Connections Club

Connections Quiz

connectionsclub — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:27:45 +0000

Identify the event…

Results @ Cryptic Clues

connectionsclub — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:17:17 +0000

So the answers for the Cryptic Clues are finally out. Hope you had fun solving them… In the order of the fastest answers to the questions, the winners of the contest have been decided. All the winners decrypted 3 crypts each. In the order of response time:

1. Nikhil M. Abraham

2. Pulkit Srivastava

3. Shyam Maheshwari

4. Snehal Bagawade

5. Arijit Mallik

The first winner wins a T @ the Tea- Board. *Conditions Apply
Congratulations to all the winners.

Curiosity- 8

connectionsclub — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:46:24 +0000

An easy one…
What’s the difference between CDMA, GSM, GPS and GPRS?

Batteries: Powered by virus

connectionsclub — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:54:38 +0000

Viruses are known to infect all cellular life. But for the first time, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) researchers have shown they can genetically engineer viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a lithium-ion battery. “The new virus-produced batteries have the same energy capacity and power performance as rechargeable batteries being considered to power plug-in hybrid cars, and they could also be used to power a range of personal electronic devices,” said Angela Belcher, the MIT materials scientist who led the research team.

The new batteries, described in the April 2 online edition of the ‘Science’ journal, could be manufactured with a cheap and environmentally benign process: The synthesis takes place at and below room temperature and requires no harmful organic solvents, and the materials that go into the battery are non-toxic.

A battery typically has four key components – the anode and cathode, an electrolyte that flows between them and a separator to keep the anode and cathode apart.

In a traditional lithium-ion battery, lithium ions flow between a negatively charged anode, usually graphite, and the positively charged cathode, usually cobalt oxide or lithium iron phosphate. Three years ago, an MIT team led by Belcher reported that it had engineered viruses that could build an anode by coating themselves with cobalt oxide and gold and self-assembling to form a nanowire.

In the latest work, the team focussed on building a highly powerful cathode to pair up with the anode, said Belcher, the Germeshausen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Engineering. Cathodes are more difficult to build than anodes because they must be highly conducting to be a fast electrode, however, most candidate materials for cathodes are highly insulating (non-conductive).

To achieve that, the researchers, including MIT Prof. Gerbrand Ceder of materials science and Associate Professor Michael Strano of chemical engineering, genetically engineered viruses that first coat themselves with iron phosphate, then grab hold of carbon nanotubes to create a network of highly conductive material.

Because the viruses recognise and bind specifically to certain materials (carbon nanotubes in this case), each iron phosphate nanowire can be electrically “wired” to conducting carbon nanotube networks. Electrons can travel along the carbon nanotube networks, percolating throughout the electrodes to the iron phosphate and transferring energy in a very short time.

Submitted by,
Shyam Maheshwari

Curiosity

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:10:50 +0000

Hi everyone,
Before you answer any of these questions, use your instinct. Whatever comes out of spontaneity, write that down. Then use net to figure out the right answer. Questions are still open. You can still answer them. You may use your own inspiration or read what has been posted, but do post your answers.

Curiosity -7

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:28:58 +0000

In a cable television network, there is only one antenna. Yet, different people can access different channels from the same cable network. Explain how.

Curiosity -6

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:02:18 +0000

Why does a space vehicle revolve around the Earth before going to the Moon or other planets?
N.B.: Can’t they be sent in a straight line path to the destination?

Curiosity -5

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:35:47 +0000

The transmission lines in India are overhead. Why is it so?
N.B.: Can they be laid underground? Give reason.

Curiosity- 4

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:21:58 +0000

What is the basic principle of a mobile charger?
N.B.: Also tell me why is the mobile charger so light?

From here on, we will refer to the ‘Connections Post’ as ‘Curiosity’

Connections Post-3

connectionsclub — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:12:13 +0000

Why do you think are CFLs more energy-efficient compared to tubelights?