technical updates

European Space Agency astronaut John McFall is cleared to be the first person with a physical disability to fly to the space station. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/RSncVBW

A new study analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity among people who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers say the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ePhyCBk

The idea that life on Earth arose through a series of improbable "hard" evolutionary steps may be misjudged, according to a new paper that says our Earth had a big say in matters. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bGDL9rt

New research shows almost 90% of people in England would agree to genetic testing to get the most effective medication and reduce the risk of side effects. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/KO0vTVl

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NKxdEFa

Using mathematical modeling, researchers have discovered that rate-induced tipping, which can happen if an environment changes too fast, can happen even in Daisyworld, a simple daisy-filled ecological model. If the planet heats up or cools down too quickly, all the daisies will go extinct, even if they would otherwise have been able to survive just fine under those conditions. This discovery mirrors similar observations found in other models and observed in real-life ecosystems. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BI0UHXo

Rocket Lab will launch a high-resolution imaging satellite for the company Blacksky this evening (Feb. 18), and you can watch the action live. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/DKFAhwe

Lobster-eye satellite Einstein Probe captured the X-ray flash from a very elusive celestial pair. The discovery opens a new way to explore how massive stars interact and evolve, confirming the unique power of the mission to uncover fleeting X-ray sources in the sky. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1WI7DTf

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 23 Starlink satellites today (Feb. 18) and then land in the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas —a first for the company. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bBPW9nJ

Aging is a privilege, but it also brings risks -- including an increased likelihood of developing age-related diseases including cancer. Researchers have now created a landmark atlas of how healthy breast tissue ages, revealing key cellular, molecular, and genetic changes that may tip the balance toward breast cancer development. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9dY8S0e

Is it possible to tile a surface with a single shape in such a way that the pattern never repeats itself? In 2022, a mathematical solution to this 'Einstein problem' was discovered for the first time. Researchers have now also found a chemical solution: a molecule that arranges itself into complex, non-repeating patterns on a surface. The resulting aperiodic layer could even exhibit novel physical properties. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/voYJAmw

A rare discovery of a nearly complete skull in the Egyptian desert has led scientists to the 'dream' revelation of a new 30-million-year-old species of the ancient apex predatory carnivore, Hyaenodonta. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sN41FRg

The latest 'Star Trek' movie assumes plenty of prior knowledge of a vast franchise — and it's not alone. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ik2Tn9K

Researchers have discovered why LiNiO2 batteries break down, and they are testing a solution that could remove a key barrier to widespread use of the material. The team plans first to manufacture LiNiO2 batteries in the lab and ultimately to work with an industry partner to commercialize the technology. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/VgPfRHW

Using a new technology and computational method, researchers have uncovered a biomarker capable of accurately predicting outcomes in meningioma brain tumors and breast cancers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/lD9PZMf

Researchers call on the international community to recognize and start tackling the 'biodiversity leak'. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NVQxt0R

Ancient Egyptian mummified bodies smell 'woody,' 'spicy' and 'sweet', finds a new study, revealing new details about mumification practices. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/C45FkVm

Electronic textiles, such as heating pads and electric blankets, can keep the wearer warm and help ease aches and pains. However, prolonged use of these devices could possibly cause heat-related illnesses, including hyperthermia or burns. Recently, a group of researchers designed and tested a 'smart' jacket equipped with environmental sensors, heat-generating and color-changing yarns, and artificial intelligence (AI) to control temperature and prevent overheating. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zefXoU

New research has revealed that birds, reptiles, and mammals have developed complex brain circuits independently, despite sharing a common ancestor. These findings challenge the traditional view of brain evolution and demonstrate that, while comparable brain functions exist among these groups, embryonic formation mechanisms and cell types have followed divergent evolutionary trajectories. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2wUk7gN

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander reached lunar orbit on Thursday (Feb. 13) and snapped some photos to commemorate the milestone. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/8Niv5Hz

Researchers have developed a novel experimental platform to measure the electric fields of light trapped between two mirrors with a sub-cycle precision. These electro-optic Fabry-Perot resonators will allow for precise control and observation of light-matter interactions, particularly in the terahertz (THz) spectral range. By developing a tunable hybrid-cavity design, and measuring and modeling its complex sets of allowed modes, the physicists can switch between nodes and maxima of the light waves exactly at the location of interest. The study opens new avenues for exploring quantum electrodynamics and ultrafast control of material properties. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/qZ8cL6d

The second lunar lander from Japanese space exploration company ispace is ready for a flyby of the moon as part of its elongated moon landing journey. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oVLa2X1

Scientists are cataloging and analyzing the first samples collected by NASA's Perseverance rover while the agency weighs its options for returning them to Earth. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/L3507Nj

New research reports, for the first time, the widespread occurrence of biofluorescence in birds-of-paradise. The study, based on specimens collected since the 1800s, finds biofluorescence in 37 of the 45 known birds-of-paradise species and suggests that this special 'glow' is important among males for hierarchy and mating displays. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fr8N9Gy

Captain America: Brave New World is about to hit cinemas, bringing with it the gamma-ray-powered Red Hulk. Here's what you need to know about that high-energy radiation. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/xiH0Bco

