Daily Static Quiz (Science and Tech) December 1, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Science and Tech) December 1, 2025

Question 1. Consider the following statements regarding the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite:

1. It is equipped with both L-band and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar systems.
2. The satellite was launched using India’s GSLV rocket.
3. NISAR can only observe Earth’s surface during daytime and clear weather conditions.
4. It is the first collaborative hardware development mission between NASA and ISRO for Earth observation.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Question 2. With reference to quantum computing developments, consider the following statements:

1. Quantum error correction involves exponential increase in error rates as qubit counts increase.
2. Superconducting qubits are one of the prominent approaches in building quantum computers.
3. Quantum advantage refers to the point at which a quantum computer can solve a problem better than all classical-only methods.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 3. The Europa Clipper mission, recently launched by NASA, is designed to:

1. Land on Europa’s surface to drill through its ice crust.
2. Conduct multiple flybys of Europa while orbiting Jupiter.
3. Investigate whether Europa could have conditions suitable for life.
4. Deploy rovers on Europa for surface exploration.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Question 4. Consider the following statements regarding Aditya-L1 mission:

1. It is placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2.
2. It carries seven payloads to study the Sun’s photosphere, chromosphere and corona.
3. The strategic position allows continuous observation of the Sun without any occultation by Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 5. With reference to neuromorphic computing, consider the following statements:

1. It mimics the architecture and functioning of the human brain.
2. Intel’s Loihi and IBM’s TrueNorth are examples of neuromorphic chips.
3. These systems typically consume more power compared to conventional computing for similar tasks.
4. Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are used in neuromorphic systems to process information.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Question 6. Consider the following pairs regarding nanotechnology applications:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question 7. The Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved which of the following milestones?

1. First soft landing on the Moon’s southern polar region by any country.
2. Deployment of the Pragyan rover on the lunar surface.
3. Discovery of water ice deposits on the Moon.
4. India becoming the fourth country to successfully soft-land on the Moon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 8. Consider the following statements about CRISPR-Cas9 technology:

1. It is a genome editing tool that can modify specific genes in living organisms.
2. Casgevy is the first FDA-approved therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 technology for sickle cell disease.
3. Base editing and prime editing are advanced versions of CRISPR that create double-stranded breaks in DNA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 9. With reference to tardigrades, often called “water bears,” consider the following statements:

1. They can survive extreme temperatures ranging from near absolute zero to above 150°C.
2. They have a protein called Dsup that protects their DNA from radiation damage.
3. Cryptobiosis is a metabolic state that helps them survive in adverse conditions.
4. They have existed on Earth for approximately 600 million years and survived all five mass extinction events.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Question 10. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census has been in news recently. In this context, consider the following statements:

1. It is a global collaboration that has discovered over 800 new marine species.
2. The discoveries include new species of shark, octocoral, and sea butterfly.
3. The Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform was developed in partnership with the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answers with Explanations

Answer 1: (c) Only three

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: NISAR is equipped with dual radar systems – NASA’s L-band SAR and ISRO’s S-band SAR, making it the world’s first dual-band radar satellite for Earth observation.​

Statement 2 is correct: NISAR was successfully launched by ISRO’s GSLV-F16 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on July 30, 2025.​

Statement 3 is incorrect: NISAR offers all-weather, day-night radar observations. Synthetic Aperture Radar can penetrate through fog, dense clouds, and ice layers, enabling observations regardless of weather conditions or time of day.​

Statement 4 is correct: NISAR marks the first time NASA and ISRO have cooperated on hardware development for an Earth-observing mission. NASA provided the L-band SAR, antenna, and other components, while ISRO provided the S-band SAR and spacecraft bus.​

Answer 2: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Quantum error correction aims for the opposite – exponential error reduction as qubit counts increase, not increase. Google’s Willow quantum chip demonstrated this by achieving exponential error reduction, going “below threshold”.​

Statement 2 is correct: Superconducting qubits are one of the leading approaches in quantum computing. Companies like Google, IBM, and others are developing superconducting quantum processors.​

Statement 3 is correct: Quantum advantage refers to the point at which a quantum computer can solve a problem better than all classical-only methods. IBM expects the first cases of verified quantum advantage to be confirmed by the end of 2026.​

Answer 3: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:
Statements 1 and 4 are incorrect: Europa Clipper is not a lander mission. It will orbit Jupiter and perform close flybys of Europa without landing on the moon’s surface. It does not carry any rovers.​

Statement 2 is correct: Europa Clipper will conduct 49 close flybys of Europa while orbiting Jupiter. The spacecraft will use gravity assists from Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto to change its trajectory.​

