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Japan launched a spacecraft toward Mars on Tuesday on an unprecedented mission to explore the planet’s mysterious moons and bring samples back to Earth. Five of the world’s space agencies have joined forces for the five-year mission, which will attempt to land a robotic lander and a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two small moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which is leading the sample-return mission, launched the spacecraft before dawn from the country’s main spaceport on Tanegashima Island. Officials declared the launch successful about an hour later after the spacecraft separated from the rocket’s upper stage as planned. Flight controllers erupted in applause, rose to their feet and exchanged handshakes and embraces. Although NASA has successfully landed nine spacecraft on Mars over the past five decades and China achieved a landing in 2021, no spacecraft has ever landed on Phobos or its companion moon, Deimos. No one has yet brought samples back from Mars or either of its moons. If successful, the mission will deliver dust, soil and rock samples from Phobos to Earth in 2031. "There's a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement and a lot of wow," said NASA astrophysicist Tom Statler, who is involved in the project. Japan has an advantage in the mission, having already completed two successful asteroid sample-return missions. Phobos: A small, potato-shaped moon Phobos is an irregular, potato-shaped rocky body measuring about 14 miles (22 kilometres) across. Scientists hope that examining samples from the moon will help explain how Mars’ moons, and potentially moons elsewhere in the solar system, formed. Known as Martian Moons Exploration (MMX), the $578 million mission features a five-tonne spacecraft expected to reach Mars by late next summer. The spacecraft will align itself with Phobos’ close orbit around the Red Planet before deploying a French-German rover named Idefix, after the white terrier in the Asterix comic series. About the size of a microwave oven, Idefix will land on Phobos independently, bouncing for several minutes before coming to a stop in the moon’s extremely weak gravity. What happens after the rover lands? The four-wheeled rover is designed to turn itself upright if it lands upside down. However, it could become stuck if it sinks into soft soil or gets trapped between rocks, said Julien Baroukh of the French Space Agency. Once its solar panels are deployed, the rover will no longer be able to right itself, he said. This is why it will move at an extremely slow speed of one millimetre per second (0.04 inches per second). According to Baroukh, Idefix will act as a "scout for safety" as it explores Phobos for 100 days. Japanese flight controllers aim to identify areas free of powdery soil and difficult terrain before the main spacecraft’s four-legged stationary lander descends to collect samples in late 2028 or 2029. The lander will remain on Phobos for only two hours, drilling into the surface and vacuuming up at least one-third of an ounce (10 grammes) of material before launching back into space. The spacecraft will also study Deimos through a series of flybys before leaving the Martian region in 2030 and returning to Earth with the samples in 2031. The sample capsule is expected to land in the Australian desert. The mission faces considerable risks, with previous spacecraft failures highlighting the challenges of exploring the Martian moons. The names of the moons reflect their ominous associations: Phobos means fear in Greek, while Deimos means dread. In Greek mythology, they are the twin sons of Ares, the god of war, known as Mars in Roman mythology. Scientists hope to uncover how Mars’ moons formed Russia has failed in all three of its attempts to explore Phobos, as well as in several other Mars missions. Japan also previously failed to place a spacecraft into orbit around Mars during its only other mission to the planet. Even NASA has experienced setbacks in its efforts to answer a fundamental question: whether life ever existed on Mars. By examining the moons, scientists hope to determine whether Phobos and Deimos formed following an ancient collision between Mars and a large space rock. Another possibility is that they are asteroids captured by Mars’ gravitational pull. Regardless of their origin, scientists expect Phobos to contain traces of Mars itself. This could make the samples especially valuable, offering insights into the formation of planets and moons and potentially the origins of life. The findings are also expected to help shape future Mars exploration missions, including those involving astronauts, said Lindsay Hays, NASA’s acting planetary science director. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. We are part of the first sample return mission from the Martian system," said Markus Grebenstein, the rover chief at the German Space Agency. Japan is not alone in pursuing the scientific opportunities offered by the Martian system. China plans to launch its own Mars sample-return mission in 2028, while NASA is still debating how to retrieve more than 30 sample tubes collected by its Perseverance rover, which currently holds the record for driving the longest distance on another world. Japan and China could be competing closely to bring back samples from the Martian system, with both countries targeting 2031 for their return. Japan is contributing $350 million to the MMX mission. NASA is providing $87 million, while the French Space Agency is contributing about $68 million, the German Space Agency around $56 million and the European Space Agency approximately $17 million.

