Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, five people fell unconscious and were hospitalized in Visakhapatnam while shifting acetanilide bags between containers. Acetanilide is a synthetic organic compound with the formula C8H9NO, also known as N-phenylacetamide or acetanil. It is a white, odorless solid related to acetic acid and was first used as a fever-reducing drug in 1886.
Acetanilide was used for pain relief, including headaches and cramps, but has been largely replaced by acetaminophen (paracetamol) due to toxic side effects that affect hemoglobin function. It is still used as an intermediate in producing dyes, rubber, and other chemicals.

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Researchers explored mitochondrial dynamics to treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by brain cell death. Environmental toxins and toxic proteins, like those in Manganese-induced Parkinsonism, cause mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. The study found that inhibiting Dynamin-related protein (Drp1) activity could restore mitochondrial function, offering a potential treatment. Drp1 is a protein that aids in mitochondrial division for better mobility and quality control. However, excessive Drp1 activity leads to too much division, resulting in fragmented and impaired mitochondria.

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Researchers have discovered that an antidepressant drug has potential for cancer management through drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs for new treatments or conditions not originally intended. This process, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, identifies new uses for drugs initially developed for different medical conditions. It is often an unexpected discovery with the goal of finding compounds with established safety profiles that could be effective for other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies use drug repurposing to address rare diseases, cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, and more. This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch.

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A rare meteorite fragment was found in the Eastern Cape province. The fragment is known as the Nqweba Meteorite and is a small, black, shiny object with a light grey inside. When the meteorite entered Earth’s atmosphere, it experienced strong friction, creating a fireball. This friction caused the meteorite to break apart while still in flight. A meteorite is a solid piece of space debris that manages to pass through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the ground safely.

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A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American recently docked at the International Space Station (ISS). The Soyuz is a Russian spacecraft and the longest-running human spacecraft program in history. It transports cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the ISS, weighing 7 tonnes, and can carry three people. It also brings supplies like food and water. One Soyuz remains docked at the ISS as an emergency escape pod. The spacecraft has three modules: the Orbital Module for crew living, the Descent Module for safe reentry, and a third for life support. The Soyuz rocket launches the capsule, which reaches space in nine minutes.

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WHO released its first-ever guidance to address antibiotic pollution from manufacturing processes, a major factor in the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis. Wastewater from antibiotic manufacturing contains residues that pollute water bodies and land, contributing to AMR. Currently, antibiotic pollution from manufacturing is mostly unregulated, and quality standards do not address environmental emissions. AMR occurs when pathogens no longer respond to medicines, a natural process accelerated by overuse of antimicrobials. The rise of “superbugs” worsens healthcare, particularly for patients with multiple diseases.

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A new study reveals a trilobite species with an extra set of legs under its head, based on fossils from New York. Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods, meaning “three-part-body” in Latin. They appeared 521 million years ago during the Cambrian period and lived for 300 million years. Trilobites became extinct 251 million years ago due to the Permian mass extinction. Recognized by their three-lobed bodies, they had exoskeletons made of chitin. They molted to grow, and most fossils are their molts. Trilobites were the first animals to develop complex eyes and multiple limbs for movement. Fossils range from 1 cm to over 70 cm.

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Researchers found a new species of wasp named Syntretus perlmani. This wasp infects adult fruit flies, unlike others that target fly larvae or pupae. It’s called a parasitoid because it kills its host, unlike parasites which don’t. Female wasps inject their eggs into the abdomen of fruit flies using an ovipositor. The eggs grow into larvae inside the fly, eventually killing it after 18 days by emerging from the body. Evidence of this wasp was found in the eastern United States, including Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina.

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A small asteroid named 2024 PT5 will temporarily orbit Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024. It is also known as a “mini-moon”. It changes its path due to Earth’s gravity. It was detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7, 2024. It likely originated from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks orbiting near Earth. 2024 PT5 is expected to return in January 2025 and again in 2055. It will provide valuable data on near-Earth asteroids, helping predict future encounters and impacts. Asteroids are small, rocky or metallic objects that orbit the Sun, distinct from planets or comets.

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NASA is preparing to launch the Europa Clipper mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. This mission will place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter for detailed studies of Europa. It is the first NASA spacecraft dedicated to investigating an ocean world beyond Earth. The goal is to determine if the ice-covered moon could be habitable, as it shows strong evidence of a liquid water ocean beneath its crust. The spacecraft is 100 feet long and 58 feet wide, making it NASA’s largest spacecraft developed for a planetary mission.