Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed a new siphon-based thermal desalination system for clean drinking water. Traditional solar stills face salt buildup and scaling limits restricting output. The system uses a composite siphon of fabric wick and grooved metallic surface to draw water and flush out salt before crystallization. It is low-cost, scalable, and sustainable, made from aluminum and fabric, powered by solar or waste heat. It is useful for off-grid areas, disaster zones, coastal and island communities facing water stress.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission. Its main goal is to study how solar particles are energised and how the heliosphere shields Earth. Heliosphere is a giant bubble formed by the Sun’s solar wind that covers the entire solar system. Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will map the heliosphere’s boundary, trace energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting. It is positioned at the first Earth-Sun Lagrange Point (L1), about 1 million miles from Earth towards the Sun. It will provide near real-time data on solar wind and energetic particles to monitor space weather hazards.

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Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of brown dwarf Wolf 1130C. Phosphine is a chemical compound consisting of one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms. On Earth, phosphine is naturally produced by bacteria in low-oxygen environments. These bacteria absorb phosphate from minerals or biological material and combine it with hydrogen to form phosphine. Phosphine is also present in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. The compound is also known as hydrogen phosphide. Its detection in Wolf 1130C provides insights into chemical processes in brown dwarf atmospheres.

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The Philippines has launched Southeast Asia’s first Coral Larvae Cryobank, a major step to protect marine biodiversity. The cryobank is a scientific facility that freezes and stores coral larvae at ultra-low temperatures. It preserves the genetic material of corals for future reef restoration and scientific research. The facility acts like a “genetic seed vault” for corals to help safeguard biodiversity from climate change and coral bleaching. The project is part of the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are jointly participating in this regional conservation effort.

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On October 13, 2025, TechBharat Research Foundation (TBRF) and Google Cloud India launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Public Good in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). The initiative was supported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, particularly its Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT, E&C). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and TechBharat Research Foundation (TBRF) for setting up and operating the CoE. TBRF will lead the CoE as a hub for applied AI research and public service solutions. Google Cloud India will provide cloud infrastructure, Gemini AI models, tools, mentorship, and market support.

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Chandrayaan-2, India’s second lunar mission, made the first direct observation of the Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) effects on the Moon. The observation was made by CHACE-2 (Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2), a payload onboard the orbiter. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported that the dayside lunar exosphere pressure increased when the CME impacted the Moon. The total number density of neutral atoms or molecules increased more than tenfold, confirming theoretical predictions for the first time. Chandrayaan-2, launched on 22 July 2019 via GSLV Mk-III M1, carried eight experiment payloads; however, the Vikram lander lost communication during its soft-landing attempt.

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Researchers at Nagaland University discovered that Sinapic acid significantly accelerates wound healing in diabetic conditions. Sinapic acid is a natural phenolic acid derived from cinnamic acid. It has antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and neuroprotective properties. It is found in spices, citrus and berry fruits, vegetables, cereals, and oilseed crops. The compound activates the SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) pathway, aiding tissue repair, angiogenesis, and inflammation control. This discovery could lead to safe, natural, and effective diabetic wound treatments. Diabetic wounds are slow-healing sores, mostly on the foot, increasing risk of neuropathy, poor circulation, infections, and amputation. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease causing high blood glucose levels and affects hundreds of millions globally.

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Researchers recently found that carabid ground beetles can act as bioindicators to track soil microplastics. They are commonly called ground beetles and belong to the Carabidae family. These beetles play a key role in the food web as both predators and prey species. They live in diverse habitats such as forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, wetlands, and urban areas. They thrive in temperate to tropical climates. Ecologically, they help in biological pest control and now aid in monitoring soil pollution.

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Recently, a scintillometer was installed at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI) in Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu. It is an optical instrument used to measure heat and moisture exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere. The device transmits a light beam between two fixed points to collect data. Turbulent air causes minute fluctuations in the beam, called scintillations, which are analysed to estimate heat transfer. It was installed as part of the TRRI Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) to enhance climate and crop research.

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Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, inaugurated India’s first and largest Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system. The VRFB has a capacity of 3 Megawatt-hour (MWh) at NTPC’s NETRA Research & Development Centre in Greater Noida. This milestone advances India’s long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions and strengthens renewable energy integration and national grid resilience. Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is a modern technology offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, expanding the pool of usable elements for battery systems.