Category: PRELIMS TERMINOLOGY

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the use of Tylenol (paracetamol) by pregnant women may be linked to an increased risk of autism in children. Going against established medical advice, he said the drug “is no good” and urged women to “fight like hell” to use it only in extreme cases, such as high fever. Medical Consensus Health experts and medical bodies strongly disagree with the President’s statement. Current Read More …

In a groundbreaking advance, scientists at Stanford University have harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to design new viruses capable of destroying harmful bacteria — a development that could pave the way for novel treatments against deadly infections and reignite debates on whether machines are moving closer to creating life itself. Experiment with phiX174 Virus The research focused on phiX174, a simple virus with only 11 genes, which infects the common bacterium Read More …

Astronomers have announced the discovery of a new quasi-satellite of Earth, asteroid 2025 PN7, confirmed in September 2025. The object was first observed on August 2 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii. 2025 PN7 belongs to the Arjuna asteroid class, named after the swift and elusive hero of the Mahabharata. Like other Arjuna asteroids, it follows an orbit very similar to Earth’s, giving the appearance of “hovering” near the Read More …

Astronomers from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) have created one of the most detailed maps of cosmic dust in the Milky Way, using data from over 6,000 open star clusters. The study, led by Dr. Y.C. Joshi, provides fresh insights into how dust is distributed across the galaxy and could help pinpoint regions where new stars are most likely to form. Discovery of the “Reddening Plane”The research Read More …

A research team from the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has discovered how everyday molecules like amino acids and salts influence the behaviour of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The Challenge: Uncontrolled Clustering Gold nanoparticles are widely used in biosensors, imaging, drug delivery, and optical technologies because of their unique interaction with light. Key Discovery Significance of Read More …

Scientists at the MACS-Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have discovered two novel species of black aspergillus — Aspergillus dhakephalkarii and Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae. The team also reported the first geographic record of two other species, A. aculeatinus and A. brunneoviolaceus, from soil samples collected in the Western Ghats. Industrially Significant Fungi The genus Aspergillus includes a wide variety of filamentous fungi with important medical, industrial, and ecological applications. Members of the Read More …

Russian scientists have unveiled Enteromix, an mRNA-based cancer vaccine that has shown 100% efficacy in clinical trials. The vaccine demonstrated remarkable outcomes in shrinking tumours and slowing their growth, and was found safe for repeated use. Personalized Immunotherapy How It Works: The Role of mRNA

On Sunday night (September 8), a spectacular Blood Moon was visible across Asia, Australia, and parts of Africa around 9 p.m., as a total lunar eclipse unfolded. Skywatchers witnessed the Earth’s shadow gradually covering the Moon, turning it deep red. How a Lunar Eclipse Happens A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth aligns between the Sun and the Moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. Why the Moon Turns Read More …

A groundbreaking study by researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) has uncovered the role of a lesser-known protein, p47, in safeguarding cells against mechanical stress. A “Mechanical Chaperone” The study revealed that p47 functions as a “mechanical chaperone”, helping stabilize proteins under physical strain. This redefines the traditional understanding of accessory proteins, expanding their role in cellular mechanics and protein quality control. Implications for Read More …