A University of Houston research team partnered with NASA and astronauts on the International Space Station to examine how spaceflight affects the immune system. They will collect blood, saliva, and urine samples from two astronauts before, during, and after a mission to monitor natural killer cells and assess viral reactivation risks.
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) collaboration has released the first published results from its experiment on the International Space Station, measuring the ratio of positrons to electrons in cosmic rays with unprecedented precision. This key finding may eventually provide evidence for the existence of dark matter.
A new study suggests that our experiences of space and time have more in common than previously thought, with people perceiving the future as closer to the present. The researchers found that a temporal Doppler effect occurs when movement through space is toward the future, making it feel closer to the present.
The NASA grant will support the U.S. institutions in building lasers and monitoring equipment for calibrating the telescope's optics from around the globe. The Extreme Universe Space Observatory aims to discover the sources of ultra high-energy cosmic rays by observing their traces in the atmosphere.
Astronomers have captured a striking image of a spiral galaxy distorted by gravitational lensing, resembling an alien from the classic computer game 'Space Invaders'. The foreground cluster of galaxies acts as a natural lens to magnify and brighten light from background galaxies, creating this surreal landscape.
Paulo Oemig, a NASA Goddard educator fellow, has been chosen as the new teacher liaison for space education. He will use Space Foundation-provided training and resources to integrate space principles into the classroom.
Researchers at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute are using the ISS to study the effects of microgravity on disease-causing organisms. Their findings indicate that spaceflight can increase the virulence of pathogens like Salmonella, while also altering gene expression and pathogenesis-related responses in other microorganisms.
Microbiologist Cheryl Nickerson is using the ISS platform to study the effects of microgravity on disease-causing organisms, aiming to unveil novel cellular and molecular mechanisms related to infectious disease progression.
The journal features world-class content on innovative applications of emerging space-based technologies, including commercial cargo and crew services, tourism, colonization, deep space research, and resource utilization. The first issue includes an original article on the B612 Foundation Sentinel Space Telescope and a roundtable discu...
The new research station will be equipped with modern laboratory facilities, equipment, and unmanned drones to monitor air composition. Researchers from Denmark and abroad will collaborate on interdisciplinary studies of climate change, sea ice, ecosystems, and atmosphere.
NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission aims to demonstrate robotic refueling in space, which could add years of functional life to satellites and expand options for operators. The mission will employ the Canadian-built Dextre robot and NASA's RRM module to simulate robotic refueling, with a focus on improving satellite servicing capabilities.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has been providing amazing images of the universe since April 1990, while the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope will reveal mysteries of the universe in much greater detail. The new free e-Books offer interactive resources and insights into both telescopes' science and technology.
A team led by UC Davis Professor Jonathan Eisen and graduate student Wendy Brown will send microbes to the International Space Station to study their growth. The project aims to involve the public in science, especially those not normally engaged, through a competition where samples from different environments are compared.
Researchers studied plant roots grown on the International Space Station and found that they retained complex patterns of 'waving' and 'skewing', characteristic of Earth-grown roots. However, the degree of waving was more subtle than expected, suggesting that gravity is not essential for this process.
Researchers used housing sales data to estimate how much home buyers are willing to pay for scenic vistas, outdoor recreation, and neighborhood tree cover. In Dakota County, home buyers were willing to pay $200-500 more per 10 percent increase in tree cover.
The new journal will publish innovative research, interviews, roundtable discussions, and briefs on emerging space-based technologies and initiatives. It aims to facilitate collaborations among industry, academia, and government agencies, advancing knowledge and society through space exploration.
Research published in The FASEB Journal found that changes in gravity during animal development affect antibody production and white blood cell regeneration. This could have significant implications for understanding human diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Researchers at Michigan State University are studying plant adaptation to space stress using Arabidopsis mutants without functional IRE1 pathways. The goal is to gain insight into gene regulation and develop protocols for managing stress levels in space.
The first of three third-generation TDRS satellites is set to launch in December, providing critical communication support for NASA's human spaceflight endeavors and science missions. The new satellite will increase bandwidth and ensure operational continuity for NASA's Space Network.
BioServe Space Technologies is providing an automated incubator for fluid-processing devices carrying a pathogenic yeast strain on the unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft. The experiments aim to test how C. albicans responds to low gravity, a concern for astronauts' immune systems.
