Nowadays in all competitive exams, questions related to latest Science and Technology are repeatedly appearing, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the answer to the question of “are the two connected?” is a resounding yes. Therefore, it is a must to know about both Science and Technology 2017 for your upcoming exams. D2G Team has come up with the complete collection of recent Science and Technology updates. Download the PDF at the bottom of the post.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2017
Science and Technology January 2017
NASA to send African-American for the first time to the space station
NASA is sending an African-American astronaut to the International Space Station for the first time. The traveler is Jeanette Epps, a physics and science whiz who used to work for the CIA as a technical intelligence officer.
Epps will head to the ISS as a flight engineer in 2018. Her commander will be Andrew Feustel, a veteran astronaut.
Scientists discover rare double-ringed galaxy in space
Scientists have spotted a rare double-ringed elliptical galaxy, approximately 359 light years away from the Earth. Identified as PGC 1000714, it has a 5.5 billion-year-old core at its heart that looks red and is circled by a faint blue ring. While the rings are made up of mostly of young stars, the core is made of older stars.
New species of gibbon discovered in China
Scientists have discovered a new species of gibbon living in south-west China’s rainforests. Although scientists had been studying the primate for some time, new research has revealed it is, in fact, a different species. It has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon by its discoverers, who are Star Wars fans. The name is also a nod to the fact that the Chinese characters of its scientific name, Hoolock tianxing, mean “Heaven’s movement”.
ISRO, CNES ink pact on satellite launch
Indian Space Research Organisation and French Space Agency (CNES) have signed a partnership agreement in satellite launch technology.
The agreement was signed between ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar and CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall in the presence of visiting French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Physicists create a new form of hydrogen
Scientists have produced a new form of hydrogen in the lab negatively charged hydrogen clusters. Each cluster consists of hydrogen molecules arranged around a negatively charged hydrogen ion – a single hydrogen atom with an extra electron – at temperatures near absolute zero.
SpaceX resumes flights; launches Falcon 9 vehicle on California coast
The American SpaceX rocket company has resumed flights, launching a Falcon 9 vehicle from the Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast. It is the first mission of the company since one of its vehicles exploded on the launch pad in September. The return to operations sees SpaceX start to renew what was the original global handheld satellite phone network, run by Iridium.
World’s lightest watch created using grapheme
Scientists have developed the world’s lightest high-performance mechanical watch made using the ‘wonder material’ graphene and weighing just 40 grams. The RM 50-03 watch was made using a unique composite incorporating graphene to manufacture a strong but lightweight new case to house the delicate watch. Graphene is the world’s first two-dimensional material at just one-atom thick.
Silicon identified as ‘missing element’ in Earth’s core
Silicon likely makes up a significant proportion of the Earth’s core after iron and nickel, say scientists who claim to have identified the ‘missing element’ in the deep interiors of our planet that has eluded us for decades. The discovery could help us to better understand how our world formed. The innermost part of Earth is thought to be a solid ball with a radius of about 1,200 kilometers.
World’s first IBM PC virus was released on January 19, 1986
“Brain”, considered to be the first major personal computer virus, was created on January 19, 1986, by Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi at their computer shop in Lahore, Pakistan. From there the program spread across the world – one infected floppy disk at a time. At its peak Brain had even reached the offices of a government department in Canada, on the other side of the globe.
IIT Bombay to build ‘Research Park’ for startups
Students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) might no longer need to seek help from outsiders to support their start-up ideas, as work on a ‘Research Park’ will finally start in 2017.
Scientists names 3 diseases that could cause next global health emergency
Scientists have named three relatively little-known diseases they think could cause the next global health emergency. The 3 diseases are Mers, Lassa fever and Nipah virus.
Scientists develop robotic ‘heart sleeve’ that helps it beat
Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital researchers have developed a customizable soft robot that fits around a heart and helps it beat, potentially opening new treatment options for people suffering from heart failure.
