Science, Space, & Robotics - Page 7
The latest and most important Science, Space, & Robotics news - Page 7.
NASA releases images of peanut-shaped object making close approach to Earth
NASA has highlighted an interestingly shaped near-Earth asteroid that recently made a close approach to our planet, and during its fly-by, a powerful radar system analyzed it.
The space agency published the results of the analysis on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) website, where it explained the oddly-shaped asteroid is officially called 2024 ON. According to the report, Deep Space Network's Goldstone Solar System Radar was used to capture the above images of the asteroid, which passed safely by Earth at a distance of 620,000 miles, or approximately 2.6 times the distance between the Moon and Earth. The asteroid was originally discovered on July 27, 2024, and despite 600,000 miles being an immense distance on Earth, it's actually quite close in astronomical terms.
600,000 miles falls within the range of 2024 ON, being categorized as a near-Earth object or an NEO. However, NASA and other researchers aren't interested in its proximity to Earth but instead in its shape, as 2024 ON resembles a peanut, with one lobe being at least 50% larger than the other. According to the images gathered by the radar, 2024 ON is approximately 1150 feet long with features on its surface that have a diameter of 12.3 feet, which are likely boulders. The images also show the asteroid rotates about 90% over the course of six hours.
NASA releases photographs of the holes in the tires of the latest Mars rover
NASA's Mars rover named Perseverance has been exploring the surface of the Red Planet since February 2021, and with such valuable scientific exploration taking place it unfortunately comes at a cost.
Nothing lasts forever. Not even the engineering achievements made to create NASA's Curiosity rover and place it on the surface of the Red Planet. Since 2012, the rover has been documenting its exploration of the Red Planet, capturing valuable scientific data in the form of images. Curiosity's main objective is to search for any evidence of ancient microbial life once living on Mars, and if proven correct, the discovery would truly be one of the most significant scientific achievements in human history as there would now be evidence of life existing outside of Earth.
NASA has taken to its blog to showcase the costs that come with this exploration, and seemingly, the price of traversing Mars' terrain is that you will eventually get holes in your tires. The rover has endured Mars' harsh environment for many years now, and of its six wheels, some are in better shape than others. NASA points out that the right-middle wheel is probably in the worst shape out of the bunch as it has a hole so big you can see the mechanisms inside the wheel.
NASA rover photographs rock unlike any other seen on Mars before
NASA has taken to its blog to share a discovery by its Mars rover that has piqued the interest of researchers for its uniqueness.
The space agency writes its Mars rover named Perseverance, which has been exploring the Jezero Crater since 2021, snapped an image of a black-and-white striped rock. According to NASA, this is the first time a rock with a striped pattern such as this has been discovered on Mars, with the space agency writing the rock is "unlike any seen on Mars before."
NASA writes in its blog post that the rock is called "Freya Castle" which is a nod to the Grand Canyon for its appearance. Additionally, NASA explains that after further inspection with the rover's instruments it was determined Freya Castle measures around 7.87 inches across and has alternating black and white stripes. NASA writes researchers believe the rock as a texture unlike any seen in the Jezero Crater before, and even all of Mars.
Continue reading: NASA rover photographs rock unlike any other seen on Mars before (full post)
Samsung could be working on a robot designed to play and clean up after pets
Samsung could be working on a pet-centered version of Ballie, the prototype robot companion the company showcased at CES 2024.
The Korean tech giant filed a new patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and it includes 24 pages of details about the interesting robotic ball. The patent was published on September 19 and describes a spherical mobile robot that has a rotating mechanism that enables its movement, along with a storage space to hold smelly materials. Moreover, the storage space has a passage the robot can use to release the smell with the help of an integrated system that can direct airflow.
Additionally, the robot is equipped with an array of sensors that are designed to detect nearby objects and adjust the smell being released from the robot based on how close it is to the objects. Furthermore, the robot also monitors the weight of the smelly material and its acidity levels. Users can receive alerts from the robot when its time to replace its storage compartment.
Scientists could soon translate the language spoken between plants
A new report has outlined that in the not-so-distant future scientists may be able to translate the languages that are spoken between plants.
Researchers explained in a new report in The Conversation that plants use sophisticated communication systems to communicate and that these communication systems are sensitive to their environment. Researchers discovered that plants fire off electric signals through their root systems, and they believe these electrical signals are the language that needs to be deciphered into interpretable data.
