Reuters Science News Summary

Anthropic plans to use the additional computing power to boost capacity for subscribers of its Claude Pro and Claude Max AI ⁠assistants, ​SpaceX said in a post on its website. US startup Lunar Outpost raises $30 million to speed moon rover development U.S. startup Lunar Outpost closed a $30 million funding round this week that will speed development of a new moon rover, its CEO said, as investor interest in lunar ventures grows.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Study shows how a potato-based diet changed ​the genetics of Andean people

Indigenous people in the Andes domesticated the ​potato - a great source of starch, vitamins, minerals and ‌fiber - ​6,000 to 10,000 years ago, making this tuber a central part of their diet. These people then experienced genetic adaptations beneficial for such a diet that are still seen in their descendants living in Peru. New genomic research ‌documents how these descendants - speakers of the Quechua language of the once-great Inca Empire - underwent fortification involving a gene called AMY1 that is involved in starch digestion, a function useful for people with a potato-centric diet.

Germany's OHB to consider legal action if EU clears Airbus, Thales, Leonardo satellite merger

German satellite maker OHB ‌will consider legal action if EU antitrust regulators approve a planned merger of the satellite businesses of Airbus, Thales and Leonardo, its CEO ‌said on Thursday. The three aerospace and defence groups announced plans in October to combine their satellite manufacturing activities into a standalone company, code-named "Project Bromo".

Astronomers get the best look yet at the surface of an exoplanet

Astronomers have gotten their clearest look yet at the surface of an exoplanet - a planet beyond our solar system - thanks to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Webb gathered data on ⁠a rocky ​exoplanet with a diameter about 30% ⁠larger than Earth that indicates it is a desolate and airless world whose surface may resemble that of Mercury, our solar system's innermost planet. Its lack of a discernible atmosphere ⁠and its extreme temperatures - fiercely hot on one side and frigid on the other - seem to render it uninhabitable.

SpaceX to give Anthropic access to its massive AI supercomputer

Elon Musk's ​SpaceX said on Wednesday it has signed a deal to give Anthropic access to Colossus 1, a massive AI supercomputer, bringing together ⁠two of the most prominent players in the artificial intelligence race. Anthropic plans to use the additional computing power to boost capacity for subscribers of its Claude Pro and Claude Max AI ⁠assistants, ​SpaceX said in a post on its website.

US startup Lunar Outpost raises $30 million to speed moon rover development

U.S. startup Lunar Outpost closed a $30 million funding round this week that will speed development of a new moon rover, its CEO said, as investor interest in lunar ventures grows. The company's ⁠Series B funding, launched a month ago, was led by Industrious Ventures. Type One Ventures, Eniac Ventures and Promus Ventures also participated.

India's Skyroot becomes first $1 ⁠billion space-tech startup with GIC, Sherpalo, ⁠Blackrock backing

India's Skyroot Aerospace has became the first space-sector company in the country to hit a $1 billion dollar valuation after securing $60 million in fresh funding from Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC and Silicon Valley-based Sherpalo Ventures. Investment management company ‌BlackRock also took part in ‌the funding round, taking Skyroot's total capital raised to $160 million, the company ​said in a statement on Thursday.