Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Discovered in 2000 in the Atlantic Ocean, the Lost City Hydrothermal Field, situated over 700 meters beneath the ocean surface, holds mystery. With a history of at least 120,000 years, this environment reveals a unique interaction between the upthrusting mantle and seawater.
However, the delicate ecosystem faces a significant threat as Poland secures mining rights in the nearby regions of the Lost City.

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A 64-year-old woman in the Yerawada area of Pune has been found to be infected with Zika, a mosquito-borne disease.
Zika virus is primarily transmitted by infected mosquitoes of the Aedes (Stegomyia) genus, mainly Aedes aegypti, in tropical and subtropical regions.

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OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and backed by telecom company Bharti Group acquired approval from India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe, to launch commercial satellite broadband services in the country.
It is the country’s first organisation to be granted this authorisation and the only satellite broadband service provider to get all the required regulatory nods prior to commercial launch. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) said that the approval for Eutelsat OneWeb’s constellation was valid for a period of five years.

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Astronomers have detected the oldest black hole ever observed, with around a million times the mass of the Sun.
The black hole dates back more than 13 billion years to the dawn of the universe. The observations, made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), reveal it to be at the heart of a galaxy 440 million years after the big bang. The observations of the GN-z11 galaxy suggest that they were either born big or ballooned extremely rapidly early on. There is no direct image of the black hole captured, which is unseeable as no light can escape it. However, astronomers found telltale signatures of its accretion disk, the halo of gas and dust that swirls around the cosmic sinkhole.

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PrEPVacc stands for “Preexposure Prophylaxis Vaccine Trial”. It was an African-led clinical trial testing two HIV vaccine regimens, which was recently halted after an interim analysis found them to be ineffective in preventing infections. The stoppage of PrEPVacc a year before its scheduled completion is a major blow to HIV vaccine development efforts. With nearly 40 million people living with HIV globally, an effective vaccine has remained elusive despite decades of research. This latest failure prompted scientists to reassess strategies for better understanding virus transmission in vulnerable populations.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently added noma, a severe gangrenous disease affecting the mouth and face, to its list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Also known as cancrum oris, noma has a staggering mortality rate of approximately 90% and is closely associated with extreme poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate access to sanitation and oral hygiene.
Primarily impacting children aged 2-6 in impoverished communities. Symptoms include gum inflammation believed to be caused by oral bacteria. Noma often initiates as an ulcer on the mucous membrane, frequently following measles or other illnesses. Survivors may experience facial disfigurement, jaw muscle spasms, oral incontinence, and speech difficulties. Historically known as the ‘face of poverty,’ noma was prevalent in the Western world but diminished with economic progress. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) constitute a diverse group of infections prevalent in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These diseases are caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms (helminths).

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To enhance cybersecurity, the government of India has implemented a secure e-mail system for 10,000 users across 17 ministries and departments. This system, developed by the National Informatics Centre, employs Zero Trust Authentication, including two-factor authentication with biometrics or facial recognition. It’s a response to increasing cyberattacks, such as the AIIMS Delhi incident in November 2022. Additionally, the government is migrating e-mail services to the cloud with a private provider, possibly Zoho. The government also acknowledged a probe into a massive data leak of Aadhaar and passport details in Parliament. This is part of a broader strategy to strengthen cybersecurity, including adopting e-office in 75 out of 84 ministries and issuing National Information Security Policy and Guidelines to prevent cyber intrusions.

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The primary objectives of the recently launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) by ISRO are to investigate the polarization of intense X-Ray sources and study the enigmatic world of black holes. This satellite is India’s first dedicated scientific satellite for conducting research in space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources. It carries two scientific payloads: POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) for measuring polarimetry parameters in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) for providing spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV. These instruments will help in gaining a deeper understanding of X-ray sources in space, including neutron stars and black holes.

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Glenmark pharmaceuticals launched Lirafit, a biosimilar of popular antidiabetic medicine Liraglutide, in India priced nearly 70% cheaper to make the therapy more affordable for diabetic patients in the country.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a new kind of battery cell with an energy density of 190 Wh/kg. This Silicon High energy Li-ion cell, featuring a Si-Graphite composite as anode material, offers a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional Li-ion cells, which typically have an energy density of 157 Wh/kg. The new cell design not only improves the energy density but also utilizes cost-effective hardware and a crimped sealing-based design, significantly reducing the hardware and fabrication costs. This innovation is poised to be used in upcoming operational missions, offering potential weight savings of 35-40% in battery mass. The successful flight demonstration of these cells on the POEM-3 platform of PSLV-C58 marks a significant advancement in space battery technology, showcasing ISRO’s continuous efforts in developing more efficient and cost-effective solutions for space missions.