This Week in Science: James Webb, Woodpeckers, and Spaghetti on Mars

It’s time for “Nerd News,” covering the most important news for your brain.  Here’s a quick rundown of this week in science…

 

1.  The biggest story was the first images from the James Webb telescope.  Someone made a site called WebbCompare.com that shows how they stack up against photos taken by Hubble.  Spoiler alert:  They’re much better.

(Neil deGrasse Tyson did a quick breakdown of all four pictures for NBC News.)

 

2.  In other space news:  Did the Perseverance rover find spaghetti on Mars?  It spotted something weird and stringy on the ground.  But it’s probably just wires or shredded debris left over from when it landed.

Also, Japan wants to bring artificial gravity to the Moon. And there’s a 10% chance a falling rocket will land on someone and KILL them in the next decade.

 

3.  In animal news:  A study found the only reason woodpeckers don’t get concussions is because their brains are so small and light, they don’t bounce around in their skulls as much.

 

4.  And in kid news:  A study in Australia found children who play sports or hang out with friends after school are happier than kids who go straight back to their screens.