Current Affairs March 2020 - Science

---

---

1 - Google announced its plans to open Delhi Cloud Region

Google announced its plans to open a Delhi Cloud Region. This will be the company's second cloud region in India, since it launched one in Mumbai three years ago in 2017. The new cloud region will expand Google's existing network which stands at 8 regions in the Asia Pacific and 22 regions globally.

Google cloud regions bring Google Cloud Platform services to global organisations in industries like media and entertainment, retail and manufacturing. It is projected to be launched in 2021.

2 - New explosive detection device developed by DRDO & IISc Bangalore

RaIDer-X, a new explosive detection device, was unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) in Pune. It has been co-developed by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

RaIDer-X has the capability to detect explosives from a stand-off distance. The data library can be built in the system to expand its capability to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with the contaminants. Bulk explosive in concealed condition can also be detected by the device.

3 - Scientists identified bacteria that can replace fertilizers & fungicides in tea plants

Researchers at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) Guwahati have found significant plant-growth-promoting and antifungal activities of endophyticactino bacteria associated with Tea plant and related genera, Eurya to find potent plant growth-promoting strains. Application of endophyticactino bacteria could reduce chemical inputs in Tea plantation.

Due to higher demand of chemical residue-free made tea by the importing countries has led to a decline in the export of tea. The present study attempts the use of endophyticactino bacteria having plant beneficial characteristics to reduce and replace the use of chemical inputs in the tea industry.

4 - Scientists of ARCI developed Fuel Cell Technology for disaster management

Scientists at International Advanced Research for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad developed Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). PEMFC have an advantage of operational capability at low-temperatures with applications in decentralised power generation systems.

ARCI is now planning to set up a PEMFC system up to 10 kW capacity at Tamil Nadu State Emergency Operation Centre (TN SEOC) to operate the systems like early warning systems, VHF set, IP phone, BSNL Ethernet and office equipment like scanner, computers, printers, phone, FAX and normal requirements like lighting and fan.

5 - India plans to launch Chandrayaan-3 by first half of 2021

ISRO announced to launch Chandrayaan-3 in the first half of 2021. Chandrayaan-3 is a planned third lunar exploration mission by Indian Space Research Organisation. Chandrayaan-3 is prepared with better planning and overcoming failures from the previously launched Chandrayaan-2, a Moon mission, which was launched in 2019 and a snag in the communication led to subsequent failure of soft landing.

Chandrayaan-3 is better designed with increased capacity at cost of around Rs. 610 crore, including Rs. 360 crore for the launch rocket.

6 - NASA named Mars 2020 rover as “Perseverance”

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) announced the name of the 5^th Mars (red planet) rover as Perseverance. The name was suggested by Alexander Mather, 7^th standard student. The Perseverance rover will be the 5^th exploratory vehicle after Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.

NASA's Perseverance rover is a robotic scientist weighing just under 2,300 pounds. Perseverance,hn currently is undergoing final assembly and checkout at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It’s targeted to land on Mars’ Jezero Crater after Feb. 18, 2021.

7 - Pune to host 108^th Indian Science Congress in 2021

Pune will host the annual session of 108^th Indian Science Congress in January 2021. The theme of the ISCA will be “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment” based on focus on economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion of all communities using science and technology. Indian Science Congress will focus on providing equal opportunities to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) while achieving sustainable development.

Indian Science Congress commenced in 1914 from then Calcutta with 105 members. It has more than 60,000 members at present.

8 - Discovery of bi-luminescent security ink to curb fake printing of currency notes and passports

Scientists from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad have developed a special safety ink. The bi-luminescent security ink glows in red and green colours when illuminated by two different excitation sources at 254 nano meters (nm) and 365 nm, respectively.

The ink is found comparable to the standards that are in use. The formulation can be used to check the authenticity of passports, Government documents, tamper evident labels, identity cards, etc.

9 - Microsoft launched COVID-19 Web Tracker

Microsoft has officially launched a tracking website that reveals all the details about the number of people affected by the coronavirus outbreak globally. This includes the number of total confirmed cases, active cases, recovered cases and fatal cases.

Data is being aggregated from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

10 - Methanotrophic Bacteria Culture first time in India

The Agharkar Research Institute of Pune has isolated 45 strains of methanotrophic bacteria. These bacteria are capable of reducing methane emissions in rice plants. The scientists have also created methanotrophic culture.

