The study compares in-orbit debris removal options, considering their potential risk of creating new debris or disabling working satellites. Inflatable drag enhancement devices are found to have the lowest risk, while electromagnetic tethers pose a high risk for disabling operational satellites.
New research published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology found that bumblebees are unstable when hovering and flying slowly, but become neutral or weakly stable at medium and high flight speeds. This is due to a sideways wind made by the movement of their wings, which can be reduced by increasing speed.
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.
Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, removing protective berm and beach erosion. The facility is now working to conduct an out-of-cycle beach replenishment and repair the damaged berm.
A study by MIT researchers found that cross-training humans and robots significantly improves team performance, with a 71% increase in concurrent motion and a 41% decrease in human inactivity. The robots also showed lower uncertainty levels when working with their human teammates after cross-training.
An international team of satellite experts has produced the most accurate assessment of ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland to date, confirming both regions are losing ice. The study reveals that melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets has contributed significantly to global sea level rise over the past two decades.
A team of researchers from the Public University of Navarre has developed a new algorithm for improving the real-time capture of 3-D images, enabling applications in fields like 3-D video recording and intelligent systems. The technique uses stereoscopic vision to compare pairs of images and yields better results than previous algorithms.
The university will utilize new state-of-the-art equipment to develop applications such as smart sensors and biomedical devices. Researchers aim to transform the manufacturing industry through applied research, education, and industrial outreach.
Scientists develop a device that can form and control sound bullets in water, with potential uses for underwater imaging and biomedical applications. The device, inspired by Newton's cradle, focuses high-amplitude pressure pulses into compact sound bullets that can be tightly focused on a target area.
Researchers found that a little distraction can help drone operators stay engaged and perform better. Participants who were distracted 30% of the time scored almost as high as those who focused the majority of their attention on the simulation.
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.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a novel method for containing hot plasma using mug-handle-like coils, which require less energy than current methods. The new approach stabilizes the plasma, enabling more efficient fusion energy production.
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.
Senesky and Pavone, Stanford assistant professors, receive $200,000/year grants for research on extreme environments and spacecraft motion planning. The awards support development of materials and electronics for future NASA space programs.
A new thruster design, developed by MIT, uses 500 microscopic tips to create a small puff of charged particles that can help propel small satellites forward. The microthrusters have the potential to enable CubeSats to change orbits and reduce space clutter by propelling them down to lower orbits where they can burn up.
MIT's Robust Robotics Group has developed an algorithm that enables autonomous-control algorithms for indoor flight of GPS-denied airplanes, allowing for obstacle dodging and cargo capacity. The plane uses a laser rangefinder and inertial sensors to determine its state in real-time, and combines two different types of state-estimation ...
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a plasma-based technology that produces high-energy light, which can be used to etch next-generation microchips with 13.5-nanometer wavelengths. This breakthrough has the potential to overcome the industry's current limitations and enable further miniaturization of electronics.
Researchers use Lonestar supercomputer to create nearly 100,000 models of one galaxy, representing the range of possible ways stars can move. They find that dark matter is more spread out at the edge of the galaxy than previously thought, with a fluffier distribution but the same total amount.
Scientists used data from orbiting spacecraft to determine the size of carbon dioxide snow particles in Martian clouds. The study found particles at both poles are about the size of a red blood cell, with differences in size between the south and north poles.
Researchers found high levels of bacterial contamination on hotel room surfaces, including TV remotes and bedside lamp switches, posing a risk to guest health, especially for immunocompromised individuals. Housekeeping carts were also found to be contaminated, highlighting the need for standardization in hotel cleaning practices.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm allowing robots to quickly learn an individual's preference for a task and adapt accordingly. This enables robots and humans to work side by side, improving productivity and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
Scientists will analyze satellite pictures, airplane data, and tree core samples to determine how trees respond to longer growing seasons. This study aims to understand whether faster-growing trees are taking more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a positive factor in combating global warming.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a computer model to determine how a wind-driven 'tumbleweed' Mars rover would perform on rocky Martian terrain. The study found that larger diameter and lower weight rovers achieve better performance, with a minimum diameter of six meters needed for acceptable movement.
