Artemis II to the Moon, Brain Altruism, and Ocean Recovery: Inside Science Explores Space, Neuroscience, and Ecology

Artemis II dominates this episode as Inside Science examines the dawning lunar economy, potential moon resources, and what a sustained human presence on the Moon could look like within a decade. The show also probes a Swiss-Chinese study on brain stimulation and altruism, explaining how tiny electrical currents can influence social decisions while acknowledging ethical concerns. In addition, Roland Pease reports on China’s Yangtze River 10-year fishing ban and signs of ecological recovery, and Caroline Steele uncovers breakthroughs in spinal cord organoids and a high-cost underwater fish deterrent system designed to protect rivers during energy projects.

Space exploration and Artemis II

Inside Science opens with a focus on Artemis II and the broader push to return humans to the Moon, including discussions of a lunar lander from joint SpaceX and Blue Origin efforts and a potential lunar infrastructure that could support Artemis 3 missions within a few years. The programme discusses why the Moon is seen as a focal point of a developing lunar economy, noting the presence of resources such as helium 3 and water ice at the poles, and the possibility of a sustained human presence on the lunar surface in the 10 to 20 year horizon. The Artemis programme is framed as a government effort, a parallel lunar economy, and a driver of new space industry contracts, with analysis of how international competition with China shapes strategy and timelines.

"The Outer Space Treaty, which is the international law that governs everything we do in space, clearly says that no nation can own any of space, including the moon." - Libby Jackson, Head of Space at the Science Museum

Brain stimulation and altruism

Moving from space to neuroscience, the show explains how electrical brain stimulation was used to test whether two brain regions involved in social welfare can be coerced into stronger cooperation. The discussion covers how the stimulation is non-invasive, the mechanism by which it potentially enhances altruistic choices by increasing communication between brain areas that compute others' welfare and decision making, and the ethical nuances of influencing behavior. The segment also addresses how modest effects can be robust and repeatable, and what this could mean for future clinical applications in conditions such as psychopathy or autism.

"People actually gave away more money so that the other person was better off." - Professor Christian Ruff

Yangtze fishing ban and ecological recovery

In a science news segment, the programme reports on a 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River introduced in 2020, with early signs of recovery in biomass and some large-bodied species. The discussion highlights the ecological trade-offs of large dam projects, the reallocation of fishermen, and the connectivity between the Yangtze mainstem and its lakes, which supports fish movement and resilience against drought and pollution. The report presents a cautiously optimistic view of long-term recovery but notes that not all habitats recover at the same rate and that broader environmental stressors remain.

"We will be very optimistic on the more recovery of the Yangtze River." - Yuhun Chen

Biomedical breakthroughs: spinal organoids and river protection technology

The final section covers cutting-edge biotechnology, including organoids that mimic human spinal cord tissue for injury research and potential therapies, described as a double breakthrough with organoid models and a scaffold-based healing approach. The programme also touches on environmental engineering to protect river ecosystems during energy infrastructure projects, such as an underwater ultrasound system designed to keep fish away from cooling pipes at Hinkley Point C. These topics illustrate the breadth of biomedical and ecological science bridging lab research and real-world applications.

"this is one of the most devastating injuries that you could possibly have" - Samuel Stop, Northwestern University

Conclusion and broader reflections

Across these stories, the programme underscores how science crosses space exploration, neuroscience, and environmental protection, with a common thread of translating lab insights into policy, industry, and practical outcomes. The host and scientists emphasize responsible innovation, international collaboration, and the ongoing need to balance ambition with feasibility and ethics in a rapidly evolving scientific landscape.