technical updates

Brazil's rapid expansion of soy production has meant an associated rise in pesticide use. Researchers found a statistically significant correlation between soy expansion and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) deaths in children between 2008 and 2019, representing the first population-wide analysis of the association between indirect exposure to agricultural pesticides and cancer. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/V10fHpj

The departing Shenzhou 16 astronauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou 17 crew during a short ceremony on Sunday (Oct. 29). from Space https://ift.tt/jift9cv

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has completed its safety review of SpaceX's Starship — but that doesn't mean the giant vehicle has been officially cleared for its second-ever liftoff. from Space https://ift.tt/vWi6nhU

Space.com has a preview of Dark Horse Books' new horror anthology, "Star Wars: Tales From The Death Star," just in time for Halloween. from Space https://ift.tt/G1Jfhol

The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, contrasting with other coronaviruses that were known to cause mild seasonal colds prior to its emergence in 2019. This raises the question of why one coronavirus affects humans more severely than another. Scientists have now provided part of the answer by identifying a gateway used by the seasonal coronavirus HKU1 to enter human cells. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/C6jqgXB

The NASA-funded SWIM project aims to detect where there's most likely water ice beneath Martian ground. Here's why. from Space https://ift.tt/PfIdXCi

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to launched 22 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California on Sunday (Oct. 29), the first of two planned missions for the day. from Space https://ift.tt/s5Lz0AK

A lunar eclipse visible to potentially millions of stargazers across the Eastern Hemisphere on Saturday offered an early skywatching treat before Halloween. from Space https://ift.tt/GhmfHTd

Want to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) or the southern lights (aurora australis)? Good news — The next four to five years will provide optimal conditions for some dazzling displays. from Space https://ift.tt/o8fBHVu

Jupiter will meet up with the moon on Oct. 28 in a stunning sky show. Then with a telescope, watch a moon's shadow on Jupiter on Oct. 29. from Space https://ift.tt/BxiItlA

The U.K. Space Agency and Axiom Space have inked a deal that could see U.K. astronauts embark on a two-week mission to the International Space Station in the near future. from Space https://ift.tt/J97vzZ8

Researchers have unveiled the hidden intricacies of how sperm go from passive bystanders to dynamic swimmers. This transformation is a pivotal step in the journey to fertilization, and it hinges on the activation of a unique ion transporter. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/yXdmtUB

Marvel Comics drops news at NYCC for three new 'Star Wars' series starting in 2024. from Space https://ift.tt/ZLFh341

A research team has found that polysulfides are abundant in broccoli sprouts. They found that the amount of polysulfides increased dramatically during growth, by an approximately 20-fold in seeds by the fifth day of germination. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the polysulfides detected a number of polysulfide candidates whose structures have not yet been determined. The identification of these unknown polysulfides and detailed analysis of their pharmacological activities are expected to enable the development of new preventive and therapeutic strategies and medicines for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, inflammation, and other diseases. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/J45GLH8

Scientists used the new Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) in California to capture radio images of October's annular eclipse. from Space https://ift.tt/KOeJFSE

SpaceX has signed a deal to loft up to four of Europe's Galileo navigation satellites over two launches in 2024, according to The Wall Street Journal. from Space https://ift.tt/cWrq65C

The near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa was indeed ejected from the moon, a new study confirms, suggesting more lunar fragments dwell among near-Earth asteroids. from Space https://ift.tt/T34CKDF

A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals a galaxy overshadowed by its larger, merging companions. from Space https://ift.tt/6vnjkwy

NASA recently conducted a hot-fire test of a new experimental rocket nozzle in order to test 3D printing techniques and new materials for hardware designed to reach deep space. from Space https://ift.tt/k076rHI

The European Space Agency has announced a timeline for key testing milestones for its upcoming next-generation Ariane 6 rocket. from Space https://ift.tt/KvJtaW1

Using satellite images, researchers found that fires in North America's boreal forest may be changing the environment in ways that researchers didn't previously anticipate. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/oLvdns8

