Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab) used globally to treat cancers such as lung, cervical, renal cell, and aggressive breast cancer. It is manufactured by Merck & Co. and belongs to a class of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. It is a monoclonal antibody, meaning it is a laboratory-made molecule designed to target specific cancer-related proteins. It blocks PD-1 receptors on T-cells, preventing interaction with PD-L1 on cancer cells, thereby enabling the immune system to attack cancer cells. In India, it is available in tertiary care hospitals, while indigenous CAR-T therapy like NexCAR19 has also been developed for cancer treatment.

Notes:
DAMPE Satellite has made observations on the acceleration of cosmic rays. The findings show that the intensity of cosmic radiation decreases sharply beyond a certain high-energy threshold. DAMPE stands for Dark Matter Particle Explorer and is also known as “Wukong.” It was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It is China’s first astronomical satellite designed for high-energy observations. The satellite was launched in 2015 into a polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 500 km. It detects high-energy gamma rays, electrons, and cosmic rays.

Notes:
South Korea has launched the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2 (CAS500-2) on May 3, 2026. The satellite is an Earth-observation satellite also known as Next-Generation Medium Satellite No. 2. It was launched aboard Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States. The mission was overseen by the Korea AeroSpace Administration. The launch was delayed for nearly four years due to changes from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The satellite entered a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 498 kilometres. It successfully established communication with a ground station in Svalbard shortly after launch.

Notes:
Astronomers used James Webb Space Telescope to obtain the clearest observations yet of the surface of an exoplanet named LHS 3844 b. The rocky exoplanet is about 30% larger than Earth and is located around 49 light-years away. Scientists found that the planet is likely airless, barren, and similar to Mercury with extreme temperature differences between its day and night sides. The planet is tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its red dwarf star. Its dayside temperature reaches around 725°C, while the nightside shows almost no detectable heat.

Notes:
India recently launched Donanemab, the country’s first therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Dementia involves decline in memory, thinking ability, and behaviour that affects daily life. The disease is associated with ageing, genetics, and lifestyle-related factors.

Notes:
Nine Indian space-tech companies participated in Space Meetings Veneto 2026 held in Venice and signed multiple international partnerships and collaborations. The Indian delegation was led by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space established after India’s space sector reforms. It acts as a single-window nodal agency to promote and regulate private sector participation in space activities.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has released a new green chilli variety called KAU Thejaswini. The variety has been developed to promote chemical-free backyard and kitchen gardening. It was developed by the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. It starts yielding chillies within 2 months of sowing. The variety was approved by the 30th State Seed Sub-Committee.

Notes:
Kerala recently witnessed a severe outbreak of shigellosis disease, resulting in multiple hospitalisations. Shigellosis is a highly contagious intestinal infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Shigella. It is the second leading cause of diarrhoeal deaths worldwide after Rotavirus. The disease spreads through the faecal-oral route via contaminated food, water, poor hygiene, and sometimes sexual contact. Symptoms include bloody diarrhoea (bacillary dysentery), fever, abdominal cramps, and inflammation of the colon. Severe cases may lead to complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis.

Notes:
Japan successfully launched the H3-30 rocket, a low-cost variant of its next-generation H3 launch vehicle. The rocket was launched from Tanegashima Space Center. It was developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The H3-30 successfully deployed its payload into orbit. It is designed to replace the H-IIA rocket. The rocket uses three LE-9 liquid-fuel engines. Unlike earlier variants, it does not use solid rocket boosters, reducing cost and complexity.