Science News Roundup: Collision with NASA spacecraft altered shape of asteroid Dimorphos; New fish invade the Adriatic Sea, threatening local species and more

Due to climate change and increased maritime traffic, the parrotfish, along with around 50 new species, has spread to the Adriatic, threatening the native fish population. Russia says CERN decision to cut science cooperation is unacceptable Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that a decision by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to cut cooperation with Russian scientists was politicised, discriminatory and unacceptable.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Collision with NASA spacecraft altered shape of asteroid Dimorphos

China launches signal relay satellite for mission to moon's hidden side

China on Wednesday launched a satellite that will act as a communications bridge between ground operations on Earth and an upcoming mission on the far side of the moon, marking a new phase in the country's long-term lunar exploration programme. A Long March 8 rocket carrying the 1.2-metric ton Queqiao-2, named after a mythological bridge made of magpies, and two miniature satellites, Tiandu-1 and -2, blasted off from the southern island province of Hainan, state media reported.

New fish invade the Adriatic Sea, threatening local species

For decades, Croatian fisherman Marko Kristic has cast his nets in the sparkling waters of the Adriatic Sea. Now an invasion of the Mediterranean parrotfish is endangering his traditional catch and his livelihood, he says. Due to climate change and increased maritime traffic, the parrotfish, along with around 50 new species, has spread to the Adriatic, threatening the native fish population.

Russia says CERN decision to cut science cooperation is unacceptable

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that a decision by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to cut cooperation with Russian scientists was politicised, discriminatory and unacceptable. CERN said in December it would cut cooperation with Russia from November 2024 and Belarus from June due to the war in Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)