Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Bangladesh has become the 54th country to sign the Artemis Accords, a global agreement for safe and peaceful space exploration. The signing took place in Dhaka, where Secretary of Defense Ashraf Uddin represented Bangladesh. The Artemis Accords promote cooperation, transparency, and responsible behavior in space missions like those to the Moon and beyond. It was originally launched in 2020 by NASA and the US Department of State. They are based on the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements like the Rescue and Return Agreement. Bangladesh’s entry marks its growing role in global space efforts and strengthens ties with NASA and international partners.

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Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara discovered that fruit fly larvae can sense electric fields, a rare ability called electroreception. Electroreception is the biological sense that allows animals to detect weak electric fields in their surroundings. It is mostly seen in aquatic vertebrates like sharks and electric fish, but now found in invertebrates like fruit fly larvae too. A single neuron in the larva’s head was found to detect the electric field and trigger movement. The larvae changed direction based on the electric field, proving they sensed it and not other stimuli. This finding shows electroreception may be more common and ancient than previously thought.

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Two people in the United States are believed to have died recently from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare and incurable brain disorder. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) causes dementia and belongs to a group of diseases called prion disorders or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Its symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease but progress much faster and lead to death. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is very rare, with only 1 to 2 cases diagnosed per million people each year worldwide. It mostly affects older adults and is always serious. The disease is caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which damage the brain by turning healthy prions into harmful ones. These abnormal prions clump together in the brain, leading to nerve cell loss and severe brain damage.

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South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has become the first coal Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India to adopt Paste Fill Technology in underground mining. Paste Fill Technology is a modern method used in underground mining to fill the empty spaces left after coal extraction. The paste used is made by mixing crushed overburden from opencast mines, fly ash, cement, water, and binding chemicals. This technique eliminates the need for acquiring additional surface land. It also helps prevent land subsidence, making mining operations more environmentally friendly and safe.

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Researchers at Kyoto University conducted a Phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and side effects of stem cell therapy using dopaminergic progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder causing the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, which are vital for motor functions. Conventional treatment involves dopaminergic medications, but these do not restore lost neurons and may cause long-term side effects. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from adult somatic cells and reprogrammed to develop into any human cell type. iPSCs are used in treating diseases like diabetes, leukemia, and neurological disorders, and are important in drug testing and disease modeling.

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Aryabhata, launched on April 19, 1975, was India’s first indigenously-built satellite, named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata. The satellite was launched with Soviet assistance from Kapustin Yar. Aryabhata made India one of the 11 countries capable of sending satellites into orbit. It was designed for solar physics and X-ray astronomy experiments but faced a power failure after five days. Despite this, Aryabhata transmitted data for several more days and remained in orbit for nearly 17 years. The launch of Aryabhata laid the foundation for India’s growing space program, marking 50 years of India’s space achievements in 2025.

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India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu is expected to be commissioned next year. It marks a major step in the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR is a 500 Megawatt electric (MWe) sodium-cooled reactor that uses fast neutrons instead of slow neutrons. It was developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), set up in 2003 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the second docking of its two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. SpaDeX is a technology demonstration mission by ISRO to validate the ability to dock and undock small satellites in low-Earth orbit. The mission used two satellites, each weighing around 220 kg, launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C60 into a 460 km circular orbit. The primary objective of SpaDeX was to develop and demonstrate the capability for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking. Secondary objectives include testing electric power transfer between docked spacecraft, developing spacecraft control systems, and testing payload operations after undocking for deep-space missions.

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In a big step towards clean nuclear energy, China has launched the world’s first Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) in Wuyi City, Gansu Province, located in the Gobi Desert. This thorium-based reactor started in October 2023 and generates 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The project received a $444 million investment since 2011 and is a major shift in global nuclear innovation during China’s trade tensions with the United States (US). China plans to build a 10 MW version by 2030, showing long-term goals in clean energy. Thorium is safer than uranium, creates less radioactive waste, and cannot be easily used for weapons. It must be turned into Uranium-233 (U-233) to be used in reactors, making it complex but promising for safe and sustainable energy.

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Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, have developed a new optical sensing platform for detecting cholesterol. This platform can detect cholesterol even in trace amounts, below the normal preferred range, making it useful for early disease detection. It is designed to help in regular and efficient monitoring of cholesterol levels in the human body. Cholesterol is an essential lipid produced by the liver and is vital for the functioning of animal tissues, blood, and nerve cells. In mammals, it is transported through the bloodstream to perform various biological functions.