Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The 11th Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East conference began on May 6, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) announced the opening of its new office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, marking a key milestone in its global growth. This expansion celebrates IRS’s 25 years of operations in the UAE and its 50th global anniversary. The new office will provide full services, including ship classification, technical inspections, and international compliance audits across major Saudi ports. The objective of the conference is to strengthen the maritime logistics sector, promote innovation, and enhance safety and sustainability in the industry.

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Researchers have recently found that magnetar flares can create heavy elements like gold using a process called rapid neutron-capture or r-process nucleosynthesis. Magnetars are a special type of neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields—about a thousand times stronger than normal neutron stars. These stars sometimes release huge flares of energy, and one such giant flare in 2004 helped scientists make this discovery. The flare was observed by NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, which recorded strange gamma-ray signals nearly a day later. These delayed signals did not match typical afterglows but showed signs of radioactive decay from neutron-rich elements. This proves that r-process nucleosynthesis, earlier linked mainly to neutron star mergers, can also happen in magnetar flares. This recent evidence changes our understanding of where rare elements like gold in the universe might come from.

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Chinese researchers have recently developed a high-resolution ocean simulation system called LICOMK++ to better study ocean and climate patterns. LICOMK++ stands for Laboratory for Atmospheric and Oceanic Modeling (LASG)/Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) Climate Ocean Model with K++ high-performance computing upgrade. It is described as an ocean “microscope” because of its ultra-high-resolution abilities. This advanced system allows scientists to clearly observe complex ocean processes such as eddies and heat transport. It helps improve the understanding of how oceans influence climate. LICOMK++ can enhance forecasts of extreme weather events like typhoons, marine heatwaves, and floods.

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Denmark has inaugurated the world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol facility in Kasso, southern Denmark. It has a production capacity of 42,000 metric tons (53 million litres) of e-methanol annually. E-methanol offers a viable path for reducing emissions in sectors like shipping and chemical manufacturing. E-methanol is produced by combining green hydrogen with captured carbon dioxide.

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In a recent development, India’s High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype designed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully completed pre-monsoon flight tests with a certified autopilot system. A High-Altitude Platform (HAP) is an unmanned, solar-powered aircraft that flies in the stratosphere at 17 to 22 kilometers altitude. It serves as a middle layer between ground systems and satellites for continuous aerial services. It was developed by NAL, Bengaluru, under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chitradurga, Karnataka supported its development. It is designed for border patrolling, surveillance in remote areas, and civil-military use. It can also act as a relay for telecommunications and weather monitoring.

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On May 23, 2025, Chennai-based startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fired India’s first electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine. This marks a major step for private players in advancing Indian space technology. The engine uses electric motors instead of traditional gas generators to power fuel pumps, allowing precise thrust control and quick response. It runs on semi-cryogenic propulsion using liquid oxygen (LOX) and refined kerosene, balancing performance and cost. This innovation boosts engine reliability and suits future sub-orbital missions.

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On May 27, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Indian Railways’ first 9,000 Horsepower (HP) electric locomotive engine in Dahod, Gujarat. This was part of his two-day Gujarat visit to launch projects worth over ₹24,000 crore in Dahod, Bhuj, and Gandhinagar. The locomotive was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at the Dahod rolling stock workshop. The workshop’s foundation was laid in 2022 and built in just three years with an investment of ₹21,405 crore. The engine can haul 4,600 tonnes of freight and the facility can produce 120 locomotives annually, expandable to 150. Around 1,200 engines will be manufactured over the next decade for both domestic and export purposes.

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Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones suffered a reputational setback after Pakistan’s Turkish-origin drones failed during Operation Sindoor. Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish-made Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions. It is Turkey’s first armed UAV developed domestically, showcasing its defence manufacturing capabilities.

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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, recently developed a metal-based nanozyme to help control abnormal blood clotting caused by Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE). Pulmonary Thromboembolism is a condition where blood clots block arteries in the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Nanozymes are nanomaterials that act like enzymes and can be made from metals, metal oxides, or carbon-based substances. This new nanozyme could offer a promising treatment option by safely breaking down harmful clots.

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A new scientific breakthrough was made when researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, successfully measured the half-life of the heaviest proton emitter isotope, 188At (Astatine). Astatine is a rare and highly radioactive element with atomic number 85, and it belongs to the halogen group in the periodic table. Unlike other halogens like fluorine and iodine, astatine has no stable isotopes. It is extremely radioactive, possibly appears as a dark solid, and emits a blue glow due to ionizing radiation. It occurs naturally as a decay product but has a very short half-life.