What is China’s mysterious rocket up to?

Plus: New use for old multiple sclerosis drug shows great promise for a cure Aug 11, 2022 [Blueprint]( A riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma… what is China’s rocket up to? The Long March 2F vehicle, which is one of China's most dependable rockets, [launched a covert spacecraft]( last week from a spaceport in the Gobi Desert. The Chinese government gave very little information about the “reusable test spacecraft” in a brief article published by China's state-run Xinhua news service, other than to suggest that it will stay in orbit for “a period of time” and provide technical testing of reusable and in-orbit services. Curiouser and curiouser… But before you start to fret too much about what exactly is going on there, how about some light relief in the form of a YouTuber turning his toilet into a gaming PC? [Your wish is our command](. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard the world’s leading experts talk about whether – and when – we will face another mass extinction. And this week, premium subscribers will be treated to an exclusive interview with one of the scientists behind MIT’sfaster boiling water breakthrough. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+ today]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [YouTuber turns his toilet into a gaming PC.]( [Toilet turned into gaming PC.]( He must feel flushed with success. [Must Read]MUST READ [China’s mysterious spaceplane is still going strong in orbit. But what is it up to?]( [China's mysterious rocket.]( Ok, so here’s what we know… China's X-37B lookalike spaceplane was [launched into orbit last week](. Its current mission is its longest and highest yet, but its mission remains a complete secret. The Long March 2F vehicle launched from a spaceport in the Gobi Desert last week, and it’s up there doing… well, who knows what. Thought to be very similar to the US Space Force's experimental X-37B spacecraft, this spaceplane's latest launch is the second of two launches to date. → The unmanned X-37B looks a lot like NASA's space shuttle, although it is far smaller at less than about 33 feet (10 meters) in length. The vehicle's cargo bay can hold something about the size of a standard refrigerator. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [The worst case Starlink scenario? We could be 'right on the edge' of Kessler syndrome. [premium]]( SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the private space company expects "[over 4,200 Starlink satellites]( in operation within 18 months", constituting two-thirds of all active satellites. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - [Robot dogs]( could soon patrol US Space Force's station. - An American non-profit organization built the [first 3D-printed school]( in Madagascar, [premium] - Northrop Grumman chooses [Firefly for its Antares rocket]( to replace the Russian engines. [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [New brown dwarf discovered from James Webb early release data.]( A new faint, distant, and [cold brown dwarf has been found]( by a global team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope. And it is around 31 times as massive as Jupiter. So quite big. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - Giant meteorite impacts [built Earth’s continents]( billions of years ago. - Elon Musk's Starlink satellites got '[invisibility' upgrades](. What do astronomers say? [premium] - Brain scans measure students' learning [better than exams]( — here's the proof. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS China launched a covert spacecraft last week from a spaceport in the Gobi Desert. What do you think China is up to with this mission? [Increasing its space presence]( [Testing hypersonic technologies]( [Probably surveillance]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday we asked you how we might best apply the discovery of gigantic lightning bolts. And 38 percent of you bright sparks said we could harness the electricity. 38% Harness the electricity 33% Something else entirely 18% Improve satellites in low-Earth orbit 11% Improve safety for people on Earth [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.” Rosalind Franklin 1920–58 English physical chemist and molecular biologist: letter to her father, summer 1940; Brenda Maddox Rosalind Franklin: the Dark Lady of DNA (2002) ch. 4. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [iHartan Wifi Extender]( [image]( [Charbroil Grill]( [image]( [Mini Dog AI Robot]( [image]( [Aurora Stripcut Paper Shredder]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - New use for old multiple sclerosis drug [shows great promise]( for a cure. - Mini-Neptunes [may become super-Earths]( as the exoplanets lose their atmospheres. (Science News) - A [new 'Langya' virus]( carried by shrews is infecting dozens in China. - Restrictions on [psilocybin ‘magic mushrooms’]( are easing as research ramps up. (Scientific American) - Researchers succeed in executing the [fastest two-qubit gate](. - It isn’t always the best idea to design [robots that look like us]( – just ask R2-D2. (BBC) - A new [small and less costly molecule]( could make immunotherapy available to all cancer patients. Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? 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