Synthetic life achieves full cell cycle
Biologists at the University of Minnesota have built a synthetic cell — made entirely from non-living chemical components — that can complete a full life cycle: taking in nutrients, growing, copying its genetic material, dividing into daughter cells, and passing along beneficial mutations. Called SpudCell, the project marks a milestone in synthetic biology.
Perseverance finds complex organics on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered the most extensive evidence yet of complex organic molecules on Mars, detecting macromolecular carbon in rocks from the Bright Angel formation in Jezero Crater. The discovery strengthens the case that the building blocks of life were widespread on the Red Planet billions of years ago.
Super-Earth discovered 25 light-years away
Astronomers have identified a potentially habitable super-Earth, designated Gliese 3378b, located just 25 light-years from our solar system. The planet orbits within its star's habitable zone, where conditions could allow liquid water to exist on its surface, making it a prime target for future atmospheric study.