Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 05, 2016

ANSWER: Jordan

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered what could be the world’s first polluted river, contaminated 7,000 years ago by Neolithic humans who have been producing copper metals from ores.

The now dry riverbed in the Wadi Faynan region of Southern Jordan has given evidence of the early pollution caused by copper combustion.

Findings reveal a turning point in history where humans moved from making tools out of stones to making tools out of metal. This period is known as the Chalcolithic Age.

Also called the Copper Age, it is a transitional period between the late Neolithic or Stone Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age.

Populations at this time were experimenting with fire, experimenting with pottery and copper ores and all three of these components are part of the early production of copper metals from ores.

Technological innovation and the spread of the adoption and use of metals in society mark the start of the modern world.

People created copper at this time by combining charcoal and blue green copper ore found in plenty in the area in pottery vessels and heating the mixture over a fire. Process was time consuming and labour intensive. This is why it took thousands of years before copper became a central part of human societies.

From Copper Production to River Pollution

• These objects were created in the earliest phase of copper production.
• These were primarily symbolic.
• With passage of time, copper production expanded.
• Mines, large smelting furnaces and factories were built by 2600 BC.
• Jordan is home to the world’s first industrial revolution
• Slag, a waste product of smelting remained.
• Pollution led to wide spread health problems- health impact has been seen in human bones dating to this period.
• Copper Age was followed by the Bronze Age which began around 3200 BC.

ANSWER: Best Cities of 2016

Explanation:
Kolkata, along with 10 other cities from across the globe, has been honoured with the best cities of the 2016 award in recognition of inspiring and innovative programs with regard to solid waste management.

Kolkata Solid Waste Management Improvement Project has attained 60-80 per cent depending on site segregation of waste at its source. Further waste integration occurring at transfer stations.

This was on occasion of the international summit of Mayors of million plus cities. Members from India apart from Kolkata are Mumbai, Chennai and New Delhi.

Kolkata is the only Indian city to attain this prestigious award.

It received the award during the C40 Mayors Summit held in Mexico City.

Project involves 100 percent door to door collection of solid waste, segregation and recycling by way of composting which is sold in the market.

Kolkata

• Formerly called Calcutta.
• Capital of India’s West Bengal state.
• Founded as an East India Company trading post.
• India’s capital under the British Raj from 1773-1911
• Known for its grand colonial architecture.

ANSWER: Mukesh Kumar

Explanation:
India’s Mukesh Kumar became the oldest golfer to win an Asian Tour title when he won the Panasonic Open.

The 51-year-old Mukesh has won 123 PGTI titles under his belt, turned in a two-under 70 in the final round to total 10-under 206 to claim the trophy. This was his first on the Asian Tour.

India dominated the top half of the leaderboard.

The second position was shared by Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid Khan.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Indian women players maintained their supremacy in the Asia Cup by beating arch rivals Pakistan for their sixth title in as many editions on 4th Dec, 2016.

Veteran Mithali Raj who was removed as T20 Captain before the start of the tournament played well with an unbeaten 73 to guide India for 5 in 20 overs.

They had lost the T20 world cup to Pakistan.

In 2012, India lifted the Asian Cup title after defeating Pakistan in the final.

The current captain of the Indian cricket team is Harmanpreet Kaur.

ANSWER: Nico Rosberg

Explanation:
Nico Rosberg made the announcement that he was retiring days after attaining his lifetime ambition by winning his first world championship with Mercedes.

Rosberg will leave with a record of 23 wins in 206 races and only the second son of a champion to take the title. He followed in footsteps of 1982 winner and father Keke.

Nico announced his retirement from Formula One on 2nd Dec 2016 after grabbing his first ever F1 World Champion title at the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi.

The 31-year-old player beat his Mercedes team mate and 3 time champion Lewis Hamilton by five points.

This is the first time a reigning world champion has decided to quit the sport.

In 1993, Alain Prost announced his retirement after winning his 4th driver’s title.

Highlights of Nico Rosberg’s Accomplishments

• Son of former F1 world champion Keke Rosberg who won the title in 1982.
• He won the 2005 GP2 series for French motor racing team ART.
• FI debut: Bahrain Grand Prix in 2006 for Williams
• 2010: Joined Mercedes
• Number of F1 wins: 23
• Formula one pole positions: 30
• Fourth driver in the history of Formula to win the Monaco Grand Prix thrice in a row.
• Also the fourth to have 7 consecutive Grand Prix wins.

