S&T for 100 Marks
EarlierQuestions
2010
(48)12- Climate change computer model study and appl– CESM.. Phytoremediation-appl.. Plasma,LED,LCD.. Cloud Computing-Features,adv,lim..Nanotech in Healthcare-appl
(30)5-MRSA infection, HRP-2M Choromet, Maglev, Super absorbent polymer, Ginko biloba, Cartosat 2B, Mobile phone technol
(24)3- Craig Venter, Shahran Amiri, Wolfram Alfa, Dreamliner aircraft, Blue gene project, Predator drones, Deepwater Horizon, ACTN3 gene
2009
(45)15-Biosignatures, GreenFlouresence Protein-appl, Bioinformatics-appl, Hubble space telescope
(40)10- Nanotech-concept-appl, Graphene-appl, Optical Freq Comb-appl, Tele-med in India
(15)3- ArtfSun, PFCs-Liq breathing, VegGold, P-8APoseidon, Biometric ATMs, ExtraVehicularActivity
2008
(30)1- MedBiotech and BioEngg usefulness in India, IndNatSatSys-Features
(45)15- IPTV, Spintronics, Wifi, Robot components
10(2)- copyright and TM, TIFAC, Aspartame, Gene doping, Sappan
3G – UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecom System)
-Higher bandwidth and hence faster Internet access, data download, video audio high quality data and variety of multimedia services– enhanced capabilities with high data transmission rate
-Mobile bradband and GSM is expected to fuel growth in india in Healthcare, Education, Transport sectore ( QQQ how?)
-Integration of broadcasting with mobile broadband enabling multicast service (TV and video streaming)
-Efficient backend insfrasturcture is essential
A
Accelerator mass spectrometry::
-
ADSL::
-Asymmetric digital subscriber line
-Most widely used type of broadband communication.
Apogee:: B Biofuels:
Can be used in aircrafts without modifying engines
Currently costs 4times that of fossil fuel, but if production is speeded up, it will cost same as fossils
Experiences in US (Algae,Camelina), In Brazil (jatropha)
Jatropha, neem, pongmania(honge) suits india(large waste and drylands, wont affect food security)
Biofertilizers::
-they formulate the beneficial microorganisms (symbiotic?) which on application to the root or seed or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity and help build up the micro fauna and in turn the soil health in general.
Brain reading:: Brain implant:: C Carbon dating::
-To determine the age of an organism, specially used in archeological interests.
-Use of carbon 14 which is radio active for determining the age
-When an organism is alive, the ratio of C12 to C14 is maintained and once the organism dies, the level of C14 fizzles out and the ratio varies. Depending upon this ratio and the half life of C14, the age could be identified. (C14 fizzles out as Nitrogen as the organism is no more and the C14 level is no longer replenished)
Carbon and environment::
-Carbon credit trading, Nigeria.
-Waste carbon dioxide can be cleaned to reach ‘food grade’ and used in fizzy drinks (CCU - carbon capture and utilisation – waste CO2 from coal/power plants can be captured and used in industry like food, fuel production ind instead of letting it to atm) – combating climate change – disadv is the cost factor
Cloud computing::
-Public cloud::
.It is a data centre with compute, storage and application resources that are used by many customers.
.Customers can use the resource on pay per use basis.
.You don’t have to buy expensive hardware or have people to manage it; you can get the resources when you need it.
-Private cloud
.Dedicated to a particular customer.
.Enables difference depts in the company to quickly get access to extra compute or storage resources they may need at any point. No hardware investment needed. Helps the situations of episodic use.
Convenience – Need not invest to own resources which you rarely use only access it on the basis of rent (Usage expansion is also instantaneous)
D Doppler weather radar system::
-More efficient weather monitoring system by IMD
-predict thunderstorms, cyclones, cloudbursts
-quick and accurate prediction.
Digital Slate
-digital device that allows both paper-based as well as digital recordkeepin
(With NGO Pradhan – for Microfinance) low-cost digital system that combines the convenience of writing on paper, while simultaneously recording the handwritten entries and instantly storing them in a digital format
E
EPR type reactor
-
F Flops
-floating point operations per second.