ISRO to launch record 103 satellites on a single rocket
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will set a record when it launches 103 satellites in one go on a single rocket in the first week of February. Explaining how all the satellites will be placed in orbit, Dr. K. Sivan, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
Science and Technology February 2017
Scientists create world’s first stable semi-synthetic organism
Scientists have created the first stable semi-synthetic organism – a single-celled bacterium – that may play important roles in drug discovery and other applications.
ISRO successfully ground-tests Cryogenic Upper Stage engine meant for rocket GSLV-Mark-III
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully ground tested the Cryogenic Upper Stage engine meant for the rocket GSLV-Mark-III. The space agency stated the indigenously developed engine, designated as C25, tested for a duration of 50 seconds in its Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri in southern Tamil Nadu, demonstrating all the stage operations.
Atomic clocks of Satellite IRNSS-1A Develops Technical Snag
NavIC, the indigenously built satellite-based positioning system, has developed a technical snag in the atomic clocks on its first satellite.
In the NavIC, a constellation of seven satellites, one of the three crucial rubidium timekeepers on IRNSS-1A spacecraft failed six months ago.
A first stable compound of chemically inactive helium confirmed
Helium, considered to be a chemically inert and unreactive gas due to its extremely stable and closed-shell electronic configuration, has been confirmed to form a stable compound (Na2He) with sodium under high pressure.
Neurocalyx calycinus plant possesses medicinal values
A medicinal plant endemic to the southern parts of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka could offer scientists the key to new herbal formulations and modern drugs for the treatment of cancer and wounds and burns.
E-pills that can monitor patient health
MIT scientists have developed a small battery that runs on stomach acids and could power next-generation ingestible electronic pills which may monitor patient health or treat diseases by residing in the gastrointestinal tract for extended periods of time.
The device may offer a safer and lower-cost alternative to the traditional batteries now used to power such devices.
Scientists develop terahertz transmitter capable of sending data 10 times faster than 5G
Scientists have developed a next-generation system which can transmit digital data over 10 times faster than 5G mobile networks, an advance that will pave the way for faster downloads and improve in-flight network connection speeds.
Japanese researchers use drones to pollinate flowers
Japanese tinkerers created a tiny, flower-pollinating drone for a world without insects.
ISRO to launch record 104 satellites in one go on Feb 15
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will carry a record 104 satellites in a single mission on 15 February from the space center at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. “PSLV-C37/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission is scheduled to be launched on February 15, 2017, at Sriharikota.
Horse antibodies may effectively treat Ebola: Study
In a first, scientists have developed an effective, rapid and economical treatment for the deadly Ebola virus using antibodies from horses. The post-exposure treatment made with antibodies from horses could be used in the next Ebola outbreak.
Shawna Pandya To Become Third Indian-origin Woman To Fly In Space
Dr. Shawna Pandya is a general physician in Canada’s Alberta University Hospital. She is also an astronaut preparing for two crucial space missions. She will be only the third woman of Indian origin, after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, to fly to space. Born in Canada, the 32-year-old was shortlisted after topping the Citizen Science Astronaut (CSA) program.
ISRO will use a native processor for Earth to space signals
Indian Space Research Organisation has said that the indigenous development of Telemetry & Telecommand Processor (TTCP) has been realized and its production will be initiated with the help of Indian industry. The processor, whose development was taken up by ISRO as part of ‘Make in India’ campaign, replaces expensive imported equipment.
Japan’s plan to clear space debris using ‘fishing net’ fails
An experimental Japanese mission to clear space junk from the Earth’s orbit has ended in failure.
More than 100m pieces of rubbish are thought to be whizzing around the planet, including cast-off equipment from old satellites and bits of the rocket, which experts say could pose risks for future space exploration.
NASA’s Juno spacecraft completes the fourth flyby of Jupiter
At the time of closest approach (perijove), Juno was about 2,670 miles (4,300 km) above the planet’s cloud tops.
