1. NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE 2021
American scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian have won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.
David Julius
- Julius has been studying the different compounds in chili peppers and spider venom to understand how our bodies sense heat and chemical irritants. Decoding the neuroscience of pain can help develop new targets for pain therapy.
- In 1997, Dr. Julius and his team published a paper in Nature detailing how capsaicin, or the chemical compound in chilli peppers, causes the burning sensation.
- They created a library of DNA fragments to understand the corresponding genes and finally discovered a new capsaicin receptor and named it TRPV1. This discovery paved the way for the identification of many other temperature-sensing receptors.
Ardem Patapoutian
- Patapoutian helped discover a novel class of sensors in our skin and internal organs that respond to cold and other mechanical stimuli.
- Independently of one another, both David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian identified another new receptor called TRPM8, a receptor that is activated by cold. A paper published in Cell in 2002 by Dr. Patapoutian and team explains that this new receptor is specifically expressed in a subset of pain-and-temperature-sensing neurons.
- Ardem Patapoutian and his team identified a single gene, which when silenced made the cells insensitive to the poking. They named this new mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1.
Source: Indian Express
2. DARE TO DREAM
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh felicitated the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ Contest of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi on October 04, 2021.
About:
- The Raksha Mantri gave away awards to 40 winners - 22 in Individual category and 18 in Startup category. He also launched ‘Dare to Dream 3.0’ to promote innovators & startups and provide a platform for the young ignited minds in the country.
- Dare to Dream is DRDO's pan-India contest to promote Indian academicians, individuals and startups to develop emerging defence and aerospace technologies/systems.
- DRDO provides technical and financial support to the winners for realisation of their ideas under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
DRDO Young Scientists awards
- He also gave away DRDO Young Scientists awards for the year 2019.
- Sixteen DRDO scientists, under the age of 35 years, were awarded for their outstanding contribution in areas of their expertise.
Source : PIB
3. DEFENCE EQUIPMENTS
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh handed over to the Armed Forces three products/systems indigenously developed by DRDO.
These are:
- ARINC818 Video Processing and Switching Module: The module, developed for the Indian Air Force is a state-of-the-art module with high bandwidth, low latency, channel bonding, easy networking and will cater to 5th generation aircraft development programmes.
- Sonar Performance Modelling System: Developed for the Indian Navy, it is useful for Indian Naval ships, submarines and under water surveillance stations etc.
- Bund Blasting Device Mk-II: The device, developed for Indian Army, is used to reduce the height of Ditch-cum-Bund obstacles to enhance the mobility of mechanised infantry during wartime.
Source : PIB
4. POLICY DOCUMENTS OF DRDO
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh released two policy documents of DRDO - Directed Research Policy and Records Management Policy 2021.
About:
- Directed Research Policy provides framework for establishment of Advanced Technology Centres and Research Cells in academic institutes for focussed research on identified subjects such as futuristic surveillance and defensive and offensive capabilities.
- ‘Long Term Directed Research Policy’ was recently approved by the Government to support & provide impetus to outcome and application-oriented directed research in collaboration with academia.
- The Records Management Policy aims to further strengthen the records management activities of DRDO.
Source : PIB
5. MINISTRY OF COAL AGENDA DOCUMENT FOR 2021-22
Ministry of Coal Finalises Agenda Document for 2021- 22.
About:
- The Ministry of Coal has finalized an Agenda Document for the year 2021-22 which broadly focuses on the four areas of :
- Coal Sector Reforms
- Coal Transition and Sustainability
- Institution Building
- Futuristic Agenda.
- Coal Sector Reforms
- The Agenda covers the entire gamut of areas for steering the Coal Sector into new technologies while focussing on the core competence of ensuring set production targets including the one billion tonne by 2024.
- Coal Sector Reforms include Projects for the financial year 2021-22, Jharia Master Plan, Safety in coal mines, Coking coal Strategy, Solar Power Projects, Coal Despatch & Stocking, Coal Export in Neighbouring Countries and Strategy to boost coal production of mines allocated through auction.
- At the same time, Coal Transition & Sustainability covers the areas of social aspects of coal transition, monetization of de-coaled land, use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in data mining/drones and Sustainability (Net Zero Emissions)
- Institution building segment of the above Agenda contains reforms in Coal Controller Organisation (CCO), Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO), upgrading Coal testing lab andstaffing quality and training issues.
- The Futuristic Agenda include Coal to Chemical: Syn Gas, Hydrogen Gas, Liquid fuels, Chemicals and fertilizers, CIL - diversify its business and explore prospects in sunrise industries electric charging pods, EVs etc. Acquisition and mergers of similar or new business after due diligence, media campaign and close monitoring of CSR activities.
Source : PIB