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The Shenzhou-21 crew members aboard China's Tiangong space station have made significant strides in terms of space medical experiments and physical science research over the past week, while also maintaining the station's habitable environment, according to the China Manned Space Agency. In the field of space medicine, the crew consisting of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang focused on understanding the psychological and physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight. They used laptops to complete tests on "trust and coordination mechanisms" and "human-machine trust," which are crucial for designing future spacecraft interfaces and ensuring efficient teamwork between astronauts and automated systems, China Media Group reported on Sunday night. A key advancement involved the use of the space Raman spectrometer, a device that identifies molecular compositions by shining a laser on a sample. The astronauts used this tool to analyze metabolic components in urine samples. The data collected will be used to refine medical standards for monitoring astronaut health in orbit. To explore how the brain perceives the physical world without gravity, they also conducted "microgravity intuitive physics behavior" experiments. Leveraging electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment, which records electrical activity along the scalp, the crew gathered data for "meta-cognitive monitoring" and "group brain cognitive-emotion analysis" studies, helping scientists on Earth understand how the absence of gravity alters brain function and group dynamics, the report noted. In the microgravity physical science domain, the team maintained experiment racks, replacing sampling covers in the combustion science rack and swapping samples in the fluid physics rack. To safeguard their own health, the astronauts underwent medical checks including intraocular pressure tests, fundus exams and cardiopulmonary assessments. Notably, they also utilized a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) four-diagnosis device, an instrument that mimics the traditional TCM methods of inspection, listening, inquiry and pulse-taking, seeking to provide a comprehensive health assessment in microgravity, the video report revealed. The Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 31, 2025. The Shenzhou-21 crew completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Dec. 9.

One of the world’s oldest icebergs, known as A23a, is in its final weeks after an extraordinary 40-year journey that has fascinated scientists. Once the largest iceberg on Earth, A23a covered more than twice the area of Greater London. Over the past year, it has melted, fractured, and broken apart, leaving only fragments that are now slowly disappearing in warmer waters far from Antarctica. Scientists have closely monitored A23a to understand how Antarctic ice may respond to climate change. “It’s been an extraordinary journey, but it is on its last legs now,” said Prof. Mike Meredith of the British Antarctic Survey. A23a broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, the same year as the Chernobyl disaster and Whitney Houston’s first Grammy. Initially about 4,000 sq km (1,540 sq miles), it stayed anchored in the Weddell Sea for over three decades before moving again in 2020. Today, it is considered the oldest iceberg tracked by satellites. Despite its longevity, A23a began shrinking rapidly in 2025. By mid-year, it lost its title as the world’s largest iceberg. Mechanical forces in the South Atlantic, combined with warming waters, caused large chunks to break off, forming new icebergs named A23g, A23h, and A23i. By late December, meltwater collected on its surface, accelerating its breakup. Scientists described this process as “hydrofracturing,” where water seeps into cracks, widening them and triggering calving events. Although iceberg melting is natural, A23a’s disintegration provides clues about the stability of Antarctic ice shelves, which play a key role in controlling sea-level rise. Icebergs act as “travelling natural laboratories,” helping scientists predict how ice shelves may respond to warming conditions. In its final stretch, A23a has traveled over 700 km (435 miles) northeast in the South Atlantic, exposed to surface waters nearing 10°C. Satellite images show further fragmentation, suggesting the iceberg may soon completely vanish. By March 5, its area had shrunk to roughly 180 sq km (70 sq miles). Source: BBC

