1. Scientists have recently traced evidence of ancient wildfires (palaeofires) in the Godavari Basin from which geological period?
[A] Jurassic Period
[B] Permian Period
[C] Cambrian Period
[D] Triassic Period
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Permian Period]
Notes:
Scientists recently found signs of ancient wildfires, called palaeofires, from the Permian Period about 250 million years ago in the Godavari Basin. Palaeofires are wildfire events recorded in ancient rocks, helping us understand Earth’s past vegetation, climate changes, and coal formation. The study covered a long geological timescale, from the Late Silurian to the present Quaternary Period. Researchers used methods like Palynofacies analysis, Raman Spectroscopy, Rock-Eval Pyrolysis, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy to study tiny fossils and charcoal. They clearly identified charcoal formed on-site (in situ) and transported charcoal (ex situ), solving a major geological debate. They also found that sea-level changes affected how fire residues were preserved—more intact during sea-level drops (regressive) and more scattered during sea-level rise (transgressive).
2. Crohn’s disease, that was recently seen in news, is classified as which type of condition?
[A] Autoimmune skin disorder
[B] Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
[C] Lung disease
[D] Cardiovascular disease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chronic inflammatory bowel disease]
Notes:
A former SpaceX employee has sued the company, claiming he was fired due to Crohn’s disease, a chronic health issue. Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that causes swelling and irritation in the digestive tract. It often affects the end of the small intestine and the start of the large intestine, but it can impact any part of the tract. The disease causes deep inflammation in the bowel walls, making it painful and hard to manage. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, abdominal pain, and weight loss. There is no permanent cure, but treatment can ease symptoms, reduce flare-ups, and help patients live a normal life. This case has drawn attention to workplace rights for people living with chronic medical conditions like Crohn’s disease.
3. Which group of organisms has been identified as key “phosphorus gatekeepers” in ancient and weathered soils?
[A] Soil microbes (fungi and bacteria)
[B] Insects
[C] Algae
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Soil microbes (fungi and bacteria)]
Notes:
A recent study in Nature Geoscience found that soil microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, play a central role in regulating phosphorus availability and cycling over a span of 700,000 years in the Cooloola coastal dune system. These microbes manage the release and transformation of phosphorus in nutrient-poor soils, acting as crucial “gatekeepers” in ecosystem nutrient dynamics. These microbes adapt by replacing phospholipids with non-phosphorus lipids and storing fats to reduce phosphorus demand. They also improve phosphorus use efficiency in their metabolism to survive in low-phosphorus soils. Microbes both compete with plants for phosphorus and help them by recycling it and improving access.
4. Which country has inaugurated world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol facility?
[A] Russia
[B] France
[C] Denmark
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Denmark]
Notes:
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.
5. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory is located in which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Department of Posts recently released a commemorative stamp to mark the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO). The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Tamil Nadu. It was set up to study the Sun and its impact on Earth’s climate, particularly on the Indian monsoon. This decision followed the Great Drought of 1875–1877, which caused a massive famine that killed nearly 50 million people globally. The Famine Commission then recommended setting up a solar observatory to explore the link between solar activity and rainfall.
6. Which country has launched AI powered satellites to build world’s first space based supercomputer?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] Japan
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [China]
Notes:
China has launched 12 satellites to begin building the world’s first space-based supercomputing network, called the Three-Body Computing Constellation. The satellites were launched using a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre as part of a project led by Zhejiang Lab. These satellites have Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered processors and high-speed links to communicate and process data in orbit without ground stations. Once complete, the constellation will include 2,800 satellites with a combined power of 1,000 peta operations per second (POPS). The project is developed by ADA Space, Zhijiang Laboratory, and Neijang High-Tech Zone to offer real-time, autonomous data processing from space.
7. What is the causative agent of kala azar disease, that was recently seen in news?
[A] Protozoan Parasite
[B] Virus
[C] Bacteria
[D] Fungus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Protozoan Parasite]
Notes:
Recently, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. The event was held during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, organised by the African Union and World Health Organization (WHO). Kala-azar is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a protozoan parasite and is fatal if untreated, showing symptoms like fever, fatigue, weight loss, and enlarged spleen and liver. More than 70% of global kala-azar cases are in Eastern Africa, where half of the affected are children under 15, according to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). The MoU encourages more investment and better strategies to eliminate kala-azar and improve public health responses.
8. Which institute has created India’s first gene-edited sheep?
[A] Doon University, Dehradun
[B] Himachal Pradesh University
[C] Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology]
Notes:
Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have created India’s first gene-edited sheep. This is a major breakthrough in animal biotechnology and marks a historic achievement for India. The sheep was developed using genome editing without adding any foreign Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), making it different from transgenic animals. This innovation may ease regulatory approvals under India’s updated biotechnology policy. It positions SKUAST-Kashmir as a leader in reproductive biotechnology research. This recent development places India among the global frontrunners in advanced genome editing technologies.
9. What is a “bow echo” in context of meteorology?
[A] A circular cyclone formation
[B] A line of thunderstorms that curves like a bow on radar
[C] A heatwave pattern
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A line of thunderstorms that curves like a bow on radar]
Notes:
Delhi recently witnessed intense storms that appeared in the shape of a crescent or archer’s bow, technically known as bow echoes. A bow echo is a line of thunderstorms that appears curved like a bow on weather radar, also called a squall line. Sometimes, this bow echo can be part of a larger squall line system. It usually stretches from 20 to 100 kilometres and lasts for three to six hours. The term bow echo was introduced in the 1970s by Ted Fujita, a meteorologist famous for creating the Fujita Scale to measure tornado intensity.
10. Which institute has developed the metal-based nanozyme to treat Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE)?
[A] Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
[B] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[C] All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
[D] Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru]
Notes:
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.