New Russian cosmonaut Team Welcomed aboard International Space Station
Three Russian cosmonauts arrived safely at the International Space Station (ISS), docking their Soyuz capsule with the outpost for a mission that continues a 20-year shared Russian-U.S. presence in orbit despite tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The arrival of the latest cosmonaut team - warmly welcomed by four Americans, two Russians and a German crewmate already aboard - came a day after the European Space Agency (ESA) announced it had suspended a joint robotic rover mission to Mars with Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
They will be replacing three current ISS crew members scheduled to fly back to Earth on March 30 - cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov and U.S. astronaut Mark Vande Hei.
Mar 20, 2022
Webb's Optics Works Successfully, NASA Says
Following the completion of mirror alignment steps, the Webb team expects that the telescope's optical performance will be able to meet or exceed its science goals.
On March 11, 2022, members of the Webb team completed the stage of alignment known as fine phasing.
At this key stage in the commissioning of Webb's Optical Telescope Element, every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations.
The team also found no critical issues and no measurable contamination or blockages to Webb's optical path.
The telescope is able to successfully gather light from distant objects and deliver it to its instruments without issue.
Mars Mission on Hold Indefinitely
The European Space Agency (ESA) unanimously voted to suspend a joint Mars mission with Russia. The mission was slated to blast off for the Red Planet later this year, but that launch is now on hold indefinitely.
The Council of the ESA said that due to the tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the agency could no longer carry out "ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022," referring to the Russian Space Agency and its role in the second part of the ExoMars program that involves sending a rover and a Russian surface platform to the Red Planet.
Mar 19, 2022
Scientists Create New Type of Biodegradable Polymeric Material
A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia and elsewhere identified a bacterial enzyme that can make a new type of polysaccharide, which is similar to the biopolymer chitin. Named acholetin, the new polymer is biodegradable and could be useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering and other applications.
Strings of sugars called polysaccharides are the most abundant biopolymers on Earth and play many roles in organisms.
Because they are biocompatible and biodegradable, these molecules are promising carrier materials for a broad range of therapeutics.
The identity of individual sugar molecules in the chain, and the way they are linked together, make them function in different ways.
Enzymes known as glycoside phosphorylases can cut certain polysaccharides apart or make new ones, depending on the reaction conditions.
Country's First Digital Water Bank 'AQVERIUM' Launched in Bengaluru
In March 2022, India's First Digital Water Bank, 'AQVERIUM' has been launched in Bengaluru, Karnataka which is an innovative initiative aimed at better water management. It is formed by AquaKraft Group Ventures.
It is a very unique innovation combining sustainable & green technologies along with information technology, skill development & entrepreneurship. It is a curated list of water data from all institutions and sources, that will help tackle some common development challenges.
With the inauguration of the first digital data bank in India, AI will aid in putting voluminous data for better understanding. The Startup has a holistic approach towards finding a much-needed solution to a crisis that not only India but the world is staring at.
Mar 18, 2022
660 Technologies Developed under Cyber Scheme against Target of 6,824
Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that 660 technologies against the target of 6,824 technologies were developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.
The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems aims to address the technological requirements of the society, taking into account international trends and road maps of leading countries for the next generation technologies.
Mar 17, 2022
Country's First Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park Launched in Bengaluru
The country's first Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK) was launched in Bengaluru. It is promoted by a not-for-profit foundation set up by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, with a seed capital of Rs. 230 crore from the State and Central governments.
The ARTPARK has the objective of channelizing innovations to create a societal impact by executing ambitious mission-mode R&D projectsin healthcare, education, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, retail, and cyber-security aiming to solve problems unique to India.