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Nobel Prize 2023 in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier

The 2023 Physics Nobel Prize was awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier.

  1. They were recognized for their experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for studying electron dynamics in matter.
  2. Their experiments have provided new tools for exploring the behavior of electrons inside atoms and molecules.
  3. Their work enables the measurement of rapid electron processes that were previously impossible to observe.
  4. Ferenc Krausz is a German physicist, Anne L’Huillier is from Sweden, and Pierre Agostini is an American.
  5. The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of physics, benefiting humankind.

MCQs

Q.: Who were awarded the 2023 Physics Nobel Prize for their experimental methods involving attosecond pulses of light?

a) Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Niels Bohr
b) Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier
c) Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg, and Richard Feynman
d) Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, and Richard Dawkins

Answer: b) Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier

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Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman win Nobel Prize 2023 in Medicine

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their work on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which was instrumental in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

  1. The Nobel Prize Committee recognized that Kariko and Weissman’s groundbreaking research fundamentally changed the understanding of how mRNA interacts with the human immune system. Their contributions led to the rapid development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. mRNA vaccines, including those developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, were approved in December 2020 and have been crucial in saving millions of lives and preventing severe disease during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  3. Traditional vaccines use weakened viruses or viral proteins, while mRNA vaccines provide genetic instructions to cells, simulating an infection and training the immune system to respond to the virus. This technology, once experimental, has now been administered to millions of people worldwide and is also being researched for other diseases, such as cancer.
  4. Kariko and Weissman, colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, have received multiple awards for their research, including the Lasker Award in 2021, often considered a precursor to the Nobel Prize.
  5. The Nobel Prize will be formally presented to Kariko and Weissman in Stockholm on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, who established the Nobel Prizes in his will.

Q.: Who were jointly awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology?

a) Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman
b) James Smith and Emily Johnson
c) Michael White and Elizabeth Taylor
d) Moderna and Pfizer

Ans : a) Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman

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India’s Solar Mission Aditya L1 moved beyond Earth’s influence

India’s Solar Mission Aditya L1 has successfully moved beyond Earth’s influence and is now on its way to the Lagrange point L1.

  1. The spacecraft has traveled a distance of 9.2 lakh kilometers from Earth and is headed for a point 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.
  2. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has shared this information on a microblogging site.
  3. Aditya L1 is India’s first space-based observatory designed for studying the Sun from a halo orbit.
  4. The spacecraft was launched on September 2 with the primary mission of studying the photosphere, chromospheres, and corona of the Sun.
  5. Aditya L1 is equipped with seven payloads, with five developed by ISRO and two by academic institutes in India.
  6. It is expected that after 110 days, the spacecraft will be maneuvered into an orbit around L1 from the Ground station.

Q.: What is the final destination of Aditya L1’s journey?

a) Earth’s atmosphere
b) Mars’ orbit
c) Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1
d) Moon’s surface

Ans : c) Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1

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Global Innovation Index 2023 : India retains 40th rank

India has retained its 40th rank in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the year 2023. The ranking was published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, and India’s consistent improvement in the GII ranking was highlighted.

  1. India’s GII ranking has improved significantly over the years, moving from 81st place in 2015 to its current 40th position in 2023.
  2. The improvement in India’s GII ranking is attributed to factors such as a strong knowledge capital, a thriving startup ecosystem, and the contributions of both public and private research organizations.
  3. The Atal Innovation Mission has played a significant role in enhancing the innovation ecosystem in India.
  4. NITI Aayog is actively involved in promoting policy-led innovation in various sectors, including electric vehicles, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space technology, and alternative energy sources.
  5. NITI Aayog has also been working to expand the innovation ecosystem at the state and district levels.

Global Innovation Index 2023 List

wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-2000-2023-en-main-report-global-innovation-index-2023-16th-edition.pdf

Q.: What is India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index for the year 2023?

a) 81st
b) 40th
c) 132nd
d) 23rd

Ans : b) 40th

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MS Swaminathan, father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away

MS Swaminathan, a prominent agricultural scientist and often referred to as the father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away in Chennai on September 28, 2023, at the age of 98.

  1. Contributions to Agriculture: Swaminathan played a pivotal role in bringing about a social revolution in India’s agriculture sector during the 1960s. His policies helped rescue India from famine-like conditions.
  2. Foundation: He founded the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, which focused on agricultural research and development.
  3. Development of High-Yield Wheat Varieties: His work was instrumental in the development of high-yield variety seeds of wheat, a significant factor in the success of the Green Revolution in India.
  4. Professional Roles: Swaminathan held important positions in the field of agriculture, serving as the director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 1972 to 1980 and the director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 1982 to 1988.
  5. International Recognition: He received several international awards and honors for his contributions to agriculture and environmental science, including the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, the first World Food Prize in 1987, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1991, and the Planet and Humanity Medal of the International Geographical Union in 2000.
  6. National Honors: Swaminathan was also honored by the Indian government with prestigious awards like Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

Q.: In which sector did MS Swaminathan bring about a social revolution in India during the 1960s?

a) Education
b) Healthcare
c) Agriculture
d) Technology

Answer : c) Agriculture

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India’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus launched in Delhi by Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, flagged off India’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus in Delhi on 25 September 2023.

