By manufacturing satellites out of wood, the University of Kyoto scientists expect they will burn up when they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their service. This will prevent potentially harmful metal particles from being generated when a retired satellite returns to Earth. The small satellite measures just 10 cm (4 in) on a side and weighs only 900 grams, making it one of the lightest satellites ever sent to space. Its name comes from the Latin word for wood (“lingo”) and CubeSat, a class of small satellites with a form factor of 10 cm cubes.

Before launch, the science team installed LingoSat in a special container prepared by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). According to a spokesperson for Sumitomo Forestry, LignoSat’s co-developer, the satellite will “arrive at the ISS soon and will be released to outer space about a month later.”

Once the satellite reaches the ISS, it will dock via the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) before deployment. It will then spend the next six months in space, and data will be sent from the satellite to researchers who will monitor it for signs of strain. Ultimately, the goal is to determine if wooden satellites can withstand the extreme temperature changes and conditions in space. A second satellite, LingoSat 2, is a double-unit CubeSat currently scheduled for launch in 2026.

Further Reading: 

• The Guardian

{ https://www.universetoday.com/  }

09-11-2024 om 18:40 geschreven door peter  

Massive stars about eight times more massive than the Sun explode as supernovae at the end of their lives. The explosions, which leave behind a black hole or a neutron star, are so energetic they can outshine their host galaxies for months. However, astronomers appear to have spotted a massive star that skipped the explosion and turned directly into a black hole.

Stars are balancing acts between the outward force of fusion and the inward force of their own gravity. When a massive star enters its last evolutionary stages, it begins to run out of hydrogen, and its fusion weakens. The outward force from its fusion can no longer counteract the star’s powerful gravity, and the star collapses in on itself. The result is a supernova explosion, a calamitous event that destroys the star and leaves behind a black hole or a neutron star.

However, it appears that sometimes these stars fail to explode as supernovae and instead turn directly into black holes.

New research shows how one massive, hydrogen-depleted supergiant star in the Andromeda galaxy (M31) failed to detonate as a supernova. The research is “The disappearance of a massive star marking the birth of a black hole in M31.” The lead author is Kishalay De, a postdoctoral scholar at the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at MIT.

These types of supernovae are called core-collapse supernovae, also known as Type II. They’re relatively rare, with one occurring about every one hundred years in the Milky Way. Scientists are interested in supernovae because they are responsible for creating many of the heavy elements, and their shock waves can trigger star formation. They also create cosmic rays that can reach Earth.

This new research shows that we may not understand supernovae as well as we thought.

The star in question is named M31-2014-DS1. Astronomers noticed it brightening in mid-infrared (MIR) in 2014. For one thousand days, its luminosity was constant. Then, for another thousand days between 2016 and 2019, it faded dramatically. It’s a variable star, but that can’t explain these fluctuations. In 2023, it was undetected in deep optical and near-IR (NIR) imaging observations.

The researchers say that the star was born with an initial mass of about 20 stellar masses and reached its terminal nuclear-burning phase with about 6.7 stellar masses. Their observations suggest that the star is surrounded by a recently ejected dust shell, in accordance with a supernova explosion, but there’s no evidence of an optical outburst.

“The dramatic and sustained fading of M31-2014-DS1 is exceptional in the landscape of variability in massive, evolved stars,” the authors write. “The sudden decline of luminosity in M31-2014-DS1 points to the cessation of nuclear burning together with a subsequent shock that fails to overcome the infalling material.” A supernova explosion is so powerful that it completely overcomes infalling material.

“Lacking any evidence for a luminous outburst at such proximity, the observations of M31-2014-DS1 bespeak signatures of a ‘failed’ SN that leads to the collapse of the stellar core,” the authors explain.

What could make a star fail to explode as a supernova, even if it’s the right mass to explode?

Supernovae are complex events. The density inside a collapsing core is so extreme that electrons are forced to combine with protons, creating both neutrons and neutrinos. This process is called neutronization, and it creates a powerful burst of neutrinos that carries about 10% of the star’s rest mass energy. The outburst is called a neutrino shock.

Neutrinos get their name from the fact that they’re electrically neutral and seldom interact with regular matter. Every second, about 400 billion neutrinos from our Sun pass right through every person on Earth. But in a dense stellar core, the neutrino density is so extreme that some of them deposit their energy into the surrounding stellar material. This heats the material, which generates a shock wave.

The neutrino shock always stalls, but sometimes it revives. When it revives, it drives an explosion and expels the outer layer of the supernova. If it’s not revived, the shock wave fails, and the star collapses and forms a black hole.

In M31-2014-DS1, the neutrino shock was not revived. The researchers were able to constrain the amount of material ejected by the star, and it was far below what a supernovae would eject. “These constraints imply that the majority of stellar material (?5 solar masses) collapsed into the core, exceeding the maximum mass of a neutron star (NS) and forming a BH,” they conclude. About 98% of the star’s mass collapsed and created a black hole with about 6.5 solar masses.

M31-2014-DS1 isn’t the only failed supernova, or candidate failed supernova, that astronomers have found. They’re difficult to spot because they’re characterized by what doesn’t happen rather than what does. A supernova is hard to miss because it’s so bright and appears in the sky suddenly. Ancient astronomers recorded several of them.

In 2009, astronomers discovered the only other confirmed failed supernova. It was a supergiant red star in NGC 6946, the “Fireworks Galaxy.” It’s named N6946-BH1 and has about 25 solar masses. After disappearing from view, it left only a faint infrared glow. In 2009, its luminosity increased to a million solar luminosities, but by 2015, it had disappeared in optical light.

A survey with the Large Binocular Telescope monitored 27 nearby galaxies, looking for disappearing massive stars. The results suggest that between 20% and 30% of massive stars can end their lives as failed supernovae. However, M31-2014-DS1 and N6946-BH1 are the only confirmed observations.

SHOCKING Transformation: How a STAR Turns into a BLACK HOLE

We Just Found Neutron Stars Crashing Into Black Holes

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

09-11-2024 om 18:39 geschreven door peter  

Laser Mapping Reveals Previously Unknown Maya City with Stone Pyramids in Mexico

Using a laser-based detection system, archaeologists have discovered over 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures — including a previously unknown Maya city named Valeriana — in Campeche, Mexico.

Detail of the major site of Valeriana in Campeche, Mexico.

Image credit: Auld-Thomas et al., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.148.

“Our analysis not only revealed a picture of a region that was dense with settlements, but it also revealed a lot of variability,” said Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral student at Tulane University and instructor at Northern Arizona University.

“We didn’t just find rural areas and smaller settlements. We also found a large city with pyramids right next to the area’s only highway, near a town where people have been actively farming among the ruins for years.”

“The government never knew about it; the scientific community never knew about it.”

“That really puts an exclamation point behind the statement that, no, we have not found everything, and yes, there’s a lot more to be discovered.”

Lidar technology uses laser pulses to measure distances and to create 3D models of specific areas.

It has allowed the scientists to scan large swaths of land from the comfort of a computer lab, uncovering anomalies in the landscape that often prove to be pyramids, family houses and other examples Maya infrastructure.

“Because lidar allows us to map large areas very quickly, and at really high precision and levels of detail, that made us react, ‘Oh wow, there are so many buildings out there we didn’t know about, the population must have been huge’,” Auld-Thomas said.

“The counterargument was that lidar surveys were still too tethered to known, large sites, such as Tikal, and therefore had developed a distorted image of the Maya lowlands.”

“What if the rest of the Maya area was far more rural and what we had mapped so far was the exception instead of the rule?”

The team’s results provide compelling evidence of a more complex and varied Maya landscape than previously thought.

“Lidar is teaching us that, like many other ancient civilizations, the lowland Maya built a diverse tapestry of towns and communities over their tropical landscape,” said Tulane University’s Professor Marcello Canuto.

“While some areas are replete with vast agricultural patches and dense populations, others have only small communities.”

“Nonetheless, we can now see how much the ancient Maya changed their environment to support a long-lived complex society.”

• A paper on the findings was published on October 29, 2024 in the journal Antiquity.
• Luke Auld-Thomas et al. 2024. Running out of empty space: environmental lidar and the crowded ancient landscape of Campeche, Mexico. Antiquity 98 (401): 1340-1358; doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.148

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

08-11-2024 om 20:54 geschreven door peter  

Breaking News: Elon Musk Takes on Unidentified Flying Objects with New Fighter Jet

by Karen White

In a surprising and unparalleled move, Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur known for pushing the boundary of technology, has set his sights on a new endeavor: the development of a combat aircraft specifically designed to engage unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Musk vs. The Extraterrestrial Unknown

Musk’s cutting-edge company, SpaceX, is already notorious for its exploration in the realms of space travel. Now, Musk seems intent on venturing into a domain that perhaps even the boldest of us dare not tread. He’s declared an open war on UFOs, not with words, but with raw technical prowess.