Four astronauts pulled up at the International Space Station on Thursday after launching on an eight-hour express that set a U.S. speed record. The fresh arrivals include a Canadian whose wife will give birth while he’s away. SpaceX launched commander Jessica Watkins and her crew for NASA after a three-week delay to fix their Dragon capsule’s leaking fuel system. Thick clouds threatened all morning to halt the countdown but in the end, the skies cleared enough to allow for a safe liftoff. Although their stay at the International Space Station will last a long six months, the flight there was the quickest yet not only for Elon Musk’s company, but any American entity, including NASA. The space station's convenient location when the astronauts launched enabled the fast transit. With the late morning liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Watkins became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit. A geologist who worked with NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity a decade ago, Watkins is making her second trip to the space station following a lengthy stay in 2022. “Thanks for an amazing ride,” Watkins radioed following liftoff. The others are newcomers to space: NASA’s Luke Delaney, a retired Marine; Canada’s Joshua Kutryk, a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force; and Russia’s Sergey Teteryatnikov, a former submariner. They will replace four astronauts who have been living at the orbiting laboratory since February. This was the 13th crew launched by SpaceX for NASA, not counting 2020's test flight. All four embrace their Crew-13 designation that pays homage in their mission patch to Apollo 13. The harrowing 1970 moonshot ended with the astronauts’ safe return. References to the number 13 abounded Thursday. Watkins and her crew rode to the launch pad in black Teslas bearing plates that read “Lucky 13.” What's more, they carried up a small crocheted golden dragon named Lucky with a four-leaf clover around its neck. “We figured it wouldn't hurt to bring a little of our own luck just in case, but clearly we don't need it,” Watkins said from orbit, noting they were “four of the luckiest humans on or off planet Earth.” Kutryk will become the fourth man to become a father while orbiting Earth. Wife Heather is due to give birth to their third child in late November. The Canadian Space Agency promises plenty of support for the entire family when the big day comes. “A lot of life-changing things can happen over six months,” NASA manager Dana Weigel said on the eve of liftoff, noting that the space agency will do its best to keep Kutryk looped in to his family. In 2004, NASA provided a radio link between space station astronaut Mike Fincke and his wife’s delivery room during the birth of their daughter. Five years later, Randy Bresnik, commander of next year’s Artemis III mission, dialed in to his wife’s hospital from orbit. The happy news traveled more slowly for Austrian astronaut Franz Viehbock. His daughter was born a few hours after he launched to the Soviet Union’s Mir space station in 1991. He was not informed until the next day. SpaceX, meanwhile, is on a roll. Three hours after Crew-13 blasted off, SpaceX launched a Falcon rocket from California with more than 100 mini satellites. Another Falcon was set to soar late Thursday night from Florida, with a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. All this comes the same week that the company's massive Starship reached orbit for the first time.  

China's "artificial sun" project has achieved a major engineering breakthrough with the successful development and testing of two key superconducting magnet systems for future fusion reactors. The Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced on Saturday that it had completed the development, acceptance and full-performance testing of a toroidal-field superconducting magnet and a high-temperature superconducting central solenoid coil. Scientists said all of the project's core technologies were developed in China, marking a significant step forward in the country's fusion energy research. According to the institute, the newly developed systems rank among the world's most advanced in terms of overall performance and are expected to play a vital role in future fusion reactors. The achievement is part of China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), widely known as the country's "artificial sun" project. Fusion energy aims to replicate the process that powers the sun by producing clean, safe and nearly limitless energy. Superconducting magnets are among the most important components of fusion reactors, as they generate the powerful magnetic fields needed to confine extremely hot plasma during the fusion process. Researchers said the successful testing of the two magnet systems represents an important milestone in advancing China's long-term goal of developing practical fusion power.

