Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A new meat-eating dinosaur named Spinosaurus mirabilis was discovered in the Sahara Desert. Its fossils were found in Jengueb area of Niger in the central Sahara. It lived about 95 million years ago in a forested inland region with rivers. It is the second known species of Spinosaurus. The first species, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, was discovered in 1915 in Egypt.

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Japan has become the first country to approve stem-cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease and severe heart failure. Sumitomo Pharma received approval for Amchepry, a treatment that transplants induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the brain of Parkinson’s patients. Cuorips, a medical startup, got approval for ReHeart, heart muscle sheets that help form new blood vessels and restore heart function. Both treatments could reach patients as early as summer 2026 under a conditional, time-limited approval system for faster patient access. iPS cells, discovered by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, can transform into any cell type without using embryos. The approval marks a global first for commercial medical products using iPS cell technology.

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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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Proba-3 recently made news after European Space Agency lost contact with one of its two spacecraft. It is European Space Agency’s first mission focused on precision formation flying, where two satellites operate in extremely accurate coordination. The mission aims to create an artificial solar eclipse to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona). This helps scientists observe the faint solar corona, which is normally hidden by the Sun’s intense brightness. The mission includes two small satellites: a Coronagraph spacecraft and an Occulter spacecraft shaped like the solar disc.

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Researchers recently identified an unusual iron sulfate ferric hydroxysulfate in layered deposits near Valles Marineris using laboratory experiments and orbital data. Valles Marineris, also called Mariner Valley, is a vast system of interconnected canyons on Mars. It was discovered during the Mariner 9 mission in 1971. It is one of the largest canyon systems in the Solar System. Some canyon walls are fault scarps formed due to crustal movement linked to Tharsis Rise. Erosion also shaped the canyon, seen in deep gullies along the walls.

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United States-based Sentynl Therapeutics, part of Zydus Lifesciences, has partnered with South Korea’s PRG S&T to develop Progerinin, a drug for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes rapid aging in children. The disease is caused by a mutation in the LMNA (Lamin A) gene, which normally produces lamin A protein for maintaining cell structure. This mutation leads to the formation of an abnormal protein called progerin, which damages the cell nucleus. The damaged cells die early, resulting in premature aging of the body.

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A Kerala start-up has delivered the Akasha300 3D printer to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), boosting India’s self-reliance in advanced manufacturing. It is a high-temperature, multi-material extrusion 3D printer designed for industrial and research use. It is supported by the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre at Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Kerala Startup Mission. It uses dual-extrusion technology and can operate up to 350°C, with future upgrades to 500°C. It has a modular design allowing multiple extrusion systems and hybrid manufacturing.

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Agnikul Cosmos has achieved a major milestone by successfully test-firing the Agnite Engine, marking progress in India’s private space sector. Agnite is the world’s largest single-piece 3D-printed booster engine, showcasing advanced additive manufacturing technology. It is part of a family of engines including Agnite and Agnilet, which are 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engines developed by Agnikul. These engines are specifically built to power the booster stage of Agnikul’s Agnibaan launch vehicle.

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CALM-Brain has been launched in Bengaluru as India’s first digital repository focused on brain structure and psychiatric disorders. It has been developed by researchers at the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind, which is a collaboration between NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) and NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences). The repository is built using data collected from Indian patients, making it highly relevant for understanding mental health conditions in the Indian population. It aims to support research in neuroscience and psychiatry, enabling better diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of brain disorders.

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U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and France’s Valneva reported that their experimental Lyme disease vaccine showed over 70% efficacy in a late-stage trial. Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It affects the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints. The disease is named after Lyme, Connecticut, United States, where it was first identified in children in 1976. Lyme disease is common in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. It is transmitted to humans through deer ticks (black-legged ticks) found in grassy, wooded, or bushy areas. Not all tick bites cause Lyme disease, and it cannot spread between humans or from pets.