Boston MA (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
MIT physicists and colleagues have for the first time measured the geometry, or shape, of electrons in solids at the quantum level. Scientists have long known how to measure the energies and velocities of electrons in crystalline materials, but until now, those systems' quantum geometry could only be inferred theoretically, or sometimes not at all. The work, reported in the Nov. 25 issue o

University Park PA (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
A research initiative led by the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) has secured a two-year, $1.23 million grant from NASA to enhance atmospheric and oceanic forecasting. The project aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite data into existing forecasting systems, potentially transforming how weather predictions are made. "Typically, forecasts

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
The ancient Earth was a harsh and unforgiving environment, characterized by relentless asteroid impacts, volcanic eruptions releasing carbon dioxide, and a dense, toxic atmosphere devoid of oxygen. Despite these inhospitable conditions, life managed to emerge and persist. Recent research, published in *Proceedings of the Royal Society B,* explores how the chemical precursors of life may have sur

This year will mark the European Space Agency’s 50th anniversary and promises to be a landmark year for the European aerospace industry. In addition to milestone events in our programmes, September will also mark 30 years of satellite navigation for Europe. This spring brings the second commercial mission involving a project astronaut to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4, while events such as ESA's Living Planet Symposium and the International Paris Air Show will gather the space community face to face.

Last night a crucial step in the European Space Agency’s eclipse-making Proba-3 mission was completed: the two spacecraft, flying jointly since launch, have successfully separated. This leaves them ready to begin their cosmic dance in the world’s first-ever precision formation-flying mission.

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
Varda Space Industries has confirmed the successful launch of its second orbital processing spacecraft, W-2, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission. The spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and will orbit Earth for several weeks before re-entering the atmosphere and landing at South Australia's Koonibba Test Range. This event marks Australia's firs

Houston TX (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
Spacewalk preparations continued aboard the International Space Station as two astronauts conducted health checks and installed hardware on their spacesuits. Biology, physics, and lab maintenance also rounded out the Expedition 72 schedule on Tuesday. Flight Engineer Nick Hague and space station Commander Suni Williams, both from NASA, began their shifts on Tuesday with standard health exa

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
International teams of astronomers monitoring a supermassive black hole in the heart of a distant galaxy have detected features never seen before using data from NASA missions and other facilities. The features include the launch of a plasma jet moving at nearly one-third the speed of light and unusual, rapid X-ray fluctuations likely arising from near the very edge of the black hole. The

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton observatory has revealed unexpected X-ray oscillations emanating from the edge of a supermassive black hole in a nearby galaxy. These findings challenge existing theories of black hole accretion and offer intriguing clues about potential gravitational wave sources for ESA's upcoming LISA mission. XMM-Newton's observations highlight the complexities of

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
The name "blue lurker" might sound like a villainous character from a superhero movie. But it is a rare class of star that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope explored by looking deeply into the open star cluster M67, roughly 2,800 light-years away. Forensics with Hubble data show that the star has had a tumultuous life, mixing with two other stars gravitationally bound together in a remarkable