🛰️ Satellites practice 'dogfighting' in space, Russia tests new nuclear fuel, mouse sex study identifies brain chemicals

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China is reportedly practicing “dogfighting” maneuvers in space, according to a US Space Force general.

While the idea of dogfighting in space evokes sci-fi movies like Star Wars, Gen. Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations said Space Force has observed five Chinese satellites performing military practice operations.

Low Earth orbit is becoming an increasingly militarized zone as decades-long efforts to maintain it as a peaceful domain are lost in space. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🛰️ China's satellites practice 'dogfighting' in space, US warns of threat

At this week’s McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, Guetlein claimed China is rehearsing military satellite maneuvers in low Earth orbit.

“With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control,” he explained. “That’s what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another.”

According to a report by Defense News, a service spokesperson later provided more details at the conference. The spokesperson said the operation Guetlein referred to occurred in 2024. The US Space Force observed three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and the experimental spacecraft Shijian-605 A and B.

⛽ Russia tests new nuclear fuel to boost reactor efficiency, cut waste

Fission reactors can keep up with the world’s growing energy needs by producing large amounts of energy using relatively small amounts of nuclear fuel.

Additionally, they produce low carbon emissions, addressing a primary challenge in energy production. Nuclear fission reactors struggle with two key problems: poor fuel utilization and complicated radioactive waste handling.

To address these challenges, Russia’s A.I. Leypunsky Institute of Physics and Power Engineering has begun testing the neutron-physical characteristics of the VVER-S reactor with MOX (mixed oxide) nuclear fuel. The tests were conducted at the BFS-1 testing facility.

🐭 Mouse sex study identifies brain chemicals controlling sexual behavior

A recent study sheds light on the brain chemicals that control different stages of sexual behavior in male mice, which can be useful for understanding forms of sexual dysfunction in humans.

Researchers explain how two important neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and dopamine, work in a rhythmic fashion to control the shift from mounting to ejaculation.

This will help develop future therapies for disorders such as premature ejaculation, which affects about 20-30 percent of sexually active men.

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