General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2018

Dec 2018

Feb 01, 2020

Australia Scientists Develop Coronavirus in Lab to Help in Vaccine Efforts

A team of scientists in Australia has successfully developed a lab-grown version of the new coronavirus, the first to be recreated outside of China, in a breakthrough that could help quicken the creation of a vaccine.
The researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne would share the sample, which was grown from an infected patient, with the World Health Organization and laboratories around the world.

Most Vivid Photos of Sun Taken

The Sun's turbulent surface has been revealed in unprecedented detail in the first observations by a newly operational telescope in the US, which scientists say will play a critical role in the better understanding of our star, as well as the space weather.
The Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii will enable a new era of solar science, and a leap forward in understanding the Sun and its impacts on our planet. Activity on the Sun, known as space weather, can affect systems on Earth. Magnetic eruptions on the Sun can impact air travel, disrupt satellite communications and cause power cuts.

Two Satellites in Close Shave over US City of Pittsburgh

Two satellites hurtling across the sky at nearly 33,000 mph (53,000 km/h) narrowly missed a collision over the US state of Pennsylvania.
The last time a major satellite collision occurred was in 2009.
Experts predicted that the satellites could pass within 40 ft (12 m) of each other. They are not operational, but it was feared a collision could create pieces of debris that would damage other objects in orbit.
The objects in question are an Infrared Astronomical Satellite that was launched in 1983 and another experimental US craft, the GGSE-4 satellite, launched in 1967.

Jan 27, 2020

Scientists Race to Find Out How Wuhan Victims Became Ill

Scientists are urgently seeking data to resolve one critically important aspect of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 54 people and infected well over 1,000 since emerging in Wuhan, China.
Researchers say they desperately need to find out whether most cases have been caused by repeated spillover of the virus from animals into humans, or whether most cases are now being triggered by secondary human-to-human transmission.
If most cases detected so far were caused by direct infections from animals, then there is a prospect the new epidemic could peter out fairly quickly. But if new cases are now being triggered by human-to-human transmission, the chances that a major global epidemic is now under way will be raised dramatically. Chinese president Xi Jinping has already warned that the spread of the deadly new virus is accelerating.

Boeing's 777X Jetliner Successfully Completes Maiden Flight

Boeing Co successfully staged the first flight of the world's largest twin-engined jetliner in a respite from the crisis over its smallest model, the grounded 737 MAX.
The 777X, a larger version of the 777 mini-jumbo, touched down at the historic Boeing Field outside Seattle after a debut at Boeing's revamped wide-body assembly lines north of the city.
The decision to take advantage of a gap in clouds to start the months of testing needed before the jet can carry passengers came after two attempts had to be postponed due to high winds.
While eyeing hundreds of sales this decade, Boeing's new 406-seater must overcome hurdles from regulators and buyers. The 777X will be the first major aircraft to be certified since the role of software flaws in two fatal 737 MAX crashes.

Jan 25, 2020

Use of Ozone-depleting Chemical Phased Out

According to the Union environment ministry, India has completely phased out the use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141b, a chemical used by foam manufacturing industries and one of the most potent ozone depleting chemicals.
The ministry had issued a notification in December 2019 saying the issuance of import licenses for HCFC-141b will be prohibited from January 1 under Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2019, issued under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The chemical is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.
HCFC-141b was not produced in India and all domestic requirements were met through imports. With this notification, the import has been prohibited.

Jan 24, 2020

System to Turn Moondust into Oxygen

The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing a prototype system to help humans breathe on the Moon by turning moon dust into oxygen.
The facility being developed in the Netherlands will create oxygen using simulated lunar material, not only to help astronauts breathe, but also for rocket fuel.

Jan 23, 2020

ISRO Unveils Female Humanoid for Gaganyaan Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled the female humanoid to be placed in the first unmanned mission under the Gaganyaan mission. Gaganyaan is India's first human space mission.
Named Vyommitra, the robot is a prototype of humanoid and will go as a trial before the Gaganyaan goes up with the astronauts. 'Vyommitra' will simulate most of the human body functions and report back to ISRO.

Scientists Date World's Oldest Meteor Crater

According to a new research, a crater in western Australia was formed by a meteor strike more than 2.2 billion years ago and is the world's oldest known impact site. The study marks the first time that the Yarrabubba crater has been precisely dated, at 2.229 billion years old, and means it is 200 million years older than any similar site known on Earth. The revelation also raises the intriguing possibility that the massive impact could have significantly altered the Earth's climate, helping end a period of global deep freeze.

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