Insect invaders threaten Rome's iconic pines

Rome's majestic umbrella pines are as much part of the landscape as the ruins and cobbled streets, but they are under threat from a tiny insect invader—the pine tortoise scale.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-insect-invaders-threaten-rome-iconic.html

Japan's capsule with asteroid samples retrieved in Australia

A Japanese capsule carrying the world's first asteroid subsurface samples shot across the night atmosphere early Sunday before landing in the remote Australian Outback, completing a mission to provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-japan-capsule-asteroid-samples-australia.html

Chinese probe prepares to return moon rocks to Earth

A Chinese probe that landed on the moon transferred rocks to an orbiter Sunday in preparation for returning samples of the lunar surface to Earth for the first time in almost 45 years, the space agency announced.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-chinese-probe-moon-earth.html

Double Dragons: SpaceX launches space station supplies

SpaceX launched a newer, bigger version of its Dragon supply ship to the International Space Station on Sunday, marking the first time the company has two capsules in orbit at the same time.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-dragons-spacex-space-station.html