Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2024

Notes:
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers discovered SN 2023adsy, the most distant Type Ia supernova detected. A supernova is a cataclysmic explosion of a massive star, with Type I occurring when a star accumulates matter from a neighbor, and Type II when a star collapses under its gravity. Supernovas, the largest explosions in space, outshine galaxies, produce heavy elements, and occur once every 50 years in Milky Way-sized galaxies.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded certificates to over 30,000 self-help groups as Krishi Sakhis in Varanasi on June 18, 2024. Recognizing women’s pivotal role in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the Ministry of Rural Development, collaborated on the Krishi Sakhi Certification Programme through an MoU signed in August 2023, aimed at enhancing rural women’s skills and empowerment in agricultural practices.

Notes:
Scientists at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea are pioneering “meaty rice,” injecting beef cells into rice grains coated with fish gelatine. This innovative food technology aims to offer a sustainable protein source without animal agriculture’s ethical concerns. The rice’s porous structure facilitates cell growth over 11 days in a Petri dish. Meaty rice promises a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional beef production, potentially revolutionizing global food sustainability practices.

Notes:
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage. Despite its inclusive reputation, Thailand faced decades of challenges passing this law due to conservative societal and governmental values. The bill grants full legal, financial, and medical rights to marriage partners of any gender. It awaits formal endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and will become effective within 120 days.

Notes:
The Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN) and Svyasa University organized the “Yoga for Space” conference at S-Vyasa University, Bengaluru, for International Day of Yoga 2024, themed “Yoga for Self & Society.” The event featured keynote addresses from Indian institutions and highlighted various activities promoting yoga, including global contests and innovative challenges. The conference emphasized yoga’s role in fostering a healthy society and its potential applications for astronauts.

Notes:
UK police arrested two people, including an Indian-origin man, for spraying an orange substance on Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in England. Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, is a prehistoric monument with about 100 massive stones arranged in a circle, built in stages around 2500 BC. Likely a religious site aligned with the Sun, it’s part of a larger sacred landscape with numerous ancient structures and burial mounds.

Notes:
Former Indian cricketer David Jude Johnson tragically passed away after falling from his fourth-floor apartment balcony in Kothanur, Bengaluru. A respected figure in domestic cricket, Johnson, originally from Arsikere, Hassan, had made his Test debut for India against Australia in 1996. His untimely demise has left a void in the cricketing community, mourning the loss of a talented player and beloved individual.

Notes:
The Karnataka government approved the Centre’s proposal to revive gold mining at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). Located 100 km from Bangalore in Kolar district, KGF mines are among the world’s deepest, operated by Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), a public sector undertaking established in 1972. Mining here is costly due to the depth of the ore.

Notes:
Researchers at the University of Houston discovered a significant seasonal energy imbalance on Saturn using data from the Cassini probe. This finding challenges existing models of gas giants’ climate and planetary evolution. Saturn’s large orbital eccentricity, varying nearly 20%, causes substantial seasonal variations in solar energy absorption, unlike Earth. This discovery by Xinyue Wang highlights the influence of internal heat on Saturn’s climate and reshapes understanding of planetary and atmospheric sciences in our solar system.

Notes:
The Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Dairying, along with the World Bank, conducted a two-day simulation in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to enhance preparedness for Avian Influenza outbreaks. Participants from various sectors practiced outbreak detection, rapid response strategies, and inter-agency coordination. Prompted by recent avian flu cases in Kerala and global spillovers, the exercise simulated crisis scenarios to improve management strategies, aiming to mitigate impacts on both animal and human health.