Pallab Ghosh

Delight from the mission control team as confirmation came that the uncrewed spacecraft was stable and upright. The first image it sent back shows a rocky pockmarked terrain. The golden lunar lander is about the size of a hippopotamus and carries 10 scientific instruments.

Delight from the mission control team as confirmation came that the uncrewed spacecraft was stable and upright. The first image it sent back shows a rocky pockmarked terrain. The golden lunar lander is about the size of a hippopotamus and carries 10 scientific instruments.

Dr Nikki Fox of NASA said that the mission would provide vital knowledge about the layer of dust on the moon's surface, which is called regolith.

Dr Nikki Fox of NASA said that the mission would provide vital knowledge about the layer of dust on the moon's surface, which is called regolith.

Until today, just one private sector spacecraft had successfully touched down on the Moon. That was a landing last year of a craft built by Texas company Intuitive Machines, which will be attempting a second landing in a few days' time.

Until today, just one private sector spacecraft had successfully touched down on the Moon. That was a landing last year of a craft built by Texas company Intuitive Machines, which will be attempting a second landing in a few days' time.

And there are likely to be many more private sector missions to the lunar surface as firms across the world build up the expertise and capability to support NASA's plans for a long-term human presence on the Moon.

And there are likely to be many more private sector missions to the lunar surface as firms across the world build up the expertise and capability to support NASA's plans for a long-term human presence on the Moon.

For weeks, we've been able to see as many as six planets in the night sky. Now this planetary parade has reached its climax, with Mercury also coming into view, completing the full set of the other planets in our solar system. Among the stargazers catching a glimpse is Professor Catherine Haymans, who's Scotland's Astronomer Royal.

For weeks, we've been able to see as many as six planets in the night sky. Now this planetary parade has reached its climax, with Mercury also coming into view, completing the full set of the other planets in our solar system. Among the stargazers catching a glimpse is Professor Catherine Haymans, who's Scotland's Astronomer Royal.

Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society explains where to look in the sky this evening to spot the planets.

Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society explains where to look in the sky this evening to spot the planets.

All seven planets will be visible for only a few more days, and the next time to see the spectacle so well again will be in 2040.

All seven planets will be visible for only a few more days, and the next time to see the spectacle so well again will be in 2040.

DNA, the hereditary material that makes up living things, changes as it's passed down the generations. And it can be read like a barcode. So far, scientists have been able to see in fossilised DNA only the very big changes that have taken place over thousands of years. For example, the physical changes that came with human evolution.

DNA, the hereditary material that makes up living things, changes as it's passed down the generations. And it can be read like a barcode. So far, scientists have been able to see in fossilised DNA only the very big changes that have taken place over thousands of years. For example, the physical changes that came with human evolution.

But now, Professor Pontus Skerglund and his team at the Francis Crick Institute in London have found a way to identify more recent changes in the barcode over a few hundred years. This allows them to tell when and how different groups of people migrated and their interactions with the local population.

But now, Professor Pontus Skerglund and his team at the Francis Crick Institute in London have found a way to identify more recent changes in the barcode over a few hundred years. This allows them to tell when and how different groups of people migrated and their interactions with the local population.

Professor Skerglund is working with archaeologists excavating sites across Great Britain in order to extract DNA from bones. He's also collaborating with the historian Professor Peter Heather from King's College London, who says he expects to learn much more about the country's history.

Professor Skerglund is working with archaeologists excavating sites across Great Britain in order to extract DNA from bones. He's also collaborating with the historian Professor Peter Heather from King's College London, who says he expects to learn much more about the country's history.