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A smart cancer drug ( RK-251 ) activating primarily in cancer cells, could replace chemotherapy

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A new "smart" cancer drug designed to switch on and work only inside cancer cells can replace traditional chemotherapy, which in many cases also harms healthy cells. Cancer treatment often damages healthy cells along with cancer cells, causing significant associated adverse effects and side effects. This has created a need for targeted therapies that remain inactive in normal tissues while it travels through the body and become activated specifically at tumor sites. Scientists have taken an important step toward making this idea a reality. Collaborative research led by Dr. Asis Bala from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an Autonomous Institute under the Department of Science & Technology (Govt. of India), and Dr. K.P. Bhabak from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati has developed a new "smart" cancer drug called RK-251. RK-251 is designed to activate primarily in cancer cells and does not harm healthy cells. Fig : Schemat...

FALCON ( Fast Autonomous Lost-in-space Catalog-based Optical Navigation ) - A GPS free space navigation technology successfully demonstrated

NASA’s Starling mission has marked another milestone in spacecraft autonomy by using a new system that determines a satellite’s position in orbit by referencing other objects in space, instead of relying on a navigational network.   The FALCON (Fast Autonomous Lost-in-space Catalog-based Optical Navigation) technology demonstration is a step toward spacecraft being able to operate more independently. As NASA prepares for more missions beyond Earth’s orbit, technologies like FALCON can support lunar satellite swarms, distributed science missions, and human exploration.   Traditional satellite navigation depends on GPS signals, but those can be unreliable or unavailable in lunar or deep space environments. The FALCON payload is a joint flight experiment by NASA and EraDrive, a startup spun out from Stanford University. It combines EraDrive’s Era-Core flight software and embedded algorithms with Starling’s cameras and an onboard catalog of known satellites to support GP...

UPSC IAS Daily Current Affairs ( 04 – 08 – 2026 to 18 - 08 - 2026 ) by UniFocus IAS

Hara Mangrove Forests International Conventions on Marine Spills Scientists discover unusual ozone layer above North Bay of Bengal Government of India Launches CBDC-Based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 India Launches First-Ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems at UNCCD COP17, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems GOBARdhan: Fuelling Clean Energy and Rural Growth Cabinet approves GOBARdhan, India’s National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas, with an outlay of Rs.23,731 crore The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 International Clouded Leopard Day - August 4

Hara Mangrove Forests

  Major oil spill threatens Hara mangrove forests in Persian Gulf - The Hindu The Mangrove forests of Qeshm or Hara forests of Qeshm, are the mangrove forests on the southern coast of Iran, particularly on and near the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf. Dominated by the species Avicennia marina, known locally as the "harra" tree (Persian: حرا), the forests represent an ecological resource. The "Hara Protected Area" on Qeshm and the nearby mainland is a biosphere reserve where commercial use is restricted to fishing (mainly shrimp), tourist boat trips, and limited mangrove cutting for animal feed. <<< About Harra Protected Area - UNESCO <<<   International Conventions on Marine Spills

International Conventions on Marine Spills

  International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage ( CLC ):  Adoption: 29 November 1969; Entry into force: 19 June 1975; Being replaced by 1992 Protocol: Adoption: 27 November 1992; Entry into force: 30 May 1996 Plain language summary The International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (1992 CLC) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization to make ship-owners strictly liable for oil pollution damage from a ship and thus ensuring that compensation is available. The 1992 CLC covers ships carrying persistent oil as cargo (i.e. tankers). It also provides for compulsory insurance for ship owners to cover their liability. Objective The objective of this Convention is to ensure that compensation is available to those who suffer oil pollution damage from tankers in a State Party. Key elements The 1992 CLC places the liability for oil pollution damage on the owner of the ship from which the polluting oil escaped or was discha...