with properties suitable for quantum optoelectronics. 2. Opto-electronic materials show a combination of optics and electronics. A key property of these materials is photoluminescence, in which the material absorbs light and re-emits it as a spectrum. 3. The electron in the conduction band and the hole in the valence band can bind together and form a composite object known as an exciton. Photoluminescence is a result of such excitons. 4. Photoluminescence properties can be used in various devices such as quantum LEDs which can be used in communication and computation. 5. Materials such as tungsten diselenide (WSe2) and molybdenum diselenide exhibit opto-electronic properties. Artificial Gravity 1. Researchers have designed the gadgets which can create artificial gravity for the benefit of human travellers in deep space missions. 2. Artificial gravity is the creation of an inertial force that mimics the effects of a gravitational force, usually by rotation. It is the appearance of a centrifugal force in a rotating frame of reference. 3. The gadget is a large, table-sized spinning machine. This could add to the astronaut's fitness routine allowing space travellers to stay healthier for longer periods of time. 4. Astronauts experience bone loss, muscle loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and more in space. Artificial gravity will be helpful to overcome it. FrogPhone 1. A device ‘FrogPhone’ has been developed that will allow scientists to monitor frogs in the wild. 2. It is the world’s first solar-powered remote survey device that can be installed at any frog pond and receives a 3G or 4G cellular network.

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3. It has been developed by a team from various Australian institutions, including the University of New South Wales and the University of Canberra. 4. Researchers are usually required to make nightly observations in order to monitor them on site because frogs are most active during the night. 5. The FrogPhone will allow researchers to dial these devices remotely and analyse the data later. Fog Pass device 1. The South-Central Railway (SCR), Indian Railways has started supplying Fog Pass devices. These are GPS-based portable equipment to assist loco pilots. 2. The device helps in alerting the crew about upcoming landmarks or structures, during foggy weather, through audio and visual indications. 3. These devices are incorporated with visual and voice indication for alerting the loco pilot. 4. The device displays details of at least three oncoming landmarks along with the distance from the current location. Atmospheric Water Generator 1. South Central Railway has installed the “Atmospheric Water Generator” kiosk at the Secunderabad Railway Station. 2. It is installed as part of the green initiatives & water conservation measures and developed under Make in India concept by ‘Maithri Aquatech’ 3. The device has been named as ‘MEGHDOOT’. Working 1. In this system, instead of taking source water for filtration and consumption, the water is directly harvested from the air through a series of steps. 2. Under this, air flows into the machine through a filtration system that removes the contaminants present in the moisture-laden air. 3. Then the filtered air passes through the cooling chamber where the air will be condensed. 4. The condensed air is converted into water and drops into a storage tank provided for the purpose. 5. The dropped water from the tank passes through multiple level filtration which removes odour and any other impurities and then it passes through Ultraviolet (UV) system. 6. The filtered water is dosed with essential minerals which are beneficial before it can be dispensed for consumption. 7. The water produced under this system fulfils the WHO norms and also Indian standards for consumption. 8. It is also approved by the Ministry of Jal Shakti as safe and healthy drinking water. Microdot Technology Ministry of Road Transport & Highways notified rules regarding to Automotive Industry Standards (AIS)-155 in respect of Microdot identifiers to enhance vehicle safety. About the technology 1. Microdots are text or images reduced to a very small size, about 1 mm in diameter, to prevent detection by unintended recipients. 2. These dots are normally circular but can be made into different shapes and sizes and made from various materials such as polyester or metal. 3. Microdot technology is a very effective form of Vehicle Marking. It involves spraying thousands of the microdots laser etched with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on vehicle or its any part. 4. Due to its small size, microdots are impossible to locate and remove. Car’s true identity can always be established. 5. Microdots can be used to secure equipment, tools, and household items. They have also been successfully used to secure plants in public gardens against theft.

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