NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter set a new flight record one year into its Mars mission the week of May 25–June 1, as scientists looked into Covid-19 risk factors and got a new view of the brain.
Researchers found Covid-19 infections are less likely in people with food allergies. Obesity was strongly correlated with Covid-19 infections in study participants but asthma was not.
Using satellite data, scientists concluded river avulsions (when rivers overflow and change course) are caused by excess sediment. Knowing where avulsions are most likely to occur could help scientists predict and mitigate their effects on nearby communities.
Researchers determined great white sharks may have played a role in megalodon extinction by hunting the same prey. They compared zinc isotopes in shark and megalodon teeth, which helps researchers gauge the animals’ position on the food chain.
Researchers developed a way to image brain inflammation using diffusion-weighted MRI. The method detects microglia and astrocyte activation — which lead to brain inflammation — for non-invasive detection of neurodegeneration.
NASA reported its Ingenuity Mars helicopter made its longest, fastest flight yet on April 8. The announcement came as engineers prepared the helicopter for a more challenging winter operation.
NASA and Boeing’s Starliner capsule completed a test flight ahead of crewed missions planned for 2022. The capsule landed at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile range carrying a sensor-equipped dummy.
Scientists developed the smallest remote-controlled walking robot ever made, in the shape of a tiny crab. The same team created the world’s smallest flying robot in 2021, modeled after maple seeds.