JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Beyond the excitement of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, basketball became a powerful tool for social impact, as the tournament hosted a series of Basketball For Good activations designed to empower, inspire, and unite communities in the host city.
In alignment with the FIBA Foundation’s mission to increase the social impact and legacy of FIBA events, the FIBA Asia Cup joined the growing list of continental championships where Basketball For Good took center stage. These initiatives highlight how FIBA events extend their influence well beyond the competition, leaving behind a legacy of inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity.
The official rest day of the competition transformed into a celebration of community, with two distinct Basketball For Good clinics organized by FIBA’s Regional Office in Asia and the Local Organizing Committee.
The first welcomed dozens of enthusiastic young girls eager to take part in basketball activities. The second, with the support of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, provided children and youth with intellectual disabilities an unforgettable opportunity to step onto the court and experience the unifying spirit of sport.
Both sessions were graced by FIBA Asia Cup Ambassadors Sam Daghlas and Ali Al Maghrabi, joined by several members of the Saudi National Team.
Girls’ Clinic: Building Leaders On and Off the Court
The clinic for girls showcased the growing momentum of women’s basketball in Saudi Arabia, reflecting FIBA’s strategic priority of “Women in Basketball.” Partnering with Jeddah United, a trailblazer in the development of female basketball in the Kingdom, the initiative proposed a series of fun games and teamwork-based drills. The young participants not only learned how to dribble, pass, and shoot, but also absorbed lessons in leadership, self-confidence, and empowerment.
The event was a vivid example of how basketball can inspire the next generation of players, coaches, referees, and fans—helping to grow the sport while instilling values that go far beyond the court.
Special Olympics Clinic: A Celebration of Inclusion
The second clinic celebrated inclusion, bringing together children and youth with intellectual disabilities for an afternoon filled with joy, laughter, and shared learning. Thanks to the support of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, participants were able to play alongside their heroes, receive encouragement, and build friendships in a safe and welcoming environment.
The clinic highlighted the importance of partnerships and synergies in creating sustainable impact, reinforcing the FIBA Foundation’s strong collaboration with Special Olympics.
Cheering On Their Role Models
As a special highlight, participants from both clinics were invited to watch a FIBA Asia Cup game. Cheering loudly from the stands, they witnessed their role models compete at the highest level, sparking dreams of their own futures in basketball.
A Lasting Legacy for Jeddah
By leveraging the platform of one of Asia’s premier basketball events, the FIBA Foundation and its partners ensured that the impact of the tournament extended well beyond the final buzzer—leaving behind stories of inspiration, friendship, and growth.
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About the FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation, established in 2008, is the social and legacy arm of FIBA. It addresses the role of basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and cultural heritage while using the sport as a catalyst for positive change.
Margot Robbie’s baby steals the show in adorable interview moment
Margot Robbie’s 10-month-old baby boy made a memorable appearance during an interview with Access Hollywood, where he inadvertently stole the spotlight with his loud babbling.
The actress, who welcomed her first child with husband Tom Ackerley in October 2024, couldn’t help but laugh at her baby’s antics.
As Robbie discussed her upcoming film “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” with co-star Colin Farrell, her baby’s cries interrupted the conversation.
“I’m so sorry about that… how loud my baby is,” Robbie apologised, while Farrell chimed in with a grin, “It’s a great soundtrack, isn’t it?” The heartwarming moment showcased Robbie’s balancing act between motherhood and her career.
In a rare interview with Entertainment Tonight, Robbie opened up about her experience as a new mother. “It’s funny, you try to explain to someone who has kids, you don’t need to because they get it,” she said.
“And if they don’t, it’s probably just really boring to hear. It’s the best.” This sentiment was echoed by Farrell, who reflected on how parenthood has profoundly shifted his perspective on life.
The Barbie star’s film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is set to premiere on September 19, where she stars alongside Colin Farrell.
The romantic drama follows two strangers who meet at a wedding and embark on a surreal journey, revisiting key moments from their past.
Robbie expressed her excitement about the project, calling it a “visual spectacle” and praising director Kogonada as a “true artist.”
GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland – AUGUST 26, 2025 – Temenos, a global leader in banking technology, has been Certified™ by Great Place To Work® in 10 countries: China, Costa Rica, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Vietnam. This prestigious recognition is based entirely on feedback from employees in these countries, with 84% affirming that Temenos is a great place to work.
In addition, Temenos France, certified in 2024, achieved an impressive 17th place in the Best Workplaces France 2025 and was also recognized on the Great Place to Work® in Tech list.
Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors proven to drive market-leading performance, employee retention, and innovation.
Jean-Pierre Brulard, CEO, Temenos, commented:
We are thrilled to be recognized as a Great Place To Work in 10 countries. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By fostering a culture of empowerment, accountability and clear direction, we are able to attract and retain the best talent—people who are excited to join us on our journey to make banking better for millions of people across the world.”
Temenos continues to prioritize employee experience through a range of initiatives and flexible working practices, including caregiver and family leave, mental health recharge days, a gradual return to work program for new parents, and flexible hybrid working arrangements. These efforts have helped foster a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
Over the years, Temenos locations in Denmark, France, Greece, India, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UAE have also earned certification, showcasing the company’s consistent commitment to creating exceptional workplaces.
According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Employees at Certified workplaces are also 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work and are twice as likely to be paid fairly and have a fair chance at promotion.
Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit the Temenos careers page at: www.temenos.com/careers
New Zealand have suffered a huge blow in the form of white-ball captain Mitchell Santner requiring abdominal surgery after returning from the UK, following his participation in the Hundred Men’s 2025. The recovery period is being stated of around one month, which leaves a question mark on his participation in the T20I series against Australia.
New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter commented on the importance of having Santner in the side. Despite not confirming anything regarding the timeframe of his recovery, he was hopeful that the bowling all-rounder would be fit in time to play Australia.
“Mitch is a world-class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view. With that in mind, we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks’ time, and from there, we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series,” stated Walter, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Injuries to Glenn Phillips, Will O’Rourke and Finn Allen come as massive setbacks too. Phillips has had to extend his rehabilitation from a groin injury that forced him out of the recent Zimbabwe series. A stress fracture to O’Rourke’s back meant that he will be undergoing a strength & conditioning programme before being reassessed. It has been confirmed that Allen will be out for three months following a surgery on his right foot.
Walter expressed sympathy towards O’Rourke and was confident that the tall pacer will come back fitter and more determined. He also spoke on how unfortunate it was to not have Phillips and Allen as part of the team. However, Walter shed light on the positives of other players getting opportunities in the absence of the three.
“We’re really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him speedy recovery. He’s had such an impressive start to his career and so naturally it is disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he’s a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger. It’s disappointing to lose the services of Glenn and Finn who have played important batting roles in our T20 set up in recent times. Like in Zimbabwe, their unavailability will present opportunities for others to put their hands up in what’s going to be a hugely exciting and important series against Australia,” added Walter.
New Zealand have a run of white-ball contests in the near future. They will be playing Australia (three T20Is), England (three T20Is, three ODIs) and West Indies (five T20Is, three ODIs) from October 1 to November 22.
Worldwide trend in publication numbers and citations
As shown in Fig. 2, the annual publication output on proteomics in obesity research from 1999 to 2025 exhibited an overall upward trend with slight fluctuations. The highest number of studies was observed in 2022 (n = 184), while the lowest was in 1999 (n = 2). Between 2004 and 2014, the annual publication output ranged from 14 to 71 articles on average. However, a noticeable surge in the number of publications occurred in the last decade, particularly from 2018 (n = 97) to 2022 (n = 184). As of the search date, the total citations for all articles amounted to 49,801. From 2010 to 2022, the annual citation count consistently exceeded 3000, highlighting sustained academic attention in this area (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2
The number of annual publications and citation trend
Distribution and global contribution of countries/regions, institutions
Building upon the rising publication trend, we next examined the geographical distribution of research output. Table 1 summarizes the top ten most productive countries/regions in proteomics-related obesity research. As shown in Fig. 3a, the United States led with 534 publications, followed by China (n = 322) and Germany (n = 187). The U.S. also had the highest H-index (h = 72), indicating both volume and impact, with Germany ranking second (h = 42). These findings underscore the dominant role of the U.S. in shaping the field. The international collaboration network, constructed using VOSviewer and an online bibliometric platform, included 24 countries with at least 25 publications (Fig. 3b, c). Line thickness reflects the Total Link Strength (TLS), representing collaboration intensity. The U.S. demonstrated extensive partnerships, particularly with China, which emerged as its closest collaborator. In contrast, inter-country collaborations beyond these key players appeared limited, suggesting opportunities for broader global cooperation.
