Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Microsoft announced a quantum computing chip called Majorana 1, aiming to solve industrial-scale problems in years, not decades. The chip is named Majorana 1 because it consists of Majorana particles, which are unique subatomic particles that are their own anti-particles. Neutrinos are a potential Majorana particle and are the second-most abundant subatomic particles after photons. Neutrinos are produced in the Big Bang, supernovae, cosmic rays, and nuclear fusion but are hard to detect. A major unknown in physics is the mass of neutrinos.

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The European Space Agency (ESA) shut down the Gaia space observatory on March 27, 2025. It was launched in 2013 by European Space Agency (ESA). Gaia aimed to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way. Originally named Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), later simplified to Gaia. It is positioned at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth, for an unobstructed view.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help speed up the diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder. It is caused by an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Eating gluten triggers intestinal damage, leading to malabsorption of nutrients. Symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, and anemia. In children, it can affect growth and development. 1 in 10 people with a first-degree relative having the disease are at risk. 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.

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Sunbird is a nuclear fusion-powered rocket developed by Pulsar Fusion, a British startup, to transform interplanetary travel with much faster speeds. It could reach up to 805,000 km/h, surpassing the current fastest object, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which travels at 692,000 km/h. With this speed, Sunbird could reduce travel time to Mars by almost half and reach Pluto in just 4 years. A major orbital test is planned in 2027, showing progress in next-generation space propulsion. Nuclear fusion, which powers Sunbird, fuses atoms like stars do, giving high energy with minimal radioactive waste, unlike nuclear fission.

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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay discovered a host protein that uses tiny tweezer-like machines to kill germs before they harm the body. The study, led by Professor Anirban Banerjee, found that this protein works like a special operation unit to detect and neutralize threats. When bacteria attack, human cells tag them as a “Red Flag” using a protein called “Ubiquitin.” Cells then target the flagged bacteria, tearing apart their surface proteins, similar to piranhas attacking prey. This discovery could help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering hope for more effective treatments against infections.

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The Union Cabinet recently approved a new semiconductor manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant step in India’s semiconductor ambitions. This facility is the sixth under the India Semiconductor Mission, a push for self-reliance in semiconductor technology. The unit is a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn and will be located near Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. It will manufacture display driver chips for devices like mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and more. The plant will have a production capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, with a target output of 36 million chips monthly.

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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.

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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.

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Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, under the Department of Science and Technology, have found a new method to detect topological invariants in quantum materials using the spectral function. The spectral function is a quantum tool that shows how energy and particles like electrons behave inside a material. It is commonly used to study electronic structure such as density of states and dispersion relations. The team focused on momentum-space spectral function (SPSF), which acts like a quantum fingerprint showing how electrons are spread across energy and momentum. This method reveals hidden topological features using values like winding numbers in one-dimensional systems and Chern numbers in two-dimensional systems.

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A new scientific breakthrough was made when researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, successfully measured the half-life of the heaviest proton emitter isotope, 188At (Astatine). Astatine is a rare and highly radioactive element with atomic number 85, and it belongs to the halogen group in the periodic table. Unlike other halogens like fluorine and iodine, astatine has no stable isotopes. It is extremely radioactive, possibly appears as a dark solid, and emits a blue glow due to ionizing radiation. It occurs naturally as a decay product but has a very short half-life.