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A tiny wild cat recently identified as a new species has become an unexpected attraction at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia, drawing visitors eager to see the rare animal. But the feline, affectionately named Tigrino, is not comfortable with the sudden attention. The small, spotted cat, which has large leopard-like markings, becomes stressed easily. As a result, caretakers at the sanctuary near La Paz keep him away from public view and limit visitors’ access. During an Associated Press visit on Sunday, Tigrino briefly came out of his shelter, cautiously sniffed the air and moved around before disappearing into the surrounding vegetation. The cat belongs to the species Leopardus tilcayo, the first living wild cat species to be scientifically described in more than 100 years. Measuring about 18 inches (46 centimeters) from the head to the base of the tail and weighing roughly 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms), Tigrino is smaller than an average domestic cat. The discovery, reported Thursday in the journal Current Biology, sparked widespread interest on social media. Visitors from different parts of Bolivia and other countries have since traveled to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, where Tigrino has lived since 2017. A family brought him to the sanctuary that year after failing to domesticate him as a house cat. “Within just a few days, Tigrino has become an ambassador for conservation,” said Marcelo Levy, co-founder of the sanctuary. He said the recognition of the new species has increased public awareness of the importance of protecting wild cats and their natural habitats in Bolivia’s tropical forests. “He’s such a small animal, but he has become something so significant,” Levy said.

Scientists have identified a previously unknown wild cat species in Bolivia, marking the first time in more than a century that researchers have formally named and described a new living wild cat species. The discovery, reported Thursday in the journal Current Biology, was made after researchers examined a small, spotted feline that had been living for years at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia’s Yungas region. Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer and lead author of the study, was asked to examine the unusual animal by a colleague. A local family had brought the cat to the sanctuary after finding it in the forest and being unable to keep it as a pet. The male cat, now around 10 years old, is smaller than an average house cat. It measures about 18 inches (46 centimetres) from its head to the base of its tail and weighs roughly 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). Its light brown coat is covered with dark, leopard-like spots. “Knowing other wild cats, it was peculiar,” Nogales-Ascarrunz said. “He really is tiny.” To determine the animal’s place in the feline family tree, researchers compared genomes from more than 30 cats collected across South America, including Colombia, Peru and Brazil. They also examined DNA from bones and skins preserved in museums in the United States and Europe. The analysis showed that the sanctuary cat belongs to a previously unrecognized species whose lineage separated from related cats about 1.4 million years ago. The last living wild cat species to be formally identified was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923. The researchers named the new species Leopardus tilcayo, using a name traditionally used by communities in Bolivia’s tropical Andean cloud forests where the animal lives. “This isn’t an animal that nobody had ever seen before. Local communities knew it existed, but until now science had not recognized it as a separate species,” said Wai-Ming Wong, an expert with the global wild cat conservation group Panthera who was not involved in the study. The research also shed light on South America’s tiger cats, which had long been classified as a single species because of their similar appearance. Genetic analysis indicated that there are at least five distinct tiger cat species — four previously recognized and the newly described L. tilcayo. “Even in groups that are very well studied, like the cat family, apparently there’s still a diversity that is hidden,” said study co-author Jonas Lescroart, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Antwerp. Researchers now hope to learn more about the tiny cats in the wild, including their population, diet, behaviour and habitat. So far, the species has been confirmed only in Bolivia’s Yungas forests, while its full geographic range remains unknown. Scientists said identifying the new species could help strengthen efforts to protect its forest habitat, which is threatened by deforestation and gold mining. “We should make haste in doing these kinds of discoveries, because all of this biodiversity is under pressure, and it’s disappearing as we speak,” Lescroart said.