Table 1 Leading 10 countries or regions in publication volume related to proteomics and obesity
Fig. 3
Distribution of published articles across countries and their correlation network. a The growth trends of the top 10 countries in field of proteomics in obesity from 1999 to 2025. b The international network collaboration among the countries/regions, generated using an online platform for bibliometric analysis. c Correlations among countries/regions with over 25 publications, visualized using VOSviewer. Line thickness represents citation strength
Turning to the institutional level, Table 2 lists the ten most prolific institutions. Scandinavian and German institutions were prominently represented. The University of Copenhagen ranked first (n = 43), followed by Maastricht University (n = 35), Karolinska Institute (n = 34), and Harvard Medical School (n = 32). The institutional collaboration network (Fig. 4) shows node size proportional to publication count, while link thickness represents TLS. The University of Copenhagen (TLS = 46), Karolinska Institute (TLS = 44), and Uppsala University (TLS = 34) were the most collaborative institutions in the network.
Table 2 Ten institutions with the highest output in proteomics-obesity studies
Fig. 4
The co-authorship network map of institutions
Contributions of authors and co-cited authors
To further explore individual-level academic influence, we analyzed the productivity and citation impact of researchers in the field. A total of 11,603 authors and 60,229 co-cited authors were identified. Table 3 lists the top ten most productive and most frequently cited contributors in the field of proteomics and obesity. Among them, five authors published more than ten papers, with Yun Jong Won leading in both publication count (n = 29) and citations (n = 533), and an H-index of 17. Other prolific authors included Choi Jung Won (n = 19), von Bergen Martin (n = 13), Oh Tae-Seok (n = 11), and Chen Shu-Chen (n = 11).
Table 3 Most active authors and most frequently co-cited researchers in the field
In addition to authorship output, co-citation analysis was used to assess scholarly influence within the intellectual network. The top ten co-cited authors were cited more than 70 times, with Cox J. ranking first (n = 167), followed by Hotamisligil G. S. (n = 124) and Huang D. W. (n = 99). Based on a threshold of ≥ 30 co-citations, 103 authors were included in the co-citation network analysis, providing insight into influential research collaborations and intellectual structure within the field (Fig. 5a, b).
Fig. 5
The network (a) and density (b) visualization of co-cited authors
Analysis of journals
To understand the publication outlets shaping the field, we identified the top 15 journals publishing articles on proteomics in obesity research. Proteomics and International Journal of Molecular Sciences were the most productive, with 50 and 48 publications, respectively. Among these journals, Nature Communications had the highest impact factor, while Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications had the lowest. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics received the most citations (n = 2060), highlighting its influence in the field. Of the 15 journals, 37% were classified as JCR Q1, and 63% had an impact factor above 4.0, suggesting strong journal quality overall (Table 4).
Table 4 Fifteen journals publishing the largest number of articles on proteomics and obesity
Analysis of co-cited references and citation bursts
To gain insight into how key ideas and research themes have developed, we analyzed co-citation relationships and tracked citation surges across a dataset of 85,033 references. Table 5 lists the top ten most co-cited references in proteomics-related obesity research, each cited at least 36 times. The most frequently co-cited work was by Cox et al. (2008), Nature Biotechnology, cited 84 times, followed by Huang da W et al. (2009), Nature Protocols, with 70 citations.
Table 5 Most commonly co-cited references in proteomics-obesity literature
The co-citation network (Fig. 6a, b) revealed close linkages among foundational works, particularly those introducing key analytical platforms like MaxQuant. In parallel, citation burst analysis (Fig. 7) identified 25 references with rapid citation increases over time. The top-ranked burst was Perez-Riverol et al. (2023–2025; strength = 11.69), followed by another work by the same author and by Szklarczyk et al. (strength = 10.32). These bursts indicate periods of heightened attention to key methodological resources and databases. Overall, burst strengths ranged from 4.21 to 11.69, with durations from 1 to 5 years.
