Current Affairs - Technology

Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) was designed as the first instrument to directly measure temperatures near the moon’s south pole. Integrated into the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, it utilized a rotation-based deployment mechanism, which allowed it to penetrate the lunar soil effectively—up to 10 cm. Equipped with multiple temperature sensors, ChaSTE recorded variations in thermal properties at different depths. Unlike past missions like NASA’s InSight or ESA’s Philae, which failed due to deployment issues, ChaSTE’s innovative design ensured accurate in situ measurements. These findings are essential for understanding lunar thermodynamics and planning future missions, especially those aimed at human settlement.

SpaceX successfully launched the Fram2 mission, achieving the historic milestone of the first-ever human spaceflight to orbit the Earth from pole to pole. The mission was carried out using the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. This groundbreaking journey involved an all-civilian crew in a 90-degree polar orbit, conducting 22 scientific experiments, including the first x-ray taken in space and growing mushrooms in microgravity. This accomplishment highlights SpaceX’s role in advancing commercial space exploration and research.

IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), organized a hackathon focused on exploring Large Language Models and Generative AI to simplify financial statement analysis. The event aimed to transform complex financial data into clear, engaging stories that support better decision-making. The hackathon saw participation from top institutions, with winning teams from VIT Vellore, MNNIT Allahabad, IIT Lucknow, and Rajiv Gandhi University presenting innovative solutions, showcasing the practical applications of AI in the finance sector.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) partnered with IIIT-Hyderabad to launch a global biometric challenge aimed at enhancing the accuracy of fingerprint authentication in children. The focus is on addressing age-related changes to ensure long-term reliability in Aadhaar authentication. This large-scale Biometric SDK Benchmarking Challenge targets 1:1 fingerprint matching algorithms for children aged 5-10 years and their biometric updates over time. The initiative encourages global participation, with opportunities for collaboration with UIDAI for top performers, highlighting IIIT-Hyderabad’s role in advancing biometric technology research.

India’s first Nano Electronics Roadshow was inaugurated at IISc Bengaluru by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The event aimed to advance India’s semiconductor ecosystem, promoting industry-academia collaboration, indigenous research, and the startup ecosystem. The roadshow featured over 100 intellectual properties, 50+ technologies, and 35+ startups showcasing innovations supported by nanoelectronics centres. The event also highlighted India’s push for self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with IISc Bengaluru playing a pivotal role in hosting and facilitating this significant event.