Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A study found that Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi slowed disease progression over three years. Leqembi is an IV antibody therapy that removes beta-amyloid from the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common dementia, starting with mild memory loss and potentially leading to severe communication and response issues. Symptoms typically appear after age 60, with the risk increasing with age.

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Genetic screening, now popular among athletes, identifies individuals at higher risk for certain disorders by analyzing changes in genetic material. It helps in determining traits and risk factors, allowing for preventive measures and early treatment. Initially used for detecting diseases, genetic tests entered sports in the late 1990s, revealing how genes influence performance traits like endurance and flexibility. About 66% of athletic differences are due to genetics, with the rest shaped by environmental factors.

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Sucralose, a no-calorie artificial sweetener made from table sugar (sucrose), has been found to have no adverse impact on glucose or HbA1c levels and may even improve body mass index (BMI). It’s approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar and exceptionally stable. Most consumed sucralose (85%) passes through the body unchanged while the remaining 15% absorbed sucralose gets excreted quickly in urine without providing any calories.

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The ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod recently issued an advisory to help farmers control the spread of fruit rot disease, also known as koleroga, in arecanut plantations. Fruit rot disease harms crops, leading to major losses for farmers and making produce unsellable. It can sometimes even kill the plant. The disease is caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses, making it hard to prevent and treat. Heavy rainfall, low temperatures, high humidity, and alternating sunshine and rain favor the spread of the disease.

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The tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll, has entered phase-3 clinical trials. The trials are a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research and Panacea Biotec. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by infected female Aedes mosquitoes, also responsible for chikungunya and Zika. It is common in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly in urban and semi-urban regions. Dengue can lead to severe conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Currently, there is no antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine for dengue in India.

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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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ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) has completed a unique lunar-Earth flyby to gain momentum for its journey to Venus and then Jupiter. The mission explores Jupiter and its moons: Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede, which might have conditions that support life. JUICE, launched in 2023 by the European Space Agency (ESA), is expected to reach Jupiter by 2031 after an eight-year journey. This mission marks the first-ever lunar-Earth flyby combined with a double gravity assist maneuver.

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India celebrated its first National Space Day on August 23, 2024. This day marks the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander on the Moon’s southern polar region. India is the first country to land in this uncharted region and the fourth overall to achieve a lunar landing. The theme for the celebration is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”

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Researchers have discovered that an antidepressant drug has potential for cancer management through drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs for new treatments or conditions not originally intended. This process, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, identifies new uses for drugs initially developed for different medical conditions. It is often an unexpected discovery with the goal of finding compounds with established safety profiles that could be effective for other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies use drug repurposing to address rare diseases, cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, and more. This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch.

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NASA confirmed that Saturn’s rings will appear to ‘disappear’ in March 2025 due to an optical illusion. Saturn’s axis is tilted similarly to Earth’s, causing its rings to face the Sun differently at various times. During part of Saturn’s year, the rings shine brightly, while in the other part, only their underside is visible. The rings will be edge-on to Earth twice in Saturn’s orbit, creating an equinox effect. This alignment makes the rings appear very thin and reflect little light, rendering them almost invisible from Earth. The last time this happened was in 2009, and the rings will gradually reappear as Saturn continues its orbit.