-Teraflops
-Petaflops is the fastest super computer in China, India planning for exaflops which is 1000 times faster than petaflops.
Fuel Cell::
-Converts the chemical energy into electrical energy.
G GAGAN::
-GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system - planned implementation of a regional Satellite Based - GOALl is to provide navigation system for all phases of flight over the Indian airspace and in the adjoining area
-Developed jointly by ISRO and Aircrafts Authority of India for Aircraft navigation aid, seamless navigation of aircraft traffic.
GRAPHENE::
-The world’s slenderest material- to shape future computers (Nxt Generation)- Flexibility- design smartphones and computers that would be folded into any shape or design
-Better touch-screens, ultrafast transistors, photo-detectors.
-It permits flow of electrons at much higher speed than they do in ‘Silicon’ (computer chips)
-200 times tougher than ‘steel’.
<< single-layered C atom- discovery- 2010 Nobel prize for Physics >>*
GSM:: Global system for mobile communication::
H http and https differences:: -http
Hyper text trfr protocol.
-https
S for secure.
Data trfr happens in an encrypted format using a key needed to decode the data and hence it is not possible for an external person to eavesdrop since he does not have the key
-It is possible for someone to eavesdrop in http and that is the reason why a credit card number should never be entered in a http website.
Hydrogen fuel cells::
-It makes a great fuel cos it can easily be converted into electricity in a fuel cell and because it is carbon free
-since it is a gas, storage has to be cryogenic and the technology to support this has to be an advanced one and complicated.
I IMEI::
-International mobile equipment identity.
-Ban on the chinese mobiles in india cos they don’t have the IMEI number.
Irradiation
-process of exposing an item to radiation.
L LHC::
-Large haldron collider
-It is the most powerful particle accelerator in which two proton beams of high energy collide head on to produce a multitude of particles
-experiment at CERN, tunnel, Switzerland.
Antimatter
-counterpart of matter; positron for electron; antiproton for proton; anti neutron is opposite of neutron thou it does not have any charge cos it is in the opposite direction of spin.
-when matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate each other.
-According to Big bang matter and antimatter should have been created in equal amounts.
-however antimatter has not been realized in practicality and still remains a theory.
Higgs particle::
-it is a hypothetical massive elementary particle predicted to exist by the standard model of particle physics.
-Higgs mechanism is a part of the standard model which explains how elementary particles obtain their masses.
-God particle is the theoretical Higgs Boson.
M Magnetic PC::
Uses less energy as compared to conventional silicon chip PCs. Here electric current/moving electrons are absent and hence v.less loss of energy in the form of heat
Mind mapping::
-process of representing various facets of an idea in pictorial form, using graphical representation of several tasks centred around a main application.
-helps visualise different aspects of a project in a single diagram, provides a bird’s eye view of the project in one shot.
-useful in project planning, developing business plan, etc
Mega Trophics
-Satellite built by Indo- French Space orgn collaboration
- Studies cloud systems, measure humidity and radiation and facilitate better weather forecasting
N Nanopatch
-vaccine delivery into the body, places it directly on the skin- rich in immune cells, injections place it in the muscle, low immune cells.
-it is a patch which can be worn on the skin, cheap, no need of cold storage (about 50% of the vaccines in S.AF are lost cos of absence of storage facilities); pain free- no need of injecting
-nanopatch would have to be worn for 2 mins-pain free immunisation.
Nuclear fusion power, how it works, what are the limitations, why is it not being used::
-Fusion (combining the nucleus of lighter elements) happens in the plasma state creating which requires spending large amount of energy (Like a nuclear fission)
Neuro Informatics:: Neuro Prosthetics::
Nuclear waste::
-called for storing of the interim nuclear waste off site (in an area where it does not cause any danger to the public) following the Fukushima disaster.
