Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers have developed biodegradable foam that could revolutionize packaging and address environmental issues. This bio-foam, made from FDA-approved bio-based epoxy resins and tea leaf-derived hardeners, offers a sustainable alternative to plastic foams used in FMCG packaging. It is an eco-friendly replacement for expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane foams. The foam’s structure allows it to be reprocessed or dissolved without losing strength and can disintegrate within three hours in eco-friendly solvents at 80°C. Safe for landfills, it prevents groundwater contamination. With a $7.9 billion market, this innovation targets low recycling rates in plastic foam packaging.

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Indian researchers at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics developed a cell-based biocomputer using genetically modified bacteria. Living cells, like brain neurons and immune cells, naturally compute to perform biological functions. Synthetic biology enables engineering cells for human-designed computations, creating cell-based biocomputers. Genetic circuits were introduced in E. coli bacteria, acting as “bactoneurons” to perform complex computations like artificial neural networks. Potential applications include enhanced drug design, personalized medicine, and optimized biomanufacturing.

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A recent study evaluated the efficacy and safety of filgotinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, for treating moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) causing chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Its exact cause is unclear but may result from an abnormal immune response. It typically starts in childhood or early adulthood, though it can develop at any age. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, anemia, and weight loss. While there’s no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms.

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The ISRO-NASA joint satellite, NISAR, is now scheduled for launch in March 2025. It was initially planned for early 2024 but faced delays due to technical issues. It will provide critical data on natural hazards and climate change effects, mapping the globe every 12 days. With advanced radar capabilities, NISAR can collect data day and night, enhancing disaster response and resource management. This collaboration reflects a significant milestone in US-India space relations, initiated in 2014, to address global environmental challenges through innovative technology and open-access data.

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iHub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) at IIT Ropar launched the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Gateway and Node System under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems. It is a cost-effective system that connects Bluetooth-enabled sensors to cloud platforms. The system supports real-time data transmission and environmental monitoring. It enables advanced analytics across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and environmental resilience, offering efficient and seamless operation for various applications.

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NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission revealed structures in the newly discovered X-ray binary system Swift J1727. IXPE is a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. It was launched on December 9, 2021, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is NASA’s first mission focused on studying X-ray polarization from celestial objects. The mission helps study high-energy X-rays from objects like black holes, active galactic nuclei, microquasars, and supernova remnants. IXPE’s three telescopes feature polarization-sensitive X-ray detectors, offering new insights into cosmic X-ray sources.

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The EnVision mission, adopted by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to explore Venus, Earth’s closest planetary neighbor, with a launch scheduled for 2031. It will investigate the planet’s surface, interior, and atmosphere using advanced radar technology and spectrometers, providing insights into its geological activity and atmospheric composition.

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Researchers developed FELUDA, a low-cost diagnostic tool for detecting H. pylori and its mutations in dyspeptic patients in rural India with limited lab access. H. pylori is a common bacterium in the digestive tract, infecting over 43% of the world’s population and causing peptic ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia, and gastric cancer. It survives in the stomach by reducing acidity and penetrating the lining, evading immune cells. Symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Treatment involves a 14-day triple therapy using antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor to reduce stomach acid.

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Researchers using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope detected a loud gravitational wave background through the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array. The gravitational wave background’s “hot spot” in the Southern Hemisphere was mapped in unprecedented detail. MeerKAT is a radio telescope array in Northern Cape, South Africa, originally called the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT). Initially planned with 20 receptors, it was expanded to 64 receptors and renamed “MeerKAT,” meaning “more of KAT.” It is part of South Africa’s contribution to the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, the world’s largest radio telescope initiative.

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Ukraine’s Security Service and Navy used a Neptune missile to strike an ammunition depot in Russia’s Rostov region. The R-360 Neptune is a Ukrainian-made subsonic cruise missile, originally designed for anti-ship use and later adapted for land attacks. It is based on the Russian Kh-35 missile, known as AS-20 Kayak by NATO. The missile entered service with the Ukrainian Navy in March 2021. It weighs 870 kg, is 5.05 meters long, and has a 400 km range. It travels at 900 km/h, with altitudes from 10 to 300 meters, dropping to 3 meters in the final phase.