All of Juno’s eight science instruments and the spacecraft’s JunoCam were operating during the flyby to collect data that is now being returned to Earth.
Single-dose Zika vaccine works in animals: study
An innovative vaccine made from genetic material protected lab animals from the Zika virus in experiments.
A new Zika vaccine candidate has the potential to protect against the virus with a single dose, according to a research team led by scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
New data transfer record created in Quantum computing
Scientists have set a new record in the transfer of information via superdense coding, a process by which the properties of particles like photons, protons and electrons are used to store as much information as possible.
NASA spots farthest galaxies powered by massive black holes
NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has identified the farthest gamma-ray blazars, a type of galaxy whose intense emissions are powered by supersized black holes.
Light from the most distant object began its journey to us when the universe was 1.4 billion years old, or nearly 10 percent of its present age and experts say they could shed fresh light on how black holes form.
Gujarat Technological University sets up a center of excellence in automation technologies
German technology major, Bosch Rexroth-funded India’s first Centre of Excellence in I 4.0 Automation Technology opened at the Vishwakarma Government Engineering College under Gujarat Technological University in Ahmedabad.
The Center of Excellence will be open for students of engineering students from across the state and also for the industry to conduct research in automation and hydraulics.
Researchers Discover Oldest Human Ancestor
Researchers have discovered the earliest known ancestor of humans – along with a vast range of other species. They say that fossilized traces of the 540-million-year-old creature are “exquisitely well preserved”.
18 fresh swine flu cases reported in Telangana
Eighteen fresh positive cases of swine flu have been reported in Telangana, where 13 people have succumbed to the H1N1 virus and other complications since August 1 last year.
Countdown of ISRO’s PSLV C-37 carrying record 104 satellites begins
The 28-hour countdown for the launch of a record 104 satellites by India on board a single rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 125 kmWorld’s first commercial flying car opens for sale. India will become the first country to script history if it succeeds in launching the 104 satellites in a single rocket.
New bird species found in Nepal
A new species of birds have been discovered in the high mountainous region of Nepal, bringing the total number of avian species in the Himalayan country to 866.
A Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxitilis), considered an autumn passage migrant bird species in Pakistan and India, was first seen and photographed by an expedition last year near the Shey monastery within the Shey-Phoksundo National Park.
L&T and MBDA Missile Systems Forms JV to Develop Missiles in India
Engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Ltd has said it will form a joint venture (JV) with France’s MBDA to develop and supply missiles and missile systems to the Indian armed forces. MBDA is jointly held by Airbus Group, BAE Systems and Leonardo and has expertise in developing all kinds of missile systems.
PSLV-C37 carrying CARTOSAT-2 series earth observation satellite lifts off from Sriharikota
Space agency ISRO has scripted history by successfully launching a record 104 satellites, including India’s earth observation satellite, on a single rocket from the spaceport.
This is the highest number of satellites ever launched in a single mission. First Indian genomics beacon launched in the UK
Global Gene Corp and Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) have launched the first-ever beacon for Indian genomics data, which is expected to help scientists develop more effective drug delivery systems.
A beacon is an online web service that allows researchers to determine whether an institution has particular genomic data in its data set.
IBM plans for emergency weather alerts without internet through Mobile app
IBM is developing an Android app Mesh Network Alerts Which offers a new technology that can transmit notifications from phone to phone via Bluetooth and WiFi.
The app offers much more than just a mere weather update, in some places it could up saves lives during emergencies.
ISRO successfully tests largest cryogenic engine for GSLV Mark III rocket
Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO has successfully tested the country’s largest cryogenic engine for a full 10 minutes.
The engine will power its mammoth Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III rocket capable of propelling a 4-ton class satellite into geosynchronous orbit – the altitude where satellites revolve in sync with the Earth’s rotation.
