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9/16/13 Mrunal » [Science] TheHindu Dec12: Asteroid Mining, GRAIL, MoonKAMs, Liquiglide, Oraquick and more Science-Tech for UPSC CSAT » Print

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[Science] TheHindu Dec12: Asteroid Mining, GRAIL, MoonKAMs,Liquiglide, Oraquick and more Science-Tech for UPSC CSAT

1. Space related

Asteroid Mining + Space Station

Mercury Messenger

GRAIL

MoonKAMs

Ebb and Flow, Sally Ride

2. Science-Tech

LiquiGlide

Plastic light bulb

Nuke Desalination plant

MakerBot Replicator

Switchblade Drone

Element 113

3. Biology

Biological Plough Redgram

Handheld Dental X-ray

Why skin itching during wound healing?

OraQuick Home

Parkinson’s disease

Dogs in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

NHRDF-RED-2

4. Mock Questions

Space related

Asteroid Mining + Space Station

NASA’s plan for Asteroids?

NASA scientists are planning to capture a 500,000 kg asteroid, and transform itinto a space station for astronauts to refuel at on their way to Mars.This technology would also open up the possibility of mining other asteroids fortheir metals and minerals.Some asteroids are full of iron which could be used for in the making of newspace stationsOthers asteroids are made up of water which could be broken down into

http://mrunal.org/



hydrogen and oxygen to make fuelNASA plans to accomplish this in next 10-12 years.

Asteroids Comets

Small rocky or metallic body thatorbits the Sun.Most asteroids are found betweenthe orbits of the planets Mars andJupiter in a wide region called theasteroid belt.It is because of their small sizeand large numbers relative to themajor planets that asteroids arealso called minor planets.

small icy body in space that shedsgas and dust.A Comet appears generally as abright head with a long tail.The length of the tail grows in sizeas it approaches the sun. (becauseSun’s heat coverts the ice directlyinto gas without melting).The tail of a comet is alwaysdirected away from the sunHalley’s comet, appears after nearlyevery 76 years.

Meteors Meteroites

A meteor is usually a small objectthat Occasionally enters theearth’s atmosphere.At that time it has a very highspeed. The friction due to theatmosphere heats it up.It glows and evaporates quickly.Hence known as Shooting stars.

Some meteors are large so that theycan reach the Earth before theyevaporate completely.The body that reaches the Earth iscalled a meteorite

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/review/dr-marc-solar-system/comet_diagram.gif



Comet and its tail

Mercury Messenger

Mercury is the innermost planet in the Solar System.NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft has reported presence of water-ice onMercury.

GRAIL

GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) mission.It is NASA’s first planetary mission to carry cameras fully dedicated toeducation and public outreach.

MoonKAMs

MoonKAM= Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students.The MoonKams captures images of the moon’s surface and sends them to thestudents for study.

Ebb and Flow, Sally Ride

Two NASA spacecraft — Ebb and Flow, equippped with MoonKAMs andorbitting around Moon since 2011 under GRAIL mission.But they did not have sufficient altitude or fuel to continue science operations.Hence NASA team crash-landed them on Moon in Dec 2012.The place where they crash landed is named after Sally K. Ride, America’s firstwoman astronaut.

Science-Tech

LiquiGlide



Ketchup won’t stick inside bottle anymore!

A coating material for any type food containers —glass, ceramic, metal andplastic.It is super-slippery and non-toxic hence you can easily pickout last drop ofhoney, fruitjam, ketchup or oil from the insides of food containers.No scraping, rinsing of bottles required.And the compound is safe enough to eat.

Other applications

Keep ice off the wings of an airplaneHelp easy flow in oil and gas pipelines where insides of pipes sees buildup oforganic compounds that clog supply networks.For cosmetics: can pour last drop of expensive lotions out.

Plastic light bulb

a new kind of light bulb that uses plastic polymers and nano materials to generatelightIt is more energy-efficient than current fluorescent lights and is easier on theeye.It doesn’t produce humming sound like those fluorescent tubes.

Nuke Desalination plant

Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Plant (NDDP) located at Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu.

It is the world’s largest hybrid seawater desalination plant coupled to an existingnuclear power plant.

http://timenerdworld.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/liquiglide.jpg



Principle:

when the pressure drops, the boiling point of seawater also drops.The excess heat generated from nuclear reaction causes seawater to flashevaporate into pure water vapour.The water vapour is then condensed to produce distilled water.

MakerBot Replicator

Using makerbot, you can “print” your own 3D toys!

desktop-size 3-D printer.Instead of using ink, it spreads ultra-thin plastic layers, each melting into thelayer below to create a 3D-object.

Switchblade Drone

It’s a kamikaze (suicide bombing) type drone.The person controlling it uses a real-time video feed from the drone to crash itinto a precise target—say, a sniper and its tiny warhead detonates on impact.

