Category: Science and Technology Current Affairs

National Geoscience Data Repository Portal : Ministry Of Mines The Union Ministry of Mines is to launch the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) Portal on 19th December 2023 in a ceremony in New Delhi. National Geoscience Data Repository Portal is a comprehensive online platform for accessing, sharing, and analysing geospatial information across India. The NGDR […]

TEMPO Satellite : NASA NASA’s new satellite TEMPO measures air pollution hourly has shown significant progress and now the space agency officials are already thinking about ways to extend its life. Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) monitors major air pollutants across North America. Its monitoring range extends from Canada’s oil sands to the Yucatán […]

Hydrogen Cyanide : New Study Scientists have found hydrogen cyanide — a key molecule in the creation of life — in the oceans of Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus, according to a new study based on data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Cassini spacecraft. Hydrogen cyanide is a colourless or pale-blue liquid or […]

Noma Disease : Inclusion In Official List Of Neglected Tropical Diseases The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the inclusion of noma (cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis) in its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Noma disease is a rapidly progressing severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and the face. The disease, also called cancrum […]

Radon : Leading Cause Of Lung Cancer Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, with 21000 deaths per year in the US, as per reports from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).According to the WHO, radon is estimated to cause between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers in a country, depending […]

Microsoft Release Phi-2 : Language Model Microsoft’s recent release of Phi-2, a small language model marks a significant leap in the world of language models. Positioned as an upgraded version of Phi-1.5, this model boasts capabilities in generative AI that challenge larger counterparts like Llama-2, Mistral, and Gemini-2. The key lies in Phi-2’s training on […]

E-Cigarettes : World Health Organization Statement The World Health Organization (WHO) states that e-cigarettes, as consumer products, have not been proven effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into an inhalable aerosol. The liquid typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, flavourings, and other chemicals. Alternative […]

Pandemic Accord: The seventh round of deliberations on the Pandemic Accord was recently concluded by representatives from 28 countries. The accord aims to strengthen global prevention, preparedness, and response to disease outbreaks. The delegates failed to reach a consensus on Intellectual Property Rights and Relaxing Patents. The United States did not change its stance on […]

Global Partnership On Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit: The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit. India is the lead chair of GPAI in 2024. The GPAI is an alliance of 28 countries; the European Union adopted the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ of the GPAI. Highlights of the GPAI Summit: The […]

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme : First Round Of Crash Testing The first round of crash testing of the cars under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) has been successfully completed recently. It is an indigenous star-rating system for crash testing cars,under which vehicles will be assigned between one to five stars, indicating […]