1) China launched pulsar navigation satellite XPNAV-1
- China, has taken a step forward to incease its charisma in space research segment by launching an X-Ray Pulsar Navigationsatellite into space which is designed to identify signs of pulsar ray. Named as “XPNAV-1”, this all-new powerful asteroid will carry out in-orbit researchers by means of pulsar detectors to reveal new technologies for space mapping.China launched pulsar navigation satellite XPNAV-1
- The experimental pulsar navigation mission carries two sensors modified to pick up incoming X-rays from objects scattered across the galaxy, and use the detections mark the craft’s position without relying on GPS satellites or pre-loaded navigation fixes.
- The XPNAV 1 satellite weighed more than 440 pounds (200 kilograms) at launch, and was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., a contractor in the country’s state-run space industry.
- X-ray pulsar navigation techniques will help reduce the trust of spacecraft on ground-based navigation methods and are anticipated to achieve independent spacecraft navigation in the future.
2) Ministry of health and family welfare launched an app to manage stress
- Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda launched a mobile app “No More Tension” to manage the stress level and released a magazine “Healthy India Initiative/Swastha Bharat-ek pehal” on November 9, 2016 in New Delhi.
- The quarterly magazine will showcase information related to health issues and raise awareness about healthy living, certain aspect of health such as women and child health, elderly health, seasonal ailments, daily nutritional needs, safe medication practices, home remedies healthy living and many more. The magazine will be available at all the government facilities free of cost.
- The e-version of this magazine is also released and available for download. Currently the magazine is being issued in Hindi and English but the next version will be available in 13 other languages.
- Mobile application ‘No More Tension’ aims to provide information to users regarding stress such as, what is stress, effects, symptoms and its management. The application enables the user to measure their stress level along with learning various techniques like yoga and meditation for the purpose of reducing stress. For downloading the application is currently available on Google play store and app store and will be available on Windows soon.
3) Mobile App ‘CHIRAG’ launched by Maharashtra to check violation of child rights.
- The Maharashtra government along with the State Child Rights Protection Commission launched ‘CHIRAG’ mobile application on November 9 2016 to enable the submission of complaints related to violation of child rights.
- The App “Child Helpline for Information on Rights and Address Grievances” (CHIRAG) was launched by MaharashtraWomen and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde and will be available for download on Google Playstore while an IOS version would be launched shortly.
- The app will provide information regarding functioning of the Child Rights Protection Commission while spread awareness about children’s rights.People can also lodge complaints about violation of child rights through the app.
4) ISRO Conduts Tests For Chandrayaan-II Mission
- The Indian Space Research Organsiation (ISRO) Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, on November 11, 2016, revealed that ISRO has started to conduct the test for its second moon mission, Chandrayaan-II at its center in Challakere, Karnataka.
- Chandrayaan-2 mission is tentatively set for late 2017 or early 2018 and includes soft-landing on Moon and moving a rover on its surface.
- The lead centre for the second Moon mission, ISRO Satellite Centre or ISAC, has artificially created several craters, resembling the terrain of the Moon, to test instruments and sensors on the lander of Chandrayaan-2.
- iv. A small ISRO aircraft has been carrying equipment with sensors over these craters to plan the tasks ahead.
- Chandrayaan-2, mission is an advanced version of the Chandrayaan-1 mission. It consists of an orbiter, lander and rover configuration that are expected to perform mineralogical and elemental studies of the surface of moon.
5) Robot sets new Rubik’s Cube world record
- The Sub1 Reloaded robot successfully solved the famous puzzle Rubik’s Cube in the fastest ever time of 0.637 seconds in just 21 moves at the Electronica trade fair in Munich on November 9, 2016.
- Earlier in January, the Sub1 robot had achieved the record to solve a Rubik’s Cube in just 0.887 seconds. The machine “Sub1 Reloaded” beat that record with the help a new, faster microchip which was developed by the technology firm Infineon.
