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Prelim Bits 19-02-2017

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February 19, 2017

Zealandia

  • It’s a new geological continent which was once a part of Australia.
  • It broke off from Antarctica about 100 million years ago, and then from Australia about 80 million years ago.
  • It meets all the criteria that are satisfied by the existing seven continents i.e it is elevated above the area that surrounds it, has its own distinctive geology, the area that it takes up is well defined and has a crust thicker & lighter continental crust than the regular ocean floor with dark volcanic rocks
  • The new continent is 94% under water and made up of three major landmasses: New Zealand's north and south islands, and New Caledonia to the north
  • A piece of seafloor called the Cato Trough still separates Zealandia and Australia

Graphene

  • Graphene is a two-dimensional material which is an allotrope of carbon.
  • It is about 200 times stronger than the strongest steel, efficiently conducts heat and electricity and is nearly transparent.
  • It is diamagnetic i.e repelled by a magnetic field.
  • In contrast, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials are attracted by a magnetic field.

Passerine

  • A passerine is any bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species.
  • A notable feature of passerines compared to other orders of Aves is the arrangement of their toes, three pointing forward and one back, which facilitates perching.
  • It includes sparrows and similar small birds.

 

 

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