Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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New research reveals that genetic mutations in Huntington’s Disease (HD) can have delayed effects, impacting disease progression over time. Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetic condition causing gradual loss of brain cell function, leading to their death. It affects brain regions regulating voluntary movement, memory, and decision-making, primarily the basal ganglia and brain cortex. HD is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, which produces huntingtin protein crucial for neuron function. Mutated huntingtin proteins have abnormal shapes, damaging and killing neurons. HD is inherited; each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of developing the disease. It affects 3 to 7 out of 100,000 people, primarily of European ancestry.

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Around 59 people in Pune have been affected by Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. GBS occurs when the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, affecting muscle movement, pain, temperature, and touch sensations. It is also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and usually affects people aged 30-50. The exact cause is unclear but often follows infections, vaccinations, or major surgery. Symptoms include fever, weakness, and potential paralysis, with severity varying widely. There is no cure, but intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment helps suppress the immune system’s attack on the nerves.

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Indian Air Force officer and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was named the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA. The crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend up to 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations.

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IIT Madras launched India’s first cancer genome database to boost cancer research. India is underrepresented in global cancer genome studies, limiting targeted diagnostics and drug development. The Cancer Genome Programme started in 2020 and has sequenced 960 whole exomes from 480 breast cancer samples across India. The Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas (BCGA) will help in early diagnosis, disease progression tracking, and treatment planning. The database supports personalized medicine and helps identify high-risk groups and novel drug targets.

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ISRO unveiled the latest version of Finite Element Analysis of Structures (FEAST) software at the 8th National Finite Element Developers’ Meeting at IIT-Hyderabad. More than 250 industry leaders, academicians, and researchers attended to promote indigenous structural analysis software. FEAST, developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), analyzes structures under various loads in aerospace, automobile, civil, and mechanical fields.

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Satya Nadella discussed Jevons Paradox, noting AI efficiency may increase demand and make it a commodity. Jevons Paradox states that technological progress making a resource cheaper often leads to higher demand rather than reduced use. It was proposed by William Stanley Jevons in 1865. Jevons observed that technology improving coal efficiency led to more coal being used, not less. Technological progress satisfies needs that couldn’t be met before due to lack of technology.

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China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea. This facility, also known as a “deep-sea space station”, is expected to be operational by 2030. The facility will be located 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) below the ocean’s surface.  It will be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations ever attempted.  The facility will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents.  It will accommodate six scientists for missions lasting up to a month.

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Meta introduced Project Waterworth, the world’s longest undersea cable system. It spans 50,000 km, connecting the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions. The cable reaches depths of up to 7,000 meters in deep waters. Advanced burial methods will protect it in high-risk coastal areas. It strengthens global digital connectivity by opening three new oceanic corridors. The project enhances economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and internet reliability worldwide.

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IIIT-Delhi researchers developed AI-powered tools for tracking antibiotic resistance in real time. The project is a collaboration between IIIT-Delhi, CHRI-PATH, Tata 1mg, and ICMR scientists. The AI tool, AMRSense, analyzes hospital data to provide early insights on antimicrobial resistance. It operates at global, national, and hospital levels to aid quick action. The research established links between antibiotic resistance patterns in community and hospital infections.

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NASA plans to launch the SPHEREx telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a megaphone-shaped space telescope with a 2-year mission. It will map the universe using optical and infrared cosmic light. It will study cosmic inflation, which occurred 14 billion years ago when the universe expanded faster than light. It will analyze galaxy formation, cosmic evolution, and life-forming molecules in the Milky Way. It will use spectroscopic imaging to map 450 million galaxies in 3D. It will complement the work of the James Webb and Hubble telescopes.