General Knowledge for Civil Services and Upsc tests
--------------------------------------------------------

WHAT IS FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY?

Fuel cell technology is an energy production technology which uses the fuel cell, an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity. Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.

WHAT IS Murphy's Law?

"Anything that can possibly go wrong, does."

WHAT ARE CFCS?

CFCs stands for chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, aerosols, etc. When these gases rise up in the atmosphere and reach the ozone layer they destroy it. Many nations have agreed to discontinue the use and production of chloro-fluro carbons for the purpose of refrigeration or air-conditioning to protect the ozone layer.

WHAT IS THE CHANDRASHEKAR LIMIT?

Chandrashekar Limit is the maximum limit of 1.44 times the solar mass (or sun's mass) of a star, to end its life as a white dwarf star. This is the basic principle to determine the future of a star after the red giant phase. The stars with a mass more than 1.44 times the solar mass go through supernova explosions and end their lives as neutron stars or black holes. This limit was discovered by Indian astrophysicist S.Chandrashekar and hence the name.

WHAT IS WATER MEMORY? ,

Water is said to have the power of memory — if certain chemicals are dissolved in water and then completely removed through a chemical process, the water may still retain some properties of the dissolved chemicals. Although this concept seems difficult to accept or comprehend, French scientist Jacques Benveniste allegedly proved it.

WHAT IS PELOTA?
Pelota is a very fast ball game of Basque derivation (language spoken by the people who inhabit the Pyrenees in north central Spain and the adjoining region of south western France). Pelota is popular in Latin American countries and in the USA where it's a betting sport. It's played by two, four or six players in a walled court or cancha and resembles squash. Each player uses a long curved wickerwork basket or cesta strapped to the hand to hurl the ball or pelota against the walls.
WHO WAS THE FIRST BATSMAN TO BE DECLARED OUT BY A THIRD UMPIRE IN ODI?

Sachin Tendulkar, on November 14,1992 at Durban, against South Africa.

WHY IS AUSTRALIA REFERRED TO AS DOWN UNDER?

Australia is known as 'the land Down Under' because of its position in the southern hemisphere. The discovery of Australia began when European explorers searched for a land under the continent of Asia.