Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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IIT Bombay developed a shockwave-based, needle-free syringe for painless drug delivery, reducing skin damage and infection risks. The syringe uses high-energy shockwaves to create a microjet of liquid drug that penetrates the skin without needles. It consists of a driver, driven section, and drug holder, powered by pressurized nitrogen gas. Effective in tests on rats, it showed deeper tissue penetration with minimal skin damage. The device supports over 1,000 uses, needing only nozzle replacements, making it cost-effective. It could accelerate immunization drives like Mission Indradhanush and lower risks of needle-related infections.

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Scientists are using two telescopes as part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) to detect high-energy neutrinos beneath the Mediterranean Sea. The Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) is located at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Neutrinos are tiny, electrically neutral particles, discovered in 1959, and the second most abundant particles after photons. They rarely interact with matter, earning the nickname “ghost particles.” Detecting neutrinos is challenging due to their minimal interactions. KM3NeT, an underwater telescope, detects neutrino interactions via Cherenkov radiation in the sea, which provides ideal conditions for detection.

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Scrub typhus cases have been reported in several districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Vellore, with 5,000 cases in 2024. The disease is caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through infected mites. Symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, and sometimes a rash. Severe cases can lead to respiratory distress, organ failure, and death. Factors like vector abundance, climate, farming, and sanitation impact its spread. The Elisa test is used for detection. Control measures include cold fogging, clearing bushes, and reducing rodent populations.

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Tularemia, also called ‘rabbit fever,’ has risen by over 50% in the US recently. It is a rare but potentially deadly infectious disease. It primarily affects children aged 5-9, older men, and American Indians or Alaska Natives. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can infect various animals, especially rabbits and rodents. The disease is transmitted to humans through tick bites, contact with infected animals, or contaminated water. Symptoms can range from skin ulcers to severe respiratory issues.

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AnemiaPhone, developed by Cornell University, is now part of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) programs for anemia, women’s health, and maternal and child health in India. It offers quick, accurate, and low-cost iron deficiency assessment. Anemia affects 50% to 70% of pregnant women in India, with iron deficiency as the main cause. The device uses a drop of blood on a test strip, similar to a COVID-19 test, providing results in minutes. Data is uploaded to a clinical database via mobile devices, enabling healthcare workers to provide immediate guidance, referrals, or interventions.

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Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) has been selected by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to host South India’s first Infectious Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (IRDL). The lab will focus on research and diagnostics for bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, enabling quicker and more accurate disease management. This is part of a nationwide initiative to enhance medical research infrastructure in India. The lab will also study antibiotic resistance, fungal infections, and tropical diseases.

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More than 30 dermatologists suggest renaming the fungus Trichophyton indotineae as its origin in India is unconfirmed despite reports from over 40 countries. Trichophyton indotineae is a fungal pathogen causing severe, treatment-resistant skin infections. It was named after India in 2020 based on isolates from India and Nepal. The fungus belongs to the dermatophyte group, causing dermatophytosis, which affects the skin, hair, and nails. It causes itchy, inflammatory infections on the groin, gluteal region, trunk, and face, affecting all ages and genders. It spreads via direct skin contact or contaminated objects and is resistant to terbinafine.

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Russia’s atomic agency has shipped the reactor vessel for the sixth unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant to India. The Kudankulam plant, located in Tamil Nadu, is India’s largest nuclear power plant with six reactors and a total capacity of 6,000 MW. The reactor vessel, weighing 320 tonnes, was manufactured by Rosatom’s division Atommash and shipped from Novorossiysk at the end of 2024. The reactor vessel will travel 6,000 miles by sea to reach the construction site.

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The ISRO mission that successfully germinated lobia seeds (also known as cowpea seeds) in space is called the “CROPS” experiment, which stands for “Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies”. The seeds sprouted on the fourth day, with leaves visible by the fifth day, marking a major milestone in space research. The experiment aims to develop sustainable food sources for long-term space missions and test plant growth in microgravity and controlled environments. Success supports astronauts by enabling food growth, oxygen generation, and CO₂ recycling in space. It highlights India’s capability in managing complex life-support systems and contributes to global space farming initiatives.

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The Prime Minister praised Indian space startup Digantara for the success of its Mission SCOT. SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) is Digantara’s first mission for space surveillance and one of the world’s first commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellites. It was launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission and deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit. SCOT is designed to track Resident Space Objects (RSOs) as small as 5 cm in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with high accuracy and revisit rates. It addresses gaps in existing systems limited by fields of view, weather, and geography.