-waste management:: It is stored for a certain period of time till it poses no threat to human health and environment, radioactivity diminishes over time (half life concept- time taken for a radioactive element to lose half its radioactivity), so stored for some time; deep burials, sealing in a steel cylinder.
-Concept of India’s nuclear plan, which generation reactors, which technology do we own, why are we dependent on the NSG for fuel, what grade reactor do we have and what grade is the current civil nuclear plan aiming at providing? What is India’s plight in the light of the new decision by the NSG?
O Operation shady Rat::
-Acronym used for the remote access tools that allow the access of computers from a remote location.
-Used by terrorism, hackers so that no trace is left as to the location from which the access is made.
P Perigee:: closest point to earth, its called perihelion wrt Sun
The annual perihelion(viz the nearest distance/point of earth wrt sun) is on January 4th viz 14days aft the December Solstice
Pinging::
-technology to locate people thro mobile phone signals.
-Process when one machine establishes contact with the other for data exchange
R Reverse Electrowetting - New Energy Harvesting Techn
Reduces dependence on batteries – captures energy from human motion to power portal electr devices – Mech to Electr conv using microfluidic device (nano tech)
Footwear embedded energy harvester
S Sustainable Agriculture
-For sustained production in the interest of Food security
- Increase Food prod throu High Yield Varieties, Scientific methods of Farming,Optimum inputs including water
- For environmentally friendly agriculture
No over-exploitation/chemical pesticide, soil health mgmt)
Solar power, how it is generated, parabolic cells:: Soyuz spacecraft
-Russia’s craft for transport of crew to and from the space station.
-The last space shuttle Atlantis has made its last round and the US shuttle has officially retired from this.
Stuxnet Virus::
-Iran, it nearly sabotaged the Iranian nuclear program.
-The worm spreads indiscriminately, includes a highly specialized malware, duplicates itself.
-Damaged the Iranian computers
Sky blue
-Due to scattering, shorter wavelengths like Violet and blue scatter a lot more as particles are nearly of that size. Our eye does not sense the violet overlapped blue but only blue
-sky color can change based on dust,pollution particles, water vapour which affect scattering and absorption
T Transponder::
-An electronic device that would allow coastal authorities to track whereabouts of a fleet in real time.
V Voice calls and SMS W World Wide Web
-Single INformation NETwork (INTERNET) for the whole world-
-Tim Berners- Lee invented in 1990 at CERN (20years)
-www has democratised information (every indiv can create/share /retrieve content
WHITE SPACES::
White spaces in a spectrum refer to the communication applications that work without causing interference to the primary uses in the spectrum. (Ex TV, Microwave)
Wimax::
Wireless broadband services.
Photovoltaics::
Why? For elecetric power thru solar radiation using semi conductors(Photo Electric Effect concept)
What? By using protected solar cells
Applications/Uses: large power plants, buildings, traffic lights in india, emergency telephones, parking meters etc..
Adv: easily available, green energy, less pollution, renewable has highest power density , maintenance costs are very less
Disadv: needs govt funding, not suitable or less affordable to install Solar PV for small home owners
Electrical grid:: grid means network
What? Interconnected network for delivering electricity form suppliers to consumers
Consists 3 components: generatingstation,transmission lines and transformers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electricity_Grid_Schematic_English.svg
Adv: distributed generation, TERI’s smart grid , decentralisation of power transmission distribution , efficient delivery
Applications: Informatin revolution , cheaper and clean energy
Solar Roadway:: A solar roadway is a road surface that generates electricity by solar photovoltaics
Adv: life span of such road is 30-40yrs where as normal roads only 7-10yrs, renewable energy source, does not require new land unlike Photovoltaic Installations
Majorly it helps protect wildlife as driversll be intimidated thru LED signages abt animals on roads, highways, protection of climate by less burning of fossil fuel,
Applications: Water management of strom water run off and melted ice and snow on such roads, lighting and recharge of electrical vehicles along Solar Roadway’s charge points
Hydrogen economy:: delivering energy using hydrogen
Hydrogen is only an energy carrier(like electricity ) and not a primary energy source(like coal)
Adv: high energy density, can be used in hybrid electric vehicles, higher efficiency when compared to petrol diesel combustion engines
Uses: ammonia production via Haber process for fertiliser, hydro cracking
Disadv: hydrogen separation from water which inturn requires non renewable energy (steam reforming), electrolysis of water requires high pressure
Tip: Iron Fertilisation is under controversy due to release of nitrogen oxides creating imbalance in the oceans nutrient balance due to increased algal blooms which is used for Carbon Sequestration
Nanowire battery:: lithium ion battery
consists of stainless steel anode covered in silicon nanowires as silicon stores ten times more lithium than graphite , has a far greater energy density and thereby less mass , faster charging and low discharging
Ultracapacitor:: is an electrochemical capacitor with relatively high energy density. Their energy density is typically hundreds of times greater than conventional electrolytic capacitors.[1] They also have a much higher power density than batteries or fuel cells.
