1) Cell-free protein manufacturing platform a game-changer.
- A team of researchers has developed a user-friendly technology to help scientists understand how proteins work and fix them when they are broken.
- The human body has a novel way of turning its proteins on and off to alter their function and activity in cells called phosphorylation - the reversible attachment of phosphate groups to proteins.
- Using a special strain of E coli bacteria, the researchers built a cell-free protein synthesis platform technology that can manufacture large quantities of these human phosphoproteins for scientific study.
- This will enable scientists to learn more about the function and structure of phosphoproteins and identify which ones are involved in disease.
- "This innovation will help advance the understanding of human biochemistry and physiology``, -Michael C. Jewett, biochemical engineer from Northwestern University.
20 Gigantic Ice Slab Found on Mars Just Below the Planet`s Surface.
- A giant slab of ice as big as California and Texas combined lurks just beneath the surface of Mars between its equator and North Pole.
- This ice may be the result of snowfall tens of millions of years ago on Mars. Mars is now dry and cold, but lots of evidence suggests that rivers, lakes and seas once covered the planet.
- Scientists have discovered life virtually wherever there is liquid water on Earth, leading some researchers to believe that life might have evolved on Mars when it was wet, and that life could be there even now, hidden in subterranean aquifers.
3) GOI is launching its own OS BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions).
- Indian govt to have its own operating system for official use. A highly improved and secured version of BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions) has been developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).
- The new OS is believed to have been launched to overcome the vulnerabilities that exist in government cyberspace resulting in a number of countless attacks by hackers. BOSS, which is a linux distribution, is developed with the help of Gujarat Technical University, DRDO and some other private computer manufacturers.
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3) Anti-Tank guided Amogha-I Missile successfully test fired.
- An indigenously developed second generation anti-tank guided missile, Amogha-I was successfully test fired.
- Test: Test firing was carried out on September 10, 2015 at Babina Army Range, Madhya Pradesh. In the test two missiles were fired and both hit targets placed at 2.8 km as well as 2.6 km respectively. Both missile flights met all design parameters and designed path profile without any deviation
About Amogha-I Missile:
- Indigenously developed by state owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
- It has maximum target range of 2.8 kms.
- The missiles will be inducted into Indian Army after due qualification and validation trials.
4) Pluto resembles Earth in new spectacular sunset panorama.
- The latest images, taken by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, show breathtaking views of Pluto’s majestic icy mountains, streams of frozen nitrogen and haunting low-lying hazes.
- Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14 this year, New Horizons looked back toward the Sun and captured the near-sunset view which was downlinked to Earth on September 13. This new view of Pluto’s crescent offers an oblique look across Plutonian landscapes with dramatic backlighting from the Sun.
- It spectacularly highlights Pluto’s varied terrains and extended atmosphere. Owing to its favourable backlighting and high resolution, this image also reveals new details of hazes throughout Pluto’s tenuous but extended nitrogen atmosphere.
5) China launches newly-developed smaller version Long March-6 carrier rocket.
- China has successfully launched a newly-developed smaller version of carrier rocket Long March-6 as part of the country’s space program. It was launched from the base in the Northern Province of Shanxi and was carrying 20 micro satellites into the space.
Facts about Long March-6:
Long March-6 is 29.3 meter in length and is smallest version of carrier rocket in the Long March family.
Fuel: It uses liquid propellant fuel composed of liquid oxygen and kerosene, which is purportedly pollution and toxicity free.
Payload Capacity: Capable of taking satellites into the orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers with carrying capacity of one ton of payload.
Commercial satellite launches: These smaller rocket carries will help to make China more competitive in the lucrative market for commercial satellite launches. Presently, China launches its own satellites along with satellites of other countries and commercial companies.
6) Indian Coast Guard has commissioned two new ships named Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Apoorva and Interceptor Boat C-421.
- Two new ships named Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Apoorva and Interceptor Boat C-421 were commissioned by Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command (Mumbai) off the naval dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About:
- Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Apoorva: It is the 14th fast patrol vessel in a series of 20. It is 50 metre long and can achieve a top speed of 33 knots and displaces 317 tonnes.
- The ship Apoorva synonyms with Unparalleled in English will be based at Goa.
- It is equipped with state-of-the-art advanced COMMUNICATION, navigational and weapons.
- It will platform and undertake various naval operations such as close-coast surveillance, search and rescue, interdiction, medical evacuation and other missions.
- The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd at Surat, Gujarat
- It is designed for close coast and shallow water operations and equipped with medium range armaments.
- It will be based at Androth (Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands) under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters No.12.