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INDEX

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JANUARY 2019

S.No. Title Page No.

1. SPACE ..................................................................................... 3

2. ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... 6

3. BIO-TECHNOLOGY .................................................................8

4. INNOVATION ........................................................................ 10

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JANUARY 2019

1. SPACE
1.1 Yutu-2
Why in News?
China has named the lunar rover, successfully deployed on to carry out a string of experiments on the far side of the
moon, as „Yutu-2‟.
What is Chang'e-4?
 This lunar exploration mission incorporates an orbiter, a robotic lander (Yutu-2) and rover.
 Chang'e-4 will be China's second lunar lander and rover.
 The Chang'e-4 lander was a backup to the Chang'e-3 mission.
 It will have the same basic structure, but a different scientific payload, holding 11 instruments.
Why far side of moon?
 With its special environment and complex geological history, the far side of the moon is a hot spot for
scientific and space exploration.
 However, landing and roving there requires the relay satellite to transmit signals.
 Hence, the project plans to send a relay satellite for Chang'e-4 to the halo orbit of the Earth-Moon
Lagrange Point L2 in late May or early June 2018, and then launch the Chang'e-4 lunar lander.

1.2 CMB-Bharat
Why in News?
Workshop entitled, „Cosmology – The next decade‟, was held at ICTS-TIFR, Bengaluru. In the workshop, project
CMB-Bharat, which could help us listen to the faintest murmurs of the early universe, was discussed.
What is CMB?
 The Cosmic Microwave Background (or "CMB" for short) is radiation.
 It is from around 400,000 years after the start of the Universe.
 The Universe is around 13.7 billion (13,700,000,000) years old.
 Before this time, the Universe was so hot and dense that it was opaque to all radiation.
 Not even simple atoms could form without instantly being ripped apart into their constituent protons and
electrons by the intense radiation.
 The Universe was made of “plasma", or ionised gas, which is what the surface of the Sun is made of.
What is CMB-Bharat?
 CMB-Bharat is a proposal for comprehensive next generation Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
mission.
 It is an international collaboration with major Indian contribution.
 It proposes „near-ultimate‟ survey polarisation that would exhaust the primordial information in this „gold-
mine‟ for cosmology.”
What are its goals?
The scientific promise of the project was threefold according to
1. The “ultrahigh goal” - the project would reveal the first clear signature of quantum gravity and ultrahigh
energy physics in the very early universe.
2. The “high” goals –
a. lay in neutrino physics where we could discover more about the neutrino species, their total mass
and mass hierarchy;
b. map all dark matter and most baryons in the observable universe, he said.
3. . The “legacy” - to improve probe of the cosmological model by a factor of over 10 million, and to generate
rich galactic and extragalactic astrophysics datasets.

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1.3 Gaganyaan & Chandrayaan-2

Why in News?
The priorities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) this year are on the human space flight
programme Gaganyaan and Chandrayan-2
What is Gaganyaan?
 It is India‟s first manned space mission.
 ISRO and Roscosmos (Russia‟s federal space agency) have agreed to worked together for India‟s first
manned space mission Gaganyaan.
 Under it, India is planning to send three humans (Gaganyatris) into space i.e. in low earth orbit (LEO)
by 2022 i.e. by 75th Independence Day for period of five to seven days.
 The mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 72nd Independence Day
speech.
 Under this mission, crew of three astronauts will conduct experiments on microgravity in space.

This mission will make India fourth nation in the world after USA, Russia and China to launch human
spaceflight mission.
What are the Objectives of Gaganyaan Mission?
 To enhance science and technology levels in the country.
 To serve as national project involving several institutes, academia and industry.
 To improve of industrial growth, inspire youth, develop technology for social benefits and
 To improve international collaboration
What is Chandrayaan- 2?
 The spacecraft has three major components – orbiter, lander, and rover
 Chandrayaan-2 will be launched to the moon on board the GSLV Mk II.

