China to launch Tianwen-2 spacecraft to scoop asteroid near Earth
China is set to make history with the launch of its Tianwen-2 spacecraft likely at the end of May, aiming to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid in the nation's first interplanetary sample-return mission.The ambitious project, reported by state-run CCTV, marks a significant step in China's rapidly advancing space exploration program and intensifies the global space race for asteroid research.advertisementThe Tianwen-2 probe was transported to the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on May 14, where it is undergoing final inspections and system checks ahead of liftoff.
The mission will be carried into space by a Long March-3B rocket and, once launched, will target asteroid 2016 HO3—also known as Kamooalewa—a small, 100-meter-wide 'quasi-satellite' that orbits the sun in a pattern closely synchronised with Earth.Equipped with a mechanical arm, Tianwen-2 will attempt to scoop up dust and regolith from the surface of 2016 HO3, using both touch-and-go and anchoring techniques.The probe is expected to return at least 100 grams of material to Earth in about two and a half years, providing valuable insights into the early solar system and the formation of planetary bodies.In addition to its primary asteroid target, Tianwen-2 will later journey to study comet 311P, further expanding the scope of the mission. The spacecraft carries a suite of scientific instruments, including spectrometers, high-resolution cameras, a radar sounder, and a magnetometer, to analyse the composition and structure of its targets.advertisementChina's asteroid mission follows the successful sample returns from asteroids by the United States and Japan, and builds on China's own recent achievements, such as the Chang'e-6 mission, which brought back samples from the far side of the moon in 2024.Looking ahead, China plans to attempt a Mars sample-return mission, Tianwen-3, around 2028.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
A common drug shows promise for patients with liver disease
A recent Chinese clinical trial published in The BMJ reveals that dapagliflozin, a type 2 diabetes drug, shows promise in treating severe liver conditions like MASH and liver fibrosis. The study, involving 154 participants, demonstrated significant improvements in MASH and fibrosis among those receiving dapagliflozin compared to the placebo group, suggesting a potential new treatment avenue. Liver disease accounts for two million deaths annually. This is 4% of all deaths (1 out of every 25 deaths worldwide), as per the data from 2023. Liver disease is a growing global health concern. A new study suggests that a widely used diabetes medication may offer hope for patients suffering from progressive liver disease. A recent clinical trial conducted in China and published in The BMJ suggests that the type 2 diabetes drug dapagliflozin can help patients with severe liver conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis, which have limited treatment options. What does the diabetes drug do (Pic courtesy: iStock) Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, which is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been shown to improve progressive liver disease. The Chinese researchers found that the drug improved metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and liver fibrosis (a buildup of scar tissue). MASH affects more than 5% of adults, and it is also common (30%) in people with diabetes or obesity. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This can progress to cirrhosis in up to 25% of individuals. Though previous studies have suggested that SGLT-2 inhibitors can improve liver fat content, liver enzymes, and liver stiffness, no trial has been carried out in patients with MASH. The study To understand the effects of dapagliflozin in patients with MASH, the researchers conducted a study. The 48-week study had 154 participants, who were diagnosed with MASH following liver biopsies at six Chinese medical centers from November 2018 to March 2023. Participants had an average age of 35, and 85% were men. Nearly half (45%0 had type 2 diabetes, and most had evidence of liver fibrosis at various stages (33% stage 1, 45% stage 2, 19% stage 3). Following an initial screening biopsy, the participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg of dapagliflozin or a matching placebo once daily for 48 weeks. They attended health education sessions twice a year. The researchers also recorded body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, liver enzymes, physical activity, diet, insulin, and lipids of the participants throughout the trial. MASH improvement was defined as a decrease of at least 2 points in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) or a NAS of 3 points or less. By the end of the study, which is after 48 weeks, the researchers observed that 53% (41 of 78) participants in the dapagliflozin group showed improvement in MASH without worsening of fibrosis (defined as no increase in fibrosis stage) compared with 30% (23 of 76) in the placebo group. 