Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) held its first Research Advisory Board meeting at Regional Centre for Biotechnology. BRIC is an apex autonomous body registered as a society. It was formed by merging 14 institutes of DBT (Department of Biotechnology). It provides centralized governance and funding through intra-mural core grants. It aims to build future scientific leaders and innovation ecosystem. It promotes cutting-edge biotech research aligned with national priorities. It works under Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds, recently reported spreading across Europe and the United Kingdom (UK). It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus Serotype 1 (APMV-1) and has global distribution. It occurs in three forms: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic (moderate), and velogenic (highly virulent). Transmission occurs via respiratory droplets, exhaled air, and feces of infected birds. Symptoms include respiratory distress (gasping, coughing), nervous signs (paralysis, twisted neck), and diarrhoea.

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The Pentagon’s Project Maven AI program was launched by the United States in 2017. The program was launched by the United States in 2017. It uses machine learning and computer vision to automatically detect objects, movements, and patterns, reducing the need for manual analysis. The programme helps in real-time identification and tracking of targets, improving the speed and accuracy of military operations.

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India supplied 13 tonnes of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines and related materials to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine used to protect against tuberculosis (TB). It is the only licensed vaccine for TB and is widely administered to newborns worldwide. The vaccine was developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin at the Pasteur Institute and first used in 1921. Its main aim is to prevent severe childhood TB, including TB meningitis and disseminated TB. It also provides partial protection against diseases like leprosy and Buruli ulcer.

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Jordan recently signed the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters, expanding global participation in space governance. The Artemis Accords were launched in 2020 as a non-binding framework for guiding civil space exploration. It was co-led by NASA and the US Department of State along with founding nations like Australia, Japan, and the UK. India is also a signatory, highlighting its role in global space cooperation. The accords promote peaceful exploration and responsible use of outer space.

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Scientists from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru, developed a smart material that can both store energy and indicate charge level through colour change. The material is an oxygen-deficient bimetallic oxide made of molybdenum and tungsten. It appears blue when charged and transparent when discharged, enabling real-time visual monitoring. The innovation uses oxygen vacancies to enhance ion movement and alter electronic structure. It was synthesised using the solvothermal method.

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Astronomers used James Webb Space Telescope to obtain the clearest observations yet of the surface of an exoplanet named LHS 3844 b. The rocky exoplanet is about 30% larger than Earth and is located around 49 light-years away. Scientists found that the planet is likely airless, barren, and similar to Mercury with extreme temperature differences between its day and night sides. The planet is tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its red dwarf star. Its dayside temperature reaches around 725°C, while the nightside shows almost no detectable heat.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Psyche mission captured a crescent image of Mars from nearly 5 million kilometres away. It was launched on 13 October 2023 to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche and understand the formation of planetary cores. The spacecraft is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029 and will spend around two years orbiting and studying its surface and composition. The Psyche spacecraft is about the size of a small van and uses solar-electric propulsion powered by xenon gas.

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Indian AI warfare company FWDA announced that India’s first AI combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava, will be manufactured in Portugal in partnership with SKETCHPIXEL. SKETCHPIXEL will provide simulation technologies, AI integration, communication systems, and interoperability support, while FWDA will retain intellectual property rights over the aircraft’s autonomous systems and airframe design. Kaal Bhairava is a medium-altitude long-endurance autonomous combat aircraft with a range of 3,000 km and endurance exceeding 30 hours. The aircraft includes AI-based target recognition, swarm coordination, and encrypted communication systems.

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Indian Space Research Organisation developed the Environmental Control and Life Support System for the Gaganyaan mission. The ECLSS is a mission-critical system designed to recreate Earth-like sea-level conditions inside a spacecraft for astronauts in low Earth orbit. The system regulates cabin air composition, atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and waste management to ensure astronaut safety and comfort.