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LATEST China Science NEWS

Zheng Yu, ‘rising star’ in chemical engineering from MIT, quits US for China

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Zheng Yu was identified as a “rising star” by MIT. Photo: Handout

China’s swipe at Starlink; 2,000-year-old ‘computer’: 7 science highlights

The ancient Chinese loom may well be recognised as the world’s earliest computer, according to the China Association for Science and Technology. Photo: China Silk Museum

Chinese risk study finds space solar power stations could zap satellites

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Chinese researchers studying the risk of lasers in space say their findings will help guide safer parameters and the design of protective measures. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Chinese firm Sinovac to supply vaccine to Chile ahead of flu season

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Chile’s vaccination campaign targets education and healthcare workers, school-age children, people with chronic illnesses, infants and young children, older adults, and pregnant women. Photo: Shutterstock

Biotech pioneer Alexey Amunts leaves Germany for China

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Alexey Amunts, who is internationally recognised for his breakthroughs in visualising life’s molecular machinery at near-atomic resolution, has joined China’s SMART academy in Shenzhen. Photo: Handout
MORE China Science NEWS
Chinese researchers studying the risk of lasers in space say their findings will help guide safer parameters and the design of protective measures. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Science

Chinese risk study finds space solar power stations could zap satellites

Beijing team finds that potential electrical discharges, though brief, could induce abnormal currents in spacecraft systems.

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China's military weapons

Chinese state media repositions sci-fi space, air combat aircraft as tech target

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Science

China applies to put up 200,000 satellites after calling Starlink a crash risk

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Science

Why Chinese space station is studying how gravity affects battery performance

Project is led by the country’s second civilian astronaut working with researchers on the ground to look at ways to improve performance.

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China’s Tiangong space station is hosting a new series of experiments aimed at developing next-generation energy storage for future lunar and deep-space missions. Photo: Shutterstock
International Space Station (ISS)

Nasa to carry out first-ever space medical evacuation for astronaut

US-Japanese-Russian crew of four at the International Space Station will return to Earth within days, earlier than planned.

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Science

SpaceX will move 4,400 satellites to a lower orbit after China cited safety risk

Starlink’s Michael Nicolls declares ‘significant reconfiguration’ to be coordinated with regulators, other operators and US Space Command.

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Science

2026 is a stellar year for supermoons and eclipses: what to look out for

The coming year is packed with cosmic events, from a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse to two six-planet line-ups to several supermoons.

A “ring of fire” solar eclipse seen from Tahai, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, in 2024. In 2026, another will occur in February, but over the Antarctic. Photo: AP
Iran

Iran launches 3 satellites into space from Russia

Iran’s space programme and related entities have been targeted by US sanctions, but Iran insists the satellites are intended for ‘observation’.

Japan

Can Japan’s space industry regain thrust after H3 rocket failure?

Failure is inevitable, aerospace experts say, so Japan needs to be less afraid of making mistakes and move on.

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Japan

Video | Japanese rocket fails to launch satellite into orbit

The Michibiki satellite is the sixth in a seven-orbiter geolocation system aimed at giving Japan highly accurate positioning services.

Japan’s next generation “H3” rocket, carrying the advanced optical satellite “Daichi 3”, leaves the launch pad at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, southwestern Japan on March 7, 2023. Japan’s next-generation H3 rocket failed after liftoff on March 7, with the space agency issuing a destruct command after concluding the mission could not succeed. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT / JAPAN OUT
Science

Second reusable rocket recovery failure in a month puts China 10 years behind US

Chinese state-owned and commercial developers are racing to catch up on a decade of the technology’s deployment.

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China’s Long March 12A, the country’s first state-owned reusable rocket, has failed on its debut launch on Tuesday morning. Photo: Weibo
Japan

Japan’s H3 rocket fails to deploy geolocation satellite after engine cuts out

The Michibiki satellite is the sixth in a seven-orbiter geolocation system aimed at giving Japan highly accurate positioning services.

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United States

German engineer becomes first wheelchair user to blast into space

Michaela Benthaus had thought her dreams of being an astronaut were over after she was badly injured in a mountain bike accident.

Donald Trump

Trump’s space plan envisages US moon base amid race with China

Trump calls for moon landing in 2028, lunar base thereafter, as China targets the end of the decade for its first crewed landing.

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The Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida in 2022. Photo: Nasa via AP
United States

Musk ally Isaacman confirmed as Nasa chief amid moon race with China

The US billionaire with a passion for space, was nominated by Trump for a second time after a previous bid fell through.

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Jared Isaacman speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on December 3. Photo: AP
Science

Open Questions | Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

Acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his ‘dark forest’ theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | Why sci-fi’s Liu Cixin hopes AI surpasses humanity

The Three-Body Problem author on technology’s remorseless progress, why superintelligence isn’t a given and the decline of science fiction literature.

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US-China relations

Trump’s Nasa pick vows US will beat China back to the moon

Isaacman says Washington must move quickly to stay ahead of Beijing amid intensifying rivalry in space exploration.

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Jared Isaacman, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Nasa, during a hearing of the Senate commerce committee on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Science

China’s first reusable rocket Zhuque-3 fails recovery, leaving US in the lead

Designer LandSpace says it is investigating after lower stage of the rocket appeared to catch fire before crashing near the recovery site.

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Aerospace: Science

China’s Xingyan ‘Star Eye’ network to track satellites and space debris

The web of 156 orbiting sensors will form the country’s second space situational awareness constellation designed to bring down the risk of collisions.

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Taiwan

Hong Kong fire, Trump calls in Japan-China row, Macron visit

This week: Hong Kong fire kills at least 128, Trump speaks to Xi and Takaichi amid Japan-China row, Bessent says Xi and Trump may meet four times in 2026. Next week: France’s Macron visits China, EU economic security doctrine, November factory activity, and more.

Photo: Reuters
Open Questions series

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties

Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Science

Lightning on Mars? Scientists believe they have captured its sound on tape

Nasa’s Perseverance rover has picked up the crackling of electrical discharges on its microphone.

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South Korea

‘Turning point’: South Korea’s largest satellite launched on Nuri rocket

This is the country’s first primarily home-grown space launch vehicle – previous launches had relied heavily on technology from other nations.

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Technology

Opinion | How AI, quantum and space technologies will define the Asian century

Together, they form an engine that will determine which nations shape the century ahead and which struggle to keep pace.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China's space programme

Explainer | Why China’s space sector is grabbing attention – including from Elon Musk

Chinese start-up LandSpace is set to launch its first reusable rocket on Saturday. If it succeeds, it will give China’s space sector a major boost.

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The Zhuque-3 rocket completes a launch test at a site in China’s northwestern Gansu province last year. The device is one of several reusable rockets under development in China. Photo: Getty Images
Obituaries

Joan Branson, wife of British billionaire Richard Branson, dies at 80

The Virgin Atlantic founder called his spouse his best friend, rock, and his guiding light in a social media post about her death.

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Science

China’s first emergency space launch: vessel with repair kit reaches Tiangong

Shenzhou-22’s arrival at the Tiangong station will come as a relief for the crew after another return ship was damaged by space debris.

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