Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Seeds of seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat grown in Ladakh’s cold desert are part of NASA’s Crew-11 experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). The seeds were sourced by Indian space start-up Protoplanet based in Bengaluru. The mission launched on August 1, 2025, from Florida and docked at ISS on August 2, 2025. The experiment aims to test how seeds react to space stress and microgravity before germination. It focuses on gene activation and metabolic processes vital for space agriculture. Himalayan tartary buckwheat and seabuckthorn are rich in nutrients and suitable for long-duration space missions.

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Researchers have identified Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. It belongs to the genus Ideonella and family Comamonadaceae. It uses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as both a carbon and energy source, breaking it into harmless building blocks. These by-products can be consumed by I. sakaiensis and other organisms. It is discovered by researchers in Japan from PET-contaminated soil. It is Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, non-sporing, non-pigment-producing, and monotrichous.

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Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil) became the first company in India to secure International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) CORSIA for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Panipat Refinery. The certification is mandatory for commercial SAF production and aligns India with global aviation fuel standards. Certificate was handed over by Cotecna to Indian Oil Chairman A.S. Sahney in New Delhi. ISCC CORSIA, developed under Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensures sustainability and lifecycle carbon standards.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem. Rubella, also called German measles or three-day measles, is a contagious viral infection known for its red rash. It is caused by the Rubella virus, a single-stranded RNA virus, different from the measles virus. Rubella spreads through coughing, sneezing, contaminated surfaces, and from mother to fetus during pregnancy. This can lead to fetal death or Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), causing hearing loss, eye and heart defects, autism, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid problems.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1) in December 2025. The mission will carry Vyommitra, a female half-humanoid robot. Vyommitra will monitor the module, issue alerts, and manage life-support operations. ISRO plans five launches in 2025 and four in 2026. Upcoming launches include Oceansat-3A, NVS-03 (Navigation Satellite), TDS-01 (Technology Demonstration Satellite), and BlueBird Block 2. ISRO declared 2025 as “Gaganyaan Year” to highlight its human-spaceflight ambitions. The mission is a key step towards India’s future crewed space missions.

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On 21 August 2025, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched CEREBO, a portable non-invasive device to detect traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It uses near-infrared spectroscopy with machine learning to identify intracranial bleeding and edema within one minute, giving colour-coded, radiation-free results. The device is safe for infants and pregnant women and can be operated by paramedics or unskilled staff with just 30 minutes of training. It was developed by ICMR, AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru and Bioscan Research. India records over 1 lakh deaths and 10 lakh serious head injuries annually, making early TBI detection critical.

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The Department of Health and Human Services recently confirmed the first human case of the flesh-eating parasite, the New World screwworm, in the United States. New World screwworm is a blue-grey blowfly usually found in South America and the Caribbean. Its larvae burrow screwlike into living tissue, causing dangerous infestations. Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or cavities, with up to 3,000 eggs in their lifespan. Symptoms include non-healing wounds, bleeding, foul smell, and sensation of movement. Infestation is extremely painful and can be fatal if untreated.

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India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram 3201, at Semicon India 2025. It is designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) and fabricated by Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh. Vikram 3201 is designed specifically for rockets and satellites, unlike processors in smartphones or laptops. It is an upgrade of Vikram 1601, a 16-bit processor used in ISRO launch vehicles since 2009. The processor manages navigation, control, and mission management in launch vehicles. The launch supports India’s semiconductor self-reliance, with five units under construction under the Design-Linked Incentive scheme.

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Chinese researchers have developed a bone glue named Bone-02, unveiled on 10 September 2025 in Zhejiang Province. It can repair fractures and shattered bone fragments in just 3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments. The glue is bio-absorbable, removing the need for a second surgery to remove implants. It may replace metal implants like plates and screws used in conventional surgeries.

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Agnikul Cosmos, a spacetech startup, commissioned India’s first private large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems. The facility was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Research Park in Chennai. It combines design, simulation, 3D printing, post-processing, and testing under one roof to speed up development and cut costs. For the first time in India, aerospace parts up to 1 metre in height can be 3D-printed.