Science and Tech

New method to extract Neanderthal DNA

A new computer-based method to retrieve ancient Neanderthal DNA molecules from fossils despite contamination by modern human DNA has been found. The method showed a fossil to be related to other Neanderthals in Europe.

New light on Grand Canyon formation

                                                                                                               The world famous Grand Canyon took its present form just five to six million years ago — much more recently than previously thought, a new study suggests. Previous studies had claimed it was perhaps 70million years old.

30-year-old puzzle in star formation solved                                                                          .           

Now, observations have confirmed that as the gas cloud around a young massive star collapses, it forms dense filamentary structures that absorb the star's UV radiation and the surrounding nebula flickers like a candle.

Plant compound takes on Alzheimer's in mice

                 

A chemical that's found in fruits and vegetables from strawberries to cucumbers stops memory loss that accompanies Alzheimer's disease in mice. A daily dose prevented progressive memory and learning impairments.                                                                               

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                 .

Australian Open-Sports

Australian Open Tennis Champions -2014

Women :

Winner   : Li-Na(Chn) 

Runner   : Dominika Cibulkova(Svk)

                (7-6(3),6-0)

Men       :

Winner    : Stanislas Wawrinka(Sui)

Runner    : Rafael Nadal (Esp)

                 (6-3,6-2,3-6,6-3)

Women Doubles :

Winner     : Sara Errani(Ita)&Roberta Vinci(Ita)

Runner     : Ekaterina Makarova(Rus)&

                  Elena Vesnina(Rus)

                  (6-4,3-6,7-5)

Men Doubles    :

Winner    : Lukasz Kubot (Pol) & 

                 Robert Lindstedt(Swe)

Runner    : Eric Butorac(USA)&Raven Klaasen(RSA)

                 (6-3,6-3)

Mixed Doubles  :

Winner     : Kristina Mladenovic(Fra)&

                  Daniel Nestor(Can)

Runner     : Sania Mirza(Ind)&Horia Tecau(Rou)

                  (6-3,6-2)

Boys        :

Winner      : Alexander Zverev(Ger)

Runner      : Stefan Kozlov(USA)

                   (6-3,6-0)

Girls         :

Winner      : Elizaveta Kulichkova(Rus)

Runner      : Jana Fett(Cro)

                   (6-2,6-1)

India successfully test fires Prithvi-II

India successfully test fires Prithvi-II

• Prithvi-II facts

1. Surface-to-surface strategic missile.
2. Can carry nuclear warhead of 500 kg.
3. Full range is 350 Km.
4. Naval version is Dhanush-carry nuclear warhead of 500 kg, range over 250 Km.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation, which developed both Prithvi-II and Dhanush, plans to test-fire the surface-to-surface Agni-IV, another strategic missile with a range of 4,000 km, from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, on January 20. The Agni-IV, capable of carrying a one-tonne nuclear warhead, has proved to be successful twice so far

Science and Tech

GSLV-D5 launch places India in elite league

Indigenous cryogenic engine puts a 1,982-kg GSAT-14 communication satellite in orbit

• One of India’s most ambitious dreams became a reality on 5th January 2014, when its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5), powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine, effortlessly put the 1,982-kg GSAT-14 communication satellite into a perfect orbit after 17 minutes of flight.

• The cryogenic engine built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) fired for 12 of those 17 minutes.

• The precision of the cryogenic upper stage was such that it put the GSAT-14 into an orbit with a perigee of 179 km, against the target of 180 km, and the apogee achieved was off by a mere 50 km for a target of 36,000 km.

• The grand success caps 20 years of hard work by ISRO’s engineers, after being denied cryogenic technology under pressure from the U.S., suffering a heartbreaking failure with an indigenous cryogenic engine flight in April 2010 and having had to scrub its second attempt with an indigenous cryogenic engine in August 2013.

• First Stage uses Solid fuel

• Second stage uses Liquid fuel and Oxidiser

• Third stage is the cryogenic stage- Uses Liquid Oxygen at minus 183 degrees centigrade and Liquid Hydrogen at minus 253 degrees centigrade.

• The turbo-pump in the cryogenic engine should supply the fuel to the combustion chamber at high pressure. This injection should take place with the right proportion of the fuel and the oxidiser. Then the fuel has to be ignited.challenges are involved in developing the insulation to keep the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen at their low temperatures. “They should not boil off.”

• GSLV-D5 mission lasted for about 17 minutes, the cryogenic engine itself fired for a full twelve minutes. At the end of seventeen minutes, the rocket put the GSAT-14 satellite into orbit. 

• GSAT-14 will be used for telecasting, telecommunication, tele-medicine and tele-education.

• The first orbit-raising manoeuvre was sussessfully conducted on 6th January 2014 morning by ISRO, giving commands to the satellite’s propulsion system called the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM). 

• LAM used 435 kg of fuel (mono methyl hydrazine) in this firing. 

• Two more orbit-raising manoeuvres will put the satellite in its final, circular geo-stationary orbit, at a height of 36,000 km around the earth.

• Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri in Tamilnadu is the architect of cryogenic stage. It also supplied Second stage and the strap-on motors.

• The Chandrayaan-2 mission, scheduled for 2016, will use a GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage. ISRO has to produce two winners in a row with GSLVs with India-built cryogenic stages before it can confidently send up the Chandrayaan-2, which will deploy an India-made lander and rover on the moon.