Maximum alert issued as Tiangong space station scientists uncover new bacterial species

Scientists aboard China’s Tiangong space station have made a startling discovery: a brand-new bacteria strain unlike any previously known on Earth. Hidden inside the station, this tiny life form could change how we think about life’s adaptability and survival in the harsh environment of outer space.

Imagine floating hundreds of miles above Earth, in a metal capsule orbiting at 250 miles high, and stumbling upon a new species. This is not science fiction—it happened on China’s Tiangong station. The discovery sparks questions about what else might thrive in conditions we once thought impossible.

A new type of Bacteria thriving in Space conditions

The newly identified bacteria, called Niallia tiangongensis, was found in a cabin area aboard the station. It is a variant of a known terrestrial microbe but with unique adaptations. This microbe isn’t just surviving; it’s actively repairing damage and managing oxidative stress caused by extreme space conditions like radiation.

This discovery emerged from a collaboration between the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Space Systems Engineering. Published recently in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, their study focuses on understanding how microbes behave in space over long missions—a vital step in safeguarding astronaut health.

Learning how bacteria respond to radiation and the vacuum of space is critical. These tiny organisms can harm both the crew and the spacecraft systems if left uncontrolled. But they can also reveal secrets about cellular protection and repair that might benefit science on Earth.

Why studying microbes in Space matters for astronauts and beyond

Scientists have long known that microbes can influence health in closed environments like space stations. Up to now, the exact mechanisms they use to survive harsh conditions were unclear. The Tiangong experiment shines light on these survival tactics.

For example, oxidative stress is a serious challenge for cells exposed to space radiation—it can cause tissue and cell damage. But Niallia tiangongensis has developed effective ways to combat this stress, repairing itself to thrive despite the damage. This is a breakthrough that could point to new methods for protecting human cells in space and even on Earth.

The potential applications don’t stop there. By learning from how these microbes manage genetics, metabolism, and damage repair, researchers hope to develop new medical and biotechnological advances. Imagine new antibiotics, radiation therapies, or biomaterials inspired by space-borne bacteria.

Reflecting on this, I recall a trip to a high-altitude mountain base camp where oxygen was thin and conditions harsh. The resilience of life forms there—lichen on rocks, tiny insects—reminded me that life always finds a way. Discoveries like this bacterial strain reinforce that nature’s adaptability exceeds our imagination, even beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

What this discovery could mean for future space missions and Earth science

As missions to Mars and beyond become more realistic, controlling microbial contamination and understanding microbial ecosystems in spacecraft will grow increasingly important. This bacterial discovery from Tiangong offers a window into creating better strategies to maintain healthy habitats both in space and on other planets.

The China Manned Space Agency has described this research as promising a “harvest of exceptional findings” that bridge microbial genetics and metabolism with practical applications. It’s a vivid reminder that space exploration isn’t just about rockets and stars; it’s about studying life itself.

So, what do you think about microbes that survive and adapt in space? Could these tiny astronauts be the key to future space travel health and innovation? Share your thoughts and stories below. Let’s dive into this fascinating world together and explore what it means for the future of life beyond Earth.

21 thoughts on “Maximum alert issued as Tiangong space station scientists uncover new bacterial species”

1. 

   John Pendleton

   June 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM

   There’s a wonderful education film about bringing a new life form back from space — it’s calle d “Life.” Everyone should watch this for context. And the Chinese have 

2. Source link

Over half of Australians believe China will be most powerful country by 2035: poll  

Related post:

Over half of Australians believe China will be most powerful country by 2035: poll

 

Photo: screenshot from the Lowy Institute Poll

A new Australian poll has found that more than half of Australians (56%) believe China will be the most powerful country in ten years, while only about a quarter (27%) say the same of the US, noting "attitudes toward China improved incrementally, but caution remains." 

Similarly, more believe China (58%) will lead technologically in ten years compared to the US (12%), according to Lowy Institute Poll 2025 Report published on Monday

This reflected a positive shift on Australian perceptions of China with growing number of Australians gaining firsthand exposure to China's realities, a Chinese expert commented on Monday. The expert hopes in developing bilateral ties, Canberra would not be hijacked by external forces, stressing "the common ground far outweighs differences, and bilateral relations must be defined by cooperation, not divisions."

