Explanation: Stars appear to twinkle at night due to the refraction of light by the Earth's atmosphere. As starlight passes through different layers of air with varying densities, its path bends continuously, causing the light’s intensity and position to appear to change, creating the twinkling effect.

Explanation: White Blood Cells (WBCs), also known as leukocytes, act as the body’s defense system. They protect the body against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Different types of WBCs — like lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils — have specialized roles in immunity. Because they “fight” infections, they are popularly called the ‘soldiers of the human body.’

Explanation: In 1643, Italian scientist Evangelista Torricelli invented the barometer, an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. His mercury barometer demonstrated that air has weight and that atmospheric pressure can support a column of mercury in a glass tube.

Explanation: In GM food, the term GM stands for Genetically Modified. These are foods produced from organisms (plants or animals) whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered using modern biotechnology or genetic engineering techniques. This modification is done to introduce desirable traits such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, higher yield, or improved nutritional value. A common example is Bt cotton, which contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that provides resistance to insect pests.

Explanation: Malaria is not caused by a virus; it is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The disease spreads through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite enters the human bloodstream, infects liver cells, and then red blood cells, leading to recurring fever, chills, and anemia. In contrast, Smallpox, AIDS, and Flu are all viral diseases caused by the Variola virus, HIV, and Influenza virus respectively.

Explanation: Minamata disease was caused by severe mercury poisoning in the coastal city of Minamata, Japan. It resulted from the discharge of methyl mercury compounds into Minamata Bay by a chemical factory (Chisso Corporation) during the 1950s and 1960s. The toxic mercury accumulated in fish and shellfish, which were later consumed by local residents. Symptoms included numbness, muscle weakness, loss of vision, hearing and speech, paralysis, and in severe cases, death. This incident is one of the world’s worst cases of industrial pollution.

Explanation: RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) works by using radio waves to detect and determine the distance, speed, and position of objects such as aircraft, ships, and vehicles. The radar system transmits radio waves, which travel through the air, hit an object, and get reflected back to the radar receiver. By measuring the time delay between transmission and reception, the radar calculates the object's distance and motion. Radio waves are ideal because they can travel long distances, penetrate clouds, and are unaffected by weather conditions.

India’s first successful atomic device was tested at Pokhran in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan on 18th May 1974. The operation was code-named "Smiling Buddha" and was conducted by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) under the leadership of scientists like Dr. Raja Ramanna. This event marked India’s entry into the group of nuclear-capable nations.

Other options (for context)

• Bikaner: A city in Rajasthan, but no nuclear tests were conducted there.
• Barmer: Located near the Pakistan border, not the site of India’s nuclear test.
• Jaisalmer: Close to Pokhran geographically, but not the test location.