technical updates

Data from Europe's Gaia spacecraft have revealed that a cluster of 1,000 stars is breaking up much faster than is normal, stumping astronomers. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/h9nxJOb

NASA is asking private industry and academia for ideas for new rescue services for its astronauts on Earth in the event of emergencies. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/GVnt79I

Houston company Axiom Space announced on Tuesday (April 29) that it's targeting May 29 for the launch of its fourth astronaut mission to the International Space Station. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/gGFPDEv

An automated machine learning program has been able to identify potential cardiovascular incidents or fall and fracture risks based on bone density scans taken during routine clinical testing. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pwDVc16

Amateur astrophotographer Dr. Michele Hernandez Baylisshas captured incredible views of the Croc's Eye and Whirlpool galaxies from her Vermont-based backyard observatory. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/r4pPJYa

A newly found, huge cloud near our solar system probably won't form stars, but will rather disperse as part of a feedback cycle that regulates star formation. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/EXrDPBL

'This really digs into two of my favorite things: where I'm from in Oklahoma, and robots and science fiction' from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/3ePnAk4

Europe's Sentinel-1 satellites captured radar images of Myanmar before and after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck on March 28, revealing significant ground movement. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/i4czNEK

The first bits of data have come back from NASA's EZIE cubesat mission, which aims to solve some mysteries surrounding the "auroral electrojet" phenomena in Earth's atmosphere. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/gGycuaU

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have found an extremely ancient galaxy piercing through a thick blanket of cosmic fog in the distant universe. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/CSUren8

SpaceX launched its 250th dedicated Starlink mission on Sunday night (April 27), sending 23 of the broadband satellites to low Earth orbit. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TpzVNwa

The 2005 cult classic was pivotal to giving the Grand Army of the Republic faces and voices before George Lucas and Dave Filoni went deeper. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/nLmcX2T

The Trump administration has canceled the New York City lease of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, a leading NASA climate-studying organization. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/8i2VMQF

Venus, Saturn and dim Neptune will form a planetary triangle in the pre-dawn sky on April 28, with Mercury hovering on the periphery. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ceI0Edl

The less intensively you manage the soil, the better the soil can function. Such as not plowing as often or using more grass-clover mixtures as cover crops. Surprisingly, it applies to both conventional and organic farming. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5Zwep32

Could the seismic signal of an underground nuclear test explosion be 'hidden' by the signal generated by a natural earthquake? from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UoQZ0py

How has the Hubble Telescope lasted so long? One of the astronauts who helped repair it explains. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/D97syzi

"With only lunar soil and a basic ingredient from the sun — which is always spitting out hydrogen — there's a possibility of creating water." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/0ZpjWrS

A new study has revealed that an incentive program increased live releases of endangered species caught as bycatch. However, unexpectedly, the overall positive impact was reduced by some vessels increasing catches of these species. The study is a randomized controlled trial to conclusively assess the effectiveness of an incentive-based marine conservation program. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zEIlRiX

Super-Earths can exist in wider orbits around their parent stars than was previously believed, suggesting these Earth-like exoplanets could be more common than we thought. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/5BlyZF7

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications at the start of their cancer treatment had a 61% lower risk of dying from their cancer compared to similar patients who were not taking statins, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JPujED6

Africa has taken a giant leap into the global space arena with the official inauguration of the African Space Agency (AfSA) on April 20. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/06IsdqA

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that kills more than a million people worldwide every year. The pathogen that causes the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is deadly in part because of its complex outer envelope, which helps it evade immune responses of infected hosts. Researchers have now developed a chemical probe to study a key component of this envelope. Their results provide a step toward finding new ways of inactivating the bacterium. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/heDaZSk

NASA engineers tested the functionality of Orion's forward bay cover, which is the last component of the spacecraft that must be ejected before parachutes deploy to land. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oUGB1pY

Last week, scientists announced they found the "strongest evidence yet" of alien life beyond our solar system. However, the scientific community remains skeptical. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/tpPnmsb

This new teaser is packed with pregnancy, the power of family, plus the Silver Surfer. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/57ykDzP

Astronomers have observed a twinkling star and discovered an abundance of mysterious plasma structures in our cosmic neighborhood. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/WDpVnAv

NASA's Curiosity rover has found iron-rich carbonates on Mars — a major clue that the Red Planet used to be habitable. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pVumH6Y

