Hello, listeners. This is Rachel Feltman with the latest science news from Scientific American. Let’s dive into some interesting updates.
Tomorrow marks the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which took humans to the moon for the first time. While this is a significant milestone, it’s worth noting that five years ago, SciAm celebrated the moon landing with a series of stories and photo essays. If you haven’t checked them out yet, I highly recommend visiting ScientificAmerican.com.
In more recent space news, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently on the International Space Station. Although they were originally scheduled to return home a month ago, they are still onboard. NASA prefers not to say they are “stuck,” but the astronauts have not set a return date yet.
In other space exploration developments, a group of NASA volunteers recently completed a 378-day simulation of living on Mars in a habitat in Houston. This experiment was designed to help NASA prepare for future crewed missions to the Red Planet. The volunteers lived in isolation, conducted habitat maintenance tasks, and participated in simulated Mars surface walks.
On a related note, researchers from Cornell have developed a prototype device that recycles astronaut urine during spacewalks. This innovation aims to improve comfort and resource efficiency for astronauts during extended missions. The device reportedly recycles urine with high efficiency, producing purified water for consumption.
Switching gears to Earth-bound news, the 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be particularly severe. Hurricane Beryl recently made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm, causing widespread flooding and power outages. The early arrival and intensity of Beryl highlight the impact of climate change on weather patterns.
In response to increased flood risks, the Biden administration announced new standards for federal infrastructure projects. These standards will incorporate factors like sea-level rise to mitigate future climate-related threats.
Lastly, health officials in Pueblo County, Colorado, confirmed a case of plague last week. While plague is rare, prompt treatment with antibiotics is essential to prevent severe illness and complications. Symptoms of plague include fever, chills, headache, and swollen lymph nodes.
In conclusion, staying informed about current events in science and health is crucial for understanding and addressing global challenges. Remember to take precautions, whether in space or on Earth, to stay safe and healthy. Thank you for tuning in to this week’s news roundup. Stay curious and have a great week!
