Adolf Gaston Eugen Fick, a German physiologist, invented the first successful contact lens in 1888. His design consisted of a glass lens that covered the entire eye, resting on the sclera (the white part of the eye). Though bulky and uncomfortable by today’s standards, it laid the foundation for modern soft and gas-permeable contact lenses used in vision correction and cosmetics.

Other options (for context)

• Enrico Fermi: Known for his work in nuclear physics and development of the first nuclear reactor.
• Sandford Fleming: Introduced the concept of standard time zones.
• Benoit Fourneyron: Invented the water turbine, not related to optics or vision correction.

Aluminium (Al) is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, making up about 8.2% by weight. It occurs mainly in the form of bauxite ore (Al₂O₃·2H₂O). Despite being highly abundant, aluminium is never found in its pure form naturally due to its strong reactivity with oxygen. It is widely used in industries for making utensils, aircraft parts, electrical wires, and packaging materials.

Other options (for context)

• Zinc: Found in smaller quantities; used in galvanization and alloys.
• Copper: Less abundant; mainly used in electrical wiring.
• Iron: Very abundant but ranks below aluminium in crustal abundance.

Explanation: Sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz are called infrasonic waves. These waves are inaudible to the human ear but can be produced by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean waves.

Explanation: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal released from industrial waste, batteries, and mining processes. When it enters the food chain (especially through contaminated rice or water), it accumulates in the body and affects the kidneys, causing protein loss in urine and kidney failure. It is also associated with Itai-Itai disease in Japan, characterized by kidney damage and brittle bones.

Explanation: Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function. A deficiency of Vitamin A leads to night blindness (nyctalopia), a condition in which a person has difficulty seeing in dim light or at night. In severe cases, it can cause xerophthalmia (dryness of the cornea) and even blindness. Vitamin A is obtained from foods such as carrots, milk, butter, fish liver oil, and green leafy vegetables.

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, it aims to preserve wetlands as habitats for biodiversity, especially for migratory birds. It promotes wise use of wetland ecosystems through local and national actions.

• Mountain: Conserved under other ecological programs.
• Grassland: Managed under terrestrial biodiversity initiatives.
• Forest: Covered under the UN Forest Forum, not Ramsar.

Explanation: The branch of science that deals with the study of the production, behavior, and effects of materials at very low temperatures is called Cryogenics. The word comes from the Greek words “kryos” meaning cold and “gen” meaning to produce. Cryogenics involves cooling substances to temperatures below −150°C (123 K). It has applications in liquefying gases (like oxygen and nitrogen), cryopreservation of biological samples, superconductivity research, and rocket fuel storage (e.g., liquid hydrogen and oxygen).