Fig. 6
Co-citation collaboration map generated by VOSviewer. a Network visualization of co-cited references. b Density visualization of co-cited references
Fig. 7
The top 25 high-cited references with the strongest citation bursts, generated by CiteSpace
Figure 8 further depicts the temporal clustering of co-cited references, revealing six major themes. Early research emphasized insulin resistance, systems biology, and the small intestine, whereas recent studies have focused on biomarkers, Mendelian randomization, and intercellular communication, reflecting the field’s evolving priorities.
Fig. 8
Citespace visualization map of timeline view
Analysis of keyword co-occurrence
To complement citation-based insights, we sorted the recurring keywords and identified the top 20 words with the highest frequency (Table 6). This was conducted by combining similar keywords with the most representative topics in proteomics for obesity researches as comprehensively as possible. Given that “proteomics” and “obesity” were part of the search strategy, their high frequency is unsurprising and not inherently meaningful.
Table 6 Twenty most frequent author keywords across selected studies
Keyword co-occurrence analysis was used to identify major research themes and their interconnections (Fig. 9a, b). As visualized in Fig. 9a, nine major clusters emerged. Cluster 1 (red) centers on multi-omics approaches and the gut microbiota, with terms like metagenomics, microbiome, and metaproteomics, reflecting growing interest in microbial contributions to metabolic disorders. Keywords such as bariatric surgery and weight loss highlight clinical management, while pregnancy and saliva suggest a shift toward specific populations and non-invasive sampling. Cluster 2 (green) focuses on metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities, highlighting the frequent use of integrative omics and causal inference methods, including Mendelian randomization. Given the complexity of the full network, we highlight Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 as representative examples of distinct but prominent thematic directions. These clusters capture both mechanistic and translational aspects of obesity research. Additional clusters also contribute to the field’s diversity, though not discussed in detail.
Fig. 9
The network (a), overlay (b) of keyword co‑occurrence on proteomics for obesity researches
To further explore how these research foci have changed over time, a temporal overlay analysis was conducted. As shown in Fig. 9b, it illustrates a shift from basic research on adipokines and insulin to more systemic and translational topics, including lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, type 2 diabetes, and PCOS. This trend underscores a broadening of research focus toward clinical application and precision medicine.
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) has released the final research reports of its survey exploring how nutrition professionals in Spain and Portugal view plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs) such as soy, oat, almond, rice and coconut-based drinks and yoghurts.
Why it matters
The findings come at a time of evolving dietary habits, growing interest in plant-based foods and continued debate about how such foods should be reflected in public health guidance and sustainability policies.
Key findings
Strong support: 88% of Spanish and 93% of Portuguese professionals recognise PBDAs as part of a healthy diet
Dietary guidelines: 78% in Spain and 76% in Portugal support including PBDAs in national dietary guidelines
Fortification: 81% in Spain and 96% in Portugal believe PBDAs should be fortified with vitamins and/or minerals
Top reasons for recommending PBDAs: lactose intolerance, vegan/plant-based diets and dietary diversity
Awareness gaps: Differences remain in professionals’ perceptions of nutritional value, processing, environmental impact and fortification — highlighting the importance of clearer guidance and communication to support informed recommendations
What’s in the full report?
The newly released report goes beyond headline figures to provide
detailed statistics, charts, and comparisons with previous research
insights into professionals’ familiarity, exposure, and consumption patterns
qualitative responses illustrating reasoning and justifications
implications for nutrition research, practice and policy.
Danone further accelerates its Renew transformation and announces the next stage of its leadership structure
Danone announces today an evolution of its leadership structure. The company will operate through 3 geographies: EMEA, Asia Pacific and Americas. This leaner organization marks a further step in the deployment of the second chapter of Renew Danone. It will further enhance the company’s agility and market impact.
To this effect, as of January 1st, 2026:
Pablo Perversi is appointed President EMEA (Europe, Turkey, Middle East and Africa),
Bruno Chevot is appointed President APAC (Asia-Pacific),
Henri Bruxelles is appointed President Americas.
reporting to Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta, Group Deputy CEO, in charge of geographies and categories.
