Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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A study identified 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC), a cholesterol metabolite, as a key factor in Parkinson’s disease progression. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement. It weakens and damages nerve cells, leading to tremors, stiffness, and balance issues. As it worsens, patients struggle with walking, talking, and daily tasks. The disease mainly affects the substantia nigra, a brain region producing dopamine.

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella showcased Project Farm Vibes in Baramati, Maharashtra, demonstrating AI-driven solutions that improved crop yields by 40% and reduced fertilizer use by 25%. The Agricultural Development Trust, Baramati, in collaboration with Microsoft, is expanding the project from 1,000 to 50,000 farmers. Project Farm Vibes is an AI-driven agricultural technology suite developed by Microsoft Research to improve farming efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The project involves partnerships with Microsoft Research, Azure AI Team, and Oxford University AI researchers.

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The Supreme Court directed all States to address concerns on stockouts, procurement transparency, and drug quality of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). ART is a combination of medications that treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by reducing its levels in the body. HIV destroys CD4 cells (also called helper T-cells), weakening the immune system and increasing infection risk. ART cannot cure HIV but helps maintain a healthy immune system by preventing the virus from multiplying. A combination of two to four ART drugs improves effectiveness and reduces resistance. If viral load is low enough, HIV becomes undetectable in blood tests.

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A global survey found that 56.6% of Indians aged 50+ know little about shingles, though over 90% have the virus. Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection causing a painful rash or blisters, often in a band-like pattern. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox and can reactivate in adulthood. Shingles is not contagious, but the virus can spread to someone who never had chickenpox. Symptoms include pain, itching, fever, and fatigue. The Shingrix vaccine helps prevent shingles, and antiviral drugs can reduce its severity.

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Scientists confirmed the existence of a fourth form of water, Plastic Ice VII, which forms under extreme conditions. Unlike regular ice, Plastic Ice VII allows water molecules to rotate freely within a rigid crystalline structure. It was first predicted in 2008 and recently proven using neutron-scattering experiments in France. It forms at pressures over 3 GPa (30,000 times Earth’s atmospheric pressure) and temperatures above 450 K (177°C). This discovery helps scientists understand water’s behavior in extreme planetary environments, such as Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons. It could impact planetary science, materials research, and advanced technology development.

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Tanzania declared the end of its second Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak after 42 days with no new cases. MVD was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, when laboratory workers were exposed to infected green monkeys from Uganda. It is caused by the Marburg virus (MARV), a highly infectious RNA virus from the Filoviridae family, similar to Ebola. The African fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is the natural reservoir of the virus, carrying it without symptoms.

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NASA reported that global sea levels rose faster than expected in 2024. The rise reached 0.59 cm per year, exceeding the expected 0.43 cm. The main causes are ocean warming, which leads to expansion, and meltwater from glaciers and ice sheets. In 2024, thermal expansion caused two-thirds of the rise, shifting from previous years when melting ice was the dominant factor. 2024 was the warmest year on record, with ocean levels at their highest in three decades. Since satellite monitoring began in 1993, global sea levels have risen by 10 cm, with the rate more than doubling.

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IIT Guwahati developed India’s first VR-enabled metaverse platform for schools, called Gyandhara. Gyandhara provides an immersive and engaging learning experience. It helps students understand scientific and academic concepts that are difficult to grasp through traditional learning. The platform enhances education through virtual reality, making learning interactive and effective.

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Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) launched the Samarth Incubation Programme to boost innovation in telecommunications and Information Technology (IT). It supports startups working in Telecom Software, Cybersecurity, 5G/6G, AI, IoT, and Quantum Technologies. The program provides up to Rs 5 lakh, 6 months of office space at C-DOT, lab access, and expert mentorship. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is the implementation partner to nurture high-impact startups. The program runs in a hybrid mode with two cohorts of 18 startups each.

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The Euclid Space Telescope captured images of galaxies in different shapes. Named after ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, it is part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision Programme. It was launched by SpaceX Falcon 9. Its operational lifespan is at least 6 years. It is positioned 1.5 million km above Earth at the Lagrange Point 2 (L2). It is 4.7 meters tall and 3.7 meters in diameter, with image quality four times sharper than ground-based telescopes. Its mission includes studying dark energy, dark matter, and the universe’s large-scale structure in 3D.