The University of Strathclyde is launching a new training network, 'Stardust', to tackle space debris and asteroid deflection with 14 European partners. The programme will provide significant advances in protecting the planet from these hazards.
Scientists have proposed an experimental design for building a space-time crystal, a four-dimensional crystal that can study complex physical properties and behaviors. The device would be used to study phenomena like entanglement, where particles are connected even at vast distances.
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission will help scientists understand how the Van Allen radiation belts react to solar changes, contributing to Earth's space weather. The twin satellites will collect data on particles, magnetic and electric fields, and waves to reveal how the belts change in space and over time.
New data from the Hinode mission reveals insights into the Sun's coronal magnetic field structure and an unusual asymmetry in its magnetic field. This finding could impact the behavior and prediction of the next solar cycle, which is critical for understanding our nearest star.
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) has renewed its Graduate Education Program in Space Life Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Texas AûM University. The programs focus on space life sciences and provide Ph.D. training to students, with a combined value of $1 million over 5 years.
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute has awarded $100,000 to ACell, Inc. and Enterade USA LLC to develop innovative medical solutions addressing unmet health needs in space and on Earth. The funding will support the commercialization of wound-healing dressings and a radiation-rehydration drink.
By 2040, parts of Washington State could lose up to a third of their carbon stores due to increasing wildfire risk. This would significantly impact the region's ability to act as carbon sinks and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
NASA successfully tested a hypersonic inflatable heat shield, surviving re-entry at 7,600 mph. The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) demonstrated the technology's potential for planetary entry and descent or cargo return from the International Space Station.
The UK space sector has demonstrated remarkable growth, contributing £9.1 billion to the economy in 2010/11, with an average annual growth rate of 7.5%. The sector's continued success reflects strategic investment in technological innovations and a highly skilled workforce.
The UK Space Agency has launched its Civil Space Strategy, aiming to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030. The strategy focuses on creating new opportunities for industry, bolstering the role of space in the UK's infrastructure, and furthering national space technology.
Neil Gehrels, a NASA astrophysicist, receives the Committee on Space Research Harrie Massey Award for his pioneering contributions to gamma-ray astronomy. The award recognizes his leadership role in advancing astronomers' understanding of gamma-ray bursts.
The Euclid mission, a collaboration of nearly a thousand scientists, aims to study the distribution and evolution of dark matter and dark energy using state-of-the-art instruments. The UK Space Agency has funded £8.5M for the development of scientific instruments and the Science Ground Segment.
The Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) has been declared ready for delivery to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This instrument will allow astronomers to explore the formation of planets around distant stars and could pave the way for investigations into other planetary systems.
The TDRS-4 satellite completed its nearly 23-year operational life support and successfully executed end-of-mission de-orbit and decommissioning activities. The satellite's retirement was necessitated by the loss of a battery and reduced storage capacity.
New stitching technique improves measurement of large aspheres in optics industry. Wavefront sensing technology enhances eye health diagnosis and treatment in medical industry.
The UK Space Agency has granted nearly £6 million to support four major research and development consortium projects led by Astrium Ltd, Avanti Communications Ltd, DMC International Imaging Ltd, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. The projects focus on developing commercial products and services using space technology and data.
The NASA Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment project is upgrading the network's ground communications infrastructure with new, cutting-edge technology. The new architecture will enable easier technology refreshes, increased customer data rate capabilities, and lower operations costs.
Researchers found that lengthy spaceflight affects cardiovascular responses, but the intensive exercise routines on these missions keep mechanisms well-prepared for return to Earth. The study tested six astronauts on long-term missions aboard the International Space Station.
A NASA experiment aboard the International Space Station has demonstrated remotely controlled robots can perform precise satellite-servicing tasks in space, marking a milestone in technology test bed use. The project is expected to reduce risks and encourage future robotic servicing missions, paving the way for satellite repair, refuel...
Prolonged space travel has been found to cause brain and eye abnormalities in astronauts, similar to those seen in intracranial hypertension of unknown cause. MRI scans revealed optic nerve expansion, eyeball flattening, and pituitary gland changes in astronauts exposed to microgravity for extended periods.
