One of the worries that NASA has to face when it sends humans and spacecraft to explore planets or other parts of the solar system is solar activity. Solar activity can result in intense bursts of radiation being thrown into space. On Earth, the magnetosphere protects us, and intense solar activity isn't an issue for our health but could interrupt electronics and satellites in orbit.
Toyota has announced new safety features that it will be adding to its vehicle line starting in the 2020 model year. The safety features are Automatic Engine Shut Off and Automatic Park. The automaker says that the new feature represents its "relentless" commitment to continuous improvement.
The issue with burning fossil fuels in vehicles is that when the fuels burn, carbon dioxide is produced and released into the air contributing to pollution. Researchers are at work on synthetic fuels that are known as carbon-neutral fuels that would be better for the environment. Chemists working on these synthetic fuels recently made a significant breakthrough.
Researchers from Broad Institute of MIT, Harvard, and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT have teamed up to create a new gene-editing system that can precisely and efficiently insert large DNA sequences into a genome. The system that the team developed uses cyanobacteria and is called CRISPR-associated transposase (CAST).
Ram is bragging that it is now the torque leader in both the light-duty and heavy-duty truck segments. The 2020 Ram 1500 will become the most powerful half-ton diesel truck with a rating of 480 lb-ft of torque. That high torque rating gives the EcoDiesel truck a towing rating of 12,560 pounds.
NASA scientists at JPL have made an important discovery about the icy moon of Jupiter called Europa. Scientists have long known about the yellowish discolorations on the surface of Europa, but it was unclear precisely what the material was. The team has now used new data to determine that the yellowish discoloration on the surface of Europa is common sodium chloride or table salt.
Astronomers have been looking at the edges of the Milky Way galaxy have seen some very intense superflares originating from stars. The exact reasons for a superflare aren't understood, but superflares eject huge bursts of energy that can be seen from hundreds of light years away. Scientists had assumed that superflares occurred mostly on stars that were young and active, our Sun doesn't fit into that category.
Honda was showing off its Mean Mower V2 about a year ago, and the mower was very impressive. This year Honda is focusing on using the Mean mower to set a Guinness World Record. The mower recently averaged a 0-100 mph time of only 6.285 seconds. That is the time it takes many cars to reach 60 mph.
NASA has announced that it has invested in the first-ever Phase III studies within the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. NASA notes that it is pursuing new tech that would help to make deep space exploration more "Earth-independent" by using resources found on the moon and beyond for future missions. The two Phase III selection proposals will each receive $2 million in funding.
LightSail 2 is a historic spacecraft that has been in the works at The Planetary Society for the last decade. The spacecraft carrying LightSail 2 was expected to launch on June 22, but that launch has been delayed and will now happen no earlier than June 24, 2019. LightSail 2 will head into orbit as part of the Air Force's Space Test Program-2 mission.
Aston Martin is bragging that people who are going to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2019 will be among the first to see its most expensive car ever made. The car it's talking about its the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, which is part of the Aston DBZ Centenary Collection. The car debuting at the race is one of only 19 examples that will be made.
Researchers at NC State have announced a breakthrough in vehicle armor that might one day help protect our military personnel and law enforcement around the world. The researchers have demonstrated new vehicle armor that is made up of a composite metal foam (CMF) and can stop .50 caliber rounds in both ball and armor-piercing varieties. The big benefit of CMF armor compared to traditional steel armor is weight savings.