Next week we’ll see NASA’s supersonic plane without the sonic boom
NASA’s Supersonic Experimental Aircraft: Centerpiece of the Agency’s Project Mission Mission-Ready to leave its warehouse in the California desert next week. We’re buzzing for the big moment: The X-59 has been in development for six years and, if successful, will demonstrate supersonic flight without sonic booms.—Isaac Schultz read more
South Korea’s artificial sun is creating 100 million degrees of plasma
The Korea Fusion Energy Institute has installed a new diverter on the KSTAR tokamak, allowing the artificial sun to maintain ion temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius for longer. -Isaac Schultz read more
Good luck with pee because scientists have discovered why urine is yellow
Scientists say they have finally answered an age-old question: Why is our urine yellow? In new research, a team discovered an enzyme produced by gut bacteria that plays an important role in softening our urine. Curiosity aside, the discovery could help scientists better understand the gut microbiome and how it may contribute to certain health conditions, such as jaundice in newborns. -Ed Cara read more
The Quadrantids: How to see hundreds of shooting stars tonight
Meteor lovers, rejoice. The first big rain of the year is upon us. Here’s what you need to know if you want to catch a glimpse of these fireballs.
Located between the constellations Boots and Draco (near the Big Dipper), the Quadrantids were called Quadrans Muralis, a constellation now extinct. It’s an annual shower that peaks in early January and, in my meteor-loving opinion, is a great way to start each new year. -Isaac Schultz read more
ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch on Monday, a challenge for SpaceX
On Monday, January 8, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur finally made its maiden flight. ULA has been a rock in the spaceflight industry since its founding in 2006, and with this launch pending, the company is poised to take its next bold step into space. Here’s what you need to know about America’s latest rocket booster and how it could disrupt the field and compete with the ever-dominant SpaceX. -George Dvorsky read more
See wild new close-up images of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io
The weathered surface of Jupiter’s moon Io was revealed in great detail by the Juno spacecraft, which has been exploring the Jovian system since 2016 and recently made the closest flyby of the volcanic world. – Passant Rabi read more
SpaceX’s latest launch will bring Starlink to T-Mobile phones
SpaceX is preparing to test the ability of its Starlink satellites to connect directly to cell phones in the US, launching the first six satellites under a temporary license in hopes of extending their connectivity reach beyond cellular signals. Conventional.-Pasient Rabi read more
NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX skims the Sun on its way to a new asteroid target
New mission, who is it? The spacecraft, formerly known as OSIRIS-Rex, came suddenly close to the Sun as it followed an extended new path to another asteroid, using one of its solar arrays for shade. – Passant Rabi read more
The 1.75 billion year old fossil is the oldest record of oxygenic photosynthesis
The story of life on Earth cannot be told without photosynthesis, the process by which plants (and some other life forms) convert sunlight. in chemical energy. Now, a team of researchers has announced the discovery of fossil photosynthetic structures, the oldest known so far, dating back 1.75 billion years. -Isaac Schultz read more
Scientists have mildly assaulted people’s brains and made it easy to hypnotize them
Stanford University researchers say they’ve made a discovery one would expect to see in a piece of science fiction. In a randomized controlled trial published this week, there is evidence that people can become more susceptible to hypnosis with just two brief sessions of non-invasive brain stimulation. The findings suggest that brain stimulation may make hypnosis a more effective treatment for a variety of health conditions such as pain, although more extensive research will be needed to be sure.-Ed Cara read more
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