China’s expanding research program in low Earth orbit gained fresh momentum this week as four laboratory mice returned from the Tiangong space station alongside the Shenzhou-20 astronauts. Their journey, originally planned for a shorter duration, stretched to nearly two weeks beyond schedule after cracks were discovered in the Shenzhou-20 return capsule’s window, prompting both crew and research animals to rely on the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 spacecraft for the trip home.
The two male and two female mice represent China’s first attempt at in-orbit mammalian studies focused on behavior and physiology under prolonged exposure to microgravity. Upon landing, researchers immediately assessed the animals, noting earlier reports from CCTV that the mice ate less but consumed more water during their time in orbit. These early findings suggest that while the animals required some adjustment, they adapted reasonably well to the station’s environment.
The Shenzhou-21 return capsule delivered far more than these four passengers. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), scientists received 46.67 kilograms of experimental materials spanning life sciences, materials science, and combustion research. This ninth batch of samples includes zebrafish, hornwort, streptomyces, planarians, brain organoids, as well as an assortment of alloys and crystal specimens designed to help scientists study how gravity — or the lack of it — shapes growth, structure, and performance.
The CAS Space Application Engineering and Technology Centre in Beijing has already begun the process of inspecting these materials to ensure they remained intact during re-entry. Once cleared, they will be distributed to research teams for detailed analysis. Planned investigations include transcriptomic sequencing, proteomics studies, and other multi-level biological tests aimed at understanding how microgravity influences cells, tissues, and adaptive responses. These efforts may eventually guide treatments or preventive strategies for health conditions affected by altered gravitational forces.
Materials scientists, meanwhile, will probe tungsten-hafnium alloys, soft magnetic materials, and specialized crystals to evaluate changes in morphology, chemical makeup, and distribution patterns. Studying these samples provides insight into how materials behave when freed from Earth’s gravitational constraints, informing future technologies such as radiation-resistant optical fibers, solar-cell protection layers, and building materials suitable for lunar infrastructure.
While China’s research efforts unfold in orbit and on the ground, astronomers worldwide are turning their attention to a very different traveler: the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. After reemerging from behind the Sun, the object has drawn renewed interest, especially as new images reveal a pronounced “anti-tail,” a jet-like stream pointing toward the Sun. Most experts interpret this as a natural feature produced by large dust particles. However, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has again raised the possibility — though widely debated among his peers — that such jets could hint at propulsion from a technological craft. Loeb acknowledges that current images show a stable, intact body but continues to explore unconventional explanations alongside mainstream cometary models.
As Earth-based studies of 3I/ATLAS continue and China’s newly returned experiments begin analysis, both endeavors highlight humanity’s drive to investigate how life, matter, and movement behave beyond our planet. Whether examining the quiet adjustment of mice in orbit or tracking an icy traveler from another star, these efforts help shape our understanding of environments far from home.
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