Launches and missions, satellites, physics and new materials, energy, electric vehicles and biotech — the research that turns into products.
IBM and ETH Zurich will build a quantum computer at the Swiss National Supercomputing Center (CSCS) in Lugano, expected to be operational by the end of 2026. The system will use IBM's Quantum Nighthawk r2 processor with 120 qubits and work alongside the Alps supercomputer.
An experiment at Italy's INFN Gran Sasso underground lab found no trace of spacetime fluctuations predicted by the Károlyházy model, which would disrupt quantum superpositions. Data was collected for 62 days with a high-purity germanium detector, ruling out one of the oldest gravity-driven decoherence models.
Scania is now offering extra batteries mounted behind the cab, adding up to 356 kWh and extending the range of its electric trucks to 447 miles (720 km). A more aerodynamic IVD cab cuts energy use by up to 3%, with MCS charging at up to 750 kW.
A Stanford lab led by professor Natalie Larson is advancing subvoxel control, a technique that patterns multiple materials within a single printed voxel. Applications span cultivated meat, structural batteries, soft robots and defense metamaterials, with funding from the Office of Naval Research.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have pinpointed several genes that enable one flatworm species to regrow its brain entirely. The finding could inform research into nerve tissue regeneration.
MIT researchers have developed a noninvasive method to detect biomarkers of cellular senescence using Raman microscopy and AI. The approach can identify 'zombie cells' linked to cancer, tissue degeneration and inflammatory diseases without harming the cells.
On September 3, ground control confirmed the propulsion module separated from BepiColombo, marking the final phase of the ESA–JAXA mission. The probe has traveled about 9.9 billion km using nine gravity assists; science observations are set to begin in April 2027.
Eutelsat has signed an Authorization to Proceed with Airbus Defence and Space for 229 additional LEO satellites for OneWeb, worth around €1 billion. Combined with the 440 satellites already booked, the order brings the total to 669 new craft, with launches planned through 2034.
A Volkswagen ID. Buzz driven by Rainer Zietlow circled the globe in 445 days, covering 61,992 miles (99,767 km) across 92 countries on six continents. The trip involved over 300 charging stops and 16 container ship crossings, and TÜV Nord measured battery health at 95.75% afterward.
China carried out four successful orbital launches within 45 hours from three launch sites: LandSpace and Orienspace lofted Qianfan satellites, CASC launched SatNet spacecraft, and Kuaizhou-11 orbited two Spacety radar satellites. None of the rockets attempted first-stage landings.
CaoCao Mobility signed a strategic agreement with Xiangzhou District in Zhuhai for a ground-air-space smart mobility project covering autonomous driving and low-altitude travel. Its natively developed Eva Cab robotaxi, built without a steering wheel or front passenger seat, is set to enter mass production in 2027, with a target of 100,000 robotaxis by 2030.
Major European truck makers and suppliers are forming alliances to advance hydrogen vehicles and refueling infrastructure. The push comes as Europe tightens emissions rules and automakers race to avoid missing out on the hydrogen market.
Hanwha Aerospace signed a cooperation agreement with 43 Korean companies, universities and research institutes to strengthen the domestic drone industry. The company is co-developing the Mohave STOL drone with GA-ASI and aims to raise the local production share to over 70% at the mass-production stage.
A study of 4,891 pregnant women in China found an association between prenatal exposure to rare earth elements and higher risk of low birthweight. Each microgram per gram of an individual element raised odds by 25.6–51.4%, and the 13-element mixture roughly doubled them.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru published a concept for a modular BHEEM habitat for the Moon and Mars: 2130 m³ of living volume assembled from 422 flat panels of three shapes, more than double the ISS pressurized volume of 1005 m³. The panels fit in one Starship cargo bay (~800 m³), and the base is designed for a crew of 16 on missions longer than 6 months. It is an early architectural concept, not a flight-ready module.
Bengaluru startup Aspera Industries unveiled Eureka, an unmanned amphibious cargo aircraft that takes off and lands on water. It claims a 1000 kg payload, 2000 km range and a target cost below $1 per tonne-kilometer. A subscale prototype has flown, but certification and fleet economics are not yet confirmed.
A University of Arizona study of 1000 tissue samples from 400 men found that the closer tissue is to a tumor, the more Y chromosomes are lost. Mosaic Y loss creates local inflammation and an environment that predisposes cells to cancer, making it a new risk marker.
China introduced its first national standard for perovskite photovoltaics. It aims to unify measurement and comparison of solar panel performance worldwide.
Joby Aviation claimed the first fully autonomous flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in the US. The company did not disclose the distance or test details.
XPeng began sales in China of its flagship five-seat G9L crossover, starting at 231,800 yuan for six versions with electric and series-hybrid powertrains. BEV range is up to 755 km CLTC, hybrid up to 1,602 km, with an 800V platform and 5C charging. World premiere is October 12 at the Paris Motor Show, with sales in 64 countries.
AgiBot and Chimelong Group will deploy more than 300 robots at Spaceship Park in Hengqin, Zhuhai, from September 24, 2026. The robots will be used in shows, education, navigation, retail and hotel service across over 100 interaction points. The agreement was signed on August 23, and a joint research institute for embodied AI in tourism was also created.
GC Cell reported interim Phase 1a results for CAR-NK therapy GCC2005 at ICBMT 2026 in Busan. In 8 of 9 patients with relapsed or refractory NK/T-cell lymphoma, the objective response rate was 62.5%, including 3 complete remissions; one patient remains in remission at 18 months.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are adding recycled plastic to asphalt, replacing 8–10% of bitumen to help pavement better withstand heat. About 4.5 tonnes of plastic were used on a one-mile road in Rockwall; a similar section in Dhaka withstood extreme heat in 2024.
A study by Upstate Medical University showed that with age, retinal glia is significantly worse at turning into new neurons. Anti-inflammatory steroids partially restored regeneration in old mice, which is important for treating glaucoma and neurodegenerative diseases.
A single infusion of experimental CRISPR-Cas9 therapy CTX310 reduced LDL cholesterol by 52.5% and triglycerides by 47.8% at 12 months in a Phase 1 trial at Cleveland Clinic with 15 patients. No serious side effects were reported.
RMIT researchers 3D-printed a Ti-6Al-4V alloy lattice with hollow beams filled with polyurethane foam. The structure remains afloat even after cracks and node failures, with density increasing only by 5.9-7.3%.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research found a link between active region area and flare energy: the 1947 'Great Sunspot' could theoretically produce a flare over 10^34 erg, matching a superflare.
Harvard economists revised their forecast for EV share of new US sales by 2030 from 32% to 38%, versus 8% in 2025. Canceling the $7,500 subsidy reduces the share by only 6.2 percentage points—from 48% to 39.4% relative to the baseline scenario.
The cost of solar panels has fallen from $5–6 per watt 26 years ago to 12 cents per watt today, reports the Financial Times. The cause is cited as growth in Chinese manufacturing, which led to solar generation surpassing coal in the US for the first time in June.
Using the LRO probe, scientists discovered the largest known new crater in the Solar System. The McGetchin crater, 222 m wide and 43 m deep, formed on the Moon's eastern edge between April 11 and May 22, 2024, and the surrounding 6.5 km area is 16 °F colder at night.
