Science / 12

Third Potential Named Storm Has Formed In The Open Atlantic

May 30, 2020

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of developing Tropical Storm Bertha late on May 26. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 millibars. "On the forecast track, the center of Bertha will move onshore in the warning area in the next few hours and then move inland across eastern and northern SC later today and into west-central North Carolina by tonight", the NHC said in its morning statement.

'No Decision' on Next Launch Attempt for SpaceX-NASA Mission

May 30, 2020

There remains the potential for weather complicate Saturday's and Sunday's launch attempts. These are typically tall cumulus clouds or the anvils (or tops) of thunderstorm clouds. Demo-2 was initially set to launch two astronauts in a commercial spacecraft which would resurrect the United States' capability of launching their own astronauts and begin a new era of commercial space exploration.

Elon Musk earns performance-based Tesla payout worth $775M

May 30, 2020

The company said he had received the right to buy about 1.688 million shares of Tesla stock at a price of $350.02, which is where the stock was trading when the compensation package was set. To earn his full, $50 billion award, Musk would have to lead Tesla to a market cap of $650 billion by 2028. The company goals included a market cap averaging more than $100 billion for six months, and either annual revenue of $20 billion or adjusted earnings of $1.5 billion.

SpaceX Starship prototype destroyed after static-fire test

May 30, 2020

On Wednesday, the historic launch of a SpaceX rocket ship in Florida with two NASA astronauts set for the International Space Station was postponed due to bad weather, The Associated Press reported. Since that flight past year, SpaceX has developed multiple iterations of a full-scale prototype of Starship, but thus far they haven't gotten back to the point where they're actively flying any of those.

Storms threaten more delays as SpaceX prepares for new space attempt

May 29, 2020

Forecasters put the odds of acceptable weather conditions Saturday at 50-50, with the outlook improving to 60% favorable on Sunday. The launch team scrubbed the mission due to several weather issues, including rain, cumulus clouds and what NASA called "field mills".

NASA Head of Human Spaceflight Resigns Days Before Historic Manned Mission

May 29, 2020

His immediate duties, including issuing final OKs for the upcoming Demo-2 mission putting two astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule , will be fulfilled by Bowersox. Journalists were told to wear masks. Loverro took over the job in October from his predecessor, William Gerstenmaier, who was demoted and would eventually leave NASA.

Watch live right here as SpaceX launches NASA astronauts into space

May 29, 2020

The mission will mark the first crewed launch from USA soil in almost a decade. That's when the space station will be in the desired place relative to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida , Demo-2's launch site, explained Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president of mission assurance.

Astronomers used fast radio bursts to detect universe`s missing matter

May 29, 2020

He couldn't wait to tell his wife. Observations of very distant objects show us what the universe looked like billions of years ago, and after a certain point in time a huge amount of this matter just disappears. CSIRO's ASKAP measures the delay between the wavelengths of the FRB, allowing astronomers to calculate the density of the missing matter. As always, it will be good to see an independent team replicate these results, but we certainly seem to be getting closer to the truth.

Asteroid That Sealed The Dinosaurs' Fate Hit Earth At "Deadliest Possible" Angle

May 29, 2020

This is important because it can reveal how devastating the impact was, as very steep or very shallow impacts are thought to be less destructive. The research is described in a paper in the journal Nature Communications . What the team found was that the rock probably hit the surface at an angle between 45 and 60 degrees. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how the asteroid triggered a mass extinction event and why some species survived while others didn't.

Historic SpaceX launch postponed moments before liftoff due to bad weather

May 28, 2020

Mr Behnken and Mr Hurley were chosen by Nasa to be astronauts in 2000. They were to blast off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Of course, the Speedmaster's relationship with NASA goes back even further. If NASA can entrust "low Earth orbit" space travel to the private sector, it would free up dollars for its more distant missions .

SpaceX launch cancelled due to bad weather

May 28, 2020

The first human orbital spaceflight from the United States in almost nine years came within 17 minutes of launch May 27 before weather conditions postponed the launch. EST. Everybody was ready today, and we appreciate that and the ship was great. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to visit Florida's Cape Canaveral to view the launch in person.

NHS is 'Investigating' Switching Its Contact Tracing App to Apple's API

May 28, 2020

The UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has announced that it will publish a report on 8 May detailing its findings on the NHS's contact-tracing app, and has issued early warnings that the app might breach data privacy laws in its current state.

First heat warning of the season issued for Greater Sudbury

May 28, 2020

Environment Canada issues heat warnings when "very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion". "The scorching heat expected over the next few days and the pandemic context in which we find ourselves make the situation more complex for Montrealers looking for a bit of coolness", the city wrote in a statement .

