Science and Tech

* Selenium

• Selenium is a non-metallic chemical element, member of the group XVI of the periodic table. In chemical activity and physical properties, it resembles sulfur and tellurium.
• Selenium has good photovoltaic and photoconductive properties, and it is used extensively in electronics, such as photocells, light meters and solar cells.

Graphene: it is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the building-block of Graphite (which is used, among other things, in pencil tips).

• Graphene is the thinnest material known to man at one atom thick, and also incredibly strong - about 200 times stronger than steel.
• It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and has interesting light absorption abilities

selenium-graphene–based catalyst in Fuel cell which is more efficient in terms of cost and performance. It also remains stable for longer than the usual platinum-based catalysts. Platinum as catalyst is very costly.

* Glutamate dehydrogenase will be used as new biomarker to detect the maleria more accurately as earlier method used to was to check for "Histidine-rich Protein 2 (HRP2)," which was absent in many maleria parasite and left undetected.

Devolped by ICMR- National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (Jabalpur for tribal health protection started in 1984 under MoHFW). WHO recognizes this as collborative partner 4 indegenous people health security.

* DRDO developed herbal LUKOSKIN for LUCODERMA/VITILIGO - Present remedies of vitiligo-like allopathic, surgical and adjunctive is either Costly or have side effects like Blister, Edema or Skin Irritation.

• Lukoskin, available in ointment and oral liquid form, has seven herbal ingredients having properties such as skin photosensitizer, anti-blister, anti-irritation, antiseptic, wound healing and copper supplementing properties, while the oral dose has been formulated to check the emergence of new spots.
• LUCODERMA/VITILIGO - is skin Autoimmune disorder (such as hyperthyroidism) which attack on its own tissues and white patches spread on Skin sue to lack of MELANIN (a pigment in Skin). Non contegeous and Life threatening and can affect IRIS, hearing ability and Sunburn.
• Facts - World - 1 -2%. India 4 -5 %. Some parts of GJ and RJ it is 5 -8%.

* NASA in Falcon Heavy - i) Deep Space Atomic Clock ii) Green Propellant Infusion Mission

  * Ozone - 

• Good Ozone: Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere (Stratosphere) where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
   
  • Ozone depleting gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons, destroy this protective shield and causes hole in the ozone.
  • India had adopted the Kigali Amendment (aims to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons).
• Bad Ozone: In the Earth's lower atmosphere (troposphere) near ground level, ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight.
  • Surface level Ozone is a harmful air pollutant. 
• Government Efforts
  • Shifting to BS-VI compliant vehicles from BS-IV.
  • Shutting down of the Badarpur thermal power plant.
  • Banning of garbage burning.
  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
  • Launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
  • Setting up of a monitoring network for assessment of the ambient air quality at 779 locations, covering 339 cities in 29 states and six Union territories

* Cosmic Rays - As per Scientific Reports journal,the "cosmic rays" are impacting earth climate by adding low-cloud cover and "Umbrella Effect". Cosmic rays  are Atom fragment from outside Solar system that rain down on earth in form of Nuclie (some are Helium nuclie other are heavier elements).

most scientists suspect their origins are related to supernovas (star explosions).