7 new Earth-sized exoplanets discovered by NASA
Astronomers have found a nearby solar system with seven Earth-sized planets, three of which circle their parent star at the right distance for liquid surface water, bolstering the prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life. The star, known as TRAPPIST-1, is a small, dim celestial body in the constellation Aquarius.
Robotic spacecraft to reach Sun planned by NASA
NASA plans to send its first robotic spacecraft to the Sun next year that is slated to get within six million kilometers of the blazing star to probe its atmosphere.
First, the mission will hopefully unveil why the surface of the Sun, called the photosphere, is not as hot as its atmosphere, called the corona. According to NASA, the surface temperature of the Sun is only about 5,500 degrees Celsius.
Science and Technology March 2017
Artificial mouse embryo created from stem cells for the First time
Scientists in Britain have for the first time created a structure that resembles a mouse embryo using a 3D scaffold and two types of stem cells – research which deepens understanding of the earliest stages of mammalian development.
NASA proposes magnetic shield to protect Mars’ atmosphere
Scientists at NASA have proposed that launching a giant magnetic shield into space to protect Mars from solar winds could give the Red Planet its atmosphere back and make it habitable for humans.
Sickle-cell anemia cured for 1st time by gene modification
A new gene therapy technique has been used to successfully reverse sickle cell disease for the first time. Sickle-cell disease occurs when one of the proteins making up a type of hemoglobin we use to carry oxygen through our body takes a slightly different form. These tests are going to help the development of this therapy technique by vigorous checking and using specific equipment like https://www.sciquip.co.uk/products/shaking-incubators.html, to make sure that it is working correctly and will help as many people as possible with supervised testing practices.
US Congress approves NASA’s manned Mars mission in 2033
For the first time in more than 6 years, both chambers of Congress passed a bill that approves funding for NASA and lays out new mandates for the space agency. The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, which appropriates $19.508 billion to the agency, is a version of a nearly identical bill that the Senate and House had previously collaborated on for months. The space agency received $19.3 billion in 2016 – less than half a percent of the total federal budget.
India’s first lunar probe Chandrayaan 1 still orbiting Moon: NASA
India’s first lunar probe – the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft – which was considered lost, is still orbiting the Moon, Nasa scientists have found by using a new ground-based radar technique. Now, scientists at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California have successfully located the spacecraft still circling some 200 kilometers above the lunar surface.
China developing manned submersible to reach deepest points
China is developing a manned submersible capable of reaching the deepest known points in the world’s oceans in search of precious metals. The 11,000-metre deep-sea submersible is planned to conduct its first ocean test in 2021, said Yan Kai, director of the state key laboratory of deep-sea manned submersible under the China Ship Scientific Research Centre.
Scientists say potatoes can be grown on Mars
Potatoes can be grown even in the extreme environment of Mars, according to a new study that has implications for future manned missions to the red planet as well as helping people survive in harsh climates on Earth. The International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru launched a series of experiments to discover if potatoes can grow under Mars atmospheric conditions and thereby prove they are also able to grow in extreme climates on Earth.
NASA shares a view of new-found solar system’s star TRAPPIST-1
Astronomers announced that the ultra-cool dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1, hosts a total of seven Earth-size planets that are likely rocky, a discovery made by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in combination with ground-based telescopes. NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler space telescope also has been observing this star since December 2016. These additional data about TRAPPIST-1 from Kepler are available to the scientific community.
India test-fires Brahmos missile
India has successfully tested an extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile whose reach has been increased from 290 km to 400 km, from a test range along the Odisha coast. The cruise missile was test fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore. The missile is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kg.
IBM Researchers Creates World’s Smallest Magnet to Store Single Bit Data
Imagine one day being able to carry vast libraries of data, currently stored in rooms full of servers, in your pocket. That’s the dream of a team of IBM scientists who have built the world’s smallest ever magnet, which uses a single atom to store information.
