Science and Technology
India Successfully Test Fired ‘ Astra ‘ Missile
India on 4 May successfully test-fired its first indigenously-developed air-to-air missile ‘ Astra ‘ from a Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet over the Arabian Sea off Goa. Astra is India’s first Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air missile. It was designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) .
Shantha’s Paediatric Pentavalent Vaccine Prequalified By WHO
Paediatric pentavalent vaccine ‘Shan5’, developed and manufactured by Hyderabad – based Shantha Biotechnics, an affiliate of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, has regained prequalification (PQ) status on 5 May from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This status qualifies the vaccine, which provides protection for children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B, for purchase by United Nations agencies, governments and other organisations.
Indian-Origin Scientist Vivek Reddy Developed Leadless Pacemaker
The world’s first wireless pacemaker, developed by Indian-origin scientist Dr Vivek Reddy, Director of Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The device is only a few centimeters in length, making it less than ten per cent the size of a traditional pacemaker.
“Green” Jet Fuel From Sunlight Developed
A research project named “Solar-Jet” funded by the European Union has produced the world’s first jet fuel from water and carbon dioxide.In the Solar-Jet Project, researchers used concentrated light-stimulated sunlight-to convert carbondioxide and water to synthesis Gas in a high temperature solar reactor containing metal-oxide based material developed at ETH Zurich.