Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a liquid rocket engine made via 3D printing. ISRO utilized the PS4 engine, employed in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s fourth stage, for this advancement. 3D printing constructs objects layer by layer from computer-generated designs. It reduces components from 14 to one, eliminates 19 weld joints, saving 97% of raw material, and cuts production time by 60%.

Notes:
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global campaign on May 11 & October 12, 2024, emphasizing migratory bird conservation. The theme “Insects” underscores insects’ significance for birds and addresses declining insect populations’ impact. WMBD raises awareness about the importance of preserving habitats for migratory birds.

Notes:
Indonesia’s Ibu volcano, located on Halmahera island in the Maluku Islands, erupted, sending ash 5 km high. The country’s volcanology agency issued a warning. Ibu is a stratovolcano known for its steep slopes and explosive eruptions. It stands approximately 1,325 meters tall with a base diameter of 10 kilometers. Situated in Indonesia’s eastern region, Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku archipelago.

Notes:
The 4th Joint Committee meeting for AITIGA review convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia from 7-9 May 2024. AITIGA, signed in 2009, is a trade pact between ASEAN and India, effective since 2010, commonly known as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. Focused on physical goods, it excludes services, with a separate ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement established in 2014 during the 7th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations in Bangkok, Thailand.

Notes:
On May 7, 2024, the UN General Assembly, comprising 193 members, passed a resolution to designate May 25 as World Football Day annually. The Libyan ambassador to the UN, Taher El-Sonni, introduced the resolution, which gained consensus support and was co-sponsored by over 160 member nations. Highlighting football’s global popularity, the ambassador emphasized its ubiquity across towns, cities, and villages worldwide.

Notes:
Sariska Tiger Reserve, established 46 years ago, awaits land ownership documentation. Located in Rajasthan’s Alwar district, it spans 800 sq km in the Aravali Hills. Once a royal hunting ground, it became a natural reserve in 1955 and a national park in 1979. Renowned for relocating tigers successfully, it also boasts historic sites like Bhangarh Fort and natural wonders like Siliserh Lake. Its terrain features rocky landscapes, scrub forests, and semi-deciduous woods.

Notes:
A Red Panda, an endangered species, sighted in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. These small arboreal mammals inhabit high-altitude forests across Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. Their preferred habitat includes temperate forests of the Himalayas, thriving best at 2,200-4,800m altitudes with bamboo understories. Protected under various regulations, Red Pandas face threats like habitat fragmentation, predation by feral dogs, and occasional hunting.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently tested the airdrop of the indigenous mobile hospital, Bhishma Cube, in Agra. The Bhishma Cube is a portable, waterproof, and lightweight cube that can be deployed quickly in various emergency scenarios, including airdrops and ground transportation. The cubes are designed to treat injuries such as bullet wounds, severe burns, head injuries, and spinal fractures.

Notes:
Neeraj Chopra, Olympic champion, clinched gold in his first home competition in three years at the 27th Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on May 15. Despite a hero’s welcome in Odisha, he expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in the men’s javelin final, despite claiming the top spot on the podium.

Notes:
RoseTTAFold, an AI software from the University of Washington, could transform target discovery and drug interaction understanding. Developed at the Institute for Protein Design, it employs generative diffusion-based architectures to predict structural complexes. This ‘three-track’ neural network integrates sequential patterns in proteins, amino acid interplay, and probable 3D configurations. It can forecast structures and interactions among protein, DNA, and RNA combinations, offering profound potential for scientific advancement.