Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission has discovered two rocky exoplanets around star TOI-2322, located 195 light-years away. Scientists detected them by observing small dips in the star’s brightness, indicating planets passing in front. TOI-2322 b is nearly Earth-sized, completes one orbit in 11 days, and has a very hot surface temperature of about 330°C. TOI-2322 c is almost twice Earth’s size, about 18 times heavier, and has a dense structure similar to Earth’s layers. The planets were confirmed using space telescopes and ground tools, showing successful global collaboration in astronomy.

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A study of fossil leaves from Nagaland revealed how Antarctica influenced the Indian Monsoons. Fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation in Nagaland revealed that the region once had a warm and wet climate with very high rainfall and temperatures. The fossils matched the period when massive ice sheets began forming in Antarctica, showing a global connection. Growth of Antarctic ice reshaped global wind and rainfall patterns by shifting the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) toward the tropics. This shift brought intense monsoonal rains to Northeast India and led to the evolution of the monsoon system. The research used CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) method to analyze fossil leaves. CLAMP treats fossil leaves as “climate fingerprints” to reconstruct past climates.

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Chinese researchers have developed a bone glue named Bone-02, unveiled on 10 September 2025 in Zhejiang Province. It can repair fractures and shattered bone fragments in just 3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments. The glue is bio-absorbable, removing the need for a second surgery to remove implants. It may replace metal implants like plates and screws used in conventional surgeries.

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In September 2025, Europe’s first exascale supercomputer, JUPITER, was launched in Germany. JUPITER is the first European system to achieve the exascale threshold, performing over one quintillion operations per second. It is currently Europe’s most powerful supercomputer. JUPITER runs entirely on renewable energy, marking a milestone in sustainable high-performance computing. JUPITER will support cutting-edge research in areas like climate modeling, weather forecasting, and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions.

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Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) has been nominated as a United Nations (UN) Centre of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence (AI), capacity building, and skilling. The nomination was announced by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S Krishnan at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. The Centre of Excellence will operate under the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) to support the Global South in AI capacity building. India’s AI mantra is “capacity is the new connectivity” to bridge global AI gaps.

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A new 3D map of stellar nurseries has been created using data from the Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA) telescope. The map covers star-forming regions within 4,000 light-years of the Sun in all directions. It shows glowing hydrogen gas clouds, helping scientists study star formation and interstellar gas dynamics. The study combines Gaia dust maps with radiation effects from 87 massive O-type stars emitting ultraviolet light that ionises hydrogen gas. The simulation aligns with older hydrogen emission maps but provides higher precision. GAIA, launched in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way Galaxy. The telescope is positioned at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth, for a stable cosmic view.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission. Its main goal is to study how solar particles are energised and how the heliosphere shields Earth. Heliosphere is a giant bubble formed by the Sun’s solar wind that covers the entire solar system. Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will map the heliosphere’s boundary, trace energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting. It is positioned at the first Earth-Sun Lagrange Point (L1), about 1 million miles from Earth towards the Sun. It will provide near real-time data on solar wind and energetic particles to monitor space weather hazards.

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A new analysis of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft data shows that Saturn’s moon Enceladus may support life. Cassini was a joint mission of NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and Italian Space Agency (ASI). It was launched on October 15, 1997, to study Saturn and its moons in detail. The mission had NASA’s Cassini orbiter and ESA’s Huygens probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. Cassini studied Saturn’s atmosphere, rings, and magnetosphere, along with Titan’s surface and atmosphere. It provided key insights into Saturn’s cloud properties, ring composition, and planetary evolution.

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Recent research shows that eating diets high in Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) can worsen gut inflammation and increase Crohn’s disease flare-ups. Crohn’s Disease is a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that causes swelling and irritation in the digestive tract. It usually affects the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. Inflammation can spread deep into the bowel layers, causing pain and serious complications. Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and weight loss. It mostly develops between ages 20 and 29. The exact cause is unknown but may involve genes, immune reactions, and the microbiome. There is no cure, but treatment helps control symptoms and maintain remission.

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Meta Platforms has chosen Mumbai and Visakhapatnam as landing sites for its undersea cable project named Waterworth. Undersea cables are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor to transmit information globally. They form the backbone of the international internet. Around 90% of global data and 80% of world trade are carried through undersea cables. They also facilitate approximately $10 trillion of financial transactions annually. The project will strengthen India’s connectivity with global digital networks and support faster internet and data services.