Current Affairs - Technology

The AI-powered robot currently assisting astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is named Cimon, which stands for Crew Interactive Mobile Companion. Cimon is designed as a technology demonstration project aimed at supporting astronauts during long-duration missions. It functions as a mobile camera for real-time and recorded documentation and is uniquely engineered to float freely within the ISS. This innovative robotic assistant helps reduce stress and improve efficiency for astronauts by providing hands-free support and information during various tasks.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) collaborated with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (TIDCO) to set up a state-of-the-art ₹400 crore testing facility focused on the Mechanical and Material domain. This facility will be located in Tiruchirappalli as part of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC). The initiative falls under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), which aims to boost indigenous defence manufacturing by providing world-class testing infrastructure. The MoU reflects the government's commitment to strengthening defence capabilities and promoting industrial growth through strategic partnerships.

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) created a groundbreaking non-invasive, real-time microscope that captures molecular movement at the angstrom scale. This advanced microscope uses ultrafast laser pulses and a digital micromirror device (DMD), enabling it to film at hundreds of billions of frames per second. The innovation allows researchers to observe rapid molecular interactions with unprecedented clarity. While MIT, Stanford, and Harvard are leading research institutions, this specific breakthrough was achieved at Caltech. The development highlights Caltech’s contributions to cutting-edge scientific instrumentation and ultrafast imaging technologies.

Iran successfully launched the Nahid-2 satellite as part of a multi-payload mission aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. This marks another milestone in Iran’s growing space program, which has previously included launches of other satellites like Khayyam, Pars-1, Kosar, and Hodhod. The collaboration with Russia for launching satellites highlights Iran’s strategy to develop its space technology capabilities despite international limitations. The successful deployment of Nahid-2 showcases Iran’s ongoing efforts to enhance its telecommunications infrastructure and research capabilities through space-based assets.

Latam-GPT is the name of the large language model being developed by 12 Latin American countries as a culturally inclusive, open-source AI initiative. Scheduled for launch in September 2025, it is led by Chile’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) with contributions from over 30 institutions. Built on Llama 3 technology and trained using regional computing resources and AWS cloud systems, Latam-GPT aims to support regional innovation, preserve Indigenous languages, and provide AI solutions for public services such as education and healthcare. The project addresses key challenges like linguistic diversity and digital inclusion, making it a major regional tech milestone.