China’s national space agency announced on Thursday that it would permit scientists from the United States and allied nations to study moon rocks collected by its Chang’e-5 mission in 2020. This move is seen as part of China’s strategy to bolster the international profile of its lunar exploration efforts.
Despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over geopolitics and trade, the collaboration underscores that some forms of scientific exchange remain possible. Seven research institutions, including Brown University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook—both recipients of NASA funding—have been granted access to the lunar samples. The other authorised institutions hail from Japan, France, Germany, Britain, and Pakistan.
China became only the third country to collect lunar samples through its uncrewed Chang’e-5 mission, joining the Soviet Union and the United States. In 2024, it achieved another milestone by becoming the first nation to return samples from the moon’s far side through the Chang’e-6 mission.
However, collaboration between NASA and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) remains restricted due to a 2011 US law that requires any engagement with China to undergo national security review involving the FBI. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson noted in October that discussions were ongoing regarding the sample-sharing agreement and assured lawmakers that there would be no national security risks.
Nelson also stated that four US universities had applied to receive the Chang’e-5 samples, and he anticipated that further FBI certification would be needed before any material was handed over.
China is using its growing space capabilities as a diplomatic tool. Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar programme, remarked that the country’s increased strength and confidence have led to greater openness, contrasting with what he described as rising US isolationism.
The CNSA disclosed that earlier Chang’e missions included international payloads, with the upcoming Chang’e-7 mission in 2026 set to carry six international instruments. Discussions are also underway with 10 nations for the Chang’e-8 mission, which will contribute to China’s goal of establishing a permanent crewed lunar base by 2035.
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Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 February), a spokesperson for the local fire service said.
Iran’s top diplomat said that the next round of nuclear talks is expected in less than a week after what he described as “progress in the most serious exchanges” between Tehran and Washington. The statement follows the third round of nuclear talks on Thursday (26 February) in Geneva.
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
South Korea will soon cease to be one of the few countries where Google Maps does not function fully, after its security-conscious government reversed a two-decade-old policy and approved the export of high-precision map data to overseas servers.
New research suggests 40,000-year-old carved objects from south-western Germany bear repeated marks arranged in organised sign sequences similar to early proto-cuneiform, although they are not regarded as a form of writing.
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the risks posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
NASA successfully completed a critical fueling rehearsal on Thursday (19 February) for its giant moon rocket, Artemis II, after earlier hydrogen leaks disrupted preparations for the next crewed lunar mission. The launch is scheduled for 6 March, according to the latest information from NASA.
ByteDance will take steps to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property on its artificial intelligence (AI) video generator Seedance 2.0, the Chinese technology firm said on Monday.
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