Rising global fuel prices, driven in part by disruptions in the Middle East, have accelerated demand for electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide, giving Chinese automakers a stronger foothold in developing markets even as charging infrastructure struggles to keep pace. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, disrupted the shipment of around one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas, first affecting Asia and later spreading to Africa. The shock pushed fuel prices higher and strengthened the shift toward electric mobility. As a result, global exports of Chinese EVs jumped sharply. In April alone, shipments reached a record $9.4 billion, according to analysis of Chinese customs data by the think tank Ember. Exports surged to countries including Australia, Brazil, Southeast Asia and East Africa. China exported about 435,000 passenger EVs and plug-in hybrids in May, more than double the same period last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Governments from Laos to Ethiopia are also promoting electrification to reduce fuel import costs and subsidies, while consumers increasingly turn to EVs to cope with rising transport expenses. However, the rapid expansion in EV adoption is exposing a major weakness: underdeveloped charging networks. Experts say the mismatch between rising EV numbers and limited charging points has created a “chicken-and-egg problem.” Paul Gong, head of China automotive research at UBS, said government support is crucial to overcome the gap. “Government support for infrastructure could help accelerate adoption,” he said. Rising EV demand across Asia and Africa In Southeast Asia, imports of Chinese EVs have surged, particularly in Thailand, Laos and the Philippines. Laos recently announced a ban on fuel-powered vehicle imports for the rest of 2026 as part of its shift toward electric transport. Africa imported about 44,000 Chinese EVs in 2025, a 130% increase from a year earlier, according to Chinese trade data. Transport costs account for a large share of household spending across many developing countries, making consumers highly sensitive to fuel price volatility. In South Africa, transport makes up nearly one-fifth of household expenses, according to a 2024 Stellenbosch University study. Global EV adoption is also rising rapidly. One in four new cars sold worldwide last year was electric, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which projects sales could reach 23 million in 2026, or nearly 30% of global car sales. Chinese automakers currently supply around 60% of global EV sales, the IEA said, with growing expansion into Europe, Africa and Latin America. “In the next five years, we will accelerate our overseas expansion,” said Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto, at a company event in March. In Vietnam, domestic EV maker VinFast has also seen strong growth, supported by rising demand in Southeast Asia. One rider in Hanoi said switching to an electric motorbike has significantly reduced his fuel expenses. “Before, so much of my income went into fuel. Now, I can actually save some money,” he said. Charging infrastructure falling behind Despite strong sales growth, charging infrastructure remains limited in many countries. Thailand, for example, has about 4,600 public charging locations serving more than 424,000 EVs and plug-in hybrids, according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand. That is roughly one charging location for every 92 vehicles. Some drivers say the shortage creates daily challenges. Others continue to rely on hybrid solutions, keeping fuel-powered vehicles for longer trips. In Malaysia, public fast-charging stations increased by more than 70% in 2025 after government incentives. Indonesia has also expanded its network to more than 4,500 charging stations through its state utility PLN. But in contrast, Ethiopia, which has banned imports of non-electric vehicles, had only around a dozen charging stations as of mid-2025, despite estimating a need for more than 1,170. “In developing markets, affordability can accelerate the shift, but infrastructure, power reliability and usage patterns remain key constraints,” said Chris Liu of research firm Omdia. Governments and utilities step in Across Africa and parts of Asia, state-owned utilities are increasingly taking the lead in building EV charging infrastructure. Experts say utilities see EVs as a future source of electricity demand and are positioning themselves accordingly. Kenya Power, for example, plans to build 44 charging stations in the coming year. Africa currently has about 2,000 public charging stations, with South Africa accounting for the largest share. However, challenges remain, including grid capacity, maintenance and investment costs. Analysts say large automakers have limited incentive to build charging networks abroad, making government-backed utilities a key driver of future expansion. “You need charging infrastructure to support an even larger fleet size,” said UBS analyst Paul Gong.

China successfully launched a Lijian-1 Y14 carrier rocket on Monday, sending eight satellites into their planned orbit. The rocket lifted off at 11:44 am Beijing time from a commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. According to Chinese authorities, all eight satellites were successfully deployed into their designated orbit, marking another successful mission for the Lijian-1 launch vehicle. The launch is part of China's ongoing efforts to expand its space programme and strengthen its satellite capabilities.

