Science

ESA has made a breakthrough in its Future Launchers Preparatory Program, finding that carbon fiber reinforced plastic tanks are viable for rockets. The new work builds on earlier studies and has demonstrated a new design for a small-scale tank made of unique carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The material is leakproof when used with liquid hydrogen and is also compatible with liquid oxygen without using a metal liner.

Continue Reading

Astrophysicists from Stanford have reported the first detection of light coming from behind a black hole. The detection of light fulfills a prediction made by Einstein's theory of general relativity. Researchers observed a series of bright flares of x-rays, which weren't unexpected. What was unexpected was that the telescopes recorded additional flashes of x-rays that were smaller, later, and of different "colors" than the bright flares initially observed.

Continue Reading

Many non-native creatures can be found living in Florida, including some scary ones like giant pythons. The latest addition to the list is a strange amphibian that resembles a huge worm, one that is found native in places like southeast Asia and central Africa. The discovery was made following the capture of a strange critter in southern Florida, prompting an inquiry with scientists.

Continue Reading

NASA has announced the winners of its Future of Flight Challenge, which was posted on the HeroX platform offering cash rewards to those who were chosen as winners. A total of nine awards are being given with cash prize values ranging from $500 to $7,500 USD. Team Sparkletron took first place with their "Turbologic Density Interop."

Continue Reading

Astronomers have developed what they say is the most realistic model so far of planet formation occurring in binary star systems. The researchers on the project are from the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute for Extra-terrestrial Physics. The study investigated a type of binary system where the smaller companion star orbits the larger parent star about once every 100 years.

Continue Reading

Hexagonal structures are very strong and commonly used in building multiple products in a wide range of industries. For example, hexagonal structures are used to construct airplane wings, boats, cars, skis, packaging, and acoustic dampening materials, among other items. However, when building with structures of this type, challenges can arise when space constraints or repairs require builders to keep the structure mechanically strong while linking industrial honeycomb panels with cells of different sizes.

Continue Reading

Researchers from Ohio State University have conducted a new study looking at exoskeletons designed to help relieve back pain. Research is being conducted on exoskeletons by researchers worldwide with the idea that someday they could help people with limited or no mobility to return to regular activities. However, the new study has found that wearable devices used by workers on assembly lines or in warehouses to alleviate stress on the lower back could compete with available mental resources during work.

Continue Reading

Scientists from Cambridge University and NTU Singapore have made an interesting discovery. They found that slow-motion collisions of massive tectonic plates inside the Earth are dragging more carbon into Earth's interior than previously believed. Researchers say that the carbon is drawn into the planet's interior at subduction zones where tectonic plates collide and dive into the interior of the Earth.

Continue Reading

Researchers from Oregon State University have created a bipedal robot called Cassie. Recently, Cassie traveled five kilometers, completing the entire journey in just over 53 minutes, making history in the process. Cassie was developed with direction from robotics Professor Jonathan Hurst with a 16 month, $1 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the US Department of Defense.

Continue Reading

Multiple payloads will be launched into space with the Orion spacecraft using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Two of these secondary payloads will be CubeSats designed for deep space, including one equipped with plasma thrusters. According to the space agency, this small satellite will use electromagnetic waves to propel itself in space...and it may set a new record in the process.

Continue Reading

Medical researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed two new tests able to detect the presence of glioma, which is a type of brain tumor. The tumor can be detected using the newly developed tests in the urine or blood plasma of the patient. Researchers note that detecting glioma using urine is the first test of its kind in the world.

Continue Reading

NASA has announced that on August 26 of last year, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a high-energy pulse of radiation that has been moving towards the Earth for nearly half the age of the universe. The pulse detected was extremely short-lasting only about a second, but it set records during its brief existence. The high-energy pulse of radiation was the shortest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever discovered.

Continue Reading