Ariane 6 finally takes off, cancer patient receives first larynx transplant to restore his voice and much more this week

This week, a 52,000-year-old “freeze-dried” mammoth skin yields the first set of 3D chromosomes, lion brothers swim a record distance through predator-filled waters, the first sighting of an incredible “polar rain” from Earth finally has an explanation. And finally, we explore the world’s most endangered language: N|uu.

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Ariane 6, Europe’s new route into space, finally takes off

The sound is what gives you goosebumps. Although light is faster, it is the vibration of the rocket that makes you realise what a big deal this is. You can see the light of the rocket in the sky, no doubt stunning, but it is only in the following seconds, when the sound waves catch up with the view, that the roar echoes off you (the building and the jungles of French Guiana). This roar is generated by Ariane 6, Europe’s new route to space, and IFLScience was right there on the launch pad in Kourou to witness it. Read the full story here

Woolly mammoth skin “freeze-dried” for 52,000 years provides the first 3D chromosomes

Freeze-dried skin samples from a woolly mammoth found in Siberia have enabled scientists to create a 3D reconstruction of 52,000-year-old chromosomes. This achievement is unique in the field of ancient DNA and shows which genes were active in the skin cells during the mammoth’s lifetime. Read the whole story here

Lion swims record-breaking distance through river full of predators in cinematic epic feat

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of lions? A catchy song from a Disney movie, their majestic roar, or perhaps the similarities between these predators and the house cat curled up on your lap? What may not come to mind is the swimming ability of these African animals. Well, new research has found that these big cats may swim a lot more than we thought, as proven by an epic, record-breaking feat. Read the full story here

Incredible “polar rain” – Aurora seen from Earth for the first time

On Christmas Day 2022, a most peculiar aurora borealis, the likes of which had never been seen from the ground before, was visible across a huge swath of the Arctic sky. This extraordinary light spectacle, known as the polar rain aurora, was created by a waterfall of electrons emanating from the Sun and cascading peacefully over the North Pole. Read the full story here

Cancer patient receives first-ever complete larynx transplant to restore his voice

A 59-year-old man from Massachusetts is the first person known to have received a larynx transplant despite active cancer. Patient Marty Kedian joins a very short list of people who have undergone this operation in the past. Surgeons at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona hope that the procedure can soon be offered to more people who have lost their voice to cancer. Read the full story here

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Feature of the week:

N|uu, the world’s most endangered language, is now spoken fluently by only one person

With only one living fluent speaker, N|uu is one of the most endangered languages ​​in the world. Her story is one of pain and tragedy – but also of great hope and determination. Together with her family and local linguists, the last remaining speaker of N|uu is trying to keep the dying embers of the language burning by passing it on to the new generation. Read the full story here

Further content:

Do you already know our e-magazine CURIOUS? It just turned 2 years old! Issue 24, July 2024 is now available. Take a look and read exclusive interviews, book excerpts, long texts and more.

PLUS: Season 4 of IFLScience’s podcast “The Big Questions” has begun. So far we’ve asked: “Why are we the only surviving human species?” and “What impact does climate change have on our health?”