Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Chinese researchers have recently developed a high-resolution ocean simulation system called LICOMK++ to better study ocean and climate patterns. LICOMK++ stands for Laboratory for Atmospheric and Oceanic Modeling (LASG)/Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) Climate Ocean Model with K++ high-performance computing upgrade. It is described as an ocean “microscope” because of its ultra-high-resolution abilities. This advanced system allows scientists to clearly observe complex ocean processes such as eddies and heat transport. It helps improve the understanding of how oceans influence climate. LICOMK++ can enhance forecasts of extreme weather events like typhoons, marine heatwaves, and floods.

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A recent study in Nature Geoscience found that soil microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, play a central role in regulating phosphorus availability and cycling over a span of 700,000 years in the Cooloola coastal dune system. These microbes manage the release and transformation of phosphorus in nutrient-poor soils, acting as crucial “gatekeepers” in ecosystem nutrient dynamics. These microbes adapt by replacing phospholipids with non-phosphorus lipids and storing fats to reduce phosphorus demand. They also improve phosphorus use efficiency in their metabolism to survive in low-phosphorus soils. Microbes both compete with plants for phosphorus and help them by recycling it and improving access.

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Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a new iron-doped catalyst. This catalyst improves oxygen-related electrocatalytic reactions. Oxygen electrocatalysis is important for clean energy technologies like water splitting to produce hydrogen, generating clean fuels, and making hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). These technologies often face challenges such as slow reaction speeds, high energy use, and expensive materials. They usually depend on precious metals like platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru). The new iron-based catalyst aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in these clean energy processes.

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NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission recently created the most detailed gravity map of the Moon. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was launched by NASA. It was part of NASA’s Discovery Program. The new map will help build a precise lunar reference frame and time system, making future Moon missions safer and more accurate. The mission showed that the Moon’s nearside, which faces Earth, is warmer and more geologically active than the farside. Earth’s gravity pulls more on the nearside, causing it to flex more and revealing interior structural differences. The nearside has large flat plains called “mare”, while the farside has rugged terrain.

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China has launched 12 satellites to begin building the world’s first space-based supercomputing network, called the Three-Body Computing Constellation. The satellites were launched using a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre as part of a project led by Zhejiang Lab. These satellites have Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered processors and high-speed links to communicate and process data in orbit without ground stations. Once complete, the constellation will include 2,800 satellites with a combined power of 1,000 peta operations per second (POPS). The project is developed by ADA Space, Zhijiang Laboratory, and Neijang High-Tech Zone to offer real-time, autonomous data processing from space.

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The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile is nearing flight testing with an extended range of 800 km. It is a smaller, lighter, and more versatile supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos-NG is designed to be used on fighter aircraft, ships, and submarines. It is jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia under BrahMos Aerospace. The missile aims to be miniaturized, stealthier, and more agile for ultra-precise strikes on land and sea targets.

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On May 23, 2025, Chennai-based startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fired India’s first electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine. This marks a major step for private players in advancing Indian space technology. The engine uses electric motors instead of traditional gas generators to power fuel pumps, allowing precise thrust control and quick response. It runs on semi-cryogenic propulsion using liquid oxygen (LOX) and refined kerosene, balancing performance and cost. This innovation boosts engine reliability and suits future sub-orbital missions.

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Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have created India’s first gene-edited sheep. This is a major breakthrough in animal biotechnology and marks a historic achievement for India. The sheep was developed using genome editing without adding any foreign Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), making it different from transgenic animals. This innovation may ease regulatory approvals under India’s updated biotechnology policy. It positions SKUAST-Kashmir as a leader in reproductive biotechnology research. This recent development places India among the global frontrunners in advanced genome editing technologies.

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Recently, Google DeepMind launched a new Artificial Intelligence model called AlphaGenome. AlphaGenome aims to predict accurately how individual mutations in human Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) affect their functions and impact human health. It is built on DeepMind’s earlier genomics model named Enformer and works alongside AlphaMissense, which focuses on classifying the effects of variants in protein-coding regions. The model can analyze very long DNA sequences up to one million base pairs and generate highly detailed predictions.

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Recently, in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, the Prime Minister of India announced that India has been declared free of Trachoma, a bacterial eye disease. Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through contact with the eyes, eyelids, or throat secretions of infected people. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls it a neglected tropical disease, affecting around 150 million people worldwide. In 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma, with surveillance continuing until 2024.