The rover uses six wheels to navigate across the surface, and will collect rock and soil samples to be
analysed and the data it gathers will be transmitted back to Earth.
What are the main objectives of the mission?
 It is to see if ISRO can soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon.
 The Orbiter craft will also conduct mineralogical and elemental studies of the Moon‟s surface from orbit.
 The Rover will have two scientific payloads for chemical analysis of the soil.
 It will also have a high definition camera to take pictures of the soil and rocks on site.
 Note: though Roscosmos and ISRO signed an agreement for the two agencies to work together on the
Chandrayaan-2 project. Roscosmos withdrew in wake of the failure of the Fobos-Grunt mission to
Mars.

1.4 PSLV- C44

Why in News?
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) successfully injected Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites
into their designated orbits.
What is specific about PSLV C44?
 It is the 46th flight of PSLV
 It is the first flight of PSLV-DL (with two strap-ons) variant.
 It successfully injected Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellitesinto their designated orbits.
What is Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2?
 Microsat-R, an imaging satellite was successfully injected into intended orbit of 274 km.
 Orbit Type: SSPO (Sun Synchronous)
 Kalamsat-V2, a student payload is first to use fourth stage (PS4) of the PSLV as an orbital platform

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1.5 Saturn
Why in News?
Scientists recently found that Saturn‟s rings are younger than actually thought to be.
What are the facts known about Saturn?
 Saturn can be seen with the naked eye.
 It is the fifth brightest object in the solar system and is also easily studied through binoculars or a small
telescope.
 Saturn is the flattest planet.
 Its polar diameter is 90% of its equatorial diameter.
 This is due to its low density and fast rotation.
 Saturn turns on its axis once every 10 hours and 34 minutes giving it the second-shortest day of any of the
solar system‟s planets.
 It orbits the Sun once every 29.4 Earth years.
 Saturn‟s upper atmosphere is divided into bands of clouds.
 It has oval-shaped storms similar to Jupiter‟s.
 It is made mostly of hydrogen.
 It exists in layers that get denser farther into the planet. Eventually, deep inside, the hydrogen becomes
metallic. At the core lies a hot interior.
 Saturn has the most extensive rings in the solar system.
 The Saturnian rings are made mostly of chunks of ice and small amounts of carbonaceous dust.
 The rings stretch out more than 120,700 km from the planet, but are are amazingly thin: only about 20
meters thick.
 Saturn has 150 moons and smaller moonlets.
 All are frozen worlds. The largest moons are Titan and Rhea.
 Enceladus appears to have an ocean below its frozen surface.
 Titan is a moon with complex and dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere.
What are the spacecraft that have visited Saturn?
 Pioneer 11
 Voyager 1 and 2
 The Cassini-Huygens mission has all studied the planet.
 Cassini orbited Saturn from July 2004 until September 2017, sending back a wealth of data about the
planet, its moons, and rings.

1.6 Ultima thule

Why in News?
NASA's New Horizons mission unveils Ultima Thule's flat shape
What is new horizon?
 New Horizons is an interplanetary space probe that was launched as a part of NASA's New Frontiers
program.

The New Horizons mission is helping us understand worlds at the edge of our solar system by making
1. the first exploration of the dwarf planet Pluto
2. By venturing deeper into the distant, mysterious Kuiper Belt – a relic of solar system formation.
What are the important objectives of new horizon?
 Characterize the time variability of Pluto‟s surface and atmosphere
 Image Pluto and Charon in stereo

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 Map the terminators (day/night boundary) and compositions of selected areas of Pluto and Charon in high
resolution
 Characterize Pluto‟s ionosphere and solar wind interaction
 Search for atmospheric hydrocarbons and nitriles
 Search for an atmosphere around Charon
 Determine albedos and surface temperatures on Pluto and Charon
What is Kuiper Belt?
 The Kuiper Belt is also known as the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt.
 It is a region of the Solar System that exists beyond
the eight major planets, extending from the orbit of
Neptune (at 30 AU) to approximately 50 AU from
the Sun.
 It is similar to the asteroid belt, in that it contains
many small bodies, all remnants from the Solar
System‟s formation.
 But unlike the Asteroid Belt, it is much larger – 20
times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive.
 This is where you‟ll find dwarf planet Pluto.
 It‟s the most famous of the objects floating in the
Kuiper Belt, which are also called Kuiper Belt
Objects, or KBOs.

What is ultima thule?

