science and tech

Magnetic Resource Imaging (MRI), Advantages and Potential Impact

Context: A team at the University of Hong Kong, led by Ed Wu, has developed a low-cost MRI scanner that could significantly improve access to this crucial diagnostic tool, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. About the Discovery of low-cost...

First human death from H5N2 Bird Flu: Reasons and Diagnosis

Context: In Mexico, a 59-year-old man died recently from H5N2, which is a type of bird flu. The recent human case in Mexico is under investigation, as the man had no reported contact with poultry. This raises the possibility that...

Agnikul Cosmos Successfully Launched Agnibaan Rocket

In a groundbreaking achievement for the Indian space industry, startup Agnikul Cosmos has successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator), powered by the world's first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. This historic event took place on...

CubeSats and NASA’s PREFIRE Mission, Objectives, Impact on Climate Science

Context: NASA, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, launched the first of two CubeSats to study heat emissions at Earth's poles. This was part of NASA’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission. About CubeSats CubeSats are...

AI and Personality Rights, Key Issues and Legal Framework

Context: Scarlett Johansson (a Hollywood actress) expressed shock and anger over OpenAI's GPT-4o AI model, stating that one of its voices sounded eerily similar to her own. What is Personality Rights? Personality rights, also known as publicity rights, refer to...

Space Tourism in India, Types, Ongoing Projects, Challenges

Context: Entrepreneur and pilot Gopi Thotakura is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist on the NS-25 mission of Blue Origin — a company founded by Jeff Bezos. Gopi Thotakura, along with five other...

Copernicus Programme by European Space Agency and European Union

Context: In response to Iran's request, the European Union (EU) activated its emergency satellite mapping service to assist in locating the helicopter carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, which had crashed in East Azerbaijan province. EU’s Copernicus Programme Purpose: Part of...

WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogen List (BPPL)

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL), highlighting critical priority pathogens that pose major global threats due to their high burden, resistance to treatment, and ability to spread resistance to other bacteria. WHO...

Digital Competition Bill Draft, Proposals, Need, Criticism

Context: India proposed a new law, taking inspiration from the European Union's regulatory framework, to curb anti-competitive practices by tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Key Proposals Of Draft Digital Competition Bill Aim: To stop these companies from...

Hepatitis A Virus, Transmission and Symptoms

Context: Kerala experienced the most severe outbreak of the Hepatitis A virus, with 1,977 confirmed cases and 12 deaths reported in the first four and a half months of this year. More In News Apart from the confirmed cases, another...