Scientists have found a way to examine Charles Darwin’s original specimens from his HMS Beagle voyage (1831–1836) without opening the nearly 200-year-old jars that preserve them. The study focused on 46 historic specimens at London’s Natural History Museum, including mammals, reptiles, fish, jellyfish, and shrimp collected by Darwin and other early naturalists. Researchers found that preservation methods varied by organism and time period. While mammals and reptiles were often treated with formalin before storage in ethanol, invertebrates were kept in a mix of fluids, including formalin, buffered solutions, or glycerol-based liquids. Using a portable laser spectroscopy technique called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), scientists were able to identify the preservation fluids in about 80% of the specimens, and partially in another 15%. SORS directs laser light through the jar walls, detecting chemical signatures without exposing the specimens. The method also helped identify whether containers were made of glass or plastic, offering insight into historical storage practices. Dr. Sara Mosca of STFC’s Central Laser Facility said the technique allows museums to monitor and protect valuable specimens without risking contamination or damage. Wren Montgomery, a research technician at the Natural History Museum, added that this approach helps preserve collections for future research, reflecting the Museum’s commitment to advancing natural history studies. Globally, museums hold over 100 million specimens preserved in liquids. Knowing the chemical makeup of preservation fluids is vital to prevent degradation and safeguard specimens. The new method offers curators a safer, non-invasive tool to track collection health and ensure long-term preservation. The research, a collaboration between the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Natural History Museum, and Agilent Technologies, was published in *ACS Omega* and highlighted as the ACS Editors’ Choice on January 13, 2026. #From Science Daily    

A new 30-year study by glaciologists from the University of California, Irvine has produced the first comprehensive map showing how Antarctica’s grounding line — the point where land ice meets the ocean — has shifted over time. Using three decades of satellite data, researchers found that while most of the continent has remained relatively stable, several vulnerable regions are losing large amounts of grounded ice. The total loss between 1996 and 2026 reached about 12,820 square kilometers, an area roughly equal to 10 cities the size of Greater Los Angeles. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that 77 percent of Antarctica’s coastline has experienced no grounding line movement since 1996. However, major ice retreat has been recorded in parts of West Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, and some areas of East Antarctica. On average, Antarctica’s ice sheet has retreated by about 442 square kilometers per year. The most dramatic changes were observed in the Amundsen Sea and Getz regions of West Antarctica. Several major glaciers have pulled back significantly, including Pine Island Glacier, which retreated about 33 kilometers, Thwaites Glacier by 26 kilometers, and Smith Glacier, which moved back 42 kilometers, one of the largest shifts recorded. Moon’s shrinking raises questions for future lunar missions Lead author Eric Rignot said warm ocean water reaching glaciers is a key driver behind these changes, eroding ice from beneath floating ice shelves and weakening the glaciers. To conduct the study, scientists combined satellite data from numerous international missions, including those from the European Space Agency, NASA, German Aerospace Center, and other global partners, as well as commercial satellite providers. The findings will help improve ice-sheet models used to predict future sea-level rise, providing a crucial benchmark for scientists studying how Antarctica may respond to climate change. Researchers say the results also highlight that while large parts of Antarctica remain stable for now, continued monitoring is essential because ongoing ice loss in vulnerable regions could significantly influence global sea levels in the future.  #From Scitech Daily

Scientists say the Moon, Earth’s closest neighbour, is shrinking faster than previously thought, a discovery that could affect future lunar exploration. Research by the National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies shows that as the Moon’s interior cools, its surface contracts, creating tectonic features such as lobate scarps and small mare ridges (SMRs). The SMRs, which are relatively young and widespread, suggest that the Moon is still geologically active. These features may also indicate new sources of moonquakes, which could influence where astronauts and equipment are placed on future missions. “This work gives us a complete view of recent lunar tectonism, helping understand its interior, thermal history, and potential for moonquakes,” said Cole Nypaver, lead author of the study. The shrinking Moon poses real risks for human exploration. NASA warns that moonquakes caused by surface contraction can originate 20–30 km deep, reach up to magnitude 5.5, and last more than 10 minutes. Such seismic activity will need to be considered when selecting landing sites and designing infrastructure for programs like Artemis, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2028. Tom Watters, senior scientist emeritus, said the discovery of young ridges in the lunar maria completes a global picture of a dynamic, contracting Moon. Understanding these tectonic changes is critical for the safety of astronauts and the success of future scientific missions. Scientists continue to study the Moon’s internal dynamics to better understand its history and evolution, while providing crucial data for the next wave of lunar exploration. With inputs from BBC.

