Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Astronomers discovered Gaia BH3, a massive black hole close to Earth, using the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia telescope. Gaia Mission, launched in 2013, aims to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way, surveying 1% of its 100 billion stars. It orbits the Sun at Lagrange Point 2 (1.5 million km from Earth), avoiding atmospheric distortion. Gaia scans the sky every two months using two telescopes. It helps detect exoplanets, main belt asteroids, and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) by tracking stellar movements and brightness changes.

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Brucellosis, a bacterial disease, caused the death of an 8-year-old in Kerala. It is caused by Brucella bacteria, mainly infecting cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and dogs. Humans get infected through direct contact with animals, consuming contaminated animal products, or inhaling airborne agents. Unpasteurised milk and cheese from infected animals are the most common sources. Symptoms include fever, weakness, weight loss, and discomfort, often mild and undiagnosed.

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Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Plant, “Srjanam,” at AIIMS New Delhi. It was developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST). It has an initial capacity of 400 kg/day and can process 10 kg of degradable medical waste daily. India generates 743 tonnes of biomedical waste daily, posing health risks. “Sṛjanam” is validated for antimicrobial effectiveness and is safer than organic fertilizers.

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Scientists at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn with 78.5 Earth masses and 6.41 Earth radii. It orbits a bright, metal-rich F-type star every 5.83 days in a circular orbit. TOI-6038A b falls in the “Sub-Saturn” category, absent in our solar system, aiding planetary formation studies. The discovery was made using the PARAS-2 (PRL Advanced Radial-velocity All-sky Search-2 spectrograph) at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory. TOI-6038A b has high density (1.62 g/cm³), likely formed through high-eccentricity tidal migration. It orbits a star in a binary system, raising questions about its formation and migration.

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Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) launched the Technology Advancement Fund (TAF) to boost private sector innovation in space. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space (DOS) that promotes private participation. TAF aims to fund cutting-edge technologies and commercialization in the space sector.

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Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) , Bengaluru, has developed a new technique to improve next-gen lighting. Organic LEDs (OLEDs), Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLEDs), and Micro/Mini-LEDs are shaping future lighting but face challenges like cost, toxicity, and production limits. Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) combine the benefits of OLEDs and QLEDs but struggle with heat, moisture sensitivity, and color instability. CeNS researchers minimized anion migration in perovskite nanocrystals using applied argon-oxygen plasma treatment. This method enhances stability, slows anion exchange, and improves color stability. The breakthrough, published in Nanoscale, advances durable and efficient optoelectronic devices.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs when the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. It affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S. and over 2.8 million worldwide. Genetics influence MS risk, but environmental factors like diet, infections, and gut health play a major role. Studies show gut bacteria imbalance can predict MS severity. MS patients have more Blautia and Akkermansia but lower Bifidobacterium and Prevotella. A lower Bifidobacterium-to-Akkermansia ratio is linked to worse disability. Findings may help improve MS diagnosis and treatment by focusing on gut microbiome health.

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Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, 22, recently died from a rare genetic disease called POLG. POLG is a mitochondrial disorder that prevents cells from producing enough energy, leading to organ failure. It primarily affects the brain, nerves, muscles, liver, and sometimes vision. Patients often become bedridden and lose the ability to perform daily activities. The disease is caused by mutations in the POLG and POLG2 genes, affecting mitochondrial replication. Symptoms range from muscle weakness and seizures to liver failure and difficulty walking. There is no cure; treatment focuses on symptom management and quality of life improvement.

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Researchers have successfully turned light into a “supersolid” for the first time. Supersolids are a unique state of matter defined by quantum mechanics. They form an orderly crystalline solid but flow like a liquid without viscosity. Unlike normal solids, supersolids can change direction and density based on particle interactions. They maintain an organized lattice structure while exhibiting fluid-like movement. The discovery could enhance qubit stability in quantum computing and advance optical circuits, photonic devices, and fundamental physics research.

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ISRO and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) developed two indigenous 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for space applications. Vikram 3201 is India’s first fully indigenous microprocessor for launch vehicles, handling up to 4 GB memory with floating-point support. It advances the 16-bit Vikram 1601 used since 2009. Kalpana 3201 is a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC processor, compatible with open-source tools and tested with flight software. Both microprocessors were validated in space during the PSLV-C60 mission. Other devices developed include a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System and Low Drop-out Regulator IC.