Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
NASA’s CHAPEA project simulates year-long Mars missions to assess food systems and human health. After a year in the 1,700 sq ft Mars Dune Alpha habitat at Johnson Space Center, a crew emerged. CHAPEA missions involve four crew members living in a 3D-printed structure that mimics a realistic Mars habitat. The data collected will aid future space missions, focusing on physical and behavioral health patterns.

Notes:
The Philippines has been selected to host the board of the “Loss and Damage” fund, a significant step in aiding communities affected by climate change. This decision arose during UN talks focused on financial support for nations impacted by global warming. The World Bank will temporarily oversee the fund for four years, though concerns exist regarding its influence, particularly from powerful funding nations like the US. The Philippines aims to enhance global climate policy discussions, given its vulnerability to natural disasters.

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Researchers at the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences are using a Covalent Magnetic Tweezer (CMT) to investigate protein molecules and the role of chaperones in their folding. Chaperones, group of proteins, crucial for preventing misfolding and aggregation, assist in proper protein formation, particularly under stress. Major human chaperones include HSP70 and HSP90. Misfolded proteins can lead to diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and congenital cataracts, highlighting the importance of chaperones in cellular function.

Notes:
German football icon Thomas Müller has announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2024, concluding a celebrated career that began with his debut in March 2010. Over the past decade, Müller has left a significant impact on both German and world football, becoming one of the nation’s most decorated players. His decision marks the end of an illustrious chapter in the sport, celebrated for his contributions and achievements.

Notes:
India’s “e-mobility R&D Roadmap” launched by the Principal Scientific Adviser aims to achieve global leadership in electric vehicles (EVs) within five years. It identifies key areas like Energy Storage Cells, EV Aggregates, Materials and Recycling, and Charging and Refueling for intensive research. India targets a 45% reduction in emission intensity by 2030, energy independence by 2047, and net-zero emissions by 2070, emphasizing EV adoption, indigenous energy storage, and renewable energy for charging infrastructure.

Notes:
The Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, has released the fifth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) with 346 items, to be procured exclusively from Indian industries after specified timelines. Available on the Srijan portal, this list encourages private sector indigenization. The portal showcases import items from DPSUs/OFB/SHQs, inviting Indian industry involvement in design, development, and manufacturing. The Ministry of Defence oversees this initiative.

Notes:
The Gevra and Kusmunda blocks of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) in Chhattisgarh rank second and fourth globally in coal production, as per WorldAtlas.com. These open-cast mines produce over 100 million tonnes annually, about 10% of India’s total coal output. Gevra produced 59 MT in 2023-24, while Kusmunda produced over 50 MT. SECL’s Chairman, Prem Sagar Mishra, highlighted this achievement. US and China mines also feature in the top five.

Notes:
The MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel, launched at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Built by All American Marine Shipyard for SWITCH Maritime and designed by Incat Crowther, it carries 75 passengers and operates for 16 hours, covering 300 nautical miles per refueling. Emitting only heat and water vapor, it reaches speeds up to 20 knots and features drinkable water emissions.

Notes:
Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India discovered a new plant species, Phlogacanthus sudhansusekharii, in Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. This species, part of the Acanthaceae family and Phlogacanthus genus, honors Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash for his contributions to plant research. The Phlogacanthus genus has 13 species in India, primarily in northeastern and eastern Himalayan states.

Notes:
Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the United States, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. A retired Indian Foreign Service diplomat, Kwatra has extensive expertise in relations with India’s neighbors, the US, China, and Europe.