Astronomers have determined that cosmic winds around clouds of gas and dust are key for the formation of hot and dense young stars. from Space https://ift.tt/Q5wIfXP

An international team of scientists has recently developed a novel type of nano engine made of DNA. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a coupling and install it as a drive in complex nano machines. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/07dgNeQ

Proteins are important molecules that perform a variety of functions essential to life. To function properly, many proteins must fold into specific structures. However, the way proteins fold into specific structures is still largely unknown. Researchers have developed a novel physical theory that can accurately predict how proteins fold. Their model can predict things previous models cannot. Improved knowledge of protein folding could offer huge benefits to medical research, as well as to various industrial processes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/4TuCbl3

New research by climate scientists indicates that there have been great changes to Atlantic hurricanes in just the past 50 years, with storms developing and strengthening faster. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BsDVSgb

Baltic amber is a luxury material used in jewellery and handicrafts all over the world. Researchers have shown that Baltic amber arrived on the Iberian Peninsula at least in the 4th millennium BC, more than a millennium earlier than previously thought. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ptyBguR

A new NASA video explains what will happen when the space agency's Lucy probe flies by the space rock Dinkinesh on Nov. 1, in a test ahead of its trek to the Trojan asteroids in Jupiter's orbit. from Space https://ift.tt/DpMSwve

Binary black holes are believed to inevitably spiral together, but dark energy and the expanding universe could help them maintain a safe distance and mimic a single black hole. from Space https://ift.tt/efqFgih

Improved lighting standards coming into force across the whole of Chile will protect astronomy observations, public health and wildlife. from Space https://ift.tt/A4mIdbv

NASA engineers created a simulated lunar environment, including large rocks, steep slopes and deep craters, to test the mobility of a new moon rover prototype called VIPER. from Space https://ift.tt/YpUty7Z

Researchers have proposed ways to use quasiparticles to create light sources as powerful as the most advanced ones in existence today, but much smaller. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/IDuQOG5

The Breakthrough Listen initiative has moved its headquarters to the U.K. to take advantage of the reams of data set to come from the Square Kilometer Array. from Space https://ift.tt/wmSBrAu

The JWST's perspective on our solar system has offered us the 1st evidence of a superfast Jovian jet stream. from Space https://ift.tt/NeurT6L

A network of space-based lasers could help nudge debris away from collision courses with the International Space Station, according to new research. from Space https://ift.tt/GskTIhA

The new Siena Galaxy Atlas is an information gold mine for astronomers and a free gallery of galaxy portraits for the public. from Space https://ift.tt/QAZunOc

Blinking streetlights could protect astronomy from the damaging effects of light pollution. from Space https://ift.tt/zWlJ9jq

At NYCC 2023, a handful of 'Futurama' directors and producers revealed their insights about the show's latest season on Hulu, as well as some of its past accomplishments and missteps. from Space https://ift.tt/gW5CIpc

Researchers have developed a visualization tool that combines high-speed cameras and fluorescent injection to distinguish tumor tissue from normal tissue across cancer types. The team evaluated the new imaging technology, known as fluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging, using specimens from more than 60 patients that underwent surgery of various cancers. The team reported that the technique was over 97 percent accurate across tumor types, with the potential to improve the accuracy of cancer surgeries. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rRjo67S

The Ax-3 mission is on track with its training, and the four commercial astronauts are excited for launch in early 2024, they told reporters during a briefing Oct. 16. from Space https://ift.tt/nXidxW7

Watermeal is Earth’s smallest flowering plant found floating in pinhead-sized clumps. It could have a big impact on space exploration, providing food and oxygen for future astronauts. from Space https://ift.tt/Mp9r2DA

The annular solar eclipse 2023 was visible from space as the NOAA satellites GOES-East and GOES-West observed the moon's shadow sweep across the U.S. from Space https://ift.tt/VaeKdNt

A long-lost tectonic plate dubbed 'Pontus' that was a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean was discovered by chance by scientists studying ancient rocks in Borneo. from Space https://ift.tt/IvRgZGd

