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Space News
Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from US Students Abroad
- NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams will answer prerecorded questions from students from U.S. military families based overseas.
- The Space-to-Earth calls will take place on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.
- Stuttgart Elementary and Kwajalein School System will host the events.
- The aim is to inspire students and promote STEM education.
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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
A Cheap Satellite with Large Fuel Tank Could Scout For Interplanetary Missions
- Micocosm, Inc. has proposed the Hummingbird spacecraft for interplanetary missions.
- The spacecraft serves as a propulsion system and carries a payload for scouting missions.
- The Hummingbird spacecraft uses a hydrazine fuel rocket engine and has a large fuel tank.
- It can reach destinations like Mars, Venus, Lagrange points, and asteroids.
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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
Our Strategy to Catch the 2024 Geminid Meteors
- The Geminid meteor shower, one of the best meteor showers of 2024, will peak on December 13-14th.
- Despite the bright Moon, the shower will have a maximum Zenithal Hourly Rate of 120 meteors per hour.
- The Geminids originate from the rock-comet 3200 Phaethon, which will be further studied by Japan's DESTINY+ mission in 2028.
- To observe the shower, find dark skies, a clear horizon, and block the Moon behind a hill or tree.
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Popsci
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Image Credit: Popsci
‘Funny dark matter:’ Something is wrong about our theory of the expanding universe
- Our theoretical understanding of the universe predicted a rate of expansion that’s about 8% slower than what we calculated from our actual observations, known as the Hubble tension.
- A new paper published December 9 validates our existing observations by cross-checking the Hubble Space Telescope data with new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, and finding that the two agree almost perfectly.
- The universe's rate of expansion varies with distance—the further away an object is, the faster it’s moving away from us.
- The rate at which the universe is expanding is expressed as a value called the Hubble Constant, generally abbreviated as “H0”.
- Our best theoretical model for the universe, the Lambda/Cold Dark Matter model (“ΛCDM”), predicts a value for H0 of 67–68 km/s/Mpc.
- The first step is being able to calculate how far away from us distant objects are.
- Once we know how far away an object is, the second piece of information we need is how quickly it’s moving away from us.
- Most of our information on distant objects comes from the Hubble Space Telescope, and James Webb Space Telescope provides a chance to cross-check the data.
- The JWST results correlate almost perfectly with existing data, providing more strong evidence that it’s not the accuracy of our measurements that’s the problem.
- The cosmological constant expresses the intrinsic energy of space itself—the mysterious “dark energy” that current estimates suggest makes up around 68% of the energy in the universe.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
Emperor penguin reaches Australia: Lifeform of the week
- An emperor penguin reached a beach in southwestern Australia on November 1, 2024, which is the first time an emperor penguin has been known to reach Australia.
- After being rescued by two local surfers, the penguin was then rehabilitated to the extent that he gained enough weight and strength to be released into the Southern Ocean.
- Emperor penguins are normally exclusive to Antarctica, a distance of more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from where this bird was found.
- The penguin was named Gus and was cared for by Carol Biddulph, a seabird rehabilitator and registered wildlife caretaker, for 20 days.
- The animal was released in the hope that it could join the rest of the emperors in Antarctica.
- This is the largest species of penguin that cannot fly but are excellent swimmers and divers, able to dive in the ocean to a depth of more than 1,650 feet (500 m), farther than any other bird.
- Emperor penguins are generous creatures that huddle together to provide shelter from the wind and stay warm in temperatures as low as -76 F (-60 C).
- They have a unique communication system to locate their mate and chicks, which is more complex than those of other species and have a life expectancy of approximately 20 years.
- A single female in a colony lays an egg and passes it to the male, who protects and incubates it while the females go fishing.
- These loving parents can lose more than 22 pounds (10 kg) of weight during incubation and are the only penguin species that raise offspring on ice without nests.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
Using Jupiter as a dark matter detector
- A new paper proposes using Jupiter as a dark matter detector.
- Jupiter's gravity can capture dark matter particles.
- Researchers suggest using a water Cherenkov detector to detect excess neutrinos from Jupiter.
- Jupiter's low core temperature and gravitational attraction make it an ideal location for hunting dark matter.
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Medium
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Nanotechnology Nano refers to nanotechnology as being about the manipulation and engineering of…
- Nanotechnology has been rooted in the conceptual thought processes of Richard Feynman, who proposed the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules as being the fundamental building blocks of matter controlled at the atomic level.
- The practical foundation of the modern iteration of nanotechnology was established with the invention of tools that allow scientists to observe and manipulate atoms. These tools include the scanning tunneling microscope (STM).
