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.
Japanese company ispace announced that its unmanned moon lander, called Resilience, likely crashed during its landing attempt on Friday. This is their second failed try, after their first mission also ended in a crash two years ago.
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.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will hold talks with Lotus after the carmaker moved to ease concerns over the future of its UK factory.
A notorious hacking group known as “Scattered Spider” has breached the networks of several airlines in the US and Canada this month, according to the FBI and cybersecurity experts.
Severe storms overnight triggered mass flight cancellations and delays at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just as the busy 4th of July travel period begins.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a large delegation, calling cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s multi-day wedding in Venice is making headlines—not just for its celebrity guest list and luxury, but also for the backlash it has sparked among local activists.
French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for 'French Touch' electronic music to be recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage—putting it on par with Berlin techno, Jamaican reggae, and Irish harp traditions.
Scarlett Johansson recalls how the original “Jurassic Park” deeply influenced her childhood as she premieres her role in “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” set to release on 2 July.
Dua Lipa has announced her engagement to British actor Callum Turner, calling the decision to grow old together “a really special feeling.”
Azerbaijan's capital of Baku will become a focal point of the international music scene from the 14 to the 28 June as it hosts the 4th Baku Piano Festival.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will hold talks with Lotus after the carmaker moved to ease concerns over the future of its UK factory.
A notorious hacking group known as “Scattered Spider” has breached the networks of several airlines in the US and Canada this month, according to the FBI and cybersecurity experts.
Severe storms overnight triggered mass flight cancellations and delays at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just as the busy 4th of July travel period begins.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a large delegation, calling cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever.
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