A new fish-finding technology known as forward-facing sonar is becoming increasingly popular among anglers across the United States, helping them locate and catch fish more easily. However, the technology is also fueling debate over whether high-tech equipment is changing the true spirit of fishing and its long-term impact on fish populations. Forward-facing sonar provides real-time images of fish underwater, allowing anglers to track their movements and cast directly toward them. Unlike older sonar systems that only showed where fish might be located, the latest technology offers a live view beneath the water. According to Dave Dunn, a sales executive at Garmin, anglers can attach the device to a trolling motor and accurately locate fish at any moment. A complete setup typically costs around $2,500. The technology has become particularly attractive for anglers who have limited time on the water. Minnesota angler Terry Rehm said the sonar helps him quickly find fish and make the most of his fishing trips despite a busy work and family schedule. Recreational fishing remains one of the most popular outdoor activities in the United States, attracting tens of millions of participants each year. However, many anglers enjoy fishing for relaxation and the experience of being outdoors rather than simply catching more fish. As the use of forward-facing sonar grows, opinions among anglers have become increasingly divided. Surveys in Minnesota indicate that around 30% of anglers now use the technology, while usage on some lakes has reached more than 60%. The debate has spread across social media, fishing forums, podcasts and fishing tournaments. Supporters view the technology as a useful tool that improves efficiency, while critics argue that it shifts attention away from the traditional skills and enjoyment associated with fishing. Veteran fishing writer Gary Korsgaden said some anglers worry that fishing has become more focused on numbers and results rather than the overall experience and decision-making involved in the sport. Despite those concerns, scientific studies have so far found little evidence that forward-facing sonar is causing overfishing. A study conducted by researchers in Wisconsin compared anglers using sonar with those relying on traditional methods. Surprisingly, anglers without the technology caught fish at a slightly higher rate, although sonar users tended to catch somewhat larger fish. Greg Sass, a fisheries research leader with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said the findings challenged many assumptions about the technology's effectiveness. Officials in Minnesota have also found no significant negative impact from sonar use. Surveys showed anglers using forward-facing sonar generally caught similar numbers and varieties of fish as those fishing without it. Marc Bacigalupi, a regional fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said public perceptions about the technology do not always match reality. However, Minnesota authorities have proposed reducing the daily walleye catch limit from six fish to four. Officials cited several factors, including advances in fish-finding technology, growing ice-fishing participation, social media attention on popular fishing locations and stricter regulations in neighboring states. For many anglers, the technology has improved their understanding of fish behavior. North Dakota angler Daren Schneider said the sonar revealed surprising habits of walleye that he had never observed before. Schneider believes fishing is about more than simply catching fish. "Fishing isn't necessarily about catching fish or reaching your limit," he said. "It's about being outdoors and creating memories. If forward-facing sonar helps people enjoy that experience, I don't see it as a bad thing."

Green energy innovation and regional cooperation were in focus as the 10th China-South Asia Expo opened on Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The six-day expo is themed “Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development” and aims to strengthen trade ties and industrial cooperation across the region. This year’s event features 13 exhibition halls showcasing sectors including green energy, manufacturing, service trade and the coffee industry. A major attraction is the Green Energy Pavilion, covering around 10,000 square metres, where visitors are introduced to advanced technologies in the energy sector. These include digital inspection systems, drone-based monitoring, smart operations and maintenance, as well as virtual reality demonstrations. Exhibits highlight innovations such as hydrogen energy business models, photovoltaic power generation, and large-scale energy infrastructure, including hydropower stations. Interactive displays and digital sand tables are being used to explain how modern energy systems operate. Visitors, including children and industry professionals, are seen engaging with models and demonstrations that showcase the future of clean and smart energy solutions. Organisers say the expo is designed to promote regional economic integration while encouraging cooperation in emerging industries, particularly in sustainable and green technologies.

