The Times of India

Scientists have engineered 'SpudCell,' a lab-made system from chemicals that mimics life's core functions like growth and division. While not fully alive due to reliance on external components, this breakthrough offers a simplified model to understand essential life processes. Researchers aim to enhance its self-sufficiency, paving the way for custom biological machines and deeper insights into fundamental biology.

China is pioneering an innovative electromagnetic launch system, aiming to catapult rockets to supersonic speeds using electricity before engine ignition. This novel approach, unlike SpaceX's chemical rockets, could significantly reduce fuel needs and launch costs by leveraging ground-based power. Tests are reportedly progressing, with potential for a revolutionary shift in space access if successful.

The mission will be carried out by US startup Katalyst Space Technologies, which won the NASA contract last September. Its three-armed robotic spacecraft, named Lift, will launch aboard an air-launched Pegasus rocket from the Marshall Islands before spending about a month chasing down Swift in orbit. Swift has been observing the universe since 2004.