- In the 1990s, carbon nanotubes were discovered and became one of the most studied materials under nanotechnology, showcasing exceptional properties by way of mechanics, electricity and thermal conduction.
- Throughout the 2000s, numerous advancements emerged, such as the discovery of graphene bringing an exceptional degree of strength and conductivity to the industry. Additionally, this era saw an increase in the commercialisation and practical application of nanotechnology.
- The maturation of nanotechnology has brought forth concerns regarding ethics, the environment and health implications. However, this era has seen the creation of guidelines to ensure responsible and safe development of nanotechnology.
- Nanotechnology continues to revolutionize a multitude of industries worldwide, with far-reaching possibilities to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges, offering solutions in areas such as healthcare, energy, and environmental sustainability.
- Nanobots and molecular machines represent the potential to create intricate products atom by atom, although challenges such as ethical issues, scalability of the production process, and achieving safety standards remain.
- The future of nanotechnology holds promise of creating smarter, more sustainable, and efficient systems in various sectors including the possibility of revolutionizing cancer treatment, drug delivery, and diagnostics.
- The technology is rapidly evolving, with the possibility to play an even more central role in shaping the future of science, engineering, and society.
- Further developments are needed to ensure that the progress in nanotechnology is guided by ethical principles and responsible practice to help create a sustainable future.
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TechnologyReview
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Image Credit: TechnologyReview
The world’s next big environmental problem could come from space
- With a rise in satellite constellations forecasted in the coming years, the amount of space debris vaporizing in Earth’s atmosphere is set to grow in line with the size of the satellite fleets.
- The resulting metallic ash from satellites burning up in the atmosphere could harm the atmosphere and potentially alter the climate. Containing ozone-damaging substances, modelling studies have shown that some of its components can cool down Earth’s stratosphere, while others can warm it, increase nitrogen oxide and increase the frequency of thunderstorms.
- Doing so deposits satellite ash in the mid-atmospheric air for decades and emitting nitrogen oxide that could deplete the ozone layer, causing even more warming and potential additional ozone depletion.
- The annual amount of alumina from satellite reentries is already approaching that arising from incinerated meteorites. Under current worse-case scenarios, the human-made contribution of this pollutant will be 10 times the amount from natural sources by 2040.
- As the overall contribution of the space industry to overall ozone depletion is currently at 0.1%, researchers believe that more must be understood about the environmental impacts, so we can decide how to reduce either space traffic or emissions.
- For atmospheric scientists, the Salsa reentry gives them the chance to fill major gaps in their understanding. With the Cluster constellation coming back in 2025 and 2026, allowing scientists to repeat the experiment and learn from every previous campaign.
- The amount of space debris vaporizing in Earth’s atmosphere has more than doubled in the past few years. In 2019, some 115 satellites burned up in the atmosphere. As of late November, 2024 had already set a new record with 950 satellite reentries.
- Mega-constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink are adding to concerns. Currently consisting of about 6,500 satellites, the fleet is expected to mushroom to more than 40,000 at some point in the 2030s.
- Acquiring precise data about satellite burn-up is nearly impossible, with the closest scientists can get being remote sensing of a satellite’s final moments.
- Humankind has already suffered the long term effects of climate change, ozone depletion and contamination by forever chemicals, and researchers are worried that the damage from satellite pollution could span a similar timeline.
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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
Why Ramanujan Was Fascinated, Not Scared of Infinity ✨
- Ramanujan was fascinated with infinity and saw numbers as living entities full of mysteries.
- He discovered mind-blowing formulas involving infinite series and sums, like the one approximating π.
- Rather than fear, Ramanujan approached infinity with curiosity, wonder, and reverence.
- Despite his limited formal training in mathematics, Ramanujan had an intuitive understanding of deep truths about infinity.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
SpaceX’s Starship megarocket is getting ready to fly again
- SpaceX has moved the Super Heavy booster to the launchpad for preflight testing.
- The upcoming test will be the seventh orbital test flight of the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft.
- SpaceX aims to improve the performance of the rocket with each flight and achieve reusability.
- The long-term goal of SpaceX and Elon Musk is to establish a colony on Mars.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
Astronaut’s photos from ISS make clouds look otherworldly
- NASA astronaut Don Pettit captures stunning photos of clouds from the International Space Station (ISS).
- The unique appearance of the clouds is due to the ISS's alignment with Earth's day/night shadow.
- Pettit describes this as the best time to photograph clouds under low angle lighting.
