A recent study by Schepens Eye Research Institute found that a bioptic telescope on one lens of glasses used for low vision driving may not prevent the wider view of the road with the second eye. The study, published in May 2011 Archives of Ophthalmology, suggests that individuals wearing such telescopes can detect targets in the area ...
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.
Two unique types of mirrors, Primary and Secondary EDUs, have arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The mirrors will work together to observe distant galaxies and unexplored planets. The Primary mirror is composed of 18 hexagonal segments, while the Secondary mirror directs light from the Primary mirror to Webb's instruments.
The James Webb Space Telescope's sunshield is a complex system of five layers, each less than half the thickness of paper, working together to create an effective SPF of 1,000,000. The sunshield unfurls like a giant beach umbrella to protect the telescope and instruments from solar heat and light.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have recalculated the universe's expansion rate with unprecedented accuracy, ruling out an alternate theory on dark energy. The new measurement reduces uncertainty by 30% and solidifies understanding of cosmic ingredients.
Gravitational lensing distorts the view of very distant galaxies, making them harder to detect and study. The distortion can be as much as an order of magnitude, potentially boosting the number of visible galaxies by up to 10-30.
The Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) PS1 telescope has discovered ten Kuiper Belt residents, ranging in size from 180 to 300 miles, and is expected to find a whole range of objects including dwarf planets and comets.
The discovery of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula, powered by a rapidly spinning neutron star, challenges current theories on cosmic particle acceleration. The flares were caused by super-charged electrons of up to 10 peta-electron volts, 1,000 times more energetic than any man-made accelerator.
Astrophysicists can now obtain accurate answers to the mystery of accelerating universe expansion thanks to a calibrated Pan-STARRS telescope. The telescope's performance was fine-tuned at many individual wavelengths, allowing for consistent information about supernovae.
The IceCube observatory, located in the crystal clear ice of the South Pole, has been completed as a world-first large-scale neutrino telescope. The telescope will investigate the sources and properties of neutrinos, which originate in spectacular phenomena in the universe.
The e-MERLIN telescope has captured the first image of a galaxy with its gravitational lens, revealing multiple images of a quasar billions of light years away. This groundbreaking observation demonstrates the power of the new telescope system in studying the fine details of astronomical events.
A CU-Boulder scientist is using data gathered by a world-class telescope flying aboard a modified Boeing 747 to observe a distant star-forming region. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) allows scientists to study stellar targets in wavelengths that can't be observed by ground-based telescopes.
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.
Scientists have found a miniaturized galaxy with a single massive black hole, which produces radio jets that are much more efficient than previously thought. The discovery was made using CSIRO's Compact Array radio telescope and reveals that black holes can be both more powerful and more efficient.
The telescope discovered two gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that span 50,000 light-years north and south of the galactic center
Astronomers at UCI use the Herschel telescope to detect hundreds of new galaxies through cosmic alignment, revealing a whole new class of galaxies from the universe's early days. The discovery provides insights into star formation and galaxy size when the universe was young.
Scientists and engineers are using supercomputer models to simulate the universe's first stars, galaxies, and planets. Custom tools transform vast data into cinematic experiences, revealing insights into cosmic evolution and star formation.
Astronomers using space telescopes have discovered a previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in the Milky Way galaxy, named MAXI J1409-619. The object, a binary system, was revealed to be emitting massive blasts of X-rays after being detected by an instrument on the International Space Station.
CSIRO has upgraded a radio telescope at the University of Sydney, boosting its sensitivity and bandwidth to three times more than before. The upgrade demonstrates Australia's technological capabilities and will inform the design of the country's own ASKAP telescope.
NASA has formed a single systems engineering organization for its James Webb Space Telescope, combining Northrop Grumman's expertise with NASA's mission-level decision-making. The new team aims to streamline communication and decision-making, reducing costs and meeting the launch goal with minimal risk.
The James Webb Space Telescope's sunshield has successfully completed launch depressurization tests, validating its flight design. The tests, conducted in vacuum chambers, simulated the rapid change in air pressure during launch and proved that the stowed sunshield will retain its shape and allow trapped air to escape safely.
Three NASA Goddard Space Flight Center employees, Matt Greenhouse, Randy Kimble, and Alexander Moiseev, received the 2010 Robert H. Goddard Award for Science for their outstanding work in sciences at NASA Goddard. The award recognizes their exceptional achievements in developing instrumentation and analysis methods for premier astronom...
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 Goddard team designed a one-of-a-kind structure made of never-before-manufactured composite material that withstood extreme cold temperatures. The structure survived temperatures as low as 27 Kelvin (-411 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding design requirements.
The ISIM structure passed extreme cryogenic temperature tests without cracking, with thermal contraction and distortion measured to be within the design requirement. The unique composite laminate and bonding technique used in its construction were successfully tested, ensuring the telescope's instruments remain in precise locations.
Two Iowa State University astronomers are using Spitzer Space Telescope data to study big cool-temperature stars and dusty disks. The telescope is also identifying regions within the Milky Way that are forming intermediate-mass stars.
Astronomers detected gamma rays from a nova using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, surprising scientists with evidence of high-energy radiation. The discovery sheds new light on the power of nova explosions and their potential to emit gamma rays.
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.
A $2.4 million NSF grant will enable NJIT physicist Philip R. Goode to develop a new adaptive optics system, allowing for better study of sunspots and space weather. The improved optics will increase the distortion-free field of view, enabling researchers to study larger areas of the sun.
