Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected for the first time in mosquitoes in the United Kingdom, as confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The virus was found in Aedes vexans mosquitoes from wetlands near the River Idle in Nottinghamshire during July 2023 under the Vector-Borne RADAR surveillance program. WNV spreads mainly between birds and mosquitoes but can occasionally infect humans and horses. Most human cases show no symptoms, but about 20% may have flu-like symptoms. In rare cases, WNV can cause serious brain conditions like encephalitis or meningitis. The current public health risk is very low, with no widespread transmission found.

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China is preparing to launch the Tianwen-2 mission to explore and sample the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo‘oalewa. The mission will be launched by the Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province. It is led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Tianwen-2 will first study asteroid Kamo‘oalewa and then travel to study comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the asteroid belt. Kamo‘oalewa is a quasi-satellite of Earth discovered in 2016, which orbits the Sun while staying close to Earth due to gravitational influence. Tianwen-2 will collect samples using a “touch-and-go” method, with a backup “anchor-and-attach” technique.

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At the I/O Developers Conference 2025, Google launched its AI-first restructuring strategy called AI Matryoshka. AI Matryoshka is a multi-layered artificial intelligence ecosystem where Google’s core AI acts like the central brain, similar to a Matryoshka doll. It is built around Gemini 2.5 models and aims to change how users, developers, and enterprises interact with technology. This system powers everything from Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to user-facing apps. The goal is to deeply embed AI across all Google platforms and create smart, autonomous systems that respond in real time.

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Delhi recently witnessed intense storms that appeared in the shape of a crescent or archer’s bow, technically known as bow echoes. A bow echo is a line of thunderstorms that appears curved like a bow on weather radar, also called a squall line. Sometimes, this bow echo can be part of a larger squall line system. It usually stretches from 20 to 100 kilometres and lasts for three to six hours. The term bow echo was introduced in the 1970s by Ted Fujita, a meteorologist famous for creating the Fujita Scale to measure tornado intensity.

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Recently, the Battery Aadhaar Initiative was launched under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) at the Battery Summit 2025. Tata Elxsi showcased a technology demonstrator of Battery Aadhaar using its MOBIUS+ platform, which acts as a Digital Product Passport for batteries. Each battery pack will get a unique digital identity under this initiative. This helps track manufacturing origin, battery chemistry, safety certifications, and lifecycle performance. It allows monitoring of key parameters like charge-discharge cycles, enabling predictive maintenance and efficient recycling. The initiative also aims to prevent counterfeit batteries, increase consumer trust, and promote a circular economy.

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Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones suffered a reputational setback after Pakistan’s Turkish-origin drones failed during Operation Sindoor. Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish-made Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions. It is Turkey’s first armed UAV developed domestically, showcasing its defence manufacturing capabilities.

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The central government recently notified 34 biostimulants to boost their production and use in agriculture. Biostimulants are natural substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to enhance the plant’s natural growth and stress-resistance processes. They help reduce dependence on fertilizers by improving nutrient use efficiency, root growth, and resistance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. In India, biostimulants are regulated under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.

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Recently, two Chinese nationals were charged in the United States for allegedly smuggling Fusarium graminearum, an agricultural pathogen, into the country. Fusarium graminearum is an ascomycete fungus that causes Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), which affects crops like wheat, maize, barley, oats, and rice. It produces a toxin called Vomitoxin or Deoxynivalenol, which is harmful to both humans and animals. This fungus reduces crop yield and quality while contaminating grains with toxic mycotoxins. This incident raises concerns about agro-terrorism, which is the deliberate use of plant pathogens or pests to attack agriculture and create economic loss, food insecurity, and public fear.

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Recently, the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) Experiment in Germany closely studied the disintegration of molecular tritium to estimate the mass of neutrinos. The KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino) experiment, located in Karlsruhe, Germany, aims to find the absolute mass of neutrinos, which are among the most mysterious particles in the universe. This experiment marks a major step in understanding fundamental particle physics and the structure of the universe.

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Scientists have recently discovered a giant planet named TOI-6894b orbiting a very small red dwarf star, which challenges existing theories. TOI-6894b is a gas giant, around 1.07 times the diameter of Saturn but with just over half its mass. This makes it extremely low in density, like a beach ball. It was found about 241 light-years away in the constellation Leo. The planet orbits very close to its host star and completes one full orbit in less than three Earth days.