Scientists gathered crucial information on upper-level wind shear affecting Hurricane Edouard using NASA's HS3 mission Global Hawk. The hurricane strengthened during the sixth flight, with data showing a sea-level pressure of 969-970 millibars near the eye/eyewall border.
The WB-57 aircraft flew over Hurricane Gonzalo on Oct. 15 carrying two HS3 mission instruments called HIWRAP and HIRAD, providing unique observations of sea surface wind speed, temperature, and rain. The data gathered will advance understanding and predictability of hurricane intensity.
The mission has provided unprecedented ultraviolet images of the tenuous oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon coronas surrounding Mars. Scientists also made a comprehensive map of highly variable ozone in the Martian atmosphere underlying the coronas.
A team of MIT researchers assessed the Mars One mission's technical feasibility, highlighting the need for new technologies to keep humans alive on Mars. The study found that a system to remove excess oxygen and more advanced water extraction methods are required, among other innovations.
The HS3 mission gathered data on Hurricane Cristobal as it became an extra-tropical storm, revealing strong winds and dry air moving eastward across the western side of the storm. The data showed a shift in the strongest winds outward from the center compared to earlier stages in the storm's lifecycle.
NASA's Terra satellite and NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured images of Tropical Storm Edouard as it grew into a Category 2 hurricane. The storm consolidated with its bands of thunderstorms becoming more tightly wrapped around the eye, which became visible on and off during September 14.
NASA's HS3 hurricane mission and Terra satellite captured detailed data on Tropical Storm Dolly before it made landfall in eastern Mexico. The data revealed Dolly's strongest thunderstorms were around its center of circulation, indicating a more organized storm than Norbert.
TRMM analyzed Cristobal's movement northward along the US East Coast before it began to recurve away from the coast due to an approaching shortwave trough. The storm's sustained winds were reported at 70 knots (80.5 mph) with a partial eyewall observed in infrared imagery.
NASA's HS3 mission investigates hurricane formation and intensity change using two unmanned Global Hawks, analyzing data on winds, temperature, pressure, and humidity. The mission aims to examine conditions that favor rapid intensification of tropical cyclones.
Researchers link tree height to climate conditions, finding hydraulic limitation constrains maximum tree height under drier conditions, while resource allocation constrains it in moist areas. The study, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Thomas Givnish, examined Eucalyptus species in Victoria state, Australia.
The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation is funding a mission-based scholarship program at UCR School of Medicine to help students alleviate medical school costs. The program aims to increase trained physicians in the Coachella Valley, addressing severe shortages.
NASA has chosen a team at Goddard Space Flight Center to build its first Earth science-related CubeSat mission, known as IceCube. The tiny payload will test a new submillimeter-wave receiver that could help advance scientists' understanding of ice clouds and their role in climate change.
The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) will fly aboard a NASA Global Hawk aircraft during the HS3 mission, providing unique observations of sea surface wind speed, temperature, and rain. HIRAD's data will advance understanding and predictability of hurricane intensity, helping to determine maximum wind speed and structure of the vortex.
The Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST) mission aims to study dark energy, the mysterious form of energy that accelerates the universe's expansion. ATLAST would also detect signatures of life in the atmospheres of Earth-like planets and resolve stars in distant galaxies.
Scientists will measure sun's total energy output using new 'degradation-free' instruments, eliminating calibration drift. The Degradation Free Spectrometers experiment aims to demonstrate the flight-readiness of these innovative tools.
A team of 20 scientists monitored the 'heartbeats' of young stars using data from two space telescopes. They found that emerging stars pulsate slowly at first, then faster as they near ignition, revealing insights into their internal structures and ages.
SwRI-led CuSPP mission aims to measure Solar Particles and shock waves causing severe electromagnetic storms. The mission will provide critical measurements on hazardous charged particle populations accelerated at the Sun and interplanetary space.
A new study has identified a defining characteristic of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in CT imaging of hospitalized patients confirmed as having the disease. The most common CT finding is suggestive of an organizing pneumonia pattern, which can aid in early diagnosis.
Multi-wavelength observations of sunspots have provided new insights into their complex and dynamic nature. The data revealed rapidly rotating plasma rolls, powerful shocks, and widespread plasma eruptions driven by solar-energy flux and controlled by intense magnetic fields.
