Current Affairs - Technology

The Athena mission, a robotic moon lander, is set to explore the Moon. It is equipped with scientific instruments designed to analyze the chemical composition of lunar soil and search for subsurface water, particularly in the Moon’s south polar region. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and will be launched by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket. The Athena mission marks the second lunar mission for Intuitive Machines and follows its first private moon landing in February 2024.

Microsoft introduced Majorana 1, the world's first quantum chip, which is powered by a Topological Core architecture. This innovative chip utilizes Majorana fermions that act as their own antiparticles, providing enhanced quantum stability. The chip features eight qubits, but its architecture allows for error-resistant scaling to one million qubits. This breakthrough in quantum computing has vast potential applications, including in microplastic breakdown, self-healing materials, healthcare, and solving complex problems in chemistry and materials science.

The AI-driven tools developed by IIIT-Delhi, CHRI-PATH, Tata 1mg, and ICMR focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance. These tools utilize routine hospital data such as blood, sputum, and urine cultures to provide real-time insights into AMR trends at the global, national, and hospital levels. By tracking resistance patterns and antibiotic usage, these tools offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional genomic approaches, helping in better decision-making and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings. The innovations also include visual scorecards for timely interventions in hospitals.

The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under MeitY, launched a new advanced IT incubation centre in Salt Lake, Kolkata. This facility is designed to foster entrepreneurship and boost IT exports in West Bengal. The centre was inaugurated by Minister Jitin Prasada and aims to strengthen sectors such as IT, ITeS, and ESDM through innovation-driven growth. STPI has played a significant role in India’s technological growth, expanding from just a few centres to 67 across the country. This new facility in Kolkata will contribute further to the region’s technological and entrepreneurial landscape.

ISRO, in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest globally for solid propellants. This innovative, indigenous mixer will significantly improve the production of solid rocket motors, which are vital to India’s space transportation systems. The development of this mixer is a major step in advancing India’s spaceflight capabilities, playing a crucial role in ISRO's future space missions.