Their proof of concept could one day lead to credit card-sized hard drives capable of holding the entire 35 million songs iTunes library.
5th satellite of Copernicus observation program launched by EU
Europe launched the fifth of its Sentinel Earth observation satellites as part of its multi-billion-euro Copernicus program to provide speedy images of land, oceans and waterways.
The Sentinel-2B satellite, part of a system of satellites that is to monitor Earth, blasted off on board a Vega rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana.
BHEL’s first 800-MW supercritical plant becomes operational
Power equipment maker BHEL has commenced commercial operations of its first 800-MW unit, a supercritical thermal plant. It also marks the company’s foray into a developer into the field of power generation. Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) and BHEL are the main equity partners of RPCL, the owner and operator of this power plant.
ISRO commissions world’s 3rd largest hypersonic wind tunnel
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created history by commissioning the world’s third-largest hypersonic wind tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. A wind tunnel is used to study the effects of air flowing past a solid object-in ISRO’s case, space vehicles.
Astronomers create a most detailed 3D map of Milky Way dust
The largest ever 3D map of space dust in the Milky Way has been created revealing the intricate structure of our galaxy in all its vast complexity. Users can take a meander through interstellar space by exploring the dust map or navigate to a specific galactic location. Harvard astronomers built the map – which covers three-quarters of Earth’s sky – using data collected from 800 million stars.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter completes a 50,000th orbit
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has completed its 50,000th orbit this week, continuing to compile the most sharp-eyed global coverage ever accomplished by a camera at the red planet.
The orbiter continues diverse science observations of Mars and communications-relay service for two active Mars rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity.
Science and Technology April 2017
NASA spacewoman Peggy Whitson got 3 months extension in orbit
The world’s oldest and most experienced spacewoman is getting three extra months in orbit. NASA announced that astronaut Peggy Whitson will remain on the International Space Station until September.
Under an agreement between NASA and the Russian Space Agency, this mission her third will now last close to 10 months.
Astronomers detect atmosphere around Earth-like planet GJ 1132b
Astronomers have for the first time detected an atmosphere around an Earth-like planet just 39 light years away, a significant step towards the detection of life beyond our solar system.
Scientists, including those from Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, studied the planet known as GJ 1132b, which is 1.4-times the size of our planet.
NASA reveals new insights on ‘Ocean Worlds’ in Solar System
NASA announced that the icy moon of Saturn, Enceladus, holds a “food source” for potential life.
Though Earth is thought of as having the most abundant water in our neighbourhood, recent research has found that some moons could contain their own oceans, hidden beneath their icy crusts. Enceladus holds the most water in our solar system.
March 2017 was the second hottest March ever recorded: NASA
Last month was the second warmest March in 137 years of modern record-keeping, according to a monthly analysis of global temperatures by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
China to launch first cargo spacecraft
China’s first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 is to be launched into space between April 20 and 24 to dock with the orbiting experimental space station. The cargo spacecraft was transferred with a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket from the testing center to the launch zone in Wenchang, southern China’s Hainan Province.
ISRO, BHEL tie-up for lithium-ion batteries
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with BHEL to help develop low-cost lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, also envisages a buyback commitment for such batteries.
According to the MoU, BHEL will set up a production plant, while ISRO will provide support for scale-up, joint effort in cost optimization, research and development for alternate chemistry and buyback commitment.
Microsoft announces new Azure migration tools
Microsoft has announced new Azure migration tools and resources to help organizations utilize the power of the hybrid cloud. Companies providing IT Services to different businesses will now have access to more powerful tools that they must adopt and utilize to improve the services offered.
Hybrid cloud is a computing environment that uses a mix of on-premises, private cloud, and third-party public cloud services with orchestration between the two platforms. Taking certification courses such as az-303 may also help you learn more about these Azure migration tools.
