Artemis II Update, Solar Flares, PFAS, and Newborn Rhythm: Scientific American Science Quickly Roundup

In this Science Quickly episode from Scientific American, Kendra Pierre Lewis and Claire Cameron discuss Artemis II’s delay due to hydrogen leaks found during a wet dress rehearsal, with March launch windows still being evaluated. The show then covers a powerful solar flare event and ozone layer recovery, followed by a report on PFAS substitutes and trifluoracetic acid entering the atmosphere. The episode closes with an adorable finding: a PLOS Biology study showing newborns appear to be born with rhythm, evidenced by EEG responses to music. Tune in for concise, expert space and science news.

Artemis II update: delays, tests and possible dates

The episode begins with an Artemis II explainer from Claire Cameron, Scientific American's breaking news chief. Artemis II is described as a planned mission to send four astronauts in a loop around the Moon for about 10 days; the crew won’t land on the Moon this time, but the mission serves as a critical test ahead of future crewed lunar landings. A wet dress rehearsal conducted on February 2 revealed hydrogen fuel leaks in the launcher, along with capsule-related hatch valve issues that required tweaking. NASA is now aiming for a March launch window, with March 6–9 and March 11 cited as potential dates, though the exact date will depend on analyses from the rehearsal results. A second wet dress rehearsal may follow if needed to ensure all systems are functioning optimally. "Artemis II is a planned mission to send 4 astronauts in a giant loop around the moon. It'll take them 10 days and they're not actually going to land on the moon." - Claire Cameron

Solar flares, space weather and ozone—the broader Earth picture

Continuing with space news, the program notes a powerful solar event: on February 1st, the Sun unleashed one of its stronger flares in decades. The program explains that solar flares are massive bursts of electromagnetic radiation, lasting minutes to hours, with X-class flares ranking as the most intense type. The conversation touches on the potential effects, including radiation storms and satellite disruptions, but also notes the captivating aurora display that can accompany these events when charged particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere. The discussion then shifts to the Earth’s ozone layer history, recapping the 1985 discovery of a thinning ozone layer over Antarctica, the role of CFCs, and the Montreal Protocol’s progress. It also raises a new concern: a study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that as ozone-depleting substances are phased out, substitutes like trifluoracetic acid (TFA), part of PFAS family, are entering the atmosphere and may carry their own risks. "On February 1st, the sun unleashed one of its stronger solar flares in decades." - Kendra Pierre Lewis

PFAS, TFA and the forever-chemicals conversation

The segment outlines PFAS compounds, describing them as persistent and ubiquitous, sometimes called forever chemicals due to their longevity. A recent model-based study estimates that between 2000 and 2022, about 370,000 tons of trifluoracetic acid entered the atmosphere as a PFAS substitute, highlighting potential environmental and health concerns. The discussion explains that PFAS include thousands of substances with potential links to immune, hormonal, and hepatic effects in mammals, and notes that PFAS exposure is widespread in drinking water and rivers in various countries. The narrative emphasizes the tension between phasing out harmful ozone-depleting substances and safeguarding against new, long-lived chemicals that could pose other health challenges. "These chemicals are ubiquitous. US government data suggests that roughly half of the nation's households have some level of PFAS in their drinking water supply." - Kendra Pierre Lewis

Newborn rhythm study: babies are hardwired for beat perception

In the final science segment, the show highlights a study published in PLOS Biology where 49 newborns were connected to EEG to test musical perception. The researchers played Bach's Wee Baby, with some versions scrambled in pitch and timing. The babies’ brain activity indicated surprise when rhythm deviated in scrambled versions, suggesting an innate sensitivity to rhythm. Interestingly, there was no similar surprise when melodies or pitch sequences were altered, implying that rhythm processing may be an early, hardwired feature that develops further with exposure to melody over time. The segment concludes with the notion that we seem to be born with rhythm, and melodic understanding emerges with experience. "Babies are actually hardwired to find the beat" - Kendra Pierre Lewis

Wrap-up

As the program closes, the hosts reiterate continued coverage of Artemis II and related space stories, along with ongoing space weather and Earth science news. The episode ends with a reminder to tune in on Wednesday for a deep dive into linguistics in a popular hockey TV show and credits the production team for another week of science reporting.