Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter show unexpected atmospheric activity above and around the storm. The Great Red Spot is an anticyclone, a high-pressure system that creates a long-lasting storm. It is located in Jupiter’s Southern Hemisphere. It appears as a massive red spot, though the cause of its red color remains unknown. The storm extends above Jupiter’s main cloud layers and is the largest known storm in the Solar System. The storm has existed for at least 150 years and may be even older. Its long duration is linked to Jupiter’s gaseous composition, which lacks a solid surface that would dissipate the storm’s energy. Unlike hurricanes on Earth that weaken upon landfall, Jupiter’s storm remains active due to its deep atmosphere.

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World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14 to raise awareness about the devastating impact of Chagas disease. The theme for World Chagas Disease Day 2025 is “Prevent, Control, Care: Everyone’s role in Chagas disease,” emphasizing the need for accessible healthcare and ongoing patient support. Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, found in the feces of the triatomine bug. It primarily affects regions in South America, Central America, and Mexico. If untreated, Chagas disease can lead to serious heart and digestive issues. Early treatment targets killing the parasite, while chronic cases focus on managing symptoms.

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The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment in Germany has made a major advance in particle physics as of April 2025. Neutrinos are neutral subatomic particles formed in radioactive decay and nuclear reactions like those in the sun and stars. The KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino) experiment, located in Karlsruhe, Germany, aims to measure the mass of the electron antineutrino, which is produced during beta decay. The latest results from KATRIN have reduced the upper limit of neutrino mass to less than 0.45 electron volts, marking a 50% improvement.

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South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has become the first coal Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India to adopt Paste Fill Technology in underground mining. Paste Fill Technology is a modern method used in underground mining to fill the empty spaces left after coal extraction. The paste used is made by mixing crushed overburden from opencast mines, fly ash, cement, water, and binding chemicals. This technique eliminates the need for acquiring additional surface land. It also helps prevent land subsidence, making mining operations more environmentally friendly and safe.

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India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu is expected to be commissioned next year. It marks a major step in the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR is a 500 Megawatt electric (MWe) sodium-cooled reactor that uses fast neutrons instead of slow neutrons. It was developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), set up in 2003 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

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NASA’s Lucy spacecraft was launched in 2021 to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. The mission is named after the famous fossilized human ancestor “Lucy” discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. Lucy is the first space mission to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which are ancient remnants from the early solar system. These asteroids travel in two swarms that move ahead of and behind Jupiter in its orbit around the Sun. The total mission duration is planned for 12 years. It aims to help scientists understand the origin and evolution of our solar system.

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The Bullseye Galaxy, officially named LEDA 1313424, was recently discovered by an international research team using the Hubble Space Telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory. This galaxy has a unique ringed structure formed around 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy. The collision created rippling waves of gas, which triggered star formation in circular rings. The Hubble Space Telescope observed eight rings, while the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii confirmed a ninth ring. The galaxy spans 250,000 light-years in diameter, nearly five times larger than the Milky Way. Despite being 130,000 light-years apart, a thin gas trail still links the Bullseye Galaxy to the dwarf galaxy. Scientists believe it may evolve into a Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxy, which could offer insights into dark matter.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the second short hot test of the semicryogenic engine that will power the Semicryogenic booster stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3). A semicryogenic engine uses a cryogenic oxidizer like Liquid Oxygen and a hydrocarbon-based fuel like kerosene. It combines the advantages of cryogenic and conventional engines, offering better efficiency and operational simplicity. In comparison, a fully cryogenic engine uses both fuel and oxidizer in liquid form, like Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen, giving 100% efficiency without causing greenhouse gas emissions. This successful test marks a key step towards upgrading LVM3 for future heavy-lift missions.

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NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) recently solved the mystery behind X-ray emissions in black hole jets. IXPE is a joint satellite mission by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Italian Space Agency, launched on December 9, 2021. It is the first satellite designed to measure the polarisation of X-ray light, helping scientists study extreme cosmic environments. The mission focused on blazars, which are a type of active galactic nucleus with a supermassive black hole ejecting a powerful jet of particles aimed toward Earth.

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The Hubble Space Telescope recently completed 35 years of space exploration since its launch on April 24, 1990. It is the first dedicated space-based telescope system and is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. The idea of such a telescope was first proposed in the 1940s by US astronomer Lyman Spitzer. It was launched as a joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA contributed 15% of the mission’s cost in return for 15% of observation time. Its launch was delayed from 1986 to 1990 due to technical issues and the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Hubble orbits Earth at around 569 km in Low Earth Orbit and observes ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. It was designed to be repaired and upgraded in space, making it a renewable telescope. This historic telescope continues to help scientists understand galaxies, stars, and the vast universe beyond Earth.