China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts return to Earth
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Wednesday after six months on the country's space station, state media footage showed, as Beijing advances towards its aim to become a major celestial power.China has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's "space dream".The world's second-largest economy has bold plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by the end of the decade and eventually build a base on the lunar surface.Its latest launch last week ferried a trio of astronauts to the Tiangong space station , heralding the start of the Shenzhou-20 mission They have taken over from Shenzhou-19 crew Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, whose landing capsule touched down in the northern Inner Mongolia region on Wednesday.Shortly after the landing, the Xinhua state news agency said the mission was a "complete success", adding that the trio were in "good health".Pictures from state broadcaster CCTV showed the capsule, attached to a red-and-white striped parachute, descending through an azure sky before hitting the ground in a cloud of brown desert dust.Teams of officials in white and orange jumpsuits then rushed to open the golden craft, and one planted a fluttering national flag into the sandy soil nearby.The Shenzhou-19 crew had worked on the space station since October, where they carried out experiments and set a new record for the longest ever spacewalk.They were initially scheduled to return on Tuesday, but the mission was postponed due to bad weather at the Dongfeng landing site, according to Chinese authorities.Wang, 35, was China's only woman spaceflight engineer at the time of the launch, according to the Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSA).Commander Cai, a 48-year-old former air force pilot, previously served aboard Tiangong as part of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022.Song, a 34-year-old onetime air force pilot, completed the group of spacefarers popularly dubbed "taikonauts" in China.Last week, China saw off the Shenzhou-20 team in a feast of pomp and pageantry at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base in the barren desert of northwestern Gansu province.A military band and crowds of flag-waving well-wishers bade farewell to the crew before they blasted off on a Long March-2F rocket.State media reported that they assumed control of the space station after a handover ceremony with its former occupants on Sunday.The all-male Shenzhou-20 crew is headed by Chen Dong, 46, a former fighter pilot and veteran space explorer who in 2022 became the first Chinese astronaut to clock up more than 200 cumulative days in orbit.The other two crew members -- 40-year-old former air force pilot Chen Zhongrui, and 35-year-old former space technology engineer Wang Jie -- are on their first space flight.During their six-month stint, the crew will carry out experiments in physics and life sciences and install protective equipment against space debris.For the first time, they will also bring aboard planarians, aquatic flatworms known for their regenerative abilities.China's space programme is the third to put humans in orbit and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon as it catches up with the two most established cosmic powers, the United States and Russia.Tiangong -- whose name means "celestial palace" in Chinese -- is its tour de force.China has never been involved in the International Space Station due to opposition from the United States.Washington plans to return to the Moon in 2027, though the election of President Donald Trump brought uncertainty over the mission's fate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Covid warning signs in Pune: All 10 sewage plants show presence of virus, indicating community spread
Gradual rise mirrors previous trends Retrospective analysis prompted by global reports Live Events Sewage testing offers early warning Variant identification remains difficult Shared with health authorities for preparedness (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune has confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater samples collected from all 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city. The first positive sample was detected on April 22, with all plants testing positive from May 6. Dr Mahesh S. Dharne, scientist and microbiologist at NCL, told, '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.'Dr Dharne said the recent rise in viral presence appears gradual, but it resembles patterns observed before earlier Covid-19 waves. '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,' he added, '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.'The current findings came after a retrospective analysis was triggered by reports of rising Covid-19 cases 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,' Dr Dharne of approximately 60 weekly samples tested from the 10 STPs, about 40 have returned positive surveillance is being used as an early indicator of community spread. It detects viral material shed by infected individuals, including those who do not show symptoms or have not been tested. Unlike clinical testing, it captures the viral presence of entire populations connected to a sewage is the only institute systematically monitoring all 10 sewage plants in Pune. It has previously helped track surges related to Omicron and its the presence of the virus can be detected through RT-PCR, identifying specific variants remains a challenge. 'RT-PCR helps us detect viral presence and estimate load, but pinpointing the exact variant is difficult,' Dr Dharne shares the wastewater surveillance data weekly with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the Maharashtra state Covid task force, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New surveillance work is part of the Four City Surveillance Programme, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation since August 2021. The programme also covers Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Sonipat. Partner institutions include CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Tata Institute for Genetics and Society's National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIGS-NCBS), Ashoka University, and Pune Knowledge programme is mentored by Dr Rakesh Mishra (TIGS), Dr L.S. Shashidhara (NCBS), and Dr Vinay Nandikoori (CCMB).