- The Rubik’s Cube consists of six faces, each having nine squares of a color that can be turned in opposing directions. The object is to rotate the faces until they have returned to the original position.
- Guinness World Records is yet to verify the transparency in the use of the robot in the competition.
6) November 2016 moon-the biggest and brightest in 60 years
- According to the American Space Agency NASA, November 14, 2016, moon will be the biggest and brightest it has been in the 68 years.This moon will be a rare ‘supermoon’ making an appearance early morning just before dawn. It will appear especially bright because it is the closest it has been to Earth since Jan. 26, 1948 which won’t be seen until Nov. 25, 2034.
- November’s full moon has been given a special name: Beaver Moon. November’s moon type is commonly called a “supermoon”, or technically a “perigee full moon”
- On November 14 at 6:15 a.m. EST, the moon will arrive at its closest point to the Earth in 2016 at distance of 221,524 miles (356,508 kilometers) away.
7) China wins Supercomputer crown for eighth time
- China has topped in the list of the world’s fastest supercomputers for the eight consecutive years for its ‘Sunway TaihuLight’.
- TaihuLight is capable to perform 93 million billion calculations per second (petaflop/s).
- Titan and Sequoia, both systems from the US, gained No 3 and No 4 positions respectively.
- The Cori supercomputer, a new system installed at the US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, slipped at No 5 position with a performance of 14.0 petaflop/s.
8) First Brain Implantation conducted In Netherland
- Doctors of Netherlands have performed the first-ever brain implant on a 58-year-old woman paralysed by disease named Lou Gehrig’s.
- The implantation has enabled her to communicate in day-to-day life with the help of a speech computer.
- The disease Lou Gehrig’s caused nerve degeneration that had left her with control only over her eyes.
- The implant enabled her to control the computer using brain signals, and spell out messages speaking two letters per minute.
9) DRDO’s drone Rustom-2 successfully completes its test flight.
- Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) developed by DRDO named “Rustom-2” completed its first flight on 15 November 2016 in Challakere, Chitradurga district, Karnataka.The drone can be used by Indian Army, Navy and Air Force to keep an eye on enemy territory and carry a variety of cameras and radar for surveillance.
- Rustom 2 is developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment(ADE) laboratory of DRDO.It is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV (MALE UAV). A MALE UAV is one that flies in altitude range of 10,000 to 30,000 feet for extended durations of time, typically 24 to 48 hours.
- Some features of Rustom 2DRDO`s drone Rustom-2 successfully completes its test flight.
- Wingspan of more than 20m
- Endurance of 24-30 hours.
- Automatic takeoff and landing capabilities
- The earlier version of Rustom, i.e Rustom-1 was tested on 11 November 2009. Rustom-H is another version which is in development mode.The aircraft has been named after Rustom Damania, a former professor of IISc, Bangalore
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Director General: Dr. S Christopher
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 1958
10) World’s Thinnest laptop Acer Swift 7 launched in India.
- Taiwanese electronics multinational company Acer launched its lightest, thinnest and the most portable laptop Swift 7 in Indian market.Acer Swift 7 is the thinnest laptop in the World till now.
- The Acer SWIFT 7, priced at Rs 99,999, will be available for purchase from 18th November via exclusive Acer stores and other multi brand outlets and will also be available on e-commerce outlet Flipkarts.
- The laptop is 9.98mm thick with 13.3 inch Full HD screen having Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and weighs around 1.1 Kg.
- It is equipped to run on 7th Generation Intel core i5 processor along with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for data storage and a terrific battery inside that helps users get up to nine whole hours of usage.
- The device comes with the most modern wireless technology of 2×2 802.11ac with MU-MIMO, which delivers of almost three times more fast connection than the regular technology.The laptop is backed with USB3.1 Type-C port for quick data transfer.
- In terms of audio, the SWIFT 7 comes fitted with Dolby Audio Premium and Acer True Harmony, which provides a crystal clear virtual sound system.