This week in science news, we were surprised by the latest information from the Artemis II mission. The mission saw four astronauts orbit around the far side of the moon before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
The grueling final stage of the mission, which Live Science covered with minute-by-minute live updates, was a critical test of the Orion capsule’s heat shield. Despite some concerns, the protective layer held up in the scorching heat and the crew returned home at just under 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 km/h), making it a candidate for the fastest speed in human history.
The world’s fattest parrot gets back on its feet
While people fly around the moon and back, Live Science also took time out for New Zealand’s flightless large-bodied parrots, which are bouncing back from the brink of extinction with a record breeding season.
The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) became nearly extinct in the 1990s due to hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of new predators. But thanks to an extensive recovery program, the species just celebrated its 105th egg hatch this season, the most in 30 years.
Although not all of these chicks will be rehomed alive and will have a difficult time in the wild, this news should help the world’s heaviest parrot keep its beak.
Discover more animal and earth news
– Fossil remains in China reveal a complex community of organisms that lived before the Cambrian explosion, including ‘dune’-like sandworms
— “Water bankruptcy is evident on every continent inhabited by humans”: exiled Iranian scientist Kaveh Madani talks about the urgent need to protect our most precious resource
-California declared war on smog in the 1970s. The ripple effect was huge.
life’s little mysteries
Our gut bacteria affect more than just digestion. They are involved in our mood, weight, sleep, immune system, and even smell. But do gut bacteria also play a role in what kind of food we crave?
—If you enjoyed this, sign up for the Life’s Little Mysteries newsletter
Iran war is a climate catastrophe
The Shroud of Turin, which some claim is Jesus’ burial shroud, has recently been subjected to DNA analysis, and some interesting discoveries have been made.
First, the Shroud contains the DNA of multiple people and many other species, including Carrot, Melon, and Red Coral. Some of this DNA suggests that the Shroud may have come from India, but other experts disagree.
Overall, the scientific evidence still supports the argument that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval fake, scholars told us.
More archeology news
—DNA reveals ancestor of human buried at Stone Age monument in Spain, but his religion remains a mystery
—“They could spend 4 to 5 hours a day underwater”: How humans adapted to our most difficult environments
—16th-century silver coins found near the Strait of Magellan mark the ruins of a doomed Spanish colony
Also featured in this week’s science news
— “Rest In Peace, Comet Maps”: Watch super-bright sungrazer become “headless wonder” after being torn apart by the sun
—We went to Finland to hear about new “sand batteries” that store stored renewable energy and return it to power the grid.
-Western states are facing a higher-than-usual wildfire threat this summer. A new map reveals which areas are most at risk.
— ‘Nobody knows what it is’: Researchers discover new type of cell found only during pregnancy
—AI “mirages” mean tools used to analyze medical scans can fabricate results
science spotlight
Scientists have been proclaiming that a cure for type 1 diabetes is on the horizon for some time, and they may finally be right, as a functional treatment is on the horizon.
Tia Gose, Live Science’s premium news editor, knows all about type 1 diabetes. Her sixth grader has this disease. In this Science Spotlight, she wrote an inspiring deep dive into cutting-edge treatments that are set to make routine management of the disease a thing of the past.
something for the weekend
If you’re looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best interviews, crosswords, and opinion pieces published this week.
—“They are literally everywhere”: The shocking story of how chemicals have contaminated the world forever [Interview]
— Live Science Crossword Puzzle #38: The world’s largest non-polar desert — Horizontal 10 [Crossword]
–I have witnessed nearly 100 rocket launches so far. Artemis II was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. [Opinion]
Science news in pictures
NASA this week released the first batch of photos taken by the Artemis II astronauts during their historic lunar flight, and they’re truly stunning.
There are a lot of great images to choose from from this mission, but the standout is the zoomed-out shot of the “Earth Set.” This photo shows our planet disappearing behind the moon’s pockmarked face, an advancing shadow outlining the night side where billions of humans slept.
Follow Live Science on social media
Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp channel to keep up with the latest discoveries. It’s the best way to get expert reports on the go, but even if you don’t use WhatsApp, you can use Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
Source link
