Stranded NASA astronauts return to Earth, and other technology news you need to know

Two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months have successfully returned to Earth, touching down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday, 18 March, 2025.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024, expecting an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner, but a helium leak and thruster issues prevented their return.

In August, NASA decided to bring them back as part of Crew-9, integrating them into Expedition 71/72 until the arrival of their replacement crew.

Their return journey, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, began in September 2024. But Crew-9 had to wait for the completion of the incoming crew’s six-month mission before finally heading home.

During their 286 days in space, Williams and Wilmore completed over 150 scientific experiments, with Williams setting a new record for the most spacewalking time by a woman, spending 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the ISS.

Sales of smartwatches have fallen globally for the first time, according to new data from market research firm Counterpoint.

The latest figures indicate that 7% fewer devices were shipped last year compared with 2023, with Apple Watch shipments falling by 19%, largely due to a decline in North American sales. However, the company still retains global market share.

Despite the overall decline, the children's segment of the market saw growth, driven by parents' safety concerns, according to Counterpoint. Sales in this segment were led by Chinese manufacturer Imoo, which helped China capture the largest shipment share for the first time

The market is expected to see a slow recovery in 2025 as both Android and iOS watches add AI features and more advanced sensors.

“Brands will emphasize on getting regulatory approvals for their new smartwatch models and incorporating new health features to sustain their position in the market,” explained Counterpoint's Associate Director David Naranjo.

Lenovo has revealed a prototype solar-powered laptop that it says can convert 20 minutes of direct sunlight into enough power for one hour of video playback. The technology firm has swapped out the usual top panel for back-contact solar cells that can supplement power from the laptop’s charger.

Chinese automaker BYD is to launch a new platform that could charge electric vehicles (EVs) in the same time it takes to fill up a car with liquid fuel. The "super e-platform" will have peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts, providing enough charge in five minutes for EVs to travel 400km.

Thailand is to make a $2.7 billion investment in data centres and cloud services, Reuters reports. The funding, announced by the country’s investment board will support projects including data centres from Beijing Haoyang Cloud&Data Technology, Empyrion Digital and GSA Data Centre 02.

GM and Tesla have the most loyal US customers, new research has found. The findings from S&P Global Mobility analyzed 13.1 million new retail vehicle registrations in the US during 2024 and recognized GM as the winner of the "Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer award", while Tesla won the "Overall Loyalty to Make" category.

An all-electric sea glider had begun its first sea trials with passengers aboard. The 55ft-long Regent Viceroy is designed to operate on the water in three modes –floating on its hull, hydro foiling above the waves and flying within one wingspan of the surface. The company has designed the craft to connect coastal destinations.

Japan is actively diversifying its energy sources in response to geopolitical uncertainty and the climate crisis. Read more here about how this strategic transition is not only strengthening energy security but also fostering a more resilient society within the country.

Roads remain one the most dangerous infrastructures, with around 1.19 million people losing their lives in road traffic accidents each year. This article explores how harnessing the power of satellite technology and AI-driven insights can make our roads more efficient and save lives.

Demand for semiconductors is booming amid growth in emerging technologies such as AI. However, countries and regions including the US and European Union want to diversify semiconductor supply chains. Two experts explain how African countries could play a key role in the future diversification of the industry.