** Apollo hospital unit claims completion of 100 robotic cardiac surgeries

The Bangalore unit of a leading private healthcare group has completed 100 robotic cardiac surgeries, which it claimed was a “first” such achievement for any hospital in the country.

In a statement, the Apollo Hospitals group on Monday said doctors at its Bangalore hospital had also performed a complex mitral valve cardiac surgery using robotic-assisted minimally invasive “da Vinci robotic system in under 70 minutes, a landmark achievement in interventional cardiology.”

** Use of non-toxic antivirals developed to treat Covid: Jitendra Singh

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the use of non-toxic antiviral nanoparticles has been developed for clinical applications to prevent and treat Covid.

Addressing an inaugural session of the five-day International Conference on ‘Nanotechnology for Better Living’ at National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar, Singh said India always had superlative scientific temperament but there was lack of desire to implement it in the past but the gap has now been filled.

** India, US sign pact for air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle

India and the US have signed a project agreement (PA) for an air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (ALUAV) under the ambit of the defence technology and trade initiative as part of the plan to expand bilateral military cooperation.

The defence ministry said on Friday that the agreement was signed on July 30 under the ambit of the defence technology and trade initiative (DTTI).

** Bengaluru’s BEL to protect Indian Army, Navy, Air Force from drones

The anti-drone system was first deployed to provide security cover for the Republic Day parade this year.

The Indian Navy on Tuesday signed the contract with the BEL for the supply of the first indigenous comprehensive Naval Anti Drone System (NADS) with both hard kill and soft kill capabilities.

** From Kannada medium school to NASA’s doorsteps: Karnataka village thrilled by local lad’s feat

Dinesh Vasanth Hegde, a research assistant in space science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), is on the moon after being selected for the scholarship of 1.35 lakh dollars by NASA

** ‘No noise, no pollution, no petrol’: Tamil Nadu man makes his own e-bike

Having lost his job to the lockdown, Saravanan has been supporting his family of seven by farming. This left him with some spare time to experiment with machines — a passion since his childhood.

Meet 42-year old A Saravanan, an electrician from Idiyathur in Ponnamaravathi.

** Can You Guess the Former India Fast Bowler Who is Now a Astrophysicist? Details Inside

Former India fast bowler Aavishkar Salvi, who made his international debut against Bangladesh is possibly the most educated Indian cricketer ever.

 The 39-year-old Mumbai-born cricketer has now completed his PhD in Astrophysics