Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers have recently found that magnetar flares can create heavy elements like gold using a process called rapid neutron-capture or r-process nucleosynthesis. Magnetars are a special type of neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields—about a thousand times stronger than normal neutron stars. These stars sometimes release huge flares of energy, and one such giant flare in 2004 helped scientists make this discovery. The flare was observed by NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, which recorded strange gamma-ray signals nearly a day later. These delayed signals did not match typical afterglows but showed signs of radioactive decay from neutron-rich elements. This proves that r-process nucleosynthesis, earlier linked mainly to neutron star mergers, can also happen in magnetar flares. This recent evidence changes our understanding of where rare elements like gold in the universe might come from.

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The Union Cabinet recently approved a new semiconductor manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant step in India’s semiconductor ambitions. This facility is the sixth under the India Semiconductor Mission, a push for self-reliance in semiconductor technology. The unit is a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn and will be located near Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. It will manufacture display driver chips for devices like mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and more. The plant will have a production capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, with a target output of 36 million chips monthly.

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India will launch its first manned deep-ocean mission called Samudrayaan by 2026 to explore marine resources up to 6,000 metres deep. The mission is part of the Deep Ocean Mission and will use an indigenously developed submersible named MATSYA 6000. MATSYA 6000 is a 4th generation manned submersible vehicle designed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. It can carry three people and operate for 12 hours, with an emergency endurance of 96 hours. The research vessel Sagar Nidhi will be used to deploy and recover MATSYA 6000 during the mission.

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The Department of Posts recently released a commemorative stamp to mark the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO). The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Tamil Nadu. It was set up to study the Sun and its impact on Earth’s climate, particularly on the Indian monsoon. This decision followed the Great Drought of 1875–1877, which caused a massive famine that killed nearly 50 million people globally. The Famine Commission then recommended setting up a solar observatory to explore the link between solar activity and rainfall.

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In November 2022 and July 2023, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) observed Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Keck Observatory. Titan is the second-largest moon in the solar system and the only one with a thick atmosphere and surface lakes of methane and ethane. It has Earth-like weather patterns, including clouds, rainfall, and changing seasons. Scientists detected clouds in Titan’s mid- and high northern latitudes that rose over time, showing convection-driven weather. This is the first confirmed evidence of such cloud activity near Titan’s northern seas like Kraken Mare and Ligeia Mare. The findings deepen our understanding of Titan’s methane cycle, which works like Earth’s water cycle, and offer clues about prebiotic chemistry on icy moons.

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Chinese scientists recently discovered a new species of bacteria named Niallia tiangongensis aboard the Tiangong Space Station. The Tiangong Space Station, meaning ‘Sky Palace’, is a Chinese-owned and permanently crewed space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is the final phase of China’s Manned Space Program, developed after earlier missions Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. The first module, Tianhe, was launched in April 2021 and connects two science modules, Wentian and Mengtian, with a planned space telescope called Xuntian.

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Recently, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. The event was held during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, organised by the African Union and World Health Organization (WHO). Kala-azar is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a protozoan parasite and is fatal if untreated, showing symptoms like fever, fatigue, weight loss, and enlarged spleen and liver. More than 70% of global kala-azar cases are in Eastern Africa, where half of the affected are children under 15, according to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). The MoU encourages more investment and better strategies to eliminate kala-azar and improve public health responses.

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Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have created India’s first gene-edited sheep. This is a major breakthrough in animal biotechnology and marks a historic achievement for India. The sheep was developed using genome editing without adding any foreign Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), making it different from transgenic animals. This innovation may ease regulatory approvals under India’s updated biotechnology policy. It positions SKUAST-Kashmir as a leader in reproductive biotechnology research. This recent development places India among the global frontrunners in advanced genome editing technologies.

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The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has announced financial support for India’s first indigenous thrombectomy device. This support aims to improve stroke care by promoting homegrown medical technology. A thrombectomy is a medical procedure to remove blood clots from arteries or veins. These clots, called thrombi, can block blood flow and damage tissues or organs. Thrombectomy helps restore proper blood circulation and prevents serious health risks.

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A new scientific breakthrough was made when researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, successfully measured the half-life of the heaviest proton emitter isotope, 188At (Astatine). Astatine is a rare and highly radioactive element with atomic number 85, and it belongs to the halogen group in the periodic table. Unlike other halogens like fluorine and iodine, astatine has no stable isotopes. It is extremely radioactive, possibly appears as a dark solid, and emits a blue glow due to ionizing radiation. It occurs naturally as a decay product but has a very short half-life.