West African laboratory scientists have urged governments to strengthen their ability to detect disease outbreaks, warning that health systems across the region are weakening and may not be ready for another major epidemic. The scientists issued the warning Friday in Togo's capital, Lome, where they gathered this week to assess the region's preparedness for disease outbreaks and its reliance on vaccines supplied by Western countries. They called for greater cooperation among governments to improve disease surveillance and expand diagnostic capacity, citing lessons from Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks over the past decade. An Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016 killed at least 11,000 people across West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. “We need to anticipate these outbreaks,” said Kossi Kabo, head of the Association of Medical Biologists of Togo and a co-chair of the congress. “We shouldn't wait for an epidemic to emerge somewhere before responding. By then, it would be too late.” Africa remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The rare Bundibugyo virus has killed more than 3,600 people among nearly 7,500 reported cases in Congo since mid-May, when authorities announced a new deadly Ebola outbreak. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the actual figures could be three times higher than official estimates. It also said the outbreak has become the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history after the virus circulated undetected for several weeks. Hantavirus was also detected on a cruise ship that docked off the Atlantic coast of Cape Verde in May. Scientists said they were concerned that health systems may have received less attention and maintenance in the absence of a major outbreak, leaving the region less prepared for future epidemics. Arthur Bodurie Calvin Garber, president of the Sierra Leone Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, said governments must invest not only in health infrastructure but also in trained personnel.

Scientists have found that restoring a protein in the brain can partially reverse several signs of aging in mice, while a separate treatment with the amino acid D-serine improved cognitive performance. The findings suggest that changes in a protein called Menin, which is found in a small region of the brain, may play a role in age-related changes affecting memory, skin and bone health. The study, led by Lige Leng of Xiamen University in China, was published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology in March 2023. It identified a possible link between brain inflammation, metabolism and aging throughout the body. How Menin may affect agingThe researchers focused on the hypothalamus, a small region of the brain that helps regulate metabolism and other essential functions. The region also appears to play a role in how the body ages. Earlier research by Leng and his colleagues found that Menin helps control inflammation in the hypothalamus. They then investigated whether a decline in the protein could contribute to age-related changes. The researchers found that Menin levels declined with age in certain neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus, a region involved in metabolism. The same decline was not observed in astrocytes and microglia, two types of cells that support and protect the brain. To determine whether the loss of Menin contributed to aging, rather than simply occurring alongside it, the scientists created genetically modified mice in which the protein could be selectively removed. Reducing Menin levels in younger mice increased inflammation in the hypothalamus and led to several aging-related changes, including reduced bone mass, thinner skin, cognitive decline and a slightly shorter lifespan. Link to D-serineThe loss of Menin also affected a chemical pathway involved in communication between brain cells. Mice with lower Menin levels had less D-serine, an amino acid that helps activate receptors involved in learning and memory. These receptors allow neurons to adjust the strength of their connections, a process important for storing information. An enzyme involved in producing D-serine was also affected, reducing the supply of the amino acid. The findings suggested that Menin could influence cognitive function through both inflammation and the chemical processes needed for communication between brain cells. D-serine is sometimes sold as a dietary supplement, but researchers caution that it should not be confused with L-serine, the form of serine found in dietary proteins. Foods such as soybeans, eggs, fish and nuts contain L-serine. The body can convert L-serine into D-serine, but the two forms are not interchangeable. Eating these foods is therefore not equivalent to receiving the experimental D-serine treatment used in the study. Restoring Menin in older miceThe researchers then tested whether increasing Menin levels could improve the health of 20-month-old mice. They introduced the Menin gene into the animals' hypothalamus, allowing cells in the region to produce more of the protein. After 30 days, the treated mice showed improvements in skin thickness and bone mass. They also performed better in tests measuring learning, cognition and balance. The treatment was accompanied by higher levels of D-serine in the hippocampus, a brain region important for learning and memory. The study also reported that restoring Menin extended the animals' lifespan. In a separate experiment, researchers gave mice D-serine through their drinking water for three weeks. The treatment improved cognitive performance, including in older mice. However, D-serine alone did not produce the broader physical improvements seen after Menin was restored. The study therefore did not show that D-serine supplementation could reverse aging throughout the body. Leng said the