An Apollo 12 high-oblique view of the lunar nearside looking northeast toward the crater Copernicus (in center near horizon), as photographed from lunar orbit. Credit: Johnson Space Center / NASAShareA startup company wants to establish mining operations on the moon to extract a rare isotope needed for future quantum computers and nuclear fusion reactors. And according to one of its scientific advisers, theres little reason to preserve the environment in the process.Following the completion of Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost mission on March 16, the era of private lunar landers is officially underway. But Firefly is far from the only private company eager to reach the moon. Cofounded by a former Blue Origin employee and an Apollo 17 astronaut, Interlune aims to conduct its first lunar excursion in 2027, with plans for multiple additional trips if all goes according to plan. But Interlunes aims arent purely scientificthey want to mine the moons possible trove of helium-3 isotopes.Helium-3s utility comes from its single neutron, which allows it to cool to extremely low temperatures. This attribute makes it particularly useful in constructing certain types of quantum computers, and it also may serve as fuel in nuclear fusion reactors. But while helium-4 occurs abundantly on Earth, its far more difficult to find naturally occurring examples of its single neutron relative. Helium-3 is so rare here that the ratio between the two isotopes is estimated to be roughly 1:1 million parts helium-4. According to Interlune, a single kilogram of helium-3 is estimated to be worth around $20 million.However, helium-3 isnt as rare elsewhere in the solar system. The sun, essentially a gigantic nuclear fusion reactor, emits plumes of highly energized solar wind containing large amounts of the isotope. Earths magnetic field deflects the majority of these winds, but given that the moon lacks a similar field, helium-3 regularly bombards its surface. All that helium-3 eventually is trapped as bubbles inside rocks scattered throughout the top layers of lunar soil, also known as regolith. If a company hypothetically harvested those isotopic gas pockets, they could facilitate a massive new resource hub for some of the most advancedand expensiveprojects back on Earth.Interlune aims to do just that. The Seattle-based company, formed in 2020, hopes to prove there are enough helium-3 reserves on the moon to warrant the first full-scale lunar mining operation. Interlune is financed by a number of private investors, and even received a $375,000 grant from the Department of Energy in 2024. On March 11 during the annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), the companys chief scientist pitched the companys latest updates: Prospect Moon.Currently slated to launch no earlier than 2027, the Prospect Moon mission relies on contracting another companys lunar lander through NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Mission planners will then pack a regolith sampling system, helium-3 mechanical processor, mass spectrometer, and a multispectral imager into the lander for delivery to a currently unspecified region of the moon. Once there, Interlunes equipment will gather data and analyze regolith samples, then beam the results back to Earth. But even if everything goes smoothly during the Prospect Moon mission, that doesnt mean companies will rush to start mining.For starters, experts still arent sure how much helium-3 is contained in regolith. The only samples on Earth came during the Apollo missions, and they showed only small levels of the isotope. That said, its possible some of the original reserves were unknowingly released during the bumpy ride home, meaning lunar helium-3 levels may still be high enough to warrant commercialization.Then theres the legality. Despite the multiple US flags erected by Apollo astronauts, no country claims any actual jurisdiction over the moon. Any kind of largescale and longterm projectespecially something as potentially lucrative as helium-3 miningwill undoubtedly set off an international debate about lunar territory. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.And like nearly every terrestrial mining operation on Earth, extracting resources from the moon could result in massive ramifications for the moonscape. Speaking with New Scientist, however, at least one Interlune affiliate doesnt think its worth much thought.Theres no life on there, so why do we need to preserve the environment? Clive Neal, an unpaid scientific consultant for the company, said on Monday.At the same time, Neal conceded other mitigating factors that might influence Interlunes approach to lunar mining. Given the moons importance across cultures around the world, dirtying Earths only natural satellite before humans even permanently set up shop may be an issue.How other cultures view the moon, and changing the surface of the moon, requires those cultures to be part of this conversation, he added.Regardless of any other factors that might arise, largescale lunar mining projects are likely years down the road. That offers plenty of time for Interlune, international regulators, governments, and environmental advocates to start on those conversations.Interlune did not respond to requests for clarification at the time of publication.

