Researchers in Germany discover a new species of otter

Researchers from the Universities of Tübingen and Zaragoza have discovered a previously unknown species of otter from 11.4-million-year-old strata at the Hammerschmiede fossil site.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-germany-species-otter.html

SpaceX's tourist crew 'healthy, happy and resting'

SpaceX's all-civilian Inspiration4 crew are "healthy, happy and resting comfortably," the company said Thursday in its first update since the pioneering mission blasted off from Cape Canaveral the night before.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-spacex-tourist-crew-healthy-happy.html

Researchers in Germany discover a new species of otter

Researchers from the Universities of Tübingen and Zaragoza have discovered a previously unknown species of otter from 11.4-million-year-old strata at the Hammerschmiede fossil site.

Facebook boosts fight against conspiracies and violent groups

Facebook has launched an effort targeting users working together on the platform to promote real-world violence or conspiracy theories, beginning by taking down a German network spreading Covid misinformation.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-facebook-boosts-conspiracies-violent-groups.html

Jaws: How an African ray-finned fish is helping us to rethink the fundamentals of evolution

A family of fishes called cichlids in Africa's Lake Malawi is helping researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to refine our understanding of how evolution works.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-jaws-african-ray-finned-fish-rethink.html

Scientist shepherds Perseverance rover through first phase of Martian rock sampling

The evening of Aug. 1 felt a lot like a birthday to NASA planetary scientist Justin Simon. On that night, Simon attended a virtual watch party for researchers preparing to use NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover to conduct the first detailed study of a candidate rock target for drilling and collecting a sample. Ready to unwrap presents, Simon and his fellow researchers anxiously refreshed their inboxes to see the first downlinked and up-close images of the rock—that could help them better understand the geologic history of the rover's landing site.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-scientist-shepherds-perseverance-rover-phase.html

Take a 3D spin on Mars and track NASA's Perseverance rover

It's the next best thing to being on Mars: Two online interactive experiences let you check out Jezero Crater—the landing site and exploration locale for NASA's Perseverance rover—without leaving our planet.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-3d-mars-track-nasa-perseverance.html

New physics research reveals fresh complexities about electron behavior in materials

When electrons flow through a conductor—such as the copper wires in our phone chargers or the silicon chips in the circuit boards of our laptops—they collide with material impurities and with each other in a tiny atomic frenzy. Their interaction with impurities is well known.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-physics-reveals-fresh-complexities-electron.html

How climate change could impact algae in the global ocean

Global warming is likely to cause abrupt changes to important algal communities because of shifting biodiversity 'break point' boundaries in the oceans—according to research from the University of East Anglia and the Earlham Institute.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-climate-impact-algae-global-ocean.html

Australia approves new coal project as climate warnings grow

Australia on Thursday approved a controversial coal mine extension, doubling down on a commitment to continue extracting fossil fuels despite growing pressure to cut carbon emissions.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-australia-coal-climate.html

US regulators wary of Big Tech swallowing startups

US anti-trust regulators signalled Wednesday greater scrutiny of Big Tech giants' smaller acquisitions, a potential new avenue in efforts to curb the dominance of the companies.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-wary-big-tech-swallowing-startups.html

DoorDash sues to stop New York data-sharing measure

DoorDash on Wednesday sued New York City over a measure requiring it and meal delivery rivals to share customer data with restaurants.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-doordash-sues-york-data-sharing.html

Bumpy road as ageing Japan bets on self-driving cars

With an ageing population in need of transport, Japan is betting on autonomous cars, but an accident involving a self-driving showcase at the Paralympics illustrates the challenges ahead.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-bumpy-road-ageing-japan-self-driving.html

How climate change could impact algae in the global ocean

Global warming is likely to cause abrupt changes to important algal communities because of shifting biodiversity 'break point' boundaries in the oceans—according to research from the University of East Anglia and the Earlham Institute.

3 crew leave China's space station for Earth after 90 days

Three astronauts who lived for 90 days on China's space station departed Thursday in preparation for returning to Earth.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-chinese-astronauts-three-month-space-mission.html

Tesla builds 1st store on tribal land, dodges state car laws

Carmaker Tesla has opened a store and repair shop on Native American land for the first time, marking a new approach to its yearslong fight to sell cars directly to consumers and cut car dealerships out of the process.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-tesla-1st-tribal-dodges-state.html

Contest winners, health worker orbiting world in SpaceX 1st

The four people on SpaceX's first private flight are fairly ordinary, down-to-Earth types brought together by chance.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-contest-winners-health-worker-orbiting.html

Southwest China earthquake collapses homes, kills at least 3

An earthquake destroyed houses, killed at least three people and injured dozens Thursday in southwest China's Sichuan province.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-southwest-china-earthquake-collapses-homes.html

SpaceX launches 4 amateurs on private Earth-circling trip

SpaceX's first private flight streaked into orbit Wednesday night with two contest winners, a health care worker and their rich sponsor, the most ambitious leap yet in space tourism.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-spacex-amateurs-private-earth-circling.html

Australia approves new coal project as climate warnings grow

Australia on Thursday approved a controversial coal mine extension, doubling down on a commitment to continue extracting fossil fuels despite growing pressure to cut carbon emissions.

Chinese astronauts complete three-month space mission

Three astronauts who lived for 90 days on China's space station departed Thursday in preparation for returning to Earth.

Contest winners, health worker orbiting world in SpaceX 1st

The four people on SpaceX's first private flight are fairly ordinary, down-to-Earth types brought together by chance.

Southwest China earthquake collapses homes, kills at least 3

An earthquake destroyed houses, killed at least three people and injured dozens Thursday in southwest China's Sichuan province.

SpaceX launches 4 amateurs on private Earth-circling trip

SpaceX's first private flight streaked into orbit Wednesday night with two contest winners, a health care worker and their rich sponsor, the most ambitious leap yet in space tourism.