Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers have warned that AI chatbots are vulnerable to indirect prompt injection attacks. This technique tricks chatbots into executing malicious commands. It exploits large language models (LLMs) by embedding harmful instructions in documents or emails. Attackers can manipulate chatbots to search for sensitive data or alter long-term memory settings. These attacks appear benign but can lead to serious security risks.

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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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Nvidia has unveiled a powerful AI system called Evo 2 for genetic research. Evo 2 is the largest publicly available AI model for genomic data. It was built using 2,000 Nvidia H100 processors on Amazon’s cloud with Arc Institute and Stanford University. It is trained on 9 trillion nucleotides from 128,000+ organisms, covering plants, animals, and bacteria.

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Scientists at Wuhan Institute of Virology, China, discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2. The virus shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 receptors, but its ability to spread among humans is uncertain. The virus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, related to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), but its severity in humans remains unknown.

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NASA is preparing for the PUNCH mission, a first-of-its-kind solar mission to study the solar atmosphere. PUNCH (Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) will be launched by SpaceX. It consists of four suitcase-sized satellites, each weighing 64 kg, placed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The mission will use three Wide Field Imagers and one Narrow Field Imager to capture polarised and unpolarised images. It will provide 3D measurements of the corona and solar wind using light polarisation. The data will help improve space weather predictions and protect space missions. The mission is expected to last two years.

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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer satellite was launched from Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to map water on the Moon. The 200 kg satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, will search for water ice in permanently shadowed lunar craters. Lunar water is crucial for future missions, providing drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel. It will orbit at 100 km altitude, using two instruments to study water distribution and surface temperature. Water may come from solar wind reactions, comets, or meteorites. Understanding lunar water could reveal insights into Earth’s water origins and support future Moon missions.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the undocking of two satellites under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. SpaDeX is a cost-effective technology demonstrator for in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. The mission aims to develop and demonstrate rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), in low-Earth orbit. On March 13, 2025, ISRO successfully undocked the satellites in a 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination. The satellites are now orbiting independently and are in normal condition. This marks ISRO’s successful demonstration of all capabilities for rendezvous, docking, and undocking in a circular orbit.

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A study in Odisha found that melioidosis cases peak during and after the monsoon season. Melioidosis is a bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which lives in soil and surface water in tropical and subtropical regions. It is endemic in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of China. Also known as Whitmore’s disease, it has a high Case Fatality Rate (16%-50%). It spreads through contact with contaminated soil, air, or water.

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V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, inaugurated the ‘Shri S. Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Science Research’ at IIT Madras on March 17, 2025. The centre supports ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by advancing space technologies and attracting global research talent. It focuses on spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management, crucial for India’s space missions. S Ramakrishnan, an IIT Madras alumnus, contributed significantly to PSLV and GSLV MK3 development. ISRO scientists will collaborate with IIT Madras to develop advanced cooling systems for spacecraft. The research will support future lunar, Mars, and deep-space missions.

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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Drone Federation India (DFI) launch National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) under the SwaYaan initiative to boost drone innovation. NIDAR aims to engage students and researchers in developing autonomous drones for real-world challenges. SwaYaan focuses on building human resources in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including drones. It was approved in July 2022. It targets training 42,560 participants through formal and non-formal programs to create a skilled drone workforce.