A team of astronomers has discovered a new type of planet, Kepler-10c, a mega-Earth with a diameter of approximately 18,000 miles. The planet's mass is 17 times that of Earth, indicating it is composed primarily of rocks and other solids.
Anusha Mujumdar, a 3rd year PhD student at Exeter University, has won the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship to support her pioneering research on spacecraft control for the Mars Sample Return mission. Her work will help develop 'rendezvous and capture' technology for retrieving samples from Mars.
The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) successfully observed a gigantic coronal mass ejection (CME) on May 9, 2014. The spacecraft caught the event in extraordinary detail, revealing its unprecedented size and structure.
The Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory satellite has completed its check-out period and started its mission, collecting observations of rainfall and snowfall. The satellite's two science instruments have been calibrated and are now producing accurate data on weather elements such as thunderstorms.
NASA is expanding its research on hurricanes and tropical storms with the HS3 mission, using unmanned aircraft and space-based instruments to investigate processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity. The mission aims to determine the effect of the Saharan Air Layer on storm formation and intensification.
Dr. Neal Meropol, Chief of Hematology and Oncology at Case Western Reserve University, is honored as an ASCO Fellow for his exceptional volunteer service and dedication to cancer care. He has served on the ASCO Board of Directors and various committees, contributing to the organization's mission to improve cancer care.
System 91B brought heavy rainfall to southern India and Sri Lanka on May 6, with TRMM's Precipitation Radar revealing rates of up to 66 mm per hour. The system has since moved inland over southwestern India, weakening and becoming less organized.
Researchers have discovered that glutamate imaging using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technology can reveal ischemic lesions in the brain within the first three hours after a stroke. This breakthrough has the potential to speed up diagnosis and treatment, leading to better patient outcomes.
Research conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital found that iterative reconstruction techniques enabled a 50% reduction in radiation dose for abdominal CT exams. This technology simplifies quality and safety assurance in busy practices with diverse CT equipment and remote scanner locations.
The Hydrogen Polarimetric Explorer mission will measure the nature of interplanetary hydrogen, providing insights into the size and shape of the heliosphere and its interactions with the local interstellar medium. The sounding rocket's results will be combined with other NASA missions to improve models of the heliospheric boundary.
The OSIRIS-REx mission aims to find answers about the early solar system and organic materials that made life possible. The spacecraft will collect at least 2 ounces of asteroid samples and return them to Earth for scientists to study.
Health experts provide principles and decision-making guidelines to aid NASA in protecting astronauts on longer, higher-risk missions. The report emphasizes the importance of protecting astronaut health while fulfilling the agency's mission of exploration.
The CYGNSS mission will determine how a tropical cyclone forms and strengthen, improving hurricane forecasting and tracking. NASA has given a preliminary go-ahead to proceed with instrument development and launch of the hurricane-studying mission's eight microsatellites.
Researchers reveal that a combination of solar eruptions led to the formation of a powerful storm. The STEREO mission helped detect key features, providing new insights into the causes of extreme space weather events.
Researchers at CAB successfully recreated Europa's crust in a laboratory experiment, revealing that high-pressure fluids could be responsible for the moon's reddish materials. The study suggests that certain characteristics of Europa's surface may be explained by a saline aqueous medium, with significant implications for life on Earth.
IceBridge began its 2014 Arctic campaign with two sea ice surveys north of Greenland, focusing on changes in sea ice elevation and thickness. The mission aims to collect more data, including cross-basin surveys over the Arctic Ocean and flights over the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
A CU-Boulder-led study found that crowdsourcing can be an accurate tool for counting lunar craters, surpassing even experienced professionals. The research compared the work of over 5,000 amateur counters to eight expert planetary crater counters, with surprising results.
The MIT team proposes using contingency propellant from past missions to fuel future spacecraft, reducing the need for additional fuel storage. By utilizing a 'steady-state' approach and stockpiling fuel at depots in space, lunar missions can carry heavier payloads with less fuel.
On January 28, 2014, NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) witnessed a strong solar flare, emitting x-rays and light into space. The IRIS mission offers unprecedented resolution to study the sun's lower atmosphere, providing valuable insights into solar flares.
The NASA Wallops Flight Facility successfully deployed a record-breaking 29 small satellites into orbit, also testing a new autonomous flight safety system that promises to eliminate expensive down-range tracking and command infrastructure. The system's first certification test was deemed 'positive' with initial data indicating it sent...
