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Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to scientists who developed mRNA Covid vaccines

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The Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to Professors Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking work in developing the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

This technology, which was experimental prior to the pandemic, has since been administered to millions worldwide, providing protection against severe COVID-19 cases. The Nobel Prize committee recognised their contributions to the rapid development of vaccines during a time of unprecedented global health crisis.

Traditional vaccines have historically used weakened or inactivated forms of the virus or bacterium they target. In contrast, mRNA vaccines take a novel approach. They contain genetic instructions for producing a specific viral protein, which, when injected into the body, prompts our cells to generate this protein.

The immune system identifies these foreign proteins, launching an attack and acquiring the knowledge to combat the actual virus in future encounters. This technology’s remarkable flexibility enables the swift development of vaccines for various diseases, including cancer, as long as the correct genetic instructions are known.

Professors Kariko and Weissman played pivotal roles in advancing mRNA vaccine technology. Their work harnessed the natural function of RNA in converting genetic instructions from DNA into the proteins essential for our bodies.

Overcoming challenges, they refined the technology to produce significant amounts of the target protein without causing excessive inflammation, a critical step in transitioning from animal experiments to human vaccine development.

The mRNA vaccines developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, represent a triumph of scientific innovation. These vaccines have been a crucial tool in combating the virus’s spread, demonstrating the potential of mRNA technology to revolutionise vaccine development.

Beyond COVID-19, mRNA technology holds promise for addressing other diseases, including cancer. Researchers are exploring methods to instruct a patient’s immune system to combat their specific cancer by analyzing tumour proteins unique to malignant cells and creating vaccines that target these abnormalities.

Professors Kariko and Weissman’s pioneering work not only contributed to one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of our time but also exemplified the potential of mRNA technology to transform medicine. Today, they stand as laureates of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, recognised for their outstanding achievements in advancing human health.

Both laureates, now in their respective academic roles, have left an indelible mark on the field of mRNA research and vaccine development, shaping the future of healthcare.

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Moon train operations are planned by NASA.

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The goal is to construct the first lunar train system, which will enable safe, independent, and effective cargo transportation on the moon, according to robotics specialist Ethan Schaler of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

He went on, “The day-to-day functioning of a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s will depend heavily on a robust, long-lasting robotic transport system.”

The Flexible Levitation on a Track, or FLOAT, is the name of the proposed lunar rail system. According to NASA, the establishment of a railway system on the moon is “critical to the daily operations.”

According to the space agency, the primary objective of FLOAT is to offer transportation services in regions of the moon where astronauts are engaged in activities. To do this, cargoes of lunar soil and other materials will need to be transported to various regions of the moon.

Each robot will be able to transport cargo of various sizes and shapes at a pace of roughly 1 mph (1.61 km/h), according to Dr. Schaler.

Notably, NASA also declared new initiatives last month to create and test new vehicle models intended for moon exploration.

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Business

Pakistan’s lunar mission ‘ICUBE-Q’ reaches the moon orbit.

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Pakistan’s lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) entered orbit around the moon on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s historic lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) launched from Hainan, China, on Friday aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft.

According to the IST, the satellite ICUBE-Q was planned and developed in partnership with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO.

The ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two optical cameras to image the lunar surface. ICUBE-Q has now been integrated into the Chang’e6 mission after successfully qualifying and testing it.

Chang’e6 is the sixth lunar exploration mission launched by China.

The launch event was streamed live on the IST website and social media platforms. Chang’6, China’s Lunar Mission, will land on the Moon’s far side to collect surface samples before returning to Earth for further research.

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Education

The establishment of IT labs in Islamabad’s educational establishments

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SIFC was established to improve the ease of doing business for potential investors through a “Whole of Government”Approach”—achieving optimal horizontal-vertical synergy and facilitation by the Pakistan Army—and to attract investments from friendly countries in selected sectors through an empowered organisation that serves as a “single-window” platform for facilitation.

The children will learn the newest skills in these state-of-the-art IT labs, expanding their employment prospects.

These IT laboratories will be constructed in sixteen degree colleges spread throughout various parts of Islamabad.

Students will take six-month courses in artificial intelligence (AI), game development, data science, and block chain in these IT labs.

Approximately 1,000 students will have access to courses in the first phase, which is being implemented in response to market demand.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission has worked with esteemed universities such as NUST, National Skills University, COMSATS, and NUML to produce these courses.

The second week of this month will mark the start of these classes. For these courses, about 3,600 students have signed up.

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