 Ultima Thule is located in the Kuiper Belt , beyond the orbit of Neptune.
 Ultima Thule measures approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) in diameter, and is irregularly shaped.
 In 2017, Ultima Thule passed in front of a star as seen from Earth (known as a stellar occultation), allowing
astronomers to determine that its shape is most likely a contact binary (two touching bodies) or a close
binary system (two objects that are orbiting each other).

2. ENVIRONMENT

2.1 Mercury Pollution

Why in News?
JNCASR, has found an innovative way to develop a sensor that operates using Surface Enhanced Raman
Spectroscopy and has high sensitivity far better than other methods of detecting mercury in water.
What is mercury?
 Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure.
 The only other liquid element under standard conditions is bromine (a halogen)
 Mercury is a very rare element in the Earth's crust. It accounts for only about only 0.08 parts per million
(ppm).
 It is mainly found in the mineral cinnabar, which is mercuric sulfide. Mercuric sulfide is the source the red
pigment called vermilion.
 Mercury generally is not allowed on aircraft because it combines so readily with aluminum, a metal that is
common on aircraft.
 Mercury does not react with most acids.
 Mercury is a relatively poor conductor of heat.
 Although mercury usually exhibits a +1 or +2 oxidation state, sometimes it has a +4 oxidation state.
 Mercury is used in fluorescent lamps, thermometer, float valves, dental amalgams, in medicine, for the
production of other chemicals, and to make liquid mirrors.

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What are the sources of mercury pollution?

 About 30% of mercury in the atmosphere comes from natural sources such as volcanoes or forest fires.
 But 70% of the mercury is a result of human activities,
1. the mining of mercury ores
2. the use of this mercury in products and manufacturing, and
3. the incidental release of trace concentrations of mercury naturally present in limestone, coal, crude oil,
and metal ores such as taconite.
What are the effects of mercury pollution?
 Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause
serious health problems.
 It is a threat to the development of the child in utero and
early in life.
 Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive
and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and
eyes.
 Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten
chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health
concern.
 People are mainly exposed to methylmercury, an organic
compound, when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound.
 Methylmercury is very different to ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines
and does not pose a health risk.

2.2 Microplastics in Drinking Water

Why in News?
Scientists have found microplastics contaminating a groundwater source that accounts for 25% of the global
drinking water supply.
What are microplastics?
 Microplastics generally refer to plastic particles between 0.33 mm and 5 mm in size.
 These smaller plastic particles can be ingested by aquatic organisms.
Where do they come from?
 Deterioration of larger plastic fragments, cordage and films over time, with or without assistance from UV
radiation, mechanical forces in the seas or through biological activity.
 Direct release of micro particles into waterways (e.g. scrubs and abrasives in household and personal care
products) and via urban wastewater treatment.
 Accidental loss of industrial raw materials during transport or trans- shipment, at sea or into surface
waterways;
 Discharge of macerated wastes, e.g. sewage sludge
How does plastic get into water?
 These microscopic fibres originate in everyday activities such as abrasion of clothes, upholstery, and
carpets.
 About 60 per cent of all our clothes are made from polyester, a form of plastic derived from fossil fuel.
 Another kind of plastic, styrene butadine is released from vehicular tyres, which lands into sewers and
water bodies.

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How harmful is it?

 Microplastics can migrate through intestinal wall and travel to lymph nodes and other organs.
 Microplastics have also been shown to absorb toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses, and then
release them when consumed by fish and mammals.
 So if plastic fibers are in your water, experts say they‟re surely in your food.
What may be the solution?
 Making producers responsible for waste management.
 Creating new non-polluting materials.
 Minimizing usage of plastic materials.

3. BIO-TECHNOLOGY

3.1 Microparticles to manage Parkinson’s

Why in News?
IIT Delhi team used Drug-loaded microparticles to manage Parkinson‟s
What is Parkinson’s disease?
 Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement.
 Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand.
 Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.
 In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression.
 Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time.
What is the cure?
Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms.
What is bioavailability?
The degree and rate at which a substance (such as a drug) is absorbed into a living system or is made available at
the site of physiological activity.