decline of Menin in the hypothalamus could be one factor driving aging and that the protein may connect genetic, inflammatory and metabolic processes involved in aging. Later research adds to the pictureSubsequent studies have examined related biological processes, although they do not directly confirm the entire Menin aging pathway. A study published in the Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry in March 2024 examined Menin in cultured mouse hippocampal cells exposed to the stress hormone corticosterone. Researchers found that a compound called itaconate increased Menin levels and reduced inflammation and a form of cell death. When Menin was silenced, those protective effects disappeared. However, because the work was conducted in cells rather than living animals, it did not show that the treatment could slow aging. Another 2024 study published in Cell Metabolism found that a different group of hypothalamic neurons communicates with fat tissue. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine reported that maintaining or stimulating this system increased physical activity and extended lifespan in mice. The study involved a different biological pathway from Menin but provided further evidence that signals from the brain can affect aging elsewhere in the body. In January 2025, researchers at the Allen Institute analyzed about 1.2 million mouse brain cells in a study published in Nature. They found that some of the brain cells most affected by aging were concentrated around the third ventricle of the hypothalamus. Many of those cells showed lower activity in genes linked to neuron function and higher activity in genes associated with immune responses. The study did not test a treatment but identified the hypothalamus as an important area for further aging research. More D-serine may not always be betterLater research has also raised questions about whether increasing D-serine is always beneficial to the aging brain. A study published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences in April 2025 examined mice with features of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that an early increase in D-serine was associated with changes in brain signaling. When scientists genetically removed the enzyme responsible for producing D-serine, several later cognitive problems were prevented or reduced. The study involved a different disease model from the Menin research, but it showed that D-serine can have different effects depending on the underlying condition. Research published Sept. 16, 2026, in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that feeding L-serine to mice in another Alzheimer's model increased blood levels of both L-serine and D-serine and partially restored the production of new neurons in the hippocampus. However, the treatment did not reduce the buildup of amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. That study examined L-serine and the production of new neurons, rather than D-serine supplementation as a treatment for human aging. Together, the findings suggest that serine metabolism may be an important area of research, but increasing serine is not necessarily beneficial in every situation. The form of serine, the disease or condition being studied and the outcome being measured all matter. What the findings mean for humansSome research has examined D-serine in humans, but there is no evidence that it can be used as an anti-aging treatment. A small randomized study published in 2016 involved 50 healthy older adults who received a single dose of D-serine. Participants performed better on one measure of a computerized maze task, but researchers found no significant improvement in other cognitive tests or measures of mood. The study did not demonstrate lasting memory benefits, slower aging or the safety of long-term D-serine use in older adults. The Menin research also leaves several questions unanswered. Scientists still need to determine why Menin levels decline with age, how much age-related physical and cognitive decline can be prevented by restoring the protein, and how long any benefits might last. Researchers also need to determine whether changing Menin levels or taking D-serine could cause unintended effects. The findings point to the possibility that some age-related changes may be influenced by signals originating in a small region of the brain. Understanding those signals could eventually help researchers find ways to preserve physical and cognitive function later in life. For now, however, the evidence points to an experimental biological pathway that requires further study, rather than a proven supplement or treatment capable of reversing human aging. Source: Science Daily

US neuroscientists have developed mice with functioning human cells integrated into their brains, in a breakthrough that could help researchers study human brain disorders. The researchers hope the new model will allow potential treatments for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases that occur only in humans to be tested in laboratory mice. Although the idea of mice with partly human brains may sound unsettling, the scientists stressed that the animals are not “mice that think like humans.” Instead, the mice were genetically modified and surgically treated so that part of their brain tissue consists of human cells. The research, published in the journal Nature, was conducted under independent ethical review, the scientists said. The goal of the ethically complex experiment is to better understand the biology of brain disorders for which effective treatments are currently unavailable. Some human conditions cannot be properly studied in mice because the animals do not naturally develop certain brain disorders. Prof Sergiu Pașca of Stanford University, the study's lead researcher, said psychiatry has “one of the lowest success rates for clinical trials.” “Even drugs that