General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - August 2015

Aug 2015

Jul 28, 2017

Apps to Send Alerts Launched

The government launched two mobile apps - 'India Quake' for dissemination of earthquake parameters and the other one 'Sagar Vani' to disseminate ocean related information and alerts (like high waves and Tsunami early warnings) to the user community in timely manner for their safety.

Jul 27, 2017

Microsoft Launches New App

After four months of beta testing with corporate offices and government departments, Microsoft launched its mobile app Kaizala. The messaging and collaboration app is meant for office use. Being touted as a "made for India", the software giant beta tested it with NITI Aayog and the UP State Election Commission among others.
The app is available both as a standalone and as a part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite of applications.

WhatsApp Planning Another App

Facebook-owned WhatsApp introduced some interesting features in order to enhance the app's user experience. Now, the company is testing to a new feature which will enable the users to switch between voice and video calls. Along with this, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new app, targeted towards businesses.

Jul 25, 2017

New Elusive Sunfish Species Discovered

Scientists have come across a new species of gigantic ocean sunfish – that could weigh up to two tonnes. The species is the first addition to the Mola genus in 130 years.
The iconic fishes are bony fishes, but are also the heaviest and most distinctive among their species.
It has been aptly named the Hoodwinker Sunfish.

Jul 18, 2017

Video of CartoSat-2E launch released

Space applications centre (SAC), Isro, Ahmedabad, released a video showing the launch of India's mapping satellite CartoSat-2E from Isro's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) (C-38). The video, shot by the camera developed by SAC, shows CartoSat detaching from the PSLV on June 22 this year. The satellite is on a five-year mission and will collect imagery for urban planners, emergency response, agricultural purposes, and for security establishments.

The PSLV had launched the 712kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation, and the 30 co-passenger satellites weighing together about 243 kg at lift-off, into a 505km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). The total weight of all these satellites carried on PSLV-C38 came to about 955kg.

PSLV-C38 was launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the seventeenth flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors).

In the June 22 launch, along with the CartSat 2E, there were 29 nano satellites from 14 countries namely, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, United Kingdom and United States of America.One nano satellite (NIUSAT) from India was also among them.

The 29 international customer nano satellites were launched as part of commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), a government of India company under department of space (DOS), and the commercial arm of Isro and international customers.

Indigenously Developed Device to Check Hearing of New Borns

The science & technology ministry launched a low-cost indigenously developed hearing screening device for newborns called Sohum to cater to nearly 26 million babies born every year in India. The device, which allows screening without requiring babies to be sedated, once available across the country can help minimise hearing impairment or even reverse the damage. The battery-operated non-invasive Sohum uses brainstem auditory evoked response technology which is recommended as best screening choice by the American Association of Pediatrics and the National Health Services of UK.At present, most of the hospital-born babies cannot be tested in the absence of any cost effective device. Globally 8,00,000 hearing impaired babies are born annually of which nearly 1,00,000 are born in India.

Jul 17, 2017

Artificial sweeteners linked to risk of weight gain, heart disease and other health issues

Artificial sweeteners may be associated with long-term weight gain and increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
Consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and stevia, is widespread and increasing. Emerging data indicate that artificial, or nonnutritive, sweeteners may have negative effects on metabolism, gut bacteria and appetite, although the evidence is conflicting.
To better understand whether consuming artificial sweeteners is associated with negative long-term effects on weight and heart disease, researchers from the University of Manitoba's George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation conducted a systematic review of 37 studies that followed over 400 000 people for an average of 10 years. Only 7 of these studies were randomized controlled trials (the gold standard in clinical research), involving 1003 people followed for 6 months on average.
The trials did not show a consistent effect of artificial sweeteners on weight loss, and the longer observational studies showed a link between consumption of artificial sweeteners and relatively higher risks of weight gain and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other health issues.
"Despite the fact that millions of individuals routinely consume artificial sweeteners, relatively few patients have been included in clinical trials of these products," said author Dr. Ryan Zarychanski, Assistant Professor, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. "We found that data from clinical trials do not clearly support the intended benefits of artificial sweeteners for weight management."

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