For UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 aspirants, revising Science and Technology topics through targeted quizzes remains crucial for success. The latest subject-wise quiz focuses on significant recent developments across multiple scientific domains, from paleontology to space technology and public health.
Arctic Fossil Discovery Reveals Ancient Marine Ecosystem
A groundbreaking fossil discovery on Spitsbergen island within Norway's Svalbard archipelago has unveiled the earliest known sea reptile habitat dating back to the dinosaur era. Researchers have excavated more than 30,000 specimens including teeth, bones, and fossilized feces representing diverse marine life that thrived approximately 249 million years ago.
This extraordinary finding provides unprecedented insights into how marine ecosystems rapidly recovered following the end-Permian mass extinction, the most devastating extinction event in Earth's history. The research, conducted by Scandinavian paleontologists from the Swedish Museum of Natural History and University of Oslo's Natural History Museum, demonstrates that complex marine food webs reestablished within just 3 million years after the catastrophic event.
Sentinel-6B Satellite Monitors Rising Sea Levels
The recently launched Sentinel-6B ocean monitoring satellite represents a significant advancement in tracking climate change impacts on Earth's oceans. Equipped with six sophisticated scientific instruments, the satellite measures sea level rise with remarkable precision, completing one Earth orbit every 112 minutes at speeds reaching 7.2 kilometers per second.
Contrary to some reports, Sentinel-6B is a collaborative mission between NASA, NOAA, and the European Space Agency rather than involving the Canadian Space Agency. The satellite's data proves invaluable for weather forecasting, storm prediction, maritime navigation safety, and protecting underwater infrastructure like pipelines and communication cables.
NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Martian Meteorite
NASA's Perseverance rover has identified an unusually shaped rock named Vernodden near Mars' Jezero Crater during routine geological investigations. Analysis using the SuperCam instrument revealed high concentrations of iron and nickel, indicating the rock likely originated from an asteroid core rather than Martian bedrock.
This discovery marks another instance of extraterrestrial meteorite identification on Mars, following similar findings by the Curiosity rover including the "Lebanon" meteorite in 2014 and "Cacao" meteorite in 2023. Perseverance continues its primary mission of searching for signs of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet.
Health Alert: Brain-Eating Amoeba Precautions
Recent cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in Kerala have prompted health advisories for pilgrims and residents. This free-living amoeba predominantly inhabits warm freshwater environments including stagnant ponds, lakes, and poorly maintained swimming pools.
The Karnataka government has issued specific safety guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrims, emphasizing vigilance and preventive measures against infection from this potentially fatal pathogen.
China's Tiangong Space Station Operations
China's Tiangong space station recently experienced a spacecraft replacement operation when the Shenzhou-20 crew returned aboard Shenzhou-21 after their original vehicle sustained damage. The "Heavenly Palace" station represents China's permanent manned presence in space, with the crew rotation demonstrating the program's growing capabilities in human spaceflight operations.
These diverse scientific developments highlight the interdisciplinary nature of Science and Technology preparation required for UPSC examinations, spanning paleontology, space technology, public health, and international space cooperation.
