In today's news roundup, Super Typhoon Rai smashes into the Philippines, a volcano in the Canary Islands may be calming down after three months, and Magnus Carlsen wins the World Chess Championship for the fifth time.
Published in “Science”
Three years after NASA launched its Parker Solar Probe, the probe has become the first human spacecraft to "touch" the Sun. The probe first flew through the Sun's outer atmosphere, or "corona" in April.
Last Thursday, New Zealand announced a plan to end smoking in the country. Under the plan, the country would make it illegal for people born after 2008 to buy cigarettes. The plan aims to stop young people from ever starting to smoke.
A group of powerful tornadoes tore across five states in the south central US late Friday night, leaving behind a trail of destroyed homes and buildings. The tornadoes, unusual for this time of year, were among the most powerful and deadly ever seen in the US.
In today's news roundup, Olaf Scholz becomes the chancellor of Germany, the United States and several other countries send a message to China by refusing to send government representatives to the winter Olympics, and Antarctica gets a rare total solar eclipse.
Last Friday, the first train took off on a new $6 billion railway in Laos. The government hopes the system will help improve the situation for the country's businesses and people. But many people question whether Laos can afford the railway.
Mount Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupted suddenly on Saturday, sending huge clouds of ash and smoke miles into the sky. The falling ash has covered several nearby villages. Hundreds of people have been forced from their homes and at least 14 people have died.
Last Saturday, 30 white rhinos were loaded into an airplane in South Africa and flown to their new home in Rwanda. The organizers of the move hope the rhinos will be able to settle in the new area, and that their numbers will grow.
Last week, Iran's government cracked down suddenly on people protesting over a lack of water in the city of Isfahan. Farmers there have been protesting for over two weeks because the nearby Zayanderoud River has run completely dry, making farming impossible.
On Friday, the World Health Organization released information on a new version of the virus that causes Covid-19. The new variant, which has been named "Omicron", was first spotted in South Africa. Countries around the world are now racing to prepare for Omicron.
Last Thursday, the world's first self-driving, electric container ship made its first trip to Oslo, Norway. The ship's owners aim to cut pollution by moving large amounts of products by water on the southern coast of Norway instead of by truck.