Here is a summary listing the most recent science news briefs.
Scientists suggest that Tyrannosaurus may have had three species and not just the’rex.
A group of researchers has proposed that Tyrannosaurus the most famous dinosaur and ultimate apex predator is actually three species. This is based on the tooth variations and thighbones found in dozens fossils. Since 1905, Tyrannosaurus’ first description was made, T. rex (meaning “tyrantlizard king”) has been the only species of the genus Tyrannosaurus. A genus refers to a larger grouping or related organisms than a single species.
Scientists predict disasters in advance of climate catastrophes as they become more common.
Climate scientists reviewed a Pacific Ocean temperature forecast map in November. A bright red, sideways V, thousands of kilometres long, was the sign of disaster. Combining with La Nina cooling in central and eastern Pacific, the V shape of warm seawater stretching from Australia’s east coast down to the Philippines and back across the ocean north of Hawaii indicated that the March-May rainy season in the Horn of Africa would likely fail.
Harvard, MIT – U.S. Tribunal are the inventors and innovators in gene-editing technology
A U.S. tribunal that oversees patent disputes ruled Monday that patents covering the breakthrough gene-editing technology known CRISPR belonged to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s ruling is a defeat to the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Vienna and Nobel Prize-winning researcher Emmanuelle Charpentier.
NOAA’s latest satellite for fire-tracking and weather data launched to orbit
On Tuesday, an Atlas V rocket launched from Florida carrying the next large satellite designed by NOAA to provide 24/7 monitoring of weather, wildfires and climate changes over the western hemisphere. The GOES T spacecraft is the third in a series of advanced geostationary satellites. It has been credited with revolutionizing weather forecasting and environmental monitoring from space.
Stellar, a ‘vampire’ who falls in love with her companion star, finds love at the first bite
Astronomers have had a look at the effects of a “vampire” star sucking the outer layers of material from its companion star. This leaves it with a star core that is just a stellar core. Wednesday’s data from the Chile-based European Southern Observatory, (ESO), was used to clarify the nature of HR 6819. It showed that its two companion stars weren’t accompanied by a dark hole as previously believed.
Seals help Japanese researchers collect data under Antarctic ice
An unusual sight might be a seal wearing a helmet and an antenna, but eight Weddell Seals with a 580g monitoring equipment on their heads have been helping Japanese scientists survey the waters below the thick Antarctica Ice Sheet. These seals were tapped for a research project that took place between March 2017 and November 2017. The probe was focused on winter in Antarctica.
Scientist uses tiny trackers in order to keep an eye on funnel-web web spiders
Some Sydney funnel-webs are crawling into the Australian bush, carrying special cargo: a Telemetry Tracker. This tracker is used to study the distance a mature male can travel at nights and how the environment and weather affect their movements. Caitlin Creak, a PhD Candidat at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences of University of New South Wales, is tracking the male Sydney channel-web, one of most dangerous spiders in the world, since two summers. The nocturnal spider lives within 100km (62 mile) of Australia’s largest city. It is most active between November and April.
Ukraine receives Starlink internet terminals – and a friendly warning about safety
Ukraine said Monday it had received donated Starlink satellite Internet terminals from SpaceX. But, an internet security researcher warned they could become Russian targets. “Starlink here. “Starlink here. Fedorov’s tweet featured a photo of the back of a military truck loaded with terminals.
(This story is not edited by Devdiscourse staff.