While much of the world has been on lockdown, lawmakers around the world have struggled to decide whether to continue to meet or suspend their sessions. Lawmaking groups in several countries are now trying to meet virtually.
Published in “Technology”
Among the more unusual news stories recently…Peachtree Corners, Georgia tries out remote-controlled scooters, a diver saves a whale and almost catches a whale of a fine, and a woman is given a ticket that wins her a $1.1 million Picasso painting.
In recent news from the world of animals, scientists learn that koalas get water by licking rain off of trees, a very rare brown bear is caught on camera in Spain, and an aquarium in Japan asks people to FaceTime its eels.
Worldwide, many efforts are being made to test people for the new coronavirus. But scientists are also looking at an unusual way of testing for the virus - studying water that's been flushed down toilets.
Recently, researchers have reported on two different ways to break down different kinds of plastic. The new advances could lead to easier, high-quality recycling, and help deal with toxic plastic pollution.
Governments and businesses worldwide are creating smartphone apps to help track the spread of the new coronavirus. The apps could be an important part of easing up on lockdowns, but they are also causing some worries.
Around the world, millions of people on lockdown are having to work from home. Among them are NASA's scientists - including those controlling spacecraft, and even Curiosity, one of NASA's Mars rovers.
Billions of people around the world are now on lockdown. That means there's a whole lot less action on the planet's surface. One result of that is that the earth is shaking less. And scientists can tell.
Ukraine reports that fire fighters have put out forest fires near the location of the world's worst nuclear accident. The forest fires threatened to spread dangerous radiation through the air, though the accident happened over 30 years ago.
In early March, the US space agency NASA asked people who wanted to become astronauts to apply. Over 12,000 people applied, showing that interest is still very strong in the US space program.
Companies around the world are working quickly to help solve problems created by the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Recently, two big problems have been that there aren't enough tests and that there aren't enough masks.