actually make it to clinical trial - that seem to be working really well in animal models - fail dramatically in clinic,” he said at a press conference. “That tells us we're missing a lot of information about human biology and capturing that will be essential.” The Stanford team said the approach could potentially transform research into complex conditions including epilepsy, autism and cerebral palsy. “Here we have a new model that allows us to actually capture aspects of human brain function in a way that has not been possible before,” Pașca said. Mice without their ‘grey matter’ The human brain contains billions of cells linked through millions of circuits, making it difficult for scientists to understand how the brain develops and what happens at the cellular level when disorders occur. Although researchers have previously implanted human neurons into laboratory rodents, the Stanford scientists said their study takes the technique considerably further. Source: BBC

Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods may be associated with higher levels of fat stored inside thigh muscles, potentially increasing the risk of knee osteoarthritis, according to a new study. Researchers found that people at risk of knee osteoarthritis who consumed more ultra-processed foods tended to have more fat within their thigh muscles. The association remained even after researchers considered calorie and fat intake, physical activity and sociodemographic factors. The findings were published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America. Ultra-processed foods are generally made to be convenient, attractive and long-lasting. They often contain combinations of sugar, fat, salt and carbohydrates that can stimulate the brain's reward system and encourage overeating. Examples include breakfast cereals, spreads and margarines, packaged snacks, hot dogs, soft and energy drinks, sweets and desserts, frozen pizzas, ready-to-eat meals and mass-produced packaged bread and buns. They also commonly contain industrially produced ingredients. “Over the past decades, in parallel to the rising prevalences of obesity and knee osteoarthritis, the use of natural ingredients in our diets has steadily diminished and been replaced by industrially-processed, artificially flavored, colored and chemically altered food and beverages,” said lead author Zehra Akkaya, a researcher and consultant with the Clinical & Translational Musculoskeletal Imaging group at the University of California, San Francisco. Akkaya and her colleagues examined whether greater consumption of ultra-processed foods was linked to changes in thigh muscle composition. Study examines people at risk of knee osteoarthritisThe researchers analyzed data from 615 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative who showed no signs of osteoarthritis on imaging when the analysis was conducted. The participants included 275 men and 340 women, with an average age of 60. Their average body mass index was 27, which falls within the overweight range. The Osteoarthritis Initiative is a US research program supported by the National Institutes of Health that seeks to improve understanding of how knee osteoarthritis develops and how it can be prevented or treated. “Osteoarthritis is an increasingly prevalent and costly global health issue,” Akkaya said. “It constitutes one of the largest non-cancer-related health care costs in the United States and around the world. It is highly linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices.” Based on participants' dietary records from the previous year, about 41% of the food they consumed was classified as ultra-processed. More ultra-processed food linked to more muscle fatThe study found a clear association between ultra-processed food consumption and the amount of fat stored within thigh muscles. Participants who reported eating more ultra-processed foods tended to have higher levels of intramuscular fat, regardless of their overall calorie intake. MRI scans can show the change as fatty degeneration of muscle tissue, in which fat begins to appear between muscle fibers rather than the tissue being made up primarily of muscle. Akkaya said the researchers used widely available, non-enhanced MRI scans, which could make the approach practical for routine medical use and future research. “These MRIs do not require advanced or costly technology, which means they can be easily incorporated into standard diagnostic practices,” she said. The findings add to growing evidence that diet quality may affect body composition in ways that are not fully reflected by body weight or calorie intake alone. Diet quality may matter beyond caloriesThe researchers said the findings highlight the importance of nutrition when considering muscle health and knee osteoarthritis. “Addressing obesity is a primary objective and frontline treatment for knee osteoarthritis, yet the findings from this research emphasize that dietary quality warrants greater attention,” Akkaya said. Early prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis often focus on lifestyle changes, including maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise. The new findings suggest that the types of foods people eat may also deserve greater attention. Reducing ultra-processed foods could potentially help maintain muscle quality and may reduce some of the burden linked to knee osteoarthritis. Akkaya noted that previous research has linked ultra-processed foods to several negative health outcomes, but evidence about their relationship with body composition in the context of knee osteoarthritis remains limited. “This is the first study assessing ultra-processed food's impact on thigh muscle composition using MRI,” she said. “By exploring how ultra-processed food consumption impacts muscle composition, this study provides valuable insights into dietary influences on muscle health.”

