What is VitalID technology and how does it work?

VitalID is an emerging authentication technology that uses the unique vibrations generated by a person’s breathing and heartbeats to enable secure login to apps and websites. These vibrations travel through the neck to the skull and are captured using motion sensors already present in modern headsets. Introduced at the 2025 ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, VitalID is primarily designed for extended reality (XR) environments, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality platforms.

What is Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and why is it important for satellite internet?

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to satellites positioned at altitudes between 400 and 2,000 kilometers above Earth. Due to their proximity, LEO satellites provide low-latency communication, making them ideal for high-speed satellite internet services. In India, companies such as Bharti Airtel (via OneWeb) and Reliance Jio (via JioSpaceFiber) are deploying LEO satellites, along with Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) systems, to enhance nationwide connectivity.

What is a scramjet engine and how does it function?

A scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engine is an advanced air-breathing propulsion system designed to operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds above Mach 5. Unlike traditional engines, it uses atmospheric oxygen as the oxidiser and hydrogen as fuel, allowing supersonic combustion within the engine. India has achieved significant progress in this technology, including a successful 120-second active cooled scramjet combustor ground test by DRDO, marking a milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic missiles and launch vehicles.

What does the term 'Earthset' mean in space exploration?

Earthset refers to the phenomenon where Earth appears to dip below the lunar horizon when viewed from a spacecraft orbiting the Moon. The term gained prominence after NASA’s Artemis II crew captured a historic image on April 6, 2026, showing Earth slowly disappearing behind the Moon. The event was named in reference to the famous 'Earthrise' photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

What is graphene and why is it considered a wonder material?

Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the thinnest material known and exhibits exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, flexibility, transparency, and mechanical strength—being stronger than steel by weight. Due to these properties, graphene is widely regarded as a 'wonder material' with significant applications in electronics, energy storage, medical technology, and defense.

Daily UPSC Prelims MCQs - Science & Tech. - 15th April 2026

Devesh
3 days ago
1 min read

Test your UPSC CSE 2026 preparation with today’s Science & Technology (Every wednesday) Quiz — covering new technology called VitalID, Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Scramjet engine, Earthset, Graphene and more.

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Daily UPSC Prelims MCQs - Science & Tech. - 15th April 2026

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