Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Astronomers using the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa discovered the brightest and most distant megamaser. MeerKAT is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope located in South Africa. It is designed for advanced radio astronomy. A megamaser is a giant beam of electromagnetic radiation produced when two galaxies collide violently. During such cosmic mergers, large gas clouds compress, exciting hydroxyl (OH) molecules, which emit high-energy microwaves.

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United States-based Sentynl Therapeutics, part of Zydus Lifesciences, has partnered with South Korea’s PRG S&T to develop Progerinin, a drug for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes rapid aging in children. The disease is caused by a mutation in the LMNA (Lamin A) gene, which normally produces lamin A protein for maintaining cell structure. This mutation leads to the formation of an abnormal protein called progerin, which damages the cell nucleus. The damaged cells die early, resulting in premature aging of the body.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Veterinary Research Institute produced Sahiwal calves using OPU–IVF–ET (Ovum Pick-Up–In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer). Sahiwal cattle is one of the best milk-producing indigenous breeds of India. It originates from Sahiwal region in Montgomery district of Punjab in Pakistan. It is also known as Lambi Bar, Lola, Montgomery, Multani and Teli. The cows are brownish-red in colour with shades from mahogany to greyish red, while bulls have darker extremities.

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U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and France’s Valneva reported that their experimental Lyme disease vaccine showed over 70% efficacy in a late-stage trial. Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It affects the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints. The disease is named after Lyme, Connecticut, United States, where it was first identified in children in 1976. Lyme disease is common in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. It is transmitted to humans through deer ticks (black-legged ticks) found in grassy, wooded, or bushy areas. Not all tick bites cause Lyme disease, and it cannot spread between humans or from pets.

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The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Qdenga for individuals aged 4–60 years, making it India’s first dengue vaccine. Qdenga is a live-attenuated, tetravalent vaccine developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan. It targets all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), with strongest efficacy against DENV-2 and relatively lower against DENV-3 and DENV-4. It does not require pre-vaccination screening and is administered in two doses, spaced three months apart. The vaccine provides strong protection against severe dengue and reduces hospitalisation rates.

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Meta has launched a new artificial intelligence model, Muse Spark, under its Superintelligence Labs initiative. Muse Spark can perform tasks such as calorie estimation, object visualisation, and answering user queries. The model is currently available on Meta AI chatbot and will be expanded to WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Meta has acknowledged the feedback and plans to improve future versions of the model.

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Andhra Pradesh has launched India’s first quantum test facilities under the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative on the occasion of World Quantum Day (April 14). The facilities include two Quantum Reference Facilities at SRM University, Amaravati and Medha Towers, Gannavaram, creating India’s first quantum test and certification ecosystem. The systems operate at extremely low temperatures (near −273°C) and support advanced quantum research and innovation. The initiative promotes collaboration among academia, startups, and industry, with support from institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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The Bombay High Court was informed that the Maharashtra government has not yet framed a policy to address Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal neurological disease. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), also known as Dawson disease, is a progressive and disabling brain disorder caused by a persistent infection of the measles (rubeola) virus. The disease typically develops several years after a person has recovered from measles, due to an abnormal immune response or mutated virus. It is a rare condition occurring in about one per 50,000 measles cases and mainly affects children and adolescents, with males being more vulnerable.

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Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a hafnium-oxide memristor, a brain-inspired nanodevice that can significantly reduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) energy consumption. A memristor (memory + resistor) is an electronic component whose resistance depends on past current flow, enabling it to “remember” previous electrical states. Unlike a conventional resistor, a memristor has variable resistance and retains its state even when the current is switched off. Memristors are nanoscale devices with low energy requirements and are commonly made using materials like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) between metal electrodes.

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The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has established the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence-enabled geological and mining systems. The centre is funded with ₹15 crore over five years by Vikram Sodhi, Vice Chairman of Mineros SA. It aims to develop Artificial Intelligence-based solutions tailored to Indian geological and mining conditions. The initiative focuses on integrating the entire mining value chain including exploration, planning, processing, safety, and environmental management.