23% (18 of 78) participants in the dapagliflozin group showed resolution of MASH without worsening of fibrosis, compared with 8% (6 of 76) in the placebo group. Trump Health Scare: 'Cognitive Decline' Spotted? Political Adviser's BIG Warning Amid Dementia Claim They also saw improvement in fibrosis without worsening of MASH in 45% (35 of 78) participants in the dapagliflozin group compared with 20% (15 of 76) in the placebo group. 1% (1 of 78) in the dapagliflozin group and 3% (2 of 76) in the placebo group discontinued the treatment because of adverse events. What are the experts saying Fatty liver 'Our findings indicate that dapagliflozin may affect key aspects of MASH by improving both steatohepatitis and fibrosis,' they said. They added that large-scale and long-term trials are needed to further confirm these effects. The trial was conducted in a Chinese population, which limits its broader generalisability. They also noted that with the emergence of more drugs, therapeutic decisions will likely become increasingly tailored to individual patient profiles, they write. 'Ideally, such treatments should provide cardiovascular benefit, have an established safety profile, and be accessible to broad and diverse patient populations,' they concluded. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
NCL finds Covid signals in Pune's sewage; levels similar to build-ups of past surges
Pune: Covid-19 viral presence has been detected across all 10 sewage treatment plants in the city since early May, with wastewater surveillance by CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) revealing patterns that resemble the early build-up phases observed before previous surges. Dr Mahesh S. Dharne, scientist and microbiologist at NCL, told TOI that while the current rise "appears gradual", the positivity levels in wastewater samples are tracking similarly to patterns seen in the weeks preceding earlier surges, providing valuable early insights into Covid transmission trends. "The first sample turned positive on April 22 from one of the STPs. From May 6 onwards, all STPs are showing positive results for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-PCR," he said. Wastewater surveillance has emerged as a critical early warning system for tracking community spread of Covid-19, often detecting viral presence days or weeks before clinical cases are reported. The method involves monitoring sewage samples from treatment plants to identify genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 shed by infected individuals, regardless of if they show symptoms or get tested. This surveillance technique provides public health officials with real-time insights into infection trends across entire communities, making it particularly valuable for tracking asymptomatic cases and emerging variants. Unlike clinical testing, which depends on individual behaviour and healthcare access, wastewater monitoring captures the collective viral load of entire populations served by specific sewage systems. NCL remains the sole institute conducting systematic wastewater surveillance in Pune monitoring all 10 STPs across the city. The laboratory has been successfully tracking previous surges caused by Omicron and its sub-lineages. Dr Dharne said the current findings emerged from a retrospective analysis triggered by reports of Covid-19 resurgence in Singapore and other countries. "We were collecting samples and storing them. But when we saw news from Singapore, we decided to analyse what the scenario was in Pune," he said. Weekly testing of samples from the 10 sewage treatment plants shows approximately 40 of the 60 samples returning positive results. The first positive sample was detected on April 22 from a single STP, with all treatment plants showing positive results from May 6. "The positive samples from April 22 onwards confirmed the virus's presence, though heavy rainfall last month may have diluted the viral load, making it challenging to assess the true extent of the rise. The rain likely affected our samples. But with clearer weather now, this week's data, expected by Friday or Saturday, will provide a clearer picture," he added. Unlike clinical testing, identifying specific variants in wastewater is complex. Dr Dharne said: "RT-PCR helps us detect viral presence and estimate load, but pinpointing the exact variant is difficult." The current findings show a pattern worth noting. "What we are observing now is that the viral load patterns are similar to those threshold levels we have seen before surges picked up momentum. This gives us a better opportunity to track trends as they develop," Dr Dharne said, emphasising the value of early detection through wastewater monitoring. NCL has been informing the sewage surveillance trends to health and IDSP officials, Maharashtra state Covid task force, and National Centre for Disease Control, New Dehi, on a weekly basis for required preparedness. The sewage surveillance work has been supported by Rockefeller Foundation, USA, under the Four City Surveillance Programme initiated in Aug 2021 in Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Sonepat. The partners include CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Tata Institute for Genetics and Society's National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIGS-NCBS), Bengaluru, Ashoka University, Sonipat, and CSIR-NCL, Pune. The programme is mentored by Dr Rakesh Mishra, director, TIGS; Dr LS Shashidhara, NCBS; Dr Vinay Nandikoori CCMB. In Pune, the partner organisation is Pune Knowledge Cluster.