Xbox and Bethesda have teamed up with Lonestar to send one 'Starfield' fan to Florida to witness the launch of a historic space mission to the Moon. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/nEIGjTm

Research on climate policy is growing exponentially. Of the approximately 85,000 individual studies ever published on policy instruments for mitigating global heating, a good quarter are from 2020 or later. A study using machine learning methods now shows how this vast knowledge is distributed -- by instrument, country, sector and policy level -- and identifies research gaps. A corresponding web tool, the 'living systematic map', will help to guide science and policy. It will be continuously updated to reflect the current state of research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/meAENjw

Employees at NASA's Washington D.C. headquarters have reportedly been barred from displaying Pride symbols in their personal work areas. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/K7RVvcJ

Anthony Mackie picks up the shield for the fourth Captain America film from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/H28kIXL

Earth's inner core is undergoing structural transformation. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/hylZTrY

NASA's first-ever Twitch stream premieres at 11:45 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 12 on NASA's Twitch channel. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/d0zlnpX

Scientists say AI has crossed a critical 'red line' after demonstrating how two popular large language models could clone themselves. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/lwcDbsV

To evaluate the effectiveness of public video campaigns against risky alcohol consumption, psychologists used EEG measurements to examine the synchronization of brain activity in groups of viewers. In a recent study, they present new ways to bring the method out of the laboratory and into real-life application in the public health sector. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Z1Dwnpf

The world's fastest supercomputer 'El Capitan' can reach a peak performance of 2.746 exaFLOPS, making it the planet's third exascale computer. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/xCvpXbc

General Atomics and NASA achieved an important milestone on the road to using nuclear-powered rockets by testing a new fuel and finding it can withstand extreme conditions. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oQgRYDw

After receiving feedback from nearly 500 people about revising NOAA's Space Weather Scales, scientists continue to assess what changes need to be front and center. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/sOazBGw

The moon makes for an excellent guide to see Mars in the night sky on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 9. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Iz83XFS

Nearly every disease has an inflammatory component, but blood tests can't pinpoint inflammation in specific organs or tissues in the human body. Now researchers have developed a method to detect inflammation using antibodies, potentially leading to blood tests for disease-specific biomarkers such as for heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and various cancers. Their breakthrough also holds promise for drug discovery. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vbUJqxw

Black holes and soccer balls don't have much in common, but if black holes are curved when kicked, it might say something deep about the cosmos. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/KoM2kPi

Students attending schools that ban the use of phones throughout the school day aren't necessarily experiencing better mental health and wellbeing, as the first worldwide study of its kind has found that just banning smartphones is not enough to tackle their negative impacts. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bzLOj5

See the stars captured by Europa Clipper's star trackers, NASA's spacecraft currently on its way to Jupiter's icy moon. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/HCXfTD3

The Argonaut moon lander one way the European Space Agency is getting involved in international lunar exploration endeavors. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/JcEndpk

Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fkyp3FA

Was a powerful cosmic explosion seen by the Einstein Probe launched by a supermassive black hole snacking on a star, by a gamma-ray burst, or by something entirely new? from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/dHPQhmO

A bevy of space companies will lend a hand to NASA's moon goals under new contracts centered around the agency's upcoming Artemis missions. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/uvUmw2O

Disney's Marvel Studios launched its first look at "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" by broadcasting from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/wpLa0CV

A recent study has revealed a startling public health threat: About 17 million people are at risk of gastrointestinal problems due to excessive sulfate levels in groundwater. This alarming finding emerged from the first high-resolution global groundwater sulfate distribution map. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vMaRkrF

SpaceX plans to launch two Earth-imaging satellites today (Feb. 4), building out Maxar Technologies' sharp-eyed WorldView Legion constellation. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/OEwCgd8

Aaron Paul and Eiza González star in the new trailer for 'Ash,' an upcoming sci-fi film about astronauts fighting for survival on a hostile planet. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/olc0tI3

An Indian navigation satellite has suffered a problem with its propulsion systems just four days after launch, preventing it from reaching its intended orbit. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/0DJjrXz

WASP-121b is like nothing in the solar system, raining liquid metal and being puffy like a marshmallow. The origins of these "toasted marshmallow" planets could be more complicated than thought. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/my830jA

The space agency's planetary science analysis groups must pause while NASA checks if they comply with Trump's orders. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/xRUH6JC

Uncontrolled space debris reentries are of growing concern for air traffic, as SpaceX's recent Starship Flight 7 showed. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/GHe7u6k

There are many obstacles to overcome before humans can set foot on Mars, including problems surrounding launch mass and closed-loop systems and the hazards of space radiation. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/2D5WgyA

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Monday morning (Feb. 3) from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/dRm5ql9

The development of vehicle components is a lengthy and therefore very costly process. Researchers have developed a method that can shorten the development phase of the powertrain of battery electric vehicles by several months. A team is combining simulation models of components with evolutionary optimization algorithms. This AI system automatically optimizes the entire powertrain -- from the power electronics to the electric machine through to the transmission -- in line with the manufacturer's technical requirements, taking into account targets such as production costs, efficiency and package space requirements in the vehicle. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ZwCWgI

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 6:02 p.m. EST. from Latest from Space https://ift.tt/kh3R6aq