Researchers at KIT develop a new concept for rechargeable batteries based on fluoride shuttles, increasing storage capacity by several factors. The fluoride-ion battery offers improved safety properties without lithium, with potential applications in mobile devices.
The mirrors of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have completed the coating process with a microscopically thin layer of gold, enabling the telescope to observe extremely faint objects in infrared light. This achievement marks another major success story for the Webb telescope mirrors, ensuring even more scientific discovery potential.
Researchers found 15% of flares have a late phase with increased energy output. This discovery could improve predictions of space weather affecting Earth's communications and GPS signals.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present awards recognizing key achievements in space science and technology, program management, and sustained service. The AIAA Sustained Service Awards will be presented to Guy Jette and Peter Kurzhals for their contributions.
The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) has completed 2,000 individual tests at cryogenic temperatures, a milestone for the James Webb Space Telescope mission. Scientists will use MIRI to study young planets around distant stars and explore their habitability.
Researchers found adenine and guanine, key components of DNA, in meteorites, providing evidence they were created in space. The discovery supports the theory that a 'kit' of prebiotic material was delivered to Earth by meteorite impacts.
Scientists studied brain cells in rats and found that only place cells were sensitive to height, with weak responsiveness. The brain's sense of space is more accurate in horizontal directions, suggesting a flat map of space for altitude.
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum discovered a new enzyme, Ubp15p, that collaborates with motor proteins to convert the protein transport machinery back into its initial condition. The enzyme detaches a specific signal sequence from a protein, allowing for recycling and reuse.
A hydrogen fuel cell-powered mobile lighting system was deployed at the Kennedy Space Center for the final Space Shuttle Atlantis launch, providing clean and quiet power. The system has the potential to drastically reduce dependence on diesel-fueled mobile lighting across the US, offsetting up to 900 gallons of fuel per year.
A study will test a novel therapy to increase bone mass in mice flown in space, which may also provide insights into preventing skeletal fragility among patients on earth. The therapy aims to counteract the effects of microgravity on bones.
Researchers on the final space shuttle mission are conducting an experiment to prevent bone loss in astronauts. The study uses mice as a model, exposing them to microgravity and testing a novel agent that blocks sclerostin, a protein involved in bone formation.
The University of Colorado Boulder's BioServe Space Technologies will carry five CU-Boulder-built payloads aboard the final space shuttle mission. The payloads include an antibody experiment to treat bone loss in astronauts and a salmonella vaccine development project.
CU-Boulder alumni played a significant role in NASA's space shuttle program, with 16 astronauts flying on 40 missions. The university also contributed to numerous scientific experiments and instruments, including those for the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble made its one millionth science observation while analyzing the exoplanet HAT-P-7b's atmosphere, revealing spectroscopic patterns that can indicate water vapor presence. The milestone marks Hubble's continued legacy in characterizing exoplanet atmospheres.
The James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors have been polished to accuracies of less than one millionth of an inch, crucial for forming sharpest images in space. The primary mirror, made of Beryllium, will capture light from faint, distant objects faster than any previous space observatory.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute engineer Cynthia Collins will study the effects of microgravity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The research aims to understand how biofilms form in space, which could help protect astronauts from infections.
Scientists have developed new ultrasound tools that can be used in space and remote areas, allowing non-physician astronauts to perform diagnostic exams. The tools include a catalog of 'space-normal' imagery of the human body, enabling astronauts to provide care without consulting a physician on Earth.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed its first round of cryogenic mirror testing, with six segments of the primary mirror responding to extreme temperatures. A second set of mirrors will arrive in late July for further testing, with the final set arriving in the fall.
The galaxy Centaurus A is home to a firestorm of new star formation triggered by shockwaves from a past collision and merger with another galaxy. Hubble's image reveals the birth of vibrant blue star clusters and compresses hydrogen gas clouds.
A team of scientists flew microscopic worms into space to test the effectiveness of RNA interference (RNAi) as a treatment for muscle degradation caused by space travel. The experiment showed promising results, suggesting that RNAi could be used to prevent muscle loss in astronauts and help people suffering from similar conditions.
