science and tech

Meet Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s First Astronaut to ISS for Axiom-4 Mission

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to be the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) as the Ax-4's pilot. A seasoned Indian Air Force test pilot with thousands of flight hours on a range of...

ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission, Objectives, Phases and Future Implications

Context: ISRO is set to launch the SPADEX-2 Mission, aiming to dock two satellites in an elliptical orbit. ISRO has successfully undocked its two experimental satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target). What is the SpaDeX Mission? The SpaDeX mission is...

Extreme Helium Star (EHe Star): Discovery, Mystery and Properties

Context: Researchers have discovered a rare cosmic phenomenon in star A980, an Extreme Helium Star (EHe Star), which contains an unusually high amount of germanium, a metallic element never seen before in such stars. About Extreme Helium Star (EHe Star)...

INS Tamal: India’s Last Imported Warship to be Commissioned on July 1

Context: The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Tamal on July 1, 2025. About INS Tamal INS Tamal is a stealth multi-role frigate of the Krivak class, part of a series inducted from Russia over the last two decades. It...

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Members and India’s Stand

Context: Amid the heightened military tensions between Iran and Israel, Iran stated that its Parliament was preparing a Bill to potentially leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is...

Rapamycin Offers Life-extending Benefits Comparable to Eating Less

Context: Scientists may have found a way to extend lifespan using two existing drugs, Rapamycin and Metformin, which mimic calorie restriction. Human trials are yet to begin. About Rapamycin Rapamycin (sirolimus) is an FDA-approved drug known for inhibiting the mTOR...

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): Types, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Context: Kerala’s SAT Hospital gave India’s first presymptomatic SMA treatment to a newborn identified through prenatal screening, using the rare drug Risdiplam to prevent future nerve damage. Recently, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl has become the first person in the world to...

India Successfully Tests Unhackable Quantum Communication

Context: DRDO and IIT-Delhi successfully demonstrated quantum communication over 1 km in free space, marking a major step toward secure, hack-proof defence communication in India. About Quantum Communication It is a method of sending information using tiny particles like photons...

What is Vitiligo: Causes, Nature and Treatment

Context: Vitiligo has gained attention for efforts to raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and promote inclusion and dignity for those affected, ahead of World Vitiligo Day (June 25). What is Vitiligo? A condition that causes loss of skin color in...

CAR T-Cell Therapy, Clinical Trial and Current Applications

Context: Delhi’s Dr (Col) VK Gupta beat his blood cancer after receiving CAR T-cell therapy at Tata Memorial Hospital. In India, researchers collaborated to develop NexCAR19, an affordable CAR T-cell therapy. About Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy CAR...