Most US men may be unaware of a possible link between dairy consumption and prostate cancer, according to a new survey released during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Only 20% of the men surveyed knew that consuming milk and other dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer. After being informed about the potential risk, 66% said they would be likely to avoid dairy products. The survey, conducted by Morning Consult for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, included 1,102 US men. It also found that only 20% had received information from a healthcare professional about the relationship between diet and prostate cancer risk. “Physicians and other healthcare professionals need more education on the dangers of dairy products and the benefits of a plant-based diet for prostate cancer,” said Noah Praamsma, a dietitian and nutrition education coordinator with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Studies link dairy consumption to prostate cancer riskPrevious studies have found an association between higher consumption of dairy products, including milk and cheese, and a greater risk of prostate cancer. A review of 32 studies found evidence of increased risk among people who consumed larger amounts of dairy products. One study found that people who drank at least one serving of skim or low-fat milk daily had a 19% higher risk of prostate cancer than those who rarely drank it. Another study followed 3,612 men for eight to 10 years. It found that men who consumed the most low-fat dairy products — about three servings a day — were more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. The survey also found strong support for clearer food labeling. About 76% of respondents said they favored warning labels on dairy products informing consumers about the potential prostate cancer risk. Plant-based diets may offer protectionPraamsma said most men surveyed already understood that fruits, vegetables, grains and beans may help protect against prostate cancer. He said research suggests that a fully plant-based diet may provide the greatest benefits. The Adventist Health Study-2 found that men following a vegan diet had a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer compared with men following nonvegetarian or other vegetarian diets. Plant-based diets may also benefit men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer. A study of more than 2,000 men with the disease found that those who ate the most plant-based foods had a 56% lower risk of the cancer progressing and a 59% lower risk of recurrence than those who consumed the fewest plant foods. Prostate cancer remains a major health concernProstate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men, according to the American Cancer Society's 2024 annual report. The society estimates that 333,830 new prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, while 36,320 people are expected to die from the disease. Source: Science Daily

China is aiming to bring about 500 grams of Martian material back to Earth by 2031, potentially beating NASA in the race to return the first samples from Mars, as the US space agency currently has no clear plan or funding to match the timeline. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to launch its Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission around 2028 using two Long March 5 heavy-lift rockets, the workhorse launch vehicle that has already been used for both of China's Chang'e lunar sample-return missions. The rockets are scheduled to lift off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China's southernmost province. The timing is crucial because launch windows to Mars open only once every 26 months. Tianwen-3 is targeting the window from December 2028 to January 2029, leaving little room for delays if China is to achieve its goal of returning samples by 2031. Five-part mission The Tianwen-3 spacecraft will consist of five major components: a lander, an ascender, a service capsule, an orbiter and an Earth reentry module. Finding evidence of life is a key priority of the mission. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of Tianwen-3, told state-run news agency Xinhua that scientists will examine the returned samples for microbial traces resembling early life on Earth, while also keeping open the possibility of discovering something more unusual. Hou made the remarks on the sidelines of the International Deep Space Exploration Conference, an annual gathering in Hefei organised by China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, also known as the Tiandu Laboratory. The conference drew participants from more than 40 countries this year. Even if the mission finds no signs of life, the samples would still have immense scientific value, Hou said. "Regardless of whether signs of life are found, the returned Martian samples will have irreplaceable scientific value," he said. According to Hou, microscopic, molecular and isotopic analyses of the samples could provide important insights into Mars' geology and help determine whether the planet was ever habitable. The mission's hardware has already entered the prototype development stage. Hou told state broadcaster CCTV that work on the mission is progressing, with teams across China working to address the various technical challenges involved. Landing site under consideration Selecting an appropriate landing site remains another major challenge. China expects to finalise the site by the end of 2026. In preparation, researchers are developing a next-generation geological map covering the entire planet. Potential landing sites are being assessed based on several factors, including geological age, evidence of past water, habitability and the likelihood that geological conditions would preserve possible biosignatures. Bringing Martian material back to Earth will also create a separate and highly complex challenge: ensuring the samples are safely contained. China plans to establish a planetary protection laboratory during the first phase of Hefei's Deep-Space Science City, the flagship campus of the Tiandu Laboratory that is currently under construction. The facility will handle the sterilisation, unsealing and processing of the returned samples, as well as biological risk assessments. Scientists say the laboratory will follow protocols established by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the international scientific body whose planetary protection guidelines serve as the standard for spacefaring nations. The protocols are designed to work in both directions — preventing Earth-based microbes from contaminating Mars while also ensuring that any potentially hazardous material returned from Mars remains safely contained. Source: Agencies 