Researchers designed two new protein molecules that can target specific surfaces of flu virus molecules, blocking viral replication. The study's findings suggest the potential for novel antiviral therapies against multiple influenza subtypes.
Pharmaceuticals flown on space missions may have shorter shelf-life due to radiation and vibration, according to a NASA study. The researchers found that exposure to chronic low-dose ionizing radiation and repackaging of solid medications can compromise stability.
Researchers have developed conceptual tools to visualize warped space-time, discovering vortex lines and tendex lines that describe gravitational forces. These tools allow for a better understanding of black holes, gravity, and the universe, enabling predictions of gravitational waves and solving long-standing mysteries.
Research on space-bound bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa could lead to improved treatments for people with compromised immune systems. The study reveals that spaceflight affects common regulators in both disease-causing bacteria.
Physicists at UCLA found that dividing space into discrete locations like a chessboard explains how point-like electrons manage to carry their intrinsic angular momentum. This concept, inspired by graphene's electronic properties, proposes that space at very small distances is segmented, rather than smooth.
The new Space Weather App allows users to access real-time images and data on solar events, including coronal mass ejections and X-ray outbursts. Users can customize the app to display information of interest, increasing public awareness of space weather.
A team from Montana State University solved the mystery of missing sunspots from 2008 to 2010, which coincided with unusually weak magnetic fields at the sun's poles. The discovery allows for the prediction of space weather, influencing technology in space and on Earth.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has signed agreements for eight suborbital flights with payload specialists on board reusable launchers, enabling new research opportunities and advancing space exploration. The program aims to provide affordable access to space for scientists, conducting experiments in microgravity environments.
The IBEX spacecraft has taken unprecedented photos of the plasma sheet, a complex region surrounding Earth's magnetic field. The images show a plasmoid being ejected into space, providing direct visual evidence of space weather events that can cause auroras and radiation failures.
CU-Boulder-built biomedical payloads will study bacterial growth in low gravity and cell cultivation in a tropical plant for biofuels. The experiments may help prevent infectious diseases and develop new renewable crops.
A physics-based space weather prediction model is now in operation, offering a one-to-four day warning of high-speed solar plasma streams and Earth-directed coronal mass ejections. This development addresses the growing need to protect global communications infrastructure from severe space weather disruptions.
Eberhard Möbius, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his exceptional scientific contributions to space plasma physics. His work on pickup ions in the solar wind and the development of state-of-the-art instrumentation have far-reaching applications in gala...
Researchers developed a novel approach to space electronics using silicon-germanium technology, enabling reliable performance in extreme temperatures and radiation conditions. The new capabilities reduce weight, size, complexity, power, and cost while increasing reliability and adaptability.
The European Science Foundation's TECHBREAK initiative aims to identify key enabling technologies that can benefit the space sector. By combining expertise from both space and non-space sectors, TECHBREAK seeks to accelerate scientific progress and innovation.
A team of scientists will investigate how spaceflight affects the immune system, particularly in response to viruses like RSV, which can cause severe respiratory illness. The study aims to protect astronauts and vulnerable populations on Earth from increased infection susceptibility.
NASA's space shuttle Discovery will carry two CU-Boulder-built biomedical payload devices, one testing the virulence of MRSA bacteria in microgravity. The experiments aim to help researchers prevent or control infectious diseases and improve our understanding of gene and protein changes in pathogens.
Researchers at Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory discovered the flu virus uses a shuttle mechanism to relay protons through a channel, necessary for infection. This finding may lead to designing drugs that stop protons from moving through the channel.
New research from UCLA and the British Antarctic Survey reveals that chorus waves are responsible for scattering trapped electrons into the Earth's atmosphere. The findings have significant implications for understanding space weather and its effects on satellites, power grids, and aviation industries.
Researchers from UCLA and British Antarctic Survey have found the link between electrons trapped in space and the diffuse aurora. The discovery of VLF waves as the primary cause will help scientists understand 'space weather' and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere.
The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) is being tested in a simulated environment at RAL to prepare for its delivery to NASA. The instrument will enable astronomers to study the first light of the early Universe and form planets around distant stars.
The Georgia Institute of Technology team won first prize in the AIAA Foundation's annual Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition with their design 'Space Weather Experimental Platform (SWEPT)', which aimed to monitor space weather around the second Lagrange point. The team received a $2,500 award from the AIAA Foundation.
