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rare earths
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- 1New satellite images reveal scale of Gaza destruction▼Shock over new Google Earth satellite images showing extensive Gaza destruction
Updated Google Earth satellite imagery showing widespread destruction across Gaza has drawn widespread shock. The images reveal the extent of damage to buildings and infrastructure following months of conflict, offering the public a rare broad view of conditions on the ground that has prompted strong reactions online.
- 2US and China cut tariffs on basic goods amid rare earth uncertainty●US, China slash tariffs on basic goods but rare earth talks left off the record
The United States and China have agreed to slash tariffs on a range of basic goods, a step that eases trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. However, discussions over rare earth exports were reportedly kept off the record, leaving a key sticking point unresolved. Rare earths remain critical to supply chains for electronics and defense, and their exclusion from the public agreement has drawn attention as a sign that the hardest issues in the trade relationship remain unsettled.
- 3US and China cut tariffs on basic goods, skip rare earths▼US, China slash tariffs on basic goods – but leave rare earths off the record
The United States and China have agreed to reduce tariffs on a range of basic consumer and industrial goods, in a further sign of easing trade tensions between the two economies. However, rare earth materials remain outside the deal, leaving Beijing's export controls on the critical minerals untouched. Analysts see the move as cautious de-escalation, with the most strategically sensitive sector kept off the negotiating table.
- 4Trump administration's $1.6 billion stake in USA Rare Earth draws fire●The Trump admin's $1.6 billion investment in USA Rare Earth - which includes a big equity stake, of course - stinks to h
The Trump administration has invested $1.6 billion in USA Rare Earth, a magnet maker, taking a large equity stake in the company. Critics, including trade analyst Scott Lincicome, say the deal 'stinks to high heaven,' pointing to a Bloomberg investigation into how the company secured the funding and questioning the propriety of the government taking ownership in a private firm.
- 5Cosmic gas cloud makes 'zombie star' flash at Earth▼A giant cosmic 'fart' is making a wobbling zombie star repeatedly flash us, 'groundbreaking' observations reveal
Astronomers report that a stellar remnant, described as a zombie star, is repeatedly flashing toward Earth as it wobbles, with the pulses apparently caused by a large expelled cloud of gas. Researchers are calling the observations groundbreaking, saying they offer a rare look at the behavior of a star after it has survived or undergone an explosive event.
- 6ESA's JUICE spacecraft swings low over Indian Ocean on Earth flyby●Heads up (especially if you’re currently on a ship in the Indian Ocean). ESA’s JUICE mission to Jupiter & its icy moons
ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter and its icy moons passed less than 10,000 km overhead at 13:45 CEST during its second Earth gravity assist, with scientists noting ships in the Indian Ocean were directly beneath its path. The spacecraft will return for a final slingshot flyby in 2029 before heading onward to Jupiter.
- 7Private spacecraft burns up after failed NASA telescope rescue▼Private spacecraft burns up in Earth's atmosphere after failing to rescue aging NASA telescope
A private spacecraft has burned up in Earth's atmosphere after a mission to rescue an aging NASA telescope failed. The craft, sent to service or retrieve the telescope, did not complete its task and was destroyed on reentry. The failed effort raises questions about the fate of the decades-old observatory it was meant to save.
- 8Robot submarine vanishes after mapping strange structures under Antarctic ice▼A robot submarine mapped strange structures under Antarctic ice, then vanished without a trace
A robotic submarine deployed beneath Antarctic ice mapped unusual structures on the seafloor before disappearing without a trace. The lost vehicle reportedly recorded strange formations under the ice shelf before contact was cut off. The disappearance has drawn attention because the sub was gathering rare data from one of the least explored environments on Earth, raising questions about what it found and why contact was lost.
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New research suggests that major climate shifts triggered rare, rapid bursts of evolution in bird species, driving the diversity seen today. According to the findings, periods of environmental change pushed birds into adaptive surges rather than gradual transformation. The study is drawing attention as an example of how climate change can reshape life on Earth over deep time.
- 10SpaceComputer plans first mission from low-Earth to geostationary orbit●SpaceComputer’s first mission to travel from low-Earth to geostationary orbit
SpaceComputer is preparing its first mission that would travel from low-Earth orbit to geostationary orbit, according to SpaceNews. The mission would mark a significant step for the company, demonstrating the ability to operate across very different orbital regimes. Few details about timing, launch provider or payload have been reported so far, and the story is only beginning to circulate.