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Q1Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to the 'Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023', which was in news, the prize was awarded for discoveries concerning:
- ATemperature and touch receptors
- BNucleoside base modifications enabling mRNA vaccine developmentCorrect
- CThe hepatitis C virus
- DThe mechanism of oxygen sensing by cells
Explanation
Correct. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman received the 2023 Nobel for discovering nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Q2Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to 'Havana Syndrome', periodically in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It refers to a set of unexplained symptoms including headache, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties reported by diplomats.
2. The exact cause has been conclusively established as a microwave weapon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Havana Syndrome involves unexplained neurological symptoms in diplomats. Statement 2 is wrong because the cause remains inconclusive despite theories about directed energy; US intelligence assessments have not confirmed a single definitive cause.
Q3Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to 'GalaxEye', an Indian space-tech startup recently in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is developing multi-sensor Earth observation satellites that combine SAR and optical imaging on a single platform.
2. It aims to provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. GalaxEye is developing satellites that combine SAR and optical imaging on a single platform, enabling all-weather, round-the-clock Earth observation.
Q4Science·Science in Current Affairs
The 'ISRO TDV' (Technology Demonstration Vehicle) mission, recently in the news, is associated with the testing of:
- AA new generation GPS satellite
- BA cryogenic upper-stage engine for human spaceflightCorrect
- CA scramjet engine for hypersonic flight
- DA nuclear thermal propulsion system
Explanation
Correct. ISRO's TV-D1 mission tested the crew escape system and the modified service module intended for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
Q5Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to 'Hypersonic Glide Vehicles' (HGVs), frequently in the news, consider the following statements:
1. They travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
2. They can manoeuvre during flight, making them harder to intercept than traditional ballistic missiles.
3. India has tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. HGVs exceed Mach 5, can manoeuvre in flight, and India has tested the HSTDV.
Q6Science·Science in Current Affairs
India's first solar-wind hybrid power plant, recently in the news, combines:
1. Solar photovoltaic panels
2. Wind turbines
3. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Which of the above components are typically part of such a hybrid plant?
- A1 and 2 only
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Solar-wind hybrid plants integrate solar PV, wind turbines, and battery storage to ensure reliable power output and manage intermittency.
Q7Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to the 'BrahMos missile', often in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a joint venture between India and Russia.
2. It is a supersonic cruise missile.
3. India has exported BrahMos missiles to the Philippines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. BrahMos is an India-Russia joint venture, is supersonic, and has been exported to the Philippines.
Q8Science·Science in Current Affairs
The 'Euclid Space Telescope', launched in 2023 and recently in the news, is primarily designed to study:
- AExoplanets and their atmospheres
- BDark energy and dark matter through mapping the large-scale structure of the universeCorrect
- CSolar flares and coronal mass ejections
- DCosmic microwave background radiation with greater precision
Explanation
Correct. ESA's Euclid mission maps billions of galaxies over 10 billion light-years to study how dark energy and dark matter have shaped the universe's expansion and structure.
Q9Science·Science in Current Affairs
With reference to 'gene drive' technology, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a genetic engineering technique that can spread a particular gene throughout a population.
2. It has been proposed as a tool to control mosquito populations that transmit malaria.
3. It works only in organisms that reproduce sexually.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Gene drives spread genes through populations via biased inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms, with malaria-carrying mosquito control as a prominent proposed use.
Q10Science·Science in Current Affairs
The term 'Neuromorphic computing', sometimes seen in the news, refers to:
- AComputing systems that mimic the structure and function of biological neural networksCorrect
- BA programming language designed for neural surgery robots
- CCloud-based storage systems for brain imaging data
- DA quantum computing architecture using neural qubits
Explanation
Correct. Neuromorphic computing designs hardware and software to emulate the brain's neural structure, enabling energy-efficient parallel processing similar to biological neurons and synapses.
Q11Science·Science in Current Affairs
The 'Prithvi-II' missile, sometimes in the news, is a:
- ASurface-to-air missile with a range of 350 km
- BShort-range surface-to-surface ballistic missileCorrect
- CAnti-satellite weapon tested in low Earth orbit
- DSubmarine-launched cruise missile
Explanation
Correct. Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed short-range (250-350 km) surface-to-surface ballistic missile that is part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Q12Science·Science in Current Affairs
The 'Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023', which was in news, was awarded for:
- ADevelopment of lithium-ion batteries
- BDiscovery and synthesis of quantum dotsCorrect
- CDevelopment of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry
- DCryo-electron microscopy for biomolecule structure determination
Explanation
Correct. Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus, and Alexei Ekimov received the 2023 Chemistry Nobel for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, nanoscale semiconductor particles with size-dependent optical properties.