The origins of writing may go back tens of thousands of years earlier than previously believed, according to new archaeological research that has surprised scientists. Researchers say they have found repeated and meaningful patterns of lines, dots, notches and crosses engraved on objects up to 45,000 years old in caves in Germany. The findings suggest early humans may have used symbolic systems long before the first known written scripts. Until now, historians believed writing began around 5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, in present-day Iraq, with the rise of proto-cuneiform. Later writing systems developed in ancient Egypt, China and Mesoamerica. The newly studied objects include mammoth tusks and ivory figurines discovered in southern Germany, dating to a period just before modern humans moved into Europe from Africa and encountered Neanderthals. The exact meaning of the symbols remains unknown. Prof Christian Bentz of Saarland University, one of the study’s authors, said the markings represent an early alternative to writing. He said the symbol sequences show clear structure and repetition. The research team examined more than 3,000 individual symbols found on 260 objects. Some of the artefacts came from the Lonetal cave system in Baden-Württemberg. Others were found in caves in the Achtal valley. One object is a small mammoth figurine carved from ivory, covered with rows of engraved crosses and dots. Another artefact, known as the “adorant”, shows a human-like figure with rows of dots and notches carved into an ivory plaque. Researchers believe the careful placement and repetition of the marks show they were meant to communicate ideas or information, not just decoration. Ewa Dutkiewicz from Berlin’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History said the findings show Stone Age people were intellectually comparable to modern humans. She said researchers have only begun to understand how widespread such symbol systems may have been. The study found that the density and predictability of the symbols are similar to those seen in early proto-cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia, which appeared around 40,000 years later. Scientists also noticed that figurines carried denser symbol patterns than tools, suggesting communication was especially important in symbolic objects. Many artefacts were small enough to be carried easily, indicating they were meant for regular use. The researchers said the findings challenge long-held views about the origins of writing and symbolic communication. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.   With inputs from BBC

NASA announced Friday a major overhaul of its Artemis moon exploration program, aiming to make it more like the fast-paced Apollo missions of the 1960s. The agency plans to add an extra practice flight before attempting a crewed lunar landing in 2028. The change comes just two days after NASA’s new moon rocket returned to its hangar for repairs, and a safety advisory panel warned the agency to temper its ambitious plans for the first lunar landing since 1972. Artemis II, originally a lunar fly-around with four astronauts, is now delayed until at least April due to rocket issues. Moon is more geologically active than previously thought Artemis III, which had targeted a landing near the moon’s south pole in about three years, will now focus on sending a lunar lander into Earth orbit in 2027 for docking practice with astronauts in the Orion capsule. This adjustment comes amid concerns over the readiness of lunar landers and spacewalking suits. NASA plans one or possibly two moon landings in 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said long gaps between missions are unacceptable, citing hydrogen fuel leaks and helium flow problems that have affected the Space Launch System rocket since its first test flight in 2022. Isaacman, a tech billionaire and former private astronaut, took charge of NASA in December. He stressed that the pace of Apollo missions — with successive flights before the first landing — should guide Artemis. To accelerate the schedule and reduce risk, NASA will standardize its Space Launch System rockets. Meanwhile, SpaceX and Blue Origin are working to fast-track the development of lunar landers. Next year, astronauts in Orion will rendezvous in Earth orbit with SpaceX’s Starship, Blue Origin’s Blue Moon, or both, mirroring the methodical Apollo approach. Isaacman said the revised Artemis plan addresses safety panel concerns, enjoys industry support, and aligns with administration goals. “We’re returning to basics and doing what we know works,” he said.

