Science News Roundup: North Korea's space launch program and long-range missile projects; Webb space telescope spies precocious 'teenage' galaxies and more

North Korea's launch, its third attempt after two failures this year, came two months after its leader, Kim Jong Un, met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who offered to help Pyongyang build a satellite. UK says new science initiative to work on climate-resilient crops British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce a new science initiative to bring together work on developing climate-resilient crops as his government hosts a Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

North Korea's space launch program and long-range missile projects

North Korea launched a rocket late on Tuesday carrying what it called a reconnaissance satellite, prompting South Korea to suspend a key part of a military pact it had signed in 2018 with Pyongyang to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea's launch, its third attempt after two failures this year, came two months after its leader, Kim Jong Un, met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who offered to help Pyongyang build a satellite.

UK says new science initiative to work on climate-resilient crops

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce a new science initiative to bring together work on developing climate-resilient crops as his government hosts a Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday. The summit, a joint initiative between Britain, Somalia, the UAE, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is due to be attended by representatives from more than 20 countries.

Webb space telescope spies precocious 'teenage' galaxies

Since becoming operational last year, the James Webb Space Telescope has made groundbreaking observations involving some of the universe's earliest galaxies. One might call them galactic infants. But Webb has obtained even better data on galaxies a bit further along in development. Astronomers call these the galactic "teenagers." And, as new research shows, they resemble human teenagers in certain respects, including by displaying growth spurts along with a bit of immaturity.