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Digitaltrends
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Saying farewell to Gaia, as the Milky Way-mapping space telescope mission ends
- The Gaia Observatory from the European Space Agency (ESA) has been powered down and sent into a “retirement orbit” around the sun.
- Gaia has created a detailed 3D map of the Milky Way, revealing its structure and uncovering evidence of galactic mergers, new star clusters, exoplanets, and black holes.
- The collected data will continue to be released and analyzed, with a fourth data release planned for 2026.
- As the mission ends, the Gaia team deliberately corrupted the spacecraft's onboard software, overwriting it with a farewell message and the names of the mission contributors.
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Medium
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An AI explains the Quantum Scale actions of “Neutron Decay Cosmology “ — Caleigh Fisher
- The neutron is a dynamic, self-contained flow, existing as a double cover with rotation imparting inertia.
- In low-pressure environments, the neutron's internal flow equilibrium collapses leading to decay.
- Neutron decay is a shift in flow topology rather than a simple particle decay.
- This view eliminates the need for singularities, arbitrary field quantization, or external time.
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Medium
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An AI explains “Neutron Decay Cosmology “. A universal topology and process. -Caleigh Fisher
- Neutron decay plays a crucial role in explaining the expansion and compression in the universe.
- Expansion occurs in deep cosmic voids as free neutrons decay into protons and electrons, leading to a significant volume increase.
- Compression takes place in high-density regions, where electrons are forced into protons, reversing the decay process.
- The concept of Shirley's Surface and a compactified time frame are proposed, highlighting the connection between expansion and contraction in the universe.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
Farewell to Gaia after 12 successful years
- The European Space Agency (ESA) powered down the Gaia spacecraft on March 27, 2025, after 12 years of successful operations.
- Gaia's data releases are valuable for astrophysical research, influencing various astronomy disciplines up until the final release in 2030.
- ESA's Gaia spacecraft, launched in 2013, provided significant insights into the Milky Way galaxy through mapping and measuring its components.
- Gaia aimed to create a precise 3D map of the Milky Way and has tracked nearly two billion objects over the past decade.
- Gaia operated from Lagrange Point 2, but due to fuel depletion, ESA ceased its measurements although data releases will continue.
- Gaia will be moved from its current orbit to prevent potential interference with other spacecraft, ensuring its safe retirement.
- Gaia's contributions include spotting asteroids with possible moons, discovering massive stellar black holes, and mapping Milky Way mergers.
- Additionally, Gaia made impactful discoveries beyond the Milky Way, such as stars traversing galaxies and identifying a massive ghost galaxy.
- The Gaia spacecraft's retirement marks the end of an era, with astronomers continuing to analyze its rich dataset for years to come.
- Despite Gaia's operations officially ending, the wealth of data it gathered will fuel new discoveries and advancements in astronomy.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
See auroras on Neptune for the first time!
- The Webb space telescope has captured auroras on Neptune for the first time, showing a bright auroral glow on the ice giant.
- Neptune, located about 3 billion miles away from the sun, has been a challenging target for astronomers to observe due to its distance and cold environment.
- Auroras on Neptune are created by energetic particles trapped in its magnetic field, which collide with the upper atmosphere, releasing energy and creating the signature glow.
- The detection of auroras on Neptune was made possible by Webb's near-infrared sensitivity, providing clear and detailed images of the phenomenon.
- Neptune's auroras are different from those on Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn, as they occur at the planet's mid-latitudes rather than at the poles.
- The presence of the trihydrogen cation (H3+) in Neptune's atmosphere confirms the existence of auroral activity, with glowing auroras appearing as cyan splotches in the Webb images.
- Neptune's magnetic field, which tilts at 47 degrees from its rotation axis, plays a significant role in the distribution of auroras at the planet's mid-latitudes.
- Astronomers discovered a substantial cooling in Neptune's upper atmosphere since the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989, leading to fainter auroras and explaining why they were previously undetected.
