China Conducts World's First "Space Pregnancy Experiment" by Sending Artificial Embryo

Five-Day Embryo Experiment in Microgravity
Research in Preparation for the Era of Long-Term Space Habitation

China has sent an "artificial human embryo" into space. This project aims to analyze how microgravity in space affects embryos and is regarded as preparation for an era of long-term human habitation in space.

On the 26th (local time), the U.S. science media outlet Scientific American reported that the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has conducted the world’s first experiment of sending an artificial human embryo into space.

This embryo was loaded onto the Chinese cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-10 on May 11 and launched toward Tiangong, China’s space station. The artificial embryo refers to a pseudo-embryo created from human stem cells, not an actual human embryo. While it can mimic the early developmental process of a human embryo after fertilization, it does not continue to grow even if implanted in the uterus.

Chinese space station Tiangong. Captured from Baidu

Currently, most countries prohibit research using human embryos that are more than 14 days post-fertilization. As a result, artificial embryos are being created as an alternative to study the early stages of human development.

The Chinese research team plans to analyze how microgravity affects the growth of early embryos by comparing the artificial embryo sent to the space station with a control group on Earth. The experiment was reportedly conducted for a total of five days in space, and the artificial embryo is currently stored frozen within the space station. It is expected that after being returned to Earth, further analysis will be conducted.

Research on reproduction in space has been ongoing for a long time. In 1994, NASA succeeded in having medaka fish mate aboard the space shuttle. However, experiments involving fruit flies and mice have shown high mortality rates.

Although research on reproduction in space is still in its early stages, it is gaining momentum as the U.S.-China space rivalry intensifies. As NASA pushes forward with plans to build long-term habitation bases on the Moon and Mars, the need to collect related data is increasing.

Professor Worruchen of the CAS Institute of Zoology, who led this experiment, explained, "We will compare the development processes of embryo samples in the space and Earth environments to determine the effects of the space environment on early human embryo growth," adding, "Our aim is to identify the risks and challenges humans may face during long-term space habitation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.