Awards won by Rosberg


• Lorenzo Bandini Trophy- 2011
• FIA Pole Trophy- 2014
• DHL Fastest Lap

ANSWER: Valley

Explanation:
Climate cycles on early mars, triggered by GHG build up, have caused liquid water to carve out canyons and valley networks on Martian surface, according to scientists.

Scientists have long debated how canyons and valley networks could form in Mars some 38 billion years ago at a time many hold that the Red Planet was frozen.

Researchers suggest a glacier covered early mars may have experienced long warm periods lasting up to 10 million years at a time, caused by a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Team found the warming cycles would have lasted long enough and produced enough water to create the features.

Previous research suggested that asteroid impacts warmed the planet, creating steam atmospheres leading to rain.

Warm periods would have much shorter durations and struggled to produce enough water.

Scientists have likened the valleys on the Martian surface are similar in width to the Colorado River Canyon. It took 16 million years for the Colorado River, swollen seasonally as snow melts in Rocky Mountains to carve the nearby Grand Canyon.

With the right choice of parameters caused by GHG reached a certain tipping point lasted millions of years on Mars - with the right choice of parameters, these warm periods last up to 10 million years.

ANSWER: Stitches

Explanation:
A new flexible polymer patch can improve the conduction of electrical impulses across damaged heart tissues without the need for stitches.

The patch has worked on animal models, is long lasting and can be stuck on the heart without the need for stitches.

Heart attacks create a scar which causes arrhythmia- electrically conducting polymer patch is designed to address this problem.

Conducting polymers work when they are dry, but most become non-conducting in a very short time when placed in bodily fluids. This suture-less patch represents a big advance.

It works well across a period and prevents the need for stitches, so it is minimally invasive and less damaging to the heart.

The patch is made to adhere to the heart tissue by shining a green laser on it.

Patch can explain how conductive materials interact with heart tissues and changes associated with heart attacks.

Components of Polymer Patch

a. Chitosan
b. Polyaniline
c. Phytic Acid

• A film of chitosan, a polysaccharide is found in crab shells that is often used as a food additive.
• Polyaniline, a conducting polymer that is grown on top; and phytic acid, a substance found in plants which is added to the polyaniline to switch it to its conducting state are the other 2 components.

ANSWER: A flying ambulance

Explanation:
An autonomous flying ambulance has successfully completed its first solo test flight, offering a potential solution for challenging search and rescue missions.

Completing such missions in rough terrain or combat zones can be tricky, with helicopters currently offering the best transportation option in most cases.

However, these vehicles need clear areas to land, and in the case of war zones, helicopters tend to attract enemy fire.

This flying ambulance called Cormorant could one day go where helicopters cannot.

Vehicle is designed to carry people or equipment without the need for a human pilot on board.

How does the Cormorant work?

• The Cormorant uses ducted fans that are effectively shielded rotors.
• Aircraft does not need to worry about bumping into a wall and damaging the rotors.
• Another set of fans propels the vehicle forward.
• The vehicle has a decision making system to detect problems in inputs from sensors.
• It can try a different flight path or take a detour based on this system.

ANSWER: Both a and b are the same

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), 2016 to awardees at a function organised by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Dec 3rd.

Government has identified 50 cities under Accessible India Campaign to make them accessible for PwDs. 1098 buildings have been identified in these cities.

3 world records created by the Department in Navsari ADIP camp were discussed. According to census 2011, there are 2.68 crore Divyangjan in our country who exhibit great diversity in terms of quantum of Disability as well as type of Disabilities.

He told about the achievements under various schemes being successfully implemented by the Department for empowerment of Divyangjan with specifically mentioning about the skill development programs, ADIP scheme and Accessible India Campaign.

Disabilities Bill

• Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
• Disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21.
• Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities.
• Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time.
• It has been proposed to increase reservation from 3% to 4% in Government jobs for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability.
• Broad based Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability will be set up.
• Creation of National and State Fund has been proposed.
• Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities.