Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Pakistan’s space agency SUPARCO is collaborating with China for the Chang’e-8 lunar mission in 2028. A 35-kg indigenous Pakistani rover will explore the Moon’s south pole as part of the mission. Chang’e-8 is part of China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project and aims to test technologies for a lunar science base. The mission will conduct surveys, lunar sample analysis, and resource utilization experiments. China has allocated 200 kg of payload capacity for international participation. This follows Pakistan’s iCube Qamar CubeSat launch on China’s Chang’e-6 mission in May 2024.

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Russia has offered India the R-37M missile, one of the world’s best air-to-air missiles. It was developed by Russia. The R-37M is designed to target enemy fighter jets and drones beyond visual range (BVR). It evolved from the R-33 missile and targets high-value platforms like tanker aircraft. Its guidance system includes inertial navigation, radar homing, and semi-active radar for the terminal phase. The missile has a range of 300-400 km and speeds up to Mach 6, making it highly effective for long-range interception.

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The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope discovered a rare Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505. NGC 6505 is an elliptical galaxy located 590 million light-years away in the Draco constellation. The discovery is considered extraordinary, especially for Euclid’s early data. An Einstein ring is a circular light ring formed due to gravitational lensing by a galaxy, dark matter, or a galaxy cluster.

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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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Measles, a highly contagious virus, is resurging in the U.S., especially in Texas, due to low vaccination rates and international travel. It is an airborne disease caused by a paramyxovirus, spreading through direct contact and the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract and can cause severe complications and death. Symptoms start with high fever for 4-7 days, followed by cough, runny nose, red eyes, and white spots in the mouth. A rash appears on the face and neck, then spreads to the whole body, lasting around five to six days before fading.

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Russia has developed an mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine, set for free distribution by early 2025. mRNA vaccines provide genetic instructions to help the body produce antigens that trigger an immune response. Unlike traditional vaccines, this is not preventive but treats existing cancer by targeting tumor-specific antigens. It trains the immune system to attack cancer cells by producing proteins similar to tumor antigens.

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Researchers at Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a method to reduce anion migration in CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals. Perovskite nanocrystals have the same structure as calcium titanium oxide (CaTiO3). They follow the chemical formula ABX₃, where ‘A’ and ‘B’ are cations, and ‘X’ is an anion. These crystals can be designed with various physical, optical, and electrical properties. They are used in optoelectronics, including solar cells, photodetectors, and LEDs. Perovskite LEDs combine the benefits of OLEDs and QLEDs, making them promising for next-generation lighting.

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Clinical neuroscientists have treated spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a baby before birth. SMA is a genetic disorder affecting motor neurons, causing progressive muscle weakness. It has five types (0-4), classified by age of onset and severity. Symptoms include muscle weakness, especially near the body’s center, but do not affect involuntary muscles like the heart. It is caused by SMN1 gene mutations, leading to motor neuron loss. It affects 1 in 10,000 births and is a leading genetic cause of infant deaths.

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Maharashtra’s state minister is suffering from Bell’s Palsy, a condition causing temporary facial paralysis. It results from inflammation or irritation of the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve) controlling facial muscles. It is often linked to viral infections, but the cause is usually unknown (idiopathic). It can affect anyone, but is more common in adults. Symptoms include facial drooping, difficulty with facial expressions, drooling, and issues with closing the eyelid or smiling.

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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.