The Battle Begins: Musk’s UFO Fighter Jet

The fighter jet, currently under wraps, promises to pack the most advanced and modern technology, supplemented by Musk’s signature ingenious design. Reports suggest a mix of radars, detection systems, and energy weapons with never-seen-before capabilities, all aimed at identifying and neutralizing any potential extraterrestrial threat.

While the exact capabilities of this jet remain a mystery, we know for certain that it will capitalize on Musk’s notable experience with groundbreaking propulsion systems and high-end spacecraft technology from previous SpaceX projects.

Unveiling a New Era of Defence

The creation of such a craft brings thrilling implications. Could we be on the cusp of a new era of defense, one that doesn’t stop at skyscrapers or aircraft carriers, but ventures into space?

As the UFO fighter jet project rolls forward, we hold our breath, waiting to see how Elon Musk, the maverick game-changer, changes yet another game. The question remains just how far into the stars this battle will take him, and likewise, the world. See how our future will pan out as we step boldly into an era of extraterrestrial warfare.

UFO Defense: A New Frontier or Pure Foolhardiness?

Elon Musk: A man against the universe?

Elon Musk, the vanguard trailblazer immortalized for his ventures in cutting-edge technology, has shattered expectations once more. His new target: Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Musk proposes to launch a combat aircraft specifically geared towards subduing these unknown airborne phenomena. But how might this audacious project alter our world and beyond?

The Future Fighter: Challenging the Cosmic Unknown

Reputed tech titan SpaceX, helmed by Musk, is drawing from its substantial knowledge pool to develop the UFO combat jet. Equipped with pioneering radars, new-age detection systems, and unprecedented energy weapons, the planned aircraft appears a formidable force. But with no technical specifics currently available, judgments about the aircraft’s efficacy remain purely speculative.

The Broader Impact: A New Stage in Defense Development?

Given Musk’s track record, a successful UFO defense jet could legitimately usher in a novel era in defense technology. Herein lies the potential to radically transform not just our earthbound defense systems, but potentially set the guideline for pre-emptive cosmic defense.

The Flip Side: Sowing Seeds of Alien Hostility?

Contrarily, some pose the argument that endeavoring into combat-ready space exploration, particularly against unidentified cosmic entities, might incite aggression rather than promote universal peace. Are we dialing up any existing possibility for extraterrestrial hostility?

In conclusion, Musk’s new project may hold thrilling possibilities, yet with them comes an inherent risk. Much like the unexplored cosmos themselves. Peek into our future, potentially a new era of interstellar defense or cosmic controversy? We shall wait with bated breath to find the answer.

Interested in more innovative tech news? Visit the SpaceX main site.

{ https://agogs.sk/en/ }

08-11-2024 om 20:07 geschreven door peter  

This image of NGC 5468, a galaxy located about 130 million light-years from Earth, features combined data from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes. This is the farthest galaxy in which Hubble has identified Cepheid variable stars

(Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Adam G. Riess (JHU, STScI)).

“This spans the full range where we made measurements with Hubble,” said co-author Gagandeep Anand of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which operates the Webb and Hubble telescopes for NASA. “So, we’ve gone to the end of the second rung of the cosmic distance ladder.”

In making these measurements, the researchers hoped to find that errors in calculating the first steps in the ladder were propagating into later measurements, resulting in the Hubble tension. For example, some astrophysicists have postulated that the proximity of Cepheid stars to each other may result in a mismeasurement of their brightness. Such a measurement error would only grow as distances increased. Others have guessed that interstellar dust may be to blame for the conflicting readings.

Instead, the SHOES Webb readings matched perfectly with Hubble, meaning that calculation errors in the cosmic distance ladder are not to blame. “Combining Webb and Hubble gives us the best of both worlds,” said Riess. “We find that the Hubble measurements remain reliable as we climb farther along the cosmic distance ladder.”

A special class of star known as a Cepheid variable star is visible above in the center of each of these images, which NASA says is used as a ‘milepost marker’ for measuring the universe’s rate of expansion

(Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Adam G. Riess (JHU, STScI)).

The researcher also said their new survey covered everything Webb studied in the past, and the results were still consistent and error-free. “We’ve now spanned the whole range of what Hubble observed, and we can rule out a measurement error as the cause of the Hubble Tension with very high confidence,” Riess said.

New Tools Could Solve Mystery of Hubble Tension

Since the new Webb readings confirmed those from Hubble, the researchers say that new astronomical tools that can measure elements of cosmic expansion may be needed to answer the Hubble tension.

First up is the European Space Agency’s Euclid Space Telescope, which was launched in July 2023 and reached its destination at Lagrange 2, roughly four times as far away from Earth as the moon, about a month later. According to the ESA’s mission page, “Euclid will explore how the Universe has expanded and how structure has formed over cosmic history, revealing more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter.”

The most promising data may come from NASA’s planned Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is scheduled for launch in May 2027. With a view that is over 100 times wider than Hubble, this observatory has the potential to measure light from over 100 billion galaxies during its operational lifetime.

According to its mission page, “This observatory will also be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks, complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy, and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.”

Ultimately, one or both of these tools may allow astronomers and astrophysicists to connect the beginning of the initial two rungs of the cosmic distance ladder confirmed by Webb with the afterglow of the big band that represents the beginning of the universe, resulting in a final solution to the Hubble tension.

“We need to find out if we are missing something on how to connect the beginning of the universe and the present day,” said Riess.

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/space/ }

08-11-2024 om 00:48 geschreven door peter  

Fast Radio Bursts Mostly Come from Massive Star-Forming Galaxies

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration events detected from beyond our Milky Way Galaxy. FRB emission characteristics favor magnetars as their sources, as evidenced by FRB-like bursts from a magnetar in the Milky Way, and the star-forming nature of FRB host galaxies. However, the processes that produce FRB sources remain unknown. According to new research, FRBs are more likely to occur in massive star-forming galaxies. The study also suggests that magnetars, whose magnetic fields are 100 trillion times stronger than Earth’s, often form when two stars merge and later blow up in a supernova.

This photo montage shows the antennas of the Deep Synoptic Array-110, which are used to discover and pinpoint the locations of fast radio bursts (FRBs). Above the antennas are images of some of the FRB host galaxies as they appear on the sky. The galaxies are remarkably large, challenging models that describe FRB sources.

Image credit: Annie Mejia / Caltech.

“The immense power output of magnetars makes them some of the most fascinating and extreme objects in the Universe,” said lead author Kritti Sharma, a graduate student at Caltech.

“Very little is known about what causes the formation of magnetars upon the death of massive stars. Our work helps to answer this question.”

To search for FRBs, Sharma and colleagues used the Deep Synoptic Array-110 (DSA-110) at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory near Bishop, California.

To date, the sprawling radio array has detected and localized 70 FRBs to their specific galaxy of origin (only 23 other FRBs have been localized by other telescopes).

In the current study, the researchers analyzed 30 of these localized FRBs.

“DSA-110 has more than doubled the number of FRBs with known host galaxies. This is what we built the array to do,” said Caltech’s Dr. Vikram Ravi.

Although FRBs are known to occur in galaxies that are actively forming stars, the authors, to their surprise, found that the FRBs tend to occur more often in massive star-forming galaxies than low-mass star-forming galaxies.

This alone was interesting because the astronomers had previously thought that FRBs were going off in all types of active galaxies.

With this new information, they started to ponder what the results revealed about FRBs.

Massive galaxies tend to be metal-rich because the metals in our Universe — elements that are manufactured by stars — take time to build up over the course of cosmic history.

The fact that FRBs are more common in these metal-rich galaxies implies that the source of FRBs, magnetars, are also more common to these types of galaxies.

Stars that are rich in metals — which in astronomical terms means elements heavier than hydrogen and helium — tend to grow larger than other stars.

“Over time, as galaxies grow, successive generations of stars enrich galaxies with metals as they evolve and die,” Dr. Ravi said.

What is more, massive stars that explode in supernovae and can become magnetars are more commonly found in pairs.

In fact, 84% of massive stars are binaries. So, when one massive star in a binary is puffed up due to extra metal content, its excess material gets yanked over to its partner star, which facilitates the ultimate merger of the two stars.

These merged stars would have a greater combined magnetic field than that of a single star.

“A star with more metal content puffs up, drives mass transfer, culminating in a merger, thus forming an even more massive star with a total magnetic field greater than what the individual star would have had,” Sharma said.

In summary, since FRBs are preferentially observed in massive and metal-rich star-forming galaxies, then magnetars (which are thought to trigger FRBs) are probably also forming in metal-rich environments conducive to the merging of two stars.

The results therefore hint that magnetars across the Universe originate from the remnants of stellar mergers.

In the future, the team hopes to hunt down more FRBs and their places of origin using DSA-110, and eventually the DSA-2000, an even bigger radio array planned to be built in the Nevada desert and completed in 2028.

“This result is a milestone for the whole DSA team. A lot of the authors on this paper helped build the DSA-110,” Dr. Ravi said.

“And the fact that the DSA-110 is so good at localizing FRBs bodes well for the success of DSA-2000.”

• The findings were published today in the journal Nature.