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, impacts of solar flares and more (Week 113)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Quasars, consider the following statements: 1. They are the extremely active and bright cores of some distant galaxies. 2. Quasars are powered by a supermassive black hole. 3. All quasars are not active galactic nucleus (AGNs), but all AGNs are quasars. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The European Southern Observatory has announced the discovery of an incredibly brilliant quasar, which is not only the brightest of its type but also the most luminous object ever observed in space. — Quasars are the extraordinarily active and brilliant nuclei of some distant galaxies, fuelled by supermassive black holes. Supermassive black holes evolve by consuming materials drawn in by their extremely intense gravity. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — A quasar is a very active and bright form of active galactic nucleus (AGN). While all quasars are AGNs, not all AGNs are quasars. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — Quasars are a subclass of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), which are exceptionally bright galactic centres where gas and dust collide with a supermassive black hole to generate electromagnetic radiation across the whole electromagnetic spectrum. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. The impact of solar flares can be seen over: 1. Radio communications 2. Electric power grids 3. Navigation signals Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — A solar flare is a massive explosion on the Sun caused by the rapid release of energy trapped in 'twisted' magnetic fields (often found above sunspots). — In just a few minutes, they heat material to millions of degrees and emit a blast of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays. — Solar flares are tremendous bursts of energy that can disrupt radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and even endanger humans in space, satellites, and spacecraft. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) and Visible Imager (VIS) are the payloads of: (a) Euclid space telescope (b) Chandrayaan 3 (c) Hubble Space Telescope (d) James Webb Space Telescope Explanation — Astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) have hit the jackpot after their telescope, Euclid, obtained high-resolution photos of 26 million galaxies, revealing a vast treasure trove for researching the dark cosmos. — The Euclid Mission is led by ESA, with assistance from scientists from NASA, Japan, and Canada. Euclid is a 1.2-metre telescope designed to map massive spatial structures in our universe, such as galaxies, in order to help reconstruct how the universe expanded and how galaxy formations evolved to look the way they do now. It carries two scientific payloads: a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer (NISP) and a visible imager. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Malapert is a: (a) Deep craters near Mercury's poles (b) Impact crater on Mars (c) Shield volcano on Mars (d) A crater in the South Pole region of the Moon Explanation — Texas-based Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander attempted to become the first privately-led mission to soft-land on the Moon. The lunar lander will attempt to land near Malapert (A crater in the South Pole region of the Moon), not far from ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 lander. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Which of the following nuclear power plants has developed the country's first Indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)? (a) Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant (b) Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant (c) Rawatbhata Atomic Power Plant (d) Tarapur Atomic Power Plant Explanation — The crucial second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme received a boost with the start of 'core loading' at the country's first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. — Core loading is the process of inserting nuclear fuel assemblies into the core of a nuclear reactor. — The completion of core loading will effectively signal the first step towards 'criticality' — the start of a self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction that will eventually lead to power generation by the 500 megawatt electric (MWe) FBR. — India will become the second country, after Russia, to have a commercial working FBR. China has a minor rapid breeder program, but programs in Japan, France, and the United States have been halted because of safety concerns. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Consider the following areas related to Science and Technology: 1. Astrophysics 2. Nanoscience 3. Neuroscience In which of the above mentioned fields are 'The Kavli Prizes' awarded? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — The Kavli Prize is awarded in honour of Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli (1927-2013). — 'The Kavli Prizes are awarded in three areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience — the largest, the smallest, and the most complex. I believe these prizes are in the most exciting fields for the twenty-first century and beyond,' Kavli said, while describing the prizes. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, consider the following statements: 1. It states certain pairs of physical properties—like position and momentum—cannot both be precisely known at the same time. 2. It is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. Which of the above statements is/are correct: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Heisenberg uncertainty principle, part of the bedrock of quantum mechanics, tells us that certain pairs of properties — such as position and momentum — cannot both be known exactly at the same time. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. What is India's first dedicated polarimetry mission launched to study the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions? (a) XSPECT (b) XPoSat (c) POLIX (d) XPRIZE Explanation — According to ISRO, — 'XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India's first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.' — The primary payload POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays): It will measure the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin. — The XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload: It will give spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 112) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
