Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Ten blackbucks died in Jamshedpur Zoological Park, Jharkhand due to suspected Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS). Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) is also called Pasteurellosis and is caused by Pasteurella multocida bacteria. It mainly affects cattle and buffaloes, with young animals more vulnerable. Bacteria survive longer in humid and waterlogged conditions. It spreads through contaminated food, water, air and direct contact.

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Chandrayaan-3’s lander payload RAMBHA-LP (Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe) detected an active plasma environment in the Moon’s south polar region. Plasma, the 4th state of matter, is electrically neutral and contains charged particles like ions and free electrons. RAMBHA-LP uses a hypersensitive Langmuir probe mounted on a boom to avoid interference from the lander. It measures electron density and electron temperature near the lunar surface, helping understand the plasma behaviour at the Moon’s South Pole.

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Google’s CEO announced Project Suncatcher, a long-term research plan to set up solar-powered data centers in space. The project aims to build satellite constellations that can perform large-scale machine learning using Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). These space-based data centers avoid the environmental impact created by Earth-based data centers. They also reduce risks from power outages, undersea cable failures, and natural disasters. The project supports data sovereignty because outer space is not under national jurisdiction as per the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

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A new study warns that heavy use of artemisinin and favourable conditions can create new hotspots of drug resistance, with resistance markers slowly rising in parts of Africa. Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug obtained from the sweet wormwood plant called Artemisia annua. It was discovered in the 1970s and became a major breakthrough when malaria parasites developed resistance to older drugs like chloroquine. It is effective against all malaria-causing parasites of the Plasmodium genus, mainly during the blood stage. Artemisinin quickly reduces parasites but stays in the body for a short time, so it is combined with other drugs. The World Health Organization recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies as the standard treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

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Michaela Benthaus, a German engineer, became the first wheelchair user to travel to space. German engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first person with paraplegia to travel to space. The suborbital mission was conducted by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space tourism company. This was the company’s 16th crewed flight, using the New Shepard NS-37 rocket.

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IIT Delhi researchers developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system called AILA (Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant). AILA works on an AI Agentic Framework and can perform real scientific experiments like a human scientist. It has a simple chat interface where instructions in English are converted into code to execute experiments. The system has been demonstrated on an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a key instrument in material research. AILA can control the AFM, make real-time decisions during experiments, and analyse results independently. The technology can save time, reduce manpower requirements, and transform India’s scientific research ecosystem.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 using its heaviest rocket, LVM3-M6, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on December 24, 2025. The satellite was placed into its intended orbit after a 15-minute flight, marking India’s first launch of the heaviest commercial satellite from its soil. BlueBird Block-2 is part of a global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation to provide direct-to-mobile 4G and 5G connectivity, including voice, video, messaging, streaming, and data. The mission was conducted under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and US-based AST SpaceMobile.

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The first Param Rudra supercomputer in Bihar was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna. The facility has been established under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) and was launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It is the first Param Rudra supercomputer set up in any institute or government office in Bihar. The supercomputer will enable students, faculty, and researchers to perform complex computing across multiple scientific fields.

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE),’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City became the first hospital worldwide to administer ITVISMA gene therapy. ITVISMA is a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), given on 28 December 2025. It replaces the defective Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. This enables production of survival motor neuron protein, targeting the root genetic cause. It is approved for patients aged two years and above, including adults. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness and life-threatening complications. The therapy may improve motor function and reduce long-term treatment dependence.

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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.