February 2017 Current Events: Science & Technology News
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As sciences marches on, you can sometimes feel like you're getting left in the dust. Infoplease has what you need to stay in the know. Here are the top 5 Science & Technology news events you need to know for February 2017:
- Incredibly Rare Species of Frog Captured for Breeding
- New Evidence Supports Existence of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes
- Indian Rocket Carries Record 104 Nanosatellites Into Space
- SpaceX Falcon 9 Reusable Rocket Successfully Takes Off and Lands
- New Species of Tiny Frogs Discovered in India
Incredibly Rare Species of Frog Captured for Breeding
On Feb. 4, researchers locate and capture specimens of a very rare species of frog that had been feared extinct. THe arthroleptis troglodytes, or cave squeaker, is critically endangered, and had been feared extinct. No specimens had been captured in the last five decades. Scientists announce that they plan to breed the frogs to repopulate them. The cave squeaker is named for its preferred habitat, and the noises it makes. (The New York Times)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Francois Becker, File
New Evidence Supports Existence of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes
On Feb. 8, researches announce a discovery that suggests the presence of a black hole in the 47 Tucanae star system. The black hole is around 2,000 times the mass of the sun, falling in between the two conventional classes of black holes. The evidence is first discovered in 2015, but finally passes the scrutiny of peer review. The existence of intermediate-mass black holes like this one may provide vital insights into how black holes develop. (Nature)
Photo Source: NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory/M.Weiss via AP, File
Indian Rocket Carries Record 104 Nanosatellites Into Space
On Feb. 15, a rocket is launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation carrying a record 104 satellites. The satellites, classified as nanosatellites, all weight between 1kg and 10kg. The previous record for satellites carried in a single mission was 37. Americans own 96 of the satellites, most of them used for imaging, while India own three. The rest are owned Kazakhstan, Israel, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UAE. (BBC)
Photo Source: Indian Space Research Organisation via AP
SpaceX Falcon 9 Reusable Rocket Successfully Takes Off and Lands
On Feb. 19, private company SpaceX, owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk, launches one of their Falcon 9 rockets from the same platform as the 1969 Apollo Mission, carrying a Dragon spacecraft for NASA. The Dragon will bring supplies to the ISS. The Falcon 9 is remarkable in that the first stage launcher is reusable, unlike with more conventional craft. The first stage rocket successfully lands on a platform on Earth. (NPR)
Photo Source: AP Photo/John Raoux, File
New Species of Tiny Frogs Discovered in India
On Feb. 21, a scientific survey team working in the Western Ghats mountain range discovers seven new species of frogs. Some are as small as .5 inches long, making them the smallest known species. Their size and insect-like chirps had helped the remain undiscovered. This is the second major discovery of frog species in the area in the past few years. The mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. (CNN)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File
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