Science and Technology MCQ Set 36
Showing question 176 to 180 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 36
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Question No: 176
Scientists have discovered the smallest star in the universe called ________.
- EBLM J0555-57Ab
- EBLM J0555-57Db
- EBLM J0555-57Gb
- EBLM J0555-57Jb
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Scientists have discovered the smallest-known star in the universe - slightly larger than Saturn in size - which may possibly have Earth-sized planets with liquid water in its orbit.
Researchers from University of Cambridge in the U.K. identified the star located about 600 light years away, called EBLM J0555-57Ab as it passed in front of its much larger companion.
The star is likely as small as stars can possibly become, as it has just enough mass to enable the fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium, researchers said.
With a size just a sliver larger than that of Saturn, the gravitational pull at its stellar surface is about 300 times stronger than what humans feel on Earth.
The discovery is also the best possible candidates for detecting Earth-sized planets which can have liquid water on their surfaces, such as TRAPPIST-1, an ultracool dwarf surrounded by seven temperate Earth-sized worlds.
This reveals how small stars can be.
Had this star formed with only a slightly lower mass, the fusion reaction of hydrogen in its core could not be sustained, and the star would instead have transformed into a brown dwarf.
The star was identified by WASP, a planet-finding experiment run by several universities.
This star is smaller, and likely colder than many of the gas giant exoplanets that have so far been identified, researchers said.
WASP: Know More
Abbreviation: WASP
Purpose: Search for distant planets
Region served: La Palma and Sutherland
Membership: Eight universities
Website: wasp-planets.net
www.superwasp.org
Question No: 177
Martian soil has chemical compounds called ______ which can wipe out living organisms.
- Perchlorates
- Phytonutrients
- Phytochemicals
- Only a and c
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
As per a research conducted by scientists in the United Kingdom, Mars soil has chemical compounds called perchlorates that can wipe out living organisms.
The discovery has major implications for hunt for alien life on the red planet as it means any evidence is likely to be buried deep underground.
The study was published in the journal Scientific.
The research was driven by the discovery of powerful oxidants known as perchlorates in the Martian soil a few years back.
Hints of perchlorates first showed up in tests performed by NASA’S Viking lander missions 40 years ago.
However, the fact was recently confirmed by NASA’s Phoenix lander and Mars rover, Curiosity.
In 2015, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted signs of perchlorates.
Many scientists suspected that perchlorates would be toxic for microbial Martians, however, alien bacteria might find a way to use the chemicals as an energy source.
The researchers looked at what happened to Bacillus subtilis, a common soil bacterium and regular Earthly contaminant found on space probes, when it was mixed with magnesium perchlorate and blasted with ultraviolet rays similar to those witnessed on Mars.
It was found that the bugs were wiped out twice as fast when perchlorate was present.
Further tests found that the UV rays broke down the perchlorate into other chemicals, namely hypochlorite and chlorite.
In addition, the researchers also followed-up with another round of experiments that looked at the toxic effects of iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide, which are also found in Mars soil.
As per further tests, when the bacteria were hit with UV rays in the presence of perchlorates, iron oxide and peroxide, the bugs were killed 11 times faster than with perchlorates alone.
Question No: 178
For the first time, scientists in the US have created a miniature version of which planet?
- Saturn
- Pluto
- Venus
- Mars
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Scientists from Northwestern University in the United States have created miniature versions of Saturn, complete with rings, by electrifying tiny droplets of fluids.
When a drop of electrically conductive liquid is exposed to an electric field, the droplet responds by forming two electrically charged poles.
In the previous research it was found that these poles can get pulled towards the sources of the electric field, taking on cone shapes.
If the pull is strong enough, the tips of the cones can spray jets of droplets.
This effect is known as electro-spraying.
In the latest experiments, researchers explored the outcomes seen after drops of liquid is submerged in more electrically conductive fluids-specifically, drops of silicone oil suspended in castor oil.
