Science and Space today: October 18

Today's stories span robotics encounters, tributes to pioneering space programmers, surprising stellar colors, and historic animal spaceflight. They also highlight a new high‑capacity smartphone battery, citizen‑science black‑hole hunting, emerging pet‑cloning biotech, and compact fusion‑device development.

• A woman was arrested in Philly for blocking a delivery robot Carolyn Marvin was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct after she blocked an Uber delivery robot and refused to move aside. (The Verge)
• Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton was a problem-solver for the ages (op-ed) The op‑ed honors Margaret Hamilton, the pioneering NASA programmer whose work helped land Apollo astronauts on the moon, noting her lasting inspirational example. (Space.com)
• Scientists Find a ‘Ghostly Green’ Star, and That’s Not the Only Crazy Color Astronomers reported discovering a ‘ghostly green’ white dwarf, adding to a spectrum of unexpected colors that have surprised researchers studying these stellar remnants. (CNET)
• OnePlus 16 is official with 9,000mAh battery, Week 42 in review OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 16, featuring a massive 9,000 mAh battery that accommodates 100 W wired and 50 W wireless fast charging. (GSMArena)
• On this day in space! Oct. 18, 1963: France's Félicette Becomes the 1st Cat in Space! >^..^< On October 18, 1963, France launched Félicette, a catstronaut that became the first and only feline to travel into space. (Space.com)
• Astronomers want your help finding 'missing' black holes in the Milky Way A new citizen‑science initiative invites volunteers to scan NASA telescope data for signals that could reveal the Milky Way’s hidden black holes. (Space.com)
• Biotech now sells pet cloning and cryonics, MIT Technology Review finds MIT Technology Review reported that biotech firms now offer pet owners cloning, cryonics, and longevity drugs, sparking debate over the prudence of such choices. (The Next Web)
• Startup makes tiny 'benchtop' fusion devices for more efficient reactors Cambridge Heavy Industries is developing compact benchtop fusion devices aimed at producing nuclear fusion and fuel within a smaller footprint. (TechRadar)