General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - February 2016

Feb 2016

Dec 11, 2017

New form of matter ‘excitonium’ discovered

Scientists have proven the existence of a new form of matter called excitonium — which was first theorised almost 50 years ago. Researchers from University of California Berkeley and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US studied non-doped crystals of the transition metal dichalcogenide titanium diselenide. Excitonium is a condensate — it exhibits macroscopic quantum phenomena, like a superconductor. It is made up of excitons, particles that are formed in a strange quantum mechanical pairing.

Dec 04, 2017

Super Moon Brightens up the Sky

The moon appears bigger and brighter in the sky as it moves closer to earth. The moon will appear 14% larger and about 30% brighter because it revolves around the earth in an ‘elliptical orbit’. The moon will be closest to earth at 2.15pm (IST) on Monday, the distance being 3,57,492km. Nasa has said that there will be two more supermoons—one on January 1, and the second one on January 31—calling it a supermoon trilogy, including the one on Monday. The space agency said the January 31 supermoon will be ‘extra special’ because it will also feature a total lunar eclipse.

Nov 16, 2017

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

India has been ranked 14th in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2018 out of 56 nations and the European Union by environmental organisation Germanwatch, an improvement from its 20th position last year, for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by opting to transform its electricity sector towards green technology.
China with its high emissions and growing energy use ranks 41st in the list.

Nov 14, 2017

First CO2 Rise in Four Years

Global emissions of CO2 in 2017 are projected to rise for the first time in four years, dashing hopes that a peak might soon be reached.
The main cause of the expected growth has been greater use of coal in China as its economy expanded.
The latest figures indicate that in 2017, emissions of CO2 from all human activities grew by about 2% globally.

Nov 12, 2017

BARC To Commission World’s 2nd Largest Telescope to Detect Gamma Rays

A new hi-tech telescope of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for detecting gamma rays, Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment (MACE), located at Hanle in Ladakh will be partially commissioned on November 15. The 45-m telescope, equipped with 160 mirrors located at an altitude of 4200m, will be the second largest in the world and the biggest in this region.The AEC chief said that the telescope will be mainly operated from BARC at Trombay —the first time that a telescope will be controlled from Mumbai.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26