Christian Stammkoetter, currently President for Asia, Africa and the Middle East (AMEA), has decided to leave Danone to pursue a new challenge, after 19 years with the company. He will remain in his role until the end of the year.
Henri Bruxelles will keep his JV and partners responsibilities.
Laurent Sacchi, General Secretary, will assume leadership of Sustainability to continue delivering our health mission through sustainability and social impact.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chief Executive Officer said:
“As part of the next chapter of our Renew Danone strategy, we have decided to further accelerate our transformation, with a more compact and simpler organisation at the top of the company. These changes help us move forward with even greater focus and agility.
Although Christian will be with us until the end of the year, on behalf of all of us at Danone I would like to thank him for his leadership and dedication to Danone over the last two decades. We all wish him every success in his next role.”
About Danone (www.danone.com)
Danone is a leading global food and beverage company operating in three health-focused, fast-growing and on-trend Categories: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based products, Waters and Specialized Nutrition. With a long-standing mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices while committing to achieve measurable nutritional, social, societal and environment impact. Danone has defined its Renew strategy to restore growth, competitiveness, and value creation for the long-term. With over 90,000 employees, and products sold in over 120 markets, Danone generated €27.4 billion in sales in 2024. Danone’s portfolio includes leading international brands (Actimel, Activia, Alpro, Aptamil, Danette, Danio, Danonino, evian, Nutricia, Nutrilon, Volvic, among others) as well as strong local and regional brands (including AQUA, Blédina, Bonafont, Cow & Gate, Mizone, Oikos and Silk). Listed on Euronext Paris and present on the OTCQX platform via an ADR (American Depositary Receipt) program, Danone is a component stock of leading sustainability indexes including the ones managed by Moody’s and Sustainalytics, as well as MSCI ESG Indexes, FTSE4Good Index Series, Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and Access to Nutrition Index. Danone’s ambition is to be B CorpTM certified at global level in 2025.
o o O o o
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Danone that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Generally, you can identify these forward-looking statements by forward-looking words, such as “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “believe”, “forecast”, “guidance”, “foresee”, “likely”, “may”, “should”, “goal”, “target”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “predict”, “continue”, “convinced” and “confident,” the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology or by using future dates. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to predictions of future activities, operations, direction, performance and results of Danone. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factor” section of Danone’s Universal Registration Document (the current version of which is available at www.danone.com).
Subject to regulatory requirements, Danone does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements. This document does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Danone securities.
Researchers from Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) will soon launch 3D printed liver tissue to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The project, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, will investigate how microgravity environments impact the behavior of functional artificial organ constructs. This could provide new insights into how scientists can manufacture longer-lasting cellular structures for researching diseases and treating patients on Earth.
Two research teams from the institute, Team Winston and Team WFIRM, utilized 3D bioprinting technology to create live organ tissue samples, complete with complex vascular channels, as part of NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge. This competition seeks to accelerate tissue engineering and advance regenerative medicine technologies.
They received $400,000 in funding as a result of their earlier earth-bound demonstrations, where their 3D printed tissues functioned in laboratories for up to 30 days. In space, however, zero gravity alters cell distribution, behaviour, and adhesion in vascularised constructs. These changes could hold the key to improving the viability of artificial organs.
Team Winston will be the first of the two to dispatch its samples to the ISS. Once in orbit, the 3D printed tissues will be assessed using Redwire Space’s Multi-Use Variable-Gravity Platform (MVP).
The project is slated to launch aboard SpaceX’s 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission, scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than August 24th, 2025, at 2:45 a.m. Eastern time. The NASA-contracted flight will ferry more than 20 experimental payloads, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
“This collaborative investigation has the potential to yield remarkable results,” explained James Yoo, the WFIRM professor leading the work. “By leveraging bioprinting technologies, we’ve created gel-like frameworks with channels for oxygen and nutrient flow that mimic natural blood vessels, opening up new possibilities for medical treatments both on Earth and in space.”
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket, which will carry ISS National Lab-sponsored research to the International Space Station. Photo via NASA.
Testing 3D Printed organ tissue in space
During 3D bioprinting, scientists load living human cells into bioinks and extrude them to create functional replicas of organ tissues. These can be used to study illnesses, test medications, and repair tissues damaged by injury, ageing, or pathological conditions.
