Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A school in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, introduced Iris, India’s first generative AI teacher, as part of the Atal Tinkering Lab project by NITI Aayog. Launched by the Kaduvayil Thangal Charitable Trust, Iris operates at KTCT Higher Secondary School, pushing educational boundaries and promoting innovation. The Atal Tinkering Lab initiative, announced in January 2021, encourages experiential learning and extracurricular activities, marking a significant step in integrating AI technology into Indian education.

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ISRO’s Project SOORYA is the name of its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) project, which aims to build the country’s own space station and send Indians to the moon. The project is led by S. Sivakumar, with the initial phase being his responsibility. The first launch of the NGLV, codenamed SOORYA, is expected by 2034-35, and will require a third launch pad at Sriharikota. The project demonstrates ISRO’s commitment to technological innovation and solidifying India’s position as a global space power.

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Southern California recently found the dog-killing flatworm parasite Heterobilharzia Americana in the Colorado River. Also known as a liver fluke, it causes canine schistosomiasis, affecting livers and intestines. Researchers identified two snail varieties capable of transmitting it: Galba cubensis and Galba humilis. Previously seen mainly in Texas and Gulf Coast states, treatments exist but don’t always work, potentially leading to euthanasia. While not directly contagious to humans, it can cause swimmer’s itch.

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The Technology Development Board has allocated funds for Project ANAGRANINF, aimed at developing a new class of antibiotics to combat Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections. This collaborative effort involves Indian and Spanish companies with the objective of creating a novel lead compound to combat critical gram-negative pathogens. The project aligns with WHO’s criteria for tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) infections, crucial as Gram-negative bacteria exhibit increasing resistance to existing antibiotics.

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Ola, the Indian ridesharing giant, unveiled Krutrim AI, touted as “India’s own AI”, earlier this year. Positioned as a personalized assistant, it aims to streamline daily tasks, blending cultural nuances and Indian languages. Powered by NLP, ML, and Deep Learning, it grasps human language intricacies and improves with data. Unlike traditional AI, Krutrim AI delves into user intent, offering assistance across tasks from email drafting to travel planning and skill acquisition.

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The International Astronomical Union approved ‘Statio Shiv Shakti’ for Chandrayaan’s Vikram lander site. On August 26, PM announced Chandrayaan 3’s landing site would be named Shiv Shakti. Rooted in Hindu mythology, “Shivshakti” symbolizes determination and empowerment. PM highlighted the connection between humanitarian efforts and Shiva. The “Shakti” component honors women scientists.

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IIT Kanpur recently signed an MoU with Conlis Global, a Canadian biotech company, for licensing a groundbreaking technology promoting bone healing and regeneration. Nano Hydroxyapatite-based Porous Composite Scaffolds, developed indigenously, possess biodegradable, osteoinductive, and osteopromotive properties crucial for bone regeneration. Highly biocompatible, these scaffolds demonstrate robust mechanical strength and foster excellent interaction between polymer networks and solvents, facilitating cell-material interactions with osteoblast cells.

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Indian scientists have made significant strides in decoding the genetic structure of the lumpy skin disease virus, responsible for the deaths of around 100,000 cattle since May 2022. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a viral infection affecting cattle, caused by the LSDV, a member of the capripoxvirus genus. Though endemic in Africa, Middle East, and parts of Asia, LSD doesn’t infect humans and spreads through blood-feeding insects or contaminated feeding and water sources.

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Astronomers are eagerly anticipating a groundbreaking endeavor to unveil new cosmic insights with high-resolution telescopes deployed on the moon and in lunar orbit. India’s contribution, PRATUSH (Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen), is a radio telescope to be positioned on the moon’s far side. Built by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru with collaboration from ISRO, PRATUSH aims to detect signals from the universe’s infancy, shedding light on the first stars and galaxies.

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Microsoft unveils VASA-1 AI model, crafting realistic talking faces for virtual characters. Leveraging Visual Affective Skills (VAS), it transforms static images and speech clips into lifelike videos. Users can tweak videos with customizable options.