Scientists may have a new way to study high-energy cosmic rays that slam into Earth, tracking them through the atmosphere with the Subaru telescope. from Space https://ift.tt/b6GK3e9

The deserts of Nevada provided the perfect setting for the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 in a region known for its love of strange sights in the sky. from Space https://ift.tt/KHers80

A sneak peek at the first five pages of Marvel Comics' 'Star Wars: The High Republic #1.' from Space https://ift.tt/rS7nJBa

On Oct. 14 an annular solar eclipse occurred across the Americas. We have rounded up some of the best photos here. from Space https://ift.tt/lUCjOqy

A new study has revealed a crucial link between the TUG1 gene and the ability of cancer cells to proliferate under high-stress conditions. Targeting this gene with a new therapy suppressed tumor growth and found increased chances of survival. These findings suggest a novel way to fight aggressive brain tumors. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BMbcZ9n

SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket launched NASA's Psyche asteroid mission on Friday (Oct. 13), providing space fans with lots of eye candy. from Space https://ift.tt/49oiuWl

SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket is standing tall on the launch pad ahead of the planned Friday (Oct. 13) liftoff of NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission. from Space https://ift.tt/AwdkgRF

International sanctions imposed against Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine mean that a pair of satellites due to fly on Russian rockets in 2022 will need to find a new route to space. from Space https://ift.tt/s8GgZQy

Researchers have designed an algorithm that can intercept a man-in-the-middle (MitM) cyberattack on an unmanned military robot and shut it down in seconds. The algorithm, tested in real time, achieved a 99% success rate. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/kRAWlYa

European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen was supposed to step into space Oct. 12. Now facing a delayed spacewalk, he said that was the right call. from Space https://ift.tt/NDOuY9C

New research finds spaceflight does not adversely affect moon rock magnetism, disproving one of two major oppositions to the moon dynamo theory. from Space https://ift.tt/p9EubGM

Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are an astronomical mystery, with their exact cause and origins still unconfirmed. These intense bursts of radio energy are invisible to the human eye, but show up brightly on radio telescopes. Previous studies have noted broad similarities between the energy distribution of repeat FRBs, and that of earthquakes and solar flares. However, new research has looked at the time and energy of FRBs and found distinct differences between FRBs and solar flares, but several notable similarities between FRBs and earthquakes. This supports the theory that FRBs are caused by 'starquakes' on the surface of neutron stars. This discovery could help us better understand earthquakes, the behavior of high-density matter and aspects of nuclear physics. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ZkuF24V

New spacecraft footage from Mars Express shows off a rugged valley on the Red Planet, shaped by volcanic activity from the famous Tharsis region. from Space https://ift.tt/fx3U6Wv

Any potential alien messages could be too complicated for humans to understand, but AI trained to detect complex structure in communication could help decipher them for us. from Space https://ift.tt/PzvBjGW

Gaganyaan translates to "celestial vehicle" and is a mission to bring Indian astronauts to space. from Space https://ift.tt/P57mDsb

Engineers developed electronic 'stickers' that measure the force exerted by one object upon another. The force stickers are wireless, run without batteries and fit in tight spaces, making them versatile for a wide range of applications, from surgical robots to smart implants and inventory tracking. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RJbxIDj

The James Webb Space Telescope scrutinized four powerful flares from the red dwarf star at the heart of the TRAPPIST-1 system, decrypting them in a way that could help the search for alien life. from Space https://ift.tt/iqMCtoE

Due to the changing climate, the underwater world is getting ever noisier. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zLxaXCm

China added a secretive trio of new satellites to its clusters of Yaogan orbital reconnaissance spacecraft on Oct. 6. from Space https://ift.tt/AV3i1lu

A kilonova is a bright blast of electromagnetic radiation that happens when two neutron stars or a neutron star and a stellar-mass black hole collide and merge. from Space https://ift.tt/p4AVGFB

The European Space Agency's dark energy and dark matter detective spacecraft Euclid is ready for full "science mode" after relocating its guiding stars. from Space https://ift.tt/vWybU1R