- The findings from the Webb observations suggest insights into Neptune's magnetic field dynamics and temperature changes, providing valuable information for future studies of the ice giant.
- By studying Neptune over a full solar cycle, astronomers aim to unravel the mysteries of its magnetic field origin and tilt, paving the way for future missions to explore Uranus and Neptune.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
Webb Telescope spots a galaxy that shouldn’t be seen
- Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a galaxy that challenges current understanding of the early universe.
- The galaxy, named JADES-GS-z13-1, is seen as it was just 330 million years after the Big Bang, making it one of the oldest and most distant galaxies ever seen.
- The galaxy's light contains a bright signal of Lyman-α radiation, which was unexpected because it was thought to be blocked by the neutral hydrogen fog of the early universe at that time.
- Possible explanations include the presence of a huge bubble of ionized hydrogen or an active black hole in the galaxy.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
Surprisingly big organic molecules on Mars: A hint of life?
- NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered the largest organic molecules on Mars, believed to be fatty acids, containing chains of up to 12 carbon atoms.
- These molecules, found in mudstone rocks at the bottom of an ancient lake, are tantalizing because fatty acids are common in life on Earth but can also form without life.
- The discovery is exciting, but it does not confirm the presence of life on Mars, as non-biological processes can also create similar molecules.
- The international team of researchers published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2025.
- Curiosity's discovery of decane, undecane, and dodecane suggests the presence of long-chain molecules, potentially the remnants of fatty acids found in life.
- The possibility of these molecules being breakdown products from carboxylic acids hints at an exciting find related to ancient life forms on Mars.
- While the discovery is intriguing, scientists cannot definitively determine if the molecules are of biological origin without further analysis or sample return to Earth.
- The presence of longer carbon chains and even-numbered fatty acids in the molecules from Mars raises interesting questions about their potential biological sources.
- Future missions like Mars Sample Return aim to bring samples back to Earth for in-depth analysis to settle the debate about life on Mars.
- NASA's ongoing exploration of Mars continues to provide valuable insights into the planet's ancient history and the possibility of past life forms.
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Analyticsindiamag
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Deloitte’s Satellite Hits the Space
- Deloitte has successfully launched its ‘Deloitte-1’ satellite with the help of SpaceX and Spire.
- Deloitte aims to leverage space-enabled insights for clients and expand capabilities for space platforms.
- The company has established 'Deloitte Space', the first professional services practice focused on the entire space value chain.
- Deloitte offers a global network of space professionals and has also launched a Global AI Simulation Centre of Excellence.
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Guardian
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Image Credit: Guardian
Weatherwatch: Could global heating wreak havoc on Earth’s satellites?
- The upper atmosphere is cooling and contracting due to greenhouse gases.
- The contraction of the thermosphere increases the risks of collisions between satellites.
- Less drag in the thermosphere results in more satellites being left in orbit.
- Estimates suggest that greenhouse emissions could reduce the number of safe satellites in orbit by at least half by the end of this century.
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Medium
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The Paradox of the Universe: Expanding, Collapsing?
- According to the Big Bang Theory, the universe emerged from an initial singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago, expanding rapidly in an event known as cosmic inflation.
- The Big Crunch theory proposes that the expansion could one day reverse, leading to a cosmic collapse.
- A radical yet compelling idea is that the universe is both expanding and collapsing, depending on how we observe it.
- The question of whether the universe is expanding, collapsing, or both remains one of the greatest mysteries in physics.
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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
The 5 Greatest Celestial Events in Human History
- In September 1859, the Carrington Event, the most powerful geomagnetic storm ever recorded, caused widespread disruption and showcased the potential damage that could be caused by solar storms today.
- The 1066 appearance of Halley’s Comet was seen as an omen, appearing just before the Norman conquest of England, and it provided one of the earliest documented observations of the comet and the significance of celestial events.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
How to watch Saturday’s partial solar eclipse
- A partial solar eclipse is set to occur on Saturday where parts of North America, Europe, Africa, northern Asia, small parts of South America, and certain oceanic regions will be able to view it.