The PLATO mission aims to discover and characterize Earth-like planets in the Sun's neighborhood. With an array of telescopes, it will measure planetary sizes, masses, and ages to determine their habitability. By observing one million stars, PLATO is expected to find thousands of new exoplanets.
Brain researchers discovered how Galileo's visual illusion works in the mind's eye, revealing that it occurs due to non-linear and exaggerated responses to light stimuli. This effect is responsible for various phenomena, such as why certain objects appear larger or smaller based on their dark parts in bright daylight.
The MAVEN spacecraft has completed its initial checkout and is now ready to carry out its full science mission. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission aims to determine the role of gas escape in changing Mars' climate throughout its history.
Researchers have developed a smartphone-based system that can locate buried avalanche victims using satellite navigation, promising faster and more precise rescue operations. The Galileo-LawinenFon system uses the combined signals of GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS satellite systems to pinpoint accident victims in seconds.
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has received a $50 million gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to establish its first dedicated women's hospital at Mission Bay. The new hospital will offer integrated care for women, including cancer treatment and reproductive care.
The Opportunity rover has discovered evidence of conditions that support the chemistry of life in Mars' past, earning a spot in Science magazine. The 10-year-old rover explored Martian geology and environmental processes, searching for signs of habitability and life.
The LLCD mission demonstrated error-free communications during broad daylight, operating as well as any NASA radio system. It also showed that wind and atmospheric turbulence did not significantly impact the system, enabling reliable communications through thin clouds.
Researchers from NASA's Curiosity rover mission found evidence of a calm and fresh-watered lake on Mars that may have supported simple microbial life. The team believes the lake may have lasted for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, providing perfect conditions for chemolithoautotrophs to thrive.
IRIS has captured detailed images of the interface region between the sun's surface and corona, revealing more violent and turbulent phenomena than previously understood. The mission's observations also provide new insights into solar eruptive events and the dynamics of the low solar atmosphere.
The Total Solar Irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) mission aims to provide accurate measurements of the sun's energy impact on Earth. The new instrument, deployed in November 2013, will overlap with the existing TIM instrument to ensure continuous data flow and improve accuracy.
Three mass spectrometers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center conducted simultaneous experiments on the moon and Mars to analyze atmospheric and rock samples. This milestone demonstrates the value of these instruments for understanding planetary environments.
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) has completed its commissioning phase, with all three science instruments deemed healthy. The LADEE spacecraft is now in a high-altitude preliminary orbit, preparing for its 100-day science mission to gather information about the moon's structure and composition.
Researchers found that warm ocean currents near Europa's equator and subsiding currents at the poles could create chaos terrains on the surface. This process may help initiate upwelling ice pulses, which form features like these terrains.
The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) mission aims to demonstrate reliable optical services. It will conduct a two-year demonstration of optical relay services to collect long-term performance data and provide necessary knowledge for future mission-critical systems.
HS3 gathered data on the Saharan Air Layer, studying its effects on Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The mission also identified a unique hybrid core in a redeveloped storm and measured hurricane Ingrid's heavy rain and strong winds.
A NASA sounding rocket called VeSpR is scheduled to launch on Nov. 25 to probe Venus' atmosphere and investigate the planet's water history. The mission aims to determine whether rivers once flowed on Venus and if the planet had ice.
The NASA MAVEN mission has launched successfully, embarking on a 10-month journey to the Red Planet. The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and begin collecting science data after completing a check-out period.
A NASA-led mission called Firefly aims to study lightning and terrestrial gamma ray flashes from space. The instrument will gather data for up to a year, shedding light on the global electric circuit's most critical component.
NASA presents cutting-edge computational achievements, including insights into galaxy formation and climate modeling, as well as advancements in quantum computing and space launch system design. The agency's expertise is key to mission success, enabling research on oceanic climate change and space weather.
A new study suggests that Phobos' surface contains tons of Martian debris, including dust, soil, and rock blown off the Martian surface by large projectile impacts. This finding could enable a sample-return mission to Mars to be flown as part of a single mission, with the Russian space agency planning to launch its second attempt in 2020.
Researchers found that thicker leaves have larger cells in all tissues except vascular tissue, and cell walls are proportionally thicker. The team developed new mathematical equations to predict internal anatomy from leaf thickness, providing insights into leaf function and design.