George Dvorsky

We’ll Get to See NASA’s Sonic Boom-Less Supersonic Plane Next WeekAstronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewNASA’s supersonic experimental plane—the linchpin of the agency’s Quesst mission—is set to roll out of its warehouse in the California desert next week. We’re gassed for the big moment: the X-59 has been in development for six years, and, if successful, it will demonstrate supersonic flight without sonic booms. - Isaac Schultz Read MoreSouth Korea’s Artificial Sun Is Cooking…

Image: Artiom Photo (Shutterstock)Your snack habit may be even more calorie-dense than you think, recent research suggests. A study estimated that snacking contributes to around 20% of an average American’s daily caloric intake, and these snacks often add little nutritional value. The scientists found, though, that people with type 2 diabetes seem to eat fewer snack-related calories. - Ed Cara Read More Image: Artiom Photo (Shutterstock)Your snack habit may be even more calorie-dense than you think, recent research…

Our most-read science stories this week contain a few timeless life lessons. One, don’t go into an MRI room carrying metal, particularly if that metal is a loaded gun. Two, don’t cross a killer whale, even if you’re a great white shark. And finally, never judge a sea cucumber by its cover—no matter how repulsive that cover appears to be. - Rose PastoreZillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With… AI? | AI UnlockedWoman Enters MRI Machine With a Gun, Gets Shot in ButtImage: nimon (Shutterstock)A woman’s medical exam turned…

If you told a person on the street in the 1970s that humans would have no base on the Moon by the year 2000, they’d probably laugh in your face. Well, it’s 2023 and we still lack even the barest of lunar infrastructure. But this week, Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency sketched out their plans for a sustainable base on the Moon. Read up on that and much more in our roundup of the week’s most-read science stories.—Rose Pastore“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedElon Musk Unveils Plans for Starship…

A fully stacked Ariane 6 at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Photo: ESA/Manuel PedoussautThe European Space Agency is now targeting late 2023 for the inaugural launch of its next-generation Ariane 6 rocket, in what is yet another delay for the debut of this heavy-lift launch vehicle. During a press briefing on Wednesday, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced that Ariane 6's inaugural flight is now scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023, while cautioning that the date range is still not final. The fully…