China discovers a new lunar crystal, Changesite-(Y), containing helium-3, a potential game-changer for clean nuclear fusion energy, intensifying the race to mine the moon.
Scientists have discovered a new lunar crystal, Changesite-(Y), which contains helium-3, a promising element for nuclear fusion.
This transparent crystal, named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, was found in lunar basalt particles collected during China’s 2020 Chang’e 5 mission in Oceanus Procellarum.
China is now the third country, after the US and the former Soviet Union, to identify a new lunar mineral.
The crystal formed in a volcanically active region of the moon about 1.2 billion years ago. One of its key components, helium-3, is rare on Earth but abundant on the moon. This element is considered a potential stable fuel for nuclear fusion, a process that mimics the energy generation of stars but without the hazardous waste produced by nuclear fission.
Helium-3 could revolutionize energy production, with an estimated $3 billion value per ton. About 25 tons of helium-3 could power the US for a year. However, extracting and transporting large amounts from the moon presents significant logistical and financial challenges.
The discovery may intensify the race among countries and private companies to mine helium-3 on the moon. China’s upcoming Chang’e 6 mission, scheduled for 2024, aims to collect samples from the moon’s far side, potentially unlocking further insights into this valuable resource.
In Baku, Azerbaijan, the Worm Moon will rise on March 14, 2025, following a stunning total lunar eclipse visible from 11:26 a.m. to 12:31 p.m. AZT
Firefly Aerospace has become the second U.S. company to achieve a soft moon landing with its debut Blue Ghost lander, marking a significant milestone in the private space sector.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost spacecraft, launched on January 15, has captured breathtaking close-ups of the Moon’s surface. Currently on a 45-day mission, the spacecraft aims to collect critical data as part of NASA’s lunar exploration effort.
In a historic milestone for private space exploration, Japanese startup Dymon Co. has launched its ultra-compact moon rover, Yaoki, marking the world's first private lunar exploration mission.
NASA has launched its latest satellite, Lunar Trailblazer, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, on a mission to pinpoint water sources on the Moon - a critical resource for future lunar missions and potential long-term bases.
In a significant step toward regional water cooperation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have signed a protocol for the shared operation of the Bahri Tochik Water Reservoir from June to August 2025, during the region’s critical vegetation and irrigation period.
Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, has been selected to host the 2026 edition of the Games of the Future, an innovative international phygital sports tournament blending traditional athletic competition with digital gaming.
Two months after the reopening of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the revival of traditional frontier trade remains sluggish, as mutual suspicion and long-standing grievances continue to cast a shadow over efforts to restore normal relations.
For the second phase of development of the Absheron gas field located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, one of the key innovations will be the introduction of the world’s first automated underwater system for launching cleaning devices (PIGs) to remove possible deposits in pipelines.
President Donald Trump is "likely" to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, according to a statement from the White House.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
In a major blow to one of President Donald Trump’s key economic policies, a US federal court has blocked the administration’s sweeping global tariff regime, ruling that the White House overstepped its constitutional authority.
Disney is cutting several hundred more jobs across its global operations, targeting departments like film, TV, and finance, as it continues to streamline costs in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
A celebration of Turkish cuisine and friendship took place in Karachi on Sunday as the Turkish Consulate hosted a World Breakfast Day event, sharing traditional flavours with a distinguished Pakistani audience.
The Kingsway Exchange Tunnels beneath London, which served as the real-world inspiration for James Bond's legendary Q Branch, are set to become one of the world's most extraordinary spy museums by 2028.
Banksy has returned with a mysterious new artwork—this time, possibly in France—and fans are buzzing with theories.
Police detained five individuals on Wednesday during a protest linked to Gal Gadot’s latest film shoot in central London, citing offences including harassment and obstruction of workplace access.
In a significant step toward regional water cooperation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have signed a protocol for the shared operation of the Bahri Tochik Water Reservoir from June to August 2025, during the region’s critical vegetation and irrigation period.
Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, has been selected to host the 2026 edition of the Games of the Future, an innovative international phygital sports tournament blending traditional athletic competition with digital gaming.
Two months after the reopening of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the revival of traditional frontier trade remains sluggish, as mutual suspicion and long-standing grievances continue to cast a shadow over efforts to restore normal relations.
For the second phase of development of the Absheron gas field located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, one of the key innovations will be the introduction of the world’s first automated underwater system for launching cleaning devices (PIGs) to remove possible deposits in pipelines.
President Donald Trump is "likely" to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, according to a statement from the White House.
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