Category: Science

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP): Steam and lava spurted Monday from a new fissure at an Icelandic volcano that began erupting last month, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of hikers who had come to see the spectacle. The new fissure, first spotted by a sightseeing helicopter, was about 500 meters (550 yards) long and about a kilometer… Continue reading Hikers scramble as new fissure opens up at Icelandic volcano

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP): North Atlantic right whales gave birth over the winter in greater numbers than scientists have seen since 2015, an encouraging sign for researchers who became alarmed three years ago when the critically endangered species produced no known offspring at all. Survey teams spotted 17 newborn right whale calves swimming with their mothers… Continue reading Births among endangered right whales highest since 2015

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP): NASA’s newest Mars rover has sent back the first-ever sounds of driving on the red planet — a grinding, clanking, banging affair that by Earth standards would be pretty worrisome. The noises made by Perseverance’s six metal wheels and suspension on the first test drive two weeks ago are part of… Continue reading Mars rover sends back grinding, squealing sounds of driving

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP): A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday in a triumph for the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission. Ground controllers at the UAE’s space center in Dubai rose to their feet and broke into applause when word came that the craft, called Amal, Arabic… Continue reading Arab spacecraft enters orbit around Mars in historic flight

(BBC): Scientists believe they may have discovered the smallest reptile on earth – a chameleon subspecies that is the size of a seed. Two of the tiny lizards were discovered by a German-Madagascan expedition team in Madagascar. The male Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon, has a body of just 13.5mm. This makes it the smallest of… Continue reading ‘Smallest reptile on earth’ discovered in Madagascar

(BBC): The four main engines of Nasa’s new “megarocket” are to be fired in unison for the first time, demonstrating the launcher’s raw, explosive power. The Space Launch System (SLS) is part of the agency’s Artemis programme, which aims to put Americans back on the lunar surface in a few years. The engine “hotfire” is… Continue reading SLS: Nasa’s ‘megarocket’ set to fire up engines in crucial test

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP): Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company launched a new capsule into space Thursday to test all the astronaut perks before people strap in. Thursday’s flight with a dummy named Mannequin Skywalker lasted 10 minutes and reached 66 miles (106 kilometers) above West Texas. Both the New Shepard rocket and the capsule landed… Continue reading Blue Origin launches capsule to space with astronaut perks

WASHINGTON (AP): If you’re an identical twin who’s always resisted being called a clone of your sibling, scientists say you have a point. Identical twins are not exactly genetically the same, new research shows. Scientists in Iceland sequenced DNA from 387 pairs of identical twins — those derived from a single fertilized egg — as… Continue reading Identical twins aren’t perfect clones, research shows

(BBC): Countries only have only a limited time in which to act if the world is to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Here are five reasons why 2021 could be a crucial year in the fight against global warming. Covid-19 was the big issue of 2020, there is no question about that.… Continue reading Why 2021 could be turning point for tackling climate change