Science News
Latest science news and updates
Total: 154
NASA’s Moon Shot: Artemis II Countdown Begins Amidst High Stakes and Long Delays
NASA has officially initiated the countdown for the Artemis II mission, marking the first time humans will return to the lunar vicinity in over 50 years. The crewed flyby is a critical precursor to future lunar landings and serves as a major milestone in the modern space race.
Beyond the Far Side: Artemis II and the High-Stakes Calculus of the New Lunar Race
NASA's Artemis II mission is set to send four astronauts on a lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission to the Moon in over half a century and breaking records for human distance from Earth. The mission serves as a critical verification of the SLS and Orion systems, supported by a global consortium of aerospace giants including Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
China’s Gene-Edited Swine: A New Frontier in Combating Human Metabolic Disease
Chinese scientists have successfully cloned the world's first gene-edited pigs targeting the LXRα receptor, a key regulator of cholesterol and inflammation. This breakthrough provides a sophisticated new animal model for studying how metabolic disorders trigger cardiovascular disease in humans.
China’s ‘Anti-Cancer Nuclear Bomb’ Breakthrough: Breaking the Global Monopoly on Medical Isotopes
Chinese scientists have achieved Curie-level mass production of medical alpha isotopes using the China Spallation Neutron Source, breaking a long-standing reliance on expensive imports. This breakthrough significantly lowers the cost of precision cancer therapies and establishes a robust domestic supply chain for next-generation radiopharmaceuticals.
Laboratories of Life: How China’s Military Medics are Redefining Reproductive Frontiers
The reproductive team at Tangdu Hospital, led by Dr. Wang Xiaohong, has emerged as a global leader in IVF and genetic screening, achieving over 150,000 successful cycles and pioneering stem cell therapies. Operating under China's military medical system, the center plays a dual role in advancing high-tech birth interventions and addressing the specific fertility challenges of personnel stationed in harsh environments.
China’s 'In Vivo' Breakthrough: A New Frontier in Autoimmune Disease Treatment
Chinese researchers from Shandong University have developed a breakthrough method for treating autoimmune hepatitis through in-body cell reprogramming. This 'in vivo' approach offers a more efficient alternative to traditional CAR-T therapies and signals a major shift in how autoimmune diseases may be treated globally.
Boots on the Ground: NASA Abandons the Gateway in Radical Lunar Pivot
NASA has announced a major strategic overhaul of its Artemis program, pausing the Lunar Gateway orbital station to focus on building permanent surface-based infrastructure. The new three-phase plan prioritizes long-term human residency on the Moon, with a crewed landing now targeted for 2028.
NASA’s Great Pivot: Scrapping the Gateway for a Permanent Lunar Foothold
NASA has paused its Lunar Gateway space station project to prioritize the development of permanent habitation and infrastructure on the lunar surface. This strategic pivot delays the next crewed lunar landing to 2028 while focusing on a three-phase plan for long-term human presence.
NASA’s Giant Leap Downward: Why Washington is Swapping Orbit for a $20 Billion Lunar Base
NASA is abandoning its plan for the orbital Lunar Gateway station in favor of a $20 billion permanent surface base. This strategic shift aims to accelerate the Artemis program, turning the Moon into a logistical hub for future nuclear-powered missions to Mars.
Chinese Scientists Pack Healthy Mitochondria into Vesicles, Paving a New Route for Organelle Therapy
A Chinese research team has devised a vesicle-based "capsule" to encapsulate healthy mitochondria and deliver them efficiently to cells and tissues, showing preclinical benefit for models of Parkinson’s disease and mitochondrial DNA deletion syndromes. Published in Cell, the work advances an organelle-therapy concept with broad therapeutic promise, but substantial technical, safety and regulatory challenges remain before human use.
First In‑Cell Glimpse of Lithium Dendrites Growing and Snapping Points a Way to Safer Batteries
Researchers have, for the first time, observed lithium dendrites growing and fracturing inside an operating battery cell, revealing mechanical behaviors that explain intermittent shorting and capacity loss. Published in Science and led by teams including Rice University and Nanyang Technological University, the work improves understanding of a key safety risk and points to targeted engineering and materials solutions.
NASA Probe Plunges Back to Earth Sooner Than Expected as Sun’s Fury Raises Drag
A retired NASA Van Allen probe re-entered Earth’s atmosphere years earlier than predicted after an unexpectedly active solar cycle increased atmospheric drag. NASA says the risk to people on the ground is low, but the event spotlights the limits of current disposal practices and the growing need for improved space-traffic and debris management.