Chinese scientists have reported findings recently in their latest experiments aboard the Tiangong space station: while brain cells migrates faster, muscle repair process is more slowly, and medicines for lipid metabolism disorders show a pronounced boost in potency in weightless environment.
The discoveries could reshape approaches to Alzheimer's therapy, muscle-atrophy prevention and next-generation drug research and development.
"Currently, our in-orbit observations show that neurons in organ-on-a-chip move faster in space than on the ground. This may indicate that the unique environment of space promotes cell movement in our brain tissue," said Jin Xuena, principal designer of life sciences of the Space Application Engineering and Technology Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
A parallel experiment tracking skeletal-muscle precursor cells shows the opposite trend.
In the weightless environment, the cells' migration rate drops sharply and the overall timeline for muscle regeneration is delayed.
The finding underscores the difficulty of repairing damaged muscle in space.
A third study examined how lipid-nanoparticles ferry nucleic-acid drugs into cells.
On-orbit data reveal that cellular uptake of the drug is markedly higher in microgravity, and levels of disease-related proteins decline more rapidly.
"In a space environment, the therapeutic effects of drugs for lipid metabolism disorders are significantly enhanced. Therefore, the microgravity environment in space may serve as a new approach for future drug intervention or drug development," said Jin.
Experiments in China's space station create new path for treating brain disorders
Foreign ministers from 12 countries moved on Tuesday to tighten restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as mounting settlement expansion and violence fuel growing concerns over the viability of a two-state solution.
Foreign ministers from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Britain said in a joint statement that they intended to introduce tighter restrictions on businesses or entities that operate in, or support, settlements, which are illegal under international law.
The ministers said the situation in the West Bank was "rapidly deteriorating" amid what they described as unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion.
Among the 12 countries, Britain, France and Canada said they would bring forward national measures to ban trade in goods produced in settlements, while welcoming steps already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium.
Britain on Tuesday announced some of the most detailed measures so far. Speaking in the House of Commons, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain would introduce a ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
He said that Britain would also establish a new sanctions regime targeting specific companies and individuals providing construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate services that contribute to settlement expansion. Advertising in Britain for property in Israeli settlements would also be prohibited.
The Palestinian Presidency on Tuesday welcomed Britain's decision, while calling for additional and binding international action to halt Israeli settlement expansion, stop settlers' crimes, and hold those responsible accountable.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X that France would "end trade" with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that France could not, through its trade, support a situation that threatened Israelis, Palestinians and regional stability. He also urged the European Union to adopt the same approach.
Some European countries have already been moving in a similar direction.
Spain has already prohibited imports of goods produced in settlements and related commercial advertising. Belgium has decided to introduce an import ban after approving draft rules in July under which permits for goods originating from Israeli settlements would be refused. Ireland has approved draft legislation to ban imports of goods produced in settlement.
The Netherlands has adopted a national ban on the import, purchase and sale of goods from settlements, which will take effect on Sept. 22, while Norway has put proposed legislation banning imports from and exports to settlements out for public consultation.
The EU has also stepped up sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers. On May 28, it sanctioned four entities and three individuals over serious human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank. The measures include asset freezes, funding bans and travel restrictions. The bloc, however, has yet to impose an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements.
The latest push for tougher measures followed Israel issuing a tender in August for 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement project in the West Bank.
According to the tender published online by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, the project is part of a broader plan to build 3,401 housing units in the E1 area east of Jerusalem.
The 12 foreign ministers said the E1 decision was among the developments undermining prospects for a Palestinian state and called on the Israeli government to immediately halt settlement expansion and ensure accountability for settler violence.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the planned British move on Tuesday, calling the sanctions a "grave miscalculation."
The 12 ministers also reiterated their condemnation of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and recognized Israel's legitimate security interests.
They reaffirmed support for a two-state solution under which Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state would live side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized borders.
Twelve countries move toward tighter trade curbs on Israeli settlements
