Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A famous tabla maestro and five-time Grammy Award winner Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away in San Francisco due to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic disease that affects the lung tissue surrounding air sacs (alveoli), causing them to become thick and stiff. Over time, this leads to permanent scarring, making it harder to breathe. Complications include pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure, preventing oxygen from reaching the bloodstream and organs. Those with a history of smoking, a family history of IPF, and older adults are at higher risk.

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California has declared a state of emergency due to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak, affecting its dairy industry and causing human infections. H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, affecting birds and occasionally humans. Symptoms in humans range from mild (pink eye, cough) to severe (fever, shortness of breath, respiratory complications). It spreads through contact with infected animal fluids and is rarely transmitted between humans. Treatment includes antiviral medications like Tamiflu and supportive care. Preventive measures involve avoiding contact with infected animals and properly cooking poultry.

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Researchers at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune developed a new aerogel capable of extracting gold from electronic waste, offering a solution to reduce e-waste and harmful mining practices. Aerogels were first invented in the 1930s and are made by combining a polymer with a solvent to form a gel, then replacing the liquid in the gel with air. They are the lightest solid materials, extremely porous, translucent, and have very low density. Aerogels are recognized for being among the finest insulation materials available due to their unique properties.

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Speed guns are widely used by law enforcement officials to monitor traffic speed. Speed guns measure the speed of moving objects without physical contact by bouncing electromagnetic waves off them. They use the Doppler Effect to calculate speed based on frequency changes between transmitted and reflected waves. A speed gun consists of a radio transmitter that emits waves and a receiver that collects the reflected waves. If an object approaches, the frequency of reflected waves increases, allowing a computer in the gun to calculate speed. Originally developed during World War II for military purposes, speed guns utilize radio waves instead of sound waves for precise measurements.

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A study by IBM highlights India’s growing interest in quantum computing, with active participation from students, developers, and institutions. Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to solve complex problems beyond traditional computers’ capabilities. It leverages phenomena like superposition (qubits existing in 0, 1, or both states simultaneously) and entanglement (linked qubits affecting each other instantly). Quantum computers can handle tasks like cryptographic algorithms, simulations, and optimization far faster than classical systems. Unlike classical computers with binary bits, quantum computers use qubits, enabling exponentially faster computations for complex scenarios.

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IIT Madras has launched the AMOLED Research Centre (ARC) to develop next-generation AMOLED displays for smartphones, tablets, watches, and wearables. It is a National Centre of Excellence funded by MeitY, DRDO, and Tata Sons. AMOLED stands for Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode. The initiative supports India’s goal of establishing a display manufacturing industry. The Centre includes researchers from diverse fields and features a state-of-the-art cleanroom with advanced fabrication and characterization equipment.

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe achieved a record by flying within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the Sun, closer than any spacecraft before. It traveled at speeds up to 430,000 mph and withstood temperatures of 982°C to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft designed to study the Sun and its atmosphere. Launched on August 12, 2018, from Cape Canaveral, it orbits the Sun in a highly elliptical path. It holds the record for getting closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. The mission aims to explore the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s corona, its magnetic field, and the solar wind.

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Researchers developed FELUDA, a low-cost diagnostic tool for detecting H. pylori and its mutations in dyspeptic patients in rural India with limited lab access. H. pylori is a common bacterium in the digestive tract, infecting over 43% of the world’s population and causing peptic ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia, and gastric cancer. It survives in the stomach by reducing acidity and penetrating the lining, evading immune cells. Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Treatment involves a 14-day triple therapy using antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor to reduce stomach acid.

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IIT Bombay developed a shockwave-based, needle-free syringe for painless drug delivery, reducing skin damage and infection risks. The syringe uses high-energy shockwaves to create a microjet of liquid drug that penetrates the skin without needles. It consists of a driver, driven section, and drug holder, powered by pressurized nitrogen gas. Effective in tests on rats, it showed deeper tissue penetration with minimal skin damage. The device supports over 1,000 uses, needing only nozzle replacements, making it cost-effective. It could accelerate immunization drives like Mission Indradhanush and lower risks of needle-related infections.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Blue Origin a commercial space launch license for the New Glenn rocket. The New Glenn rocket was developed by Blue Origin, an American space technology company. New Glenn is a heavy-lift, two-stage rocket named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. It stands 320 feet tall and has a 7-meter-wide payload fairing. The first stage is reusable, powered by seven BE-4 engines, producing over 3.8 million pounds of thrust. The second stage uses two BE-3U engines, powered by liquid hydrogen and oxygen, generating over 320,000 pounds of vacuum thrust.