WFIRM’s two research teams at WFIRM used this method to fabricate liver tissue with vascular channels. On Earth, producing thick bioprinted tissue remains difficult because stable vascularisation is hard to achieve. Current 3D printed tissues struggle to take in oxygen and nutrients while removing metabolic waste. As a result, engineered tissue degrades quickly, with WFIRM’s 3D printed liver lasting only 30 days.
Microgravity may offer a solution to these hurdles. Without Earth’s gravitational force, cells change how they distribute, behave, and adhere. Understanding these shifts, researchers argue, could yield insights into making longer-lasting functional tissue.
WFIRM’s ISS experiments will study how microgravity influences cell behaviour, with the goal of improving tissue growth and maturation. The team will test whether vascular cells can properly line the blood vessels in a liver construct. Yoo believes the results could advance tissue engineering on Earth and, in time, make space-printed constructs viable for transplants.
NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge is part of the agency’s Centennial Challenges program under the Space Technology Mission Directorate. The Methuselah Foundation’s New Organ Alliance organized the competition and convened a panel of nine judges specializing in regenerative medicine. The effort is supported by experts from NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the ISS National Lab, and leading universities.
“Our mission at the Methuselah Foundation involves advancing human longevity through regenerative medicine,” explained the Methuselah Foundation’s co-founder and CEO, David Gobel. “By collaborating with NASA and the ISS National Lab to accelerate innovation, we’re not only improving human health on Earth but also preparing for the challenges of space exploration and bolstering the future space industry.”
3D bioprinted tissue construct used to replicate human tissue. Photo via Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Additive manufacturing on the ISS
The ISS is a key hub for on-orbit 3D printing research. Over recent years, additive manufacturing companies, academic researchers, and commercial enterprises have sent 3D printing technologies for testing in microgravity conditions.
A recent review by researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University and the China Academy of Space Technology offers a comprehensive account of in-space 3D printing using polymers and fiber-reinforced composites. The document, published on ScienceDirect, identified additive manufacturing as a transformative approach to fabricating space structures.
3D printing components on-orbit addresses challenges associated with payload mass, onboard spares, and launch geometry. Launching earth-made items into space can cost over $10,000 per kilogram.
The review identified FFF as the most viable microgravity technique due to its use of solid filament feedstock and absence of free-flowing liquids or powders. NASA first tested microgravity extrusion with ABS during a parabolic flight in 1999. Further campaigns by Made In Space Inc. (MIS) placed the first 3D printer aboard the ISS in 2014.
More recently, Finnish bioprinting firm Brinter AM Technologies announced plans in 2024 to launch its Brinter Core 3D bioprinter to the ISS in a European Space Agency-funded mission. Once aboard, the Brinter Core will be used to 3D print biosamples in the ISS Columbus module’s 3D BioSystem facility.
ISS personnel will use the system to study how microgravity affects 3D printed cell constructs. The work aims to improve responses to medical emergencies in space and to advance personalized drug testing, toxicology studies, and the bioprinting of body parts. Tomi Kalpio, CEO of Brinter, noted that, in the future, astronauts could use bioprinters to “create tissue-like constructs to replace damaged parts of their bodies” when treating skin burns or bone damage.
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Featured image shows SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket, which will carry ISS National Lab-sponsored research to the International Space Station. Photo via NASA.
Prof Manda Banerji and Dr Phil Wiseman from the University of Southampton argue that the cosmic power of this telescope will expand our understanding of the universe beyond our wildest dreams.
We are entering a new era of cosmic exploration. The new Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile will transform astronomy with its extraordinary ability to map the universe in breathtaking detail. It is set to reveal secrets previously beyond our grasp.
Here, we delve into the first images taken by Rubin’s telescope and what they are already showing us.
These images vividly showcase the unprecedented power that Rubin will use to revolutionise astronomy and our understanding of the universe. Rubin is truly transformative, thanks to its unique combination of sensitivity, vast sky area coverage and exceptional image quality.
These pictures powerfully demonstrate those attributes. They reveal not only bright objects in exquisite detail but also faint structures, both near and far, across a large area of sky.