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Saturday, according to neighboring countries. The launches occurred just one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan completed a joint military exercise that Pyongyang considers a provocation. The missile launches were North Korea’s first in roughly three weeks and came as the country continued demonstrating its military capabilities. The launches followed North Korea’s rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the scale of a major military exercise with South Korea as a gesture aimed at improving relations. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several missiles being fired from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast. Each missile traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) toward the waters off North Korea’s eastern coast. South Korea said it had strengthened its monitoring activities and was coordinating closely with the United States and Japan to assess the launches. South Korea’s presidential National Security Council called on Pyongyang to stop conducting ballistic missile tests, saying such launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. The U.S. Pacific Command said the missiles did not pose an immediate danger to U.S. territory or American allies. It reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to protecting the United States and its partners in the region. Three-Nation Military Exercise EndsThe United States, South Korea and Japan concluded their five-day Freedom Edge military exercise on Friday as planned. According to the U.S. Pacific Command, forces from the three countries trained together in air, maritime and cyber operations to improve their ability to work together and strengthen regional security. The exercise included naval operations, aerial refueling, cyber cooperation and medical-response training. South Korea's military described the drills as defensive and said their purpose was to strengthen the three countries' ability to respond jointly to potential nuclear threats from North Korea. Shortly after the exercise began Monday, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Gi condemned it as a provocative act. He warned that Pyongyang would take strong countermeasures in response. Kim Jong Un Calls for Stronger Nuclear DeterrentOn Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the development of a more dependable nuclear deterrent during a ceremony marking the commissioning of the country's second naval destroyer. North Korea has claimed that both of its destroyers are capable of carrying nuclear-capable missiles. The second vessel suffered damage during an unsuccessful launch attempt last year but was put back into service following repairs. Kim has continued expanding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program since diplomatic negotiations with Donald Trump broke down in 2019. Last month, Trump instructed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise with South Korea. He pointed to his positive relationship with Kim, while North Korea has long described the exercise as preparation for an invasion. However, Kim Jong Un’s sister and senior government official, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed Trump's decision. She argued that simply shortening the exercise would not remove what she described as its aggressive and provocative character. North Korea's military subsequently fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, apparently carrying out its earlier warning that it would respond to the U.S.-South Korean military exercise. North Korea Seeks Greater Leverage Experts believe Kim Jong Un may now feel more confident because of the progress of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its stronger relationships with Russia and China. They say this could encourage him to seek greater concessions from Washington if diplomatic negotiations resume. Kim said earlier this year that North Korea could consider returning to negotiations with the United States if Washington abandons what he describes as a hostile policy toward Pyongyang and recognizes North Korea's claimed status as a nuclear-armed state.

The commander and pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which carried astronauts around the moon earlier this year, are stepping down from active spaceflight duties. NASA announced Wednesday that Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will leave the active astronaut corps but continue supporting the agency’s lunar exploration programme as emeritus astronauts. Glover has accepted a leadership position at California Polytechnic State University, his alma mater, while Wiseman’s future plans have not been disclosed. The two astronauts, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency and Christina Koch, flew around the moon in April, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight. Hansen retired from the Canadian Space Agency in July, leaving Koch as the only Artemis II crew member who remains an active astronaut. As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will volunteer their time to train and mentor NASA personnel and share their experience with teams preparing for future lunar missions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the two astronauts had undertaken one of the most demanding missions in human spaceflight and helped return the United States to the lunar environment. “I’m grateful they will continue sharing what they learned,” Isaacman said. Cal Poly said Glover will help develop long-term strategies at the university and encourage students to pursue science and engineering. His new position in San Luis Obispo took effect Sept. 1, the same day he retired from the US Navy. In an interview with The Associated Press, Glover said his decision was not an ending but an opportunity to broaden his work. “This is not a leaving ... for me, this is opening the aperture, not closing it down,” he said. Glover said he also wanted to continue discussing how faith and science have influenced his life. “That’s not NASA’s mission, but I can still help NASA from the sidelines,” he said. Rather than waiting for the opportunity to command a future lunar landing mission, Glover said he chose to move on from spaceflight to focus on young people and spend more time with his wife and four daughters. Three of his daughters are currently studying at Cal Poly, while the eldest has already graduated from the university. Wiseman’s transition from active astronaut status will take effect this month. Selected by NASA in 2009, Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, spent more than five months aboard the International Space Station in 2014 before later serving as the agency’s chief astronaut. Glover graduated from Cal Poly in 1999 and went on to become a Navy test pilot before being selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2013. He served as pilot on NASA’s second SpaceX crew mission, spending nearly six months aboard the International Space Station in 2020 and 2021. Glover drew attention for his reflections during Artemis II’s journey to and from the moon. Looking at Earth from space, he described it as an oasis surrounded by “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe,” where humanity exists as one. “This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” he said. Wiseman also became emotional during the mission when he and his crewmates asked for permission to name one of the moon’s craters after his late wife, Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020. Last month, the Artemis II crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from US President Donald Trump during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.