Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers recently found a surprising amount of germanium in a star named A980, which is part of a rare group called Extreme Helium (EHe) stars. This is the first time germanium, a metallic element, has been observed in such a star. Extreme Helium stars are low-mass supergiants that have very little hydrogen and are mostly made of helium. They are believed to form from the merger of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf and a smaller helium white dwarf. Only 21 EHe stars have been found in our galaxy so far.

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A recent genomic study revealed the spread of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus or RYMV across African rice ecosystems, posing a serious threat to rice production. Rice Yellow Mottle Virus is a plant virus that affects rice and some related grasses. It first appeared in the mid-1800s in the Eastern Arc Mountains, now in Tanzania, a region rich in biodiversity. It is mainly found in Africa and is present in most rice-growing countries on the continent.

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Recently, France’s national blood agency, the French Blood Establishment (EFS), discovered a new blood group system called “Gwada negative,” officially recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). It is scientifically named EMM-negative and registered as ISBT042. The name “Gwada negative” refers to the Guadeloupean origin of the woman who carries this rare blood type. This blood group is defined by the absence of the EMM antigen, a high-incidence antigen usually present in almost all humans.

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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, five people died due to leptospirosis in Ernakulam district of Kerala within the past three weeks. Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. The bacteria are commonly found in the urine of animals like rats, cattle, pigs, and dogs. Humans can get infected when the bacteria enter the body through small cracks or wounds on the skin, especially the soles of the feet. The disease is more common in warm and humid countries and can spread in both rural and urban areas.

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Recently, Google DeepMind launched a new Artificial Intelligence model called AlphaGenome. AlphaGenome aims to predict accurately how individual mutations in human Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) affect their functions and impact human health. It is built on DeepMind’s earlier genomics model named Enformer and works alongside AlphaMissense, which focuses on classifying the effects of variants in protein-coding regions. The model can analyze very long DNA sequences up to one million base pairs and generate highly detailed predictions.

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Recently, Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss injection semaglutide in India after Eli Lilly introduced tirzepatide. These are Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which are drugs that copy the action of GLP-1, a gut hormone released after eating. GLP-1 helps control blood sugar, fat metabolism, and appetite in the body. These medicines usually come as injections, though oral forms are being developed. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two leading GLP-1 Drugs. Semaglutide and tirzepatide transforming the treatment of obesity and diabetes in India.

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The United Kingdom has officially launched the Synthetic Human Genome Project, a groundbreaking effort to build human DNA from scratch. This project shifts from reading DNA, like in the Human Genome Project, to writing and assembling it synthetically. Scientists aim to create disease-resistant cells to repair damaged organs such as the heart, liver, and immune system. It could help treat genetic and age-related diseases by studying how genes control repair and development.
Critics warn about ethical concerns like designer humans and synthetic life.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “3 by 35” Initiative to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It urges countries to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to achieve at least a 50% real price increase by 2035. NCDs like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes cause over 75% of global deaths. Higher taxes could prevent 50 million premature deaths over 50 years and generate USD 1 trillion in public revenue in the next decade. Between 2012 and 2022, around 140 countries already raised tobacco taxes, showing large-scale change is achievable.

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Recently, comet 3I/ATLAS from outside our solar system was spotted by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile. ATLAS is an asteroid impact early warning system developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It uses four telescopes — two in Hawaii, one in Chile, and one in South Africa. These telescopes scan the sky every night for moving objects. ATLAS also detects dwarf planets, supernova explosions, and light from stars eaten by supermassive black holes.