According to the team, due to advancements in crop monitoring technologies, researchers may soon be able to translate these signals fully, granting a new insight into the living world we live in. One way researchers are learning more about these electrical signals is by placing a monitoring device on a plant and measuring the different levels of electrical signals sent through the plant at different stages of its life, particularly during events when the plant is experiencing outside influence.
Continue reading: Scientists could soon translate the language spoken between plants (full post)
Scientists prove X-rays can be used to deflect asteroids destined to collide with Earth
In June NASA conducted an internal tabletop exercise where it gave a team 14 years to deflect a large asteroid that has a 72% chance of hitting Earth. NASA found it doesn't have clear decision-making processes for such a situation, there is a lack of global coordination infrastructure in place with other space agencies, no asteroid impact disaster management plans in place, and ultimately, a limited readiness to quickly implement needed space missions.
While just being a tabletop exercise and there luckily being no dangerous asteroid on the way, NASA underscored key holes in Earth's planetary defense system, holes that need to be filled with various systems and particularly responses to any potentially threatening asteroids. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission was one such response that proved Earth is capable of changing the orbit, and therefore trajectory, of an asteroid. When the news was confirmed, Earth just unlocked a new planetary defense weapon.
Unfortunately, there are problems with this method of asteroid prevention, and they are the time it takes for a launch to take place and the costs behind it. Another method has been proposed by Nathan Moore, a postdoctoral researcher at New Mexico's Sandia National Laboratories, who proved on a small scale that a powerful X-ray pulse fired at the surface of two different replica asteroids can alter their speed.
SpaceX fires back at US government regulators, claiming every statement they made was incorrect
SpaceX is continuing to battle with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in a new set of events, the Elon Musk-led company has posted a letter outlining what it claims to be "incorrect statements" made by FAA administrator Michael Whitaker.
On September 17, the FAA issued a proposal for a fine of $633,009 for a set of safety violations it claims SpaceX carried out during rocket launches in 2023. The proposal claimed the regulator didn't approve of two requests from SpaceX for a June 2023 launch of a Falcon rocket. According to the regulator SpaceX proceeded with the launch anyway. This violation amounted to $350,000, and the remainder was for a third violation with the Falcon Heavy launch that occurred in July 2023.
According to the FAA, SpaceX used an unapproved fuel farm as the source of the rocket's propellant, adding $283,009 to the total. SpaceX has now responded to these claims, writing it "rejects any allegations from FAA that SpaceX violated any laws." More specifically, SpaceX said it is false that it has launched without a permit, and all the Falcon missions outlined by the FAA the company received did receive licenses for.
US government to fine SpaceX more than half a million over safety breaches
A US government regulatory body has issued a proposal to fine Elon Musk's SpaceX more than half a million dollars for safety violations.
The regulator is, unsurprisingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the regulatory body that investigates and ultimately grants licenses for flight within US airspace. The FAA has been investigating SpaceX after every launch of its Starship launch vehicle, the world's largest and most powerful rocket.
However, Starship isn't the only SpaceX rocket in the FAA's sights, as the regulator is stringent with making sure the Elon Musk-led company, and any other space-fairing company, is following all the licensing requirements issued to them.
Elon Musk's Neuralink gets FDA 'breakthrough device' designation: restores vision to the blind
Neuralink has just received "breakthrough device" designation for its experimental BCI (brain-computer interface) implant that would restore vision to the blind.
Elon Musk's startup received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "breakthrough device" designation, which is given to particular medical devices that provide treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening conditions. It's aimed at speeding up the development and review of devices that are currently under development.
The new experimental device is known as "Blindsight" and will "enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see" said Elon.
Chinese scientists use Starlink satellite signals to detect stealth aircraft, drones
Chinese scientists have successfully completed an experiment using SpaceX Starlink satellite signals to detect stealth targets in the South China Sea.
In a new report from the South China Morning Post, the experiment used a consumer-level DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone (which is about the size of a bird, to give you some perspective) was used to simulate a stealth aircraft. The radar cross-section of the drone was similar to an actual stealth fighter, but instead of using traditional ground-based radar emissions, the scientists detected the drone by analyzing electromagnetic signals from a Starlink satellite passing over the Philippines.
The scientists' detection method uses forward scatter, where an object like a plane or a drone disrupts electromagnetic waves from a satellite, causing small signal disturbances, these disturbances are captured and analyzed to determine where the object is located. This technique doesn't need the radar to emit signals, which makes it harder to someone trying to find your location, or jam it.