Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, a deadly accident occurred at the pharma unit of Sigachi Industries in Hyderabad, raising the death toll to 36. The unit manufactures Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is a free-flowing powder extracted from refined wood pulp. It is inert, nontoxic, fiber-rich, chewable, and not absorbed during digestion. Wood is the main source of pharmaceutical MCC, with cellulose chains bound by polymers and hydrogen bonds.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “3 by 35” Initiative to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It urges countries to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to achieve at least a 50% real price increase by 2035. NCDs like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes cause over 75% of global deaths. Higher taxes could prevent 50 million premature deaths over 50 years and generate USD 1 trillion in public revenue in the next decade. Between 2012 and 2022, around 140 countries already raised tobacco taxes, showing large-scale change is achievable.

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Recently, the Kerala Health Minister confirmed 425 people are on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. Nipah Virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus spreading from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person. Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are its natural hosts. NiV infection can be without symptoms, mild, or cause serious breathing illness and deadly brain swelling.

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On July 14, 2025, Israel launched its first fully government-funded and domestically built communications satellite, Dror-1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dror-1 is Israel’s most advanced geostationary satellite, built 100% with local technologies to ensure strategic independence. It weighs 4.5 tonnes, spans 17.8 metres, and will serve Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years. The satellite orbits 36,000 km above Earth, maintaining constant coverage over Israel and nearby regions.

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Recently, IIT Guwahati researchers developed a bamboo-polymer composite as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic in vehicle interiors. The composite uses Bambusa tulda, a fast-growing bamboo species from Northeast India. It is fused with biodegradable polymers to create a cost-effective and sustainable material. The research was published in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability. It shows high strength, thermal stability, and low moisture absorption, making it suitable for real-world use.

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Recently, NASA launched a twin satellite mission called TRACERS, which stands for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites. The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aims to study magnetic reconnection, a powerful process where magnetic field lines snap and release energy. This process happens when solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere (magnetic shield).

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IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) and National Cancer Grid (NCG) launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program. The program supports Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for cancer screening, diagnostics, treatment support, and healthcare operations in India. Grants of up to ₹50 lakh per project will be co-funded by IndiaAI and NCG for selected technology–clinical teams.

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Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil) became the first company in India to secure International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) CORSIA for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Panipat Refinery. The certification is mandatory for commercial SAF production and aligns India with global aviation fuel standards. Certificate was handed over by Cotecna to Indian Oil Chairman A.S. Sahney in New Delhi. ISCC CORSIA, developed under Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensures sustainability and lifecycle carbon standards.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has unveiled the second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitat. It is designed for analogue missions simulating year-long stays on Mars. The second mission will begin in late 2025 with four crew members. The 1,700 square foot, 3D-printed habitat will be used to test living in isolation. CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) is a program of analog missions that simulate year-long stays on the Martian surface. The inaugural CHAPEA mission began in June 2023 and concluded in July 2024, providing valuable insights into the challenges of living and working on Mars.

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Gaza has recently reported a surge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), raising health concerns. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system controls muscle movement, pain, temperature, and touch sensations. It is also called Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). It commonly affects people between 30 and 50 years of age. It usually follows viral or bacterial infections, vaccination, or surgery.