The infant universe's population of huge black holes could owe itself to ultralight dark matter, scientists say. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TFykCec

SpaceX launched its 32nd cargo mission to the International Space Station today (April 21), sending more than 3 tons of supplies and scientific hardware to the orbiting lab for NASA. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/kbdVscU

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a robotic Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station early Monday morning (April 21), and you can watch the action live. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/kqxr6tf

Lake ecosystems can receive high inputs of terrestrial organic matter (t-OM) that microbes make available to higher trophic level consumers. A research group examined terrestrial reliance of 19 consumer groups from 35 boreal lakes using stable isotopes of hydrogen. According to the study, benthic macroinvertebrates and the benthivorous fish reliance to terrestrial energy (allochthony) was higher compared to pelagic plankton and planktivorous fish. Consumer allochthony decreased along the environmental gradient from forested to agricultural catchments, likely due to alteration in the origin of lake organic matter. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0PW64od

The best possible balance between magnification, size and build quality. The Lunt SunOculars 8x32 are the go-to solar binoculars for eclipses and sunspot viewing. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/onHrE5j

A new study has investigated how the relationship between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and grassland biomass changes when one or more nutrients are added. The authors show that precipitation and nutrient availability are the key drivers of plant biomass, while the effects of plant diversity are minimal. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/hrfy062

A new portrait of a pillar of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula is a reason to celebrate. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HriPLh

NASA released a set of photos highlighting the newly arrived HALO module for Gateway, a small space station that the agency aims to launch to lunar orbit in 2027. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/XTVwduh

NASA just unveiled a new image of the iconic Sombrero Galaxy, showcasing intricate details of its vivid structure that resembles the broad-brimmed Mexican hat. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/eZBUsMz

This is a high-quality deep-sky camera that experienced astrophotographers won't outgrow. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/w1izQHo

Researchers found that by December 2023, more than 1 in 3 of the medications being started for type 2 diabetes treatment were GLP-1RA-based medications. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UkLung7

Astronomers have discovered the weirdest planetary system ever seen, consisting of a planet rolling around rare binary "failed star" brown dwarfs at a 90-degree tilted angle! from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/UdwrOkn

Researchers recently reported that American palates are likely to accept pearl millet -- a hardy, gluten-free grain that has been cultivated for centuries in rugged, drought conditions in Africa and India -- as an acceptable substitute in recipes that use wheat flour. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/os4bjPN

The European Space Agency just released some new snapshots from its Mars Express orbiter that detail the dynamic terrain of the Red Planet's Acheron Fossae region. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/exB4YCa

On Monday (April 14), Aisha Bowe became the first Bahamian woman to launch to space — and she already wants to go back. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/PNcn63B

Most cancer genome studies have focused on mutations in the tumor itself and how such gene variants allow a tumor to grow unchecked. A new study takes a deep dive into inherited cancer mutations measured in a healthy blood sample and reports how those mutations might take a toll on the body's cells starting at birth, perhaps predisposing a person to develop cancers at various stages of life. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vAOyIwE

Star Wars Celebration is returning to Japan later this month, so here's a list of things we expect (and hope) to see addressed at the event. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/A6ZTlaG

While some studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer's disease may put you more at risk of developing the disease, a new study finds that having a father with the disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a sign of the disease, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/z1lW7Bt

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday (April 12), carrying 21 Starlink satellites to orbit. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NF07Hjq

New research revealed the remarkable chemical diversity of substances exuded by coral reefs and demonstrated that thousands of different chemicals derived from tropical corals and seaweeds are available for microbes to decompose and utilize. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/idSBjkc

A study has shown that Europe has adapted better to low temperatures than to high temperatures over the last two decades. The relative risk of mortality at the coldest temperatures has decreased by 2% per year since 2003, while the risk from extreme heat has only fallen by 1% per year. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Qb9Rvqp

New technology could enable more sustainable and cheaper production of bio-oils to replace petroleum-based products in electronic, construction and automotive applications. The technology, known as PYROCOTM, uses high temperatures without oxygen to convert treated sewage (biosolids) into a carbon-rich product called biochar, which can act as a catalyst to produce phenol-rich bio-oil. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/l39cJxI

Marvel's First Family is dressed for success against the Devourer of Worlds from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pSovYce

We're less than two weeks out for Disney+'s rousing 'Rogue One' prequel series return! from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6DIWNqm

