Research Investigates Why Some Birds Survived Asteroid Impact
A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary history of birds and their survival during the catastrophic event that wiped out the dinosaurs approximately 66 million years ago. While dinosaurs perished, birds, which evolved from a group of theropod dinosaurs known as dromaeosaurs, managed to endure the aftermath. This ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the reasons behind the survival of these feathered creatures, primarily focusing on their diet and the ability of toothless birds to thrive where their toothy relatives did not. Several hypotheses suggest that their varied diet played a crucial role in their survival after the asteroid strike and subsequent ecological changes. Read more.
SpaceX Launches Crew-9 Mission to the ISS
On Saturday, SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-9 mission, transporting two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission marks a significant change, as it will carry two astronauts instead of the usual four, making room to return two NASA astronauts stranded at the ISS since their Boeing Starliner mission in June. The partnership between NASA and SpaceX continues to evolve, with plans for over 200 scientific experiments during this five-month mission. Read more.
NASA’s Artemis II Mission Training Commences
The Artemis II mission aims to send astronauts around the moon next year, marking a monumental return to human space exploration over half a century after the Apollo missions. Crew members have begun rigorous training inside a mockup of NASA’s Orion spacecraft at the Johnson Space Center. This mission promises to make history not only by being the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program but also by including the first woman and the first Black and Canadian astronauts to travel to the moon. Preparations include extensive simulations and training exercises to ensure the crew is ready for the high-stakes journey ahead. Read more.
