He will be "cheering from the sidelines."

Founder of Tesla competitor Nikola steps down amid fraud scandal

Really Not a Good Look

Nikola founder and executive chairman Trevor Milton is officially stepping down from the company's board of directors following fraud allegations.

Founder of Tesla Competitor Nikola Steps Down Amid Fraud Scandal

"I intend to defend myself against false allegations leveled against me by outside detractors."

Meteorites From Vesta Found on Asteroid Bennu

"These boulders are much brighter than the rest of Bennu and match material from Vesta."

Astronomers spot bits of entirely different asteroid on surface of Bennu

Asteroid Wars

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spotted some strangely light colored rocks on the surface of asteroid Bennu — likely from an entirely different asteroid.

Astronomers Spot Bits of Entirely Different Asteroid on Surface of Bennu

How did that get there?

Where we're going, we don't need drivers seats.

German space agency shows off outrageous modular vehicle prototype

Cargo Ja

German Aerospace Center (DLR) has come with a fully modular futuristic vehicle concept that looks unlike anything we've seen before.

German Space Agency Shows Off Outrageous Modular Vehicle Prototype

It can transform into a shuttle, a bus, a cargo van, or even a mobile storefront.

Landing precisely on other worlds

"What we’re building is a complete descent and landing system that will work for future Artemis missions to the Moon and can be adapted for Mars."

NASA has figured out a new way to safely land on the Moon

Safe to Land

NASA has built a system that could make landing on the Moon or Mars a whole lot less risky — and it already has plans to test it out on an upcoming mission.

NASA Has Figured Out a New Way to Safely Land on the Moon

How to land on the Moon without a human pilot.

"While all other electric pickups are competing for lifestyle customers, the all-electric F-150 is designed and engineered for hard-working customers that need a truck to do a job."

Ford VP disses Cybertruck, calling electric F-150 a "real" work truck

Trucks Given

During a media briefing, a Ford VP claimed that the company's upcoming F-150 EV pickup will be a "real" work truck" — not a "lifestyle" truck.

Ford VP Disses Cybertruck, Calling Electric F-150 a “Real” Work Truck

Ford has no interest in "competing for lifestyle customers."

Uber's "safety driver" during deadly self-driving car crash charged with negligent homicide

Mixed Feelings

Human "safety driver" Rafaela Vasquez was charged with one count of negligent homicide following a 2018 deadly car crash involving an Uber self-driving car.

Uber’s “Safety Driver” During Deadly Self-Driving Car Crash Charged With Negligent Homicide

The driver is facing anywhere between four to eight years in jail.

"Now that we know that planets can survive the journey without being broken up by the white dwarf's gravity, we can look for other, smaller planets."

Astronomers detect first-ever planet closely orbiting a white dwarf

Still Living With the Parents

For the first time, a team of astronomers has detected a massive planet orbiting a white dwarf at a very close distance, circling it every 34 hours.

Astronomers Detect First-Ever Planet Closely Orbiting a White Dwarf

It's not at all what they expected to find.

"Just imagine: a house that can breathe and a T-shirt that grows with you."

This moss-filled coffin is made out of fungus

Fungus Among Us

Designers from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have created the "Living Cocoon," a moss-filled, "living" coffin made out of fungus.

This Moss-Filled Coffin Is Made Out of Fungus

"We are degrading organisms into dead, polluting materials, but what if we kept them alive?"

172 spots of light allow individuals "to navigate indoor and outdoor environments, and recognize the presence of people and objects around them."

Doctors are preparing to implant the world's first human bionic eye

Eyes Have It

A team of researchers from Monash University in Melbourne is preparing to implant a bionic eye as part of the world's first human clinical trials.

Doctors Are Preparing to Implant the World’s First Human Bionic Eye

The same implants could potentially treat paralysis as well.

There is a sweet spot in Venus's clouds, 30 to 37 miles above the surface, "where the temperature is not too hot, not too cold, but just right for life."

Scientist behind Venus life claim describes it as "crazy"

Can't Even

In a CNN opinion piece, Sarah Seager, member of the team that announced it had found evidence for life on Venus, argues that the discovery is "crazy."

Scientist Behind Venus Life Claim Describes It as “Crazy”

"When I first learned of Jane's finding I simply didn't believe it."

"Nikola never stated its truck was driving under its own propulsion in the video, although the truck was designed to do just that."

Tesla competitor admits it rolled semi prototype down a hill in 2018 promo because it couldn't drive

Yiiiikes

According to a short-seller report, Nikola Motors lied about its One electric semi truck, claiming it was capable of propelling itself in 2018. It couldn't.

Tesla Competitor Admits It Rolled Semi Truck Prototype Down a Hill in 2018 Promo Because It Couldn’t Drive

Nikola is in full damage control mode right now.

"A lot of people want to blame it on 2020, but 2020 didn’t do this."

Scientists warn that fires, extreme weather events are getting worse

Weather Report

Some experts are currently sounding the alarm, arguing that what we're seeing are the early days of increasingly lethal extreme weather and fires.

Scientists Warn That Fires, Extreme Weather Events Are Getting Worse

"It’s going to get A LOT worse."

