Sustaining life on Mars has been a dream for many generations. While Mars has some similarities with Earth, such as polar ice caps and seasons, it is far too cold for humans to live comfortably. The atmosphere is 100 times thinner than Earth’s and is mostly made up of carbon dioxide. Still, many think Mars…
Schmidt Sciences funds orbiting observatory larger than Hubble telescope
The philanthropic organization Schmidt Sciences announced its investment in an orbiting observatory larger than NASA’s Hubble telescope and three ground-based observatories at the American Astronomical Society’s annual winter meeting Wednesday. The observatory would be the first full-scale privately funded observatory in space, according to Schmidt Sciences President Stuart Feldman. The project aims to have all…
NASA rover detected “lightning” on Mars
The NASA rover Perseverance, which has been on Mars since 2021, detected electrical discharges in the Martian atmosphere, researchers reported in Nature. The researchers documented 55 instances of “mini-lightning” over two Martian years, about four Earth years, detected by a microphone on the rover. The instances primarily occurred during dust storms. The “lightning” strikes were…
NASA R&D 100 Winner enables high-speed data transfer from space
High-Rate Delay-Tolerant Networking (HDTN) is software for streaming and networking communications in space. The software has the potential to enable a solar system internet, allowing space exploration teams to receive data from rovers and other space vehicles and to maintain connections between spacecraft and Earth. The software can transfer data up to 10 times faster…
The Milky Way is glowing: these scientists think dark matter may be the cause
Researchers from Johns Hopkins published a study providing evidence for the theory that mysterious gamma rays emanating from the center of the Milky Way originate from dark matter particles colliding. Steps towards solving decades-long mystery These gamma rays were first detected in 2009, and their origins have stumped scientists ever since. Some have theorized that…
Reusable rocket startup raises $510 million
Stoke, a rocket startup company, raised $510 million in Series D funding, the company announced last week. The new financing more than doubled the company’s total capital, which is now $990 million. Stoke plans to use the funds to “accelerate product development and expansion,” according to the press release. In March, the company was selected…
6 R&D advances this week: a quantum computer in space and a record-breaking lightning bolt
This week in R&D: the first quantum computer in space is now orbiting the Earth; a potential new treatment for Alzheimer’s, thanks to cancer drugs; a startup is breaking ground on their first fusion power plant, they say they are on track to deliver fusion energy by 2030; Google DeepMind announced their AI Earth mapping…
This week in research: A space launch, breathing eyes, glaciers melting, and more
Could a new telescope unearth cosmic recipes for life? Can a cell patch rescue fading eyesight? And what’s with bubbles “galloping” in a lab? This week’s research roundup probes the surprising frontiers of astronomy, medicine, archaeology, and more — raising as many questions as it answers. Read on for highlights that challenge familiar assumptions and…