Monthly Current Affairs October 2016 “SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY” key points to Remember.
Surgeons using robots to conduct keyhole surgery would now be given the sense of touch thanks to
a game-changing innovation. The Hero Surg robot is a major breakthrough to current technology,
which now limits robotic surgery to the sense of sight, and mean slaparoscopic or keyhole/micro
surgery would be safer and more accurate than ever before by reducing trauma and lowering risk of
blood loss and infection.
a game-changing innovation. The Hero Surg robot is a major breakthrough to current technology,
which now limits robotic surgery to the sense of sight, and mean slaparoscopic or keyhole/micro
surgery would be safer and more accurate than ever before by reducing trauma and lowering risk of
blood loss and infection.
Medtronic Plc would bring to market the world’s first artificial pancreas, after U.S. regulators
cleared the device for diabetics to automatically monitor blood sugar and supply insulin, replicating
what a healthy version of the organ does on its own.
cleared the device for diabetics to automatically monitor blood sugar and supply insulin, replicating
what a healthy version of the organ does on its own.
Toyota Motor Corp unveiled a doe-eyed palm-sized robot named ‘Kirobo Mini’ designed as a
synthetic baby companion in Japan as number of childless couple grows
‘Kirobo Mini’. It is equipped with artificial intelligence and a camera so it can recognise the face of
the person speaking to it and respond.
synthetic baby companion in Japan as number of childless couple grows
‘Kirobo Mini’. It is equipped with artificial intelligence and a camera so it can recognise the face of
the person speaking to it and respond.
Election Commission has launched a mobile application for more transparency and effective
monitoring of the ongoing revision of voters’ list before the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
monitoring of the ongoing revision of voters’ list before the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 was successfully launched from Kourou, Guiana.
The spacecraft and launch service cost about US$153 million.
The spacecraft and launch service cost about US$153 million.
Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have developed the smallest transistor reported to date,
breaking a major size barrier with a gate only one nanometre long.The laws of physics had set a 5-
nanometre threshold on the size of transistor gates among conventional semiconductors, about onequarter
the size of high-end 20-nanometre-gate transistors now on the market.
breaking a major size barrier with a gate only one nanometre long.The laws of physics had set a 5-
nanometre threshold on the size of transistor gates among conventional semiconductors, about onequarter
the size of high-end 20-nanometre-gate transistors now on the market.
A researcher from Pune’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) has
successfully produced a stable, high-efficiency, all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal solar cells.
successfully produced a stable, high-efficiency, all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal solar cells.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has detected Great Balls of Fire (GBF), a
mysterious super-hot blobs of gas seen near a dying star. These plasma balls were moving so fast
through space that it would take only 30 minutes for them to travel from Earth to the moon. The
observations suggest that these balls of fire had been appearing every 8.5 years for at least the last
four centuries.
mysterious super-hot blobs of gas seen near a dying star. These plasma balls were moving so fast
through space that it would take only 30 minutes for them to travel from Earth to the moon. The
observations suggest that these balls of fire had been appearing every 8.5 years for at least the last
four centuries.
The glaciological research lab inaugurated by M. Rajeevan, Secretary to the Ministry of Earth
Sciences at Himansh in the Spiti Valley on October 10, 2016. It was located at an altitude of nearly
13,500 feet.
Sciences at Himansh in the Spiti Valley on October 10, 2016. It was located at an altitude of nearly
13,500 feet.
A new high-tech material named polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or electroactive
bandage developed by NASA that uses electricity to promote healing of injured wounds.
bandage developed by NASA that uses electricity to promote healing of injured wounds.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata had
used human hair to produce cost-effective, metal-free cathodes for use in solar cells.
used human hair to produce cost-effective, metal-free cathodes for use in solar cells.
Self-powered UV photodetector charges energy storage devices developed by IISc researchers
The central mines ministry launched a satellite-based illegal mining detection system, which will
receive tip offs in the form of pictures taken from a mobile phone, automatically generate
complaints to state authorities and publish the outcome of a probe in a mobile application.
receive tip offs in the form of pictures taken from a mobile phone, automatically generate
complaints to state authorities and publish the outcome of a probe in a mobile application.
Indian Immunological Ltd (IIL), a subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has
unveiled a vaccine to fight against tapeworms in pigs. It is the first in the world to fight tapeworms in
pigs
unveiled a vaccine to fight against tapeworms in pigs. It is the first in the world to fight tapeworms in
pigs
The Indian Coast Guard Ships ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’, the eighteenth and nineteenth in the series of
twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, were
commissioned at Kochi by Financial Advisor to Defence Services Shri Sunil Kumar Kohli.
twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, were
commissioned at Kochi by Financial Advisor to Defence Services Shri Sunil Kumar Kohli.
The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), a Supreme Court-appointed pollution
watchdog, launched a mobile app “HawaBadlo”, aiming to improve air quality with public
participation.
watchdog, launched a mobile app “HawaBadlo”, aiming to improve air quality with public
participation.
