Scientists Warn of Bat Viruses Poised to Jump to Humans

China's recent decision to impose export restrictions on rare earth materials, essential for manufacturing vehicles, is causing significant disruptions in the global auto industry. According to the International Energy Agency, China accounts for over 60% of rare earth mining production and 92% of refined output. Since April 2025, Chinese firms must obtain a license to export these materials, leading to substantial delays as only about a quarter of applications have been approved, states the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. Automakers in Europe are facing severe impacts, with reports indicating shutdowns of production lines due to critical shortages. Hildegard Muller, president of Germany's automotive industry association VDA, warned that continued delays could lead to substantial production losses. Companies like Japan's Suzuki and US-based Ford have already reported halts in production due to component shortages, highlighting the extensive reliance on China for these crucial materials. As discussions between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping unfold, stakeholders remain hopeful for a potential easing of these restrictions, although a swift resolution seems unlikely, according to Wendy Cutler of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

A 55-year-old Chinese paraglider, Peng Yujiang, recently survived a harrowing flight after being unexpectedly lifted nearly 27,800 feet into the sky while testing new equipment in the Qilian Mountains, northern China. Peng was testing his gear when he was caught in a powerful updraft about 20 minutes after takeoff, significantly exceeding his planned launch elevation of 984 feet, according to reports from the Gansu Provincial Aviation Sports Association. Footage of the incident captured the ascent through thick clouds, leaving Peng disoriented and covered in ice. He expressed his terrifying experience, recalling, “It was terrifying… Without the compass, I wouldn’t have known which way I was going," as reported by China Media Group. The paragliding community now regards him as a remarkable figure, having potentially set an altitude record without supplemental oxygen. Despite his survival, Peng is under investigation and has been suspended from flying for six months, as the flight was deemed unauthorized, according to China's state-run Global Times.

A 300,000-year-old skull fragment, previously believed to belong to a Neanderthal, may represent a new, unidentified hominin. This revelation stems from recent research published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology. The skull, known as Maba 1, displays features akin to Homo erectus and other hominins but does not match any known species precisely, complicating its taxonomic classification. Discovered by farmers in 1958 near Maba Village, Shaoguan City, China, the fossilized bone remained enigmatic due to the absence of additional skeletal fragments for a comprehensive analysis. Researchers utilized micro-CT scans to reconstruct the skull and found internal structures suggesting it was unlikely to be Neanderthal, with distinct cranial features more closely resembling H. erectus. Additionally, Maba 1 exhibits signs of trauma, with a lesion on the frontal bone indicating an injury sustained during life, though its origin remains undetermined. Researchers caution that the findings highlight the extensive morphological diversity within late Middle Pleistocene Asian hominins, leaving the classification of Maba 1 unresolved.