Tuesday briefing: Africa's oldest trees are dying

Your WIRED daily briefing. Today, the great baobab trees of southern Africa are dying, Palmer Luckey has found a business model in the USA's fear of illegal immigration, an Italian firm is developing the world's fastest rocket and more.

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1. Africa's oldest trees are dying

Some of the oldest and biggest trees across Africa are dying and scientists are uncertain why, although recent dramatic changes in the regional climate are suspected (BBC News). Researchers have found that nine of the 13 oldest baobab trees – aged between 1,000 and 2,500 years old – have died or are in the process of dying. The trees are located in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia and although they have prodigious water-storing capabilities, lead researcher Dr Adrian Patrut of Babes-Bolyai University in Romania says that "we suspect this is associated with increased temperature and drought."

2. Palmer Luckey has found a business model in the USA's fear of illegal immigration

Disgraced Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey is now in the business of apprehending people trying to cross the border between Mexico and the United States (TechCrunch). As revealed in a WIRED feature, Luckey's recently launched defence firm Anduril, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund venture capital firm, has been testing its Lattice electronic border wall system, resulting in the capture of 55 people during a 10-week test period on a ranch in Texas. The company is set to bid for contracts to monitor the US/Mexico border and Luckey, with his history of pro-Trump "shitposting" and Anduril's self-consciously patriotic website promising technology to maintain the USA's "global leadership", is an ideal marketing figurehead in the country's current political climate.

3. This is the fastest rocket on Earth

Today’s space race is tougher than ever, with governments competing against each other and the private sector for a chunk of the lucrative satellite-launch market (WIRED). In Europe, Italian aerospace company AVIO's new Vega C rocket – the maiden voyage of which is planned for 2019 – aims to be the fastest and most versatile option for a variety of tasks, from heavy comms tech to Nanosats. Based on the workhorse Vega launcher used by French manufacturer Arianespace since 2012, the Vega C uses 7,000km of carbon fibre to keep its components light and flexible. The “C” in its name stands for “common”, as the tech will be deployed by a variety of other launchers, including the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 6.

4. Valve and Perfect World are launching Steam China

Gaming behemoth Valve is finally taking its full Steam digital distribution platform to China – the world's fastest-growing market for games (PC Gamer). Currently, the Steam store is accessible in China, but none of its community elements, from forums to user profiles and inventories, are available to Chinese users. Steam China will provide a more fully-featured experience and will be run in partnership with Perfect World Co., which already operates Valve's multiplayer titles Dota 2 and CS:GO in the country.

5. Watch the trailer for Capcom's stunning Resident Evil 2 remake

Sony has revealed the first trailer for a lavish remake of 1998 survival horror classic Resident Evil 2 (The Verge). The beautiful rendered trailer – initially letting us glimpse of zombie-infested Raccoon City from the perspective of a very unfortunate rat – reveals the challenge that will face Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they attempt to escape with their lives. Capcom says the game will have a "new over-the-shoulder camera mode and modernized control scheme", and it's due out on PS4, Xbox One and PC on January 25, 2019.

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