Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, a flu-like illness named Disease X has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing alarm due to its high infection and mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively investigating the outbreak, which has affected over 400 individuals, with 143 reported deaths, primarily among children. Complications arise from severe malnutrition in patients, hindering diagnosis. The WHO is deploying teams to collect samples and study transmission patterns in remote areas like Kwango province.

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The European Space Agency launched Proba-3 from India to study the Sun’s corona using artificial solar eclipses created by precise satellite alignment. An artificial solar eclipse mimics a natural one, using two satellites to block sunlight and create a controlled shadow. The Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) observes the Sun, while the Occulter (OSC) casts a shadow, maintaining millimetres-level alignment for up to six hours per orbit. It allows extended study of the Sun’s corona, far longer than natural eclipses. The mission aids in understanding corona mysteries, predicting geomagnetic storms, and mitigating satellite disruptions.

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Buruli ulcer is a chronic skin disease caused by bacteria ‘Mycobacterium ulcerans’. It mainly affects regions in West and Central Africa and has recently been reported in Australia. The disease spreads to humans through mosquitoes, with possums acting as the primary bacterial reservoir. Symptoms include non-healing ulcers that can cause severe tissue damage if untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and surgery are crucial for managing the disease. The World Health Organization recognizes it as a neglected tropical disease, highlighting the need for increased awareness due to rising cases.

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The European Union launched the IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) space programme to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. It is the EU’s third major satellite project after Galileo (navigation) and Copernicus (Earth observation). The European Space Agency developed the programme, featuring a 290-satellite constellation in medium and low Earth orbit. IRIS2 provides secure, resilient, and high-speed connectivity in remote areas. It supports applications in surveillance, crisis management, security, and defence.

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Tamil Nadu has requested the Union government to add the mumps vaccine to the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). UIP provides free immunization against 12 diseases, including Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Hepatitis B, and others. Mumps is a contagious viral infection affecting the salivary glands, usually mild and self-limiting. It primarily affects children and young adults, with symptoms like jaw swelling, fever, fatigue, appetite loss, and headaches. Mumps spreads through direct contact or airborne droplets from an infected person’s upper respiratory tract.

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Speed guns are widely used by law enforcement officials to monitor traffic speed. Speed guns measure the speed of moving objects without physical contact by bouncing electromagnetic waves off them. They use the Doppler Effect to calculate speed based on frequency changes between transmitted and reflected waves. A speed gun consists of a radio transmitter that emits waves and a receiver that collects the reflected waves. If an object approaches, the frequency of reflected waves increases, allowing a computer in the gun to calculate speed. Originally developed during World War II for military purposes, speed guns utilize radio waves instead of sound waves for precise measurements.

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe achieved a record by flying within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the Sun, closer than any spacecraft before. It traveled at speeds up to 430,000 mph and withstood temperatures of 982°C to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft designed to study the Sun and its atmosphere. Launched on August 12, 2018, from Cape Canaveral, it orbits the Sun in a highly elliptical path. It holds the record for getting closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. The mission aims to explore the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s corona, its magnetic field, and the solar wind.

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Google launched the quantum processor ‘Willow,’ advancing quantum computing to solve practical problems. Willow has 105 physical qubits and operates at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15°C). It features better error correction and faster performance than other quantum computers. The coherence time of Willow’s qubits is around 100 microseconds, improved by error correction. Willow’s architecture enables lower error rates with more qubits. It outperformed classical computers in testing, completing a Random Circuit Sampling task in minutes.

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Tularemia, also called ‘rabbit fever,’ has risen by over 50% in the US recently. It is a rare but potentially deadly infectious disease. It primarily affects children aged 5-9, older men, and American Indians or Alaska Natives. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can infect various animals, especially rabbits and rodents. The disease is transmitted to humans through tick bites, contact with infected animals, or contaminated water. Symptoms can range from skin ulcers to severe respiratory issues.

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LingoSat, a joint project of Japan’s Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, is the first wooden satellite launched into orbit. It uses wood from honoki, a magnolia tree native to Japan, and is assembled using traditional Japanese crafts without screws or glue. The satellite’s name comes from the Latin word “Ligno,” meaning wood. LignoSat 1 is a CubeSat measuring 10 cm on each side and weighing 900 grams. LignoSat 2, a 2U CubeSat, is planned for launch in 2026.