Fruit Fly Experiment on Tiangong Space Station Explores Effects of Microgravity
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station are conducting a groundbreaking experiment involving fruit flies to explore the effects of microgravity and sub-magnetic fields on living organisms, according to reports. The experiment, part of the crew’s six-month mission, is being conducted by the Shenzhou 19 astronauts who arrived at the station on October 29. The fruit flies—15 adults and 40 pupae—were delivered on 15 November by the Tianzhou 8 resupply mission.
Study Aims to Assess Impact on Biological Rhythms
The research, carried out under the supervision of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to understand how sub-magnetic environments combined with microgravity influence biological processes. Zheng Weibo, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, explained to China Central Television (CCTV) that the study investigates molecular mechanisms and movement patterns in fruit flies under these conditions. The goal is to uncover potential changes in their biological rhythms, providing insights that could be valuable for future deep-space exploration.
Simulating Space Environments
The experiment involves creating two distinct environments aboard Tiangong: one replicating Earth’s magnetic field and the other a sub-magnetic field. Zheng noted that understanding the role of magnetic fields on living organisms is critical for space exploration. He explained in an interview with CCTV that we remain under Earth’s magnetic influence in low Earth orbit. However, in deep space, this would not be the case.
Comparative Analysis to Follow
Frozen fruit fly samples will be returned to Earth for analysis, according to Li Yan, the project’s lead researcher, in his statement. Gene expression in these samples will be compared with parallel groups to assess the individual and combined effects of microgravity and sub-magnetic environments.
Fruit flies, widely used in genetic studies due to their short life cycle, have a long history in space experiments. Researchers are hopeful this study will contribute valuable data for advancing human understanding of space’s effects on biological systems.
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Dragon Man, a long-buried skull discovered in China’s Harbin, has been found to have its roots in the Denisovans, an elusive ancient human group identified in 2010. It was found by a labourer in the year 2010 and deliberately hidden in the well, and was later recovered in 2018. Its preservation led to the DNA and proteins to provide more insights into the ancient human species link of this skull. It is the most complete fossil of a Denisovan ever found, which dates back to approximately 146,000 years.
Hidden in Plain Sight
The skull was found hidden in a well by the labourer who discovered it during Japanese-occupied bridge construction. It remained there until he died in 2018, and later his family handed it over to Hebei GEO University. The preservation of the cranium led the scientists to analyse its proteins and DNA in the dental plaque, which overcame the previous challenges of extracting the genetic material.
Proteins and Plaque Reveal Origins
The DNA and proteins were analysed from dental calculus and petrous bone, respectively. Both sources matched the Denisovan specimens from Tibet, Taiwan and Siberia. These coinciding pieces of evidence confirmed that the Dragon Man is from the Denisovan lineage, marking a near-complete skull for this ancient human group.
A Denisovan Face at Last
Through its massive brow ridge, large brain and wide eye sockets, comparable to both modern humans and Neanderthals, Dragon Man has given Denisovans something that was impossible in the past because of the scarce fossil record found. The skull belonged to a robust male geographically adapted to colder climates. This gives an idea of Denisovan presence across the vast swaths of Asia at the time of the Middle Pleistocene.
Evolutionary Impact and Future Questions
Through this discovery, the critical gap in knowing human evolution in Asia is now occupied. It also proved that Denisovans were powerful physically and not just a distant lineage. Still some researchers wants to be more prcised in analysing the specific classification of whether Homo longi or broad Denisovan framework.
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Scientists have found the largest comet from the Oort Cloud, a covering of icy bodies at the edge of the solar system, releasing chemical activity. With the help of the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, the team of scientists found this comet, which is located halfway between Neptune and the Sun. This is the second most distant comet, which originated from the Oort Cloud and was found to have chemical outbursts of gases. The observations are the first direct evidence of what leads to the cometary activity when ice bodies are located far from the Sun.
Chemically Active Comet
As per NASA, the comet named C/2014 UN271 was observed during March 2025, with the help of ALMA. It was reported to be at a distance of 137 km from the solar solar system and around 10 times larger than the size of an average comet. This is also named Bernardinelli-Bernstein and found to have exploding jets of gas, mainly carbon monoxide.
How Could It be Spotted
C/2014 UN271 is reported to be the second-most distant comet originating from the Oort Cloud, which is an outburst of gas. ALMA could see it despite being far from the Sun through carbon monoxide and thermal emissions. The sensitivity of this instrument is made of an array of 66 radio antennas placed in the Atacama desert region in Chile led the scientists to know the size of the nucleus core of this comet.
What Will Happen to It
The clear picture was painted when outgassing of C/2014 UN271 was observed through ALMA. This helped the scientists in identifying the rare look at icy bodies’ chemistry from the very periphery of the solar system. It is reaching the Sun, and as it happens, it will start to heat up, and the frozen material inside will turn into a gaseous state, further erupting from the icy shell.
Future Scope of the Observation
Comets are predicted to be made of unspoiled remaining material from the formation of the solar system around 4.6 billion years ago. This could let the scientists know about the formation of the Earth and other planets.
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