SpaceX Inspiration4 and more: Understand the world through 10 images
10. Ancient migration
Researchers discovered a new species of ancient giant rhino, Paraceratherium linxiaense, in China. The fossils paint a fuller picture of giant rhino migration and suggest they crossed Tibet to disperse through Asia.
Researchers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array confirmed gravitational instabilities around stars are a precursor to planet formation. The team used observations from Elias 2-27, a widely studied star.
8. The last dinosaurs
Researchers in the U.K. found footprints from at least six dinosaurs on the coast of Kent. Based on their depth, they’re thought to be among the last dinosaurs in the U.K. before their extinction.
7. Long trip home
Researchers in the U.K. discovered the Painted Lady butterfly can fly nearly 9,000 miles round trip from sub-Saharan Africa to Western Europe in the right weather conditions. It’s the longest known insect migration and could help scientists predict migrations driven by climate change.
6. Sexy crab
Researchers in Japan and Singapore discovered the first known crab species with asymmetrical sex organs in males and females. The crab is now called Mabui calculus, but scientists have nicknamed it the “sexy crab.”
5. Mission complete
A Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed at sea on a drone ship after a mission for the U.S. Space Force. The rocket carried a navigation satellite into orbit.
4. Civilians in space
Training continued for the crew of Inspiration4, the first all-commercial trip to orbit for SpaceX. The three-day mission is set to launch in September.
3. Going gray
Researchers at Columbia University discovered stress does, in fact, turn hair gray. It also seems that reducing stress can return stress-induced gray hair back to its previous color.
2. Small but deadly
Researchers in Australia found the pain-inducing venom from the Doratifera vulnerans caterpillar contains peptides that could be useful in medicine, including treatments for parasites. The venom is extremely complex, containing 151 distinct toxins.
1. Another win for Ingenuity
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter completed its eighth successful flight since April. This trip took it to a new landing site around 437 feet from the Perseverance rover.
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