Mongolia launches its first-ever satellite
Mongolia launched its first satellite part of its efforts to make use of new technology to diversify its resource-dependent economy. The 1,227-megahertz satellite, called Mongol Sat-1, will help landlocked Mongolia expand its television, telecoms and broadband services.
Scientists uncover how bacteria survive human immune system
Researchers have uncovered molecular details of how pathogenic bacteria fight back against the human immune response to infection.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Institut de Biologie Structurale (CEA-CNRS-UGA, France) have identified the structure of NsrR, a bacterial protein that binds to DNA and plays a key role in the bacterium’s resistance to nitric oxide (NO), which is produced in the initial immune response to infection.
NASA launches football stadium-sized Super Pressure Balloon
NASA successfully launched its football-stadium-sized, heavy-lift super pressure balloon (SPB) from Wanaka, New Zealand, on a mission designed to run 100 or more days floating at 110,000 feet (33.5 km) about the globe in the southern hemisphere’s mid-latitude band.
NASA sends 1st man-made object between Saturn and its rings
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, launched in 1997, became the first man-made object to go beyond Saturn’s innermost rings towards the planet. Cassini will perform 22 orbits between the 2,400-km-gap, sampling ring particles while ending its mission on September 15, 2017.
‘Iceball’ Planet discovered through Microlensing
NASA has discovered a planet the same size as Earth, and the same distance from its star as our planet is from the sun. This has prompted scientists to label the world – nominally called OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb – the ‘iceball’ planet.
World’s oldest fungus discovered in South Africa
Scientists have discovered what may be the world’s oldest fungus in South African rocks dating back 2.4 billion years. The fossils suggest that fungus may have evolved from under the deep sea rather than land.
Scientists create ‘Artificial Womb’
An artificial womb resembling a plastic bag has been used to keep premature lambs alive for four weeks outside of their own mothers’ wombs and could one day be applied to premature babies.
The sealed bag, made of polythene, contains amniotic fluid to provide all the nutrients and protection needed for growth and an interface delivering oxygen just as an umbilical cord would, and exchanging gases just like a placenta.
ISRO launches solar calculator app
ISRO has launched a Solar Calculator application, that allows for accurate calculation of the benefit of installing solar panels at any location in the country.
The application allows for the calculation of solar energy potential, which is an important preliminary step for selecting appropriate locations to set up solar photovoltaic thermal power plants.
ISRO to improve India’s communication system by launching 5 satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch five communication satellites by the year-end. The satellites, proposed to be launched, are aimed at improving the communication system within the country.
Science and Technology May 2017
SpaceX successfully launches secret payload for US military
SpaceX successfully launched and landed its Falcon 9 rocket in the fifth of 20 scheduled launches in 2017. This was a landmark event for the company, as it was the first launch of a military satellite in its 15-year history.
Dubai becomes world’s first city with its own Microsoft font
Dubai has become the first city in the world to get its own Microsoft font. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, launched the Dubai Font.
Scientists eliminate HIV infection in ‘humanised’ mice
US researchers have successfully removed HIV DNA from the genomes of living animals using a gene-editing tool, boosting the confidence of scientists to eliminate the AIDS virus infection in humans.
GSLV Successfully Launches South Asia Satellite
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) successfully launched the 2230 kg South |Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) into its planned Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on May 05, 2017.
UK scientists develop first-ever soft tissue retina
A synthetic, soft tissue retina developed by an Oxford University student could offer fresh hope to visually impaired people. The new research, by Vanessa Restrepo-Schild, a 24-year-old Ph.D. student and researcher at the Oxford University, Department of Chemistry, is the first to successfully use biological, synthetic tissues, developed in a laboratory environment.
UK’s latest nuclear fusion reactor generates its 1st plasma
The United Kingdom switched on its newest fusion reactor. The reactor, created by Tokamak Energy, should heat plasma to 100 million degrees Celsius (or 180 million degrees Fahrenheit) by 2018. The UK’s newest fusion reactor has been turned on for the first time and has officially achieved first plasma.
