Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn with 78.5 Earth masses and 6.41 Earth radii. It orbits a bright, metal-rich F-type star every 5.83 days in a circular orbit. TOI-6038A b falls in the “Sub-Saturn” category, absent in our solar system, aiding planetary formation studies. The discovery was made using the PARAS-2 (PRL Advanced Radial-velocity All-sky Search-2 spectrograph) at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory. TOI-6038A b has high density (1.62 g/cm³), likely formed through high-eccentricity tidal migration. It orbits a star in a binary system, raising questions about its formation and migration.

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China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea. This facility, also known as a “deep-sea space station”, is expected to be operational by 2030. The facility will be located 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) below the ocean’s surface.  It will be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations ever attempted.  The facility will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents.  It will accommodate six scientists for missions lasting up to a month.

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Hyprix, a Bangalore-based defense and aerospace startup, was founded in June 2024 by Devmalya Biswas and Divyanshu Mandowara. They developed India’s first privately made supersonic ramjet engine, Tezz, in just five months. Tezz operates at Mach 2-4, is 3-4 times more efficient than solid rocket systems, and enhances missile and aerial platform capabilities. Hyprix aligns with ‘Make in India’, reducing foreign dependence and advancing AI-guided precision supersonic systems.

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A study identified 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC), a cholesterol metabolite, as a key factor in Parkinson’s disease progression. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement. It weakens and damages nerve cells, leading to tremors, stiffness, and balance issues. As it worsens, patients struggle with walking, talking, and daily tasks. The disease mainly affects the substantia nigra, a brain region producing dopamine.

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Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) , Bengaluru, has developed a new technique to improve next-gen lighting. Organic LEDs (OLEDs), Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLEDs), and Micro/Mini-LEDs are shaping future lighting but face challenges like cost, toxicity, and production limits. Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) combine the benefits of OLEDs and QLEDs but struggle with heat, moisture sensitivity, and color instability. CeNS researchers minimized anion migration in perovskite nanocrystals using applied argon-oxygen plasma treatment. This method enhances stability, slows anion exchange, and improves color stability. The breakthrough, published in Nanoscale, advances durable and efficient optoelectronic devices.

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A A US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II recently conducted its first test missions with the Meteor air-to-air missile. Meteor is a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by MBDA for six European nations (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden). It has a ramjet engine, enabling controlled flight speed, complex maneuvers, and a range of over 100 km. It flies at Mach 4+ with a large no-escape zone.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help speed up the diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder. It is caused by an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Eating gluten triggers intestinal damage, leading to malabsorption of nutrients. Symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, and anemia. In children, it can affect growth and development. 1 in 10 people with a first-degree relative having the disease are at risk. 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.

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African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurged in Mizoram, causing 41 more pig deaths, raising the total toll to 503 since March 20. ASF first emerged in Mizoram in Lungsen village, Lunglei, on March 21, 2021, and has since become endemic. The causative agent of African Swine Fever (ASF) is the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). ASF is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs but poses no risk to humans. The virus can spread through contaminated clothing, equipment, or vehicles, threatening pig populations. There is no treatment or vaccine, making prevention and strict biosecurity measures the only effective control methods.

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Mexico has reported the first human case of myiasis caused by the New World Screwworm (NWS), a serious parasitic infection. The infection is caused by larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, which usually affects livestock but can also infect humans. It develops when female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds, and the hatched larvae burrow into living tissue, causing major damage. Symptoms include painful wounds, maggots, foul smell, bleeding, and sometimes fever or chills due to secondary infection. Treatment needs medical help to remove larvae, often through surgery, to stop the infection from spreading.

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Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (BRIC-inStem), Bengaluru has successfully conducted India’s first-in-human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia in collaboration with CMC Vellore. Gene therapy is a biomedical technique that modifies or replaces faulty genes to treat or prevent diseases. The aim is to introduce a functional gene to replace a mutated or disease-causing gene. Haemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder due to mutations in genes on the X chromosome, affecting 1 in 10,000 people, especially males. BRIC-inStem is part of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC). It integrates 14 autonomous research institutions across India under one national umbrella.