Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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IIT-Madras researchers have extracted silicon carbide (SiC) from simulated moon soil, aiding future lunar habitat construction. Silicon carbide (SiC), also called carborundum, is a synthetic crystalline compound of silicon and carbon. It is extremely hard, has high thermal conductivity, and offers excellent resistance to wear, oxidation, and chemical reactions.

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The Department of Biotechnology launched the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI). It provides clinical data, images, and biospecimens from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers. It is one of South Asia’s largest maternal and child health databases. The repository will help researchers worldwide improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. THSTI also inaugurated a Ferret Research Facility with high biosafety standards. The facility will support vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research on emerging infectious diseases.

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Researchers have developed a self-actuating drug delivery system for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It releases therapeutic agents only when needed by targeting inflammation in joints. RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy cells, mainly affecting joints in hands, wrists, and knees. Symptoms include chronic pain, joint damage, unsteadiness, and deformity; it can also affect organs like the lungs, heart, and eyes. The system uses microspheres loaded with methotrexate, a common anti-rheumatic drug. It includes polymer-lipid hybrid micro-composites, ensuring high drug efficiency and responsiveness to inflammation-related enzymes.

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OpenAI launched a new AI tool called Deep Research on February 2. It is the first major release after the DeepSeek controversy. Deep Research gathers information from the internet and creates reports like a research analyst. OpenAI showcased its capabilities in a YouTube demonstration video. The tool was also privately presented to US lawmakers and government officials in Washington, DC.

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Scientists at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn with 78.5 Earth masses and 6.41 Earth radii. It orbits a bright, metal-rich F-type star every 5.83 days in a circular orbit. TOI-6038A b falls in the “Sub-Saturn” category, absent in our solar system, aiding planetary formation studies. The discovery was made using the PARAS-2 (PRL Advanced Radial-velocity All-sky Search-2 spectrograph) at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory. TOI-6038A b has high density (1.62 g/cm³), likely formed through high-eccentricity tidal migration. It orbits a star in a binary system, raising questions about its formation and migration.

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Uganda and WHO confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Virus Disease (SVD). It is a viral hemorrhagic fever, related to Ebola, caused by the Sudan virus (SUDV). It was first identified in Sudan in 1976. It exists in animal reservoirs in the region. It has a high fatality rate and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms start with fever, fatigue, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and bleeding. There are no approved treatments or vaccines, but early supportive care improves survival chances.

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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.

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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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Google launched the first satellite under the FireSat project, which has successfully entered low Earth orbit. FireSat aims to build a 50-satellite constellation using artificial intelligence to detect and track wildfires as small as 5×5 metres. The first satellite was built by Muon Space, a California-based aerospace startup. It is equipped with six-band multispectral infrared cameras to detect heat signatures from wildfires from long distances. The first phase includes launching three satellites by next year, revisiting any location twice daily. The long-term goal is 50 satellites, providing high-resolution imagery every 20 minutes. Google.org funded the project with $13 million.

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Noma is a severe, gangrenous disease of the mouth and face, also called cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis. The World Health Organization classified it as a neglected tropical disease in December 2023. It mostly affects children aged 2–6 years suffering from malnutrition, infections, extreme poverty, poor oral health, or weakened immunity. It starts as a gum sore and rapidly destroys soft tissues, hard tissues, and facial skin. It is non-contagious and caused by polymicrobial organisms. Early treatment includes antibiotics, oral hygiene support, mouthwash, and nutrition supplements.