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

07-11-2024 om 21:33 geschreven door peter  

Elon Musk gesturing on stage

© Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Elon Musk makes headlines often with his eccentric behavior and sci-fi-esque projects under SpaceX and Tesla. Recently, a rumor was published that Elon Musk was developing a fighter jet that seemed to be right out of a science fiction story. The story about Elon Musk's "UFO fighter jet" picked up steam online, and some may be talking about it without doing their due diligence of fact-checking the story and ensuring that it's real. 

Looking at the recent press releases from SpaceX and Tesla, as well as comments from Musk himself, proves that there's no evidence that one of Elon Musk's most recent projects involved a "UFO fighter jet." Unfortunately, even if you think a revolutionary fighter jet fits Elon Musk's entrepreneurial M.O., there's no evidence of a ground-breaking test flight that caused governmental upset, as reported by a viral YouTube video. Let's take an in-depth look at the rumors about Elon Musk's "UFO fighter jet."

Read more: 

• 14 Best Fighter Planes And Jets Of All Time

Origins Of The Elon Musk UFO Fighter Jet Rumor

Fake image of SpaceX UFO jet

© Hyperspeed/YouTube

A recent video from HyperSpeed on YouTube alleged that Elon Musk had been building what it describes as a "UFO fighter jet," with specifications and weaponry right out of a science fiction novel. The video alleged that the jet had been spotted flying in several air spaces for "testing," and that it would be equipped with "microwave weapons" that could melt other aircraft in combat. 

The viral video also alleged that the new fighter jet (pictured above, which is a doctored or photoshopped image) would be equipped with EMPs that could disrupt enemy weaponry and vehicles. HyperSpeed's video should have been a red flag for many viewers, as its language and tone were fantastical. The viral video seemed more interested in telling a story about how cool SpaceX is rather than reporting about this alleged fighter jet project. Most of the video was just recounting various accomplishments of SpaceX, Tesla, and Musk himself rather than reporting on the story in the headline, which are all major red flags for a story being fake or possibly AI generated.

Is Elon Musk Really Designing A Fighter Jet

Elon Musk posing on red carpet

© Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

At this time, there is no evidence, announcement, or any kind of reputable reporting that Elon Musk is designing a fighter jet. Even if he or one of his companies were, it would likely be nothing like the jet alleged in HyperSpeed's video. The "X-One" jet talked about in the video is pure science fiction by today's technological standards. The things the video alleges this new aircraft can do are pretty far beyond the realm of practical possibility: Like allegedly being capable of 4,600 mph (Mach 6) speeds with "impressive fuel efficiency," its ability to disguise itself "as a cloud," as well as using microwaves to "melt enemy aircraft." 

Even if Musk were to design this exact aircraft, there's no telling whether it would be mass-production-friendly — especially with all the sci-fi weaponry that HyperSpeed is alleging it comes with — as it would need to secure a contract with any military worldwide. It's safe to say that if Musk was working on a fighter jet project right now, it would be highly top secret, especially if it's for the U.S. military — it would be nothing like what HyperSpeed is alleging it to be.

What Elon Musk Is Actually Working On Right Now

Tesla robotaxi parked on street

© Tesla

Elon Musk's most recent project that he has talked about is his Cybercab robotaxi service. This service uses fully autonomous taxi cabs that will ferry riders from one place to another without intervention from a human driver. This service is slated to be released for public use within the next few years, according to Musk. However, as with any revolutionary service, it's best not to hedge one's bets on a service's purported release date — especially since he's already predicted the release of his robotaxis as being one year away ... five years ago.

In addition to moving towards a fully autonomous taxi service, Musk is still currently working on his Starship project, which recently reached a new, ground-breaking record when part of his newest rocket was captured upon landing during a test flight. Before the launch, the SpaceX team said they would not have been surprised if the rocket needed to land in the Gulf of Mexico, but that never came to pass as the bottom half of the rocket — the Super Heavy Booster — was able to be maneuvered into the robot arms on the launch pad.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.

No evidence

At this time, there is no evidence, announcement, or any kind of reputable reporting that Elon Musk is designing a fighter jet. Even if he or one of his companies were, it would likely be nothing like the jet alleged in HyperSpeed's video.

In an unprecedented announcement, Elon Musk has unveiled SpaceX's groundbreaking new light-speed engine, a technological marvel that challenges our understanding of physics as we know it. The world of space exploration stands on the brink of a new era, as this innovative engine promises to revolutionize how we travel through the cosmos. Today, we delve into the details of this remarkable invention and its implications for humanity's future among the stars.

VIDEOS

Elon Musk Unveils UFO Fighter Jet That Defies Physics

Elon Musk Unveils UFO Fighter Jet That Defies Physics

{ https://www.bing.com/?FORM=Z9FD1 }

07-11-2024 om 21:11 geschreven door peter  

Chinese scientists have built a 'real-life DEATH STAR': Terrifying Star Wars-inspired weapon focuses microwave beams to wipe out enemy satellites

• READ MORE: Scientists reveals how to build a REAL lightsaber 

By WILIAM HUNTER

Chinese scientists claim to have created a 'real-life Death Star' capable of devastating enemy satellites in orbit.

The science-fiction-inspired weapon combines pulses of microwave radiation into a single powerful beam - just like the planet-destroying lasers shown in Star Wars.

In order to merge, the electromagnetic pulses must hit the exact same target within 170 trillionths of a second.

That requires levels of timing more precise than the atomic clocks on advanced GPS satellites - a feat previously thought to be impossible.

However, the weapon has now completed experimental trials for potential military applications thanks to breakthroughs in 'ultra-high time precision synchronisation'.

This could be used for 'achieving multiple goals such as teaching and training, new technology verification, and military exercises,' experts say. 

While the exact details of the weapon remain highly classified, Chinese academic journals suggest that microwave weapons like this are being developed for use in space.

And while it might not have the power to blow up a planet, it could wreak havoc on enemy communications or GPS satellites.

Chinese scientists claim to have created a real-life Death Star weapon which merges pulses of microwave energy to create a beam strong enough to wipe out enemy satellites 

According to the South China Morning Post, the secretive space weapon uses an array of seven microwave-firing 'vehicles'.

These vehicles are positioned over a large area but fire together to hit their target with a single, powerful attack.

The scientists behind the device say that most microwave weapons 'have not formed effective combat capabilities' due to power limitations.

But, by merging several waves into a single pulse, the resulting power can be strong enough to overwhelm an enemy satellite.

What makes this challenging is that combining microwave pulses requires synchronising the bursts with never-before-seen levels of precision.

Even the atomic clock aboard the Chinese Tiangong space station, which only misses one second every few billion years, cannot reach the required levels of precision.

However, Chinese scientists say they have now been able to overcome these challenges by connecting each of the vehicles with fibreoptic cables.

While the exact specifications remain secret, last year Chinese scientists managed to achieve a time synchronisation accuracy of just 10 trillionths of a second over a distance of 1,100 miles (1,800km). 

Just like the Death Star in Star Wars (pictured), this weapon combines separate beams of energy into a single directed pulse 

How does the 'real-life Death Star' work?

1. Seven microwave 'vehicles' are connected by fibreoptics
2. The vehicles use lasers to measure their exact position 
3. The vehicles fire a pulse of microwave energy with extremely precise timing 
4. All seven beams hit the target at precisely the same moment 
5. Enemy satellite communications are wiped out 

To ensure the microwave pulses hit the exact same point, the weapon also uses laser positioning devices to achieve millimeter-level navigation.

By analysing timing and positional data, a mobile command centre can then issue an attack command - triggering each of the seven vehicles to fire at once.

The researchers say that the microwave beams can achieve a combining effect of '1+1>2', hinting that the combined power could be higher than the sum of its parts.

This won't be quite as strong as the devastating power of the Death Star, but the resulting energy pulse could be more than enough to knock out an enemy satellite.

Studies have found that a weapon capable of delivering just one gigawatt of power would be enough to do serious damage to satellites in near-Earth orbit.

In recent years, milliaries around the world have been racing to develop a new generation of 'direct energy weapons'.

Unlike conventional weapons which use projectiles or explosives, these use powerful blasts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt or destroy their targets.

There have already been significant advances in direct energy weapons which use lasers to burn through the hulls of missiles and drones.

Although it won't be strong enough to blow up a planet like in Star Wars (pictured), the weapon can use its microwave beams to knock out enemy satellites to disrupt communications and navigation 

More national militaries are investigating so-called 'direct energy weapons' which use bursts of high-intensity radiation to destroy or disrupt their targets. These include the British DragonFire laser weapon (pictured)

For example, the British Dragonfire laser weapon is strong enough to shoot a drone out of the air and accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from half a mile away.

Instead of burning through their targets, microwave weapons use intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt electrical circuits.

Trials of microwave weapons have already shown that they can be effective against small targets like drones.

The Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR), developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, uses wide bursts of energy to take out entire swarms of drones.

The advantage is that the weapons are cheap to operate and don't use any projectiles, reducing the risk of collateral damage.

However, microwave weapons have proven difficult to target and use at longer ranges.

