Science News Roundup: Atomic scientists keep 'Doomsday Clock' as close to midnight as ever; Japan praises 'pinpoint' moon landing by its SLIM probe

Scientists set the clock based on "existential" risks to Earth and its people: nuclear threats, climate change and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and new biotechnology. Japan praises 'pinpoint' moon landing by its SLIM probe Japan's moon lander achieved an unusually precise touchdown within 100 m (328 feet) of its target, the space agency said on Thursday, after the nation became the fifth to put a spacecraft on the moon with the weekend touchdown of its SLIM probe.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Atomic scientists keep 'Doomsday Clock' as close to midnight as ever

Atomic scientists on Tuesday kept their "Doomsday Clock" set as close to midnight as ever before, citing Russia's actions on nuclear weapons amid its invasion of Ukraine, nuclear-armed Israel's Gaza war and worsening climate change as factors driving the risk of global catastrophe. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, as they did last year, set the clock at 90 seconds to midnight - the theoretical point of annihilation. Scientists set the clock based on "existential" risks to Earth and its people: nuclear threats, climate change and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and new biotechnology.

Japan praises 'pinpoint' moon landing by its SLIM probe

Japan's moon lander achieved an unusually precise touchdown within 100 m (328 feet) of its target, the space agency said on Thursday, after the nation became the fifth to put a spacecraft on the moon with the weekend touchdown of its SLIM probe. Japan hopes the demonstration of what it called a "pinpoint" moon landing will revitalise a space programme seeking to overcome setbacks as it moves to capture a bigger role in space by partnering with ally the United States to counter China.

Intuitive beats estimates as rebound in surgeries boost demand for its robots

Intuitive Surgical beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter revenue and profit on Tuesday, as a recovery in surgeries lifted demand for its robots used in minimally invasive procedures. Medical device makers have largely noted as "temporary" the impact of powerful new weight-loss drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound on sales of products used to perform abdomen surgeries.