Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, under the Department of Science and Technology, have found a new method to detect topological invariants in quantum materials using the spectral function. The spectral function is a quantum tool that shows how energy and particles like electrons behave inside a material. It is commonly used to study electronic structure such as density of states and dispersion relations. The team focused on momentum-space spectral function (SPSF), which acts like a quantum fingerprint showing how electrons are spread across energy and momentum. This method reveals hidden topological features using values like winding numbers in one-dimensional systems and Chern numbers in two-dimensional systems.

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Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched Bharat Gen Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) at the BharatGen Summit. BharatGen is India’s first government-funded, indigenously built Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Multimodal Large Language Model. It is developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented by the TIH Foundation for Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

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For the first time ever, scientists have captured direct images of the Sun’s north and south poles. This was made possible by the Solar Orbiter mission. The Solar Orbiter mission is a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA to study the Sun. It aims to observe the Sun’s surface and the solar wind, providing valuable insights into solar activity and its effects on Earth and the solar system.

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Recently, India’s first agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) named Kruti was launched by the startup Krutrim. It is a next-generation Generative AI (GenAI) tool that goes beyond just providing information. Kruti can act independently to manage complex tasks, make decisions, and solve problems for users and organizations. It uses advanced reasoning and step-by-step planning to handle multi-layered challenges without constant human input. It processes large amounts of data from various sources to create strategies and complete tasks on its own.

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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has already discovered over 2,100 new asteroids before officially starting operations. Vera C. Rubin Observatory is located in Chile. It is designed to scan the night sky repeatedly and is expected to find millions of unknown space objects. The observatory can help track dangerous asteroids that may collide with Earth, enhancing planetary defense. Some asteroids found have comet-like tails, and it might even spot interstellar objects from outside our solar system. It may also discover Planet Nine, a mystery planet far beyond known planets.

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Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that researchers at the Institute of Nanoscience and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a smart water filter using sunlight, gentle vibrations, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The innovation addresses pollution caused by industrial wastewater containing harmful dyes like Methylene Blue and Congo Red, which threaten human health and ecosystems. This method ensures continuous purification, even on cloudy days, making it a smart alternative to traditional solar-powered filters.

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Recently, scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata, developed a modified CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) tool to help plants fight heat stress and bacterial infections, boosting smart and sustainable farming. Unlike traditional CRISPR which cuts DNA, the team used a modified version called dCas9 (dead Cas9), which does not cut DNA but works like a gene switch. This switch stays off until the plant is stressed, such as by high temperatures. The scientists used a part of a natural tomato protein called NACMTF3, specifically its TM (Transmembrane) domain, to control the switch. Under heat stress, the TM domain releases dCas9, allowing it to enter the nucleus and turn on defense genes. This method allows plants to respond only when needed, reducing energy use and improving resilience.

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Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) decided to expand its Mobile Biosafety Level-3 (MBSL-3) laboratory network to boost India’s outbreak response and public health. The Mobile BSL-3 lab is also called Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 Advanced Augmented Network (RAMBAAN). It is an advanced “lab on wheels” developed under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. It was first used during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala in 2023.

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Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla recently launched path-breaking Myogenesis experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), showing India’s progress in space research. Myogenesis is the process of forming muscle fibers. It is a complex and controlled process important for developing and maintaining skeletal muscle tissue. Myogenesis helps build body muscles that support movement, posture, and metabolism. It happens through the transformation of precursor cells called myoblasts into multinucleated muscle fibers. Studying myogenesis helps understand muscle diseases and develop therapies.

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Recently, India reached 50 percent enrolment in its Phase III clinical trial of the indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll. DengiAll is developed by Panacea Biotec Limited under a licence from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States. It contains weakened forms of all four dengue virus subtypes, similar to the NIH vaccine except for inactive ingredients. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is evaluating its safety and effectiveness through multiple institutes.