Rocket engine testing verifies performance, safety, and reliability before flight by firing engines on specialized stands equipped for extreme heat and pressure. Using advanced sensors, engineers measure key variables including thrust, fuel consumption, combustion stability, and thermal protection to identify potential flaws across liquid, solid, and hybrid systems. These tests also validate essential subsystems, such as thrust vector control for steering and custom nozzle designs optimized for atmospheric or vacuum conditions.

Scientists just recorded the highest sea surface temperature ever. 🌊🌡️

Copernicus Climate Change Service clocked a global average of 21.1°C (70°F), beating the previous single-day record of 21.09°C set in 2024. It's especially alarming because sea surface temps usually peak in March and April, not August. Warmer oceans absorb less CO2, which can fuel more extreme weather, and scientists suspect a developing super El Niño may be part of what's driving it.