Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, an observational study on cellulitis was published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused mainly by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria. It usually affects the legs, feet, and toes but can also involve face, arms, hands, and fingers. The infection affects tissues beneath the skin. Risk factors include skin wounds or a weakened immune system, which allow bacteria to enter easily. Cellulitis is generally not contagious, except rarely through open-wound contact with an infected person.

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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope discovered a new astronomical object named Cloud-9. Cloud-9 is a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter-dominated cloud, classified as a Reionization-Limited H I Cloud (RELHIC). It is located 14 million light-years from Earth, near the spiral galaxy Messier 94 (M94). The cloud is made of neutral hydrogen (H I) spanning about 4,900 light-years, with a mass approx 1 million times the Sun. Cloud-9’s dark matter mass is estimated at 5 billion solar masses. It is a relic of early galaxy formation, a “failed galaxy” that did not form stars.

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IIT Madras launched Param Shakti, an indigenously developed supercomputing system with a capacity of 3.1 petaflop, meaning 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second. It is among India’s most powerful supercomputers and will help solve complex research problems faster and more accurately. The system will support advanced research in aerospace, materials, climate modelling, drug discovery, and manufacturing. Param Shakti is built entirely in India by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing using the RUDRA server series and open-source software. It is integrated into the Param Rudra supercomputing cluster with advanced power, cooling, and data centre support.

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India will demonstrate in-orbit satellite refuelling for the first time with OrbitAid’s AyulSAT launched on ISRO’s PSLV-C62. AyulSAT is a 25-kg dedicated tanker and target satellite developed by Chennai-based OrbitAid Aerospace, founded by Sakthikumar Ramachandran. It is designed to demonstrate fuel, power, and data transfer in orbit using a standardized docking and refuelling interface. The satellite will first perform internal refuelling to study fluid behaviour in microgravity. It uses OrbitAid’s Standard Interface for Docking and Refuelling Port (SIDRP) for future spacecraft-to-spacecraft refuelling.

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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zycubo, a copper histidinate injection, as the first treatment for Menkes disease in children. Menkes disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to process copper. It is caused by mutation of the ATP7A gene located on the X chromosome, affecting copper transport and balance. Copper is essential for metabolism, brain function, blood formation, immunity, wound healing, and iron use. The disease leads to low copper levels in blood, liver, and brain, reducing copper-dependent enzyme activity.

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Artemis II is the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis programme and will mark humanity’s return to the Moon’s vicinity for the first time since 1972. The 10-day mission will test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft to verify life-support, navigation, and safety systems for future lunar missions. On January 9, NASA announced that Artemis II had entered its final preparation phase. The fully assembled rocket is expected to be rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Centre in mid-January for final testing.

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CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) marked its 5th Foundation Day, highlighting science communication and policy research. On this occasion, the SVASTIK portal (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge) was launched. SVASTIK is a national initiative to communicate India’s scientifically validated traditional knowledge to society. It provides content in English, 19 Indian languages, and 5 foreign languages, ensuring wide outreach. The portal brings all SVASTIK content to a single digital platform, improving accessibility and engagement. It strengthens public awareness, policy relevance, and global visibility of India’s traditional knowledge systems.

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Odisha plans to launch India’s first state-wide Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) registry by 31 March, marking a national first. The registry will help the government assess CKD prevalence and design targeted action plans and health programmes. A state task force and a technical working group with experts from health institutes, research bodies, and departments have been formed. All health facilities, from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to medical colleges, will report Chronic Kidney Disease cases. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is developing the registry software.

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Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare hereditary brain disorder where specific neurons break down, leading to emotional problems, loss of thinking ability, and uncontrolled movements. Neuron damage occurs mainly in the basal ganglia (controls movement) and the cerebral cortex (controls thinking, memory, and decision‑making). Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT (Huntingtin) gene, which produces the huntingtin protein essential for neuron function. Recent research is providing fresh hope by advancing understanding of the disease mechanisms and potential treatments, offering optimism for future therapies.

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In January 2026, Microsoft launched its second-generation in-house artificial intelligence (AI) processor called Maia 200. It builds on the first Maia chip that was introduced by Microsoft in 2023. The Maia 200 chip is manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). It uses advanced 3-nanometer (nm) process technology and includes high-bandwidth memory. The chip is currently operational at a Microsoft data centre in Iowa, marking its first live deployment. Microsoft plans to expand its deployment to other data centres. Maia 200 offers higher computing power, faster memory bandwidth, and better energy efficiency.