3.2 Chikungunya
Why in News?
Rapid diagnostic kit for chikungunya detection developed in 2013 by an international group of researchers was put
to test in India.
What is Chikungunya?
 Chikungunya is a virus.
 Genus: Alphavirus
 It can‟t be passed from person to person.

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 It is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus).
 Chikungunya is rarely fatal.
What are its symptoms?
 The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain.
 Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
What’s the Treatment?
 There‟s no real treatment for chikungunya.
 Most people get better on their own and recover completely.
 Many of the symptoms usually improve within a week, but joint pain can last a few months.

3.3 Cancer
Why in News?
Molecular mechanism of prostate cancer subtype unraveled by a multi-institutional team at IIT Kanpur
What is Cancer?
 Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body.
 There are over 200 types of cancer.
 Anything that may cause a normal body cell to develop abnormally potentially can cause cancer.
 General categories of cancer-related or causative agents are as follows: chemical or toxic compound
exposures, ionizing radiation, some pathogens, and human genetics.
 Although there are many tests to screen and presumptively diagnose cancer, the definite diagnosis is made
by examination of a biopsy sample of suspected cancer tissue.
 Cancer staging is usually determined by numbering it from 1 to 4.
 Most treatments include at least one of the following and may include all: surgery, chemotherapy, and
radiation therapy.
What causes cancer?
 Cancer is caused by accumulated damage to genes. Such changes may be due to chance or to exposure to a
cancer causing substance.
 The substances that cause cancer are called carcinogens. A carcinogen may be a chemical substance, such
as certain molecules in tobacco smoke. The cause of cancer may be environmental agents, viral or genetic
factors.
 We should bear in mind, though, that in the majority of cancer cases we cannot attribute the disease to a
single cause.
 We can roughly divide cancer risk factors into the following groups:
 biological or internal factors, such as age, gender, inherited genetic defects and skin type
 environmental exposure, for instance to radon and UV radiation, and fine particulate matter
 occupational risk factors, including carcinogens such as many chemicals, radioactive materials and
asbestos
 lifestyle-related factors.
What is SPINK1 positive?
 The SPINK1-positive prostate cancer subtype derives its name from the excess amount of SPINK1
oncogene (cancer causing) found in the cancer cells.
 Excess production of SPINK1 gene responsible for tumour and metastasis is not restricted to prostate
cancer alone but also seen in colorectal, lung, pancreatic, breast and ovarian cancers.

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4. INNOVATION

4.1 Artificial Intelligence

Why in News?
India ranks third in research on artificial intelligence according to an analysis by research agency Itihaasa
What is Artificial Intelligence?
 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially
computer systems.

These processes include learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information),
reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions) and self-correction.
How Artificial Intelligence Works?
 AI works by combining large amounts of data with fast, iterative processing and intelligent algorithms,
allowing the software to learn automatically from patterns or features in the data.
 AI is a broad field of study that
includes many theories, methods and
technologies, as well as the following
major subfields:
 Machine learning automates
analytical model building. It uses
methods from neural networks,
statistics, operations research and
physics to find hidden insights in
data without explicitly being
programmed for where to look or
what to conclude.
 A neural network is a type of
machine learning that is made up of
interconnected units (like neurons)
that processes information by
responding to external inputs,
relaying information between each
unit. The process requires multiple
passes at the data to find
connections and derive meaning
from undefined data.
 Deep learning uses huge neural
networks with many layers of
processing units, taking advantage of advances in computing power and improved training techniques
to learn complex patterns in large amounts of data. Common applications include image and speech
recognition.
 Cognitive computing is a subfield of AI that strives for a natural, human-like interaction with
machines. Using AI and cognitive computing, the ultimate goal is for a machine to simulate human
processes through the ability to interpret images and speech – and then speak coherently in response.
 Computer vision relies on pattern recognition and deep learning to recognize what‟s in a picture or
video. When machines can process, analyze and understand images, they can capture images or videos
in real time and interpret their surroundings.
 Natural language processing (NLP) is the ability of computers to analyze, understand and
generate human language, including speech. The next stage of NLP is natural language interaction,
which allows humans to communicate with computers using normal, everyday language to perform
tasks.

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