Science & technology | From the archives
Writing on the sky
Our coverage of Sputnik II's successful launch in 1957
On November 3rd 1957 the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik II spacecraft into orbit. The satellite carried Laika the dog, who became the first living creature to orbit the planet. This is our coverage of events that week:
More from Science & technology
A sophisticated civilisation once flourished in the Amazon basin
How the Casarabe died out remains a mystery
Heritable Agriculture, a Google spinout, is bringing AI to crop breeding
By reducing the cost of breeding, the firm hopes to improve yields and other properties for an array of important crops
Could supersonic air travel make a comeback?
Boom Supersonic’s demonstrator jet exceeds Mach 1
Should you worry about microplastics?
Little is known about the effects on humans—but limiting exposure to them seems prudent
Wasps stole genes from viruses
That probably assisted their evolutionary diversification
America’s departure from the WHO would harm everyone
Whether it is a negotiating ploy remains to be seen