Computer Science: General Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Improving the performance of satellites in low Earth orbit      (via sciencedaily.com) 

On-chip distributed radiation sensors and current-sharing techniques can be used to reduce the impact of radiation on the radio and power consumption of small satellites, respectively. New findings can be used to make small satellites more robust, which can increase the connectivity of networks across the globe.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Robot helps students with learning disabilities stay focused      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineering researchers are successfully using a robot to help keep children with learning disabilities focused on their work.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Newly discovered form of salty ice could exist on surface of extraterrestrial moons      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team has found two new crystal structures for salty ice, or solid hydrate made from water and sodium chloride. The newly discovered material's properties match those of the substance seen on the surface of icy moons, like Europa and Ganymede, and may offer clues to their icy oceans.

Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Space travel influences the way the brain works      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found how the human brain changes and adapts to weightlessness, after being in space for 6 months. Some of the changes turned out to be lasting -- even after 8 months back on Earth.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Tadpole playing around black hole      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A peculiar cloud of gas, nicknamed the Tadpole due to its shape, appears to be revolving around a space devoid of any bright objects. This suggests that the Tadpole is orbiting a dark object, most likely a black hole 100,000 times more massive than the Sun. Future observations will help determine what is responsible for the shape and motion of the Tadpole.

Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Study quantifies global impact of electricity in dust storms on Mars      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Mars is infamous for its intense dust storms, some of which kick up enough dust to be seen by telescopes on Earth. When dust particles rub against each other, as they do in Martian dust storms, they can become electrified. New research shows that one particularly efficient way to move chlorine from the ground to the air on Mars is by way of reactions set off by electrical discharge generated in dust activities.

Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Four classes of planetary systems      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Astronomers have long been aware that planetary systems are not necessarily structured like our solar system. Researchers have now shown that there are in fact four types of planetary systems.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Upsurge in rocket launches could impact the ozone layer      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have summarized the threats that future rocket launches would pose to Earth's protective ozone layer.

Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Researchers develop new, automated, powerful diagnostic tool for drug detection      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Biomedical engineers present a robust new method for accurately measuring and identifying eight antidepressants most commonly prescribed to women.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Physics: Optics
Published

Compact, non-mechanical 3D lidar system could make autonomous driving safer      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new system represents the first time that the capabilities of conventional beam-scanning lidar systems have been combined with those of a newer 3D approach known as flash lidar. The nonmechanical 3D lidar system is compact enough to fit in the palm of the hand and solves issues of detecting and tracking poorly reflective objects.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Hubble captures the start of a new spoke season at Saturn      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Since their discovery by NASA's Voyager mission in the 1980s, temporary 'spoke' features across Saturn's rings have fascinated scientists, yet eluded explanation. They have been observed in the years preceding and following the planet's equinox, becoming more prominent as the date approaches. Saturn's upcoming autumnal equinox of the northern hemisphere on May 6, 2025, means that spoke season has come again. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope will be on the job studying the spokes, thanks to time dedicated to Saturn in the mission's ongoing Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program. Are the smudgy features related to Saturn's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind, as prevailing theory suggests? Confirmation could come in this spoke season, as scientists combine archival data from NASA's Cassini mission with new Hubble observations.

Biology: Microbiology Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Bite this! Mosquito feeding chamber uses fake skin, real blood      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Bioengineers and experts in tropical medicine have invented a new way of studying mosquito feeding behavior using technology instead of live volunteers. Their open-source design combines automated cameras, artificial intelligence and blood-infused, 3D-printed 'synthetic skin.'

Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Space dust as Earth's sun shield      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Dust launched from the moon's surface or from a space station positioned between Earth and the sun could reduce enough solar radiation to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Spanish lagoon used to better understand wet-to-dry transition of Mars      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In the ongoing search for signs of life on Mars, a new study proposes focusing on 'time-resolved analogs' -- dynamic and similar Earth environments where changes can be analyzed over many years.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

A new ring system discovered in our Solar System      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have discovered a new ring system around a dwarf planet on the edge of the Solar System. The ring system orbits much further out than is typical for other ring systems, calling into question current theories of how ring systems are formed.

Space: The Solar System
Published

New models explain canyons on Pluto moon      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In 2015, when NASA's New Horizons spacecraft encountered the Pluto-Charon system, scientists discovered interesting, geologically active objects instead of the inert icy orbs previously envisioned. Scientists have revisited the data to explore the source of cryovolcanic flows and an obvious belt of fractures on Pluto's large moon Charon. These new models suggest that when the moon's internal ocean froze, it may have formed the deep, elongated depressions along its girth but was less likely to lead to cryovolcanoes erupting with ice, water and other materials in its northern hemisphere.

Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Engineers devise a modular system to produce efficient, scalable aquabots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers developed a new approach to building deformable underwater robots, using simple repeating substructures. The team demonstrated the new system in two different example configurations, one like an eel and the other a wing-like hydrofoil.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Performing human-like motions that involve multiple contacts is challenging for robots. In this regard, a researcher has envisioned an interactive cyber-physical human (iCPH) platform with complementary humanoid (physical twin) and simulation (digital twin) elements. iCPH combines human measurement data, musculoskeletal analysis, and machine learning for data collection and augmentation. As a result, iCPH can understand, predict, and synthesize whole-body contact motions.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Robot: I'm sorry. Human: I don't care anymore!      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Humans are less forgiving of robots after multiple mistakes -- and the trust is difficult to get back, according to a new study.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Hubble directly measures mass of a lone white dwarf      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Astronomers have directly measured the mass of a single, isolated white dwarf -- the surviving core of a burned-out, Sun-like star. Researchers found that the white dwarf is 56 percent the mass of our Sun. This agrees with earlier theoretical predictions of the white dwarf's mass and corroborates current theories of how white dwarfs evolve as the end product of a typical star's evolution. The unique observation yields insights into theories of the structure and composition of white dwarfs.