A new study by University of Colorado Denver Business School researchers found that organizations learn more from failure than success and retain that knowledge longer. The study's findings suggest that managers should treat failures as invaluable learning opportunities, encouraging the open sharing of information about them.
UCF physicists analyze space dust using far IR spectroscopy to identify minerals and provide clues about solar system formation and life emergence. The findings will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will honor the winners of AIAA technical and literary achievement awards for their outstanding contributions in space science and technology. The award recipients include Harvey Berger, Michael Gass, STS-125 Team, STPSat-1 Team, Wanda Austin, and J. D. Hunley.
Researchers have discovered an active strike-slip fault on the island of Trinidad, highlighting a major seismic hazard. The study also found that the lower crust is significantly weaker than the mantle at the Moho, and K/U ratio in the mantle records a snapshot of early Earth weathering.
Dr. Hawarden's pioneering work on passive cooling techniques led to the design of larger, more efficient infrared space telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope. His approach has significantly improved the lifetime and performance of these instruments.
The European Space Agency has received tiny microshutters, as small as human hair, which will focus the infrared camera on specific targets to the exclusion of others. These microshutters are a key component in the James Webb Space Telescope's ability to observe distant stars and galaxies.
Researchers used the International Space Station to test reconfigurable field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and power converters, providing insights into high-energy radiation effects on computing electronics. The experiments aimed to mitigate potentially crippling effects in future processing-architecture designs.
A University of Arizona study found that spaceflight alters gene expression in mice, potentially leading to increased cell death and compromised immune systems. The research suggests that long-duration space missions to destinations like Mars may require new strategies to mitigate these effects.
Three CU-Boulder-built biomedical payload devices will study microbial biofilms in space, aiming to improve astronaut health and understand gene and protein changes in pathogens. The experiments, led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will examine microbe growth and interactions in space vs. normal gravity.
A team of Rensselaer researchers is sending an army of microorganisms into space to investigate the effects of microgravity on biofilm formation and development. The goal is to better understand how gravity affects human-bacteria relationships, aiming to develop new ways to prevent biofilms from posing a health threat to astronauts.
A recent study found that conflicts about personal space have a negative impact on trust and communication between sibling relationships. Researchers identified two major types of conflict: physical/emotional personal space issues and equality/fairness issues.
A new monitoring system developed by RIT professor Roger Dube will predict space storms on Mars and provide early warnings for the critical infrastructure on Earth. The system uses artificial intelligence to recognize signs of a dangerous flux of particles, enabling at least three days' advanced warning for people living on both planets.
As one in four Canadians will be 65 or older by 2025, the need for safe driving retirement programs is growing. Municipalities and governments can develop solutions such as car pooling incentives, subsidized shuttle services, and urban planning to help seniors continue driving safely.
The Integrated Space Weather Analysis (iSWA) system offers a unique level of customization and flexibility for NASA satellite operators and citizen scientists. It provides real-time data on past, present, and future space weather conditions, enabling personalized 'quick looks' at space-weather information.
The TDRS K-L program has successfully completed its Critical Design Review and Production Readiness Review, paving the way for the assembly of the K and L satellites. The new spacecraft will provide critical communication services to NASA missions, including the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has announced a groundbreaking initiative to fly next-generation suborbital experiments with crew on state-of-the-art vehicles. The program aims to advance space science and sensor technology, enabling researchers to conduct experiments in microgravity and space astronomy.
The CU-Boulder Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) will measure rapid fluctuations in the sun's extreme ultraviolet output, affecting Earth's upper atmosphere and technology. Scientists hope to use this research to make better space weather predictions, predicting communications and navigation outages.
NASA is developing a primary mirror for the James Webb Space Telescope to study the formation of the universe and its solar system. The mirror will be tested at extreme temperatures to simulate space conditions, with data from three different sizes of segments collected during this test.
A study in Psychological Science reveals that hand amputation distorts visuospatial perception of the action space. Participants with amputations underestimated distances relative to their intact limbs. The research suggests losing a hand may 'shrink' the action space, leading to permanent spatial perception distortions.