1. According to the new study, which medication may be more effective than aspirin for long-term prevention of heart attacks?
[A] Metformin
[B] Clopidogrel
[C] Ibuprofen
[D] Heparin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Clopidogrel]
Notes:
For decades, aspirin was the main drug to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress and published in The Lancet shows clopidogrel, a blood-thinning antiplatelet drug, may be more effective. Review of seven clinical trials with 29,000 coronary artery disease patients found clopidogrel 14% more effective than aspirin in lowering major cardiovascular risks. Importantly, there was no higher risk of serious bleeding compared to aspirin. Clopidogrel (a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor) works by blocking platelet receptors to stop dangerous blood clots. It is low-cost, widely available, and safe, making it a strong candidate to replace aspirin in treatment guidelines.
2. Which institute discovered that protein p47 acts as a “mechanical chaperone”, enhancing protein stability under mechanical stress?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata
[C] National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune
[D] Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata]
Notes:
Researchers at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) discovered protein p47’s new role as a “mechanical chaperone.” P47 is a cofactor protein known for assisting p97 in protein trafficking, degradation, and membrane fusion. Study revealed p47 boosts mechanical efficiency of protein extraction from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cytoplasm. It stabilizes polypeptides under stress, guides them through pores, prevents misfolding, and improves translocation. This is the first single-molecule evidence of autonomous, force-dependent chaperone-like activity by p47. Discovery opens new therapeutic possibilities for diseases linked to protein instability.
3. Which Indian research institute developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad using the red ivy plant (Strobilanthes alternata)?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram
[C] National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow
[D] Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram]
Notes:
Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad. The pad is based on the red ivy plant, locally called murikooti pacha, scientifically Strobilanthes alternata of the Acanthaceae family. Scientists at the Centre of Excellence in Phytochemical Nanotechnology of JNTBGRI isolated a new molecule, acteoside, from red ivy for the first time. Acteoside shows high efficacy even at 0.2% concentration and is the key ingredient in the pad. The pad uses electro-spun nanofiber layers made from biodegradable, non-toxic, FDA-approved polymers. Red ivy has long been used in traditional medicine for treating cuts and wounds.
4. Which country’s scientists developed a simpler portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix for field use?
[A] India
[B] Australia
[C] Germany
[D] New Zealand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
Scientists at the University of Tasmania, Australia, developed a portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix to perform ion separation in the field. The device was tested by undergraduate students who analysed soil pore water for harmful nitrate and nitrite ions immediately after collection. Results were comparable to expensive lab-based chromatographs, proving accuracy with lower cost and time. Aquamonitrix uses sodium chloride solution and a UV absorbance detector, making it simple, eco-friendly, and effective. The portable device costs about 10,000 versus 100,000 for conventional lab instruments. It provides hands-on field experience for students, linking theory with real-world environmental analysis.
5. Which country has recently developed a bone glue named “Bone-02”, capable of repairing fractures in just three minutes?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] Australia
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
Chinese researchers have developed a bone glue named Bone-02, unveiled on 10 September 2025 in Zhejiang Province. It can repair fractures and shattered bone fragments in just 3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments. The glue is bio-absorbable, removing the need for a second surgery to remove implants. It may replace metal implants like plates and screws used in conventional surgeries.
6. Astronomers recently detected phosphine (PH₃) in the atmosphere of brown dwarf Wolf 1130C using which telescope?
[A] Hubble Space Telescope
[B] James Webb Space Telescope
[C] Spitzer Space Telescope
[D] Chandra X-ray Observatory
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [James Webb Space Telescope]
Notes:
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of brown dwarf Wolf 1130C. Phosphine is a chemical compound consisting of one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms. On Earth, phosphine is naturally produced by bacteria in low-oxygen environments. These bacteria absorb phosphate from minerals or biological material and combine it with hydrogen to form phosphine. Phosphine is also present in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. The compound is also known as hydrogen phosphide. Its detection in Wolf 1130C provides insights into chemical processes in brown dwarf atmospheres.
7. What is “WISPIT 2b” that was recently seen in news?
[A] A gas giant planet forming inside a protoplanetary disk
[B] A newly discovered asteroid in the Solar System
[C] A comet orbiting a distant star
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A gas giant planet forming inside a protoplanetary disk]
Notes:
Astronomers have directly imaged a young planet, WISPIT 2b, forming inside a gap in a protoplanetary disk around a distant star. The discovery confirms that disk gaps are indeed caused by growing planets. WISPIT 2b is a gas giant, about five times the mass of Jupiter, and only five million years old. It orbits WISPIT 2, a young star 437 light-years from Earth. Protoplanetary disks are rings of gas and dust around young stars, providing planet-forming material. The planet was imaged using Very Large Telescope (VLT), MagAO-X on Magellan Clay Telescope, and Large Binocular Telescope.
8. Which cities in India have been selected by Meta Platforms as landing sites for the undersea cable project, Waterworth?
[A] Mumbai and Chennai
[B] Chennai and Kolkata
[C] Mumbai and Visakhapatnam
[D] Visakhapatnam and Kochi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mumbai and Visakhapatnam]
Notes:
Meta Platforms has chosen Mumbai and Visakhapatnam as landing sites for its undersea cable project named Waterworth. Undersea cables are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor to transmit information globally. They form the backbone of the international internet. Around 90% of global data and 80% of world trade are carried through undersea cables. They also facilitate approximately $10 trillion of financial transactions annually. The project will strengthen India’s connectivity with global digital networks and support faster internet and data services.
9. The Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project was recently launched by which organization?
[A] Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
[B] Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
[C] Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE)
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE)]
Notes:
The Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE) recently signed agreements with key partners to launch the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project. The project aims to transform rural India by combining physical and digital (phygital) services. It integrates on-ground service delivery with strong digital infrastructure to empower rural citizens. The initiative uses BharatNet connectivity to ensure smooth and sustainable access to essential services. Three villages have been selected for the pilot — Ari and Umri in Madhya Pradesh, Narakoduru in Andhra Pradesh, and Chaurawala in Uttar Pradesh. Each village will have a Samriddhi Kendra serving as an integrated digital service hub.
10. What is the name of India’s first indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy recently unveiled at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave 2025?
[A] CARIND-1
[B] NexCAR19
[C] BioCure-India
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NexCAR19]
Notes:
In a historic milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled NexCAR19, India’s first indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy, at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 in Delhi. It is developed by ImmunoACT, an IIT Bombay spin-off. It is supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). NexCAR19 is the world’s first humanised CAR-T therapy, truly “Made in India, for the world.” CAR-T Cell Therapy is an immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s immune cells to fight blood cancers like Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).