Methanotrophs are environmental organisms that have a major role in cycling of methane. They oxidize methane in the environment. After carbon-dioxide, methane is the second largest green house gas contributor. With the use of methanotrophic bacteria in agriculture, emission of methane shall be greatly reduced. Methane traps 84 times of heat trapped by carbon-dioxide.

11 - United States began first human trial to evaluate vaccine against COVID-19

The first human trial to evaluate a candidate vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 began in Seattle, US. The open-label trial will enroll 45 healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 55 years over approximately 6 weeks. A Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine designed to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) in Seattle.

The vaccine called mRNA-1273 is tested on participants with the help of evaluating different doses to check for safety and its ability to induce an immune response in participants.

12 - INST developed starch-based ‘hemostat’ material

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology developed a starch-based ‘hemostat’ material that concentrates the natural clotting factors in blood by physically absorbing excess fluid. The biodegradable microparticles that combine to form a gel on a wound offer significant improvements over existing alternatives. The product has increased absorption capacity, improved absorption, inexpensive, biocompatible as well as biodegradable.

Hemostat materials absorb excel fluid by concentrating the natural clotting factors in the blood that are critical for stopping the blood flow; however, the bleeding can restart when non-biodegradable materials are removed.

13 - World’s first commercial flying car PAL-V to be built in Gujarat

World's first commercial flying car named 'PAL-V Liberty' will be developed in Gujarat, India. PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) is a Dutch company, that is currently developing the first commercial flying car called the PAL-V Liberty.

The PAL-V Liberty is a combination of a car and an autogiro, or gyroplane. The PAL-V flying car, having two engines can run at a speed of 160 kilometres on road and can fly at a speed of 180 km. The car can turn into a flying vehicle in 3 minutes and cover a distance of 500 km on a full tank.

14 - Scientists of ARI developed bio-fortified, high protein wheat variety

Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, have developed a biofortified durum wheat variety MACS 4028, which shows high protein content. MACS 4028 is a semi-dwarf variety, which matures in 102 days and has shown the superior and stable yielding ability of 19.3 quintals per hectare.

The wheat variety has shown high protein content of about 14.7%, better nutritional quality having zinc 40.3 ppm and iron content of 40.3ppm and 46.1ppm respectively, good milling quality and overall acceptability.

15 - First ‘Made in India’ COVID19 Test Kit gets CDSCO approval

A Pune based testing services MyLab has become the first Indian company to get commercial approval from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for the sales of “Mylab Patho Detect COVID-19 Qualitative PCR kit”. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). India-based Mylab Discovery has become the first company in the country to receive approval for its coronavirus (Covid-19) diagnostic test kits, called reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

Mylab Discovery Solutions Pvt. Ltd is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic detection kits.

16 - New Hanta Virus emerged in China

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, a man in China's southwestern Yunnan province has died of hantavirus, a disease spread by rodents. Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide.

Hantavirus or Orthohantavirus is an old family of viruses, which mainly spreads through rodents or rats. It can cause various diseases including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). It can also cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

17 - SpaceX won NASA award to supply planned lunar space station

NASA picked a new space capsule from Elon Musk’s SpaceX to ferry cargo and supplies to the agency’s planned lunar space station, a crucial building block to its plans to build a permanent post on the moon and mount future missions to Mars.

SpaceX will get a portion of a $7 billion NASA contract to use its biggest rocket, Falcon Heavy, to send a new “Dragon XL” spacecraft to the Lunar Gateway. Dragon cargo and astronaut capsules, will carry research supplies that will help future astronauts on the surface of the moon collect lunar samples.

18 - Mutation and Pangolins main source of COVID-19

Researchers of “Pathogen” unveiled that probable cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) found in bats and pangolins. Researchers found genomic and evolutionary evidence of the occurrence of a SARS-CoV-2-like CoV (named Pangolin-CoV) in dead Malayan pangolins. Pangolin species are a natural reservoir of SARS-CoV-2-like CoVs.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

19 - India became first in the world to start antibody tests for Corona Virus

India began antibody tests to confirm Covid-19 exposure. The government approved 12 rapid antibody test kits for COVID-19 diagnosis. Overall, 16 companies can now market their test kits in the country. The test determines, if the person had viral infections based on the presence of antibodies in their blood. The test comes positive only after 7 to 10 days of infection.

One of the best feature of test kit is that, it can provide test results within 30 minutes. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus.