Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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ISRO launched the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite for the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) navigation system. NVS-02 is the second of five second-generation satellites to replace older ones in India’s navigation constellation. It weighs 2,250 kg, has a 3 kW power capacity, and includes navigation payloads in L1, L5, S, and C bands. The satellite features a Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard for precise timekeeping and has a 12-year lifespan.

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Niger has become the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis, or river blindness. It joins Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala as WHO-verified onchocerciasis-free nations. Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease affecting the eyes and skin, causing severe disability. It leads to disfiguring skin conditions, vision loss, and permanent blindness in severe cases. The disease has severely impacted livelihoods for decades. Over 99% of cases still occur in 31 African countries.

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China has successfully demonstrated artificial photosynthesis in space, with their astronauts on the Tiangong space station producing oxygen and rocket fuel using this technology. The astronauts used a process mimicking natural photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and rocket fuel components using solar energy. The experiment was conducted on China’s Tiangong space station. This breakthrough is considered a major step forward in space exploration, as it could enable future missions to generate necessary resources in space.

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Satya Nadella discussed Jevons Paradox, noting AI efficiency may increase demand and make it a commodity. Jevons Paradox states that technological progress making a resource cheaper often leads to higher demand rather than reduced use. It was proposed by William Stanley Jevons in 1865. Jevons observed that technology improving coal efficiency led to more coal being used, not less. Technological progress satisfies needs that couldn’t be met before due to lack of technology.

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Pakistan’s space agency SUPARCO is collaborating with China for the Chang’e-8 lunar mission in 2028. A 35-kg indigenous Pakistani rover will explore the Moon’s south pole as part of the mission. Chang’e-8 is part of China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project and aims to test technologies for a lunar science base. The mission will conduct surveys, lunar sample analysis, and resource utilization experiments. China has allocated 200 kg of payload capacity for international participation. This follows Pakistan’s iCube Qamar CubeSat launch on China’s Chang’e-6 mission in May 2024.

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NASA will launch the Pandora mission in 2025 to study the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. It will focus on clouds, hazes, and water, key factors for habitability. Pandora aims to fill gaps left by existing telescopes like James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), focusing on planetary transits to improve exoplanet models. The mission will explore planetary formation, evolution, and habitability. Pandora will use a specialized telescope to study light interactions with atmospheric particles, enhancing knowledge of planetary climates and chemistry.

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IIT Kanpur introduced an innovative solar dehydration technique to preserve agricultural produce using solar energy. This method helps farmers dry fruits and vegetables, providing a cost-effective way to store produce and sell at better prices. The project is supported by NABARD. It aims to expand to more villages, reducing waste and increasing farmers’ incomes.

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ISRO has developed a 10-tonne vertical propellant mixer for solid motors, making India’s space sector more self-reliant. It is the world’s largest solid propellant mixing equipment, designed by Satish Dhawan Space Centre with Central Manufacturing Technology Institute. The mixer enhances productivity, quality, and efficiency in heavy solid motor production. It weighs around 150 tonnes and measures 5.4m in length, 3.3m in breadth, and 8.7m in height. It features hydrostatic-driven agitators and remote operation via PLC-based SCADA control. Solid propulsion is crucial for India’s space transportation, requiring precise mixing of hazardous ingredients.

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Scientists at Wuhan Institute of Virology, China, discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2. The virus shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 receptors, but its ability to spread among humans is uncertain. The virus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, related to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), but its severity in humans remains unknown.

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Clinical neuroscientists have treated spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a baby before birth. SMA is a genetic disorder affecting motor neurons, causing progressive muscle weakness. It has five types (0-4), classified by age of onset and severity. Symptoms include muscle weakness, especially near the body’s center, but do not affect involuntary muscles like the heart. It is caused by SMN1 gene mutations, leading to motor neuron loss. It affects 1 in 10,000 births and is a leading genetic cause of infant deaths.