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

Rare, double-lobe nebula resembles overflowing cosmic 'jug'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A billowing pair of nearly symmetrical loops of dust and gas mark the death throes of an ancient red-giant star. The resulting structure, said to resemble an old style of English jug, is a rarely seen bipolar reflection nebula. Evidence suggests that this object formed by the interactions between the dying red giant and a now-shredded companion star.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

New superconductors can be built atom by atom      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The future of electronics will be based on novel kinds of materials. Sometimes, however, the naturally occurring topology of atoms makes it difficult for new physical effects to be created. To tackle this problem, researchers have now successfully designed superconductors one atom at a time, creating new states of matter.

Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Despite doubts from quantum physicists: Einstein's theory of relativity reaffirmed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

One of the most basic assumptions of fundamental physics is that the different properties of mass -- weight, inertia and gravitation -- always remain the same in relation to each other. Although all measurements to date confirm the equivalence principle, quantum theory postulates that there should be a violation. This inconsistency between Einstein's gravitational theory and modern quantum theory is the reason why ever more precise tests of the equivalence principle are particularly important. A team has now succeeded in proving with 100 times greater accuracy that passive and active gravitational mass are always equivalent -- regardless of the particular composition of the respective masses.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Controlling signal routing in quantum information processing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Routing signals and isolating them against noise and back-reflections are essential in many practical situations in classical communication as well as in quantum processing. In a theory-experimental collaboration, a team has achieved unidirectional transport of signals in pairs of 'one-way streets'. This research opens up new possibilities for more flexible signaling devices.

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

Robot team on lunar exploration tour      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers are training legged robots for future lunar missions that will search for minerals and raw materials. To ensure that the robots can continue to work even if one of them malfunctions, the researchers are teaching them teamwork.

Space: Astrophysics Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Webb celebrates first year of science with close-up on birth of sun-like stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

From our cosmic backyard in the solar system to distant galaxies near the dawn of time, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has delivered on its promise of revealing the universe like never before in its first year of science operations. To celebrate the completion of a successful first year, NASA has released Webb's image of a small star-forming region in the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

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

Physicists work to prevent information loss in quantum computing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nothing exists in a vacuum, but physicists often wish this weren't the case. If the systems that scientists study could be completely isolated from the outside world, things would be a lot easier. Take quantum computing. It's a field that's already drawing billions of dollars in support from tech investors and industry heavyweights including IBM, Google and Microsoft. But if the tiniest vibrations creep in from the outside world, they can cause a quantum system to lose information.

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

New study reveals evidence of diverse organic material on Mars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists gain vital insights into Mars' history and potential for supporting life.

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

New radar technique lets scientists probe invisible ice sheet region on Earth and icy worlds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new radar technique developed by a graduate student allows imaging of the upper few feet of ice sheets on Earth and icy worlds. The technique uses instruments on airplanes or satellites to survey large regions quickly. The upper few feet of ice sheets are important for measuring melt on Earth or looking for habitable environments on icy worlds. Previous airborne or satellite techniques could not image this narrow region in detail.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Training robots how to learn, make decisions on the fly      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mars rovers have teams of human experts on Earth telling them what to do. But robots on lander missions to moons orbiting Saturn or Jupiter are too far away to receive timely commands from Earth. Researchers developed a novel learning-based method so robots on extraterrestrial bodies can make decisions on their own about where and how to scoop up terrain samples.

Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Satellite security lags decades behind the state of the art      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have tested the software of three satellites. And they found many standard security mechanisms missing.

Offbeat: Space Space: Astrophysics Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features
Published

Reinventing cosmology: New research puts age of universe at 26.7 -- not 13.7 -- billion years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and sheds new light on the so-called 'impossible early galaxy problem.'

Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Gauging the strength of ancient and active rivers beyond Earth      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new technique allows scientists to see how intensely rivers used to flow on Mars, and how they currently flow on Titan. The method uses satellite observations to estimate the rate at which rivers move fluid and sediment downstream.

Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features
Published

Webb Telescope detects most distant active supermassive black hole      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered the most distant active supermassive black hole to date with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The galaxy, CEERS 1019, existed about 570 million years after the big bang, and its black hole is less massive than any other yet identified in the early universe.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing
Published

Finding the flux of quantum technology      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

We interact with bits and bytes everyday -- whether that's through sending a text message or receiving an email. There's also quantum bits, or qubits, that have critical differences from common bits and bytes. These photons -- particles of light -- can carry quantum information and offer exceptional capabilities that can't be achieved any other way. Unlike binary computing, where bits can only represent a 0 or 1, qubit behavior exists in the realm of quantum mechanics. Through "superpositioning," a qubit can represent a 0, a 1, or any proportion between. This vastly increases a quantum computer's processing speed compared to today's computers. Experts are now investigating the inside of a quantum-dot-based light emitter.

Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features
Published

Webb locates dust reservoirs in two supernovae      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have made major strides in confirming the source of dust in early galaxies. Observations of two Type II supernovae, Supernova 2004et (SN 2004et) and Supernova 2017eaw (SN 2017eaw), have revealed large amounts of dust within the ejecta of each of these objects. The mass found by researchers supports the theory that supernovae played a key role in supplying dust to the early universe.

Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Large sub-surface granite formation signals ancient volcanic activity on Moon's dark side      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A large formation of granite discovered below the lunar surface likely was formed from the cooling of molten lava that fed a volcano or volcanoes that erupted early in the Moon's history -- as long as 3.5 billion years ago.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

An easier way to learn quantum processes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists show that even a few simple examples are enough for a quantum machine-learning model, the 'quantum neural networks', to learn and predict the behavior of quantum systems, bringing us closer to a new era of quantum computing.

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

New image from James Webb Space Telescope reveals astonishing Saturn and its rings      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Saturn's iconic rings seem to glow eerily in this incredible infrared picture, which also unveils unexpected features in Saturn's atmosphere. This image serves as context for an observing program that will test the telescope's capacity to detect faint moons around the planet and its bright rings. Any newly discovered moons could help scientists put together a more complete picture of the current system of Saturn, as well as its past.