Reuters Science News Summary

Following is a summary of current science news ​briefs.

Trump releases government UFO files, more ​expected

At the order of ‌U.S. President ​Donald Trump, the Defense Department on Friday released dozens of previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings to ‌provide what it called "unprecedented transparency" to the American people, though analysts said many of the documents had already been made public. The disclosure of documents, photos and videos of "unidentified anomalous ‌phenomena" will be followed by future releases as more materials are declassified, the ‌Defense Department said in a statement.

Astronomers get the best look yet at the surface of an exoplanet

Astronomers have gotten their clearest look yet at the surface of an exoplanet - a planet beyond our ⁠solar ​system - thanks to NASA's ⁠James Webb Space Telescope. Webb gathered data on a rocky exoplanet with a diameter about 30% larger ⁠than Earth that indicates it is a desolate and airless world whose surface may resemble that ​of Mercury, our solar system's innermost planet. Its lack of a discernible atmosphere ⁠and its extreme temperatures - fiercely hot on one side and frigid on the other - seem to render ⁠it ​uninhabitable.

David Attenborough turns 100, 'overwhelmed' by birthday wishes

David Attenborough said he had been "completely overwhelmed" by birthday greetings as he turned 100 on Friday in a worldwide outpouring of ⁠affection for the British wildlife broadcaster after decades of trailblazing work. After more than 70 ⁠years of film-making, Attenborough's ⁠instantly recognisable voice is synonymous with the story of nature. He is still at the vanguard of efforts to protect the ‌environment and ‌has produced some of his most influential work ​in recent years.

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