Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
United States (US) researchers have developed a novel monoclonal antibody named MAM01 that showed strong protection against malaria in an early clinical trial. MAM01 targets a highly conserved region of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, blocking infection before the parasite enters the bloodstream. The trial demonstrated dose-dependent full protection with minimal side effects. It is administered as a single long-acting injection, providing immediate and months-long protection. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are lab-made proteins mimicking the body’s natural immune defenses.

Notes:
More than 60 people, mostly children, were hospitalized in Bhopal due to injuries from makeshift “calcium carbide guns” during Diwali celebrations. Calcium carbide has the chemical formula CaC2. It appears as grayish-black lumps or crystalline powder with a garlic-like odor. It is made by heating a mixture of lime and carbon to 2000–2100°C in an electric arc furnace. Calcium carbide is used to produce acetylene gas through hydrolysis. Acetylene is a colourless, odourless, highly flammable gas. Calcium carbide is also used in steel manufacturing, metal cutting, and as an artificial ripening agent.

Notes:
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Gates Foundation, launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)-Medical Technology recently. MAHA MedTech Mission aims to boost innovation in India’s medical technology sector, reduce dependence on high-cost imports, and ensure affordable, high-quality medical technologies. The mission supports development and commercialization of innovative and affordable MedTech solutions.

Notes:
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh has reported a sharp rise in infections caused by Bacterium Bordetella holmesii in North India. This bacterium mimics whooping cough (pertussis), making diagnosis difficult. Bordetella holmesii was first identified in 1995. It is a gram-negative coccobacillus capable of causing pertussis-like respiratory illness. Besides cough infections, it can cause endocarditis, pneumonia, cellulitis, arthritis, and pyelonephritis. The recent surge highlights the need for improved diagnostic tests and public health awareness to differentiate it from regular whooping cough infections.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the LVM3-M5 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 5:35 pm. The rocket carried CMS-03, India’s heaviest communication satellite weighing 4,400 kilograms. It was the fifth operational flight of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) launcher. CMS-03 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite will provide multi-band communication services across India and nearby ocean regions. It will enhance secure data, voice, and video connectivity for civilian and strategic applications. The mission highlights India’s capability in heavy satellite launches and strengthens its communication network.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from organisations and manufacturers to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease. Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen from the Paramyxoviridae family. In India and Bangladesh, the Bangladesh clade (NiV-B) is dominant, known for high virulence and human-to-human transmission. The fatality rate ranges between 40% and 75%, depending on treatment and outbreak control. Fruit bats (flying foxes) are the natural reservoirs, spreading the virus to humans and animals like pigs, goats, and cats.

Notes:
Russia has launched its newest nuclear submarine ‘Khabarovsk’, built to carry the underwater nuclear drone ‘Doomsday Missile’ (Poseidon). Poseidon is an unmanned, nuclear-powered underwater drone capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. It can travel at extremely high speeds and operate at great ocean depths, making it hard to detect or intercept. The missile can travel intercontinental distances underwater and strike coastal targets. It serves as a strategic nuclear deterrent, designed for massive retaliatory destruction in case of a nuclear conflict.

Notes:
Bangladesh became the 8th country in the world to introduce the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) in its routine immunisation programme. Around 50 million children aged 9 months to 15 years will receive the vaccine under a nationwide campaign. India is the major vaccine supplier for this drive but has not yet included TCV in its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Typhoid fever is caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium and spreads through contaminated food and water or vectors like flies. The disease can lead to fever lasting several weeks, and complications like intestinal perforation can cause death. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 9–12 million global typhoid cases and over 1 lakh deaths annually — with India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan as hotspots

Notes:
Australian scientists discovered a new native bee species named Lucifer. The species is scientifically called Megachile (Hackeriapis) Lucifer. It was first found in 2019 in Western Australia. This is the first new member of this bee group described in over 20 years. Australia has about 2,000 native bee species, with more than 300 yet to be scientifically named and described.

Notes:
The Assam Government recently banned inter-district movement of live pigs to stop the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), a rising concern in the region. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar, with mortality up to 90–100%. It is not zoonotic, meaning it does not infect humans or other livestock. First found in sub-Saharan Africa, ASF is now present across Europe, Asia and Africa, with India reporting its first cases in 2020 in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.