Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) proposed a mission called PRATUSH to study the Cosmic Dawn. PRATUSH stands for Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen. It is a radio telescope to be placed on the far side of the Moon. It is built by Raman Research Institute (RRI) Bengaluru with collaboration from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will use a wideband antenna (30–250 MHz), a self-calibratable analog receiver, and a digital correlator with 100 kHz spectral resolution. It will observe large sky regions continuously and record spectra of radio emission. Its nominal lifetime is two years to collect high-quality data.

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Scientists have found that tiny interstellar dust grains act as storytellers of the universe. A team led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, provided the strongest observational evidence of how these dust grains align with magnetic fields in the Milky Way. Dust grains are a few micrometers in size, made of silicates and carbonaceous material, and exist throughout the interstellar medium. They play a key role in star and planet formation and cause starlight polarization detected since 1949.

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Recently, a study in Nature Reviews Disease Primers gave an in-depth analysis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease where immune cells form granulomas in organs, mainly lungs. Granulomas are most common in lungs and lymph nodes but can also affect eyes, skin, heart, and other organs. Exact cause is unknown but linked to genetic changes and triggers like bacteria, viruses, dust, or chemicals. Symptoms range from mild to severe, including cough, breathlessness, shin sores, eye pain, and redness. Some cases resolve on their own, while others become chronic and may lead to fibrosis with lung scarring. There is no cure, but treatment with medicines reduces immune overreaction and prevents organ damage.

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Researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome. The AI-designed virus can infect and kill bacteria, acting as a bacteriophage. Artificial Intelligence (AI) model named Evo was used, employing genome “language models” to design complete viral genomes. Evo was trained on about 2 million viral genomes to learn DNA patterns, gene order, and composition. Scientists guided Evo to mimic phiX174, a small bacteriophage with 11 genes and approximately 5,000 DNA letters. This achievement marks a significant advancement beyond AI-designed proteins or small multi-gene systems. It demonstrates AI’s potential to innovate in synthetic biology and genome engineering.

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Agnikul Cosmos, a spacetech startup, commissioned India’s first private large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems. The facility was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Research Park in Chennai. It combines design, simulation, 3D printing, post-processing, and testing under one roof to speed up development and cut costs. For the first time in India, aerospace parts up to 1 metre in height can be 3D-printed.

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Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) has been nominated as a United Nations (UN) Centre of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence (AI), capacity building, and skilling. The nomination was announced by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S Krishnan at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. The Centre of Excellence will operate under the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) to support the Global South in AI capacity building. India’s AI mantra is “capacity is the new connectivity” to bridge global AI gaps.

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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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Recent research shows that eating diets high in Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) can worsen gut inflammation and increase Crohn’s disease flare-ups. Crohn’s Disease is a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that causes swelling and irritation in the digestive tract. It usually affects the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. Inflammation can spread deep into the bowel layers, causing pain and serious complications. Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and weight loss. It mostly develops between ages 20 and 29. The exact cause is unknown but may involve genes, immune reactions, and the microbiome. There is no cure, but treatment helps control symptoms and maintain remission.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant at PTC Industries, Lucknow, marking a big step towards self-reliance in defence materials. The plant is part of the Strategic Materials Technology Complex under Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. It supports the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, generating jobs for youth, MSMEs, and start-ups.

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More than 60 people, mostly children, were hospitalized in Bhopal due to injuries from makeshift “calcium carbide guns” during Diwali celebrations. Calcium carbide has the chemical formula CaC2. It appears as grayish-black lumps or crystalline powder with a garlic-like odor. It is made by heating a mixture of lime and carbon to 2000–2100°C in an electric arc furnace. Calcium carbide is used to produce acetylene gas through hydrolysis. Acetylene is a colourless, odourless, highly flammable gas. Calcium carbide is also used in steel manufacturing, metal cutting, and as an artificial ripening agent.