By overcoming the power limitations, combined microwave energy weapons could be the key to bringing these potentially devastating weapons into the frontier of space warfare.

As militaries become more reliant on satellite observations and communications there has been a growing interest in weapons which can target satellites.

Declassified footage of secret trials (pictured) at the MOD's Hebrides Range, showed that the British laser weapon system proved so accurate it could hit a £1 coin half a mile away

As low-Earth orbit becomes more important for military use nations are developing more weapons to target satellites. This includes the Chinese 'Death Star' microwave weapon and the American 'Meadowlands' satellite jammer revealed last month (pictured)

These satellite networks provide the infrastructure which supports deadly GPS-guided missiles, drone strikes, and troop movements on the ground.

Read More

• Secretive US weapon that JAMS Russian and Chinese satellites is finally ready 

This means that knocking out enemy communication, by electronic or physical means, could provide a decisive advantage in a conflict.

Last month, the US revealed its powerful new satellite jamming weapon designed to shut down Russian or Chinese communications at the start of a conflict.

The weapon has been developed by the Xian Navigation Technology Research Institute under the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

This organisation has been a major provider of electronic warfare weapons for the People's Liberation Army in the past.

However, it isn't yet clear when, if at all, this weapon will be deployed.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

07-11-2024 om 20:19 geschreven door peter  

EXCLUSIVE - NASA gives health update on astronauts mysteriously hospitalized after space mission

• READ MORE:  Watch Space Force's top secret spaceplane fly 

By ELLYN LAPOINTE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

NASA today insisted stranded astronaut Sunita Williams is safe and healthy amid growing public concern for her health.

But the space agency again refused to give any details about four astronauts who were mysteriously hospitalized late last month after returning from a separate space mission.

A doctor raised concerns about Williams this week after a photo showed her looking 'gaunt', suggesting she had lost a significant amount of weight after spending more than 150 days stuck on the International Space Station.

But NASA holds firm that Williams and the rest of the astronauts aboard the ISS are doing fine.

'All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health,' NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell told DailyMail.com.

Concern over Williams came less than two weeks after the hospitalization of four NASA/SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts, who splashed down off the coast of Florida on October 25. The crew had spent 232 days aboard the ISS. 

One of them was hospitalized overnight due to a 'medical issue', while the other three were discharged that same day after undergoing medical evaluations. 

NASA refused to provide any details about why the crew was hospitalized, which astronaut had to complete an overnight stay, or whether the medical issues were related to their return to Earth.

WEARING ON HER: A doctor has raised concerns about Sunita's health, claiming this September 24 photo showed her looking 'gaunt'

The agency instead deferred DailyMail.com to a blog post from October 26.

The statement said that one of the astronauts stayed overnight at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida, but was 'in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members' after being discharged.

NASA's decision not to disclose who that astronaut was or reveal details about his or her condition was made 'to protect the crew member's medical privacy.'

While the agency has repeatedly expressed confidence in the wellbeing of its astronauts, studies have shown that  living in space takes a toll on human health.

This is especially true of long-term ISS missions, which typically last six months.

Space is a harsh environment that causes astronauts to lose body fat, muscle mass, bone density, and endure high doses of radiation.

This can lead to a range of health issues, including vision problems, kidney stones and even causing astronauts to become more vulnerable to infections on the ISS.

Williams and her crewmate, Barry Wilmore, have been aboard the ISS for six months as of today, and will remain there until February 2025 at the earliest.

By then, they will be able to catch a ride back to Earth on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission Dragon Capsule. 

All four of the Crew-8 astronauts were hospitalized following their return to Earth, but NASA has not released any details about the reason, or reasons, why

The photo of Williams, taken on September 24, shows her tucking into a pepperoni pizza and chips while surrounded by condiments and other treats.

'Her cheeks appear a bit sunken - and usually it happens when you've had sort of total body weight loss,' Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist in Seattle, told DailyMail.com.

'I think what I can discern by her face and her cheeks being sunken in is that [she] has probably been at a significant [calorie] deficit for a while.'

Weight loss is not uncommon among astronauts during extended ISS missions. In fact, most lose about five percent of their bodyweight during a four to six month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, according to the Lunar and Planetary Institute. 

Dr Gupta told DailyMail.com: 'What you're seeing there in that picture is somebody that I think is experiencing the natural stresses of living at a very high altitude, even in a pressurized cabin, for extended periods.'

'Based on what I'm at least seeing in the photo, I don't think she's quite at a... place where I say her life's in danger,' he added.

'But I don't think you can look at that photo and say she has sort of healthy body weight.

As for Crew-9, which included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, it's possible that their health suffered during their ISS stay as well. 

The four astronauts spent 232 days - or nearly eight months - aboard the ISS. It's reasonable to believe that the stress their bodies endured during that time may have resulted in the need for medical attention upon their return to Earth. 

Alternatively, some have speculated that something went awry during the crew's descent, despite NASA's statement that the crew 'safely splashed down aboard their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.' 

The fact that all four astronauts received some form of medical attention does suggest that the health issues were somehow related to their return flight.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

07-11-2024 om 19:58 geschreven door peter  

• READ MORE: Space plane will execute a 'never-before-seen-maneuver' 

By Nikki Main Science Reporter For Dailymail.Com

The Pentagon has kept a tight lid on details about the Space Force's secretive spaceplane that is perpetually flying 500 miles above Earth's surface.

But the Department of Defense (DoD) has released a rare video showing the Boeing-built X-37B spacecraft performing a 'groundbreaking' maneuver to reach a new level of orbit using a first-of-its-kind 'aerobraking' procedure.

The video shows how the $200 million craft point its flat underside forward, using friction from Earth's atmosphere to slow down, treating it like a brake, while directing the nose of the aircraft away from earth.

Boeing engineer John Ealy said: 'When we aerobrake, we utilize atmospheric drag to effectively step down our apogee one pass at a time until we get to the orbital regime that we want to be in.

'When we do this, we save enormous amounts of propellant, and that's really why aerobraking is important.'

The X-37B, roughly the size of a small bus and resembling a miniature space shuttle, launched for its seventh mission on December 29, 2023 and is currently still conducting experiments for NASA before it will return to Earth.

Space Force released a video showing the X-37B spacecraft's 'groundbreaking' maneuver

The X-37B aircraft is the first of its kind to use the Earth's atmosphere to reach a new level of orbit using an aerobraking procedure that relies on the friction to slow it down

Space Force has not released information about the spacecraft's main function but has said it will conduct experiments involving 'space domain awareness technologies.'

This could mean that the new technology will be used to keep an eye on other traffic in orbit and observe what other spacecrafts are doing.

The seventh mission marks the first time Boeing has attempted to carry out the aerobraking maneuver.

Aerobraking is a method of slowing down a spacecraft by using the atmosphere or outer gas layers of a planet.

The space plane 'dips' into the atmosphere, and as it does, the molecules of gas in the atmosphere rub against the ship.

This acts as resistance and slows the ship down.

Often a ship will use aerobraking to change an orbit or slow a ship enough so that gravity will pull it down to a planet.

It was designed with a dual purpose of landing like an aircraft on a runway while the service module mounted on the back carries additional payloads, although Boeing has not specified what those will be.

The spacecraft pointed its nose away from Earth as the friction heated up its underside, causing the bottom to cast an orange glow and slow down the vehicle

'Once the aerobrake maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will deorbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions,' the Space Force said. 

The seventh mission launched on top of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time, putting it at an undisclosed altitude.

According to the Space Force, it is gathering data for future crewed missions by exposing plant seeds to the harsh radioactive environment in space.

The un-crewed X-37B is a hybrid launch vehicle that can operate as a regular airplane or spacecraft, which was is built using a lighter structure instead of the traditional aluminum and measures 29 feet long, about one-fourth the size of a NASA space shuttle.

It has the ability to perform missions that last up to 270 days to 'support long-term space objectives,' according to Boeing.

The X-37B spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in December

Holly Murphy, program director for Boeing's Experimental Systems Group, said in the video: 'X-37B missions have continuously advanced our nation's space capabilities by testing new technologies that reduce risk and inform our future space architectures. Mission seven is no different.'

Space Force's X-37B has so far spent roughly 10 months in orbit but the agency has yet to reveal when its seventh mission will conclude.

However, the aerobraking maneuver that brings it closer to Earth could indicate that it will be returning soon.

The video's release comes as China is testing its own spaceplane, called Shenlong, which recently spent 268 day's in orbit and completed its third mission on September 6.

China is the only other country in the world to have a reusable spacecraft and has raised concerns that these planes will be used to launch microsatellites that could be used for military applications, according to the China Morning Star.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

07-11-2024 om 00:40 geschreven door peter  

New research examines the threats facing the habitable zone planets in our stellar neighbourhood. The study is “The 10 pc Neighborhood of Habitable Zone Exoplanetary Systems: Threat Assessment from Stellar Encounters & Supernovae,” and it has been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. The lead author is Tisyagupta Pyne from the Integrated Science Education And Research Centre at Visva-Bharati University in India.

