Current Affairs - Technology

India and the United Kingdom have partnered to advance research on healthy brain ageing through the integration of AI, biomarkers, and diverse population studies. The collaboration involves the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at IISc and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI). Their focus is on understanding brain health, preventing cognitive decline, and improving early diagnosis and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The partnership also includes cross-institutional collaborations, structured internships, and resource-sharing to enhance global brain health research.

Google has unveiled Gemma 3, the latest addition to its family of lightweight open AI models. Gemma 3 is designed to run efficiently on devices such as smartphones, laptops, and other computing platforms, offering low-latency processing capabilities and multi-modal processing with text-only output. This innovation aims to enhance user experiences and provide developers with a scalable and efficient AI solution.

China has deployed a Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) system in Yunnan province, enhancing its surveillance capabilities, especially regarding India’s strategic defence operations. The radar, with a detection range exceeding 5,000 kilometres, can monitor vast areas, including significant portions of Indian territory and the Indian Ocean region. This advanced radar system raises concerns for India due to its ability to track missile tests and monitor maritime activities. India has responded by strengthening its own radar capabilities and exploring counter-surveillance strategies.

NASA successfully launched its SPHEREx space telescope on March 11, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission, valued at $488 million, aims to map the entire sky using infrared technology to study galaxy evolution, the early universe, and interstellar ice. Unlike other telescopes, SPHEREx will focus on the collective cosmic glow from all galaxies, providing unique insights into the universe's formation and expansion. NASA's role in this mission highlights its ongoing efforts to explore and understand the cosmos.

The 1st Electronic Toy Hackathon (e-Toycathon 2025) was organized by C-DAC Noida under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY’s) research initiatives. This event focused on creating engaging and educational toys that foster creativity, learning, and child development. The top prize was awarded to Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, for their innovative contributions to the electronic toy sector. The hackathon highlighted Noida as a key hub for technological advancements and innovation in India.