Day-718 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Answer: A
Explanation
• Statement 1 is correct: Tactical LAN radio is state-of-the-art high-bandwidth backhaul wireless radio equipment aimed at providing reliable communication for the armed forces. It offers an enhanced range of communication, ensuring seamless connectivity in critical situations. This development is crucial in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of military operations.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Any radio uses radio waves which are long electromagnetic waves. Infrared waves are high frequency waves and cannot be used for long-range communication. So, the communication through infrared waves is limited to use in remotes for ACs, TVs etc.
• Radio Waves are easy to generate and these can travel long distances. These waves are omni directional in nature which means that they can travel in all the directions. They are widely used for communication between both indoor and outdoor because they have the property that they can penetrate through the walls very easily. These waves are usually used for AM and FM radio, television, cellular phones and wireless LAN.

Answer: B
Explanation
• Statement 1 is incorrect: Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves are a form of plasma waves found in different regions of the Earth’s magnetosphere. These waves are characterized by their interaction with charged particles and their ability to transport mass and energy across different regions.
• Statement 2 is correct: They consist of charged particles, known as plasma, that react to electromagnetic fields. The Sun, solar wind, interplanetary medium, near-Earth region, magnetosphere, and upper part of our atmosphere all consist of plasma.
• Statement 3 is correct: EMIC waves play a crucial role in the precipitation of high-energy electrons, often referred to as killer electrons. These electrons, when precipitated to the high-latitude atmosphere, can pose a significant threat to space technology and satellites. Understanding the role of EMIC waves in this process is essential for assessing and mitigating the risks associated with space weather events.

Answer: A
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Deepfake uses Generative Adversarial Neural Network (GAN) to produce artificial data that is identical to actual data. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a powerful class of neural networks that are used for unsupervised learning.
Statement 2 is correct and is the correct explanation of statement 1: GANs are made up of two neural networks, a discriminator and a generator. The Generator attempts to fool the Discriminator, which is tasked with accurately distinguishing between produced and genuine data, by producing random noise samples. Through adversarial training, these models engage in a competitive interplay until the generator becomes adept at creating realistic samples, fooling the discriminator approximately half the time.

Answer: C
Explanation
• Statement 1 is correct: XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. The primary payload POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) measures the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin. The XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload gives spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
• Statement 2 is correct: The observatory has been placed in a low Earth orbit of 500–700 km and it has an expected operational lifespan of at least five years. Moreover, generally observatory satellites are placed in low earth orbits. Communication satellites are generally placed in geostationary or geosynchronous orbit which are high-orbit.

Answer: A
Explanation
• Optogenetics is a neuroscience method that uses light to control biological systems. It involves introducing natural or engineered photoreceptors into cells, which makes them sensitive to light. This is achieved by expression of light-sensitive ion channels, pumps or enzymes specifically in the target cells. On the level of individual cells, light-activated enzymes and transcription factors allow precise control of biochemical signaling pathways.