Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers at National Centre for Radio Astrophysics – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA–TIFR), Pune, discovered a new spiral galaxy named Alaknanda. It lies 12 billion light years away and shows a perfect spiral structure. The name comes from the Alaknanda River and the Hindi word for the Milky Way. The galaxy spans 30,000 light years, with two clear spiral arms around a bright central bulge. It forms stars rapidly, producing 60 solar masses per year. It resembles a young Milky Way, formed when our galaxy was only 10% of its current age. The discovery was made using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported that 97 central and state laws still have provisions discriminating against persons affected by leprosy. Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic bacterial infection caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae affecting skin, peripheral nerves, and eyes, which can cause permanent disabilities if untreated. The bacteria spread through droplets from the nose and mouth during close, frequent contact with untreated cases. India’s prevalence rate decreased from 57.2 per 10,000 in 1981 to 0.57 per 10,000 in 2025, achieving national elimination status in 2005.

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Meta is reportedly in advanced talks with Google to use its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). A Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) is a special chip made to speed up Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tasks. TPUs, developed by Google in 2016, power applications like Google Search, Translate and Photos. They are now widely used in data centres and cloud computing for large AI workloads. TPUs work on tensor computations, which are multi-dimensional data arrays used in deep learning. They offer massive parallel processing, low power use and specialised circuits for AI tasks.

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Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observatory, helped scientists understand why the May 2024 solar storm — the strongest in 20+ years — behaved unusually. A solar storm is a sudden burst of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and solar material ejected by the Sun. It is caused when the Sun’s twisted magnetic fields become overstretched and snap in a magnetic reconnection, releasing huge energy. Solar storms can produce a solar flare, radiation storm, or a coronal mass ejection (CME).

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Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda announced that India is now 8th globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions, up from 123rd ten years ago. He released the 10th edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 in New Delhi. The new edition incorporates 121 new monographs, taking the total to 3,340 monographs. For the first time, 20 blood component monographs have been included, supporting research in blood transfusion, thalassemia, hemophilia, and anaemia. India is the first country to include blood components in its pharmacopoeia. The Indian Pharmacopoeia is recognized in 19 Global South countries.

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Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research used supercomputers to create the first simulation proving the Mpemba effect. The Mpemba effect means hot water can freeze faster than cold water under certain conditions. The effect was first described by Aristotle in his book Meteorologica. It is named after Erasto Mpemba, a Tanzanian student who highlighted it in 1969. Heated water contains microbubbles that enhance convection and faster heat transfer. Warm water evaporates more, removing heat as evaporation is an endothermic process. Warm water is less dense, improving convection and cooling. Frost in cold water acts as an insulator and slows heat loss.

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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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Recently, phytoplasma-induced root wilt disease has severely damaged traditional coconut-growing areas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is caused by phytoplasma bacteria and is one of the most devastating coconut palm diseases. It was first identified over 150 years ago in Erattupetta, Kerala, it is classified as a non-fatal disease. The disease does not kill palms but drastically reduces their productivity. It spreads through insect vectors, wind movement, and continuous coconut plantations. Spread is faster in sandy, sandy loam, and alluvial soils and is worsened by erratic temperatures and whitefly pests.

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In January 2026, Microsoft launched its second-generation in-house artificial intelligence (AI) processor called Maia 200. It builds on the first Maia chip that was introduced by Microsoft in 2023. The Maia 200 chip is manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). It uses advanced 3-nanometer (nm) process technology and includes high-bandwidth memory. The chip is currently operational at a Microsoft data centre in Iowa, marking its first live deployment. Microsoft plans to expand its deployment to other data centres. Maia 200 offers higher computing power, faster memory bandwidth, and better energy efficiency.