Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The WHO recently confirmed a case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Uganda. MVD is a severe, often fatal viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus. The virus belongs to the Filoviridae family, the same family as the Ebola virus. It is a zoonotic disease affecting humans and non-human primates. It was first identified in 1967 and is named after Marburg, Germany. The primary reservoir is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects; it is not airborne.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vepdegestrant for Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1)-mutated, ER-positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. It is the world’s first FDA-approved therapy based on PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera) technology. PROTACs are designed to degrade harmful proteins rather than merely block them. A PROTAC molecule binds the target protein and an E3 ligase, triggering targeted protein degradation via the cell’s protein disposal system. Unlike conventional drugs, PROTACs act catalytically, allowing one molecule to degrade multiple target proteins.

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Skyroot Aerospace announced that Vikram-1 will carry six payloads during Mission Aagaman. Vikram-1 is a four-stage orbital launch vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace. It is India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The first three stages use solid fuel, while the fourth stage uses a hypergolic liquid engine for precise orbital insertion. It can carry 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 260 kg to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

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Researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)–National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay developed an indigenous placenta-on-a-chip platform. It replicates the key functions of the human placental barrier, enabling more accurate pregnancy research. It is expected to reduce dependence on animal testing while providing a more accurate model for studying human pregnancy. The placenta is a temporary organ that regulates the transfer of nutrients and oxygen, removes waste products, and secretes hormones between the mother and the fetus. Organ-on-chip technology consists of miniature devices containing living human cells that mimic the structure and function of specific human organs.

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SpaceX successfully launched BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability), described as the world’s first commercially built nuclear-powered satellite. The satellite was developed by City Labs, a Florida-based company, and launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-17 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. BOHR uses NanoTritium betavoltaic technology, which generates electricity from the radioactive decay of tritium (radioactive hydrogen) using a semiconductor device. Unlike conventional satellites, BOHR demonstrates the potential of nuclear micropower systems for missions where sunlight is limited, although it still relies on solar panels for primary operations.

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Scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed an advanced ammonia sensor. The sensor can detect ammonia at 319 parts per billion (ppb) and operates efficiently at room temperature. It is based on a vanadium oxide–vanadium sulfide heterostructure, offering high sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability. The technology can improve industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and public health by enabling real-time detection of hazardous ammonia leaks.

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QDENGA (TAK-003) has become India’s first approved dengue vaccine, after receiving approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on 20 July 2026. It is developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals (Japan). QDENGA is a live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine, providing protection against all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). It is approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years. The vaccine does not require pre-vaccination screening and can be administered regardless of prior dengue infection.

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The ePlane Company, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, has launched India’s first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype. The company plans to begin commercial operations by 2028, starting with air ambulance services before expanding to passenger transport. An eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft is a battery-powered aircraft that takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and then flies forward like a conventional aeroplane. Unlike conventional aircraft, eVTOLs do not require long runways and use multiple electrically powered propellers instead of a single large rotor.

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China successfully launched the Gravity-1 commercial rocket from the East China Sea. It marked the first far-sea launch by a privately developed commercial rocket in China. The rocket was developed by ORIENSPACE and launched from a sea-based launch vessel. The mission placed nine satellites into orbit to support Earth observation, AI applications, disaster management, agriculture, and resource mapping.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected the PRAXIS Mission for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) 2026 Phase I funding. PRAXIS stands for Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling. The mission aims to collect and analyse particles directly from planetary rings. It will study the ring systems of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and ringed minor bodies like Chariklo and Chiron. The mission will use an AI-powered bio-inspired robotic explorer for autonomous navigation, particle sampling and on-site analysis. It plans to graze the ring plane to capture free-floating particles without deep entry.