Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian AI warfare company FWDA announced that India’s first AI combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava, will be manufactured in Portugal in partnership with SKETCHPIXEL. SKETCHPIXEL will provide simulation technologies, AI integration, communication systems, and interoperability support, while FWDA will retain intellectual property rights over the aircraft’s autonomous systems and airframe design. Kaal Bhairava is a medium-altitude long-endurance autonomous combat aircraft with a range of 3,000 km and endurance exceeding 30 hours. The aircraft includes AI-based target recognition, swarm coordination, and encrypted communication systems.

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Indian Space Research Organisation developed the Environmental Control and Life Support System for the Gaganyaan mission. The ECLSS is a mission-critical system designed to recreate Earth-like sea-level conditions inside a spacecraft for astronauts in low Earth orbit. The system regulates cabin air composition, atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and waste management to ensure astronaut safety and comfort.

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Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a theoretical framework that uses sound waves to generate and control spin currents. The study, published in Physical Review B, advances the field of Spintronics, which uses particle spin instead of electric charge for information processing. The researchers focused on magnons, magnetic wave excitations that can carry information with lower energy losses than electrons. The framework shows that surface acoustic waves (sound waves) can create pseudogauge fields that influence magnon motion and generate spin currents. The research used a graphene-like magnetic material placed on a piezoelectric substrate.

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Astronomers recently found evidence of winds blowing from Sagittarius A*, marking a major breakthrough after nearly 50 years of research. Sagittarius A* is the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy.
It was discovered in the 1970s and is located in the constellation Sagittarius. Although largely dormant, it occasionally absorbs gas and dust and has an estimated mass of 4.3 million times that of the Sun. Sagittarius A* is a powerful source of radio waves, with much of its radiation produced through the synchrotron mechanism involving electrons and magnetic fields.

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A recent study on Crohn’s Disease mapped changes in gene activity across more than 50 gut cell types. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It can affect any part of the digestive tract, but it usually affects the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. The inflammation may spread into the deeper layers of the bowel. Crohn’s disease can be painful, debilitating, and may sometimes lead to serious complications.

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India’s first space-tech unicorn, Skyroot Aerospace, has unveiled Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Vikram-1 is a seven-storey small orbital launch vehicle designed to carry satellites up to 350 kg into low Earth orbit at around 450 km altitude. The rocket is scheduled for its first launch between July 12 and August 4 under “Mission Aagaman”, subject to final tests and approvals. It uses advanced technologies like carbon-composite structures, 3D-printed engines, and in-house propulsion systems to make launches more efficient and cost-effective.

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The WHO recently confirmed a case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Uganda. MVD is a severe, often fatal viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus. The virus belongs to the Filoviridae family, the same family as the Ebola virus. It is a zoonotic disease affecting humans and non-human primates. It was first identified in 1967 and is named after Marburg, Germany. The primary reservoir is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects; it is not airborne.

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Recently, China launched its latest oceanographic satellite, HY-2E (Haiyang-2E), aboard a Long March 4B rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. HY-2E is designed to replace HY-2B (launched in 2018) and will operate alongside HY-2C and HY-2D. It was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The satellite carries four microwave remote sensing payloads, including a radar altimeter, microwave radiometer, microwave scatterometer, and calibration radiometer to monitor the global marine environment.

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Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran recently passed away after battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but life-threatening immune system disorder. In Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), the immune system becomes overactive and attacks the body’s own healthy tissues and organs. The condition causes severe inflammation, affecting organs such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and brain. If left untreated, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can become fatal.

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The Jammu and Kashmir Government has declared leprosy a notifiable disease with immediate effect. The move aims to strengthen disease surveillance, ensure early diagnosis and treatment, and prevent transmission. It supports the national objective of achieving a Leprosy-Free India. Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic bacterial infection caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae affecting skin, peripheral nerves, and eyes, which can cause permanent disabilities if untreated.