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Summary

Science And Technology July 2023 Part II

BHARAT 6G ALLIANCE (B6GA) (12:57 PM)

 Department of Telecommunication (DoT) launched the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA).

 B6GA is a collaborative platform comprising public and private companies, academia,

research institutions, and Standards development organizations.

 6G is the successor of 5G with the ability to use higher frequencies (Sub-6 GHz and 95 GHz to
3 THz (Terahertz)) with greater speed (Up to 1,000 Gbps) and lower latency (1 millisecond).

MAJORANA ZERO MODES (01:05 PM)

 Microsoft announced Majorana zero modes to revolutionize quantum computing.

 Quantum computing is a multidisciplinary field that utilizes quantum mechanics to solve

complex problems faster than classical computers.

 It uses two fundamental principles of quantum physics: superposition and entanglement.

 All particles in nature are either bosons or fermions.

 In 1928, Physicist Paul Dirac predicted the existence of an antiparticle for each particle, such
that if the two meet, they annihilate each other.

ROBOMAPPER (02:02 PM)

 RoboMapper has identified perovskite materials used in solar cells that have more stability
and efficiency.

 RoboMapper is a robot (created by Researchers US) that conducts experiments more

efficiently and sustainably.

 It facilitates the conduct of materials testing more quickly.

PERSEVERANCE ROVER (02:03 PM)

 NASA’s Perseverance rover found diverse organic matter on Mars.

 Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals
(SHERLOC) instrument on rover detected organic molecules in Jezero Crater (an ancient lake
basin site on Mars).

 SHERLOC operates day or night and uses ultraviolet laser light to search for organics and
minerals.

 So far, only the Mars Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover have been able to detect organic
carbon using methods like evolved gas analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

EUCLID MISSION (02:04 PM)

 ESA’s (European Space Agency) Euclid mission lifted off.

  Euclid aims to investigate cosmic mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. It will make a 3D
map of the Universe.

 Euclid has a reflecting telescope that feeds the two instruments: a visible-wavelength camera
(VIS) and a Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer.

DE-ORBITING OF SATELLITES (2:19 PM)

 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C56 carrying
Singapore’s DS-SAR satellite and six other satellites.

 Launch conducted the fourth stage (PS4) de-orbiting experiment.

 De-orbiting of satellites is a technology to drag satellites to the graveyard orbit, i.e., orbit 200
miles farther away from Earth than the farthest active
satellites.).

SAGAR SAMPARK (02:21 PM)

 Indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) – “SAGAR SAMPARK” was
inaugurated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

 DGNSS is a terrestrial-based enhancement system that corrects errors and inaccuracies in the
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), allowing for more accurate positioning
information.

 DGNSS involves having reference stations at precisely known locations that provide real-time
corrections for GNSS signals.

SOLAR FLARE (02:23 PM)

 Recently, an X-class solar flare led to a radio blackout in parts of the US Pacific Ocean.

 Classification of Solar Flares:

 They are classified according to their strength. The smallest are A-class, followed by B, C, M,
and X, the largest.

 Each letter represents a 10-fold increase in energy output. So an X is ten times an M and 100
times a C.

 Within each letter class, there is a finer scale from 1 to 9.

AURORAS ON MERCURY (2:29 PM)

 During a close Mercury flyby, the BepiColombo spacecraft collected data showing how
electrons raining down on the planet's surface trigger X-ray auroras.

 BepiColombo is a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to Mercury.

100 MICROSITES PROJECT (02:30 PM)

 (Faculty mentioned that it will be covered in upcoming lectures)

 National Health Authority (NHA) launched the 100 Microsites Project under the Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
  Microsites Project was launched to accelerate digital health adoption across the country.

 Microsites aim to establish a small ecosystem within a particular geographic area where
there is complete ABDM adoption and the entire patient journey is digitized.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) (02:30 PM)

 One Health Priority Research Agenda for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was released.

 It was released by FAO, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), WHO, and the World
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to better advocate for increased research and
investment in AMR.

 AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer
respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease
spread, severe illness, and death.

 Earlier, WHO also launched a global research agenda for AMR in human health in 2023.

MALARIA VACCINE (02:31 PM)

 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01, were allocated to 12 African
countries for 2023-25 by WHO, GAVI, and UNICEF

 RPVs are a type of Recombinant Subunit Vaccines (RSVs) that use protein as antigen.

BPAL REGIMEN TRIAL (02:33 PM)

 For tuberculosis, an over 85% cure rate was seen in the modified BPaL regimen trial.

 BPaL is a six-month, all-oral, three-drug regimen that is used to treat people with highly
drug-resistant forms of TB (i.e., XDR TB).

ZOMBIE DRUG (02:34 PM)

 Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” “tranq dope”, and “zombie drug”, has sedative-like
symptoms such as extreme sleepiness.

 Tranq is known for its ability to induce a "zombie" like stupor and cause flesh rot near
injection sites.

 When combined with opioids like fentanyl, xylazine increases the life-threatening effect of
respiratory depression (slowing or stopping breathing) caused by opioids, increasing the risk
of overdose and death.

GLOBAL FOOD REGULATORS SUMMIT 2023 (02:34 PM)

 Summit is an endeavor of the FSSAI to create a global platform for food regulators to
exchange perspectives on strengthening food safety systems and regulatory frameworks.

 Key launches:

 Release of Food-o-Copoeia, a collection of food category-wise monographs and a single-

point reference for all applicable standards a specific product category.

 Common regulators platform 'SaNGRAH', a database of Food Regulatory Authorities of 76

countries worldwide, their mandate, food testing facilities, etc.
BLUE SKY PROJECT (02:35 PM)

 Recently, The Government has released a draft R&D roadmap for the green hydrogen
ecosystem in India, which stresses developing fuel cells for long-range travel, particularly for
the road transport sector.

 The roadmap has proposed three key approaches for promoting R&D: mission mode, grand
challenge projects, and blue-sky projects.

 Blue-sky projects are projects having a long-term (0 - 15 years) horizon that would be taken
up with a focus on establishing global IP and competitive advantage for the Indian industry.

DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS (DMFCS) (02:26 PM)

 An alloy of Cobalt and Platinum doped with Manganese has been found to be an effective
catalyst in DMFCs.

 DMFC is an electrochemical energy conversion device that directly converts liquid methanol's
chemical energy into electrical energy.

 DMFCs have a high energy density, high efficiency, and low operating temperature and are
safer to operate as they deal with liquid fuel (methanol).

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION: What do you understand by Quantum computing? Briefly discuss the
working of Quantum Computers and how it is different from classic computers?(150 words/10
marks)