A new study published in Environmental Science and Technology found that air pollution from cars, trucks, planes, and powerplants cause 13,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Car exhaust was the single greatest contributor to premature death, affecting over 3,300 people annually.
Researchers at MIT have developed a biplane design that can reduce drag by up to half, making it more fuel-efficient and quieter. The design, inspired by Adolf Busemann's work in the 1950s, could potentially cut fuel costs by over half, enabling cheaper supersonic travel.
A new study suggests that the US could produce 136 billion gallons of ethanol per year by 2022, but this would require dedicating 80% of farmland to biofuel crops or converting 60% of rangeland to biofuels. Both options would significantly reduce food production and potentially worsen environmental impacts.
Researchers from UNH's Space Science Center launched a NASA rocket into the Aurora to measure electric and magnetic fields in Earth's upper atmosphere. The mission aims to shed light on the physical processes that create the northern lights and understand how energy from the sun accelerates aurora production.
Researchers Auna Moser and Paul Bellan observed a surprising phenomenon in lab experiments that provides clues to the origin of solar flares. The discovery reveals a connection between kink instability and Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which are two distinct phenomena occurring at different scales.
Two new planets, Kepler-34 and Kepler-35, have been discovered orbiting binary suns in the Cygnus constellation. The discovery indicates that planets can revolve around double stars, challenging our understanding of solar systems.
The NRL SoloHI instrument will study coronal mass ejections and their effects on the solar wind, impacting power lines, satellite communications, and cell phone service. The Solar Orbiter mission will provide scientists with increased understanding of the Sun's influence on its environment and the solar dynamo.
Researchers at MIT found a theoretical speed limit for flying objects, including birds and drones, to avoid collisions in forested environments. The critical speed above which a bird or aircraft is sure to crash has been identified, with the goal of developing more efficient UAVs that can navigate through cluttered spaces.
Astronomers will use a new telescope called X-Calibur to study the polarization of X-rays, providing information about cosmic sources that is not available elsewhere. The instrument will be sensitive to hard X-rays and will be flown at an altitude of 40 kilometers, allowing it to focus on celestial objects with high accuracy.
A team of scientists from Oregon State University has discovered microbes that can thrive in cold, low-oxygen conditions similar to those on Mars. These microbes use the oxidation of iron from olivine as their energy source, a process previously undocumented.
Researchers will use a three-year, $1.38 million grant to study presolar grains in a sample of the Murchison meteorite. They aim to extract exceptionally large grains that came from supernovae, allowing them to make more comprehensive measurements and understand how elements were forged.
Researchers developed an algorithm that accurately identifies potential 'red-light violators' within seconds, reducing false alarms. The algorithm's accuracy surpasses existing safety-prediction technologies, with a 85% success rate in identifying violators.
Two NASA engineers, Diane Elizabeth Pugel and Steven Scott, received achievement awards for their groundbreaking work on the Orion crew vehicle and thermal-protection system. Pugel's non-destructive testing approach for materials evaluation was recognized as a breakthrough in aerospace engineering.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Kettering University have developed a tool to optimize grocery store display case designs, reducing energy consumption by up to 15%. The team tested various air curtain speeds, angles, and factors to minimize warm air infiltration into chilled compartments.
Researchers create detection tool that spots flight glitches without prior knowledge of parameters to check. The technique uses cluster analysis to identify abnormal flights, allowing analysts to further inspect reports and prevent potential accidents.
Researchers at Kansas State University are working with NASA to develop a method for measuring astronauts' physical abilities, which will help ensure their safety in space. By using an obstacle course that simulates various lunar tasks, the team has found that treadmill tests can predict an astronaut's performance with high accuracy.
