Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The MADMAX collaboration recently published the first results of its search for dark photons using a prototype detector. MADMAX stands for Magnetised Disk and Mirror Axion Experiment. It is a research project focused on detecting dark matter particles like axions and dark photons. The MADMAX detector uses a system made of sapphire disks and a mirror to form a resonator that enhances detection signals. Dark photons are theoretical particles similar to light particles (photons) but have mass. They are believed to be part of galactic dark matter and can turn into ordinary photons under special conditions.

Notes:
A groundbreaking study has recently offered new hope for treating Lafora Disease, a rare and deadly genetic disorder. Lafora Disease seriously affects the brain and nervous system, leading to severe health issues. It is part of a group of disorders called autosomal recessive progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), which causes seizures, mental decline, and loss of motor skills. It is more common in areas where marriages between close relatives, called consanguineous marriages, are practiced. It is mainly seen in Mediterranean countries, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southern India.

Notes:
The recent approval by the United States to sell AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Turkey has raised serious concerns in India due to changing regional security dynamics. AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a state-of-the-art missile with beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) and surface-to-air missile (SAM) capabilities. It is developed by Raytheon Technologies, a top US defence company. The missile is designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft at long distances before visual contact is made. It is a key component in modern air combat systems and significantly boosts the air power of its users.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C61 mission from Sriharikota to place the EOS-09 satellite into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit. The mission failed due to a problem in the third stage. PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, a four-stage rocket designed by ISRO. It mainly places satellites into Sun-synchronous polar orbits, ideal for Earth observation. The PSLV uses alternating solid and liquid propulsion stages for precision. The first stage uses HTPB-based solid fuel with six strap-on boosters in XL version, producing 4.8 MegaNewtons (MN) thrust. The second stage runs on liquid fuel, with the Vikas engine using Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and Nitrogen Tetroxide (N₂O₄), generating about 8 MN thrust. The third stage uses solid HTPB fuel again. The fourth stage has two liquid engines burning Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen (MON).

Notes:
Recently, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. The event was held during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, organised by the African Union and World Health Organization (WHO). Kala-azar is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a protozoan parasite and is fatal if untreated, showing symptoms like fever, fatigue, weight loss, and enlarged spleen and liver. More than 70% of global kala-azar cases are in Eastern Africa, where half of the affected are children under 15, according to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). The MoU encourages more investment and better strategies to eliminate kala-azar and improve public health responses.

Notes:
China is preparing to launch the Tianwen-2 mission to explore and sample the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo‘oalewa. The mission will be launched by the Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province. It is led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Tianwen-2 will first study asteroid Kamo‘oalewa and then travel to study comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the asteroid belt. Kamo‘oalewa is a quasi-satellite of Earth discovered in 2016, which orbits the Sun while staying close to Earth due to gravitational influence. Tianwen-2 will collect samples using a “touch-and-go” method, with a backup “anchor-and-attach” technique.

Notes:
Recently, two Chinese nationals were charged in the United States for allegedly smuggling Fusarium graminearum, an agricultural pathogen, into the country. Fusarium graminearum is an ascomycete fungus that causes Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), which affects crops like wheat, maize, barley, oats, and rice. It produces a toxin called Vomitoxin or Deoxynivalenol, which is harmful to both humans and animals. This fungus reduces crop yield and quality while contaminating grains with toxic mycotoxins. This incident raises concerns about agro-terrorism, which is the deliberate use of plant pathogens or pests to attack agriculture and create economic loss, food insecurity, and public fear.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Defence announced that scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated quantum communication over more than 1 km in free space. Quantum communication is a super secure method of sending information using tiny particles like photons. It uses principles of quantum physics, especially entanglement, to make communication channels tamper-proof. If someone tries to intercept the photons, the disturbance will be detected, revealing the breach. This makes quantum communication highly valuable for defence and national security.

Notes:
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has already discovered over 2,100 new asteroids before officially starting operations. Vera C. Rubin Observatory is located in Chile. It is designed to scan the night sky repeatedly and is expected to find millions of unknown space objects. The observatory can help track dangerous asteroids that may collide with Earth, enhancing planetary defense. Some asteroids found have comet-like tails, and it might even spot interstellar objects from outside our solar system. It may also discover Planet Nine, a mystery planet far beyond known planets.

Notes:
Recently, Candida tropicalis, a major fungal pathogen in India and globally, was found using chromosome changes to resist common antifungal drugs like fluconazole and voriconazole. Candida tropicalis is a yeast species from the Candida genus and causes serious infections with high mortality rates. It lives in tropical and subtropical marine environments like seawater, marine plants, and fish intestines. It is also found in human guts, fruit surfaces, soil, and various foods. It mainly affects people with weak immune systems or those with neutropenia, a condition of low neutrophil white blood cells.