Manufacturing

China has inched closer toward its ambitious goal of building infrastructure on the moon, as the first set of experimental "lunar soil bricks" returned to Earth after a year-long exposure to the harsh environment of space.

The bricks, part of a pioneering experiment aboard China's space station, arrived last week on the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft. Experts confirmed that the sample unit was in good condition following initial inspections.

Chinese scientists have reported a major advancement in boosting both the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, a step researchers say could help move the promising technology closer to large-scale industrial use.

A team led by You Jingbi, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Semiconductors, said it has identified an additive that can raise the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells to 27.2 percent. The devices also kept 86.3 percent of their initial efficiency after running continuously for 1,529 hours, about 63 days, at the maximum power point under standard sunlight — a sign of improved durability. The findings were published recently in the journal Science.

Jul 2023 Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel in Tangshan Hebei Province

Profits of key steel enterprises in the first three quarters of 2025 hit their highest level for the same period in the past four years, according to Jiang Wei, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the China Iron and Steel Association.

The surge was driven by the steel industry's efforts in production control, supply optimization, industrial upgrading and efficiency gains, Jiang said at the third Sustainable Mineral Supply Chain Ecosystem Developers' Conference in Shanghai on Thursday.