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Context ∙ The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) regained contact with its Mars Ingenuity Helicopter after its 72nd flight. About Ingenuity ∙ It is a small robotic chopper and the first aircraft to make a powered, controlled flight sent to Mars on an experimental basis. ∙ It has been called a ‘Wright Brothers moment’. […]

Context ∙ India, in the 13th ministerial conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will push for a solution of the issue on public stockholding for food grains. What is the issue of Public Stock Holding? ∙ Public stockholding programme is a policy tool used by the government to meet food security and safeguard

Context ∙ Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) upgraded its Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) as Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG) to aid Search and Rescue Operations in the Maritime Domain. Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG) ∙ It can receive messages from the control centre, allowing for the transmission of advance alerts about bad weather, cyclones, tsunamis,

Context ∙ Recently, scientists have developed a new fuel cell, claiming it can harvest energy from microbes (bacteria) living in the soil. About the Soil-powered fuel cell ∙ It is a new technology that generates power with the help of microbes in the soil instead of chemicals. ∙ The microbes release electrons during the decomposition

Context ∙ The Union government recently launched India’s first graphene centre (IICG) in Kerala. ∙ The centre was established to foster research and development, product innovation and capacity building in the area of graphene and 2D material systems. About the Graphene ∙ Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb Applications ∙

Context North Korea has tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is Solid-Fuel Technology? ∙ Solid fuel missiles are rockets that use a prepackaged propellant mixture of fuel and oxidiser, as opposed to liquid-fueled missiles which require separate tanks for fuel and oxidizer. ∙ Metallic powders such as aluminum often serve as the

Context ∙ The government will set up a coordination cell to implement the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with a focus on establishing four technology hubs. About ∙ The NQM is expected to set up four mission hubs in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices. ∙ It will essentially

Context ∙ Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) succeed the incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps of previous centuries as the world’s light-source of choice. Light-emitting diodes (LED) ∙ A diode is an electronic component which has two points of contact, or terminals, called anode and cathode. A diode’s primary purpose is to allow current to flow in only

Context ∙ The Odysseus lunar lander, has become the first US-made spacecraft to touch down on the moon in 50 years. About ∙ Spacecraft Odysseus built and flown by Texas-based company Intuitive Machines landed near the south pole of the moon. ∙ It is also the first commercial spacecraft to make a touchdown on the

Context ∙ Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have developed a synthetic human antibody that can neutralize a potent neurotoxin produced by the Elapidae family of snakes. About ∙ Snake Bites cause thousands of deaths every year, especially in India and sub-Saharan Africa.  ∙ The Elapidae family of snakes are highly