Science News Roundup: South Korea’s second space rocket launch successfully puts satellites in orbit; Scientists probe link between ‘snowblood’ and climate change and more

Here is a summary of current scientific news.

South Korea’s second space rocket launch successfully puts satellites into orbit

South Korea’s second test launch of its locally produced Nuri rocket successfully placed several satellites into orbit on Tuesday, officials said, marking a major milestone in efforts to revive its space program after the failed launch. a first test last year. The rocket lifted off from Naro Space Center on South Korea’s southern coast at 4 p.m. (0700 GMT). A 162.5 kg (358 lb) satellite designed to check rocket performance has successfully made contact with a base station in Antarctica after entering orbit, officials said.

Scientists probe link between ‘snowblood’ and climate change

Standing on a snowy mountainside about 2,500 meters above sea level, Eric Marechal brandishes a crimson test tube. Inside is a sample of algae known as “snow blood”, a phenomenon that is accelerating the thawing of the Alps and which scientists fear will spread. “These algae are green. But when they are in the snow, they accumulate a little pigment like sunscreen to protect themselves”, explains Maréchal, research director at the National Center for Scientific Research in Grenoble, who took samples laboratory samples on the Brévent mountain with teammates.

Chilean beachgoers become guardians of Elasmosaurus fossils

While walking along the beach of Los Tubos on Chile’s central coast, a group of neighbors found strange remains that turned out to be fossils of an ancient marine reptile that lived in the surrounding sea ages ago. millions of years. Several fossils belonging to the long-necked sea creature from the Late Cretaceous period, known as Elasmosaurus, were discovered by Andrea Galvez and other residents of the town of Algarrobo, about 95 km (60 miles) ) east of Santiago, the country’s capital.

(With agency contributions.)