science and tech

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...

China’s Chang’e-6 far side of the Moon probe begins Journey Back

Context: China’s Chang’e- 6 probe has lifted off from the far side of the moon to start its journey back towards Earth. Chang’e 6 Mission of China Chang’e 6 Mission was followed by the success of Chang’e-5. Chang'e-6 will collect...

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...

Tobacco Epidemic in India, Awareness and Control Programs

Context: Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease and death globally, affecting both consumers and cultivators. Tobacco's Impact in India India has the world's second-highest number of tobacco users (26 crore), and the health of 60 lakh tobacco industry...

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...

Starlink Satellite Project, Advantages and Disadvantages

Context: Elon Musk launched Starlink internet service in Indonesia. About Starlink Satellite Project Aspect Details Launched 2019 What is Starlink Satellite Project? It is a SpaceX project aimed at building a broadband network using a cluster of thousands of orbiting...