Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Astronomers studied polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) around the young star T Chamaeleontis using archival data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). T Chamaeleontis is a young, Sun-like star located about 350 light-years away in the southern constellation Chamaeleon. The star is approximately 70% the size of the Sun, with a surface temperature of around 5,111 K (4,838 °C). It is surrounded by a planet-forming circumstellar disk that contains a wide gap, likely created by a forming protoplanet. Normally, the inner dense regions of such disks block ultraviolet light from reaching outer regions, but the gap exposes these areas.

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Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi, performed India’s first 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent. The procedure combines advanced imaging with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness with silent progression. The surgery used a stand-mounted Spectralis system and a 3D operating microscope. The breakthrough allows real-time visualization of aqueous outflow pathways. Surgeons can deliver precise, targeted interventions, improving patient outcomes. The procedure positions Armed Forces Medical Services at the forefront of global ophthalmic care.

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Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen spreading globally and becoming more deadly. Indian researchers from Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, in collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health, led the study. The fungus can grow and persist on human skin, inside the body (e.g., gut), or in the environment. Invasive infections caused by C. auris affect about 6.5 million people annually. It can cause serious infections including bloodstream infections, meningitis, bone infections, burn/wound infections, and urinary tract infections. The pathogen is gaining virulence and poses a significant global health threat.

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The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC-ITS) at Ahmedabad Civil Medical College completed 500 kidney transplants in 2025, setting a national record for a public hospital. Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC-ITS) is the only government-run hospital in India to perform 500 kidney transplants in a single year, reinforcing its leadership in kidney transplantation. The institute operates under Gujarat government’s Health Department and provides advanced medical care to economically weaker patients.

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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope discovered a new astronomical object named Cloud-9. Cloud-9 is a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter-dominated cloud, classified as a Reionization-Limited H I Cloud (RELHIC). It is located 14 million light-years from Earth, near the spiral galaxy Messier 94 (M94). The cloud is made of neutral hydrogen (H I) spanning about 4,900 light-years, with a mass approx 1 million times the Sun. Cloud-9’s dark matter mass is estimated at 5 billion solar masses. It is a relic of early galaxy formation, a “failed galaxy” that did not form stars.

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ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission decoded the impact of a powerful solar storm on Earth’s magnetic shield. Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based solar mission, was launched by PSLV-C57 in 2023 and is in a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1). The storm was caused by a massive eruption of solar plasma from the Sun. The most severe effects occurred in turbulent regions that strongly compressed Earth’s magnetic field. Some geostationary satellites were exposed to harsh space conditions. The study highlights the importance of understanding space weather, caused by transient solar activity, affecting satellites, communications, and technology.

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Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare hereditary brain disorder where specific neurons break down, leading to emotional problems, loss of thinking ability, and uncontrolled movements. Neuron damage occurs mainly in the basal ganglia (controls movement) and the cerebral cortex (controls thinking, memory, and decision‑making). Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT (Huntingtin) gene, which produces the huntingtin protein essential for neuron function. Recent research is providing fresh hope by advancing understanding of the disease mechanisms and potential treatments, offering optimism for future therapies.

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Recently, Google Research unveiled Project Suncatcher to address rising electricity demand from Artificial Intelligence (AI). Project Suncatcher proposes placing AI datacentres in low-Earth orbit (LEO) powered entirely by solar energy. It aims to reduce AI’s energy footprint and reduce dependence on Earth-based power grids, land, and water. The system uses clusters of satellites in sun-synchronous orbits to receive continuous sunlight. AI workloads run across satellites using ultra-high-bandwidth inter-satellite links. Only data inputs and outputs are sent to Earth. It relies on radiation-tolerant Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and special thermal designs to work in space.

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Recently, the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative trained over 1.90 lakh individuals through more than 5,200 skill-based programmes. It is a flagship national programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research, industry needs, and employable skills. The initiative integrates skill development with science and technology using CSIR’s research infrastructure. It offers inclusive access to students, researchers, professionals, school dropouts, ITI diploma holders, farmers, and rural communities.

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India recently confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, with authorities containing the situation through surveillance and airport screenings. Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans and also through contaminated food or human-to-human contact. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural hosts of Nipah virus. It is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint due to its epidemic potential.