Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2024

Notes:
The MACE Observatory was recently inaugurated by the Secretary of DAE and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in Hanle, Ladakh. It is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the world’s highest, located at an altitude of about 4,300 meters. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) aims to enhance international collaborations and strengthen India’s role in space research. Indigenously built by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with help from ECIL and other Indian industry partners, it will advance studies in astrophysics and particle acceleration. MACE will observe high-energy gamma rays, aiding global research on phenomena like supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts while supporting Ladakh’s socio-economic development.

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Recently, the Indian Navy received Nirdeshak, the second of four Survey Vessel ships, built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata. Nirdeshak features over 80% indigenous content, reflecting the commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ These are the largest survey vessels in India, designed for comprehensive coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels. The ship will also gather oceanographic and geophysical data for both defense and civil applications.

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India’s National Space Commission approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), India’s fifth lunar mission. Lupex follows the success of Chandrayaan-3’s Moon landing in August 2023, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon. It is a joint mission between India’s ISRO and Japan’s JAXA, focusing on lunar resource exploration. The main objective is to study the presence and distribution of water on the Moon’s surface and beneath its regolith. Lupex aims to provide crucial data for future lunar exploration and potential human habitation.

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Recent research published in Science Advances introduced a new method for dating karst landscapes, specifically through analyzing iron-rich nodules. These nodules, found in the Pinnacles Desert of Nambung National Park, Western Australia, provide insights into the climatic conditions that shaped these unique geological formations. The study revealed that the nodules formed during a period of intense weathering approximately 100,000 years ago, which was the wettest time in the region over the last half million years. Understanding this dating method enhances our knowledge of past climate changes and their impact on ecosystems.

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Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is set to become the state’s 8th tiger reserve. It covers about 3,500 sq km across Raisen, Sehore, and Bhopal districts. 1,500 sq km will be the core tiger area, with 2,000 sq km as a buffer zone. The sanctuary is home to 40 tigers, with 12 more tigers frequently moving nearby. It will boost tourism and the local economy, with increased government funding. The sanctuary hosts diverse wildlife, including over 150 bird species.

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The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare observed World Mental Health Day and celebrated two years of Tele MANAS. This year’s theme is “It is time to prioritize Mental Health at Workplace.” Tele MANAS aims to provide universal access to affordable mental health care through 24/7 tele-mental health services across India.

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A Brahmi inscription has been discovered in Dharanikota village, Amaravathi mandal, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh. The inscription is in the Prakrit language and uses Brahmi characters dating back to the 2nd century CE. Brahmi is one of the oldest known Indian scripts, originating from the Mauryan Period. It is the foundation for most current Indian scripts, including Devanagari, Bengali, Tamil, and Malayalam.

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A recent two-day vulture survey in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary recorded 80 vultures across nine locations. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala, within the southern part of the Western Ghats. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sanctuary is bordered by protected areas like Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu. Several adivasi tribes, including Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas, live in these forests.

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As Ukraine seeks Taurus missiles to counter Russia, the South Korean Air Force conducted a live fire drill with the German-origin Taurus missile. The Taurus missile is a precision-guided, long-range air-to-surface cruise missile developed in the mid-1990s by German and Swedish companies. It can strike stationary and semi-stationary targets with high accuracy. Weighing 1,400 kg and about 5.1 meters long, it can be launched from various platforms. The missile is powered by a turbofan engine, achieving subsonic speeds and good fuel efficiency.

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AI-generated synthetic medical images offer an ethical, scalable, and cost-effective solution for healthcare. These images are created by AI or computer algorithms, not by traditional imaging devices like MRI or CT scans. Techniques like generative adversarial networks (GANs), diffusion models, and autoencoders are used to construct these images. In healthcare, AI creates new medical scans or radiological images that mimic real ones but are not based on actual patient data.