  1. A total of 15 green hydrogen buses are planned to be operational by the end of 2023 as part of the project.
  2. The success of the green hydrogen project is seen as a potential means to transform India from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy.
  3. The hydrogen fuel-powered vehicle can be refilled in just a few minutes, similar in speed to filling an internal combustion engine with fossil fuel.
  4. The project for green hydrogen fuel cell buses is a collaboration between the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Tata Motors.
  5. Indian Oil has initiated operational trials of 15 fuel cell buses powered by green hydrogen on specific routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
  6. Indian Oil has established a state-of-the-art dispensing facility at its R&D campus in Faridabad to refuel green hydrogen produced through electrolysis using solar PV panels.

Q.: Which two organizations collaborated on the project for green hydrogen fuel cell buses?

a) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Toyota
b) Tata Motors and Hyundai
c) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Tata Motors
d) Tata Motors and Suzuki

Ans : c) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Tata Motors

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New set of national awards called ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The Indian Government has established a new set of national awards called ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

  1. These awards aim to recognize and celebrate the remarkable and inspiring contributions made by scientists, technologists, and innovators across various domains of science, technology, and technology-led innovation.
  2. The ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ is divided into four categories, namely:
    • Vigyan Ratna
    • Vigyan Shri
    • Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
    • Vigyan Team
  3. These awards are expected to be among the highest recognitions in the field of science, technology, and innovation in India and will hold a status equivalent to other national awards.
  4. Nominations for these awards will be invited annually from January 14th to February 28th, coinciding with National Science Day.
  5. The award announcements will take place on May 11th, which is National Technology Day, and the Award Ceremony will be held on August 23rd, designated as National Space Day, each year.
  6. The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskars will be presented in 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, and others.

Q.: The award ceremony of ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ will be held on August 23 every year. What is the significance of that date?

a. National Mathematics Day.
b. National Environmental Day.
c. National Space Day.
d. National Innovation Day.

Ans : c. National Space Day.

New set of national awards called ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Read More »

Life Clues on K2-18 b? Hydrogen-Rich Atmosphere and Possible Oceans

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered carbon dioxide and methane on the exoplanet K2-18 b. K2-18 b is a potential Hycean exoplanet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface. K2-18 b is within the “habitable zone” of its star, where conditions are conducive to the existence of life.

  1. K2-18 b orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 a and is located 120 light years from Earth.
  2. K2-18 b is 8.6 times the mass of Earth and falls in size between Earth and Neptune.
  3. The presence of methane and carbon dioxide, along with the absence of ammonia, suggests the possibility of a water ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere on K2-18 b.
  4. The telescope also detected a possible molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which on Earth is produced by life, particularly phytoplankton in marine environments.
  5. NASA plans to conduct follow-up research using the telescope’s MIRI spectrograph to further validate their findings and gain more insights into K2-18 b’s environmental conditions.

Q.: Why is the presence of methane and carbon dioxide significant on K2-18 b?

A. It suggests the planet has a toxic atmosphere.
B. It indicates the planet is too hot for life.
C. It supports the hypothesis of a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and water ocean.
D. It suggests the planet is entirely covered in ice.

Answer:C. It supports the hypothesis of a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and water ocean.

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Aditya L1, successfully completed its third earth-bound manoeuvre

India’s first solar mission, Aditya L1, successfully completed its third earth-bound manoeuvre on 10 September 2023. The manoeuvre was performed from ISTRAC, Bengaluru, with tracking from ISRO’s ground stations at Mauritius, Bengaluru, SDSC-SHAR, and Port Blair.

  1. The next manoeuvre is scheduled for September 15, 2023, around 02:00 Hrs. IST.
  2. On September 5, Aditya L1 achieved an orbit of 282 km x 40225 km during its second earth-bound manoeuvre.
  3. Aditya L1 was launched on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
  4. The mission carries seven different payloads to study the Sun in detail, including observations of sunlight and measurements of plasma and magnetic fields.
  5. Aditya-L1’s primary goal is to uncover unknown facts about the Sun.
  6. The satellite will spend 16 days on Earth-bound orbits, undergoing five manoeuvres to gain the required speed to reach its destination.

Q.: India’s first solar mission, Aditya L1 was launched on 2nd September from ?

a) Bengaluru
b) Port Blair
c) Sriharikota
d) Mauritius

Ans : c) Sriharikota

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Japan launched the lunar lander “SLIM” for Moon Landing

Japan launched the lunar lander “SLIM” on September 7, 2023. Japan aims to become the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the moon’s surface. The launch used an H-IIA rocket.

  1. India had recently succeeded in a similar lunar mission.
  2. SLIM is on a long route to the Moon, with a landing expected in four to five months.
  3. The spacecraft will spend the first month in Earth’s orbit before heading to the moon.
  4. It will make orbital maneuvers over three to four months before preparing for landing.
  5. The landing is expected to occur between January and February of the following year.
  6. SLIM is a light and small spacecraft developed by Mitsubishi Electric.
  7. One mission goal is to demonstrate precision landing technology.
  8. The lander will use vision-based navigation to identify a landing spot and avoid surface obstacles.

Question: Which nation launched the lunar lander “SLIM” on September 7, 2023, with the aim of achieving a soft landing on the moon’s surface?

A) China B) India C) Japan D) Russia

Answer: C) Japan

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