In other news, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost became the first commercial lander to successfully touch down on the Moon, while Intuitive Machines' Athena lander also reached the lunar surface but with uncertain results. A new gene therapy from MeiraGTx has restored eyesight to children with a genetic defect, and Waymo has expanded its robotaxi service to Austin, Texas. Additionally, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that plant-based oils are healthier than butter, associated with lower mortality rates.
Key takeaways:
- SpaceX's Starship experienced a failure during its eighth test flight, resulting in an explosion, but CEO Elon Musk considers it a minor setback.
- New archaeological findings in Tanzania suggest humans used bone tools over a million years earlier than previously thought, indicating early trade and technical knowledge transmission.
- Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed a faster and more energy-efficient method for training AI neural networks, potentially reducing AI's power consumption.
- Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost became the first commercial lander to successfully land upright on the Moon, while Intuitive Machines' Athena lander also reached the surface but with uncertain landing conditions.