FEBRUARY 2016 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PART-7)

• Scientist for the first time has discovered Gravitational Waves that were hypothesised by Albert Einstein in 1916. These waves were detected by the scientists working at two LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) facilities in United States. LIGO scientists have detected these gravitational waves produced by collision of two black holes located 1.3 billion light years away from earth. The LIGO experiment has 4km long L-shaped tunnels and uses lasers to measure changes in the distance between two ends. When the gravitational waves enters into LIGO, it stretches in space and direction, and disperses space in another direction i.e. these waves disturb the light emitted lasers. Scientists by measuring the interference of lasers map the disturbed space which has been compressed or stretched.
• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda have launched Project Sunrise for prevention of AIDS especially among people injecting drugs in the 8 North-Eastern states. The AIDS prevention special project aims to diagnose 90 per cent of such drug addicts with HIV and put them under treatment by 2020.
• India has participated for the first time in the Cobra Gold 2016 multilateral amphibious exercise hosted by Thailand. In this edition of multilateral exercise, India has accorded as an observer plus status keeping in view its increasing regional operability. Cobra Gold 2016 is 35th edition of multilateral exercise in which 35 countries have participated and its main theme is humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• A team of scientist in US led by an Indian-origin Ashutosh Tiwari has discovered Tin Monoxide (SnO) conductor to replace silicon. SnO is a new kind of 2D semiconducting material for electronics that opens the door for much speedier computers and smartphones that consumes less power. SnO semiconductor is made of the two elements tin and oxygen. It is first stable P-type 2D semiconductor material ever in existence. It is a layer of 2D material with thickness of only one atom and consumes less power. It has ability to allow electrical charges to move through it much faster than conventional 3D materials such as silicon.
• Google’s Project Loon began its operations in Sri Lanka after first helium-filled balloon landed in Pupuressa area in Gampola town. It was one of three balloons that were put up in Sri Lankan airspace for trials to provide high-speed internet service after it was launched from South America.
• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda have released the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 at New Delhi. The framework aims to eliminate mosquito borne malaria disease from the country by 2030. This is for the first time government’s health policy has framed intervention have deliverables and time bound targets.
• The three-day long Vibrant North East event concluded in Guwahati, Assam. Vibrant North East was organised in association with Union Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Union Food Processing Ministry. Rural banking, Make in North East and Horticulture and food processing etc. were the key areas of Vibrant North East.
• Hyderabad-based GVK Biosciences (GVK BIO) has been awarded prestigious Global CSR Excellence & Leadership Award. The company was bestowed with this award in the category of Best Environment Friendly Project for its ambitious Go Green, Grow Green plantation drive under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
• Government-constituted Ajay Shankar Committee to examine the Possibility of Replacing Multiple Prior Permissions with Pre-Existing Regulatory Mechanism has submitted its recommendations. The expert committee was constituted by DIPP in April 2015. It was tasked to examine the possibility of replacing multiple prior permissions with a pre-existing regulatory mechanism and to recommend a framework of the proposed regulatory mechanism.
• Former IAS officer D J Pandian has been appointed vice-president and chief investment officer (CIO) of Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).