Daily News update on – Science

Spaceflight Now

In a significant milestone preparing for liftoff of the world’s most powerful rocket, SpaceX test-fired 31 of the booster’s 33 methane-fueled engines Thursday in South Texas as the company eyes a launch attempt as soon as March.

Space.com

Researchers are studying hibernating Arctic ground squirrels with the goal of harnessing the benefits of this odd natural state to protect astronauts’ health on long-duration space missions. Hibernation is not just sleep. In fact, it’s quite different …

Space.com

Rocks found right here on Earth could help solve the mystery of what happened to Mars’ atmosphere. Thanks to our hard-working Mars rovers, we know that there once was liquid water on our neighboring planet, which means the planet once had an atmosphere …

The Washington Post

NEW YORK — Archaeologists in Kenya have dug up some of the oldest stone tools ever found, but who used them is a mystery. In the past, scientists assumed that our direct ancestors were the only toolmakers. But two big fossil teeth found along with the …

Smithsonian

A nearly three-million-year-old butchering site packed with animal bones, stone implements and molars from our early ancestors reignites the debate. Brian Handwerk. Science Correspondent. February 9, 2023 2:00 p.m. …

Astronomy Magazine

This artist’s concept shows how Chariklo’s rings might look when viewed from the surface of the centaur, which is a small solar system object that skirts the line between asteroid and comet. NASA/JPL-Caltech. The half-asteroid, half-comet dubbed 10199 …

CNET

Jupiter is seen in the back with a glowing storm on its north pole. The. An artist’s concept of ESA’s Juice mission in Jupiter’s “solar system” of moons. ESA.

Astronomy Magazine

Its brightest stars — Betelgeuse (Alpha [α] Orionis) and Rigel (Beta [β] Orionis) — are discernible in all but the severest light polluted skies. And, visible through binoculars and telescopes, the Hunter hosts one of the sky’s most famous sights: the …

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – SpaceX’s towering Super Heavy booster, one half of the company’s Starship rocket system, briefly roared to life for the first time on Thursday in a test-firing that puts the behemoth moon and Mars vehicle closer to its …

Phys.Org

The international team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge used computer modeling techniques based on earlier fiber-optic measurements from the Greenland Ice Sheet to build a more detailed picture of the behavior of the world’s second-largest …