Attitudes towards China improved incrementally, but caution remains, the Australian institute said in the summary of the poll. The poll reports the results of a nationally representative survey of 2117 adult Australian residents, conducted between 3 and 16 March. 

For the first time since 2020, Australians were just as likely to see China as an economic partner than as a security threat - though a clear majority (69%) continue to think it likely China will become a "military threat" to Australia in the next 20 years, according to the poll.

About half think Australia should cooperate more with China on climate change (49%). Views on economic engagement are mixed — a plurality (43%) say Australia should be trading at about the same level as now, whereas about half (49%) say Australia should be attracting less investment from China, shows the poll.

Regarding Australia's relationships with the superpowers, a bare majority continue to say the US is more important to Australia (52%), while a lower proportion prioritize China (43%), the poll shows.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (45%) enjoyed a 20-point lead over Peter Dutton (25%) in Australians' confidence in him to manage the relationship with China, according to the poll.

"There's slightly more trust, slightly less threat perceptions, [but] it's still a pretty bleak picture for how Australians look at China," The Guardian quoted Ryan Neelam, the poll author and a director at the Lowy Institute, as saying.

Since the 2024 survey, the gap between Australians' trust in the US compared with China has more than halved, as perceptions of China continued to improve from their nadir in 2022, The Guardian reported, quoting Neelam.

Commenting over the poll results, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that in previous years, under the influence of the then-ruling party's political maneuvers and the deliberate smear campaigns by certain anti-China forces in Australia's media landscape, public perceptions of China had been distorted and mired in so-called "China threat" narratives. This led to notably negative attitudes in polls, such as the Lowy Institute Poll 2022 Report.

However, facts speak louder than rhetoric, Chen continued. Recent years have seen growing number of Australians gaining firsthand exposure to China's realities, particularly after China's visa-waiver policy for Australians, Chen said.

"For instance, we've recently hosted multiple delegations from Australia and New Zealand, with more set to visit," Chen said, sharing his experience. "The latest poll reflects a more objective shift in public sentiment," Chen noted.

Yet while Australians increasingly recognize these truths, the persistence of a majority (69%) viewing China as a future "military threat" reveals the lingering impact of fabricated "China threat" narratives, Chen remarked. 

In addition, according the Australian poll, just over one in three Australians (36%) trusted the US to act responsibly in the world, a 20-point drop since last year and the lowest level on record since the Lowy Institute began polling in 2005.

Despite the sharp drop in trust towards the US, more than six in ten (63%) continue to think that the US would come to Australia's defense if it were attacked, and more Australians say the country should remain close to the US (57%) than those who think Australia should distance itself from its major ally (40%), said the poll.

Nevertheless, most Australians (68%) are pessimistic about the current US administration. Australians are evenly split on Washington's demand for US allies to spend more on defense, according to the poll.

Since the 2024 survey, the gap between Australians' trust in the US compared with China has more than halved, as perceptions of China continued to improve from their nadir in 2022, The Guardian reported, quoting Neelam.

According to The Guardian, Neelam said "That's quite remarkable for Australia's key security ally to have such a low level of trust." "The weight of expectation is that China will be more powerful and more predominant in the global system," he said.

Support for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal remained steady, with two-thirds of Australians (67%) in favor—roughly unchanged from 2022 (70%), shortly after AUKUS was announced.

As the US consistently prioritizes its own interests and national security, even at the expense of allies, a stance that has fueled growing public disillusionment in Australia, Chen pointed out.

But the expert, citing the poll showing 63% of Australians still believe the US would defend Australia if attacked, said this exposes a lingering, unrealistic idealization of American commitments.

Source link

Financially independent but still working? It’s a possibility worth exploring

There’s nothing wrong with Financial Independence, Retire Early as a goal, but true financial freedom can look very different from the picture this ethos paints. (Illustration: CNA/Samuel Woo, iStock)

Over the past decade, the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) has been gaining widespread popularity online, inspiring and motivating more people to manage their money better in order to retire sooner.

Some fantasise about how they can “fire” their boss once they retire early. Others dream of being able to stop working entirely to spend time on family or passion projects.

There’s nothing wrong with FIRE as a goal, but true financial freedom can look very different from the picture this ethos paints. 