Cosmic nurseries
The stunning pink and blue clouds in this image are the Lagoon (lower left) and Trifid (upper right) nebulae. The word nebula comes from the Latin for cloud, and these giant clouds are truly enormous – so vast it takes light decades to travel across them. They are stellar nurseries, the very birth sites for the next generation of stars and planets in our Milky Way galaxy.
The intense radiation from hot, young stars energises the gas particles, causing them to glow pink. Further from these nascent stars, colder regions consist of microscopic dust grains. These reflect starlight (a process known in astronomy as ‘scattering’), much like our atmosphere, creating the beautiful blue hues. Darker filaments within are much denser regions of dust, obscuring all but the brightest background stars.
To detect these colours, astronomers use filters over their instruments, allowing only certain wavelengths of light onto the detectors. Rubin has six such filters, spanning from short ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths through the visible spectrum to longer near-infrared light. Combining information from these different filters enables detailed measurements of the properties of stars and gas, such as their temperature and size.
Rubin’s speed – its ability to take an image with one filter and then quickly move to the next – combined with the sheer area of sky it can see at any one time, is what makes it so unique and so exciting. The level of detail, revealing the finest and faintest structures, will enable it to map the substructure and satellite galaxies of the Milky Way like never before.
Mapping galaxies across billions of light years
The images of galaxies powerfully demonstrate the scale at which the Rubin observatory will map the universe beyond our own Milky Way. The large galaxies visible here (such as the two bright spiral shaped galaxies visible in the lower right quarter of the picture) belong to the Virgo cluster, a giant structure containing more than 1,000 galaxies, each holding billions to trillions of stars.
A small section of NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s view of the Virgo Cluster, offering a vivid glimpse of the variety in the cosmos. Image: NSF–DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory
This image beautifully showcases the huge diversity of shapes, sizes and colours of galaxies in our universe revealed by Rubin in their full technicolour glory. Inside these galaxies, bright dots are visible – these are star-forming regions, just like the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae, but remarkably, these are millions of light years away from us.
The still image captures just 2pc of the area of a full Rubin image revealing a universe that is teeming with celestial bodies. The full image, which contains around ten million galaxies, would need several hundred ultra-high-definition TV screens to display in all its detail.
By the end of its ten-year survey, Rubin will catalogue the properties of some 20bn galaxies, their colours and locations on the sky containing information about even more mysterious components of our universe such as dark matter and dark energy.
Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the cosmos but does not reflect or emit light. Dark energy seems to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.
Handling all that data
These unfathomable numbers demand data processing on a whole new scale. Uncovering new discoveries from this data requires a giant collaborative effort, in which UK astronomy is playing a major role.
The UK will process around 1.5m Rubin images and hosts one of three international data access centres for the project, providing scientists across the globe with access to the vast Rubin data. Here at the University of Southampton, we are leading two critical software development contributions to Rubin.
The first of these is the capability to combine the Rubin images with those at longer infrared wavelengths. This extends the colours that Rubin sees, providing key diagnostic information about the properties of stars and galaxies. Second is the software that will link Rubin observations to another new instrument called 4MOST, soon to be installed at the Vista telescope in Chile.
Part of 4MOST’s job will be to snap up and classify rapidly changing ‘sources’, or objects, in the sky that have been discovered by Rubin.
One such type of rapidly changing source is a stellar explosion known as a supernova. We expect to have catalogued more supernova explosions within just two years than have ever been made previously. Our contributions to the Rubin project will therefore lead to a totally new understanding of how the stars and galaxies in our universe live and die, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the grand cosmic cycle.
The Rubin observatory isn’t just a new telescope – it’s a new pair of eyes on the universe, revealing the cosmos in unprecedented detail. A treasure trove of discoveries await, but most interesting among them will be the hidden secrets of the universe that we are yet to contemplate.
The first images from Rubin have been a spectacular demonstration of the vastness of the universe. What might we find in this gargantuan dataset of the cosmos as the ultimate timelapse movie of our universe unfolds?
By Prof Manda Banerji and Dr Phil Wiseman
Prof Manda Banerji is professor of astrophysics in the Astronomy Group and associate dean for equality, diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.
Dr Phil Wiseman is Ernest Rutherford fellow at the University of Southampton. He researches the most extreme events in the universe: exploding stars (supernovae) and giant flares from super-massive black holes.
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