The State of the World’s Children 2024

Source:  TH Context: The State of the World’s Children 2024 report by UNICEF highlights critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of childhood globally. About State of the World’s Children Report 2024: Published by: UNICEF. Theme: Securing a future where children’s rights are realized by addressing demographic transitions, climate crises, and technological advancements. Key Insights: …

GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system

Source: IE Context: The introduction of the GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system in India aims to eliminate delays at toll plazas by allowing vehicles to pass without stopping, replacing the current FASTag system. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has developed a GIS-based software for real-time monitoring of congestion at toll plazas, …

History of clock

 Source: TH  Context: Throughout history, timekeeping has evolved from basic sundials and water clocks to advanced atomic and nuclear clocks. Current advancements include optical clocks, which use higher-frequency radiation for even greater precision, and researchers are working on nuclear clocks, which could potentially offer even higher accuracy by using the nuclei of atoms as resonators.

Matsya 6000

Source: PIB Context: India is set to become the sixth country to have its own Deep Sea Mission. The first stage of the harbour trial aims at reaching a depth of 40-50 meters. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) developed Matsya 6000, a submersible capable of reaching depths of 6000 meters, and collaborated with …

Divya Drishti

Source: ET Context: “Divya Drishti” is an advanced AI tool developed by the woman-led start-up Ingenious Research Solutions. The tool integrates facial recognition with gait and skeleton analysis to enhance identification accuracy and reduce false positives and identity fraud. This dual-approach biometric authentication system has versatile applications across various sectors, including defence, law enforcement, corporate, …

India Meteorological Department

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: PIB   Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th year of establishment and service to the nation.   About India Meteorological Department: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the primary government agency for meteorology and related topics.  It is responsible for weather forecasting, seismology, and meteorological observations. The …

Radiocarbon dating

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: Radiocarbon dating is a scientific method that utilizes the isotope carbon-14 to determine the age of organic materials. Carbon-14 is created in the Earth’s atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen-14 atoms, producing carbon-14. This isotope enters the food chain through plants, animals, and other biomass.    …

Electronic soil’ (eSoil)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: Hindustan Times  Context: Researchers introduced a ground-breaking study on “electronic soil” (eSoil) in hydroponics, offering the potential for sustainable urban agriculture and food security. eSoil is an electrically conductive growth substrate derived from cellulose and a conductive polymer (PEDOT). It stimulates plant roots and the growth environment with low …

Touchscreens

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: The article explores the working principles of touchscreens, focusing on their historical development and prevalent technologies. Touchscreens serve the dual purpose of receiving inputs and displaying outputs, making them integral to devices like smartphones, ATMs, household appliances, and more.   There are two main types of touchscreens, …

Gene drive technology

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: WION    Context: Scientists are developing a “gene drive technology” to potentially eliminate malaria-causing mosquitoes in Africa. This technique involves releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes into the environment to prevent female mosquitoes from producing new female offspring, leading to a reduction in malaria transmission. Despite the promising nature of …

Lathyrism

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: DTE  Context: Grass pea, also known as khesari dal, has been historically infamous for causing lathyrism, a neurological disease leading to lower limb paralysis.  In the late 19th century, an outbreak of lathyrism linked to grass pea led to its ban in India in 1961 under the Prevention of …

Krutrim

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TOI  Context: Ola has announced the development of a “Made for India” Large Language Model like ChatGPT equivalent called Krutrim. This AI system, designed to support 10 Indian languages, will operate independently from Ola’s mobility and EV businesses. The system, trained on proprietary datasets, aims to address India’s linguistic …

Sickle cell disease

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: Reuters  Context: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for two gene therapies for sickle cell disease. Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, Casgevy, and bluebird bio’s Lyfgenia have been approved for individuals aged 12 years and older. One of the approved therapies, Casgevy, is …

How does GPS work

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH   Context: The article discusses the functionality and significance of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Established by the U.S. Department of Défense in 1973, GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth, providing location information through a network of ground control stations and user devices.   …

Anthrobots

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: Nature  Context: Scientists have created tiny robots, called anthrobots, made from human tracheal cells capable of repairing damaged neural tissue. Unlike previous xenobots made from frog cells, anthrobots are self-assembling and formed from human tissue, potentially paving the way for personalized medicine.    How it works? The researchers grew …