An international team of astronomers have used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to provide the first observation of water and other molecules in the inner, rocky-planet-forming regions of a disc in one of the most extreme environments in our galaxy.

Video: 01:00:00

Watch the replay of the media briefing on Ariane 6 during which ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher outlines the progress achieved after the successful hot firing test on 23 November 2023 at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, as well as the upcoming steps in the Ariane 6 development test campaign, including ESA, CNES and ArianeGroup targeting the first launch of Ariane 6 between mid June and end of July 2024. Participants also includes Martin Sion, CEO, ArianeGroup ; Philippe Baptiste, President of CNES and Stéphane Israël, CEO, Arianespace.

As global temperatures records are smashed and greenhouse gas emissions reach new highs, a new report from the UN Environment Programme finds that current pledges under the Paris Agreement put the world on track for a 2.5–2.9°C temperature rise this century – pointing to the urgent need for increased climate action.

The report is timely as nearly 200 nations gather in the coming two weeks at the United Nations COP28 Climate Change Summit to conclude the world’s first ever ‘Global Stocktake’ on climate change. Swift and sustained climate action is needed to avoid the worst

Evanston IL (SPX) Nov 29, 2023
If you added up all the microbes living deep below Earth's surface, the amount of biomass would outweigh all life within our oceans. But because this abundant life is so difficult to reach, it is widely understudied and incompletely understood. By accessing the deep underground through a former goldmine-turned-lab in South Dakota's Black Hills, Northwestern University researchers have pieced tog

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 29, 2023
The Macao Science Satellite 1A and 1B, after a successful six-month trial in orbit, have officially commenced formal operations, marking a significant milestone in space-based geomagnetic monitoring. Jointly developed by scientists from the Chinese mainland and Macao, these satellites were launched on May 21 by a Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. During their t

London, UK (SPX) Nov 29, 2023
In a significant development for the nuclear energy sector, Framatome Inc. (Framatome) and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) have announced the establishment of a joint venture (JV) focused on manufacturing nuclear fuel for the fourth generation Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) and other advanced reactor designs. This agreement was signed at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, France, marking

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 30, 2023
Firefly Aerospace, Inc., has marked a significant achievement in its propulsion technology with the completion of the first hot fire test of the Miranda engine. This pivotal development comes just over a year after the initial contract signing, underscoring the company's rapid progress in aerospace technology. The Miranda engine, a turbopump-fed system, is set to be a key component in the

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 30, 2023
Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL) have announced a strategic collaboration to foster local space technology capabilities in India. This partnership marks a critical juncture in TASL's satellite strategy and represents Satellogic's significant entry into the burgeoning Indian defense and commercial market. The collaboration will initiate with comprehensive trai

Paris (AFP) Nov 30, 2023
The European Space Agency announced on Thursday that the long-delayed first launch of its next-generation Ariane 6 rocket will take place between June 15 and July 31 next year. The rocket launcher system was initially planned to blast off in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic and repeated technical issues have kept it on the ground, depriving Europe of an independent way to send heavy missions

New York NY (SPX) Nov 30, 2023
Cutting-edge computer simulations combined with theoretical calculations are helping astronomers better understand the origin of some of the universe's most energetic and mysterious light shows - gamma-ray bursts, or GRBs. The new unified model confirms that some long-lasting GRBs are created in the aftermath of cosmic mergers that spawn an infant black hole surrounded by a giant disk of natal m