AnimalsThe mystery of how iguanas crossed the Pacific Ocean may be solvedIguanas floated to Fiij from North America 30 million years ago The ancestors of Fijis iguanas, such as the Fijian crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis, shown here), may have arrived in the islands by floating across the Pacific Ocean on vegetation over 30 million years ago.Nicholas HessBy Jake Buehler12 seconds agoScaly sailors may have made a record-setting oceanic voyage. Tens of millions of years ago, iguanas in North America floated across the Pacific Ocean. Clinging to vegetation washed into the sea, they traveled one-fifth of the way around the world, eventually disembarking and settling in the islands of the South Pacific, researchers report March 17 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The seafaring lizards trip may be the longest known transocean emigration among land vertebrates.Its just a truly incredible example of long-distance dispersal, says Ethan Gyllenhaal, an evolutionary biologist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock who was not involved with the research.

Nature, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00717-9Inherited repeat mutations in the HTT gene expand in neurons over decades before crossing a toxic threshold, revealing a long time window for therapy.

Nature, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00733-9The 2005 finding of cells and blood vessels in dinosaur bone launched a systematic search for fossil remnants of biomolecules, creating innovations in methods and applications.

'More people are in harm's way': Tornadoes are shifting east of Tornado Alley, forecasters warn

A death adder at an Australian wildlife park found to have three extremely rare fangs that all produce deadly neurotoxic venom.

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Taras TereshchenkoWe are used to the fact more work usually means better results, but its not always this way, as tech artist Taras Tereshchenko demonstrated in his fountain animation created in Unreal Engine.The water flows nicely without expensive and complex solutions like translucency, Single Layer Water Material shading model, or Geometry Cache. Simpler doesnt always mean worse, he noted.Tereshchenko used the Masked Blend Mode and his Dither Temporal AA modified function to achieve the result, which will work for VR and mobile. The splashes were animated with the particle system, and the falling water with WPO (World Position Offset).I used vertex color and one additional UV set to store WPO and Normals. I think this object wont have a noticeable impact on FPS, even if there are hundreds of them on screen, he added.You will be able to take a closer look at the fountain when the artist releases it on Fab later. For now, have a look at his other works on LinkedIn and his blog.Also, join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post 3D Artist Shows That Simpler Doesnt Always Mean Worse in Unreal Engine Fountain Animation appeared first on CG SHARES.

Stephen Ddungu, a solo developer known for creating such games as Purpose, 00000 00 00000000, and Sword of Symphony, recently shared updates for the latter, showcasing a dynamic parkour scene.For this setup, the artist took Assassins Creed Unitys parkour animations, known for their fluidity and realism, as a reference for his work. By drawing inspiration from the games mechanics with top-notch graceful motions, the developer sought to replicate a similar level of swiftness and coordination and created his own character with agile and sleek movements.Sword of Symphony is an unusual action RPG in which the player fights with music and creates musical combos. The game is being developed using Range Engine. The creator shared that he aimed to create something simple yet versatile and, apart from Assassins Creed, took inspiration from Uncharted and Rooftops & Alleys:The developer showcased an overview of the games parkour moves and shared some details on creating them:Visit Stephen Ddungu on X/Twitter anddont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Dynamic Parkour Scene from an Upcoming Fighting Music RPG appeared first on CG SHARES.

Saints Row studio Volition shut down in 2023 after 30 years, leading many to wonder about the future of the open-world crime franchise. The fate of the franchise is unknown, but Saber Interactive founder Matthew Karch shared some context surrounding the series. In short, he said the developer got too expensive to maintain."The Saints Row team is gone. They were so expensive for what they were," Karch told Stephen Totilo for his GameFile newsletter, as reported by GamesRadar. "They didn't know what they were building. They didn't have any real direction. It couldn't last. And so, who's going to fund them for the next game after that disaster?"The newest Saints Row game was the 2022 reboot. The game underperformed commercial expectations at launch, but Embracer's CEO said he was confident the game would make money and serve as a "starting point" for the series going forward.Continue Reading at GameSpot