The researchers examined the 10-parsec regions around the 84 solar systems with habitable zone exoplanets. Some of these Habitable Zone Systems (HZS) face risks from stars outside of the solar systems. How do these risks affect their habitability? What does it mean for our notion of the habitable zone?

“Among the 4,500+ exoplanet-hosting stars, about 140+ are known to host planets in their habitable zones,” the authors write. “We assess the possible risks that local stellar environment of these HZS pose to their habitability.”

We have more than 150 confirmed exoplanets in habitable zones, and as exoplanet science advances, scientists are developing a more detailed understanding of what habitable zone means. Scientists increasingly use the terms conservative habitable zone and optimistic habitable zone.

The optimistic habitable zone is defined as regions that receive less radiation from their star than Venus received one billion years ago and more than Mars did 3.8 billion years ago. Scientists think that recent Venus (RV) and early Mars (EM) both likely had surface water.

The conservative habitable zone is a more stringent definition. It’s a narrower region around a star where an exoplanet could have surface water. It’s defined by an inner runaway greenhouse edge where stellar flux would vaporize surface water and an outer maximum greenhouse edge where the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide is dominated by Rayleigh scattering.

Those are useful scientific definitions as far as they go. But what about habitable stellar environments? In recent years, scientists have learned a lot about how stars behave, the characteristics of exoplanets, and how the two are intertwined.

“The discovery of numerous extrasolar planets has revealed a diverse array of stellar and planetary characteristics, making systematic comparisons crucial for evaluating habitability and assessing the potential for life beyond our solar system,” the authors write.

To make these necessary systematic comparisons, the researchers developed two metrics: the Solar Similarity Index (SSI) and the Neighborhood Similarity Index (NSI). Since main sequence stars like our Sun are conducive to habitability, the SSI compares our Solar System’s properties with those of other HZs. The NSI compares the properties of stars in a 10-parsec region around the Sun to the same size region around other HZSs.

These indices put habitable zones in a larger context.

“While the concept of HZ is vital in the search for habitable worlds, the stellar environment of the planet also plays an important role in determining longevity and maintenance of habitability,” the authors write. “Studies have shown that a high rate of catastrophic events, such as supernovae and close stellar encounters in regions of high stellar density, is not conducive to the evolution of complex life forms and the maintenance of habitability over long periods.”

When radiation and high-energy particles from a distant source reach a planet in a habitable zone, they can cause severe damage to Earth-like planets. Supernovae are a dangerous source of radiation and particles, and if one were to explode close enough to Earth, that would be the end of life. Scientists know that ancient supernovae have left their mark on Earth, but none of them were close enough to destroy the atmosphere.

“Our primary focus is to investigate the effects of SNe on the atmospheres of exoplanets or exomoons assuming their atmospheres to be Earth-like,” the authors write.

The first factor is stellar density. The more stars in a neighbourhood, the greater the likelihood of supernova explosions and stellar flybys.

“The astrophysical impacts of the stellar environment is a “low-probability, high-consequence” scenario
for the continuation of habitability of exoplanets,” the authors write. Though disruptive events like supernova explosions or close stellar flybys are unlikely, the consequences can be so severe that habitability is completely eliminated.

When it came to the supernova threat, the researchers looked at high-mass stars in stellar neighbourhoods since only massive stars explode. Pyne and her colleagues found high-mass stars with more than eight solar masses in the 10-parsec neighbourhoods of two HZS: TOI-1227 and HD 48265. “These high-mass stars are potential progenitors for supernova explosions,” the authors explain.

Only one of the HZS is at risk of a stellar flyby. HD 165155 has an encounter rate of ?1 in 5 Gyr period. That means it’s at greater risk of an encounter with another star that could eject planets from its habitable zone.

The team’s pair of indices, the SSI and the NSI, produced divergent results. “… we find that the stellar environments of the majority of HZS exhibit a high degree of similarity (NSI> 0.75) to the solar neighbourhood,” they explain. However, because of the wide variety of stars in HZS, comparing them to the Sun results in a wide range of SSI values.

We know the danger supernova explosions pose to habitability. The initial burst of radiation could kill anything on the surface of a planet too close. The ongoing radiation could strip away the atmospheres of some planets further away and could also cause DNA damage in any lifeforms exposed to it. For planets that are further away from the blast, the supernova could alter their climate and trigger extinctions. There’s no absolutely certain understanding of how far away a planet needs to avoid devastation, but many scientists say that within 50 light-years, a planet is probably toast.

We can see the results of some of the stellar flybys the authors are considering. Rogue planets, or free-floating planets (FPPs), are likely in their hapless situations precisely because a stellar interloper got too close to their HZS and disrupted the gravitational relationships between the planets and their stars. We don’t know how many of these FPPs are in the Milky Way, but there could be many billions of them. Future telescopes like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help us understand how many there truly are.

Habitability may be fleeting, and our planet may be the exception. It’s possible that life appears on many planets in habitable zones but can’t last long due to various factors. From a great distance away, we can’t detect all the variables that go into exoplanet habitability.

However, we can gain an understanding of the stellar environments in which potentially habitable exoplanets exist, and this research shows us how.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

06-11-2024 om 23:21 geschreven door peter  

“Our transporter comprises two trailers connected by cradles and a strongback assembly designed in-house,” said Limp on X. “There are 22 axles and 176 tires on this transport vehicle…The distance between GERT’s front bumper and the trailer’s rear is 310’, about the length of a football field.”

Limp said the next step is to put the first and second stages together on the launch pad for the fully integrated hot fire dress rehearsal. The second stage recently completed its own hot fire at the launch site.

Hopefully the test will lead to Blue Origin’s first ever launch to orbit. While the New Glenn rocket has had its share of delays, it seems Blue Origin has also taken a slow, measured approach to prepare for its first launch. In February of this year, a boilerplate of the rocket was finally rolled onto the launch pad at Cape Canaveral for testing.  Then in May 2024, New Glenn was rolled out again for additional testing. Now, the fully integrated test in the next few weeks will perhaps lead to a launch by the end of the year.

New Glenn’s seven engines will give it more than 3.8 million pounds of thrust on liftoff. The goal is for New Glenn to reuse its first-stage booster and the seven engines powering it, with recovery on a barge located downrange off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.

New Glenn boosters are designed for 25 flights.

Blue Origin says New Glenn will launch payloads into high-energy orbits. It can carry more than 13 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO).

For the first flight, Blue Origin will be flying its own hardware as a payload, a satellite deployment technology called Blue Ring. Even though it doesn’t have a paying customer for the upcoming launch, it would be — if successful — the first of two required certification flights needed by the rocket by the U.S. Space Force so it could potentially be awarded future national security missions along with side SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA.)

Additional details can be found at PhysOrg and NASASpaceflight.com.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

06-11-2024 om 22:43 geschreven door peter  

Mystery as four NASA astronauts are rushed to hospital without explanation after returning from space

• READ MORE:  Elon Musk reveals why he REALLY wants Trump to win 

By Ellyn Lapointe For Dailymail.Com

A crew of four NASA astronauts was recently hospitalized without explanation after returning to Earth on SpaceX's Dragon capsule. 

After spending more than 200 days on the International Space Station (ISS), the Crew-8 astronauts splashed down off the coast of Florida in the early morning hours of October 25.

NASA revealed that one astronaut received medical care following the return, but on Monday it was found that all members had been taken to the hospital.

One crewmember was kept overnight, but was said to be 'in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure.'

NASA has not released any details about why the crew was hospitalized, which astronaut had to complete an overnight stay, or whether the medical issues were related to their return to Earth. 

Following the mysterious incident, a NASA safety panel told SpaceX to focus on crew safety as they prepare for future crewed missions to the ISS.

During a meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel on October 31, former astronaut and committee member Kent Rominger listed a series of 'recent issues' with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. 

He said the mishaps serve as a reminder to remain vigilant as the company increases the pace of its missions. 

'Both NASA and SpaceX need to maintain focus on safe Crew Dragon operations and not take any 'normal' operations for granted,' he said.

All four of the Crew-8 astronauts were hospitalized following their return to Earth, but NASA has not released any details about the reason, or reasons, why

The Crew-8 mission launched toward the ISS on March 3, and the crew was initially expected to return to Earth in August. 

But a series of delays pushed the return flight to early October, extending what was supposed to be a 180-day stay on the ISS into a 235-day stay. 

A typical long-term stay on the ISS lasts six months, or roughly 182 days.  

Living on the ISS does take a toll on astronauts' health, and the longer they stay, the more servere these health issues can become. 

Following long-term space missions, astronauts are known to suffer from bone and muscle loss, vision problems, kidney stones, cardiovascular issues and other health conditions. 

NASA has not released any information about why the Crew-8 astronauts were hospitalized, so it is not clear whether their extended stay on the ISS was the cause. 

It's also possible (but not confirmed) that something went awry during Crew Dragon's return to Earth. 

The incidents that Rominger referenced include observations of the Crew Dragon parachutes during the Crew-8 splashdown, such as 'lagging' behavior that caused one of the four main chutes to open slower than the others, SpaceNews reported.   

