Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory discovered an unusual black hole that might illuminate the development of supermassive black holes. Chandra X-ray Observatory is NASA’s most powerful X-ray telescope, offering eight times greater resolution and detecting sources over 20 times fainter than its previous X-ray telescope. It was launched on July 23, 1999. It is designed to detect X-ray emissions from extremely hot areas in the Universe, including exploded stars, galaxy clusters, and matter near black holes.

Notes:
Georgia has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization. It is located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia, in the Transcaucasia region. Malaria is a life-threatening fever caused by Plasmodium parasites spread by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is primarily found in tropical countries and is not contagious. The disease cannot spread from person to person; transmission occurs through mosquito bites.

Notes:
Paraquat, also called paraquat dichloride or methyl viologen, is a widely used herbicide. It controls weed growth and desiccates crops like cotton before harvest. The World Health Organization classifies it as a Category 2 chemical, meaning it is moderately hazardous and irritating. Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries, including China and the European Union, due to its high toxicity. Despite the bans, it is still widely used in the US and India. Recently, paraquat poisoning gained attention after being used in a high-profile murder case in Kerala.

Notes:
Niger has become the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis, or river blindness. It joins Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala as WHO-verified onchocerciasis-free nations. Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease affecting the eyes and skin, causing severe disability. It leads to disfiguring skin conditions, vision loss, and permanent blindness in severe cases. The disease has severely impacted livelihoods for decades. Over 99% of cases still occur in 31 African countries.

Notes:
United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Suzetrigine, a new non-opioid painkiller. Opioids are drugs derived from the opium poppy plant or designed to mimic them. Examples include oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl. They bind to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain signals and creating euphoric sensations. While effective for pain relief, opioids carry a high risk of addiction and dependence. Suzetrigine offers an alternative to opioids, reducing the risk of opioid addiction.

Notes:
Scientists at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn with 78.5 Earth masses and 6.41 Earth radii. It orbits a bright, metal-rich F-type star every 5.83 days in a circular orbit. TOI-6038A b falls in the “Sub-Saturn” category, absent in our solar system, aiding planetary formation studies. The discovery was made using the PARAS-2 (PRL Advanced Radial-velocity All-sky Search-2 spectrograph) at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory. TOI-6038A b has high density (1.62 g/cm³), likely formed through high-eccentricity tidal migration. It orbits a star in a binary system, raising questions about its formation and migration.

Notes:
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed a water-repellent, conductive textile that converts electricity and sunlight into heat to keep wearers warm in extreme cold. It helps prevent blood clotting, breathing issues, and weak immunity caused by prolonged cold exposure. The textile is made by spraying ultra-thin silver nanowires onto cotton fabric, making it lightweight, flexible, and durable. A lotus leaf-inspired coating makes it waterproof, stain-resistant, and oxidation-proof, ensuring long-lasting performance. It maintains 40°C-60°C for 10+ hours using a battery or solar energy.

Notes:
Researchers found that bacterial cellulose can be used as a bandage to help plants heal and regenerate faster. It is a natural polymer produced by certain bacteria. It has unique properties that make it effective for plant wound care. Bacterial cellulose bandages offer a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments. This method supports healthier plant growth and eco-friendly farming. It enhances plant healing, leading to better crop yields and resilience. This breakthrough integrates biotechnology into agriculture, promoting sustainable farming and food security.

Notes:
Scientists at Wuhan Institute of Virology, China, discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2. The virus shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 receptors, but its ability to spread among humans is uncertain. The virus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, related to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), but its severity in humans remains unknown.

Notes:
ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) developed two indigenous 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for space applications. Vikram 3201 is India’s first fully indigenous microprocessor for launch vehicles, handling up to 4 GB memory with floating-point support. It advances the 16-bit Vikram 1601 used since 2009. Kalpana 3201 is a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC processor, compatible with open-source tools and tested with flight software. Both microprocessors were validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission. Other devices developed include a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System and Low Drop-out Regulator IC.