Astroscale and Orbit Fab are teaming up to refuel U.S. Space Force satellites in geostationary orbit high above Earth, demonstrating a capability that could reshape space operations. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/yqsIhN8

Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have, for the first time, directly detected the merger of star clusters at the heart of dwarf galaxies. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/dBhlvia

Alexander Skarsgård's rogue security unit will be unleashed on May 16, 2025, exclusively on Apple TV+. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Blqv3Z2

Numerous studies have shown that working the night shift is associated with serious health risks, including to the heart. However, a new study suggests that eating only during the daytime could help people avoid the health risks associated with shift work. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tnGcYFu

These are the best small telescopes you can buy in every category. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/7b5adPE

New research has uncovered a surprising culprit underlying cardiovascular diseases in obesity and diabetes -- not the presence of certain fats, but their suppression. The study challenges the conventional belief that a type of fat called ceramides accumulates in blood vessels causing inflammation and health risks. Instead, their findings reveal that when ceramides decrease in endothelial cells lining blood vessels, it can be damaging and cause chronic illnesses. Ironically, the findings could ultimately lead to therapies that maintain high levels of these protective lipids in patients with obesity. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ek59uNl

Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting says the United States military needs orbital weapons in order to be successful if war ever comes to space. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/VNZkGPF

Body signals such as heartbeat and breathing accompany us constantly, often unnoticed as background noise of our perception. Even in the earliest years of life, these signals are important as they contribute to the development of self-awareness and identity. However, until know little has been known about whether and how babies can perceive their own body signals. A recent study demonstrates for the first time that babies as young as 3 months can perceive their own heartbeat. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/l5H3n47

Have you ever gone to a store or a restaurant where the music was so annoying that you walked right out? Now imagine what it must be like for the employees. In a new study, researchers found that when background music at a workplace is out of sync with what workers need to do their jobs, it can affect their energy, mood -- and even performance. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eTYZurv

New 'Superman' trailer gives us more Krypto, a better look at the Fortress of Solitude, and a giggling robot with a familiar voice. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/w9XfKPA

Extraordinarily powerful light from gamma-ray bursts might help produce heavy elements from the outer shells of dying stars. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/qK3wfSJ

The comet was first spotted by an amateur astronomer looking through SOHO spacecraft data. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/vzCS1nM

A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch three astronauts toward the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (April 8), and you can watch the action live. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/4zmMKnI

Jamming and spoofing attacks on space-based services have increased by greatly over the past few years, and technologists are racing to find ways to keep the onslaught at bay. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ml4cpEo

Blue Origin is receiving some backlash ahead of its upcoming all-female spaceflight, with actress Olivia Munn criticizing the venture as "gluttonous." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/UuEOIwq

The bacteria, Sporosarcina pasteurii, is able to make calcium carbonate that can act as a sealant to fix bricks made from lunar regolith. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NS1E68b

SpaceX sent 28 of its Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Florida on Saturday night (April 5). from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/u8dn9AQ

A chemical reaction that's vital to a range of commercial and industrial goods may soon be initiated more effectively and less expensively. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cVQSxT5

Engineers have created new technology that can move cells without touching them, enabling critical tasks that currently require large pieces of lab equipment to be carried out on a benchtop device. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Li6k5DN

Scientists are probing stellar "quakes" to understand what lies beneath the surface of a star's body. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6fQLiqP

Researchers interrogated the 'sounds' of a cluster of stars within the Milky Way, uncovering a new technique for astrophysicists to probe the universe and learn more about its evolution. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bsoWgvr

SpaceX's Fram2 astronauts are sharing incredible views from the first human spaceflight to orbit Earth's poles, as their mission nears a conclusion. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/npcZUHF

Big storms can strip some parts of Jupiter's atmosphere of ammonia, while leaving buried reservoirs of the gas elsewhere. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/snVlAF0

In mice, autism symptoms arise when a certain pair of competing nerve proteins falls out of equilibrium, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cY5yxFQ

The European Space Agency has picked Airbus to build the landing platform for the life-hunting ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Fw6GIrX

Disney has revealed its third animated Star Wars anthology series, which takes us deeper into the galaxy's darkest corners through the eyes of two infamous bounty hunters. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HbY6kJ

Nearly 40% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes imperil their health by stopping their medication within the first year, diabetes experts warn. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/20tGDFe

President Trump has nominated space policy expert Greg Autry to be NASA's chief financial officer, as he did back in 2020 to no avail. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Sqyurtc