Breaking: Researchers discover signs of life on Venus

Venus Smells Like Rotting Fish

Researchers have discovered significant sources of phosphine,  colorless and odorless gas, in the atmosphere of Venus — a possible sign of life.

Breaking: Researchers Discover Signs of Life on Venus

"When we got the first hints of phosphine in Venus’ spectrum, it was a shock!"

"We’re living in an age of vaccine disinformation."

Professors: We are begging you to stop injecting yourselves with homebrewed COVID vaccines

DIY and Die

In a new paper in the journal Science, a team of scientists has a blunt request: please stop injecting yourselves with homebrewed COVID vaccines.

Professors: We Are Begging You to Stop Injecting Yourselves With Homebrewed COVID Vaccines

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/uoia-dcv091620.php">Do-it-yourself COVID-19 vaccines fraught with public health problems</a> [University of Illinois]

More on vaccines: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/russia-says-it-has-approved-a-covid-vaccine">Russia Says It Has Approved an Untested COVID Vaccine</a>

Rx/Medicines

"People should be aware that just because they’re experimenting on themselves doesn’t make it legal without approval."

The numbers of new cases are surging in both France and Spain.

WHO says Europe is headed into another potential pandemic crisis

Round Two

"Pandemic fatigue" is causing numbers of confirmed cases of COVID-19 to surge in parts of Europe, particularly in France and Spain.

WHO Says Europe Is Headed Into Another Potential Pandemic Crisis

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/18/pandemic-fatigue-leads-to-resurgence-of-coronavirus-in-europe-where-france-and-spain-hit-records.html">‘Pandemic fatigue’ leads to resurgence of coronavirus in Europe where cases surge to fresh records in France and Spain</a> [CNBC]

More on the pandemic: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-slam-research-covid-bioweapon">Scientists Slam Dubious Research Claiming COVID Is a Bioweapon</a>

Developments

"We have a very serious situation unfolding before us."

Don't worry — it's very different from COVID.

Thousands infected by bacteria after leak at Chinese pharmaceutical factory

Oops

Thousands of people in northwest China have caught a bacterial disease after a leak caused an outbreak at a biopharmaceutical last year, CNN reports.

Thousands Infected by Bacteria After Leak at Chinese Pharmaceutical Factory

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/17/asia/china-brucellosis-outbreak-intl-hnk/index.html">Bacterial outbreak infects thousands after factory leak in China</a> [CNN]

More on bacterial outbreaks: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/coronavirus-historians-echoes-spanish-flu-past-pandemics">In the Coronavirus, Historians See Echoes of Past Pandemics</a>

They failed to disinfect waste gas, which infected thousands in the area.

Scientists slam dubious research claiming COVID is a bioweapon

Bannon Hammer

Numerous experts are saying that a scientific paper claiming COVID is a bioweapon made elementary errors and relies on a shaky interpretation of evidence.

Scientists Slam Dubious Research Claiming COVID Is a Bioweapon

Read more: <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/steve-bannon-linked-groups-push-study-claiming-china-manufactured-covid">Steve Bannon Is Behind Bogus Study That China Created COVID</a> [The Daily Beast]
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More on COVID: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/fake-covid19-cure-absolutely-destroyed">Watch a Guy Selling a Fake COVID-19 Cure Get Absolutely Destroyed</a>

Studies

"This pre-print report cannot be given any credibility in its current form."

The discovery provides a useful new window into the lab animals' emotional welfare.

Finally: Scientists discover which rats like to be tickled

Rat's Nest

Scientists discovered that rats let out a high-pitch squeak when they're happy, giving a rare, measurable window into animal well-being.

Finally: Scientists Discover Which Rats Like to Be Tickled

Good job, science.

A powerful tsunami could reshape the coastline where multiple nuclear power plants are situated.

Scientists warn that Indian, Pakistani nuclear plants could get wrecked by tsunamis

Splash Zone

Research reveals that the west coast of India and Pakistan — where both countries operate nuclear power plants — are particularly vulnerable to tsunamis.

Scientists Warn That Indian, Pakistani Nuclear Plants Could Get Wrecked by Tsunamis

"Siting nuclear reactors in areas prone to natural disasters is not very wise."

"And that of course has the worse impacts on the poorest and least responsible."

The richest one percent emits twice as much carbon as half the world

Thumb On The Scales

The wealthiest one percent in the world emits twice the carbon as does the poorer half of the Earth's population, revealing stark global inequalities.

The Richest One Percent Emits Twice as Much Carbon as Half the World

And it's the poorest parts of the world that will face the worst effects of climate change.

Rising temperatures and worsening air are blurring our view of space.

Astronomers complain that climate change is making telescopes worse

Cloudy Skies

Climate change is interfering with sensitive observatories and telescopes, making it harder for astronomers to study the cosmos.

Astronomers Complain That Climate Change Is Making Telescopes Worse

Even the most advanced telescopes were designed for a cooler planet.

Enceladus in the Infrared

Astronomers call it an icy "snowball" for a reason.

NASA finds evidence of "fresh ice" on Saturn's moon Enceladus

Giant Snowball

By digging through infrared images of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, scientists have found "strong evidence" of "fresh ice" in its northern hemisphere.