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 have identified numerous previously unknown star-forming regions in the Milky Way, shedding light on the galaxy's structure and chemical evolution. The discovery allows for a better understanding of star formation processes and the distribution of heavy elements across the galaxy.
A NIRCam engineering test unit has arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to undergo a year-long testing process. The unit, built by Lockheed Martin, will simulate the flight unit's functions before the actual instrument is integrated into the James Webb Space Telescope.
An international team of astronomers will conduct a closer look at the mega star birthing cloud, located 8,000 light years away in the Southern sky constellation Carina. The cloud is collapsing in on itself, offering an unusual view into behemoth star birth and providing insights into the formation of our solar system.
Researchers have discovered a massive cloud of cosmic gas and dust collapsing in on itself, which could help solve the mystery of massive star formation. The CSIRO radio telescope detected two types of molecules indicative of collapse, suggesting the gas is falling at an incredibly high rate.
The James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument is a key tool for identifying colors and objects in the cosmos. With its micro-electromechanical system, NIRSpec can analyze light from deep space to help scientists determine the age, chemical composition, and distances of faint galaxies.
Researchers have made direct measurements of the size and brightness of regions of star-birth in a very distant galaxy using the APEX telescope. The galaxy is so bright due to massive dust grains heated by starlight, revealing star formation at a rate equivalent to about 250 Suns per year.
Researchers have observed a warm core at the center of the Great Red Spot, with temperatures varying by up to 3 degrees compared to surrounding areas. This temperature difference affects wind velocities and cloud patterns in Jupiter's belts and zones.
The Hubble Multi-Cycle Treasury Program will survey the first third of cosmic time, observing over 250,000 distant galaxies to understand galaxy formation and evolution. The project aims to study the earliest stages in the formation of supermassive black holes and find distant supernovae important for understanding dark energy.
The James Webb Space Telescope's five-layer sunshield was subjected to a series of tests using a 1/3-scale model to verify its ability to block and redirect solar heat. The experiments aimed to match computer models with test data, ensuring accurate thermal performance predictions for the full-size sunshield.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully polished its first primary mirror segment to meet the required prescription at operational cryogenic temperatures. This achievement sets the stage for a successful polishing process for the remaining 18 flight mirror segments.
The first antenna of the Australia Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope has received its first radio signals, paving the way for further development. The successful test demonstrates the feasibility of ASKAP's innovative design and sets a promising stage for the future telescope's scientific discoveries.
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.
New images from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope reveal the sources of cosmic rays, which consist mainly of protons moving at nearly the speed of light. The telescope mapped billion-electron-volt gamma-rays from middle-aged and young supernova remnants, providing insights into the origins of these energetic particles.
The James Webb Space Telescope's five-layer sunshield has passed its critical design review, certifying its design meets mission requirements. The sunshield will absorb and deflect solar light to keep the telescope operating at cryogenic temperatures.
Drake Deming, a Senior Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, has won the prestigious Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize for his pioneering work detecting thermal infrared emission from transiting extrasolar planets using the Spitzer Space Telescope. The prize recognizes Deming's outstanding research contribution to astronomy and astr...
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.
The Herschel Space Observatory has revealed thousands of newly discovered galaxies in their early stages of formation, providing a detailed view of the universe up to 12 billion years ago. The images are helping astronomers detect distant galaxies that would have been impossible to discover with current ground-based telescopes.
The MIRI detectors will enable the Webb telescope to observe the earliest stars and galaxies in the universe, allowing scientists to study the formation and evolution of the cosmos. The new video showcases the technology behind MIRI and its potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
Scientists have measured magnetic fields in the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst for the first time using a specialized camera on a telescope. This breakthrough observation opens up the study of magnetic fields in these cosmic events, potentially changing our understanding of their role in powering and collimating gamma-ray bursts.
Astronomer Dan Dicken uses Spitzer Space Telescope data to study heat energy from distant active galaxies, aiming to distinguish between starbursts and supermassive black holes. His research could help understand galaxy evolution, co-evolution of black holes and their host galaxies, and the diversity of active galactic nuclei.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected high-energy gamma-rays from the enigmatic binary system Cygnus X-3, a genuine microquasar. The system's unique properties and strong emission across various wavelengths offer new insights into how high-energy particles are accelerated and move through jets.
The Goddard team designed and built five ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELCs) to deploy experiments in space without a separate satellite. The ELCs will also serve as parking fixtures for ISS hardware, streamlining future missions.
The SUNRISE balloon-borne telescope has delivered images showing the complex interplay on the solar surface with unprecedented detail. The mission reveals a connection between magnetic field strength and solar brightness, with implications for Earth's heat input.
The University of Utah has celebrated the 'first light' of its new research telescope at 9,600 feet elevation on Frisco Peak. The 32-inch reflecting telescope took initial pictures on Oct. 15 and will be used for scientific observations starting next spring.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detects diffuse gamma-ray emission from star-forming regions in nearby galaxies, suggesting that these regions are the source of cosmic rays. The telescope observes intense gamma-ray emission from a region called 30 Doradus within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.
A recent space experiment using the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope has provided evidence about the fundamental structure of space and time. The team confirmed aspects of Einstein's theories of gravity, which unite space and time in the concept of space-time.
The Fermi telescope has mapped over 1,000 discrete sources of gamma rays, exceeding previous knowledge. It has also detected a short gamma ray burst, eliminating approaches to new theories of gravity that predict energy-dependent changes in the speed of light.