Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea. This facility, also known as a “deep-sea space station”, is expected to be operational by 2030. The facility will be located 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) below the ocean’s surface.  It will be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations ever attempted.  The facility will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents.  It will accommodate six scientists for missions lasting up to a month.

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Researchers discovered a new type of brain cell called Ovoid cells. These neurons help in recognition memory by differentiating between new and familiar objects. They are named for their egg-like shape and are found in the hippocampus of humans, mice, and other animals. Ovoid cells activate when encountering something new, triggering memory storage. This discovery could help treat brain conditions like Alzheimer’s, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Epilepsy.

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NASA plans to launch the SPHEREx telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a megaphone-shaped space telescope with a 2-year mission. It will map the universe using optical and infrared cosmic light. It will study cosmic inflation, which occurred 14 billion years ago when the universe expanded faster than light. It will analyze galaxy formation, cosmic evolution, and life-forming molecules in the Milky Way. It will use spectroscopic imaging to map 450 million galaxies in 3D. It will complement the work of the James Webb and Hubble telescopes.

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The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on Aditya-L1 detected an X6.3-class solar flare, a highly intense solar eruption. SUIT is a remote sensing payload on ISRO’s Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission. The mission was launched on September 2, 2023. Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) is developed by Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune with ISRO. SUIT captures full-disk and region-specific images of the Sun. It uses 11 calibrated filters across 200-400 nm wavelengths to study the Sun’s layers. It is positioned at Lagrange Point. It observes the Sun 24×7. SUIT studies solar atmosphere dynamics, focusing on jets, flares, filament evolution, and eruptions.

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Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) , Bengaluru, has developed a new technique to improve next-gen lighting. Organic LEDs (OLEDs), Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLEDs), and Micro/Mini-LEDs are shaping future lighting but face challenges like cost, toxicity, and production limits. Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) combine the benefits of OLEDs and QLEDs but struggle with heat, moisture sensitivity, and color instability. CeNS researchers minimized anion migration in perovskite nanocrystals using applied argon-oxygen plasma treatment. This method enhances stability, slows anion exchange, and improves color stability. The breakthrough, published in Nanoscale, advances durable and efficient optoelectronic devices.

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Researchers have successfully turned light into a “supersolid” for the first time. Supersolids are a unique state of matter defined by quantum mechanics. They form an orderly crystalline solid but flow like a liquid without viscosity. Unlike normal solids, supersolids can change direction and density based on particle interactions. They maintain an organized lattice structure while exhibiting fluid-like movement. The discovery could enhance qubit stability in quantum computing and advance optical circuits, photonic devices, and fundamental physics research.

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A study in Odisha found that melioidosis cases peak during and after the monsoon season. Melioidosis is a bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which lives in soil and surface water in tropical and subtropical regions. It is endemic in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of China. Also known as Whitmore’s disease, it has a high Case Fatality Rate (16%-50%). It spreads through contact with contaminated soil, air, or water.

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ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) developed two indigenous 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for space applications. Vikram 3201 is India’s first fully indigenous microprocessor for launch vehicles, handling up to 4 GB memory with floating-point support. It advances the 16-bit Vikram 1601 used since 2009. Kalpana 3201 is a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC processor, compatible with open-source tools and tested with flight software. Both microprocessors were validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission. Other devices developed include a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System and Low Drop-out Regulator IC.

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Audible enclaves are small pockets of sound that remain undisturbed by surrounding noise. They use new technologies to deliver sound to a specific person even in a crowd. Sound waves travel through a medium, moving particles back and forth at different frequencies. Higher frequency sounds diverge more due to diffraction. Parametric array loudspeakers create focused sound beams using high-frequency waves modulated with audio signals. A study published on March 17 in PNAS shows that two high-frequency waves intersect, creating sound only audible nearby due to non-linear interactions.

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India has developed its first indigenous MRI machine to reduce import dependence and treatment costs. It will be installed at AIIMS Delhi by October for trials. Currently, 80-85% of medical equipment in India is imported. The indigenous MRI machine aims to boost India’s self-reliance in medical technology. An MoU was signed between AIIMS Delhi and SAMEER, an autonomous R&D lab under the Department of Electronics. The installation will be for a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner.