Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The US Navy successfully tested the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) laser weapon on the USS Preble in 2024. HELIOS, developed by Lockheed Martin, can destroy targets (Hard Kill) or disable electronics (Soft Kill). It generates over 60 kilowatts of energy, with upgrades reaching 120 kilowatts. The test zapped an aerial drone, confirming operational capability. Lasers offer a cheaper alternative to missiles, crucial in regions facing drone and missile threats. Challenges include power supply, weather conditions, and system integration. The Navy plans to expand laser weapons, aiming for cost-effective and efficient defense.

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Australian researchers created the first-ever kangaroo embryos using in vitro fertilisation (IVF). This was achieved through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique used in human fertility treatments. Scientists from the University of Queensland used ICSI to create eastern grey kangaroo embryos by injecting a single sperm into a mature egg. Over 20 embryos have been successfully produced. The sperm and egg were collected from recently deceased kangaroos in wildlife hospitals. This breakthrough aims to help conserve endangered marsupials like koalas, Tasmanian devils, and wombats, addressing Australia’s high mammal extinction rate.

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Russia has offered India the R-37M missile, one of the world’s best air-to-air missiles. It was developed by Russia. The R-37M is designed to target enemy fighter jets and drones beyond visual range (BVR). It evolved from the R-33 missile and targets high-value platforms like tanker aircraft. Its guidance system includes inertial navigation, radar homing, and semi-active radar for the terminal phase. The missile has a range of 300-400 km and speeds up to Mach 6, making it highly effective for long-range interception.

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Hyderabad-based biotech company, Biovet has received Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) approval for its Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine, Biolumpivaxin, for dairy cattle and buffaloes. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is an infectious viral disease caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), part of the poxviridae family. LSD primarily affects cattle and, to a lesser extent, buffalo, with higher morbidity in cattle. The disease leads to reduced milk production, sterility in bulls, and damage to hides. It spreads through blood-feeding insects and contaminated water or fodder. LSD is not zoonotic, so humans cannot get infected by the virus.

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A University of Birmingham study found that vancomycin, an antibiotic for diarrhea, may treat a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) linked to autoimmune liver disease. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used for severe bacterial infections like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile-associated diarrhea. It treats infections in the bloodstream, skin, heart valves, bones, and joints. It does not work against viral infections like colds or flu. Vancomycin kills bacteria by preventing proper cell wall formation, making them weak and leading to their death.

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China has approved the construction of a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea. This facility, also known as a “deep-sea space station”, is expected to be operational by 2030. The facility will be located 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) below the ocean’s surface.  It will be one of the deepest and most technologically advanced underwater installations ever attempted.  The facility will study cold seep ecosystems, which are methane-rich hydrothermal vents.  It will accommodate six scientists for missions lasting up to a month.

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Researchers discovered a new type of brain cell called Ovoid cells. These neurons help in recognition memory by differentiating between new and familiar objects. They are named for their egg-like shape and are found in the hippocampus of humans, mice, and other animals. Ovoid cells activate when encountering something new, triggering memory storage. This discovery could help treat brain conditions like Alzheimer’s, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Epilepsy.

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Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, its first quantum computing chip, to improve stability, speed, and practicality in quantum computing. The chip utilizes Majorana particles, an exotic quantum state, to minimize computational errors and enhance reliability. It is developed by Microsoft, with validation from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), U.S.

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A A US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II recently conducted its first test missions with the Meteor air-to-air missile. Meteor is a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by MBDA for six European nations (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden). It has a ramjet engine, enabling controlled flight speed, complex maneuvers, and a range of over 100 km. It flies at Mach 4+ with a large no-escape zone.

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Andhra Pradesh is considering increasing the monthly pension for thalassemia patients and extending it to those above the poverty line due to high treatment costs. Currently, treatment is provided to below-poverty-line patients under the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder where the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, leading to severe anemia. Patients require blood transfusions every 2-3 weeks for survival. Symptoms include weak bones, slow growth, iron overload, poor appetite, enlarged spleen or liver, and pale skin.