Uses: power supply filters, to moderate power fluctuations in rectifiers
"In fuel cell vehicles, ultra capacitors have demonstrated a higher recovery of energy from braking than batteries, are considerably lighter, have a longer economic life, and are more environmentally friendly in their manufacture and disposal,"
Smart grid::
--is a type of electrical grid which attempts to predict and intelligently respond to the behaviour and actions of all electric power users connected to it - suppliers, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver reliable, economic, and sustainable electricity services.
The system optimizes the use of multiple energy resources, namely, solar, wind, biomass, and diesel, to meet different loads on the campus in a reliable and cost-effective manner. This has been achieved through the design and development of Intelligent Dispatch Controllers using smart control techniques. The research, design, and construction of the SMG have been undertaken by TERI with inputs from experts.
Adv: the consumer can be an energy supplier as well as a user (iii) flexibility to power consumption at the consumer site as well as at the energy supply site, Using computer based operation, automation and remote control
low carbon economy, easier intergration and penetration of renewable sources of energy and Decentralised power sharing and generation
Technology in the news: Advanced Metering Infrastructure where the consumers know how much each of their appliance consume
Vizulaization: VERDE system built on Google Earth Platform ----capable of instantly responding to the ebb and flow of energy production and demand across the grid
Artificial Brain:: It’s a research to develop software and hardware similar to human/animal brain using High Performance Computing Engine
Uses: cognitive neuron science uses biological cells called neurospheres to develop treatment for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s etc ii) philosophy of artificial intelligence, demonstrating that it is possible, in theory, to create a machine that has all the capabilities of a human being iii)
Artificial intelligence:: the study and design of intelligent agents where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success, is a branch of computer science
4G tech, its advancements over 2G, 3G:: higher frequency band range, it means 4th Generation Mobile broadband : Technology LTELong Term Evolution and Mobile WiMax
Data rates of upto 1Gbps , faster access to multimedia and videos online, unprecedented download speeds which gives voide, data, sms, video , internet surfing, voice calls simultaneousls
2G: digital but discontinuous and only voice information as electrical impulses of 0’s and 1’s
3G: wide area , video and voice , wide area wireless access which is efficient ..voice and data simultaneously
Broadband, wireless, LAN, WLAN, WiFi, VPN::
VPN: access thru a public telecommunication infrastructure to a central organisation network
Requires remote users of the network to be authenticated , uses encryption techniques to prevent disclosure of data to unauthorised people.
Advantages: no need to have dedicated leased line telecom network, sharing of data and resources like printers, databases and websites across the network
MOBILE VPN: here the end point is not a single IP address but roams continuously used in field service management health care orgs and criminal databases
Quantum computing:: computation using quantum mechanical phenomenon like superposition and entanglement
--It harnesses the power of atoms and molecules for computation, combines physics, maths and comp science
--Faster than silicon based computers
Uses Qbits(Qubits) which aren’t limited to 0’s and 1’s for computation
exist peculiar relationships such that whenever the system is definitely in one state we can consider it as being partly in each of two or more other states. The original state must be regarded as the result of a kind of superposition of the two or more new states, in a way that cannot be conceived on classical ideas.
