Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) have developed a 3D computational model to study thermoregulation in space. It shows that microgravity consistently increases human core body temperature, which is important for long-duration space missions. Microgravity is a condition of near-weightlessness experienced when objects are in free fall around Earth, not the absence of gravity. In microgravity, normal body functions like heat regulation are altered due to changes in blood flow and metabolism. The IIST model includes sweating, shivering, clothing, and organ heat to simulate real human conditions in space.

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A research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made the first-ever experimental observation of a two-dimensional layered altermagnet at room temperature. Altermagnets are a new class of antiferromagnetic materials that show momentum-dependent spin splitting without needing spin–orbit coupling (SOC) or overall magnetization. This spin splitting is caused by exchange interactions between magnetic sublattices connected by crystal symmetry, known as C-paired spin-valley locking (SVL). Altermagnets combine the stable spin properties of antiferromagnets with spin-split energy bands, making them promising for next-generation spintronic devices.

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India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed two such varieties named DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice. These rice varieties were developed using genome editing technology based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR Associated Protein (CRISPR-Cas). This technology allows precise changes in the genetic material without adding any foreign DNA. Genome editing targeted the Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and SDN2 types of genes, which are approved under India’s biosafety rules. The development was supported by the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF), which funds strategic agricultural research.

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NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) recently solved the mystery behind X-ray emissions in black hole jets. IXPE is a joint satellite mission by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Italian Space Agency, launched on December 9, 2021. It is the first satellite designed to measure the polarisation of X-ray light, helping scientists study extreme cosmic environments. The mission focused on blazars, which are a type of active galactic nucleus with a supermassive black hole ejecting a powerful jet of particles aimed toward Earth.

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Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a new iron-doped catalyst. This catalyst improves oxygen-related electrocatalytic reactions. Oxygen electrocatalysis is important for clean energy technologies like water splitting to produce hydrogen, generating clean fuels, and making hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). These technologies often face challenges such as slow reaction speeds, high energy use, and expensive materials. They usually depend on precious metals like platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru). The new iron-based catalyst aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in these clean energy processes.

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Chinese scientists recently discovered a new species of bacteria named Niallia tiangongensis aboard the Tiangong Space Station. The Tiangong Space Station, meaning ‘Sky Palace’, is a Chinese-owned and permanently crewed space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is the final phase of China’s Manned Space Program, developed after earlier missions Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. The first module, Tianhe, was launched in April 2021 and connects two science modules, Wentian and Mengtian, with a planned space telescope called Xuntian.

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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.

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Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have created India’s first gene-edited sheep. This is a major breakthrough in animal biotechnology and marks a historic achievement for India. The sheep was developed using genome editing without adding any foreign Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), making it different from transgenic animals. This innovation may ease regulatory approvals under India’s updated biotechnology policy. It positions SKUAST-Kashmir as a leader in reproductive biotechnology research. This recent development places India among the global frontrunners in advanced genome editing technologies.

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Delhi recently witnessed intense storms that appeared in the shape of a crescent or archer’s bow, technically known as bow echoes. A bow echo is a line of thunderstorms that appears curved like a bow on weather radar, also called a squall line. Sometimes, this bow echo can be part of a larger squall line system. It usually stretches from 20 to 100 kilometres and lasts for three to six hours. The term bow echo was introduced in the 1970s by Ted Fujita, a meteorologist famous for creating the Fujita Scale to measure tornado intensity.

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The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has announced financial support for India’s first indigenous thrombectomy device. This support aims to improve stroke care by promoting homegrown medical technology. A thrombectomy is a medical procedure to remove blood clots from arteries or veins. These clots, called thrombi, can block blood flow and damage tissues or organs. Thrombectomy helps restore proper blood circulation and prevents serious health risks.