Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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IIT Madras researchers developed a framework to enhance protection of critical infrastructure from ballistic missile threats. The framework helps designers improve the ballistic resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) panels. Findings were published in the journal Reliability Engineering & System Safety. Researchers used computational simulations to study missile impacts on RC. RC is used in military bunkers, nuclear power buildings, bridges, and runways.

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Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease shortly after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS is a rare infectious disease that starts with flu-like symptoms and can cause severe lung and heart issues. It is mainly transmitted by rodents through airborne particles from their urine, droppings, or saliva. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and abdominal issues, with a 38% mortality rate if respiratory problems develop. There is no specific treatment, but early medical care can improve survival chances.

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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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CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow developed the world’s first genetically modified (GM) cotton fully resistant to Pink Bollworm (PBW). GM cotton was introduced in India in 2002, with Bollgard 1 and Bollgard 2 developed with Monsanto, but they failed to fully protect against PBW. CSIR-NBRI is a leading research institute focused on botanical research and conservation. Pink Bollworm (PBW), also called gulabi sundhi, damages cotton by burrowing into bolls. PBW spreads through air and crop residue, affecting future harvests.

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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.

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Dryad Networks, a Berlin-based environmental Internet of Things (IoT) startup, introduced the Silvaguard drone for ultra-early wildfire detection. The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based drone enhances fire detection, location, and monitoring using infrared imaging. It works with Silvanet, a solar-powered gas sensor network, detecting fires at the smoldering stage. Each sensor protects an area equal to a football field and attaches to trees. Once Silvanet detects a fire, Silvaguard flies to the location, captures video and infrared images, and sends real-time data to firefighters.

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African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurged in Mizoram, causing 41 more pig deaths, raising the total toll to 503 since March 20. ASF first emerged in Mizoram in Lungsen village, Lunglei, on March 21, 2021, and has since become endemic. The causative agent of African Swine Fever (ASF) is the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). ASF is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs but poses no risk to humans. The virus can spread through contaminated clothing, equipment, or vehicles, threatening pig populations. There is no treatment or vaccine, making prevention and strict biosecurity measures the only effective control methods.

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Vibe coding became a trending term in Silicon Valley after being coined by OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy. It refers to using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) not just for coding assistance but to generate entire applications. Users communicate with Large Language Model (LLM)-based systems like ChatGPT in natural language to create apps. Andrej Karpathy, a founding engineer at OpenAI and former head of AI at Tesla, introduced the term. Vibe coding allows people to build tools, apps, and services without deep programming knowledge. However, it raises security concerns as AI-generated code may lack efficiency, scalability, and proper security frameworks. AI code generators might produce functional code but may not consider optimization, cost, or security risks.

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New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter show unexpected atmospheric activity above and around the storm. The Great Red Spot is an anticyclone, a high-pressure system that creates a long-lasting storm. It is located in Jupiter’s Southern Hemisphere. It appears as a massive red spot, though the cause of its red color remains unknown. The storm extends above Jupiter’s main cloud layers and is the largest known storm in the Solar System. The storm has existed for at least 150 years and may be even older. Its long duration is linked to Jupiter’s gaseous composition, which lacks a solid surface that would dissipate the storm’s energy. Unlike hurricanes on Earth that weaken upon landfall, Jupiter’s storm remains active due to its deep atmosphere.

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POEM-4, or PSLV Orbital Experiment Module-4, recently re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and fell into the Indian Ocean, as tracked by ISRO’s IS4OM (System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management). It is a space research platform developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) using the spent fourth stage (PS4) of the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket as an orbiting lab. POEM-4 is part of the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission and is the fourth in the POEM series, after POEM-3. It has three times more payload capacity than POEM-3, showing major progress in reusing rocket stages for science.