UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on White blood cells, Vyommitra and more (Week 131)

Explanation

— CAR-T cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is an immunotherapy-based cancer treatment that uses the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. The immune system is the body’s defence network against infections and diseases. White blood cells (WBCs) play a pivotal role in the immune system.

— WBCs, or leukocytes, are produced in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood and lymphatic system. The key types of WBCs include:

(i) Neutrophils – Engulf and destroy pathogens

(ii) Lymphocytes – Target specific invaders and remember past infections

(iii) Monocytes – Differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells, ingesting pathogens and presenting antigens

(iv) Eosinophils – Release enzymes and toxic proteins that kill parasites and modulate inflammatory responses, and

(v) Basophils – Release histamine and other chemicals that contribute to inflammation and allergic symptoms.

— Erythrocytes are red blood cells that transport oxygen, whereas thrombocytes, known as platelets, aid in blood clotting rather than immunity.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Vyommitra, consider the following statements:

1. It is India’s first humanoid robot developed by ISRO to assist in human space missions.

2. It was unveiled in 2020.

3. It is designed to act as an intelligent, anthropomorphic companion for astronauts, handling both mechanical tasks and communication duties aboard India’s crewed spacecraft.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— India is set to create history in December this year. The Indian Space Research Organisation will send the first humanoid robot to space to aid in space-exploration and test environments before manned crews are sent to the unknown.

— Vyommitra is India’s first humanoid robot developed by ISRO to assist in human space missions. With human-like expressions, speech, and intelligence, Vyommitra stands at the heart of Gaganyaan, India’s maiden human spaceflight programme. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The ISRO unveiled Vyommitra in early 2020. The name is derived from Sanskrit — “Vyoma” meaning space, and “Mitra” meaning friend — literally, “friend in space”. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This humanoid robot is designed to act as an intelligent, anthropomorphic companion for astronauts, handling both mechanical tasks and communication duties aboard India’s crewed spacecraft. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Vyommitra is not just a test dummy. It is a semi-humanoid robot with advanced sensors, voice recognition systems, and decision-making algorithms. Its primary mission is to simulate human functions in space and validate crew module systems before astronauts embark on their journey.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for:

(a) the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.

(b) the development of the theory of superconductivity at room temperature.

(c) the invention of the quantum dot laser and its applications in optical communication.

(d) the discovery of graphene and its unique two-dimensional properties.

Explanation

— John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit”.

— Very small particles, on the scale of an atom or smaller, behave in ways that are very different compared to objects we encounter in our everyday lives. The behaviour of small particles, extremely counter-intuitive at times, is described by the laws of quantum mechanics.

— These individual particles appear to exist in numerous locations at the same time (superposition) or to pass through physical barriers such as a wall (tunnelling). Large objects, despite being made up of the same microscopic particles, do not typically display these features.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the ram air turbine (RAT), consider the following statements:

1. It is essentially a wind turbine stowed in a compartment on the underside of the Boeing 787’s fuselage.

2. It deploys into the airstream to generate power when primary and secondary power sources fail.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The RAT, a critical system, is essentially a wind turbine stowed in a compartment on the underside of the Boeing 787’s fuselage, just behind the aircraft’s wing. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It deploys into the airstream to generate power only when primary and secondary power sources fail. Although aircraft are equipped with auxiliary power units (APUs) to provide the required power to critical aircraft systems in the event of a total engine failure, the RAT offers an additional layer of safety, making it the plane’s last-ditch emergency power system when everything else fails. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The RAT generates power from the airstream by injecting ram pressure, which is created by the forward motion of the aircraft, and depends on the plane’s speed at the time.

— In the event of total power failure, the RAT helps power vital systems, including flight controls, flight-critical instrumentation, navigation, and communication equipment. During the brief period between the aircraft’s loss of power and the deployment of the RAT, the plane’s batteries ensure the bare minimum essential instrumentation continues to work.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

The 2025 TN2 is an astronomical object, commonly referred to as:

(a) Comet

(b) Dwarf planet

(c) Natural satellite of Jupiter

(d) Asteroid

Explanation

— An asteroid, the size of an aeroplane, is hurtling towards Earth at breakneck speed. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the asteroid measuring about 87 feet across, will pass by Earth.

— However, there is no need to panic as the closest the asteroid, named 2025-TN2, will be to the Earth would be 1,340,000 km.

— According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks asteroids, there are three more asteroids, two the size of a house and another the size of an aeroplane, which are approaching Earth. The 2025-TN2 is, however, the largest among them. The three others — 2025 SJ29, 2025 TF1, and 2020 QU5 — measure 55 feet, 65 feet, and 81 feet across, respectively.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 125)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 131)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 130)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 130)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 130)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 130)

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