Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The central government recently notified 34 biostimulants to boost their production and use in agriculture. Biostimulants are natural substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to enhance the plant’s natural growth and stress-resistance processes. They help reduce dependence on fertilizers by improving nutrient use efficiency, root growth, and resistance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. In India, biostimulants are regulated under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.

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The Kerala State Public Health Laboratory has developed its own molecular diagnostic test kits to detect five toxic species of Free-Living Amoeba (FLA). These Free-Living Amoeba (FLAs) can cause Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (AME), a rare but deadly brain infection. Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (AME) is an infection of the brain and its protective membranes called meninges. It is caused by microscopic single-celled organisms found in water. The disease has a mortality rate of over 95% and mainly affects young people. This recent development highlights Kerala’s proactive steps in public health and early disease detection.

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New research revealed the largest diphtheria outbreak in Western Europe in 70 years started in 2022. The outbreak mainly affected vulnerable groups like migrants and the homeless. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This bacteria produces a toxin that attacks the respiratory tract and can spread through the body. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. It can also spread by contact with infected open sores or ulcers on the skin.

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Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, found that a protein called BBX32 helps plants grow properly from darkness into light. BBX32 is a B-box (BBX) protein that plays a key role in plant growth and development. It helps control when a seedling starts growing above soil, improving chances of healthy growth. This discovery helps understand how seedlings grow and could help improve crop establishment in agriculture.

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Scientists using the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) telescope have detected a faint 13-billion-year-old microwave signal. The Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) telescope is located in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The signal comes from the Cosmic Dawn, the era when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies formed. Cosmic Dawn occurred between 50 million and one billion years after the Big Bang. This discovery helps scientists understand how early stars affected the universe’s structure and temperature. The recent detection gives valuable clues about the universe’s formation and the role of early cosmic objects.

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A Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has affected 79 people in seven U.S. states, with 21 hospitalized, as per recent reports. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning, also called Salmonella infection. It lives in the intestines of animals and spreads through their feces into contaminated food or water.

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Recently, India’s first agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) named Kruti was launched by the startup Krutrim. It is a next-generation Generative AI (GenAI) tool that goes beyond just providing information. Kruti can act independently to manage complex tasks, make decisions, and solve problems for users and organizations. It uses advanced reasoning and step-by-step planning to handle multi-layered challenges without constant human input. It processes large amounts of data from various sources to create strategies and complete tasks on its own.

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Recently, Noida International Airport (NIA) partnered with Anlon Technology Solutions to introduce India’s first indigenously developed Runway Rubber Removal Machine (RRM) named Cleanjet RRM. This eco-friendly machine is designed to enhance runway safety by removing rubber deposits and other contaminants using ultra-high-pressure water jets without abrasive chemicals.

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Adani Group has recently commissioned India’s first off-grid 5 megawatt (MW) green hydrogen pilot plant in Kutch, Gujarat. The plant has been developed by Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), which is the clean energy arm of Adani Enterprises Limited. An off-grid green hydrogen plant produces hydrogen using electrolysis powered entirely by renewable sources like solar or wind and is not connected to the main power grid. This plant runs fully on solar energy and includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for continuous operation.

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Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla recently launched path-breaking Myogenesis experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), showing India’s progress in space research. Myogenesis is the process of forming muscle fibers. It is a complex and controlled process important for developing and maintaining skeletal muscle tissue. Myogenesis helps build body muscles that support movement, posture, and metabolism. It happens through the transformation of precursor cells called myoblasts into multinucleated muscle fibers. Studying myogenesis helps understand muscle diseases and develop therapies.