China successfully launched a spacecraft carrying two astronauts, in its longest-ever manned space
mission.This team would later join its experimental space lab orbiting the Earth as the country
moved a step closer to establish its permanent space station by2022.
mission.This team would later join its experimental space lab orbiting the Earth as the country
moved a step closer to establish its permanent space station by2022.
A group of students from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur is developing drones using
indigenous hardware and software. The drones being developed under the institute’sAerial Robotics
Kharagpur (ARK) initiative and funded by the Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy
(SRIC) facility of the Institute.
indigenous hardware and software. The drones being developed under the institute’sAerial Robotics
Kharagpur (ARK) initiative and funded by the Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy
(SRIC) facility of the Institute.
Positive Shift International launched the skill development digital platform “UNO Learn” to offer
skill development courses from industry experts and universities.It will offer500+ courses now.
skill development courses from industry experts and universities.It will offer500+ courses now.
Scientists have developed a new world-first optical sensor that could quickly detect vitamin B12
deficiency, a condition linked to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The device
would enable the tracking of vitamin B12 levels in high-risk patients and early intervention – to top
up vitamin B12 levels when low – and help overcome the limitations of current testing methods
which are time-consuming and costly.
deficiency, a condition linked to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The device
would enable the tracking of vitamin B12 levels in high-risk patients and early intervention – to top
up vitamin B12 levels when low – and help overcome the limitations of current testing methods
which are time-consuming and costly.
Scientists from Delhi’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a novel way of
producing electricity from water at room temperature without using any power or chemicals. A team
led by Dr. R.K. Kotnala used nanoporous magnesium ferrite to split water into hydronium (H3O)
and hydroxide (OH) ions and used silver and zinc as electrodes to make a cell that produces
electricity.
producing electricity from water at room temperature without using any power or chemicals. A team
led by Dr. R.K. Kotnala used nanoporous magnesium ferrite to split water into hydronium (H3O)
and hydroxide (OH) ions and used silver and zinc as electrodes to make a cell that produces
electricity.
Microsoft have developed the firsttechnology that recognises the words in a conversation as well as
humans do.A team of researchers and engineers in Microsoft Artificial Intelligence and Research
created a speech recognition system that makes the same or fewer errors than professional
transcriptionists.
humans do.A team of researchers and engineers in Microsoft Artificial Intelligence and Research
created a speech recognition system that makes the same or fewer errors than professional
transcriptionists.
Qualcomm announces the world’s first 5G Modem, called the Snapdragon X50.The chip could
theoretically support download speeds on your smartphone of up to 5 gigabits per second.
theoretically support download speeds on your smartphone of up to 5 gigabits per second.
Mother’s milk from the marsupials known as Tasmanian devils could help the global fight against
increasingly deadly “superbugs” which resist antibiotics was identified by Australian researchers.
Superbugs are bacteria which cannot be treated by current antibiotics and other drugs, with a recent
British study saying they could kill up to 10 million people globally by 2050.
increasingly deadly “superbugs” which resist antibiotics was identified by Australian researchers.
Superbugs are bacteria which cannot be treated by current antibiotics and other drugs, with a recent
British study saying they could kill up to 10 million people globally by 2050.
Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Rani Gaidinliu was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard here by
Director-General of Coast Guard Rajendra Singh.The vessel is named after freedom fighter and
famous Naga spiritual and political leader Rani Gaidinliu, who belonged to the Heraka cult of
Manipur.
Director-General of Coast Guard Rajendra Singh.The vessel is named after freedom fighter and
famous Naga spiritual and political leader Rani Gaidinliu, who belonged to the Heraka cult of
Manipur.
Scientists from University of Oklahoma have discovered the oldest known planet-forming disk — a
45 million-year-old ring of gas and dust that orbits around a young star, from which planets can form
as the material collides and aggregates.
45 million-year-old ring of gas and dust that orbits around a young star, from which planets can form
as the material collides and aggregates.
China’s space lab Tiangong-2 orbiting the Earth with two astronauts on board has successfully
launched a micro-satellite which weighs 47 kilograms and is the size of a printer.
launched a micro-satellite which weighs 47 kilograms and is the size of a printer.
The Indian Space Research Organization started a series of ground and aerial tests linked to the
critical Moon landing of Chandrayaan-2 at Challakere in Chitradurga district. This Place is 400
km far away from Bengaluru.
critical Moon landing of Chandrayaan-2 at Challakere in Chitradurga district. This Place is 400
km far away from Bengaluru.
A new species of millipede found lurking in the unexplored dark marble caves of Sequoia National
Park in California. This new species of millipede has been named Illacmetobini.
Park in California. This new species of millipede has been named Illacmetobini.
Researchers from University of Idaho unveiled that the Uranus might have two tiny, previously
undiscovered moons orbiting near two of the planet’s rings.
undiscovered moons orbiting near two of the planet’s rings.
The Employees Online (EO) App launched by Dr.Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State
(Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel,
Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
(Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel,
Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
The landing module of the Russian spaceship Soyuz MS-01 successfully placed in the steppes of
Kazakhstan with three crew members on board was stated by Russian Mission Control Centre.
Kazakhstan with three crew members on board was stated by Russian Mission Control Centre.