Explanation: All enzymes are proteins (except a few RNA-based enzymes called ribozymes). Enzymes act as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process. They work by lowering the activation energy of reactions, ensuring that metabolic processes occur efficiently at normal body temperatures. Each enzyme is specific to a particular substrate, forming an enzyme-substrate complex to carry out its function effectively.

Explanation: A microscope uses a system of convex lenses to magnify very small objects. Convex lenses, also known as converging lenses, bend light rays inward to a focal point, creating an enlarged and clear image of the specimen. A compound microscope typically contains two sets of convex lenses — the objective lens (near the specimen) and the eyepiece lens (near the observer’s eye). The objective lens forms a real, inverted, and magnified image, which is then further magnified by the eyepiece to produce a large virtual image.

Explanation: The incorrect pair is Faraday : Diffusion of gases. The diffusion of gases was studied and explained by Thomas Graham, not by Michael Faraday. Graham’s Law states that the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its density or molar mass. On the other hand, Michael Faraday is famous for his work on electromagnetism and electrolysis. The other pairs are correctly matched with their discoveries.

Swine Flu is caused by the H₁N₁ virus, a subtype of the Influenza A virus. It primarily affects the respiratory system and is transmitted from person to person through droplets from coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue. The H₁N₁ pandemic in 2009 was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Other options (for context)

• Dengue: Caused by the Dengue virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
• AIDS: Caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), not H₁N₁.
• Bird flu: Caused by the H5N1 virus, not H₁N₁.

Explanation: Light from the Sun takes approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach the Earth. The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is about 149.6 million kilometers (1 Astronomical Unit). Since light travels at a speed of 3 × 10⁸ meters per second in a vacuum, it covers this distance in roughly eight minutes. This means that when we see sunlight, we are actually seeing it as it was about eight minutes earlier.

Explanation: The Sun is seen a few minutes before actual sunrise and after actual sunset due to the refraction of light by the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere bends the Sun’s rays towards the Earth, making the Sun appear slightly above the horizon even when it is below it.

Explanation: Cobalt-60 (Co-60) is a radioactive isotope of cobalt that emits high-energy gamma rays during its decay process. It decays into Nickel-60 (Ni-60) by beta decay, releasing two strong gamma photons of energies 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV. Due to these intense gamma emissions, Co-60 is widely used in radiation therapy (teletherapy) for cancer treatment, as well as in industrial radiography and sterilization of medical equipment. Gamma rays have high penetration power, allowing them to destroy cancerous cells deep inside tissues.