When an electric field is applied to drop of silicone oil, it was observed that drop flattens and emits rings of fluid from its equator that break up into droplets.
If an electric field is strong enough, the equators of these squashed drops emit concentric rings of droplets, making the drops look like miniature versions of Saturn.
In these experiments, drops of silicone oil about 1 millimetre wide generated droplets that were about 100 times smaller.
The future advance research may pave the way for generating microscopic and uniform particles and capsules which are used in products such as drugs, inks, cosmetics and paints.
It will also explore new materials that can be used to produce “ring of particles” effect.
Question No: 179
GoI has launched which app to verify tax rate on commodities and services under GST?
- GST Rates Finder
- GST Rates Searcher
- GST Rates Revealer
- GST Rates Locator
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Government has launched an App - GST Rates Finder to verify the accurate tax rate on commodity and services under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
This will empower not only the taxpayers, but every citizen of the nation, to ascertain the correct GST rate on goods and services.
Through this app, user can determine GST rate by entering the name of the commodity or service.
The search result will list all the Goods and Services containing the name which was typed in the search box.
A taxpayer can search for applicable CGST, SGST, UTGST rate and Compensation Cess on a supply.
Finance Ministry said, this mobile app can be downloaded on any smart phone and can work in offline mode, once downloaded.
The application has been launched on Android platform, and will soon be available on iOS platform.
Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has taken these initiatives for ease of doing business under the GST regime.
CBEC has also provided a GST rate finder on its portal - cbec-gst.gov.in to help taxpayers know applicable GST rate on their supplies.
Question No: 180
SWAYAM is a portal for?
- Promoting high quality education
- Improving access to high quality education
- Telecasting high quality educational content free of charge
- Both b and c
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has launched the SWAYAM, the portal that takes high quality education to the doorstep of everyone.
This was in the National Convention of Vice Chancellors of all Universities in the Country, and Heads of IISc/IITs/IIMs/NITs/IIITs at Vigyan Bhawan.
Along with this, he has also launched the SWAYAM Prabha – the 32 DTH channels operationalised for telecasting high quality educational content free of charge using the GSAT-15 satellite transponders.
The function was organised on the eve of the Guru Poornima, a day for salutation to the teachers.
With the launch of SWAYAM, India has become one of the few countries in the World which has its own online interactive learning platform that provides, not only video lectures, reading material but also assignments/quizzes that could end up in securing credits after completing the assessment system.
More than 400 Courses are available on SWAYAM covering all the engineering and non-engineering subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
The UGC has already issued Regulation that allows transfer of credits earned through the courses done through SWAYAM into the academic record of the students.
It is now possible for the students and others to take courses of the prestigious IITs or IIMs without formally studying there.
The platform has been constructed by Microsoft with totally indigenous efforts.
The courses are available on www.swayam.gov.in.
Nearly 700 Vice Chancellors from across the Country are participating in the national convention that started on 8th July and will end on 10th July.
This is the biggest ever gathering of heads of all the higher educational institutions in the Country.
Many digital initiatives taken under the National Mission for Education through ICT have been showcased in the meeting.
The meeting ended with adoption of “ Programme 17 for 17” : - A 17 point action plan for 2017 – for building digital campuses and high quality education.
The action plan covers measures like universal adoption of digital education, digital financial transactions in the campuses from the current academic year.
Three Books have been launched on the occasion – account of NMEICT initiatives, list of 323 courses which are on offer in the current academic semester and a eBook of presentation of digital best practices by more than 500 institutions.
SWAYAM Prabha Channel
The SWAYAM Prabha channels are available for free for anyone who has a set top box to receive either DD Free Dish or DishTV.
These channels transmit 4 hours of fresh content every day, and contain lectures from the best teachers in the Country.
There is no monthly charge for viewing these channels.
These channels include the IIT-PAL channels which were intended to help students taking the prestigious JEE examination, taught by the IIT faculty.