NO LONGER TRAPPED BY OUR NEXT PAY CHEQUE

The relationship between our work and finances is a tightly entwined one – most of us need our next pay cheque in order to cover our living expenses and bills, so we keep working. As such, it can be easy to equate the idea of “financial freedom” with that of “freedom from work”. 

But in reality, financial independence and early retirement are two distinct, different things. 

Related:

Seeking financial freedom? Do these 4 things

Commentary: By wanting to retire early, millennials are subverting conventional ideas of work and finances

Not everyone wants to stop working. Studies show that purpose and productivity are essential for our long-term happiness – even post-retirement. 

Many who reach financial independence continue working, not because they have to but because they want to. But what financial freedom really gives us is the power to make decisions about how we work without worrying too much about financial repercussions. It allows us to choose roles that align with our values, take breaks when needed, or say no to toxic work environments. 

When we're no longer trapped by the need to rely heavily on our next pay cheque, we gain the freedom to work for our own growth and purpose. 

WHAT IS YOUR VERSION OF FIRE?

The original FIRE ethos called for saving aggressively (usually more than half your income) and investing wisely so you can retire early. It sounded great in theory, but for most, it often required high income and extreme frugality. 

Today, the FIRE movement has evolved to encompass varying definitions of financial independence. It is no longer about reaching an end goal, but more about the type of lifestyle we desire and the level our finances will need to hit in order to support our aspirations. 

For instance, “Lean FIRE” refers to a minimalist lifestyle where you retire with a lower budget. There’s also “Barista FIRE”, describing a point where withdrawing from your savings and investments can cover your major expenses and bills, while you supplement the shortfall with part-time or passion-based work (such as being a barista).

The original FIRE ethos called for saving aggressively and investing wisely so you can retire early. It sounded great in theory, but for most, it often required high income and extreme frugality. (Photo: iStock)

These newer variations of FIRE may seem like dilutions or compromises – but in reality, they are just as true to the core essence of financial freedom. 

True financial freedom empowers us with choice rather than demanding retirement. It should mean more options, not less. 

This shift in mindset can be liberating. Instead of chasing a retirement date or age, we can focus on building a lifestyle where money supports flexibility, purpose, and well-being rather than escape.

Perhaps you might decide to stay in your current job, but negotiate fewer work hours that would allow you to care for your children or ailing parents. You might explore part-time roles, start a small business, or pull a Jeremy Tan and pursue advocacy for change (even if it’s not as an independent candidate in a general election). 

ARE WE LOOKING FOR ESCAPE, OR A BETTER BALANCE? 

Out of all the people I know who’ve successfully achieved financial independence, the happiest ones are those who never quit working – but it’s not because they particularly love slogging. 

A friend downsized his role to two days a week to spend more time looking after his mother after her cancer diagnosis. Another stopped chasing yearly pay increments and started mentoring juniors instead, finding deeper fulfilment in growing the next generation than a fatter pay cheque.

Clearly, the real problem isn’t work itself – many people find meaning, identity, and purpose through their work. Rather, it is the lack of control over what, how, when, and why we work that has us dissatisfied.

Financial freedom can still mean not working at all, but it’s important for us to understand that this isn’t the only version of true freedom. 

Maybe it’ll mean a smaller pay cheque, but while it may look to others like you’re settling for less, you’re in fact gaining more in time, autonomy, and peace of mind.

Ironically, when we do work that we’re passionate about – work that energises us instead of draining us – we are much more likely to stay the course.

WE DON’T HAVE TO WAIT

Even so, I get why FIRE remains so popular not just in Singapore but around the world. 

Trying to achieve financial security is getting trickier and trickier, especially in a world where inflation only seems to keep climbing and job stability is quickly vanishing in the face of repeated layoffs and the proliferation of artificial intelligence. 

That’s why the FIRE movement appeals to millions of people around the world, because it seems to offer a solution. A way to regain control.

But the core tenet of financial independence was never about never working again – it was about never needing to work out of fear or survival.

So instead of running towards an arbitrary finish line, consider the path you’re on instead. Is there a way to redesign the way work fits into your life now? 

We don’t have to wait until we retire, whether it’s early or not.

Dawn Cher, also known as SG Budget Babe, has been running a popular blog on personal finance for the last 10 years.

Related:

We don’t need more financial goals. Instead, we need better systems for ourselves

The dangers of relying too much on someone else to tell you what to do with your money

Source link

💰https://tdy.sg/3ZtseI1