He also cited several issues with SpaceX's Falcon 9, such as the July launch failure that grounded the rocket for about two weeks. 

In August, Falcon 9 launches were briefly halted after one of the rocket's boosters was lost during a drone ship landing. 

The Crew-8 astronauts splashed down on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor on October 25, following a 235-day mission 

And in September, another mishap with the Falcon 9's upper-stage engine occurred during a deorbit burn following the launch of the Crew-9 mission.

As a result, the second stage landed outside the target zone, and the rocket was grounded for another two weeks, except for one mission.

Even as recently as Sunday, SpaceX scrubbed a Starlink satellite launch scheduled for this weekend due to a helium leak.

'When you look at these recent incidents over the last handful of weeks, it does lead one say that it's apparent that operating safely requires significant attention to detail as hardware ages and the pace of operations increases,' Rominger said.

He added that both NASA and SpaceX will have to 'guard against letting the high pace of operations from clouding their judgement' to ensure that missions are conducted with the appropriate level of attention, time and resources. 

Elon Musk's SpaceX has been a trusted NASA partner for years, and the company has been particularly busy this year. 

The commercial spaceflight leader has already launched over 100 rockets in 2024, including several crewed missions. Musk has set an ambitious goal to achieve a total of 148 before the year is over.

This would beat the 98 launches SpaceX achieved in 2023. 

But the company's focus on maintaining a fast-paced mission schedule, and thus its leading position in the commercial space industry, could come at the cost of astronaut health and safety. 

VIDEOS

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

05-11-2024 om 23:30 geschreven door peter  

Space Force's mysterious X-37B begins 'aerobraking' to lower orbit. Here's how it works (video)

'The U.S. military's highly secretive X-37B space plane just got a little less mysterious.

In a rare show of openness about the space plane's operations, Boeing and the U.S. Space Force released a statement last month explaining that the X-37B would soon begin a series of "aerobraking" maneuvers to begin lowering its orbit and safely disposing of unnecessary hardware before it comes down for a landing on Earth.

This week, Boeing Space released a video detailing how the aerobraking procedure will work and why the X-37B is performing it. In the video, a Boeing representative said the maneuver will help Boeing change the X-37B's altitude and "safely dispose of the service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation."

Typically, when satellites change orbit, they execute one or more burns using their onboard thrusters. This requires propellant, however, meaning each satellite can only perform a limited amount of burns before needing to be refueled or brought out of orbit. Aerobraking, on the other hand, uses the friction of Earth's atmosphere to help guide a spacecraft to a new orbit.

"When we aerobrake, we utilize atmospheric drag to effectively step down our apogee one pass at a time until we get to the orbital regime that we want to be in," said John Ealy, a Boeing engineer, in the company's video explaining the X-37B's aerobraking. "When we do this, we save enormous amounts of propellant, and that's really why aerobraking is important."

Boeing's video about the aerobraking maneuver shows the aircraft-like X-37B changing its attitude, or the direction in which it faces relative to its orbital direction, so that its flat "belly" points forward as it orients its nose up, facing away from Earth below it.

In the animation, the broader, flatter underside of the space plane glows orange from the heat generated as it encounters the drag (a type of friction) produced by Earth's atmosphere, which slows it down.

U.S. Space Force leadership praised the X-37B team for attempting such a novel maneuver. "This first of a kind maneuver from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain," U.S. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said in a statement last month. "The success is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the team."

The X-37B's most recent mission, known as OTV-7 (for "Orbital Test Vehicle-7"), saw the space plane launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time, which put the space plane on a highly elliptical (or oval-shaped) orbit at an unknown altitude.

Like all other X-37B flights, little is known about the OTV-7 other than that the flight is testing the effects of space radiation and "space domain awareness" technologies, presumably meaning new tech to help the U.S. Space Force keep an eye on orbital traffic and what other spacecraft are doing in Earth orbit.

"X-37B missions have continuously advanced our nation's space capabilities by testing new technologies that reduce risk and inform our future space architectures. Mission seven is no different," Holly Murphy, program director for Boeing's Experimental Systems Group, said in the video.

VIDEOS

{ https://www.space.com/ }

05-11-2024 om 17:52 geschreven door peter  

NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes 1st-of-its-kind observation within a coronal mass ejection

Related: 

• NASA's Parker Solar Probe smashes record for fastest human-made object

Solar physicists have inferred that KHI exist in CMEs, as plasma in a CME moves at odds with the background solar wind. But they have never had the proper equipment, in the proper place, to observe the phenomena.

"The turbulence that gives rise to KHI plays a fundamental role in regulating the dynamics of CMEs flowing through the ambient solar wind," said Evangelos Paouris, a solar physicist at George Mason University, in a statement. "Hence, understanding turbulence is key in achieving a deeper understanding of CME evolution and kinematics."

Parker Solar Probe’s 21st orbit included a perihelion that brought the spacecraft within 4.51 million miles of the Sun. 

Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

The Parker Solar Probe launched on Aug. 12, 2018. Since then, the probe's elliptical orbit has allowed it to enter the sun's corona closer than ever before — in essence, becoming the first human-made object to enter the sun's outer atmosphere, just 11.5 solar radii from the sun's surface.

Parker Solar Probe’s 18th orbit included a perihelion that brought the spacecraft within 4.51 million miles of the Sun.

Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

Related Stories:

• Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter team up to tackle 65-year-old sun mystery
• NASA's Parker Solar Probe flies through major coronal mass ejection — and survives to tell the tale
• NASA's daring Parker Solar Probe spacecraft zips past the sun again

And, even now, Parker Solar Probe has not entered its final orbit. The probe has repeatedly flown past Venus in order to use the planet's gravity to boost its speed and tighten its orbit around the sun. In November of this year, the probe will fly past Venus a seventh time, tightening its loop about the sun yet again — allowing it to pass within just 9.5 solar radii from the sun in 2025 and beyond.

{ https://www.space.com/ }

05-11-2024 om 16:14 geschreven door peter  

This was likely caused by Mars’ interior cooling faster due to its lower mass and lower pressure. Scientists theorize that this caused Mars’ outer core to solidify while its inner core became liquid—though this remains an open question. By comparing the subsurface temperatures obtained by InSight to surface temperatures, the DLR team could measure the rate of heat transport in the crust (thermal diffusivity) and thermal conductivity. From this, the density of the Martian soil could be estimated for the first time.

The team determined that the density of the uppermost 30 cm (~12 inches) of soil is comparable to basaltic sand – something that was not anticipated based on orbiter data. This material is common on Earth and is created by weathering volcanic rock rich in iron and magnesium. Beneath this layer, the soil density is comparable to consolidated sand and coarser basalt fragments. Tilman Spohn, the principal investigator of the HP³ experiment at the DLR Institute of Planetary Research, explained in a DLR press release:

“To get an idea of the mechanical properties of the soil, I like to compare it to floral foam, widely used in floristry for flower arrangements. It is a lightweight, highly porous material in which holes are created when plant stems are pressed into it... Over the course of seven Martian days, we measured thermal conductivity and temperature fluctuations at short intervals.

“Additionally, we continuously measured the highest and lowest daily temperatures over the second Martian year. The average temperature over the depth of the 40-centimetre-long thermal probe was minus 56 degrees Celsius (217.5 Kelvin). These records, documenting the temperature curve over daily cycles and seasonal variations, were the first of their kind on Mars.”

Because the encrusted Martian soil (aka. “duricrust”) extends to a depth of 20 cm (~8 inches), the Mole managed to penetrate just a little more than 40 cm (~16 inches) – well short of its 5 m (~16.5 ft) objective. Nevertheless, the data obtained at this depth has provided valuable insight into heat transport on Mars. Accordingly, the team found that ground temperatures fluctuated by only 5 to 7 °C (9 to 12.5 °F) during a Martian day, a tiny fraction of the fluctuations observed on the surface—110 to 130 °C (230 to 266 °F).

Seasonally, they noted temperature fluctuation of 13 °C (~23.5 °F) while remaining below the freezing point of water on Mars in the layers near the surface. This demonstrates that the Martian soil is an excellent insulator, significantly reducing the large temperature differences at shallow depths. This influences various physical properties in Martian soil, including elasticity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, the movement of material within, and the speed at which seismic waves can pass through them.

“Temperature also has a strong influence on chemical reactions occurring in the soil, on the exchange with gas molecules in the atmosphere, and therefore also on potential biological processes regarding possible microbial life on Mars,” said Spohn. “These insights into the properties and strength of the Martian soil are also of particular interest for future human exploration of Mars.”

What was particularly interesting, though, is how the temperature fluctuations enable the formation of salty brines for ten hours a day (when there is sufficient moisture in the atmosphere) in winter and spring. Therefore, the solidification of this brine is the most likely explanation for the duricrust layer beneath the surface. This information could prove very useful as future missions explore Mars and attempt to probe beneath the surface to learn more about the Red Planet’s history.

