Raspberry sugar spotted in interstellar space, a sweet discovery that could reveal clues about life's origins

space.com Jul 16, 2026

Raspberry sugar spotted in interstellar space, a sweet discovery that could reveal clues about life’s origins

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 16, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Scientists have detected erythrulose, a type of sugar found in raspberries, in the interstellar medium near the center of the Milky Way. This marks the first discovery of a "true sugar" with a four-carbon structure in space. The sugar, found in a molecular cloud, could provide clues about the origins of life, as it may serve as a precursor to nucleic acids like RNA. Researchers suggest such sugars could be delivered to planets via asteroids or comets, potentially contributing to the emergence of life.

💡 Why It Matters

· Erythrulose’s presence in space supports the idea that the building blocks of life can form naturally in the cosmos.
· Its ability to transform into nucleic acid components strengthens the theory that life on Earth may have been seeded by extraterrestrial materials.

Capsules Space

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Defense Innovation Unit seeks commercial path to deliver electrical power from orbit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has opened a solicitation for commercial firms to propose power‑beaming systems that can transmit electricity between spacecraft or from low‑Earth‑orbit platforms to ground receivers, with proposals due July 22. Selected companies must deliver a laboratory proof‑of‑concept within 12 months and, if successful, a full on‑orbit prototype within two years, aiming for an operational capability by fiscal 2030. The Pentagon has not yet decided whether it will own the system or purchase power as a service. DIU’s request covers four technology areas, prioritising space‑to‑space and space‑to‑ground transmitters, lightweight receivers, and miniaturised components. The effort uses the Other Transaction authority to accelerate contracts and is open to U.S. and international firms, tapping a growing market of startups and defense contractors developing space power‑beaming technology.

💡 Delivering power from orbit could keep satellites and forward‑deployed forces running without resupply, unlocking missions that current solar and battery limits constrain.

space.com · Jul 16

SpaceX will launch Starship, the world’s largest rocket, on critical Flight 13…

SpaceX is set to launch Starship, the world's largest rocket, from its Starbase site in South Texas on July 16. The Flight 13 test aims to refine the rocket’s performance, including a controlled splashdown of the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of America and the deployment of 20 next-gen Starlink V3 satellites. This mission marks the second flight of 2026 and the second test of the Starship V3 variant, which is intended for future NASA lunar missions.

💡 The successful deployment of Starlink V3 satellites during this test could accelerate SpaceX’s plan to expand its broadband network, offering faster internet speeds and greater global coverage. This mission also brings the company closer to achieving full reusability for Starship, a key step toward its long-term goals of lunar and Mars exploration.

space.com · Jul 16

Is dark matter ‘tuned in’ to a hidden dimension?

Physicists from the University of Sheffield and collaborators have proposed that dark matter’s elusive behavior may stem from a hidden fifth dimension. In a paper published in Physical Review D, the team argues that particles of dark‑matter are coupled to a force‑carrying “dark photon” that propagates in this extra dimension. The geometry of the fifth dimension would organize dark‑matter masses into a resonant pattern, a “dark matter resonance,” amplifying interactions shortly after the Big Bang while leaving the particles effectively inert today. The model links two long‑standing puzzles—dark matter’s gravitational dominance and the speculative extra dimensions of string theory—by providing a concrete mechanism that could guide future detection strategies. If confirmed, the framework would reshape experimental searches for non‑standard particles.

💡 By tying dark‑matter signatures to a specific geometric feature of a hidden dimension, the theory offers concrete experimental targets that could finally break the observational dead‑lock surrounding dark matter.

quantumcomputingreport.com · Jul 16

SES and Airbus Secure Site for Europe’s Flagship EAGLE-1 Quantum Optical Ground…

SES and Airbus Netherlands have signed a ground‑lease with the Dutch municipality of Noordwijk to build an optical ground station on the NL Space Campus beside ESA’s ESTEC. The station will act as the primary terrestrial link for the EAGLE‑1 satellite, Europe’s first end‑to‑end demonstration of space‑based quantum key distribution (QKD). SES will operate the network in a public‑private partnership with ESA and the European Commission, while Airbus will construct the real‑time control array and TNO will provide adaptive‑optics turbulence correction. Suppliers Officina Stellare, FSO Instruments and Celestia STS will deliver the telescope, tracking sensor and optical modem. Construction starts in August, ahead of the satellite’s planned late‑2027/early‑2028 launch on an Arianespace Vega C rocket, and will support future EuroQCI secure‑communication constellations.

💡 By anchoring Europe’s first quantum‑safe satellite link to a ground station that can correct atmospheric turbulence in real time, the project gives the continent a functional testbed for a quantum‑resistant communications network before any commercial rollout.

space.com · Jul 16

Watch SpaceX launch 21 ‘data transport’ satellites for US military today

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on July 16, carrying 21 “Tranche 1 Transport Layer” (T1TL) satellites for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency. The launch window opens at 4:22 p.m. EDT and will be streamed live. The T1TL constellation, part of the broader Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, will provide global, encrypted communications for warfighters and will eventually total 126 satellites built by York Space Systems, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. To date, 42 of these satellites have reached orbit on two prior Falcon 9 missions. The booster used for this flight, designated 1103, is on its fourth flight and is slated to land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship. SpaceX will also attempt the 13th test flight of its Starship megarocket from Starbase later that evening.

💡 The launch expands a dedicated military LEO network, giving the U.S. warfighter resilient, low‑latency communications that are independent of commercial satellite services.

mymotherlode.com · Jul 16

Amazon will launch its satellite internet in South Africa, seemingly beating Musk…

Amazon announced plans to launch its Amazon Leo satellite internet service in South Africa in 2027, partnering with local provider Herotel. This marks the company’s first satellite internet agreement on the African continent. The move positions Amazon ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has faced regulatory hurdles due to its refusal to comply with South Africa’s affirmative action policies requiring minority ownership for communications licenses. Musk has criticized these regulations as racist, but the South African government has endorsed the Amazon deal. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi joined the announcement. Amazon currently operates over 390 low-orbit satellites, while Starlink has more than 10,000. Amazon also plans to partner with Vanu Inc. to expand across Africa, targeting rural areas lacking fixed connections. The company has previously secured deals in ten other countries, including Thailand, Australia, and several South American nations. Starlink operates in over 160 countries globally. No financial details for the South African partnership were disclosed.

💡 By adhering to local ownership laws, Amazon bypasses the political deadlock that has kept Starlink out of Africa’s largest economy. This strategic compliance allows the tech giant to capture a lucrative market segment while Musk’s rival service remains excluded due to ideological stances on regulation.