space Archives - Page 4 of 5

Nov192024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Discovery of ‘Red Monster’ Galaxies Challenges Understanding of Early Universe Formation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

Astronomers have uncovered three colossal galaxies dubbed "red monsters" from the early Universe, defying existing models of galactic formation. Almost as large as the Milky Way, these galaxies were discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and are believed to have formed during the Cosmic Dawn, within the first billion years after the Big Bang. Galactic Giants in the Cosmic Dawn The findings have raised significant questions about how galaxies could have grown so rapidly in the nascent stages of the Universe. “This is akin to finding a toddler weighing 100 kilograms,” remarked Ivo Labbé, an astronomer from Swinburne University of Technology. “JWST has now proven monsters do roam the early Universe.” Conventional theories suggest galaxies form gradually, as dark matte...

Nov182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

A groundbreaking collaborative study by U.S. and Chinese scientists has uncovered evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon's far side, a region often shrouded in mystery. The analysis of basalt fragments collected during China's Chang'e-6 mission reveals volcanic eruptions dating back over 4.2 billion years, with some surprisingly recent activity around 2.83 billion years ago. The findings, published in prestigious journals Nature and Science, shed new light on the Moon's lesser-explored far side, offering insights into its unique geological history compared to the near side visible from Earth. Chang'e-6 made history as the first mission to retrieve samples from the Moon's far side, braving significant challenges during its nearly two-month operation. Using advanced radiomet...

Nov162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Milky Way Strips Large Magellanic Cloud’s Gas Halo Like a ‘Giant Hairdryer’: Hubble

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a dramatic cosmic event as the Milky Way galaxy interacts with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a dwarf galaxy passing through its outer regions. Dubbed a "giant hairdryer" by scientists, the Milky Way’s immense gravitational and environmental forces have stripped much of the LMC’s gaseous halo, leaving behind a compact remnant. Andrew Fox, the principal investigator from the European Space Agency, explained: "The Milky Way is pushing back so forcefully that the ram pressure has stripped off most of the original mass of the LMC's halo. There's only a little bit left, and it's this small, compact leftover that we're seeing now." Science Behind the Stripping The phenomenon, known as ram pressure, occurs as the dense environment of the M...

Nov132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Solar Surge Curtin University’s Binar Satellites Lost to High Solar Activity

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Space, Tech

Three Australian CubeSats from Curtin University's Binar Space Program recently burned up in Earth's atmosphere after only two months in orbit one-third of their expected mission duration. Named Binar-2, 3, and 4, these satellites were intended to last around six months in low Earth orbit but met an untimely end due to unexpected solar activity. In fact, “Binar” fittingly means “fireball” in Noongar, an Indigenous Australian language. Launched to gather scientific data and test new systems, the Binar satellites faced increased atmospheric drag caused by the Sun’s heightened activity. The Sun is currently in the peak phase of its 11-year solar cycle, known as solar cycle 25, during which solar flares, solar winds, and charged particles intensify. Recent solar indicators have shown activi...

Sep302024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New “Mini-Moon” to Visit Earth: Asteroid 2024 PT5 Set for Brief Stay

Breaking News, Environment, Space

Stargazers and space enthusiasts have a new reason to be excited this autumn, as Earth is set to briefly capture a small asteroid, turning it into a temporary "mini-moon" from September 29 to November 25. The asteroid, named 2024 PT5, will be pulled into Earth's gravitational field, sparking interest from the astronomical community. Unfortunately, due to its small size and lack of brightness, the mini-moon won’t be visible to the naked eye or through ordinary telescopes. Asteroid 2024 PT5, measuring about 33 feet wide, hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt and was first detected on August 7 by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Dr. Jennifer Millard, host of the Awesome Astronomy podcast, explained that while the asteroid won’t be visible to amateur astronomers, ...

Sep162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Groundbreaking Discovery: Hidden Structures Found Beneath Mars’ Surface, Hint at Active Interior

Breaking News, Disasters, Space

In a monumental discovery, scientists have unveiled massive, dense structures hidden beneath the surface of Mars, providing fresh insight into the planet’s geological history and hinting at ongoing internal activity. Presented at the Europlanet Science Congress 2024, this new revelation stems from a highly detailed gravity map of Mars, constructed using data from multiple missions, including NASA's InSIGHT and satellite observations. The findings challenge long-held beliefs about Mars’ geological processes, particularly around Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System. The map suggests that active processes within Mars' mantle could be responsible for lifting the Tharsis volcanic region, contradicting the traditional concept of flexural isostasy—a principle that states the p...

Jun132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Emergency on the ISS? Leaked Audio of Training Exercise Triggers Brief Earth Panic

Breaking News, Disasters, Space

Audio of a flight surgeon dealing with an emergency on the International Space Station (ISS) while she was stuck in traffic triggered a brief panic on the evening of June 12 CDT. The unnamed speaker appeared to be conducting a phone call with an unheard conversant, discussing a situation in which an unnamed commander would require hyperbaric treatment after an event that left them with decompression sickness. "Unfortunately, the prognosis for commander is relatively tenuous, I'll say, to keep it generic," the speaker is heard saying. ISS mission control has now confirmed that the audio was a ground simulation that was broadcast to the ISS livestream channel by mistake, and all crew members were safely asleep at the time of the broadcast. The audio, clipped from the livestream a...

Jun62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Japan’s Obayashi Corporation Aims for 2050 Completion of Space Elevator to Revolutionize Space Travel

Breaking News, Space, Thoughts & Talks

Imagine a long tether linking Earth to space, launching us to orbit at a fraction of the cost and slingshotting us to other worlds at record speed. That's the basic idea behind a space elevator. Instead of taking six to eight months to reach Mars, scientists have estimated a space elevator could get us there in three to four months or even as quickly as 40 days. The concept isn't new, but engineering such a structure is a monumental challenge, and many issues beyond technology stand in the way. Japan's Ambitious Plan The Japan-based Obayashi Corporation, known for constructing the world's tallest tower, the Tokyo Skytree, announced in 2012 its goal to build a space elevator. The company projected that construction on the $100-billion project would begin by 2025, with operations st...

May152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sun Unleashes Monster Solar Flare, Radio Blackouts Expected On Earth

Breaking News, Environment, Space

The Sun has emitted its strongest flare of the current solar cycle, a category X8.7 storm, sending a powerful surge of energized particles hurtling towards Earth. The flare, originating from sunspot AR3664, is anticipated to cause radio blackouts upon impact, particularly affecting regions such as the United States. In a dramatic display of solar activity, the Sun has unleashed its most potent flare of the current solar cycle, sending shockwaves of energized particles hurtling towards Earth. Originating from an active sunspot designated AR3664, the flare, classified as a category X8.7 storm, represents a significant escalation in solar activity. According to reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the sunspot responsible for the flare is situated at t...

May142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

FU Orionis Star System’s Violent Eruptions Explained After Decades of Speculation

Breaking News, Space

In the serene expanse of the Milky Way, most stars go about their business quietly, but one star refuses to conform to the norm. Enter FU Orionis, a binary system that has been erupting dramatically since 1936, puzzling astronomers with its erratic behavior. Now, after 88 years of speculation, a breakthrough has been made. Astronomers, led by Antonio Hales of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, have finally uncovered the secret behind FU Orionis' relentless outbursts. Using observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), they have directly imaged a stream of material being devoured by the star – a crucial piece of the puzzle that has eluded scientists for decades. "This discovery provides the first direct observational evidence of the material fueling...