We just took a big step toward cleaning up space debris. Earlier this week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US imposed its first fine over space debris, ordering TV provider Dish to pay $150,000 for failing to place one of its satellites into a safe orbit.

The fine is more than a symbolic gesture. Not only does it set a precedent for tackling bad actors who leave dangerous waste in orbit, but it could also send shockwaves through the industry as other satellite operators fear their reputations will be tarnished.

The FCC’s action could also help breathe new life into the still small market for commercial space debris removal, essentially setting a $150,000 price tag that companies will target when providing services that involve smaller spacecraft If they are used to approach dead satellites or rockets, they will pull them back into the atmosphere. Read the full story.

—Jonathan O’Callaghan

mRNA vaccines just won a Nobel Prize. Now they are ready for the next act.

This week, the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine honored two scientists whose research into messenger RNA (mRNA) technology paved the way for much-lauded Covid-19 vaccines.

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman have discovered how to adapt the mRNA so that it does not trigger an inflammatory response. When the pandemic began in 2020, scientists were already using their method to develop mRNA vaccines against other infectious diseases, so the shift to Covid-19 was relatively easy and part of a vaccination strategy that saved millions of lives.

When manufacturers wanted to update their Covid vaccines in the fall, they simply had to introduce a new code. This process should also allow them to fight various pathogens, from flu to tuberculosis. But mRNA could also be an effective way to treat disease, not just prevent it. Read the full story.

– Cassandra Willyard