Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Astronomers have detected the oldest black hole ever observed, with around a million times the mass of the Sun.
The black hole dates back more than 13 billion years to the dawn of the universe. The observations, made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), reveal it to be at the heart of a galaxy 440 million years after the big bang. The observations of the GN-z11 galaxy suggest that they were either born big or ballooned extremely rapidly early on. There is no direct image of the black hole captured, which is unseeable as no light can escape it. However, astronomers found telltale signatures of its accretion disk, the halo of gas and dust that swirls around the cosmic sinkhole.

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Indian scientific missions to Earth’s poles – the Arctic and Antarctica – are facilitated under the Polar and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme executed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The PACER scheme which coordinates R&D in polar regions involving scientists across India’s research institutes steers projects to expand understanding of climate change, space weather and cryosphere dynamics among other areas through these expeditions.

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SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) is a tiny Japanese probe, slightly larger than a tennis ball, sent by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to demonstrate precise landing on the lunar surface. SLIM recently entered the moon’s orbit, ahead of a planned touchdown on January 20. If successful, it will showcase Japan’s prowess in precision lunar landing with an error margin under 100 metres. This will be a historic achievement making Japan the fifth nation after the US, Russia, China and India to softly land a probe on the moon.

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Doctors at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre have indigenously developed Prevall, the first chemotherapy drug in India to be available as a syrup formulation. The oral suspension of 6-mercaptopurine can precisely dose children fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Liquid forms were unavailable in developing countries earlier. Prevall effectively tackles challenges like flexibility in pediatric dosing, palatability and tolerability compared to tablets.

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The zombie virus is related to global warming and the thawing of Arctic permafrost. The rising temperatures caused by global warming have led to the thawing of previously frozen ice, which could unleash “zombie viruses”. The zombie virus is an amoeba virus that scientists have revived from the melted ice. The new strain has one of 13 viral genomes, with Pandoravirus yedoma, 48,500 years old, being the longest frozen virus to become infectious. Scientists are developing an Arctic surveillance system to detect and contain outbreaks.

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ISRO announced the successful deployment of the 6-meter magnetometer boom on the Aditya-L1 satellite at Lagrange point L-1, after being stowed for 132 days since launch. The boom carries two advanced fluxgate magnetometer sensors, measuring interplanetary magnetic fields in space. Placed at three and six meters from the spacecraft, this minimizes spacecraft-generated magnetic field impact, ensuring accurate measurements. The dual-sensor setup aids in precise estimation of influences, enhancing scientific data collection.

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Researchers have unveiled mitochondrial coxiella effector F (MceF), an antioxidant protein produced by the Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. MceF supports human cell health despite a heavy bacterial load. Invading host cells, Coxiella burnetii releases MceF, interacting with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in mitochondria. This interaction enhances mitochondrial function, preventing cell damage and death associated with pathogen replication in mammalian cells. The newfound protein showcases potential therapeutic applications.

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China has imposed a ban on the import of ruminants and related products from Iraq due to a bluetongue disease outbreak. Bluetongue is a non-contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants, transmitted by insects’ particularly biting species of Culicoides midges. The virus belongs to the Reoviridae family with 24 identified serotypes. Symptoms vary, but sheep are most severely affected. The disease is globally distributed in regions where the insect vector thrives, posing a threat to various species with transmission facilitated by the infected vector.

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Scientists recently discovered a novel class of virus-like entities called obelisks within the human body. These RNA-based organisms, around 1,000 nucleotides in size, form rod-like structures and differ from known biological agents. Larger than typical genetic molecules like plasmids, obelisks occupy a unique niche between viruses and viroids. Present in diverse areas of the human body, their hosts and potential presence in bacteria remain unidentified, adding intrigue to this recently unveiled class of organisms.

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The Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India. It operates three R&D laboratories in Pune, Hyderabad, and Thrissur, focusing on critical electronic materials. C-MET, Hyderabad, is dedicated to developing advanced electronic and strategic materials. A major focus is environmentally friendly e-waste recycling technologies to address India’s 3.2 million tons of electronic waste, promoting resource efficiency. C-MET’s Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management, inaugurated under PPP, pioneers recycling technologies for various electronic components.