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus US authorities say was smuggled in from China?
New York: Federal prosecutors charged two Chinese researchers on Tuesday with smuggling a crop-killing fungus into the U.S. last summer - charges that come amid heightened political tensions between the two countries and as the Trump administration moves to revoke visas from visiting Chinese students. Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud for allegedly bringing the fungus Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. Jian, 33, was booked in a Detroit federal court. Liu, 34, is thought to be in China. According to the FBI, Liu had small baggies of the fungus stashed in his backpack when he flew to the U.S. last year and, after claiming ignorance about the plant material inside them, said he was planning to use it for research at a University of Michigan lab where Jian worked and where Liu previously worked. What is Fusarium head blight? Fusarium graminearum causes a disease called Fusarium head blight that can wipe out cereal crops such as wheat, barley and maize and rice - it inflicts $1 billion in losses annually on U.S. wheat and barley crops, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It isn't the only fungus to cause Fusarium head blight, but it's the most common culprit in the U.S. The fungus infects plants early in the growing season, shriveling wheat grains and blanching crop heads a whitish-tan color. It also causes a toxin to accumulate in wheat kernels that can make them unsafe for people and livestock to eat. Nicknamed "vomitoxin" because it's most known for causing livestock to throw up, it can also cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache and fever in animals and people. Wheat and other grain crops are screened for various toxins, including Fusarium graminearum, before they can be used to feed animals and humans. Farmers have to throw out any infected grains, which can cause devastating losses. "It's one of the many problems that farmers have to deal with that risks their livelihood," said David Geiser, a Fusarium expert at Penn State. What are the accusations? Although Jian and Liu are accused of smuggling Fusarium graminearum into the country, the fungus is already prevalent in the U.S. - particularly in the east and Upper Midwest - and scientists have been studying it for decades. Researchers often bring foreign plants, animals and even strains of fungi to the U.S. to study them, but they must file certain permits before moving anything across state or national borders. Studying the genes of a foreign fungus strain, for example, can help scientists learn how it tolerates heat, resists pesticides or mutates. "We look at variations among individuals just like we do humans," said Nicole Gauthier, a plant pathologist at the University of Kentucky who studies Fusarium. That said, it's unclear why the Chinese researchers might have wanted to bring that strain of Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. and why they didn't fill out the proper paperwork to do so.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Understanding the astrological meaning of solar eclipses
Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun's light. Beyond their stunning visual impact, these events carry significant meaning in astrology. Let's take a closer look at what solar eclipses represent astrologically and how they might influence our lives. What Is a Solar Eclipse? A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, causing the Sun's light to be partially or fully obscured. There are several types of solar eclipses—total, partial, and annular—depending on how much of the Sun is covered. Astrological Effects of Solar Eclipses In astrology, solar eclipses are powerful moments that often signal important changes and transformations. They can mark the start of something new or the end of a significant chapter, leading to major shifts in life. New Beginnings and Closures Solar eclipses symbolize both fresh starts and endings. These events often coincide with pivotal moments, such as beginning a new career, ending a relationship, or making a major life decision. Eclipses encourage us to release what no longer serves us and to welcome new opportunities for growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Medical Mystery Solved: Dementia and Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Thing. vitalgethealth Click Here Undo Energy Amplification and Manifestation Solar eclipses act like energetic gateways, intensifying the influence of the New Moon. This heightened energy makes eclipses ideal times to set clear intentions and focus on manifesting goals. They help propel us forward and bring our aspirations closer to reality. Effects Based on Zodiac Signs The influence of a solar eclipse depends on the zodiac sign in which it occurs. Each sign brings unique themes that shape how the eclipse energy will affect us. For example: A solar eclipse in Aries might highlight personal ambition and self-expression. A solar eclipse in Cancer could focus attention on home and family matters. A solar eclipse in Libra may emphasize relationships and the search for balance. A solar eclipse in Capricorn often brings career and long-term goals into focus. Solar eclipses remind us that change is an inevitable part of life. While they can introduce unexpected challenges, they also open doors for personal growth and discovery. By embracing the eclipse energy and remaining open to new possibilities, we can navigate transitions with strength and hope. Solar eclipses hold deep astrological significance and can trigger meaningful changes in our lives. Understanding their impact allows us to harness their energy for growth, transformation, and positive new beginnings. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