A new partnership is taking the concept of haute couture to new heights. Axiom Space has joined forces with Prada to design the spacesuits that NASA's Artemis 3 astronauts will wear on the moon. from Space https://ift.tt/wgGXAOe

Parts for NASA's boosters, which will assist the powerful Space Launch System for Artemis moon missions, arrived in Florida for preparation. These pieces will help bring four astronauts around the moon in late 2024. from Space https://ift.tt/syZ7rOe

A new study from researchers at the Southwest Research Institute has unearthed a fascinating discovery about Arrokoth, a trans-Neptunian object made famous by the New Horizons probe in 2020. from Space https://ift.tt/aWewTc6

On Oct. 14, an annular solar eclipse will turn the sun into a spectacular "ring of fire." Here's what you can expect from the celestial phenomenon. from Space https://ift.tt/xRql0FB

SpaceX plans to loft 22 of its Starlink broadband satellites early Monday morning (Oct. 9) on the second half of a launch doubleheader. from Space https://ift.tt/oH1ASZn

Marvel Comics shares four new 'Star Wars' Life Day covers from Mike Del Mundo and Rod Reis. from Space https://ift.tt/OCYurec

SpaceX is set to launch 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida tonight (Oct. 8) on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader for the company. from Space https://ift.tt/E2B7OzH

Measuring the ages of planets and stars helps scientists understand when they formed and how they change – and, in the case of planets, if life has had time to have evolved on them. from Space https://ift.tt/7FBQqnI

A fragmented comet that exploded in Earth's atmosphere initiated the first-ever farming village in Syria, according to new research. from Space https://ift.tt/Km3iRBk

There will come a time 1.21 billion years from now when the phenomenon of a total eclipse of the sun will become an impossibility. from Space https://ift.tt/vXyIptk

A team of computer scientists has created a neural network that can explain how it reaches its predictions. The work reveals what accounts for the functionality of neural networks--the engines that drive artificial intelligence and machine learning--thereby illuminating a process that has largely been concealed from users.    from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/kMZUNVr

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, a disorder of progressively worsening memory and other thinking abilities. It rose up in the ranks of leading causes of death over the past several decades. It can also limit the duration of a working career, create uncertainty in the financial planning for retirement and rob patients of enjoyment and happiness in the final years. An effective treatment against this disease could give back to the patient the decision when to retire and improve quality of life in advanced age.   Now, scientists are on the trail of a promising new therapeutic target – ABCA7, a protein known to protect from Alzheimer’s disease. The study uncovers new information about the relationship between ABCA7, cholesterol, and inflammation in human brain cells. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Lpbc3aq

Celebrate the upcoming annular solar eclipse with a new app launched by Astronomers Without Borders. "One Eclipse" for iOS brings the wonders of the eclipse into the palm of your hand. from Space https://ift.tt/ZDs50tV

For decades, scientists have assumed that mammals and their relatives that survived challenging times (like those during mass extinctions) made it because they were generalists that were able to eat just about anything and adapt to whatever life threw at them. A new study into the mammal family tree through multiple mass extinctions revealed that the species that survived aren't as generic as scientists had thought: instead, having new and different traits can be the key to succeeding in the aftermath of a catastrophe. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mAszFH4

Polish gaming studio 11 Bit shared a new character reveal trailer for their upcoming space exploration survival game "The Alters." from Space https://ift.tt/WrSpF8I

A technology being studied to curb climate change – one that could be put in place in one or two decades if work on the technology began now – would affect food productivity in parts of planet Earth in dramatically different ways, benefiting some areas, and adversely affecting others, according to new projections. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eNTpWJ3

A stunning new Hubble Telescope image showcases NGC 612's orange-hued star-forming disk. from Space https://ift.tt/m8Tyiso

NASA's Perseverance rover may have taken a brief detour to Walt Disney World in Florida. Guests visiting EPCOT can now come across a tread like that left by the six-wheeled rover. from Space https://ift.tt/PHmejL3

If we can understand how stars form, perhaps we can understand how planets do, too. from Space https://ift.tt/4p5tAhC

