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NASA’s Ingenuity completed its most challenging flight yet on Mars, an amateur astronomer made a major discovery, and paleontologists blew up a dinosaur myth during the week of July 1–7.
Researchers identified a new iguanodon-like dinosaur from a jawbone fossil found in Spain. Relatives of the new species have been found in China and Niger.
Researchers discovered that the brain processes illusory faces in inanimate objects the same way it recognizes real faces, including interpreting their facial expressions.
Researchers in Singapore found vertical plants in urban settings — on balconies and walls, for example — reduce stress in passersby. Using VR cityscapes, the researchers found that urban greenery has a stress-relief effect, but the color green alone doesn’t.
Scientists used fossil x-rays to reveal that not all dinosaurs breathed the same way. Paleontologists assumed dinosaurs breathed using air sacs like birds — but the Heterodontosaurus breathed by expanding its chest and belly.
The European Robotic Arm prepared to travel to the International Space Station. The ERA will be capable of “walking” along the outside of the ISS to help astronauts during spacewalks.
Traveling at 5 m/s for 166.4 seconds, Ingenuity completed its longest, fastest flight yet. It was the ninth flight so far for the Mars helicopter.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an X-class solar flare, among the most powerful flares the Sun produces.
University of California engineers added electrostatic footpads based on insect feet to their insect-sized robot developed in 2019. The addition makes the already agile robot capable of navigating difficult, dangerous terrain.
An amateur astronomer discovered a new moon of Jupiter, designated S/2003 J 24, using archival images from 2003–2018. It’s Jupiter’s 80th moon and the first to be discovered by an amateur astronomer.
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