The developer of a large offshore wind project in Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit against its turbine supplier to prevent it from withdrawing from the project. Vineyard Wind initiated legal action against GE Renewables after its parent company, GE Vernova, announced plans to end its turbine service and maintenance contracts by the end of April. GE Vernova claims Vineyard Wind owes about $300 million for completed work. However, Vineyard Wind argues that the company is instead responsible for roughly $545 million in damages linked to a major turbine blade failure in July 2024 and the resulting delays. During that incident, fragments from a broken blade washed ashore on Nantucket beaches at the height of the tourist season, causing disruption to local businesses. GE Vernova later agreed to pay $10.5 million in compensation to affected businesses. In its lawsuit, Vineyard Wind accuses GE Renewables of poor performance and warns that allowing the company to exit the project now would cause serious and lasting harm. A company spokesperson said the legal action aims to ensure GE fulfills its responsibilities to both the project and the region, which is expected to deliver significant economic benefits and long-term savings for electricity customers. GE Vernova, however, maintains it has the right to terminate the agreement due to nonpayment and said it will defend its position in court while continuing to prioritize safety and contractual obligations. Although construction of Vineyard Wind was completed in March and the project has already been supplying electricity to the grid, full operations are expected soon. The lawsuit notes that GE Renewables is uniquely qualified to complete the remaining work, making it difficult to find a replacement. The blade failure was attributed by GE Vernova to a manufacturing issue at a Canadian facility rather than a design flaw. Following the incident, most of the installed blades were replaced, delaying the project by nearly two years. The project has also faced political scrutiny, particularly from the Trump administration, which temporarily halted several offshore wind projects over national security concerns before courts allowed construction to resume. Located off the coast of Massachusetts, Vineyard Wind is a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. With 62 turbines, it is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power around 400,000 homes.

Chinese robotics company Westlake Robotics has introduced its humanoid robot, Titan o1, driven by a self-developed large-scale model known as General Action Expert (GAE), capable of replicating human movements in real time without constraints of time or space. The company said the model allows multiple robots to carry out identical tasks simultaneously under the control of a single operator. During a demonstration in Hangzhou, an operator wearing a motion-capture suit performed actions such as waving, turning and kicking a ball, while Titan o1 mirrored each movement within milliseconds. The robot’s motions including arm swings, torso rotations, step length and leg lift during the kick remained closely synchronized with the operator’s rhythm. “These actions were instant responses to the operator’s spontaneous movements,” said Westlake Robotics founder Professor Wang Donglin, adding that Titan o1 can quickly adjust to different operators and variations in movement. He compared the GAE model to the human cerebellum, which coordinates movement, balance and precision, noting that it enables the robot to execute appropriate actions immediately upon receiving signals, even if the movements have not been performed before. Westlake Robotics also said the GAE model supports cross-embodiment deployment, meaning it can be applied to various robots with differing designs and sizes.

Lyft has agreed to a settlement ensuring that blind and other disabled passengers can travel with their service animals nationwide, following a complaint in Minnesota. College student Tori Andres contacted the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after several Lyft drivers refused to let her guide dog, Alfred, accompany her. The department found that Lyft had violated the state’s Human Rights Act. Under the settlement, Lyft will update its driver training and app features to make the protections apply across the U.S., not just in Minnesota. "This case is deeply personal because I travel almost everywhere with my guide dog," Andres said at a news conference, with Alfred lying quietly at her feet. "He is my eyes, my freedom, and why I can live independently." The settlement requires Lyft to educate drivers about passengers’ rights and warns that drivers could be deactivated for violating the law. Drivers are prohibited from refusing rides to passengers who use service animals, wheelchairs, or have low or no vision. Minnesota will monitor Lyft’s compliance for three years, and Andres will receive $63,000 as part of the settlement. Rebecca Lucero, the state’s Human Rights Commissioner, said, "We expect all riders in Minnesota and across the country will benefit from these changes." Lyft, however, downplayed the settlement, stating that it had already enforced policies to protect service animal users and that alleged violations were by independent drivers. The company emphasized that discrimination has no place in its platform. Recent app updates allow riders to notify drivers about service animals and report refusals. Drivers who try to cancel such rides receive an immediate in-app warning that refusing service animals is illegal and could lead to termination. The settlement was reached without a lawsuit. Although Uber is not part of the agreement, Minnesota’s Human Rights Act applies to all ride-share companies. Lucero urged all businesses to review their policies to ensure compliance. The federal government is also pursuing a separate lawsuit against Uber over alleged discrimination against disabled riders, including those with service dogs. "Access to ride shares like Lyft is not a convenience it is a civil right," Lucero said.