Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The Blue Ghost Lander is developed by Firefly Aerospace for lunar exploration. It will deliver scientific payloads to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis Program. The lander supports NASA’s Lunar Surface Operations Program for sustainable human exploration. It marks a significant step in private sector involvement in space missions. The mission aims to advance lunar research and exploration efforts.

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Measles, a highly contagious virus, is resurging in the U.S., especially in Texas, due to low vaccination rates and international travel. It is an airborne disease caused by a paramyxovirus, spreading through direct contact and the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract and can cause severe complications and death. Symptoms start with high fever for 4-7 days, followed by cough, runny nose, red eyes, and white spots in the mouth. A rash appears on the face and neck, then spreads to the whole body, lasting around five to six days before fading.

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Hyprix, a Bangalore-based defense and aerospace startup, was founded in June 2024 by Devmalya Biswas and Divyanshu Mandowara. They developed India’s first privately made supersonic ramjet engine, Tezz, in just five months. Tezz operates at Mach 2-4, is 3-4 times more efficient than solid rocket systems, and enhances missile and aerial platform capabilities. Hyprix aligns with ‘Make in India’, reducing foreign dependence and advancing AI-guided precision supersonic systems.

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Nvidia has unveiled a powerful AI system called Evo 2 for genetic research. Evo 2 is the largest publicly available AI model for genomic data. It was built using 2,000 Nvidia H100 processors on Amazon’s cloud with Arc Institute and Stanford University. It is trained on 9 trillion nucleotides from 128,000+ organisms, covering plants, animals, and bacteria.

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John McFall has become the first person with a physical disability to be medically certified for a long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The European Space Agency (ESA) approved his selection, marking a historic milestone in inclusive space exploration. McFall, a former Paralympian, lost his right leg at 19 in a motorcycle accident. He won bronze in the 100m sprint at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer satellite was launched from Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to map water on the Moon. The 200 kg satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, will search for water ice in permanently shadowed lunar craters. Lunar water is crucial for future missions, providing drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel. It will orbit at 100 km altitude, using two instruments to study water distribution and surface temperature. Water may come from solar wind reactions, comets, or meteorites. Understanding lunar water could reveal insights into Earth’s water origins and support future Moon missions.

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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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Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs when the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. It affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S. and over 2.8 million worldwide. Genetics influence MS risk, but environmental factors like diet, infections, and gut health play a major role. Studies show gut bacteria imbalance can predict MS severity. MS patients have more Blautia and Akkermansia but lower Bifidobacterium and Prevotella. A lower Bifidobacterium-to-Akkermansia ratio is linked to worse disability. Findings may help improve MS diagnosis and treatment by focusing on gut microbiome health.

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New research suggests that gut-friendly bacteria may help slow vitiligo progression, offering hope for people with this autoimmune disease. Vitiligo causes loss of skin color in patches, often starting on the hands, feet, face, or forearms. It occurs when the immune system destroys melanocytes, cells that produce skin color. Around 30% of cases are genetic, and 1% of the global population is affected. Vitiligo is not life-threatening or contagious, and while treatments can restore color, they can’t prevent its recurrence.

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IIT Bombay and Monash University, Australia, have developed a cost-effective sensor to detect toxic metals in water. The project received funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India. The sensor uses a copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF) called copper-tetra carboxyphenyl porphyrin (Cu-TCPP) for efficient detection. It can detect lead, cadmium, and mercury even in trace amounts. The MOF structure allows metal ion replacement without collapsing, improving detection capability. Tests on tap and lake water confirmed its accuracy. The sensor performs as well as or better than DNA-based sensors, with simpler design and efficiency.