Tag: science & technology

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, born in Tamil Nadu, India, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 along with Thomas Steitz and Ada Yonath. They were recognized for their studies of the structure and function of the ribosome. His work on determining the atomic structure of the ribosome's subunits has been fundamental to understanding antibiotic resistance and protein synthesis.

Durba Banerjee was India's first woman pilot, obtaining her commercial pilot license in the 1950s. She flew for Indian Airlines and was a pioneer in Indian aviation history. It's important to note she was a commercial pilot, not a military pilot. The other options appear to be fictional or incorrect names, as none of them correspond to documented pioneering women pilots in India.

Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for Vitamin C, an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays crucial roles in collagen synthesis, immune function, and antioxidant protection. It is commonly found in citrus fruits, berries, and vegetables. Vitamin A is retinol, Vitamin B12 is cobalamin, and Vitamin D is cholecalciferol (D3) or ergocalciferol (D2).

Aspirin's chemical name is acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). It is synthesized by acetylating salicylic acid, which is derived from willow bark. Borax is sodium borate, carbonic acid is H2CO3, and salicylic acid is the precursor compound, not aspirin itself. The acetyl group (CH3CO) is what makes it aspirin, improving its efficacy and reducing side effects compared to salicylic acid.

Absinthe is historically an anise-flavored spirit derived from botanical ingredients including Artemisia absinthium (wormwood), which gives it its name. It was banned in the US and many European countries in the early 1900s due to concerns about thujone (a compound in wormwood) causing hallucinations and madness, though modern science suggests these fears were exaggerated. Options A, B, and C describe other spirits: A is tequila/mezcal, B appears to be a description of Chartreuse or similar herbal liqueur, and C is aquavit.

The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones, which is far more than 100. Babies are born with around 270 bones that fuse together during growth, resulting in the adult count of 206 bones.

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, not Venus. Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is actually the hottest planet due to its thick atmosphere, but it's not the closest to the Sun.

Atomic bombs use nuclear fission, where heavy atomic nuclei (like uranium or plutonium) split into smaller nuclei, releasing enormous energy. This differs from hydrogen bombs which use nuclear fusion.

Water (H₂O) is a chemical compound made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, not a chemical element. Elements contain only one type of atom (like oxygen or hydrogen alone), while compounds consist of two or more different elements chemically bonded.

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world at 29,032 feet (8,849 meters) above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain, but not the tallest overall.