Optical computing:: uses photons generated by lasers and diodes instead of electrons for computing
Adv: photons are faster than electrons, do not require optical electrical optical(OEO) conversions, lower amount of power consumption over greater data rates Usage: PhotonicLogic which uses photons in logic gates
RFId:: Radio Frequency Identification , a Technology under Automatic Identifi
uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag called RFID Tag
for identifying and tracking the object, can be read from several meters beyond the line fo sight of a reader.
Uses: in Social Media Ex: FB, to tie physical world with virtual world , for managing inventory, assets and people
Adv: no need to show the tag to the reader device as in a bar code reader can read hundreds at a time unlike barcode which reads one at a time only
----- can read even beyond the line of sight of a reader device
A basic RFID system consists of three components:
An antenna or coil
A transceiver (with decoder)
A transponder (RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information
The antenna emits radio signals to activate the tag and to read and write data to it.
The reader emits radio waves in ranges of anywhere from one inch to 100 feet or more, depending upon its power output and the radio frequency used. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the reader's activation signal.
The reader decodes the data encoded in the tag's integrated circuit (silicon chip) and the data is passed to the host computer for processing.
Hard disks- magnetic, non magnetic, optical::
3D tv:: is a television set that employs techniques of 3D presentation, such as stereoscopic capture, multi-view capture, or 2D-plus-depth, and a 3D display – a special viewing device to project a television program into a realistic three-dimensional field.
These TV sets are high-end and generally include Ethernet, USB player and recorder, Bluetooth and USB Wi-Fi. It is a technology after HDTV
It makes use of a blue tint and a red tint in the glass which gives the depth effect
Uses: LCD’s and Plasmas which make use of 3D TechnologyHolograms:: The hologram is a true, three-dimensional record of the original object
Done using Laser Photon(light) Technology , its a interference pattern
Adv and Uses: Avoiding counterfeiting, piracy, Interferometry for component testing and quality control in industries
Has higher resolution than SD(standard definition) Television
Resolution is 1080 or 720lines where as regular DTV has just 480lines
Uses: Film making, HD Streaming and Video Gaming
Adv: high resolution, color fidelity and more acture frame rate
Virtual Reality:: computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds
primarily visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound through speakers or headphones
uses: heritage sites to be recreated extremely accurately, Motion Pictures(ex Avatar)
Graphene:: allotrope of carbon, lightest yet densest form which can be used in plastics to made lighter electronic gadgets.
Adv: reduced resistivity when compared to Cu.
Uses: graphene can replace indium-based electrodes in organic light emitting diodes (OLED), high frequency transistors
Superconductivity:: Carbon nanotubes, nanotubes:: one of applications of grapheme
Its a building block of nanotechnology
It has 100times more tensile strength than steel better thermal conductivity than diamond
Uses: nanohorns for fuel cells of personal electronics, biosensors, resolution imaging, lighting and flat panel displays
Light weight, small and easy best replacement for metallic wires, resistant to temperature changes
Nanorobotics:: creating creating automatic machines,respondent devices and robots whose component size is close to nanometer.
nanobots,nanoids,nanites or nanomites are also used to explain the machines by nanorobotics
Uses: nano machines in research, toxicity detectors, Nubots – nuclic acid robots viz for demonstrating DNA test and bloodcell detection, NANOMEDICINE- for surgery and monitoring of diabetics
Molecular nanotechnology:: ability to build structures to complex, atomic specifications by means of mechanosynthesis,
Applications: nanosensors, replicating nanorobots, "Utility Fog"[15] — in which a cloud of networked microscopic robots (simpler than assemblers) would change its shape and properties to form macroscopic objects and tools in accordance with software commands
----- lighter powerful molecular computers using MNT
Alternative fuel vehicle:: alternative fuel vehicle is a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than "traditional" petroleum fuels (petrol or diesel)
LPG, CNG, Electric Vehicles. CNG might get bulky as its stored under high pressure , LPG has the risk of fire.
