Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Geoscience: Severe Weather Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

The importance of the Earth's atmosphere in creating the large storms that affect satellite communications      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Large geomagnetic storms disrupt radio signals and GPS. Now, researchers have identified the previous underestimated role of the ionosphere, a region of Earth's upper atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons, in determining how such storms develop. Understanding the interactions that cause large geomagnetic storms is important because they can disrupt radio signals and GPS. Their findings may help predict storms with the greatest potential consequences.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Controlling waves in magnets with superconductors for the first time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Quantum physicists have shown that it's possible to control and manipulate spin waves on a chip using superconductors for the first time. These tiny waves in magnets may offer an alternative to electronics in the future, interesting for energy-efficient information technology or connecting pieces in a quantum computer, for example. The breakthrough primarily gives physicists new insight into the interaction between magnets and superconductors.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Major milestone achieved in new quantum computing architecture      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers report a significant advance in quantum computing. They have prolonged the coherence time of their single-electron qubit to an impressive 0.1 milliseconds, nearly a thousand-fold improvement.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

New quantum effect demonstrated for the first time: Spinaron, a rugby in a ball pit      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Experimental physicists have demonstrated a new quantum effect aptly named the 'spinaron.' In a meticulously controlled environment and using an advanced set of instruments, they managed to prove the unusual state a cobalt atom assumes on a copper surface. This revelation challenges the long-held Kondo effect -- a theoretical concept developed in the 1960s, and which has been considered the standard model for the interaction of magnetic materials with metals since the 1980s.

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Published

Uranus aurora discovery offers clues to habitable icy worlds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers confirm the existence of an infrared (IR) aurora on Uranus. This could help astronomers identify exoplanets that might support life, a large number of which are icy worlds.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geology Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Venus had Earth-like plate tectonics billions of years ago, study suggests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Venus, may have once had tectonic plate movements similar to those believed to have occurred on early Earth, a new study found. The finding sets up tantalizing scenarios regarding the possibility of early life on Venus, its evolutionary past and the history of the solar system.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Using sound to test devices, control qubits      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a system that uses atomic vacancies in silicon carbide to measure the stability and quality of acoustic resonators. What's more, these vacancies could also be used for acoustically-controlled quantum information processing, providing a new way to manipulate quantum states embedded in this commonly-used material. 

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Published

Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

NASA's InSight mission to Mars helped scientists map out Mars' internal structure, including the size and composition of its core, and provided general hints about its tumultuous formation. But findings from a new paper could lead to reanalysis of that data. An international team of researchers discovered the presence of a molten silicate layer overlying Mars' metallic core -- providing new insights into how Mars formed, evolved and became the barren planet it is today.  

Environmental: General Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Solar farms in space are possible      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

It's viable to produce low-cost, lightweight solar panels that can generate energy in space, according to new research.

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Published

Astrophysicists scan the Galaxy for signs of life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astrophysicists are scanning the Universe for 'technosignatures' emanating from distant planets that would provide support for the existence of intelligent, alien life. Researchers plan to monitor millions of star systems.

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

Curiosity rover finds new evidence of ancient Mars rivers, a key signal for life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New analysis of data from the Curiosity rover reveals that much of the craters on Mars today could have once been habitable rivers.

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

Researchers capture first images of a radio 'ring of fire' solar eclipse      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have recorded images of a solar eclipse with the 'ring of fire' effect in radio waves.

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Published

Researchers probe how a piece of the moon became a near-Earth asteroid      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Two years after the striking discovery that a near-Earth asteroid could be a chunk of the moon, another UArizona research group has found that a rare pathway could have enabled this to happen.

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

The Moon is 40 million years older than previously thought      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By analyzing tiny lunar crystals gathered by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, researchers recalculated the age of the Earth's Moon. Although previous assessments estimated the Moon as 4.425 billion years old, the new study discovered it is actually 4.46 billion years old -- 40 million years older than previously thought.

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

NASA's Webb discovers new feature in Jupiter's atmosphere      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a new, never-before-seen feature in Jupiter's atmosphere. The high-speed jet stream, which spans more than 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) wide, sits over Jupiter's equator above the main cloud decks. The discovery of this jet is giving insights into how the layers of Jupiter's famously turbulent atmosphere interact with each other, and how Webb is uniquely capable of tracking those features.  

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Electrical control of quantum phenomenon could improve future electronic devices      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new electrical method to conveniently change the direction of electron flow in some quantum materials could have implications for the development of next-generation electronic devices and quantum computers. A team of researchers has developed and demonstrated the method in materials that exhibit the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect -- a phenomenon in which the flow of electrons along the edge of a material does not lose energy.

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

Source of largest ever Mars quake revealed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have announced the results of an unprecedented collaboration to search for the source of the largest ever seismic event recorded on Mars. The study rules out a meteorite impact, suggesting instead that the quake was the result of enormous tectonic forces within Mars' crust.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Signatures of the Space Age: Spacecraft metals left in the wake of humanity's path to the stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using tools hitched to the nose cone of their research planes and sampling more than 11 miles above the planet's surface, researchers have discovered significant amounts of metals in aerosols in the atmosphere, likely from increasingly frequent launches and returns of spacecraft and satellites. That mass of metal is changing atmospheric chemistry in ways that may impact Earth's atmosphere and ozone layer.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Self-correcting quantum computers within reach?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Quantum computers promise to reach speeds and efficiencies impossible for even the fastest supercomputers of today. Yet the technology hasn't seen much scale-up and commercialization largely due to its inability to self-correct. Quantum computers, unlike classical ones, cannot correct errors by copying encoded data over and over. Scientists had to find another way. Now, a new paper illustrates a quantum computing platform's potential to solve the longstanding problem known as quantum error correction.

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

Removal of magnetic spacecraft contamination within extraterrestrial samples easily carried out, researchers say      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By demonstrating that spaceflight doesn’t adversely affect the magnetism of moon rocks, researchers underscore the exciting potential of studying the magnetic histories stored in these samples.