- Pettit has been sharing breathtaking images from space since his arrival at the ISS in September.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
Cold Moon 2024: How to watch the year's final full moon rise with Jupiter this week
- The rise of the Cold Moon in 2024 will provide a spectacular finale to the celestial calendar.
- The Cold Moon, also known as the Long Nights Moon, will rise just before the December solstice.
- It can be seen with the naked eye, but binoculars or a beginner's telescope provide a closer view.
- The Cold Moon will be opposite the sun, mirroring its movements, and it will rise near the peak of the Geminid meteor shower.
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Brighter Side of News
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Image Credit: Brighter Side of News
New clues reveal how the universe’s giant galaxies formed
- Astronomers are piecing together the cosmic puzzle of galaxy evolution by analyzing the structure of high-redshift galaxies and studying more than 100 galaxies in the distant universe using data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
- Recent findings reveal that there is a direct connection between intense star-forming episodes in early galaxies and the emergence of massive spheroids.
- The study published in Nature offers a cosmologically significant pathway for understanding how galaxies grew into the massive structures observed today.
- By examining the light distribution in these galaxies, the team identified patterns inconsistent with typical disk-like structures. Instead, the galaxies displayed a triaxial, or three-dimensional, shape. The formation of spheroids is tied to dramatic events in the early universe, such as galaxy mergers, gravitational interactions, and non-co-planar gas streams.
- The observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Euclid satellite, and instruments aboard the Chinese Space Station will further map the stellar components of galaxies.
- The rapid creation of spheroids challenges existing notions of galaxy evolution, suggesting a more dynamic and interconnected process.
- This will give us a more complete picture of early galaxy formation and deepen our understanding of how the universe has evolved since the beginning of time.
- Researchers relied on archival projects such as A3COSMOS and A3GOODSS, which provide high-quality observations of distant galaxies, to gather the data.
- The findings align with theoretical models that predict that galaxy mergers and gravitational interactions are key drivers of spheroid development.
- By tracing the origins of massive elliptical galaxies to starburst-driven spheroid formation, scientists are redefining our understanding of the cosmos.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
Mysterious fast radio bursts could be caused by asteroids slamming into dead stars
- Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) might be product of asteroids slamming into dead stars called neutron stars, resulting in energy releases that would take the Sun days to radiate and supply humankind with energy for 100 million years
- The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) discovered frequent Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) after coming online in 2017.
- Scientists have over 50 known hypotheses about the origin of FRBs, but upcoming research highlights collisions between asteroids and neutron stars as a possible explanation.
- Interstellar Objects (ISOs), an asteroid and comet class, may be numerous enough in galaxies and could account for the number of FRBs seen.
- The new research suggests the asteroids' and neutron stars' properties aligned with observations of FRBs including their energies, rates of occurrence, and durations.
- Collisions between asteroids and neutron stars result in a release of energy equivalent to that of a thousand hydrogen bombs due to the nucleus of dead stars’ extreme properties.
- It has been estimated that asteroids colliding with neutron stars occur every 10 million years in our galaxy along with an increase throughout the lifetime of the universe. The neutron star-interstellar object collision rate in the universe is thought to be comparable to the observed frequency of FRBs.
- Although collisions between asteroids and neutron stars might persevere as a potential explanation for single-occurrence FRBs, they cannot account for repeating FRBs.
- Further observations will assist in determining more about FRBs, such as how densely debris fields should exist and the kind of galaxies involved.
- The Astrophysical Journal has accepted the research team's results for publication, with additional efforts to be expended to construe the population of galaxies with interstellar objects.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
Did Venus ever have oceans to support life, or was it 'born hot'?
- Venus could never have supported life due to the fact water oceans could never have existed on the surface of the planet, scientists have said.
- It transpires that despite being known as Earth's 'evil twin', Venus was always a hellish planet.
- The University of Cambridge scientists arrived at their conclusions by examining the chemical composition of the Venusian atmosphere.
- The findings could help astronomers select extrasolar planets most likely to be habitable.
- Venus has a surface temperature of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt lead.
- Despite these extreme conditions, scientists'discussed a theory that it is possible that Venus might have been habitable billions of years ago.
- The team countered previous theories about how Venus may have evolved over 4.6 billion years, and suggest that Venus was 'born hot'.
- NASA's DAVINCI mission is anticipated to launch in June 2029 with a two-year reach to Venus to gather vital data to determine if Venus was or is able to support life.
- The probe isn't expected to survive Venus’ hostile atmosphere.
- If Venus was habitable in the past, it raises the probability that exoplanets can be too, according to the squad. The James Webb Space Telescope, which operates by studying neighboring planets closely to their host star like Venus, would be most useful for this type of research.
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