Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Zimbabwe has started rolling out Lenacapavir for HIV prevention. It is the first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). PrEP is a medicine taken by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Clinical studies show it prevents about 99.9 percent of HIV transmission. It is developed by Gilead Sciences and marketed as Yeztugo. Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor that blocks the virus’s protein shell needed for replication.

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Astronomers from Indian Institute of Astrophysics discovered the origin of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) shock for the first time. The CME-driven shock was recorded forming at a distance of about 1,30,000 km above the solar surface. This is the first confirmed detection of the “birth stage” of CME shocks, resolving a long-standing debate about their origin. Instruments used include the Gauribidanur Radio Telescope and Aditya-L1’s Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload. Detecting shocks at onset helps predict solar storms more accurately and protects satellites, GPS systems, and power grids from damage.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have officially verified that Chile has eliminated Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease. With this achievement, Chile has become the first country in the Americas and the second country globally to be officially verified as having eliminated the disease. Leprosy was first recorded in Chile in the late 19th century, primarily on Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island). The disease remained largely confined to the island, while mainland Chile experienced only occasional sporadic cases.

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Astronomers using the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa discovered the brightest and most distant megamaser. MeerKAT is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope located in South Africa. It is designed for advanced radio astronomy. A megamaser is a giant beam of electromagnetic radiation produced when two galaxies collide violently. During such cosmic mergers, large gas clouds compress, exciting hydroxyl (OH) molecules, which emit high-energy microwaves.

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Deloitte India launched ConnectSafe, India’s first cyber-security facility focused on protecting human lives and critical infrastructure. The initiative shifts cyber security focus from data protection to safety of connected operational systems. It addresses growing cyber risks due to India’s rapidly expanding connected ecosystems in mobility, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, agriculture and digital infrastructure. The 4,500 sq ft facility simulates real-world cyber-attack scenarios.It helps organisations test and strengthen security systems without affecting live operations.

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Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a new MXene-based material for hydrogen fuel production and seawater desalination. The material shows very low Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) overpotential of 12 mV, better than Platinum/Carbon (Pt/C) electrodes, indicating high efficiency. Hydrogen is a clean fuel producing only water, but current production depends on fossil fuels, so this method offers a sustainable alternative. The material also enables solar-powered desalination, addressing the shortage of safe drinking water. Scientists modified MXene into ultra-thin ribbon-like structures to increase surface area and improve charge transport.

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Recent Legionnaires’ disease cases in London and New York have raised global concern. Public health experts warn that densely populated cities, including those in India, could face similar outbreaks if preventive measures are not strengthened. Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a severe pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, first identified in 1976 at an American Legion convention. Transmission occurs when people breathe in water or soil containing Legionella; it is not contagious and generally cannot spread through drinking water unless aspirated. High-risk groups include older adults, smokers, and people with weakened immune systems.

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NASA has unveiled a new map of the ocean floor using data from the SWOT Satellite. The SWOT Satellite was developed by NASA in collaboration with Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France. Its main objective is to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface water and observe detailed ocean surface topography. The satellite measures how water bodies change over time to track variations in lakes, rivers, and oceans. It maps the ocean floor indirectly by detecting tiny changes in water height, which reveal the features beneath the ocean surface.

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Indian Space Research Organisation conducts the YUva VIgyani KAryakram (YUVIKA) to promote scientific temper among school students. The YUVIKA (YUva VIgyani KAryakram) programme is an initiative of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The programme provides foundational knowledge in space technology, space science, and space applications, with special focus on students from rural areas. Its objective is to create awareness about emerging trends in science and encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

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India has successfully demonstrated a 1,000-kilometre quantum communication network under the National Quantum Mission, a major breakthrough in secure communication technologies. The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was launched by the Department of Science & Technology with an outlay of Rs.6003 crore for 2023-24 to 2030-31. Its objective is to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial research and development (R&D) and create an innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). It is one of nine initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).