Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A research team at Central University of Kerala, led by Dr. Ravi Kumar Kanaparthi, developed an advanced cyanide sensor to improve safety in drinking water and food. Cyanide is a dangerous toxin found in certain plants and foods like cassava, almonds, and apple seeds, and the WHO recommends keeping its concentration below 0.19 mg/L in drinking water. Recent cyanide poisoning incidents, like the death of 13 cows in Idukki, highlight the need for effective detection. The sensor changes color from yellow to colorless or bluish-green in the presence of cyanide, allowing for easy and accurate detection.

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A vaccine-derived polio case was confirmed in a two-year-old in Tikrikilla, Meghalaya. This is not wild poliovirus but occurs in individuals with low immunity. India has been polio-free since 2014, with the last wild poliovirus case in 2011. Vaccine-derived polio (VDPV) occurs when the weakened virus in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) mutates in under-immunized populations. Since 2000, 24 VDPV outbreaks have occurred globally with fewer than 760 cases. WHO recommends multiple rounds of high-quality immunization campaigns to prevent VDPV transmission. Polio is a viral disease that can cause paralysis and death.

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The Prime Minister will meet staff representatives in the national-level Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) for the first time in 10 years. The JCM is a platform for dialogue between government employees and officials to peacefully resolve disputes. Introduced in 1966, the JCM aims to promote harmonious relations and cooperation between the Central Government and its employees. The JCM is a non-statutory scheme based on mutual agreement between staff and officials.

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NASA launched the Tanager-1 satellite to track methane emissions. The satellite was launched using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. It was developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other partners. The mission aims to detect major carbon dioxide and methane emissions. It focuses on monitoring greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Tanager-1 uses advanced spectrometer technology to track emissions. It measures light wavelengths to identify specific gases by their infrared signatures. The satellite can monitor 130,000 square kilometres of emissions daily. Emission data will be publicly available to aid global reduction efforts.

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Scientists have discovered the first fossilized tardigrades, using 3D images to study when these creatures evolved their near-indestructibility. Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are tiny, eight-legged invertebrates in the phylum Tardigrada. About 1,300 species are found worldwide, mostly in aquatic environments or mosses. They are extremophiles, capable of surviving extreme heat, cold, radiation, and even outer space. In harsh conditions, they enter a suspended state called “tun,” where they dry out and survive for years. Tardigrades are less than 1 mm in size, with a tough cuticle and hydrostatic skeleton.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Jordan the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy, a major public health achievement. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Jordan for its efforts to stop leprosy transmission and reduce its stigma. Jordan has not reported any local cases of leprosy for over 20 years. The declaration followed an independent assessment of the situation in the country. Despite Jordan’s success, leprosy still affects over 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases reported annually.

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NASA is preparing to launch the Europa Clipper mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. This mission will place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter for detailed studies of Europa. It is the first NASA spacecraft dedicated to investigating an ocean world beyond Earth. The goal is to determine if the ice-covered moon could be habitable, as it shows strong evidence of a liquid water ocean beneath its crust. The spacecraft is 100 feet long and 58 feet wide, making it NASA’s largest spacecraft developed for a planetary mission.

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Llama 3.2 is Meta’s first open-source, multimodal AI model designed to assist developers in creating advanced applications. Introduced during a Meta event in California, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized its capabilities in visual understanding and document analysis. This model represents a significant advancement in AI technology, enabling developers to build tools that can quickly analyze and explain lengthy documents, thereby enhancing productivity and innovation in various fields, including research and business.

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The Smart Dragon-3 rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is specifically designed to carry remote-sensing satellites into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). This orbit allows for consistent lighting conditions for Earth observation, making it ideal for remote-sensing applications. Operated by China Rocket, a commercial spinoff, the Smart Dragon-3 highlights China’s advancing capabilities in space technology and satellite deployment, significantly impacting areas such as agriculture, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.

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The 2024 PT5 is a small asteroid recently captured by Earth’s gravity, set to orbit for approximately 53 days. It has a unique connection to India through its orbital characteristics, as it belongs to a group of asteroids known as the Arjuna asteroid belt, named after the heroic figure from the Mahabharata. This event is significant as it provides a rare opportunity for scientific observation and highlights the cultural ties between astronomy and Indian heritage. The asteroid is too faint to be seen with the naked eye and will depart Earth’s orbit on November 25, 2024.