Today's Science News: SpaceX Starship Milestones, JPL Shakeup, and Breakthroughs in WiFi Surveillance and Sea Level Research
WiFi Surveillance Breakthrough
Researchers in Germany have developed a surveillance technique that uses ordinary WiFi signals to identify individuals with near-perfect accuracy by analyzing how radio waves reflect off people in a room, even when no devices are present.
Read more: Ordinary WiFi can now identify people with near perfect accuracy
SpaceX Launches Upgraded Starship V3
SpaceX has successfully launched its upgraded Starship V3 rocket on its first test flight from Texas, marking a significant milestone for the next generation of the company's massive reusable spacecraft.
Read more: SpaceX's upgraded Starship V3 blasts off in debut test flight from Texas
SpaceX Launches Biggest Starship Configuration
SpaceX has successfully launched its largest Starship megarocket configuration, marking another milestone in the company's development program for the fully reusable next-generation launch vehicle.
Read more: SpaceX launches biggest model of Starship megarocket
Sea Level Rise Acceleration Explained
Researchers have confirmed that warming ocean water is the primary driver of accelerating sea level rise, while melting glaciers and polar ice sheets contribute increasingly more water each year. The team also resolved a long-standing mismatch between different sea level measurement methods.
Read more: Sea level rise is speeding up and scientists now know exactly why
Potential JPL Management Change
A significant change may be coming to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as reports suggest control of the iconic space center could shift for the first time in nearly 100 years of operation.
Read more: Shakeup at JPL? Control over iconic NASA center could change for 1st time in nearly 100 years
JPL Contract Put Up for Competitive Bidding
NASA has put the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's management contract up for competitive bidding, breaking a tradition dating back to the 1930s, with agency insiders reportedly concerned about the implications of this procurement shift.
Read more: JPL's management contract is suddenly up for grabs for the first time since the 1930s