World’s biggest X-ray laser generates first laser light
The world’s biggest X-ray laser has generated its first beam of light that will allow scientists to get a glimpse of new materials, drugs and chemical reactions at the atomic level.
The 3.4-kilometre-long European XFEL, most of which is located in underground tunnels in Germany, will usher a new era of European research, according to scientists.
ISRO develops solar hybrid car using in-house resources
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) recently demonstrated a solar hybrid electric car, designed and developed using in-house resources, at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
ISRO made an announcement about this environment-friendly car. VSSC is Isro’s center for making various types of rockets like the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Reusable Launch Vehicle.
India test-fires ‘Spyder’ surface-to-air missile from Odisha test range
India has test-fired a surface-to-air missile ‘Spyder’ from a test range in Odisha as part of missile launch practice of a series of tests of the short-range quick reaction.
Spyder (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an acquired missile system from Israel which is a short-range, quick reaction surface-to-air missile to neutralize enemy targets up to a distance of 15 km and at heights between 20-and-9,000 meters, the official added.
Natco launches blood cancer drug pomalidomide in India
Natco Pharma has said it has launched a generic version of pomalidomide capsules, used in the treatment of a type of blood cancer, in India.
Pomalidomide is a thalidomide analogue indicated, in combination with dexamethasone, for patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor and have demonstrated disease progression on or within 60 days of completion of the last therapy.
Scientists develop bone tissues for safer marrow transplants
Scientists, led by an Indian-origin researcher, have developed artificial bone tissues that could provide new bone marrow for patients needing transplants and make the procedure much safer.
Researchers led by professor Shyni Varghese from the University of California, San Diego in the US developed bone tissues with functional bone marrow that can be filled with donor cells and implanted under the skin of mice.
Scientists observe waves of lava on Jupiter’s moon ‘Io’
Astronomers have tracked two huge lava waves rolling around a volcanic crater the size of Wales on one of Jupiter’s many moons. Geological forces unleashed the waves on Io, the fourth largest Jovian moon, where the most powerful active volcano in the solar system has produced an 8,301 square mile dent in the surface.
Science and Technology June 2017
NASA orbiter discovers frost on Moon
Scientists using data from NASA’s lunar orbiter have identified bright areas in craters near the Moon’s south pole that are cold enough to have frost present on the surface. The new evidence comes from an analysis that combined surface temperatures with information about how much light is reflected off the Moon’s surface
NASA names solar mission after UChicago physicist
NASA has named the first mission to fly a spacecraft directly into the sun’s atmosphere in honor of Prof. Eugene Parker, a pioneering physicist at the University of Chicago. Parker, the S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Physics, is best known for developing the concept of solar wind-the stream of electrically charged particles emitted by the sun.
SpaceX successfully launches recycled spaceship for the 1st time
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket recovered at sea from its maiden flight last year blasted off again from Florida in the first successful launch of a recycled orbital-class booster, then capped the feat with another return landing on an ocean platform.
The unprecedented twin achievements of re-launching a used rocket and salvaging the vehicle yet again were hailed by billionaire SpaceX founder Elon Musk as a revolutionary step in his quest to slash launch costs and shorten intervals between space shots.
China successfully tests solid-fuel variable ramjet engine
China has successfully tested a solid-fuel variable flow ramjet engine which could enhance the real combat ability of the country’s stealth aircraft and boost firing range of missiles. A team from No. 4 research institute affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) disclosed on May 31 that it has successfully conducted two flight tests with the ramjet engine.
ISRO successfully launches India’s heaviest rocket GSLV MK3
The GSLV MKIII-D1 rocket will carry the GSAT-19 communication satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
Termed as a monster rocket, it weighs 640 tonnes, equal to the weight of 200 Asian elephants. It is also the country’s shortest rocket with a height of 43 meters, roughly as high as a 13-story building.
