Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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India’s first dedicated space astronomy observatory, AstroSat, completed 10 years of operation on 28 September 2025. It was launched on 28 September 2015 by PSLV-C30 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C30) XL from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Though designed for 5 years, it continues to provide valuable data after a decade. AstroSat studies the universe across multi-wavelengths: UV (Ultraviolet), Visible, Low and High Energy X-rays. It was developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) with collaboration from Indian institutes and partners from Canada and the UK.

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The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) launched SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) to make research easy and accessible. SARAL uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simplify complex research into videos, podcasts, posters, and presentations. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to harness deep science and engineering to build deep tech products and start-ups. It is developing an AI Science and Engineering Open India Stack for drug discovery, aerospace design, climate studies, and advanced materials.

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Astronomers have directly imaged a young planet, WISPIT 2b, forming inside a gap in a protoplanetary disk around a distant star. The discovery confirms that disk gaps are indeed caused by growing planets. WISPIT 2b is a gas giant, about five times the mass of Jupiter, and only five million years old. It orbits WISPIT 2, a young star 437 light-years from Earth. Protoplanetary disks are rings of gas and dust around young stars, providing planet-forming material. The planet was imaged using Very Large Telescope (VLT), MagAO-X on Magellan Clay Telescope, and Large Binocular Telescope.

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Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), India developed a sensitive method to detect toxic molecules like Rhodamine B. The method uses the coffee-ring effect combined with nanotechnology for enhanced detection. The coffee-ring effect occurs when a droplet evaporates, and capillary flow moves particles from the center to the edge, forming a ring-shaped deposition pattern. Rhodamine B is a water-soluble synthetic dye with bright pink fluorescence. It is widely used in fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and ELISA biochemical assays. Rhodamine B is toxic and carcinogenic, affecting skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. This method provides a rapid and effective tool for detecting hazardous dyes in research and environmental monitoring.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed a cost-effective, single-stage test vehicle powered by the Vikas engine. The vehicle is designed to validate the Crew Escape System (CES) for astronaut safety. Crew Escape System (CES) is an emergency escape system that pulls the crew module with astronauts to a safe distance in case of launch failure. The Crew Escape System (CES) is of two types based on the method of extracting the crew module. The Puller type CES pulls the crew module away from the launch vehicle and is used in India’s Gaganyaan mission. The Pusher type CES pushes the crew module away from the launch vehicle using compact, high-thrust liquid-fuel engines and is used in vehicles like SpaceX’s Falcon 9.

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China developed the underwater drone nicknamed the “ghost jellyfish”. The drone is made of a soft hydrogel material, has a transparent body, and uses electrostatic hydraulic actuators to mimic the natural, silent movement of a real jellyfish. It is equipped with an AI chip and a micro-camera for real-time object identification and can operate with very low energy consumption. Its primary uses are for stealthy underwater reconnaissance, ecological monitoring, and observing marine life without causing disruption.

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In October 2025, scientists discovered a new exoplanet named GJ 251c, located less than 20 light-years from Earth. The discovery was made by an international team, including researchers from Penn State University (PSU), USA. The finding was published in The Astronomical Journal. GJ 251c is a super-Earth, about four times the mass of Earth and likely rocky in composition. It was detected using the radial-velocity method, with data from the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF) at PSU’s Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). The discovery provides key insights into planetary formation and the search for potentially habitable exoplanets.

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Russia has successfully tested its new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone named Poseidon. President Vladimir Putin announced the test, calling it a major success and saying it cannot be intercepted. The test took place just days after Russia also tested the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile. Both tests are seen as signals to the United States amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The Poseidon drone was tested using nuclear power for the first time. It reportedly surpasses all current systems in speed and depth. Its nuclear reactor is 100 times smaller than those on submarines. The drone’s nuclear warhead is said to be more powerful than the Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

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The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh has reported a sharp rise in infections caused by Bacterium Bordetella holmesii in North India. This bacterium mimics whooping cough (pertussis), making diagnosis difficult. Bordetella holmesii was first identified in 1995. It is a gram-negative coccobacillus capable of causing pertussis-like respiratory illness. Besides cough infections, it can cause endocarditis, pneumonia, cellulitis, arthritis, and pyelonephritis. The recent surge highlights the need for improved diagnostic tests and public health awareness to differentiate it from regular whooping cough infections.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from organisations and manufacturers to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease. Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen from the Paramyxoviridae family. In India and Bangladesh, the Bangladesh clade (NiV-B) is dominant, known for high virulence and human-to-human transmission. The fatality rate ranges between 40% and 75%, depending on treatment and outbreak control. Fruit bats (flying foxes) are the natural reservoirs, spreading the virus to humans and animals like pigs, goats, and cats.