Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 14, 2024
The mystery of how life originated on Earth has fascinated scientists for generations. Central to this question is understanding how the first living cells acquired the membranes that allowed them to function and eventually evolve into more complex forms. Recent research led by Professor Neal Devaraj from the University of California San Diego's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry off

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
A closed aquatic ecosystem on China's space station has set a new milestone with four zebrafish completing their life cycle, from growth to reproduction, within 43 days, as reported in 'The Innovation' journal. The publication described this as a significant achievement in space ecological experiments, emphasizing its importance in advancing space ecosystem technologies and offering critic

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
Plextek, renowned for its expertise in low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) sensing technology, has unveiled an important advancement in space operations with its mmWave radar technology, detailed in the newly published paper "Sensing in Space." This innovative technology is designed to enhance the safety and dependability of satellite and space mission operations. Plextek's mmWave radar pro

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) subsidiary, SpaceLogistics LLC, has received the robotics payload from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), marking a major milestone for its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV). This payload includes two robotic arms and associated electronics, advancing Northrop Grumman's progress toward launching the first commercial spacecraft equipped for on-orbit s

Pasadena CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
After a successful 23-meter (about 75 feet) drive today in pre-planning we found ourselves in front of some rocks with a curious dark, platy topping. This is similar to material we have seen previously including over the weekend where MAHLI imaged "Buttress Tree." This beautiful hand-lens image is shown above, where you can see this more resistant platy texture at the top of the layered rock. Un

Washington DC (UPI) Nov 15, 2024
Friday marks the final supermoon of 2024, the last of four consecutive instances of the phenomenon to end the year. On the U.S. East Coast, the Full Beaver Moon will be visible in its entirety beginning at 4:28 p.m. EST Friday, however it has already appeared near-full to observers over the last two days. The Full Beaver Moon name is derived from the Old Farmer's Almanac, with th

Albuquerque NM (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
With the Taurid meteor shower now hitting the night skies worldwide, look for what could be a celestial treat - you might see shooting stars, and maybe even fireballs, the biggest and brightest meteors. As the full moon begins to wane after Nov. 15, the sky will be darker, due to diminishing moonlight, so finding the meteors will get easier. That said, the best visibility for the meteors t

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
The Moon's near and far sides show significant differences in geomorphology, topography, chemical composition, crustal structure, and volcanic history. To gain deeper insight into these distinctions, Professor XU Yigang and his team at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed lunar soil samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, returned by the Chang'e-

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
Basalt samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 mission have shed light on volcanic activity on the Moon's farside, revealing eruptions occurring 2.8 billion years ago (Ga) and 4.2 Ga. This significant finding was made by Prof. LI Qiuli's lab at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and recently published in 'Nature'. "Unraveling the volcanic history of the lu

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 16, 2024
The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) announced that its prototype lunar rover, developed for upcoming manned lunar missions, has advanced to the initial phase of development. The rover, designed with a modular, foldable structure, is capable of carrying two astronauts for surface operations. A released concept image depicts the vehicle as an open-top off-road model, inspired by the