Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A 51-year-old woman in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, died from Congo fever (Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever – CCHF), a viral disease. The disease spreads through tick bites, contact with infected animals, or bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include sudden high fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, and light sensitivity; severe cases can cause hemorrhaging, liver failure, and death. The Rajasthan government issued guidelines, enhanced hospital vigilance, isolated potential cases, and launched awareness campaigns to prevent further spread.

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Sarvam AI, an Indian startup, launched Sarvam-1, the first LLM tailored for Indian languages. Sarvam-1 is open-source and supports ten Indian languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and English. It is categorized as a Small Language Model (SLM) with under ten billion parameters. It delivers 4 to 6 times faster inference speeds, suitable for production and edge devices with limited computing power.

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A 16-month-old child with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) received gene therapy at a private hospital. SMA is a genetic disorder affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems and voluntary muscle movement. It leads to the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and is classified as a motor neuron disease. There are five subtypes of SMA, categorized by age of onset, severity, and life expectancy. Symptoms include muscle weakness, especially in central body muscles, while involuntary muscles like those in the heart are not affected.

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Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers have developed biodegradable foam that could revolutionize packaging and address environmental issues. This bio-foam, made from FDA-approved bio-based epoxy resins and tea leaf-derived hardeners, offers a sustainable alternative to plastic foams used in FMCG packaging. It is an eco-friendly replacement for expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane foams. The foam’s structure allows it to be reprocessed or dissolved without losing strength and can disintegrate within three hours in eco-friendly solvents at 80°C. Safe for landfills, it prevents groundwater contamination. With a $7.9 billion market, this innovation targets low recycling rates in plastic foam packaging.

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China’s Chang’e-6 mission made history by retrieving the first surface samples from the moon’s far side, revealing volcanic rock fragments dating back 4.2 billion years. This discovery provides crucial insights into the moon’s geological history and long periods of volcanic activity, suggesting that the far side was once more dynamic than it is today. The mission highlights the differences in composition between samples from the near and far sides of the moon, enhancing our understanding of lunar volcanism and its cessation due to dwindling internal heat sources over billions of years.

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Recent research has identified Candidatus Phytoplasma as the causative agent of a peculiar disease in sesame fields in Midnapore, West Bengal. Sesame, known as the “Queen of Oil,” is an ancient oilseed crop with medicinal properties. The disease causes disfigurement and virescence in the plants, impacting their yield. Researchers, led by Prof. Gaurab Gangopadhyay, have been studying this issue and aim to improve sesame varieties through molecular marker-assisted breeding to combat this threat and enhance the crop’s benefits.

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Chikkamagaluru health officials are on alert to prevent Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also called Monkey Fever. KFD is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease first reported in Karnataka’s Kyasanur Forest in 1957. The disease is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus, part of the tick-borne encephalitis complex. It spreads through tick bites or contact with infected animals, especially monkeys, but not between humans. Symptoms include high fever, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes neurological or haemorrhagic issues. With a 5–10% fatality rate, there is no cure; supportive care is vital. A vaccine is available in affected regions.

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Black thrips infestation has affected chilli crops in Ballari (Karnataka) and parts of Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh). It is an invasive pest species first reported in India in 2015 on papaya. Black thrips damage tender leaves, flowers, and fruits, leading to stunted growth, fruit malformation, and yield loss in crops like chilli, cotton, and mango. It feeds on various plants, including horticultural and ornamental crops. Its spread is due to the lack of natural predators and excessive pesticide use, along with staggered planting practices.

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The Sabal 20 is a logistics drone designed by EndureAir Systems, incubated at IIT Kanpur. It features advanced Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) technology, allowing it to operate in rugged terrains with a low noise signature. The drone can carry payloads of up to 20 kg and supports various missions, including long-range deliveries and high-altitude operations. Its development involved significant contributions from professors and students at IIT Kanpur, showcasing India’s advancements in drone technology.

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Researchers from National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Odisha, studied the unique triple-star system GG Tau A, located 489 light-years from Earth. The system is only 1 to 5 million years old, ideal for studying early planet formation. GG Tau A has a disk of gas and dust around it, where planets form. The interaction between the three stars affects the disk, making planet formation harder to predict. This multi-star setup helps scientists understand how planets form in more complex environments.