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Categories: Energy: Alternative Fuels, Space: The Solar System
Published A blueprint for life forms on Mars?
(via sciencedaily.com) Microbes taken from surface sediment near Lost Hammer Spring, Canada, about 900 km south of the North Pole, could provide a blueprint for the kind of life forms that may once have existed, or may still exist, on Mars.
Published Martian meteorite upsets planet formation theory
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study of an old meteorite contradicts current thinking about how rocky planets like the Earth and Mars acquire volatile elements such as hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and noble gases as they form.
Published Dead star's cannibalism of its planetary system is most far-reaching ever witnessed
(via sciencedaily.com) The violent death throes of a nearby star so thoroughly disrupted its planetary system that the dead star left behind -- known as a white dwarf -- is sucking in debris from both the system's inner and outer reaches, astronomers report.
Published Inspired by palm trees, scientists develop hurricane-resilient wind turbines
(via sciencedaily.com) New results from real-world tests of a downwind turbine could inform and improve the wind energy industry in a world with intensifying hurricanes and a greater demand for renewable energy.
Published No signs (yet) of life on Venus
(via sciencedaily.com) The unusual behavior of sulphur in Venus' atmosphere cannot be explained by an 'aerial' form of extra-terrestrial life, according to a new study.
Published Simulations reveal hydrodynamics of planetary engulfment by expanding star
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study using hydrodynamical simulations reveals the forces acting on a planet when it is swallowed by an expanding star. The results show that the interactions of a substellar body (a planet or brown dwarf) with the hot gas in the outer envelope of a sun-like star can lead to a range of outcomes depending on the size of the engulfed object and the stage of the star's evolution. The dynamics and possible outcomes of planetary engulfment are poorly understood, but it is thought to be a relatively common fate for planetary systems.
Published Scientists release first analysis of rocks plucked from speeding asteroid
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have now begun to announce the first results from the analysis of a handful of dirt that Hayabusa2 managed to scoop off the surface of a speeding asteroid. What they found suggests that this asteroid is a piece of the same stuff that coalesced into our sun four-and-a-half billion years ago.
Published Particle accelerator region revealed inside a solar flare
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study offers direct evidence showing where near-light speed particle acceleration occurs inside the largest explosion known in the solar system, the solar flare.
Published Death of bats at wind turbines interrupts natural food chains
(via sciencedaily.com) The numerous casualties of bats at wind turbines (WT) have a negative impact on the populations of affected species and potentially far-reaching consequences for the biodiversity in rural areas. Until now, it could only be assumed that the death of bats had further consequences. Now, a team of scientists show that natural food chains are interrupted, which can have far-reaching negative consequences for agriculture and forestry. The study demonstrates the extent to which the functional importance of bats for habitats has been underestimated so far.
Published Earth-abundant solar pixels found to produce hydrogen for weeks
(via sciencedaily.com) Devices made of readily available oxide and carbon-based materials can produce clean hydrogen from water over weeks -- according to new research. The findings could help overcome one of the key issues in solar fuel production, where current earth-abundant light-absorbing materials are limited through either their performance or stability.
Published Bacterial cellulose could enable microbial life on Mars
(via sciencedaily.com) An international research team has investigated the chances of survival of kombucha cultures under Mars-like conditions. Kombucha is known as a drink, sometimes called tea fungus or mushroom tea, which is produced by fermenting sugared tea using kombucha cultures -- a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Although the simulated Martian environment destroyed the microbial ecology of the kombucha cultures, surprisingly, a cellulose-producing bacterial species survived.
Published Ancient ocean floors could help in the search for critical minerals
(via sciencedaily.com) Studying ancient ocean floors could help us discover minerals needed to produce electric cars and solar panels.
Published NASA's Davinci mission to take the plunge through massive atmosphere of Venus
(via sciencedaily.com) NASA scientists and engineers give new details about the Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) mission, which will descend through the layered Venus atmosphere to the surface of the planet in mid-2031. DAVINCI is the first mission to study Venus using both spacecraft flybys and a descent probe.
Published Wind turbines operating without curtailment claim many victims among protected bat species in Germany
(via sciencedaily.com) Protected and rare bats regularly die at wind turbines (WT). This is why the operation of new wind turbines is temporarily curtailed during periods of high bat activity. Old wind turbines run without curtailment, however. A scientific team has now produced an exemplary estimate of bat fatality rates at such old turbines by systematically recording bat carcasses in the vicinity of the turbines. During two months, 70 bats died on average per wind turbine. Even if these figures cannot be extrapolated one-to-one to all 20,000 old turbines in Germany, there is a considerable need for action. The operation of old turbines should be adjusted to the current regulations for new turbines, the authors argue.
Published As the grid adds wind power, researchers have to reengineer recovery from power outages
(via sciencedaily.com) When electric grids go down, there's no way to restore them -- 'blackstart' them -- with power from wind turbines. A team is now working to develop strategies and controllers that would reenergize power grids dominated by wind power. In Iowa, wind turbines now produce 55% of the state's electricity.
Published Why Uranus and Neptune are different colors
(via sciencedaily.com) Astronomers may now understand why the similar planets Uranus and Neptune are different colors. Researchers have now developed a single atmospheric model that matches observations of both planets. The model reveals that excess haze on Uranus builds up in the planet's stagnant, sluggish atmosphere and makes it appear a lighter tone than Neptune.
Published Researchers develop new biobattery for hydrogen storage
(via sciencedaily.com) A team of microbiologists has succeeded in using bacteria for the controlled storage and release of hydrogen. This is an important step in the search for carbon-neutral energy sources in the interest of climate protection.
Published Experts forecast the wind plant of the future to be taller and more economical
(via sciencedaily.com) Anticipating key features of wind plants a decade or more ahead of their installation can inform today's investment, research, and energy system planning decisions. Researchers elicited opinions from more than 140 of the world's leading experts about their expectations of future wind plant design in 2035.
Published New tech aims to drive down costs of hydrogen fuel
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have developed a new technique for extracting hydrogen gas from liquid carriers which is faster, less expensive and more energy efficient than previous approaches.
Published Hydrogen production method opens up clean energy possibilities
(via sciencedaily.com) A new energy-efficient way to produce hydrogen gas from ethanol and water has the potential to make clean hydrogen fuel a more viable alternative for gasoline to power cars.