Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PIB Context: The ChipIN Centre, a hub for chip designers in India, received a boost from leading semiconductor industry players, aiming to empower the semiconductor design community in the country. The centre offers state-of-the-art Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to students at various academic levels. These initiatives aim to …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PIB Context: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Meta have collaborated to launch Frontier Technology Labs (FTLs) in schools across India, aiming to democratize access to future technologies and empower youth to innovate. These labs, an advanced version of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for students …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: India is set to restart the manufacturing of the common antibiotic Penicillin G after three decades, with Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharma leading the initiative. The halt in Penicillin manufacturing in India during the ’90s was primarily due to cheaper Chinese products flooding the market, rendering Indian production unviable. …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Researchers have developed Garbhini-GA2, an India-specific artificial intelligence model, to accurately determine the gestational age of a fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This model, created by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, is part of …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: CNN Context: Astronomers have discovered the brightest object in the universe, a quasar powered by the fastest-growing black hole on record. Initially mistaken for a star, the quasar, named J0529-4351, was found using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. It is located over 12 billion light-years away and …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: OpenAI has introduced Sora, a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model capable of converting text prompts into videos up to a minute long with maintained visual quality and adherence to user instructions. Sora can create complex scenes with multiple characters, accurate details, and vibrant emotions, though …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Science Daily Context: Researchers have developed a ground-breaking sensor using “frozen smoke,” or aerogels, which can detect formaldehyde in real-time at concentrations as low as eight parts per billion. Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant emitted by various household items. This innovation could significantly enhance indoor air quality …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru has successfully conducted the first test of a solar-powered “pseudo satellite” called HAPS (High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite), a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). HAPS can fly at altitudes of 18-20 km, remain airborne for months or even years, and …
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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Researchers at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) have developed a new image-correction technique to enhance the study of cold atoms, particularly those at absolute zero temperatures. This technique eliminates 50% of unwanted interference fringes in images, crucial for understanding the quantum mechanics properties of cold atoms. Traditional …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Hindustan Times Context: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has developed and successfully tested India’s first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility, making the country one of the few nations with this advanced hypersonic testing capability. The facility, named S2 or “Jigarthanda,” is located within IIT Kanpur’s hypersonic experimental aerodynamics …
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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PHYS.ORG Context: The GRAPES-3 experiment, conducted by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Ooty, India, has identified a new feature in the cosmic-ray proton spectrum around 166 tera-electron-volts (TeV), expanding our understanding of cosmic-ray origins and acceleration mechanisms. Cosmic rays, the universe’s most energetic particles, constantly bombard Earth’s …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: A study conducted at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad examined the origin of interplanetary dust responsible for zodiacal light, focusing on Mars’ moons, Deimos and Phobos. About Zodiacal light: Zodiacal light is a faint, diffuse glow of sunlight scattered by dust particles that orbit the sun. It appears …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: Toyota aims to launch next-generation solid-state batteries within three years, with the potential for two sets of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in its line-up—one using existing lithium-ion batteries and another featuring the new solid-state batteries. The breakthrough technology could revolutionize EVs by doubling range and significantly reducing …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: DTE Context: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is considering the electrification of the Golden Quadrilateral, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, as part of Vision 2030: PM Public Transport Sewa. The plan, expected to be implemented over the next seven years, aims to boost e-mobility …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: End-to-end encryption (E2E) is a method of protecting digital information by transforming it into an unreadable format, and it has significant implications for privacy and security. Encryption fundamentally involves changing consumable information into an unconsumable form based on specific rules. There are two main types …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Deccan Herald Context: Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and a leading biopharmaceutical company in India, has launched India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine called ‘Havisure’. This vaccine is expected to play a crucial role in preventing Hepatitis A, a highly …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: The Print Context: India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has given conditional approval for the continued manufacture and sale of five fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines. The FDC drugs in question are part of the 344 drug combinations banned by the government in 2016.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: DTE Context: The Kerala Drug Control Department has initiated Operation Amrith (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For Total Health) to curb the overuse of antibiotics in the state. Pharmacies are required to maintain accurate records of antibiotic sales, display posters stating ‘antibiotics not sold without doctor’s prescription,’ and comply with prescription …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Economic Times Context: SpaceX successfully launched the first set of Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities. Top of Form About Direct to cell: Direct-to-cell refers to a technology that enables communication signals, such as text messages, voice, and data, to be transmitted directly from space-based satellites to mobile …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: WION Context: Scientists from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in, California, have made a significant breakthrough by discovering a ‘kill switch’ that triggers the death of cancer cells. The researchers identified a protein on a receptor, known as CD95 receptors or Fas, which can be designed to induce …