The NASA Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) successfully demonstrated robotic satellite-servicing technology on the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in space technology advancement. The mission used the Canadian Dextre robot and RRM tools to perform tasks such as gas fittings removal and satellite refueling.
The NASA Space Weather App allows users to view Solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) minutes after an event occurs. The app provides real-time access to solar-event images, model simulations, data, and forecasts for Android smartphone and tablet users.
Astronaut Drew Feustel recounts his experiences as a spacewalker on Endeavour's final mission to the International Space Station. He emphasizes the fragility of our planet's atmosphere and the need for protection.
NASA is upgrading its Global Positioning System (GPS) and International Terrestrial Reference Frame to improve location accuracy. The new systems will benefit not only GPS but also observations of Earth from space, enabling more precise measurements of the planet's shape, orientation, and gravity field.
Log and lumber exports from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska increased by 42 percent in 2011, totaling 1,992 million board feet. The total value of exported logs increased by 54 percent to $1,297 million, while the total value of exported lumber increased by 35 percent to $687 million.
The THEMIS mission has significantly advanced our understanding of the magnetosphere, mapping the topology and structure of the Earth's magnetic field. The satellites have also detected critical mechanisms driving substorms, including dipolarization fronts and chorus waves, which influence aurora formation.
The Transportable Array has reached the US East Coast with the installation of Station 457A in Yulee, Florida. This station generates 3-D 'CT scan' images of the North American continent's geologic structure, providing unprecedented detail about Earth's interior.
Research on the International Space Station aims to better understand fuel combustion and improve fire-fighting techniques in space. The experiments, led by Professor Forman Williams, investigated the behavior of fuels in different atmospheric conditions and pinpointed the limiting oxygen index for methanol and heptane.
The Space Weather Laboratory will implement ensemble forecasting, producing up to 100 computerized forecasts simultaneously, improving the reliability of space weather alerts. This new capability is crucial for protecting astronauts and NASA spacecraft from potential harm during periods of increased solar activity.
The James Webb Space Telescope achieved significant milestones in 2011, including the completion of flight mirror testing and sunshield layer testing. The telescope's mirror segments were chilled to temperatures similar to those it will see in space, while the sunshield's deployment system was also tested.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham used a powerful magnet to levitate fruit flies, simulating weightlessness on Earth. The results show that the flies walk more quickly than expected, suggesting potential effects on living organisms in space. The study provides valuable insights for future space exploration and long-term survival.
The American Geophysical Union has created a new award to recognize cutting-edge work in space weather and nonlinear waves and processes. The $10,000 prize honors an AGU member-scientist's contributions to the fields.
Scientists use Caenorhabditis elegans to study the effects of long-duration space exploration on humans. The worms develop and reproduce in space just like on Earth, making them an ideal model for investigating the challenges of Martian habitation.
In the first three quarters of 2011, west coast log and lumber exports exceeded 2010 levels, primarily due to increased demand from China. The total log shipment value reached $1,036 million, while lumber export value surpassed $528 million, both surpassing previous years.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Toolik Field Station will receive a $16.3 million award from the National Science Foundation to improve its infrastructure and services. The funding will support upgrades to housing, utilities, meals, communications, and lab space for hundreds of scientists and students working at the station.
A recent study published in Ophthalmology found that astronauts who spent long durations in space experienced swollen optic nerves, distorted eyeball shapes, and retinal changes. The study also revealed that many astronauts experienced worsening of distance or near visual acuity after flight.
EPL has published its first paper submitted from space, detailing experiments conducted on the International Space Station by German and Russian researchers. The study reports on the measurement of the speed of sound within complex plasmas under microgravity conditions, providing new insights into material properties.
The US Forest Service's Northern Research Station is part of an international team sequencing 1,000 fungal genomes as part of the DOE's Community Sequencing Program. This project aims to create an encyclopedia of all fungi, which will help researchers understand their roles in ecosystems and develop new products.
A NASA-sponsored study found that prolonged space flights can cause a range of visual system changes in astronauts, including blurry vision and abnormalities in the eye tissues. The study's findings have implications for long-duration manned space voyages, such as a trip to Mars.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has published a special issue on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station disaster, featuring articles on the current and future impact of the accident. Experts discuss lessons learned, future responsibilities, and steps to prevent another nuclear tragedy.