Another week, another This Week on iTP rundown!
This past week seems to be a big week for science tech stories because three of the top five stories here on iTech Post are all space-related.
Cyberattacks are another popular topic this week and given what is happening around the world, this might not surprise you at all.
Wondering what the top stories are for this rundown? Read on and find out!
5. NASA's Perseverance Rover Successfully Collects Its 7th Sample
Our fifth top story for the week is all about the Perseverance Rover.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently revealed that the Mars rover has successfully completed its seventh sample collection. Like the previous samples collected, the seventh sample is from the Red Planet's Jezero Crater.
According to NASA, the Perseverance is due for one more sample collection in the area before it ventures of to another part of Mars.
Related Article: #ThisWeekOnITP: Perseverance Rover's Photo of an Odd-Looking Rock, Amazon's Salary Increase, and MORE!
4. Bridgestone Americas Hacked: LockBit Ransomware Gang Claims Responsibility
The list of cyberattack victims among companies and corporations seem to be rapidly growing and one of the latest additions to the list is Bridgestone Americas.
According to our report on the hack, a ransomware gang known as LockBit claimed responsibility for the hack that was done to one of the biggest tire manufacturers in the entire world. The ransomware gang has threated Bridgestone that they are ready to leak company data.
LockBit is known for using a malware that is described to self-spreading.
3. ESO's New Technology Telescope, TESS Help Discover Earth-like Planet in the Habitable Zone of a Dead Star
Coming in at number three is the second space-related top story for the week.
An Earth-like planet has been discovered by scientists with the help of the New Technology Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The said exoplanet is said to be located 117 light-years away from our planet.
What makes this Earth-like planet remarkable is that it is found orbiting in the habitable zone of a dead star. The "habitable zone" is the area where "liquid water may exist on the surface of a rocky planet," according to our report.
2. Anonymous Continues Hacking of Russia, Targets Streaming Services
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has a pretty heavy tech aspect to it, especially when you consider the cyberattacks happening in relation. One of which is the continuous hacking of notorious cyber activist group Anonymous.
Our report talks about the group's ongoing effort to combat Russia in its own way. This time, Anonymous was reported to have hacked into streaming services and Russian television to show the public actual footage of what is happening in Ukraine.
1. NASA's Astronaut Might be Left in the International Space Station Due to U.S. and Russia's Conflicting Partnership
Our top story for the week is, like the story at number two, is related to the ongoing conflict centered around Russia. It is also the third and final space story that made it to this week's top five.
It was reported that the director-general of Roscosmos threatened to leave a NASA astronaut in the International Space Station (ISS). Due to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Russia, there are worries that the astronaut, Mark Vande Hei, might not be brought back to Earth by Russia.
