UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Artemis 2 mission, applications of electromagnetic force and more (Week 129)

QUESTION 1

With reference to Artemis 2 mission, consider the following statements:

1. It will be the second crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis programme.

2. It will be launched using the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— NASA’s return to the Moon is now targeted for early 2026, with the Artemis 2 mission set to fly four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft.

— Artemis 2 will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis programme. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). They will launch on Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and follow a “free-return” trajectory — flying more than 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) beyond the Moon before returning to Earth without entering lunar orbit or landing. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the use of artificial intelligence in computational biology, consider the following statements:

1. AI is used to design individual proteins and even small multi-gene systems.

2. A new virus created by AI can infect and kill bacteria.

3. India has recently built the world’s first fully AI-generated genome.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Artificial intelligence is making rapid strides in computational biology. Recently, researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome. In what can be called a breakthrough, the new virus created by AI can infect and kill bacteria. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.

— Scientists have already used AI to design individual proteins and even small multi-gene systems. However, creating an entire genome is way more complex. In simple words, a genome must have many interacting genes, and regulatory switches that allow an organism to grow, copy itself, and survive. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— “Genome design requires orchestrating multiple interacting genes and regulatory elements while maintaining a balance that enables replication, host specificity, and evolutionary fitness. This increase in complexity introduces new constraints and failure modes that do not arise when only designing a single protein or a two-component system,” the team said in a post on arcinstitute.org.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the neutron stars, consider the following statements:

1. Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses.

2. A neutron star is the densest object astronomers can observe directly.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses. The very central region of the star – the core – collapses, crushing together every proton and electron into a neutron. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A neutron star is the densest object astronomers can observe directly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Since neutron stars began their existence as stars, they are found scattered throughout the galaxy in the same places where we find stars. And like stars, they can be found by themselves or in binary systems with a companion.

— In binary systems, some neutron stars can be found accreting materials from their companions, emitting electromagnetic radiation powered by the gravitational energy of the accreting material.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Source: imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov)

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Planet Uranus, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is situated between Saturn and Jupiter.

2. Uranus’ axis of rotation is perpendicular to its orbital plane.

3. According to the study, Uranus’ atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen and there is no trace of water.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) None

Explanation

— Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, owes its pale blue-green colour to its atmosphere that absorbs the red wavelengths of sunlight.

— The Hubble photos of Uranus were obtained between 2002 and 2022. According to the study, Uranus’ atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of methane, water, and ammonia. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Uranus is situated between Saturn and Neptune. Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is one of the least studied planets in our solar system, which is why the latest research study could be significant. Scientists who wrote the paper also supplied additional information regarding seasonal changes on the planet. Unlike other planets, Uranus’ axis of rotation is almost parallel to its orbital plane. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

In which of the following fields is the electromagnetic force applied?

1. Transportation

2. Medicine

3. Navigation

4. Communication

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The electromagnetic force is not just theoretical — it is deeply practical. It powers MRI machines in hospitals, generates the current that lights our homes, and makes the touchscreens on our phones respond to our fingers. From communication satellites to microwave ovens, this single force underpins much of modern technology.

— Some of its most familiar uses include:

— Transport: Electric motors drive trains, cars, and even bicycles.

— Medicine: X-rays, MRI scans, and radiotherapy all rely on electromagnetic interactions.

— Communication: Radio, television, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks send signals through electromagnetic waves.

— Energy: Generators, transformers, and the entire power grid operate because moving charges create magnetic fields and vice versa.

— Navigation: Compasses align with Earth’s magnetic field, while GPS satellites use atomic clocks based on electromagnetic transitions.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 124)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 129)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 128)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us onInstagramand X.