Science and Technology MCQ Set 53
Showing question 261 to 265 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 53
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Question No: 261
Which company of the Tesla Group is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron sized devices?
- Neuralink Corp
- Solar City
- Tesla Energy
- None of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk's Neuralink Corp is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron-sized devices.
Neuralink is aiming to bring to the market a product that helps with certain severe brain injuries due to stroke, cancer lesion etc, in about four years.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning will create computers so sophisticated and godlike that humans will need to implant "neural laces" in their brains to keep up.
There are a bunch of concepts in your head that then your brain has to try to compress into this incredibly low data rate called speech or typing.
If one has two brain interfaces, one could actually do an uncompressed direct conceptual communication with another person.
The technology could take about eight to 10 years to become usable by people with no disability, which would depend heavily on regulatory approval timing and how well the devices work on people with disabilities.
Tesla: Know More
Industry: Automotive/Energy Storage
Founded: July 1, 2003; (as Tesla Motors)Delaware, U.S.
Founders: Elon Musk, JB Straubel, Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning and Ian Wright
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Area served: Worldwide
Question No: 262
What is the Connshing Syndrome associated with?
- Overproduction of adolsterone
- High levels of stress hormone cortisol
- Hypertension in 10% of the cases
- All of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
Scientists have discovered a new cause of high blood pressure which could lead to better ways of managing the disorder.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, often goes unnoticed but if left untreated can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
However, it is known that in up to 10 per cent of hypertensive patients the overproduction of the adrenal hormone aldosterone, a condition known as primary aldosteronism or Conn syndrome, is the cause of disease.
Researchers found that a large number of patients with Conn syndrome do not only overproduce aldosterone but also the stress hormone cortisol.
Scientists have decided to name this new cause of hypertension–the combined overproduction of aldosterone and cortisol–as Connshing syndrome.
At present, many Conn syndrome patients are treated with drugs that are directed against the adverse effects of aldosterone.
However, this leaves the cortisol excess untreated, researchers said.
These previous studies had found increased rates of type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and depression in Conn patients–problems typically caused by overproduction of cortisol, also termed Cushing syndrome, and not by too much aldosterone.
Patients will now need to undergo more detailed assessment to clarify whether they suffer from Conn or Connshing syndrome.
Question No: 263
Which bacterial protein binding to DNA plays a role in the fighting the human response to infection?
- NsrR
- NstR
- NsgR
- NshR
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Researchers have uncovered molecular details of how pathogenic bacteria fight back against the human immune response to infection.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Institut de Biologie Structurale (CEA-CNRS-UGA, France) have identified the structure of NsrR.
This is a bacterial protein that binds to DNA and plays a key role in the bacterium’s resistance to nitric oxide (NO), which is produced in the initial immune response to infection.
In order to counter the effects of NO, which can be toxic to living organisms, many bacteria have evolved ways to detect it and mount a cellular response.
The most common dedicated NO sensor in bacteria is the regulatory protein NsrR. Regulatory proteins bind to DNA, and in doing so control whether particular genes are switched on or off.
Question No: 264
Which country has launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft on April 20, 2017?
- China
- Japan
- US
- UK
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
China has launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft on a mission to dock with the space station of the country.
The Tianzhou 1 blasted off on April 20, 2017 atop a latest-generation Long March 7 rocket from China's newest spacecraft launch site, Wenchang, on the island province of Hainan.
It is programmed to conduct scientific experiments after reaching the now crewless Tiangong 2, China's second space station.
China launched the Tiangong 2 precursor facility in September and the station's 20-ton core module will be launched next year.
The completed 60-ton station is set to come into full service in 2022 and operate for at least a decade.
Tiangong-2: Know More
Launch date: 15 September 2016
Orbital period: 1.5 hours
Launch pad: Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1
Orbital inclination: 42.79°
Orbital speed: 7.68 km/s (4.77 mi/s)
Manufacturer: China National Space Administration
Question No: 265
Which is the fastest land animal in the world?
- Tiger
- Lion
- Panther
- Cheetah
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
Scientists have developed a lightweight robotic cheetah. It efficiently uses its energy to replicate the movements of the fastest land animal in the world.
The scaled-down robotic version moves using only about 15 per cent more energy than a real cheetah.
While walking robots tend to be large and heavy, taking cumbersome steps that use a lot of energy, the cheetah runs swiftly and smoothly.
The research provides valuable knowledge that can be used to optimise the robots of the future, designed to support us in areas such as healthcare or housekeeping.
The knowledge gained from the project can also be put to good use in rehabilitation robots or advanced prosthetics that are equipped with robotics.
The backbone proves crucial to the power this big cat generates. Bending and extending its spine enables the cheetah to move efficiently, run exceptionally fast and make huge leaps.
The main difference between existing walking robots and the cheetah robot is therefore the backbone.
Cheetahs are also able to store a lot of energy in their muscles for later use. This too is something one would have imitated by fitting carefully selected springs in our robot's legs.
The prototype weighs in at 2.5 kg and is 30 cm long–twenty times lighter than a real cheetah and four times smaller.
Taking into account the weight difference, the robot moves using only about fifteen per cent more energy than a real cheetah.
The robot can currently reach a speed of about one kilometre per hour.