A study by the USDA found that high ozone levels above 50 ppb can reduce soybean yields by at least 10 percent, resulting in significant economic losses. Satellite data provides a useful tool for monitoring ozone damage to crops in rural areas where ground networks are limited.
A new nuclear power plant design could provide a compact and reliable source of electricity for manned or unmanned bases on the Moon and Mars. The system is designed to operate in various locations such as craters, canyons, or caves, and can generate large amounts of power, approximately the same as powering eight houses on Earth.
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 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will honor aircraft design, program management, and lifetime achievements through its annual awards. The awards ceremony takes place as part of the 11th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference.
Researchers at Caltech have created a tunable acoustic diode that allows acoustic information to travel only in one direction, controllable by frequency. This technology brings soundproofing closer to reality, with potential applications in biomedical ultrasound devices and energy-harvesting systems.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology have discovered that optimizing wind turbine placement on a given plot of land can increase power output by an order of magnitude. By positioning turbines in close proximity and using vertical-axis wind turbines, the team found that energy loss due to aerodynamic interference between ne...
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics presented several awards to recognize outstanding achievements in air breathing propulsion systems, rocket propulsion systems, ground testing, and combustion engineering. Awards were also given for historical non-fiction literature and graduate research in air breathing propulsion.
A new algorithm using GPS data from a tracking system can predict and prevent collisions between small aircraft. Researchers at MIT have developed the algorithm to address the challenge of false alarms while allowing for some error margin.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will present technical achievement awards at a June conference in Honolulu. Notable recipients include Dr. Hans Hornung, Dr. Chul Park, Preston A. Henne, and Dr. Ramesh Agarwal for their contributions to fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, and thermophysics.
A new MIT study highlights the variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels, suggesting that conventional fossil fuels may sometimes be a more environmentally friendly choice. The research found that different types of land used for biofuel production can result in varying levels of carbon dioxide emissions, with some...
A study reveals that ancient enzymes known as thioredoxin were chemically stable at temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius higher than their modern counterparts. The enzymes also showed increased activity at lower pH levels, indicating they operated in a hot, acidic environment during early life.
A new microfluidic device, developed by MIT researchers, can detect single cancer cells in a blood sample and also identify viruses like HIV. This device has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and make it more accessible in developing countries.
Researchers at MIT have devised a new method to detect internal damage in airplane composite materials, allowing for faster inspection. The approach uses a handheld device and heat-sensitive camera to reveal underlying problems.
Dr. Chin-Teh Sun has made significant contributions to the fundamental understanding of impact damage and composite structure failure. He is being honored with the AIAA Chichlow Prize for his groundbreaking research on damage-tolerant design in aerospace materials.
The DOPA observatory combines data on protected areas, species distributions, and socio-economic indicators to generate global environmental indicators and maps. This initiative aims to address anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and identify new areas for protection.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has selected winners for the Nanosat-6 Flight Competition Review, with Michigan Technological University taking first place. The winning teams will receive assistance to become flight-ready, and one satellite will be launched as a secondary payload on an STP launch.
Researchers launched a rocket into aurora above Norway to measure the complex physics behind 'satellite drag'. The data will provide essential information for advancing understanding of neutral upwelling and its association with visible aurora phenomena.
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 William T. Pecora Award recognizes Prof. Marvin Bauer's outstanding contributions to remote sensing education, science, and applications. The award highlights his research in agriculture, forestry, and lake water quality monitoring.
The AIAA Foundation presents Educator Achievement Awards to seven precollege educators who have demonstrated exemplary efforts in inspiring students about mathematics, science, and related technical studies. The awards recognize the impact of these educators on their students' future careers in aerospace.
A system is being developed to capture heat from a car's exhaust, reducing fuel consumption by up to 10% through thermoelectric generators. The technology uses heat difference to generate electricity, promising improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.