Science and Technology MCQ Set 34
Showing question 166 to 170 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 34
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Question No: 166
Scientists have developed a strong artificial spider silk composed entirely of _______.
- Plastic
- Silicone
- Carbon
- Water
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed super-stretchy and strong artificial (synthetic) spider silk, almost entirely composed of water.
The synthetic spider silk mimics properties of spider silk, one of nature’s strongest materials for a range of applications such as making eco-friendly textiles and sensors.
The fibres of the synthetic spider silk are spun from hydrogel, a soupy material which is 98% water.
The remaining 2% of the hydrogel is made of naturally available silica and cellulose.
These materials are held together in a network by barrel-shaped molecular “handcuffs” known as cucurbiturils.
The chemical interactions between the different components enable to pull long fibres from the gel.
The water from hydrogel evaporates after it is stretched for 30 seconds, leaving a strong fibre which is both strong and stretchy.
Spider Silk: Know More
The fibres of the synthetic spider silk are extremely thin threads and are of few millionths of a metre in diameter.
They resemble miniature bungee cords and can absorb large amounts of energy. They are sustainable, non-toxic, less energy-intensive and can be made at room temperature.
The fibres are capable of self-assembly at room temperature, and are held together by supramolecular host, where atoms share electrons.
They can support stresses in the range of 100 to 150 megapascals, which is similar to other synthetic and natural silks.
Question No: 167
GSI scientists have discovered marine resources of minerals and metals in which of the following areas?
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Mannar Basin
- Lakshadweep
- All of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
Scientists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have discovered the presence of millions of tonnes of precious metals and minerals deep under the waters that surround peninsular India.
The huge presence of marine resources was first identified off Mangaluru, Chennai, Mannar Basin, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and around Lakshadweep in early 2014.
The amount of lime mud, phosphate-rich and calcareous sediments, hydrocarbons, metalliferous deposits and micronodules that geologists came across was a clear indication that deeper and more extensive exploration could lead to a larger treasure trove.
After three years of exploration, GSI has generated 181,025 square kilometres of high-resolution seabed morphological data and established the occurrence of more than 10,000 million tonnes of lime mud within the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.
It has also confirmed the presence of phosphate sediment off Karwar, Mangaluru and Chennai coasts, gas hydrate in the channel-levee system of Mannar Basin off the Tamil Nadu coast.
Additionally, it found cobalt-bearing ferro-manganese crust from the Andaman Sea and micro-manganese nodules around Lakshadweep Sea.
Three state-of-the-art research vessels - Samudra Ratnakar, Samudra Kaustabh and Samudra Saudikama - carried out the 'High Resolution Seabed Mapping and Natural Resource Evaluation'.
The main objectives were to identify potential zones of favourable mineralisation and evaluate marine mineral resources.
GSI: Know More
The GSI was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest of such organisations in the world and the second oldest survey institution in the country.
It is the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government, industry and the general public.
Its main functions is related to creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment.
Question No: 168
Where has India launched the state-of-the-art Solar Electrification Project?
- Agaween village
- Libya
- Egypt
- Both a and c
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
India has launched a solar project with state-of-the-art technology to electrify a remote village in Egypt.
The Solar Electrification Project, an off-grid system that is ideal for remote locations, has been launched at Agaween village in the Western Desert in Matrouh Governorate, close to the Libyan border.
India provided all the solar panels and sub-systems, machinery, equipment and technical support, as well as training for technicians.
The Egyptian government provided the location for implementation of the project.
The project was inaugurated by India’s Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya and Major General Alla Fathi Abou Zeid, Governor of Matrouh.
The project harnesses the sun and enriches the life of the villagers.
The project is a demonstration of India’s technical capabilities, especially in renewable energy, and can be replicated at other locations in Egypt.
The total output of the project is 8.8 kilowatt. The project has the ability to electrify the whole village.
The project will not only provide electricity to Agaween village but also give training to workers on how to maintain and adjust the solar energy systems to help forming groups of well—trained workers in the governorate.
The Solar Electrification Project at Agaween will provide electricity to 40 houses, a school, a mosque and a community centre.
Indo-Egyptian Ties: Know More
India and Egypt have agreed to collaborate in the field of information and communications technology; agriculture; biotechnology; renewable and non-conventional energy.
Also on the anvil are skills development and full participation of the private sector enterprises in these endeavors.
There is cooperation in the field of space utilizing India's expertise in launching satellites and other advances in space technology.
Also in the offing are joint projects on space application under existing institutional arrangements.
The completion of two Indian development projects in Egypt is another achievement for bilateral ties as is the establishment of a textile vocational training centre in Shubra el-Kheima, which would benefit the people of Egypt, and the solar electrification of Agaween Village.
Question No: 169
Scientists have developed a 3D printed heart made of which material, that functions like the human organ?
- Soft silicone
- Carbon
- Plastic
- Both a and c
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
Scientists have developed a 3D-printed soft silicone heart that closely resembles and functions like the human organ, and could help save lives of people who suffer from cardiac failure.
About 26 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure.
The soft artificial heart weighs 390 grams and has a volume of 679 cubic centimetres.
It is a silicone monoblock with complex inner structure/
The artificial heart has a right and a left ventricle, though they are not separated by a septum but by an additional chamber.
This chamber is inflated and deflated by pressurised air and is required to pump fluid from the blood chambers.
Question No: 170
Name the supercluster of galaxies discovered by Indian scientists on July 13, 2017?
- Saraswati
- Laxmi
- Kali
- Devi
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Indian scientists have discovered Saraswati, a large supercluster of galaxies located in the direction of the constellation Pisces.
This is at a distance of 4,000 million (400 crore) light years away from Earth.
A team of astronomers from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and members of two other Indian universities discovered this supercluster of galaxies.
Supercluster is a chain of galaxies and galaxy clusters, bound by gravity, often stretching to several hundred times the size of clusters of galaxies, consisting of tens of thousands of galaxies.
This newly-discovered Saraswati supercluster, extends over a scale of 600 million light years and may contain the mass equivalent of over 20 million billion suns.
This was visible in a large spectroscopic survey of distant galaxies, known as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
This supercluster is clearly embedded in a large network of cosmic filaments traced by clusters and large voids.
A few large superclusters have been reported, for example the Shapley Concentration or the Sloan Great Wall in the nearby universe, while the Saraswati supercluster is far more distant one.
The will help to shed light on the perplexing question of how such extreme large-scale, prominent matter-density enhancements had formed billions of years in the past when the mysterious Dark Energy had just started to dominate structure formation.
To understand galaxy formation and evolution, one needs to identify these superclusters and closely study the effect of their environment on the galaxies.
This is a new research area and the discovery will enhance this field of research.
They added that when astronomers look far away, they see the universe from long ago, since light takes a while to reach us.
The Saraswati supercluster is observed as it was when the Universe was 10 billion years old.