Element 113

http://store.makerbot.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/470x430/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/thereplicator_with_prints_small_1.jpg



Japan has created three atoms of the highly unstable superheavy element 113.This element is yet nameless, but it has an enormous nucleus containing 113protons and 165 neutrons.

Biology

Biological Plough Redgram

Pigeonpea, commonly known as redgram, arhar or tur,It is leguminous plant.it is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and thereby restores nitrogencontent in the soil.Its deep rooting system helps in extracting nutrients and moisture from deepersoil layers thus making it suitable for rainfed condition.Deeper rooting system of the crop also helps in breaking the tough dry soil andit is also called as ‘biological plough’.

Handheld Dental X-ray

Genuine Handheld X-ray sets are very expensive. But now Chinamade Cheaperproducts are in the market.But they do not have adequate shielding in the X-ray tube.And leads to accidental leakage radiation.In India, use of such medical X-ray instruments need approval from AtomicEnergy Regulatory Board. (AERB)Use of radiation generating equipment not approved by AERB is a violation ofthe legal provisions and will attract action under the appropriate provisions ofthe Atomic Energy Act 1962

Why skin itching during wound healing?

Histamine =chemical mediator involved in the allergic reactions.Histamine dilates blood vessels to facilitate the entry of immune cells onto thewound site to ward off infection.But It also acts on the nerve endings causing itching.Itching can also be caused due to allergy for the ointments/ medications appliedWhen new skin that is formed is devoid of the normal oil glands .This drynessalso provokes the nerve endings causing itching.

OraQuick Home



Oraquick-Detect HIV @Home

It’s the first Do It Yourself testkit for detecting HIV—the same one that healthprofessionals use but without the trip to a doctor’s office or the need to waitdays for results.

Parkinson’s disease

is caused by loss of the neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine(known as dopaminergic neurons).Researchers have now derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stemcells in monkeys to cure it.

Dogs in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

http://timenerdworld.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/oraquickhomehivtest.jpg



Mudumalai tiger reserve = Tamilnadu.

Issue: Domestic dogs from surrouding villages are hunting small birds and mammalsnear forest edges.

Why problem?

1. Lower prey availability for wild carnivores like tigers and leopards2. These dogs may also be spreading rabies and other diseases to wild animals3. Mudumalai, also has large populations of the endangered wild dog or dhole.4. They eat infected carcasses hunted by domestic dogs=spread of disease.5. Training village dogs to procure wild meat is a criminal offence under the

category of ‘poaching’. But the larger harm that goes unnoticed is that itindirectly threatens the survival of non-target animals.

NHRDF-RED-2

New onion variety for North India.Developed by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation(NHRDF), Nashik.This foundation => established by National Agricultural Co-operative MarketingFederation of India Ltd (NAFED)

Mock Questions

CSAT MCQs

Q1. Find incorrect Match?

NASA missions Location

1. MESSENGER Mercury

2. GRAIL Moon

a. Only 1b. Only 2c. Bothd. None

Q2. find correct Match

Term Associated with



1. Shooting star Asteroid

2. Minor planet Meteor


Q3. which of the following is not correct about Asteroids?

1. They’re found in the Asteroid belt between Mercury and Jupiter.2. Some of them contain metals and minerals.


Q4. Which of the following is correct about the tail of Comet?

1. It grows bigger in size as it moves away from the Sun.2. It is always directed towards the Sun.


Q5. Correct Match?

Wildlife species Found in

Narcondam Hornbill Nagaland

Dhole Tamilnadu


Q6. (Decision Making Q for CSAT-Paper II) There are reports of domestic dogshunting small birds and mammals in a wildlife sanctuary and thus posing risk to thefoodchain and health of the wild animals. As the Chief Warden of this sanctuary, whichof the following step would you take?



a. Promise cash reward to anyone who kills those domestic dogs.b. Set up Electrical fence to prevent those domestic dogs from entering in the

Sanctuary.c. Order people of the surrounding villages not to feed or shelter those domestic

dogs, else face punitive actions.d. Capture, Vasectomize and release those domestic dogs in area far away from the

Wildlife Sanctuary.

General Studies Mains

Write 20 words about following terms

1. Oraquick home2. GRAIL3. MOONKams4. Liquiglide5. NAFED6. NASA MESSENGER7. 3D-printing.

For previous entries related to Science-Tech, visit Mrunal.org/sntwant to add your entries, then participate in Current Affairs Marathon (click me)

Ref

1. The Hindu Science Tech (Thursday) editions of Dec 20122. TIME magazine’s best inventions of the year 2012

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2012/12/science-hindu-asteroid-mining-grail-moonkam-liquiglide-oraquick-sci-tech-upsc-csat.html

Posted By On 28/12/2012 @ 14:52 In the category Science

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