Residing in a more walkable neighborhood protects against the risk of overall obesity-related cancers in women, specifically postmenopausal breast cancer, but also ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and multiple myeloma, according to a new study. Obesity has been linked to increased risk for 13 types of cancer in women, and physical activity, independent of body size, lowers risk for some of these cancers.  Until now long-term studies of neighborhood walkability and risk for obesity-related cancer were limited. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6TCpjfN

A NASA mission called APEP will launch three sounding rockets into the annular solar eclipse to measure changes in electric and magnetic fields, density, and temperature of the ionosphere. from Space https://ift.tt/dI48yuV

A person's genetic makeup plays a role in determining whether they can stick to a strict vegetarian diet, a new study has found. The findings open the door to further studies that could have important implications regarding dietary recommendations and the production of meat substitutes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/dNY3lGw

Scientists worldwide are already using artificial intelligence and machine learning to sort through huge amounts of data, suggesting that the future of astronomy belongs to AI. from Space https://ift.tt/dJ3jDg7

A clinical trial into treatment for gestational diabetes, involving more than 500 pregnant women, has revealed what the lead academic has described as a significant step forward for women. The research has found benefits for both mothers and their newborn babies, and alleviated concerns over the use of the drug metformin, including less weight gain for mothers; no evidence of increase in preterm birth; and no differences in adverse neonatal outcomes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/gpMH2qI

The James Webb Space Telescope and the now-retired SOFIA telescope, impressive as they may be, have hit their limits when it comes to studying Psyche. from Space https://ift.tt/GjrfN6d

SpaceX's Starship vehicle towers above sparkling turquoise waters in a stunning image that the company shared via social media over the weekend. from Space https://ift.tt/nC2djqS

Distant galaxies that existed a few hundred million years after the Big Bang are brighter than expected in JWST images because they were experiencing bursts of intense star formation. from Space https://ift.tt/u2HayzV

In September 2022, new bivalent COVID-19 boosters became available in the United States, but less than 20% of the eligible population ultimately received one. A new study identified why so many Americans did not receive a booster. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DgQSKIj

Two new infrared mosaics of the Orion Nebula showcase the JWST's abilities while revealing new insights into this familiar star-forming region. from Space https://ift.tt/4CcKTa1

World Space Week 2023 will run from Wednesday, Oct. 4, through Tuesday, Oct. 10, with a theme of "Space and Entrepreneurship." from Space https://ift.tt/CifTVEk

Virgin Galactic has delayed its 'Galactic 04' mission by a day to Oct. 6, allowing more time for vehicle preparations and checkouts. from Space https://ift.tt/2fbkgS6

A chloroplast enzyme safeguards plants against pathological protein aggregation that causes Huntington’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. New research may have found a way to 'copy' the mechanism for application in human cells. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NqQ4bz9

The shell galaxy NGC 3923's symmetrical onion-like layers, that extend 150,000 light-years across space, appear in a new photo from the Dark Energy Camera. from Space https://ift.tt/b0WMpR8

A new machine-learning approach helps scientists more efficiently identify the optimal intervention to achieve a certain outcome in a complex system, such as genome regulation, requiring far fewer experimental trials than other methods.  from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PjJ6cCf

Citizen science group 'Solar Patrol' will use a retired NASA telescope to study the sun during America's two upcoming solar eclipses. from Space https://ift.tt/Q1XZBjM

In lonely people, the boundary between real friends and favorite fictional characters gets blurred in the part of the brain that is active when thinking about others, a new study found. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vZMCrl1

Grandparent childcare for toddlers doesn’t have an impact on the wellbeing of their mothers, a new study suggests. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/60VMBjH

Check out this artwork preview and new trailer for Titan Comics' 'Doctor Who: Once Upon A Time Lord.' from Space https://ift.tt/zb3iPth

Skywatchers who are out during the evening hours on Sunday will almost certainly be attracted toward the eastern sky, where the two brightest visible objects at that hour will be readily evident. from Space https://ift.tt/Xpv0dO3