UPSC Prelims Facts – 05 April 2024

UPSC Prelims Facts

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bengaluru recently announced that it has developed a new platform to study single cells.

  • OptiDrop – It is an innovative microfluidic chip-based platform that simplifies and reduces the cost of studying single cells encapsulated in droplets.
  • Developed by – Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and IIT Madras.
  • Applications – Diagnostics, therapeutics, agriculture, and animal health.

Researchers from Bengaluru’s Raman Research Institute (RRI) have started work on PRATUSH (Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen).

  • PRATUSH – Future space radio telescope that will be placed in lunar orbit.
  • Objective – Revealing the transformation of the universe after the Big Bang
  • Advantage – Ground-based experiments, including SARAS, face limitations such as radio-frequency interference (RFI) and atmospheric contaminants, which can be mitigated through a space-based telescope

To read more about Telescopes –

Event Horizon Telescope

ALMA Telescope


World Health Organization unveils a digital health promoter prototype S.A.R.A.H harnessing generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for public health.

  • S.A.R.A.H – Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health which uses new language models and cutting-edge technology.
  • Significance –
    • It can provide information across major health topics, including healthy habits and mental health.
    • It aims to provide an additional tool for people to realize their rights to health.
    • It can support people in developing better understanding of risk factors for some leading causes of death in world such as cancer, heart disease etc.

This conservation agricultural practice in Odisha is dwindling in recent years. 

  • Paira cropping system- Sowing of 2nd crops (generally pulses/oilseeds) after the flowering  stage, before harvesting  of the main crops (Rice)
    • It does not allow interventions such as tillage, weeding, irrigation, and fertilizer application. 
  • Benefit – Maximize land use efficiency, boost farmers income, etc.
  • Areas of Practise – Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chattisgarh and Odisha

According to researchers, Indian Ocean hosts a phenomenon known as Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL)

  • Also known as – ‘Gravity hole’
  • Indian Ocean Geoid Low – Place where the Earth’s gravitational pull is weaker and the sea level dips by around 100 meters.
    • This creates a gravitational/geoid anomaly with depression in the ocean and a lowest point in geoid.

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