'Baby asteroid' just a toddler in space years, researchers say
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55An asteroid discovered last November is in fact a solar system toddler - just 2-3 million years old, a Cornell University-led research team estimates using novel statistical calculations. The team derived the age of Selam, a "moonlet" circling the small asteroid Dinkinesh in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, based only on dynamics, or how the pair moves in space. Their calcu
China to launch first probe to return samples from Moon's far side
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55China is set Friday to launch a probe to collect samples from the far side of the Moon, a world first as Beijing pushes ahead with an ambitious programme that aims to send a crewed lunar mission by 2030. A rocket carrying the Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled to blast off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan province just before 5:30 pm (0930 GMT), officials have
Noise can enhance quantum teleportation quality
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Quantum teleportation, the process where the state of a quantum particle, or qubit, is transferred from one place to another without moving the particle itself, typically relies on entanglement between an additional pair of qubits. Ideally, this transfer should occur flawlessly, but real-world conditions introduce noise that can degrade teleportation quality. Researchers at the University
Physicists arrange atoms in extremely close proximity
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Proximity is key for many quantum phenomena, as interactions between atoms are stronger when the particles are close. In many quantum simulators, scientists arrange atoms as close together as possible to explore exotic states of matter and build new quantum materials. They typically do this by cooling the atoms to a stand-still, then using laser light to position the particles as close as
Twisting and binding matter waves with photons in a cavity
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Precisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom "recoils" in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the position and momentum of the atom precisely. This recoil can have big implications for quantum sensing, which detects minute changes in parameters, for
Hi-C Rocket Experiment Achieves Never-Before-Seen Look at Solar Flares
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55After months of preparation and years since its last flight, the upgraded High Resolution Coronal Imager Flare mission - Hi-C Flare, for short - took to the skies for a never-before-seen view of a solar flare. The low-noise cameras - built at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama - are part of a suite of state-of-the-art instruments on board the Black Brant IX sounding
X-ray satellite XMM-newton sees 'space clover' in a new light
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Astronomers have discovered enormous circular radio features of unknown origin around some galaxies. Now, new observations of one dubbed the Cloverleaf suggest it was created by clashing groups of galaxies. Studying these structures, collectively called ORCs (odd radio circles), in a different kind of light offered scientists a chance to probe everything from supersonic shock waves to blac
Microsoft announces $2.2 bn AI, cloud investment in Malaysia
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Microsoft pledged a $2.2 billion investment in artificial intelligence and cloud computing in Malaysia on Thursday to help develop the country's AI infrastructure. The tech giant's chief executive Satya Nadella is on a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia - to announce a range of investments in data centres, AI and cloud services. "Today, Microsoft ann
UTA scientists explore quantum aspects of gravity using neutrinos
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:55Einstein's theory of general relativity describes gravity as a result of space and time curving. This theory accounts for the Earth's gravity, which anchors us and causes objects to fall. In contrast, high-energy physics investigates subatomic particles that follow the principles of quantum mechanics, notable for their random fluctuations and the inherent uncertainty in particle positions
Ariane 6 launches: Exolaunch's EXOpod Nova
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:48
Europe's newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on.
Making sure ESA's cloud and aerosol satellite is aerosol-free
Friday, 03 May 2024 15:46The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, debris of Halley's comet, peaks this weekend. Here's how to see it
Friday, 03 May 2024 14:34The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, remnants of Halley's comet, peaks this weekend. And with just a waning crescent moon in the sky, it should be visible.
The Eta Aquarids occur every year in early May. This year's peak activity happens early Sunday with an expected 10 to 30 meteors visible per hour in the Northern Hemisphere.
Failure is not an option: learning from Apollo 13
Friday, 03 May 2024 13:30NASA awards studies for commercial Mars missions
Friday, 03 May 2024 12:17Meet the team behind EarthCARE
Friday, 03 May 2024 11:00As we approach the launch of ESA’s EarthCARE mission, we caught up with some of the scientists, engineers and experts behind the mission.
With the climate crisis increasingly tightening its grip, ESA’s Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer mission (EarthCARE) will shed new light on the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation in Earth’s atmosphere.
EarthCARE is the largest and most complex Earth Explorer mission. It comes at a critical time in the development of kilometre-scale resolution, global climate models and will provide an important contribution to an improved understanding of cloud convection and its role in Earth’s