Further Reading: 

• DLR

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

05-11-2024 om 12:44 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious 'donut' structure is discovered hidden inside Earth's core - and it could unlock the secrets of our planet's protective magnetic field

• Researchers discovered a donut-shaped region at the ceiling of the outer core 
• This lighter region helps stir the liquid metal which generates the magnetic field  

By Wiliam Hunter

Scientists have uncovered a vast donut-shaped structure buried thousands of miles beneath our feet.

Researchers from the Australian National University used seismic waves generated by earthquakes to peer into the Earth's mysterious molten core.

By tracing the path of these waves through the planet, the researchers found a region a few hundred kilometres thick where they travelled two per cent slower than normal

This donut-like structure runs parallel to the equator in a ring around the edge of the liquid outer core, and could be responsible for driving our planet's protective magnetic field.

Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić, lead author of the study, says: 'The magnetic field is a fundamental ingredient that we need for life to be sustained on the surface of our planet.'

Scientists have discovered a previously undetected donut-shaped region buried within the Earth which could be responsible for helping generate Earth's magnetic field (stock image)

Researchers found a region hundreds of kilometres thick and thousands of kilometres deep which wraps around the equator in a torus shape (labelled 'low velocity donut')

The Earth is made up of four major layers: the surface crust, the semi-molten mantle, a liquid metal outer core, and a solid metal inner core.

When the movement of tectonic plates in the crust creates earthquakes, these produce vibrations that spread out through all the other layers of the Earth.

Using the worldwide network of seismographic stations, researchers can see how the waves spread and make predictions about the conditions below the surface.

Scientists usually only look at the big, powerful wavefronts which travel around the world in the first hour or so after an earthquake.

However, Professor Tkalčić and his co-author Dr Xiaolong Ma were able to detect this structure by studying the faint traces left behind by waves many hours after the initial tremor.

This method revealed that seismic waves travelling near the poles were moving faster than those near the equator.

The donut was detected by using measurements of seismic waves triggered by earthquakes around the world (pictured top) by analysing this data the researchers found a speed difference between the waves travelling by the poles (bottom left) and those travelling by the equator (bottom right) 

By comparing their results to different models of the Earth's interior, Professor Tkalčić and Dr Ma found that this was best explained by the presence of a vast underground 'torus', or donut-shaped, region.

They predict that this region is only found at low latitudes and runs parallel to the equator near the ceiling of the outer core where the liquid section meets the mantle.

'We don't know the exact thickness of the doughnut, but we inferred that it reaches a few hundred kilometres beneath the core-mantle boundary,' Professor Tkalčić says.

Thanks to this region's critical role, their discovery may also have profound implications for the study of life on Earth and other planets.

Earth's outer core has a radius of around 2,160 miles (3,480km) - making it slightly larger than Mars.

The best explanation for this data was the presence of an area of low-density material (pictured in red) sitting near the surface of the Earth's liquid outer core 

The Earth's inner and outer cores are responsible for generating the planet's magnetic field, without which no life on Earth would be possible 

Mainly made of hot nickel and iron, convection currents coupled with the Earth's rotation force the liquid metal in this layer into long vertical vortices running in a north-south direction, like giant waterspouts.

It is the swirling currents of these liquid metals which act like the dynamo, powering the Earth's magnetic field.

Since this donut region has 'floated' to the top of the liquid outer core, it suggests that it could be rich in lighter elements like silicon, sulphur, oxygen, hydrogen or carbon.

Professor Tkalčić says: 'Our findings are interesting because this low velocity within the liquid core implies that we have a high concentration of light chemical elements in these regions that would cause the seismic waves to slow down.

The researchers believe that the donut -shaped region might be partially responsible for stirring the liquid metal in the outer core into the waterspout-like vortexes which generate the planet's magnetic field 

The Earth's magnetic field (pictured) deflects the charged particles carried by solar wind which can destroy the DNA of living creatures 

'These light elements, alongside temperature differences, help stir liquid in the outer core.'

Without that stirring motion to drive the planet's interior dynamo, the Earth's magnetic field might not have formed.

Without the magnetic field, the planet's surface would be exposed to a constant bombardment of charged particles from the sun which can destroy the DNA of living creatures.

This donut-shaped region, therefore, might be a critical piece of the puzzle which explains why life has developed on Earth and what we might look for in habitable planets elsewhere.

Dr Tkalčić concludes: 'Our results could promote more research about the magnetic field on both Earth and other planets.'

VIDEOS

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

04-11-2024 om 23:14 geschreven door peter  

In 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1 to explore the outer planets and far beyond. Since then, Voyager 1 has traveled over 14 billion miles, capturing extraordinary images of our solar system. This slideshow highlights 13 of the most breathtaking images Voyager 1 sent back to Earth, along with some from its sister spacecraft, Voyager 2, on their incredible journeys toward interstellar space.

1. Earth and the Moon – A Distant View

Taken on September 18, 1977, Voyager 1 became the first spacecraft to capture both Earth and its Moon in a single frame. At a distance of 7.25 million miles from Earth, this iconic image shows the Moon floating beyond our home planet, emphasizing the vastness of space.¹

• Read More: The Mystery of The Indian Ocean’s ‘Gravity Hole’

2. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

In early 1979, Voyager 1 provided a close-up of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm larger than Earth. This swirling mass of clouds, first observed centuries ago, gave scientists new insight into Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere, thanks to the detailed images captured by Voyager.

3. Active Volcanism on Io

During its flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io, Voyager 1 discovered something unprecedented—active volcanoes. This was the first observation of volcanic activity on another celestial body besides Earth. Voyager detected plumes erupting miles into space, revealing Io’s fiery surface.

4. Saturn’s Breathtaking Rings

Voyager 1 reached Saturn in 1980, capturing stunning images of its intricate ring system. Saturn’s rings, composed of countless ice and rock particles, revealed a beauty never before seen. Voyager even discovered a new, faint G-ring and enigmatic spokes in the B-ring.²

5. Titan’s Hazy Atmosphere

As Voyager 1 flew past Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, it detected a thick atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen. Titan’s opaque haze left its surface hidden, fueling speculation about the moon’s geological secrets. This image offered a glimpse into one of the most mysterious moons in our solar system.

6. The Pale Blue Dot

Perhaps the most famous image Voyager 1 ever captured is the “Pale Blue Dot,” taken on February 14, 1990, from 3.7 billion miles away. In this image, Earth appears as a tiny speck, less than a pixel in size, suspended in a sunbeam. Carl Sagan’s reflections on this image remind us of our small place in the vast universe.

• Read More: NASA Discovered a Potentially Habitable Planet – An Alternative To Mars?

7. Close-up of Europa

Voyager 1 also flew by Jupiter’s moon Europa, capturing images of its icy surface. The close-up showed evidence of potential subsurface oceans, raising the possibility of life beneath its frozen crust. These images set the stage for future missions to study Europa more closely.

8. Voyager 1’s Family Portrait of the Solar System

In 1990, Voyager 1 captured a family portrait of the solar system from beyond Pluto. This composite image includes six planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, and Venus. It’s a striking reminder of our solar system’s expanse and the spacecraft’s journey far from home.

9. Saturn’s Moons – Tethys, Dione, and Rhea

Voyager 1 captured images of Saturn’s moons Tethys, Dione, and Rhea in 1980, showcasing their cratered surfaces and icy landscapes. These moons, though small, are integral parts of Saturn’s complex system of rings and satellites.

10. The F Ring of Saturn

One of the discoveries made by Voyager 1 was the narrow, braided F ring of Saturn. This stunning image shows the intricacies of the ring’s structure, including its twists and clumps, revealing a dynamic system shaped by gravitational interactions with Saturn’s moons.

11. Entering Interstellar Space

In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space, crossing the heliopause—the boundary between the solar wind and interstellar medium. The spacecraft’s data showed a steep drop in solar particles and a rise in cosmic rays, confirming this historic milestone.

12. A Golden Message to the Cosmos

Voyager 1 carries the Golden Record, a 12-inch disc containing sounds and images from Earth. This record, curated by Carl Sagan and his team, serves as a message to any intelligent life that might find it, showcasing humanity’s diversity and curiosity.

13. Beyond the Solar System

Voyager 1’s journey continues today, traveling at 38,000 miles per hour into interstellar space. Though its power is diminishing, the data it sends back from beyond the solar system gives us unprecedented insight into the universe beyond the Sun’s influence.

Conclusion

Voyager 1’s images, from the close-up of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot to the distant Pale Blue Dot, have changed our understanding of the cosmos. As it continues its journey through interstellar space, this remarkable spacecraft reminds us of humanity’s quest for discovery beyond the stars.

• Read More: If a ‘Planet Killer’ Astroid is Going to Hit Earth, This is How NASA Will Warn The World

Sources

1. “Astonishing Images: What Voyager 1 Really Saw in its 47-Year-Journey to Interstellar Space..” Secrets of Universe. Rishabh Nakra.
2. “Voyager: 15 incredible images of our solar system captured by the twin probes (gallery).” Space. Daisy Dobrijevic and Mike Wall. September 22, 2022.

