Science & Technology Current Affairs
Solar Plane made History after Completing Round-the-World Trip
- Solar Impulse completed the first round-the-world flight by a solar-powered aero plane, after landing in Abu Dhabi on July 25, 2016.
- The plane, which has a wingspan wider than a Boeing 747 and carries more than 17000 solar cells on its wings,, began the circumnavigation in March, 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
- It has since crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans using no fossil fuel and has spent more than 23 days in the air.
Scientists Developed New Robot with Human-like Walk
- The scientists have developed a new robot {with human sized feet laced up in a pair of sneakers) that closely imitates the walking motion of humans, making it more energy-efficient and better at navigating uneven terrain on July 16, 2016.
- The humanoid robot DURUS was designed collaboratively by the research nonprofit SRI International and Georgia Tech’s Advanced Mechanical Bipedal Experimental Robotics (AMBER) Lab.
- The researchers designed a new algorithm that works to keep a robot upright and moving forward even if only parts of the foot are engaged.
Bornean Orangutan Listed as Critically Endangered
- The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) was this week listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on its red list of threatened species on July 8, 2016.
Researchers Build Super-sensitive e-Nose
- The researchers from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium built a sensitive electronic nose with Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that can detect pesticides and nerve gas in very low concentrations on July 4, 2016.
- The MOFs are like microscopic sponges. They can absorb quite a lot of gas into their minuscule pores.
- Using Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF), researchers were able to build a very sensitive electronic nose that can measure even very low concentrations.
