Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2024

Notes:
India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan’s DD Kisan channel launched two AI anchors, Krish and Bhoomi. The channel, broadcasting in 50 languages, pioneers the use of AI anchors for agricultural updates, weather forecasts, and research news. These computer-based anchors, resembling humans, operate continuously without fatigue. This initiative mirrors global trends, following China’s introduction of AI news anchors in 2018, and India’s earlier introduction on Aaj Tak in 2023.

Notes:
Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) discovered a potential malaria vaccine candidate targeting the parasite’s Prohibitin protein. Published in iScience by Cell Press, their research offers hope for better prevention and treatment. Malaria, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a significant health burden globally, with 249 million cases and 60,800 deaths in 2022. The vaccine development could revolutionize malaria control, addressing a disease that has plagued humanity for centuries.

Notes:
Thotakura, the first Indian space tourist, boarded a Blue Origin spaceship, joining over 50 others in recent years. The 10-minute flight reached a max height of 105 km, crossing the Karman line, boundary line dividing the Earth’s atmosphere from outer space. Classified as a suborbital journey, the spacecraft didn’t orbit Earth but briefly lingered beyond the atmosphere before returning. Blue Origin offers thrill rides for space enthusiasts seeking brief but exhilarating experiences beyond our planet.

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A massive landslide in Papua New Guinea buried over 2,000 people in a remote Enga province village, causing major destruction to homes, buildings, and food gardens. Papua New Guinea informed the UN that over 2,000 people were buried in a massive landslide caused by Mount Mungalo’s collapse, devastating a remote Enga province village. The disaster caused significant destruction to buildings and food gardens. The national disaster center stressed the urgent need for collaborative efforts from the army, national, and regional responders to address the crisis.

Notes:
A new plant species, Stellaria mcclintockiae, was discovered on the muddy slopes of Kerala’s Nelliyampathy hills, at elevations of 1,250-1,400 meters. This annual herb, growing up to 15 cm tall, belongs to the genus Stellaria (family Caryophyllaceae). It features distinct petals, pollen morphology, bracts, sepals, and seed architecture. As the first Stellaria species found in South India, researchers recommend it be classified as critically endangered.

Notes:
The Ministry of Ayush and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) hosted a program in New Delhi to enhance collaborations between the insurance sector and Ayush healthcare providers. The event, attended by CEOs and CMDs of insurance companies and Ayush hospital owners, aims to improve the accessibility and affordability of Ayush treatments. Key figures emphasized the commitment to making healthcare affordable, accessible, and high-quality.

Notes:
The Limestone Langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus), endemic to Guangxi province, China, faces imminent extinction due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. Found in a 200 square kilometer area between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers, they inhabit lower elevations with high tree canopy density near water sources. Characterized by a white fur-covered head and black-and-white coat, they primarily consume leaves. Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and on CITES Appendix II, they are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and hybridization. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this unique primate species.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship Kiltan arrived at Muara, Brunei, warmly welcomed by the Royal Brunei Navy. This indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette is the third Kamorta-class corvette under Project 28. Designed by the Indian Navy and built by GRSE in Kolkata, it features a carbon fibre composite superstructure for enhanced stealth and lower maintenance. It hosts advanced indigenous weapons and sensors, including torpedoes, ASW rockets, and air surveillance radar.

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Scientists analyzing archived data from NASA’s Magellan mission discovered new lava flows on Venus, indicating volcanic activity between 1990 and 1992. Launched on May 4, 1989, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Magellan aimed to map Venus’s surface using radar imaging. Named after Ferdinand Magellan, it was the first interplanetary mission launched from a space shuttle. In 1994, Magellan intentionally plunged into Venus, gathering atmospheric data before ceasing operations.

Notes:
Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD, powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. This milestone, achieved after four previous launch attempts, marks the second private startup launch in India and the first from a private launchpad at Sriharikota. Dr. Pawan Goenka hailed the launch as a historic moment for India’s space sector.