VIDEOS

What Did Voyager 1 See During its Journey Out Of The Solar System? 1977-2019 (4k UHD)

Voyager Images from the Odysseys (NASA Space Photos)

{ https://theheartysoul.com/category/planet/ }

04-11-2024 om 18:44 geschreven door peter  

De enorme storm blijkt minder stabiel te zijn dan het op het eerste gezicht lijkt.

Al minstens 150 jaar houden astronomen Jupiters legendarische Grote Rode Vlek, een anticycloon groot genoeg om de aarde op te slokken, nauwlettend in de gaten. Toch blijven er steeds nieuwe verrassingen opduiken. Onlangs hebben onderzoekers de storm met behulp van ruimtetelescoop Hubble van dichtbij bestudeerd. En daaruit blijkt dat de Grote Rode Vlek zich een beetje vreemd gedraagt.

Meer over Jupiters Grote Rode Vlek
Planeet Jupiter staat bekend om zijn kleurrijke banden en reusachtige, wervelende stormen. De bekendste storm is – misschien zelfs de bekendste in het hele zonnestelsel – de Grote Rode Vlek; een gigantische anticycloon die al heel wat jaren op de gasreus woedt. De Grote Rode Vlek is een immense atmosferische wervelwind, zo is hij bijna net zo groot als de aarde in diameter. Aan zijn buitenranden razen de winden met snelheden tot 450 kilometer per uur. De rode kleur ontstaat door chemische reacties in de atmosfeer, wat een opvallend contrast vormt met de bleke wolken van de gasreus. De Grote Rode Vlek heeft generaties van wetenschappers gefascineerd. Dat heeft onder andere met zijn omvang te maken, maar ook met het feit dat de storm zelfs zichtbaar is met kleine telescopen.

Nieuwe waarnemingen
De nieuwe waarnemingen van Hubble zijn verzameld in een periode van 90 dagen van december 2023 tot maart 2024. En de nieuwe gegevens tonen aan dat de beroemde rode vlek ‘wiebelt als een kom gelatine’, zo schrijft NASA. Dankzij de samengevoegde Hubble-afbeeldingen waren de astronomen in staat om een time-lapse te maken van het merkwaardige kronkelige gedrag van de storm. Die beelden kun je hieronder aanschouwen.

De nieuwe time-lapse video. De video is gemaakt op basis van waarnemingen van de Hubble-ruimtetelescoop op het moment dat Jupiter zich tussen de 629 miljoen en 824 miljoen kilometer van de zon bevond. Afbeelding: NASA, ESA, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC); Video: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Onderzoekers hadden geen idee dat de storm zo gek doet. “Hoewel we wisten dat de beweging in lengtegraad een beetje verschilt, hadden we niet verwacht dat de grootte zou fluctueren”, zegt onderzoeker Amy Simon. “Voor zover wij weten, is dit nog nooit eerder opgemerkt. Dit is echt de eerste keer dat we een goede beeldfrequentie van de Grote Rode Vlek hebben. Dankzij de hoge resolutie van Hubble kunnen we concluderen dat de storm zich ‘in- en uitknijpt’ terwijl hij sneller en langzamer beweegt. Dit was zeer onverwacht. Op dit moment is er ook nog geen verklaring voor.”

Onderzoek naar de Grote Rode Vlek
Hubble observeert elk jaar Jupiter en de andere planeten van het buitenste zonnestelsel via het Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy-programma (OPAL). Deze specifieke waarnemingen zijn echter afkomstig uit een programma dat zich uitsluitend richt op de Grote Rode Vlek. Door de mechanismen achter de grootste stormen in het zonnestelsel te begrijpen, kunnen we de theorie van orkanen op aarde in een breder kosmisch kader plaatsen, wat kan bijdragen aan een beter begrip van de meteorologie op planeten rond andere sterren.

Veranderingen
De onderzoekers gebruikten Hubble om in te zoomen op de Grote Rode Vlek om zo een gedetailleerd beeld te krijgen van zijn grootte, vorm en eventuele subtiele kleurveranderingen. “Wanneer we goed kijken, merken we dat er elke dag veel verandert”, vertelt Simon. Dit omvat waarnemingen in ultraviolet licht die laten zien dat de duidelijke kern van de storm het helderst is wanneer de storm zijn grootste omvang in zijn oscillatiecyclus bereikt. Dit wijst op minder absorptie van nevel in de bovenste atmosfeer.

Gevangen
Het lijkt erop dat de Grote Rode Vlek in zeker zin gevangen zit. “Wanneer de Grote Rode Vlek versnelt en vertraagt, duwt hij tegen de krachtige straalstromen die naar het noorden en zuiden strekken”, legt mede-auteur Mike Wong uit. “Dit is vergelijkbaar met een dubbele boterham, waarbij de sneetjes naar buiten worden geduwd als er te veel vulling in het midden zit.” Het tegenovergestelde gebeurt op Neptunus, waar stormen vrij kunnen bewegen in breedtegraad zonder sterke straalstromen die hen op hun plaats houden. Daarentegen is Jupiters Grote Rode Vlek tijdens de telescopische waarnemingen op een zuidelijke breedtegraad gebleven, gevangen tussen de straalstromen.

Het team is van plan de Grote Rode Vlek te blijven volgen. Ze verwachten dat de storm verder zal krimpen voordat hij een stabiele, minder uitgerekte vorm aanneemt. Maar voor het zover is, hopen de onderzoekers dat andere beelden van Hubble de onderliggende oorzaak van het ontdekte vreemde gedrag van de Grote Rode Vlek zullen onthullen.

Bronmateriaal

• "NASA’s Hubble Watches Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Behave Like a Stress Ball" - NASA
  
• Afbeelding bovenaan dit artikel: via Canva Pro

{ https://scientias.nl/ }

03-11-2024 om 22:51 geschreven door peter  

Father-daughter duo decipher message coming from Mars

Mars.

(photo credit: Alones. Via Shutterstock)

A father-daughter team from the United States, Ken and Keli Chaffin, have deciphered a simulated "extraterrestrial" message transmitted from Mars in May 2023 via a radio signal sent by the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The message, which was intercepted by three observatories on Earth, was part of an artistic project called "A Sign in Space," which aimed to engage citizen scientists in decoding an alien message.

The Chaffins realized that the message contained a diagram representing the structure of five amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of life. According to specialists from the European Space Agency, the Chaffins ran simulations for "days on end" before hitting upon the solution. They "followed their intuition and conducted hours-long simulations every day," ultimately organizing the bits into coherent structures using computer simulations and reversible cellular automata.

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter beamed the simulated signal towards Earth in May 2023, which was received 16 minutes later. A worldwide community of over 5,000 citizen scientists quickly got to work on the raw data, managing to extract the signal within ten days. In the first phase, this group of amateur scientists successfully extracted the encrypted message from the raw radio signal, showcasing the potential of global collaboration in the event of real extraterrestrial contact.

The project "A Sign in Space" was initiated by multimedia artist Daniela de Paulis, who collaborated with the European Space Agency, the SETI Institute, the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, and INAF, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics. The image contained in the message was designed by de Paulis and a team of astronomers and computer scientists, with support from these institutions. The project was conceived as an experiment to test which methods might be useful for decoding transmissions from extraterrestrial civilizations.

Amino acids are the building blocks of life, and their inclusion in the message raises numerous questions: What do the five biological components represent? Are the implications of amino acids indicative of an attempt to communicate about life itself?

The project encourages the global community to delve deeper into the meaning of this abstract message from Mars. Many questions arise: Are the aliens friendly or hostile? What is the significance of the cellular formations and life forms identified in the message?

According to the European Space Agency, the results of the project "A Sign in Space" showed that if humanity ever receives a signal from real extraterrestrials, citizen scientists could play a crucial role in its deciphering. The involvement of over 5,000 amateur scientists in the initial extraction phase and the subsequent success of the Chaffins in decoding the message demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts and diverse approaches in tackling complex problems.

While the Chaffins' work has provided significant insights into the content of the message, the search for its meaning begins. The true meaning of the message remains a matter of debate, and the project continues to engage the global community in interpreting the implications of this simulated extraterrestrial communication. As the exploration of the message's significance unfolds, the collaboration between scientists, artists, and citizen scientists highlights the interdisciplinary nature of such endeavors.

Earlier, a British scientist announced the discovery of signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. This, alongside the findings from "A Sign in Space," suggests a growing interest and progress in the search for intelligent life beyond Earth.

Now that "A Sign in Space" has been decoded, the global community is invited to discuss the meaning of this abstract message from Mars, while its interpretation remains open. The project aims to explore the reaction of the global community to a hypothetical alien message and to test whether citizen scientists can collaborate effectively in such a monumental task.

Father-Daughter Citizen Science Team Crack ‘Alien Signal’ From Mars

Sources:

• IFLScience,
• Gazzeta.Ru,
• Scienze Notizie

his article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq

{ https://www.jpost.com/ }

03-11-2024 om 21:41 geschreven door peter