News on Science, Technology and Research in India
The four Indian astronaut-elects have successfully completed their training in Russia and have arrived in Bengaluru recently. Having familiarised themselves with basic astronaut training the four IAF test pilots, now employees of Isro, will soon start with the mission-specific training that will happen in multiple Indian cities.
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)-Delhi receives research funding from National Super Computing Mission (NSM) under HPC Applications to work on the project titled ‘Orbit computation of Resident Space Objects for Space Situational Awareness’ for two years. The NSM project has been implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITy) to ensure the country’s leadership in supercomputing.
The Electrochemical Energy Storage Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), has developed a 5V Dual Carbon Battery utilising self-standing carbon fibre mats as both electrodes – cathode and anode.
Union Education Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ today launched NanoSniffer, the world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) developed by NanoSniff Technologies, an IIT Bombay incubated startup. Director, IIT Delhi, Shri V. Ramgopal Rao, and senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion.
The challenge for DFRL scientists here was to develop a technology to preserve the Indian food that had high moisture content when compared to burgers and sandwiches. To tackle the tricky situation, the DFRL has come up with the food waste pouch technology where a special compound has been developed that would restrict the growth of microbes. Prevention of microbe growth on food would prevent spoiling of the food.
An Oxygen enrichment unit is a device, which concentrates the Oxygen from the air around us by selectively removing nitrogen to supply an oxygen-enriched air. The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients, having respiratory diseases, through oxygen mask or nasal cannula. The device may be used in remote places, homes or hospital like facilities for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic hypoxemia and pulmonary edema. It may be used as an adjunct treatment for severe sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous positive airway pressure unit).
A team of scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have discovered the three-banded rosefinch, a rare bird species, in the high- altitude coniferous forests of Arunachal Pradesh.
Made from vanadium pentoxide nanosheets, the new “nanozymes” work by mimicking the natural enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to help reduce oxidative stress levels in the host’s cells, which is required to keep the virus in check.
The Indigenous CSF Cell Culture Vaccine (IVRI-CSF-BS) developed by using an Indian field isolates has a huge export potential. Due to its very high titre (1×109.5 TCID50 / ml), the Vaccine can produce a large number of doses (60 Lakhs approx.) easily from only one 75 cm² Tissue Culture Flask. The country’s yearly requirement of 22 million doses can be prepared in just four 75 cm² Tissue Culture Flasks.
UNDP and Spices Board India are working towards integrating the Blockchain Traceability Interface with the e-Spice Bazaar portal developed by Spices Board India for connecting spices farmers with markets.Design of the Blockchain interface is expected to be completed by May’21. The project will be piloted with over 3,000 farmers engaged in chilli and turmeric farming in select Districts of Andhra Pradesh.