Indian American Raja Chari among 12 new astronauts chosen by NASA
U.S. Space Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has chosen 12 new astronauts, including an Indian-American, from a record number of over 18,000 applicants, who will be trained for missions into Earth orbit and to deep space.
Lt Col Raja “Grinder” Chari, 39, is a commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
TCS, Intel join hands to tap businesses in IoT, Cloud, AI
India’s largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will collaborate with chipmaker Intel to design a reference architecture that could be used for rolling out the Internet of things (IoT), cloud, 5G and AI by its customers.
The partnership will also see both companies jointly investing in Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India and the US to provide industry-specific solutions for optimizing cost and improving productivity.
China launches 1st X-ray space telescope to study black holes
China successfully launched has its first X-ray space telescope to study black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts. The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), named Insight, will allow Chinese scientists to observe magnetic fields and the interiors of pulsars and better understand the evolution of black holes.
China plans to send mini-ecosystems to the Moon
In a first, China is planning to send mini-ecosystems – containing potato seeds and silkworm eggs – to the Moon next year, in an attempt to study how the organisms develop on the lunar surface. The 3-kilogram mini-ecosystem, developed by research teams led by Chongqing University in China, will be sent to the Moon by the Change 4 scheduled to be launched in 2018, authorities announced at the Global Space Exploration Conference.
China sends farthest ‘unhackable’ signal from space to Earth
In a major breakthrough for quantum teleportation, scientists in China have successfully transmitted entangled photons farther than ever before, achieving a distance of more than 1,200 km (745 miles) between suborbital space and Earth.
ISRO to launch Cartosat-2 along with 30 smaller satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is gearing up to launch its Cartosat- 2 series satellite for earth observation along with 30 co-passenger satellites.
The satellites will be carried by Isro’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), in its 40th flight (PSLV-C38). The rocket is scheduled to take off from Sriharikota spaceport.
China Unveils World’s First Train that runs on Virtual Tracks
China has added another piece of public transport innovation to its growing list of achievements in the area. It may not look as cool as its crazy car-straddling bus, but China has unveiled what is purported to be the world’s first train that operates on a virtual track using sensor technology instead of metal rails.
PSLV-C38 Successfully Launches 31 Satellites in a Single Flight
ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 successfully launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 30 co-passenger satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
All the 31 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence beginning with Cartosat-2 series satellite, followed by NIUSAT and 29 customer satellites. The total number of Indian satellites launched by PSLV now stands at 48.
ISRO-made chips to alert people at unmanned rail crossings
Satellite-based chip systems will now alert road users at unmanned level crossings about approaching trains and also help in tracking train movement on a real-time basis. Road users will be warned by hooters once a train approaches an unmanned level crossing as railways are installing ISRO-developed integrated circuit (IC) chips on locomotives of trains.
PSLV-C38 Successfully Launches 31 Satellites in a Single Flight
ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 successfully launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 30 co-passenger satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
This is the thirty-ninth consecutively successful mission of PSLV. All the 31 satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence beginning with Cartosat-2 series satellite, followed by NIUSAT and 29 customer satellites.
Scientists create the brightest light ever produced on Earth
Scientists have created the brightest light ever produced on the Earth, shining a billion times stronger than the surface of the sun. The researchers discovered that it could be used as a new type of X-ray, capable of taking higher resolution images than the traditional kind. These could be used in hospitals but also by engineers, scientists and for security purposes.
China launches its biggest new generation naval destroyer
China’s military has launched its biggest new generation destroyer weighing 10,000 tonnes as part of a massive expansion to become a global naval power. The Navy’s new destroyer, a domestically designed and produced vessel, was launched at the Jiangnan Shipyard (Group), Shanghai.
Russian navy test-fires submarine-launched missile
The Russian military has successfully test-fired a submarine-launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (IBM). The Yuri Dolgoruky is the first in a series of Borei-class submarines carrying the Bulava.
