Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
NASA’s CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment (CURIE) launched on July 9, 2024, aboard an ESA Ariane 6 rocket to study solar radio waves. CURIE, comprising two shoebox-sized spacecraft, will investigate the origins of radio waves from solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Using low-frequency radio interferometry, CURIE will orbit 360 miles above Earth, measuring radio waves between 0.1 to 19 megahertz, frequencies blocked by Earth’s atmosphere. This mission, part of NASA’s H-FORT Program, aims to enhance our understanding of solar phenomena and advance space-based radio astronomy.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new deep-water dogfish shark species, Squalus hima, off Kerala’s southwest coast. This genus, known as spurdogs, features smooth dorsal fin spines, a small mouth, and no body spots. Squalus hima is distinct from other species in vertebrae count, teeth count, and fin structure. Exploited for liver oil rich in squalene, it’s crucial for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Notes:
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) recently released the World Population Prospects Report, projecting the global population to peak at 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s, up from 8.2 billion in 2024. Key findings include a current fertility rate of 2.25 births per woman and a life expectancy of 73.3 years. India’s population is expected to peak in the early 2060s, remaining the largest globally throughout the century.

Notes:
The world’s largest Ramayan temple is being built in East Champaran, Bihar. It will be three times larger than the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and taller than Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The temple features a 33-foot tall shivling, made of black granite from Mahabalipuram, and includes 22 smaller temples dedicated to key deities from the Ramayana. The main shikhar rises to 270 feet, with architectural inspiration drawn from notable temples in India and Cambodia.

Notes:
World Malala Day, celebrated on July 12th, honors Malala Yousafzai’s advocacy for women’s and children’s rights. Born on July 12, 1997, in Pakistan, Malala survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012. She gained global recognition, speaking at the UN on her 16th birthday, being named one of TIME’s most influential people in 2013, and winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She continues her education and activism from Birmingham.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has decided to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks within 500 meters of schools. FDA Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram announced the decision to protect student health by limiting caffeine intake. A directive will ensure swift enforcement, and a comprehensive list of banned drinks will be circulated. This step aims to create healthier environments for students and mitigate adverse effects of excessive caffeine consumption.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with an Indian manufacturer to produce a breakthrough vaccine for shigella infection, an intestinal disease caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella causes symptoms like diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and nausea. Highly contagious, it primarily affects children under five. No vaccine currently exists. Shigella causes about 125 million diarrheal cases and 160,000 deaths annually, with a significant impact on young children.

Notes:
The Himalayan mountains are ecologically sensitive and culturally rich, yet often politically overlooked. In Ladakh, irresponsible tourism and rash development threaten unique wildlife adapted to extreme conditions. The Hanle valley, near the Indo-China border and part of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, is home to threatened species like the Pallas’s cat, Tibetan sand fox, snow leopard, and black-necked crane. Conservation efforts are vital to protect this fragile ecosystem.

Notes:
Experts from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Allahabad, in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, developed a tool for blind and visually impaired individuals to create and access chart images. This AI-based software generates alternative text (Alt-text) for images, enhancing accessibility. The research, titled “Alt4 Blind: A User Interface to Simplify Charts Alt-Text Creation,” was presented at an international conference in Linz, Austria.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative, launched by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) in 2016, has won the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. Awarded by Portugal-based Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the prize honors contributions to global food security, climate resilience, and ecosystem protection. APCNF shares the €1 million prize with soil scientist Rattan Lal and Egypt-based SEKEM. Selected from 181 nominations, the award jury was chaired by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.