Sunday Special: Artemis 2 Makes a Successful Splashdown
NASA’s Artemis II mission safely returned to Earth after a historic 10-day journey around the Moon, marking a major step toward a crewed lunar landing in 2028. This week’s science highlights also include a documented chimpanzee civil war, a potential anti-aging pill for dogs, and a handbag made from T. rex-derived collagen.
The world held its breath as NASA’s Artemis II crew wrapped up a historic lunar mission with a dramatic splashdown, injecting fresh momentum into the global race to return humans to the Moon by 2028. Beyond spaceflight, scientists this week reported breakthroughs and discoveries spanning primate behavior, longevity biotech, and next-generation materials.
Artemis II Makes Successful Splashdown
NASA's Artemis II crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after a 10-day mission that took astronauts farther from Earth than any human in history.
Widely considered the most dangerous phase of the mission, the return to Earth served as a critical hardware test of the Orion capsule’s heat shield, which survived atmospheric re-entry at 32 times the speed of sound.
The successful splashdown marks a major milestone for NASA as it sets its sights on a crewed Moon landing in 2028.
Scientists Document First Confirmed Chimpanzee Civil War
Researchers studying a 200-strong chimpanzee community in Uganda have documented what they describe as the first definitively confirmed primate civil war on record.
Scientists believe the deaths of five key “social bridge” males in 2014 may have triggered the outbreak of violence. The study details instances of former companions turning on one another without any ethnic, religious, or ideological trigger.
The findings raise new questions about the deep evolutionary roots of human conflict and violence.
A Daily Pill That Could Extend Dogs’ Lifespans
San Francisco-based biotech company Loyal is nearing FDA approval for LOY-002, a beef-flavored prescription pill designed to slow biological aging in dogs.
The drug targets age-related metabolic dysfunction, with the goal of extending both lifespan and healthy years in senior dogs of most sizes. According to the company’s CEO, the treatment could reach the market before the end of 2026.
If approved, LOY-002 would mark the first time the FDA has cleared a drug specifically intended to slow aging in any species.
Handbag Made From T. rex Collagen
A teal designer handbag created using collagen derived from T. rex fossils has been unveiled in Amsterdam ahead of auction, where it could sell for more than $500,000.
The material was developed by extracting ancient protein fragments from dinosaur remains, inserting them into animal cells through genetic engineering, and growing the resulting collagen into leather.
While currently a novelty, the project offers a glimpse into how biotechnology could reshape the materials used in everyday products in the future.