- The eclipse will appear like a crescent as the moon passes in front of the sun.
- Proper eye protection and indirect viewing methods are necessary to watch the eclipse safely.
- Specific viewing times and information about the eclipse duration can be found on NASA's website.
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Spaceflightnow
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U.S. Space Force certifies ULA’s Vulcan rocket to begin launching national security missions
- The U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's Vulcan rocket to launch national security payloads, marking a significant milestone in the spaceflight community.
- The completion of the certification process allows the Space Systems Command to begin launching National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions using the two-stage, heavy-lift Vulcan rocket.
- The certification process began in 2016 and culminated in the rocket's first certification flight (Cert-1) in January 2024, launching the Peregrine-1 mission for Astrobotic and NASA.
- Following the certification flight, ULA encountered an anomaly during a test flight when one of the solid rocket boosters experienced a burn through, leading to an investigation and subsequent corrective actions.
- ULA completed 52 certification criteria, including payload interface requirements and subsystem design reviews, demonstrating Vulcan's readiness for national security missions.
- The completion of Vulcan's certification is crucial for the NSSL Phase 2 program, which aims to divide national security payload missions between ULA and SpaceX.
- ULA's first NSSL Phase 2 mission, USSF-51, was launched on an Atlas 5 rocket, with plans for Vulcan to carry out upcoming missions including USSF-106 this summer.
- ULA expects to launch Vulcan rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California by the end of the year, further expanding its capabilities for national security space launches.
- The certification of Vulcan aligns with the U.S. government's plans for NSSL Phase 2 missions and signifies a significant advancement in ULA's launch capabilities.
- The rigorous certification process and successful completion validate Vulcan's design for meeting challenging requirements and delivering high performance in national security missions.
- With the certification complete, ULA is poised to play a crucial role in launching national security payloads and supporting the country's space-based systems.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Sols 4491-4492: Classic Field Geology Pose
- Curiosity rover's right-front wheel perched on a small, angular block
- The Curiosity team opted for remote sensing observations instead of deploying the robotic arm
- The two-sol plan includes targeted remote sensing and a drive to climb higher in the canyon
- ChemCam will acquire observations of a well-laminated block, and Mastcam will investigate active surface processes
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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
The Role of Decentralized Technology in Enhancing Aviation Safety and Data Accessibility with Derad…
- Aviation safety heavily relies on real-time data such as aircraft positions, weather conditions, and air traffic patterns, traditionally managed through centralized systems like ADS-B.
- Centralized systems like ADS-B possess single points of failure, coverage gaps in remote areas, and limited data accessibility to stakeholders.
- Derad Network, a Web 3.0 initiative, decentralizes flight tracking using blockchain to create a tamper-proof record of aviation data by incentivizing global contributors.
- Derad Network integrates blockchain, DePIN, and AI to enhance coverage, ensure data integrity, and provide real-time predictive analytics for aviation safety.
- Benefits of Derad include mitigating risks of outages, expanding coverage through crowdsourcing, ensuring tamper-proof data integrity, and enabling real-time predictive analytics.
- Derad fosters democratization of aviation data access, benefiting small operators, supporting innovation, and engaging the public in the aviation ecosystem.
- Real-world applications of Derad Network extend to various sectors beyond traditional air travel, paving the way for a decentralized aviation future.
- Challenges like scaling participation, regulatory acceptance, and energy efficiency need addressing for the widespread adoption of Derad Network.
- Derad Network's vision aligns with the shift towards decentralization, gaining traction among Web 3.0 enthusiasts and aviation stakeholders for a promising future.
- Derad Network represents a stride towards a safer and more accessible aviation ecosystem by addressing the limitations of centralized systems through resilience, transparency, and inclusivity.
- Decentralized technology like Derad Network is essential for ensuring aviation safety and navigating the increasingly busy skies of the future, revolutionizing the aviation industry.
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