Science – GK Questions

NAQI monitors 8 pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, Pb. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas but not a criteria air pollutant for NAQI. Important distinction for environmental exams. [[CPCB Guidelines]]

Graphene's 2D honeycomb lattice gives exceptional strength, conductivity, and flexibility. Applications: flexible electronics, composites, sensors. Nobel Prize in Physics 2010. [[NCERT Chemistry Class 11, DST Reports]]

Deep learning models (e.g., CNNs) analyze medical images with accuracy comparable to specialists. India's AI for All strategy promotes such applications for affordable healthcare. [[NITI Aayog, MoHFW Reports]]

Dopamine in mesolimbic pathway mediates reward, motivation, addiction. Imbalances linked to Parkinson's (deficit) and schizophrenia (excess). Critical for understanding brain function. [[NCERT Biology Class 11]]

PLA is synthesized from lactic acid produced by fermenting corn starch/sugarcane. Degrades to CO₂ and water under composting conditions. Sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. [[NCERT Chemistry Class 12]]

Circular economy contrasts linear 'take-make-dispose' model. Principles: design out waste, keep materials in use, regenerate natural systems. India's Resource Efficiency Strategy promotes this. [[NITI Aayog Reports]]

Aditya-L1 orbits Sun-Earth L1 point (~1.5 million km from Earth), providing uninterrupted solar observation. Studies corona, solar winds, and space weather impacts. [[ISRO Reports, NCERT Geography Class 11]]

Geostationary orbit (GEO) at ~35,786 km altitude matches Earth's rotation period (24h), so satellite appears fixed. Used for TV broadcasting, weather monitoring, communication. [[ISRO Reports, NCERT Physics Class 11]]

iPSCs (Yamanaka, 2006) are generated by introducing transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc) into adult cells. Avoid ethical issues of embryonic stem cells; used in regenerative medicine. [[DBT Reports, NCERT Biology Class 12]]

ACE inhibitors (e.g., Enalapril, Lisinopril) block conversion of angiotensin I to II, lowering blood pressure. First-line treatment for hypertension and heart failure. [[NCERT Biology Class 11, MoHFW Guidelines]]

RO forces water through semi-permeable membrane against osmotic gradient, rejecting ions/molecules. Widely used for desalination and water purification. [[CPCB Guidelines, NCERT Chemistry Class 12]]

Quantum dots (semiconductor nanocrystals) emit different colors based on size: smaller dots emit blue, larger emit red. Used in displays, bioimaging, solar cells. [[NCERT Physics Class 12, DST Reports]]

Asymmetric (public-key) cryptography: public key encrypts, private key decrypts (e.g., RSA, ECC). Enables secure communication, digital signatures. Symmetric uses same key for both. [[CERT-In Guidelines]]

mRNA vaccines (e.g., COVID-19) encode the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Cells produce it, triggering immune response without live virus. Platform enables rapid vaccine development. [[ICMR, MoHFW Guidelines]]

NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) exploits nuclear spin in magnetic fields; radiofrequency pulses induce resonance. Used for molecular structure determination in chemistry and medicine (MRI). [[NCERT Chemistry Class 12]]

Article 6 enables countries to cooperate via carbon markets (trading emission reductions) and non-market approaches to achieve NDCs. Critical for global climate mitigation. [[UNFCCC, MoEFCC Reports]]

MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to align hydrogen nuclei; resonance signals create detailed soft-tissue images. No ionizing radiation, unlike CT/X-rays. [[NCERT Physics Class 12]]

6G (expected ~2030) aims for THz frequencies (0.1-10 THz), enabling ultra-high data rates, holographic communication, and AI-native networks. Research ongoing globally. [[TRAI, MeitY Reports]]

RNAi uses siRNA/miRNA to degrade or block translation of specific mRNA, regulating genes. Applied in pest-resistant crops (e.g., RNAi cotton) and therapeutic research. [[NCERT Biology Class 12, DBT Reports]]

Ostwald process: catalytic oxidation of NH₃ to NO, then to NO₂, absorbed in water to form HNO₃. Critical for fertilizers, explosives, and chemical synthesis. [[NCERT Chemistry Class 12]]