Recent studies reveal that the Moon is tectonically active, challenging the long-held view that its geology has been largely static for billions of years. While the Earth has a crust divided into moving plates that create mountains, ocean trenches, and volcanoes, the Moon lacks plate tectonics. Yet internal stresses in the lunar crust still generate distinctive landforms. One of the most notable features are lobate scarps, which form when the crust compresses, pushing material over adjacent layers along faults to create ridges. Found mainly in the lunar highlands, these scarps have formed within the last billion years, representing the Moon’s most recent 20% of geological history. In 2010, Tom Watters discovered that the Moon is gradually shrinking, and this contraction explained the formation of lobate scarps. However, not all recent contractional features could be accounted for by these scarps. A new study has identified another type of tectonic landform: SMRs (Small Mare Ridges), which form through similar forces as lobate scarps but are found exclusively in the Moon’s maria, the darker volcanic plains. In their research, Dr. Watters and his team mapped SMRs across the nearside maria and analyzed their link to recent lunar tectonic activity. Cole Nypaver noted that while lobate scarps have long been known in the highlands, this is the first time scientists have documented the widespread presence of comparable features throughout the maria. The team compiled the first comprehensive catalog of SMRs, identifying 1,114 new segments, raising the total known SMRs on the Moon to 2,634. They determined that the average age of SMRs is 124 million years, similar to lobate scarps, which average 105 million years, indicating that both are among the Moon’s youngest geologic features. Analysis shows that SMRs form along the same type of faults as lobate scarps, and in some cases, scarps in the highlands transition into SMRs in the maria, suggesting a shared origin. Together, these structures provide a more complete picture of contractional tectonic activity across the Moon. “Our detection of young, small ridges in the maria and understanding their formation completes a global view of a dynamic, contracting Moon,” Dr. Watters said. The findings were published in the Planetary Science Journal, offering new insights into the Moon’s interior, its thermal and seismic history, and the potential for future moonquakes.

Horses often whinny to greet companions, call new friends or show excitement during feeding time. Scientists have long wondered how they create this special sound, known as a neigh. A new study has now revealed the secret. Researchers found that a horse’s whinny is actually a mix of both low- and high-pitched sounds produced at the same time. The low tone is created when air passes over vibrating tissues in the voice box, similar to how humans speak or sing. The high-pitched tone, however, had puzzled experts for years. Larger animals usually make deeper sounds because of their bigger vocal systems. But horses appear to break that rule. According to the study published in the journal Current Biology, horses produce the higher pitch by whistling. Scientists used a tiny camera inserted through the animals’ noses to observe the voice box while they whinnied and made softer “nickering” sounds. They also scanned the vocal structures and tested airflow through voice boxes from deceased horses. They discovered that as air vibrates the tissues in the voice box, an area just above tightens and leaves a small gap, allowing a whistle-like sound to escape. Unlike humans, who whistle with their mouths, horses whistle internally through their voice box. Jenifer Nadeau of the University of Connecticut, who was not part of the study, said the finding was surprising and helps explain the unique tone of a neigh. Researchers also noted that while small rodents can whistle this way, horses are the first known large mammals to do so. Alisa Herbst from Rutgers University said the two-tone call shows that a whinny is more complex than previously thought. Study author Elodie Mandel-Briefer of the University of Copenhagen added that the dual tones may help horses express different emotions at once when interacting socially. Scientists are still exploring how this rare vocal ability evolved, as closely related animals like donkeys and zebras cannot produce the same high-pitched sound.

NASA is aiming for early March to launch its Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first human trip beyond Earth’s orbit in over 50 years. The mission will prepare the way for a future lunar landing under Artemis III. After a successful "wet dress rehearsal" at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA set March 6 as the earliest launch date. The practice tested the 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, fueling it and running through the countdown after earlier issues, including a hydrogen leak, were fixed. The crew includes three Americans – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch – and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. They will live and work inside the Orion capsule, about the size of a minibus, for the entire mission. The first day will be spent orbiting Earth, followed by a four-day journey around the Moon’s far side. After studying and photographing the lunar surface, the astronauts will return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after four days. If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, when astronauts are expected to land on the Moon by 2028. SpaceX is building the lunar lander, though NASA has requested a faster plan due to delays. China is also aiming for a Moon landing by 2030, adding international competition for lunar exploration.   With inputs from BBC