National Sci-Tech

As reported by Reuters on July 10, Europe is pushing forward with building domestic launch facilities in Sweden’s Esrange and Norway’s Andøya to reduce dependence on the U.S. and strengthen its independent space capabilities. The goal is to send satellites into orbit from the European continent for the first time. Previously, Europe’s only launch site was in French Guiana, South America—its remote location and high costs made it hard to meet rising commercial and military needs.

Singapore’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS) announced on July 10 that the Asia Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre (APSAC) will officially launch on July 14. Partnering with Airbus, Boeing, GenZero (a green investment firm under Singapore’s Temasek), and IATA, APSAC aims to support regional decarbonization through policy research, cross-sector collaboration, and training—making it the world’s first institution focused on policy and capacity-building for sustainable aviation in the Asia-Pacific.

Meta has invested $3.5 billion to acquire roughly 3% of EssilorLuxottica’s Asia-Pacific unit, the world’s largest eyewear maker, in a bid to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) glasses business. Sources say Meta is considering raising its stake to around 5% in the future, signaling a shift to reduce reliance on smartphone platforms and build its own dedicated hardware ecosystem.

UK-based Allotrope Energy, a 2016-founded battery capacitor startup, has unveiled a groundbreaking super EDLC (electrochemical double-layer capacitor) set to disrupt automotive tech. It secured $6.7 million from Brazil’s Suzano Ventures, partnering with the pulp producer—known for paper products—to manufacture the innovation.

Chinese scientists have identified a new water-bearing mineral, ULM-1, in lunar soil samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission, marking the first confirmation of crystalline molecular water in lunar soil. This mineral, characterized by high water content and stable properties, suggests that persistent water sources may exist in sunlight-exposed regions of the Moon.

Scientists have successfully reconstructed the kinship networks of multiple ancient settlements through the genetic analysis of a large number of ancient human DNAs, with the longest network extending up to eight generations. This research has revealed social - structural features such as matrilineal or patrilineal inheritance and the layout of kinship cemeteries. Some individuals have even been traced to relatives thousands of miles away.

Scientists from Austria and the Netherlands have discovered animal life in the hydro - thermal vent area at a depth of 2,515 meters on the East Pacific seabed. The discovered species include large tube worms and sea snails. These living organisms are found in the warm, liquid - filled cavities within the rock fractures, indicating a possible connection between the sub - crustal ecosystem and the seabed ecosystem.

An international team of scientists has successfully drilled a 1,268 - meter - long mantle core in the Mid - Atlantic Ridge. This is the deepest mantle sample ever retrieved from the ocean floor, mainly composed of serpentinized peridotite, revealing the long - term reaction records between the mantle and seawater.

European scientists have developed a new method that uses hydrogen plasma to reduce iron oxide in red mud, capable of producing liquid iron with a purity of over 95% in just a few minutes. This process contains almost no harmful elements and is suitable for steel - making. Meanwhile, it can consume red mud, an industrial solid waste, and is expected to solve the environmental problem of 180 million tons of red mud produced annually.

Scientists have identified what could be the world's oldest rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt along the coast of Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada. These rocks are at least 4.16 billion years old, about 160 million years earlier than the previously recognized oldest rocks, and are the only known surviving fragments of the Earth's Hadean - eon crust, providing a precious window into the early evolution of the Earth.

By 2045, robots and automation systems will permeate every corner of Earth. Self-driving vehicles will make transportation safer and more efficient, potentially injecting new vitality into the sharing economy. Robots will handle numerous daily tasks, from caring for the elderly and grocery shopping to industrial roles like crop harvesting and public facility maintenance.

Over the next three decades, global energy demand is projected to rise by 35%, sparking an ongoing energy revolution. New oil extraction technologies like hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling have unlocked vast oil and gas reserves, upending the global oil market and turning the U.S. from the world’s top oil importer to its largest producer.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have sparked immense enthusiasm in the consumer electronics market, with tech giants rushing to enter the space. After acquiring Oculus VR in 2014, Facebook is set to launch its first VR headset this year, while Samsung, Sony, and HTC also plan to roll out their VR products. The influx of capital signals that VR is poised to become the next mainstream entertainment technology.

Current data projects Earth’s surface temperature will rise by 1.4 to 3 degrees Celsius by 2050. Even with extreme greenhouse gas emission cuts, climatic inertia will drive warming, triggering dire consequences: coastal city risks from rising seas, famine due to crop yield declines, water scarcity for millions from droughts, and billions in flood damages.

Microsoft announced plans to lay off approximately 9,000 employees worldwide, about 4% of its workforce, marking a major restructuring as it enters the 2026 fiscal year. The cuts, spanning multiple teams and roles, extend layoffs from May and June, aiming to reduce management layers and boost operational agility amid fast-changing tech and market conditions.

The European Commission officially released the "European Quantum Strategy" on July 2 local time. Highlighting Europe's strengths, the strategy aims to build a resilient and sovereign quantum ecosystem, positioning Europe as a global leader in quantum technologies by 2030.