Statement 3 is correct: The mission’s main science goal is to determine whether Europa could harbor conditions suitable for life. It will investigate Europa’s subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust.​

Answer 4: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Aditya-L1 is placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1, not L2. The L1 point is approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, positioned between the Sun and Earth.​

Statement 2 is correct: Aditya-L1 carries seven science payloads to examine the Sun’s properties including the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona using visible and X-ray spectrometers, a coronagraph, solar wind analysers, energetic particle detectors, and magnetometers.​

Statement 3 is correct: The strategic placement at L1 ensures continuous and uninterrupted observation of the Sun without any occultation by Earth, overcoming limitations of Low Earth Orbits where the Sun’s view is frequently blocked.​

Answer 5: (c) Only three

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Neuromorphic computing mimics the architecture and functioning of the human brain, using brain-inspired computational approaches.​

Statement 2 is correct: Intel’s Loihi and IBM’s TrueNorth are prominent examples of neuromorphic chips. Intel launched Hala Point with 1,125 Loihi 2 chips in April 2024.​

Statement 3 is incorrect: Neuromorphic systems typically consume significantly less power compared to conventional computing systems. They are designed for energy-efficient processing, which is one of their main advantages.​

Statement 4 is correct: Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are fundamental to neuromorphic computing. Unlike traditional neural networks, SNNs process information using discrete spikes similar to biological neurons.​

Answer 6: (c) All three

Explanation:
Pair 1 is correctly matched: In 2025, researchers at Oregon State University engineered dual peptide-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles capable of crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier to deliver anti-inflammatory therapy directly to the hypothalamus.​

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Researchers developed luminescent nanocrystals (Nd³⁺-doped KPb₂Cl₅ bistable avalanching nanoparticles) that can be integrated into digital logic gates for high-density optical computing and AI-driven data centers.​

Pair 3 is correctly matched: DyCoO₃@rGO nanocomposite combines perovskite material with reduced graphene oxide to form a 3D hybrid structure with improved conductivity and lifespan, making it a promising candidate for high-performance battery electrodes in energy storage applications.​

Answer 7: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Chandrayaan-3 achieved the first-ever soft landing in the Moon’s Southern polar region, making India the first country to accomplish this feat.​

Statement 2 is correct: The Pragyan rover was deployed from the Vikram lander onto the lunar surface on August 24, 2023, traveling 101.4 meters during its mission.​

Statement 3 is incorrect: The discovery of water molecules on the Moon was made by Chandrayaan-1, not Chandrayaan-3. Chandrayaan-3’s primary objective was demonstrating soft landing and roving capabilities.​

Statement 4 is correct: With Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing, India became the fourth nation to successfully soft-land on the Moon (after the US, Soviet Union, and China).​

Answer 8: (b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing tool that uses RNA to guide the Cas9 enzyme to specific locations in the genome, allowing for precise modification of genes.​

Statement 2 is correct: Casgevy received FDA approval in December 2023 for treating sickle cell disease, becoming the first FDA-approved treatment utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology.​

Statement 3 is incorrect: Base editing and prime editing are advanced versions of CRISPR that do NOT create double-stranded breaks in DNA. This is their key advantage, as they offer a potentially superior safety profile compared to traditional CRISPR-Cas9 editing.​

Answer 9: (d) All four

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Tardigrades can survive temperatures ranging from -272°C (close to absolute zero) to above 150°C. They have been successfully revived after exposure to temperatures near absolute zero in laboratory conditions.​

Statement 2 is correct: The Dsup (Damage Suppressor) protein acts as a shield for tardigrade DNA, protecting it from radiation damage. This protein can survive doses of X-rays 1,000 times higher than lethal doses for humans.​

Statement 3 is correct: Cryptobiosis is a state of near-complete metabolic standstill that tardigrades enter under adverse conditions. This mechanism allows them to survive extreme environmental stresses.​

Statement 4 is correct: Tardigrades have inhabited Earth for approximately 600 million years and have survived all five major mass extinction events in Earth’s history.​

Answer 10: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census has discovered 866 new marine species, making it one of the largest global missions to accelerate the discovery of marine life.​

Statement 2 is correct: The discoveries encompass dozens of taxonomic groups including new species of shark (guitar shark), octocoral (first recorded in the Maldives), sea butterfly, mud dragon, bamboo coral, water bear, and many others.​

Statement 3 is correct: The Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform was developed in partnership with the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and is now accessible to researchers and the public.

Daily Static Quiz