DTN 103: The First Successful Private Lunar Landing

Plus: Biological computer made of human brain cells, Colossal woolly mice, 3D-printed ceramics for hypersonic tech, light-powered quantum chips, US ship building office, low-flying satellites, and more.

“With its Blue Ghost lunar module, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace has just achieved what no other private company, anywhere in the world, has ever accomplished: successfully landing on the surface of the moon. Having launched in January, the Blue Ghost Mission 1 touched down at Mare Crisium, in the vicinity of a mountain called Mons Latreille, at 3:34 am Eastern Time on Sunday March 2. NASA reports that the Blue Ghost lander is in a stable, vertical position.

‘This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and US companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all,’ Janet Petro, NASA’s acting administrator, said in a statement on March 2. ‘We have already learned many lessons, and the technology and science demonstrations aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1 Mission will enhance our ability to not only discover more science but also to ensure the safety of the instruments on our spacecraft for future human exploration, both near and long term.’”

Colossal Biosciences announced it has genetically engineered the Colossal Woolly Mouse.

Colossal Biosciences has successfully engineered the "Colossal Woolly Mouse," a genetically modified mouse with traits from the extinct woolly mammoth, including a warm coat adapted for cold climates. The company edited seven genes to replicate mammoth-like coat color, texture, and thickness, using advanced genome editing techniques. This breakthrough demonstrates the feasibility of de-extinction and brings Colossal closer to its goal of resurrecting extinct species like the woolly mammoth. The achievement also provides a valuable model for studying cold-climate adaptations and has potential applications in genetic engineering and conservation. (via VentureBeat)

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