Hybrid electric vehicles are actually not alternative fuel vehicles but make efficient use of petrol/diesel along with electric combination
All electric and fuel cell vehicles
Air Engine-emission-free piston engine that uses compressed air as a source of energy. The only exhaust is cold air (−15 °C), which could also be used to air condition the car
Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is a method of storing energy. Energy is used to liquify air, and then LN2 is produced by evaporation, and distributed. LN2 is exposed to ambient heat in the car and the resulting nitrogen gas can be used to power a piston or turbine engine
Maglev:: magnetic levitation.
To transport vehicles few inches above the guideway surface using magnets
Adv: better acceleration, less maintenance due to non reliance on friction
In India btw Mumbai and delhi a maglev train has been proposed by Mamatha
Nanofiber:: also called ceramic nanofibers obtained by electrospinning technology
Usage: dye sensitised solar cell, photo voltaic cells, membranes and fuel cells
Nanofibers exhibit special properties mainly due to extremely high surface to weight ratio compared to conventional nonwovens.
Low density, large surface area to mass, high pore volume, and tight pore size make the nanofiber nonwoven appropriate for a wide range of filtration applications
Magnetic refrigeration:: cooling technology based on the magnetocaloric effect
Adv: extremetly low temperatures below 1Kelvin Uses: in spacecraft to achieve cryogenic temperatures, cryogenic heat pumps for gas liquefaction purposes
Magnetocalorific effect: magneto-thermodynamic phenomenon in which a reversible change in temperature of a suitable material is caused by exposing the material to a changing magnetic field. This is also known by low temperature physicists as adiabatic demagnetization, due to the application of the process specifically to create a temperature drop
Nanoscience:: uses: cell imaging and treating cancer, nanofiber textiles for stain free and winkle free materials, lighter athletic shoes,
Nano-optics could allow for an increase in precision of pupil repair and other types of laser eye surgery.
sunscreen based on mineral nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide offer several advantages
Neuro Technology:: technology to visualize the brain and understand the factors which influence aspects of consciousness, thought and other activities
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography to understand brain structure and activation
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method of measuring brainwave activity non-invasively. A number of electrodes are placed around the head and scalp and electrical signals are measured. Typically EEGs are used when dealing with sleep, as there are characteristic wave patterns associated with different stages of sleep, epilepsy studies and so on
Neuroethics :: Neuroethics is the ethics of neuroscience, and the neuroscience of ethics
ethical issues with embryonic stem cells , The ethics of neuroscience deals with matters as a subclass of bioethics.
Bioethics:: Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Ex: abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, genetic engineering etc ..
Roboethics:: Machine ethics is concerned with the behavior of artificial moral agents, Roboethics is concerned with the behavior of humans, how humans design, construct, use and treat robots and other artificially intelligent beings. An event rich in ethical, social and economic problems.
Brain computer interface:: is direct neural interface or a brain–machine interface (BMI).
Things to ponder about- suggested at UPSC portal-
1. The future is small. (Nano technology)
2. Nano energy – solution to the energy crises.
3. Nano technology – To the aid of the defence sector.
4. Nano – medicine
5. Biodiversity
6. Is there life beyond earth?
7. Spectrum
8. Biotechnology
10. Interview of prof. C.N.R. Rao
11. Green chemistry
12.Fukushima nuclear accident
13.Interview of Dr.Baldev Raj
14.Quake, Tsunami, Fukushima
15.Radiation Alert
16. Melatonin wonder molecule
17. 2011 International year of forest
18.Forest for people, people for forest.
19. Urban forest fighting for survival
20. After math of super cyclone
21.Synthia– the first man made cell
22. The legacy of Yuri Gagarin.
23. When blue ice falls from the sky.
24. Cold fusion.
25. Dolphines – sentinels of the sea
26. War and Peach: Conflict and cooperation in an insect society.
27. The sage of DNA Bar code
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