Asteroid that killed dinosaurs 'hit Earth at deadliest possible angle'

May 28, 2020

This information and other data were used to build a model that simulated the formation of the Chicxulub crater , determining the direction from which the asteroid came and the angle. "Regardless of being buried beneath nearly a kilometre of sedimentary rocks, it's outstanding that geophysical information reveals a lot in regards to the crater construction - sufficient to explain the path and angle of the affect", stated Dr Auriol Rae of the College of Freiburg, a co-author on the research.

How to watch SpaceX's historic crewed launch Wednesday

May 28, 2020

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are set to board the SpaceX Dragon capsule and make the trip to the International Space Station. A quartet of current and former astronauts and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will offer expert insight for the program, which also will feature an interview with astronaut Chris Cassidy from the ISS .

PM says a "national conversation" is needed about future of long-term healthcare

May 27, 2020

It's disgusting", an emotional Ford said as he grasped for words. A Canadian province has launched an investigation into five Ontario elder care homes following the release of a "deeply disturbing" report. "Effective immediately, we have begun the process of taking over management at five additional homes in the system that we are now most concerned about", the premier said at a news conference Wednesday.

Trump delivers remarks after Space X launch

May 27, 2020

In addition to good weather at the launch site, relatively calm waves and wind up the USA and Canadian seaboard and across the North Atlantic to Ireland are also needed, in case astronauts Hurley and Behnken need to make an emergency splashdown along the route to orbit.

NASA to send astronauts into space in milestone launch

May 27, 2020

In 2011, NASA ended its space shuttle program - and with it, its ability to send astronauts into space . Orbiting about 250 miles above Earth, the station-about the size of a football field-typically houses six astronauts who conduct scientific experiments.

Tom Cruise’s movie in space to be directed by Doug Liman

May 27, 2020

Knowing Cruise, he will probably want to pilot the space rocket himself as well. Tesla chief Elon Musk and Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise have found the director for their film that they plan to shoot aboard the International Space Station.

Astronomers Find Giant Collisional Ring Galaxy in Early Universe | Astronomy

May 27, 2020

Lead scientist Dr Tiantian Yuan , from Australia's ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions ( ASTRO 3D ) claimed, " It is a very curious object that we've never seen before ". The report said researchers believe the galaxy "formed and grew" via a method astronomers call "cold-mode accretion". Astronomers are calling it the Wolfe Disk after the late astronomer Arthur M.

Stormy Florida Weather May Delay Wednesday’s SpaceX Astronaut Launch

May 27, 2020

The Dragon spacecraft, which can carry seven passengers and significant cargo, will be launched into space by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The event, called Launch America, will be unprecedented in many ways, from the use of SpaceX's new technology to the goals of the mission itself.

NASA and SpaceX confirm SpaceX’s first ever astronaut launch is a ‘go’

May 27, 2020

The last time NASA sent a crew up in an entirely new vehicle was in 1981 with the launch of the Space Shuttle . The special will feature exclusive interviews with former NASA astronaut and three-time spaceflyer Cady Coleman , current NASA astronaut Christina Koch (who recently finished a almost year-long mission in space) and a host of scientists and NASA officials.

Elon Musk's SpaceX raises US$346M ahead of debut astronaut mission

May 27, 2020

A crucial decision point will come at T-minus-45 minutes, when the go-ahead is due to be given for arming the Dragon's launch escape system and fueling up the Falcon 9 rocket with highly refined kerosene and liquid oxygen. Demo-2 is created to be a test flight to confirm the performance of the spacecraft, and was originally meant to spend only a couple weeks in space.

Climate change turning Antarctica's snow green, study finds

May 27, 2020

They're also influenced by marine birds and mammals, whose natural fertilizer acts as an accelerant. Using data from ESA's Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission and two field campaigns, a team of United Kingdom scientists has identified 1,679 blooms of Antarctic green snow algae, seasonally covering 1.95 km and equating to 1,300 tons total dry biomass.

Heat Warning issued for Perth County

May 27, 2020

Those temperatures are expected to persist into Thursday, although the humidex will drop to the 30 C range. The warning, issued at 11:10 a.m. for Montreal, Laval and the Longueuil-Varennes area, predicts the humidex will surpass 40 C on Wednesday, as temperatures remain in the low 30s.

Musk's SpaceX prepares for upcoming astronaut mission, renewing NASA's crewed launch program

May 27, 2020

NASA and SpaceX think that heavy rain and lightning during launch can affect Falcon 9. Crew Dragon, sitting atop the 23-story-tall Falcon-9 rocket, will join the ranks of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle, that is if all goes according to plan.

SpaceX and NASA launch historic Falcon 9 flight with USA crew

May 26, 2020

Today's conclusion of the Launch Readiness Review confirms that both the NASA and SpaceX teams feel comfortable and assured that the launch vehicle and her crew are safe and ready to fly. SpaceX and NASA will be paying close attention to the weather between now and Wednesday, and since this is a highly sensitive mission with actual astronauts on board the spacecraft, you can bet that they'll err on the side of caution for scrubbing the launch if weather isn't looking good.

Astronauts prepare for landmark SpaceX launch: what you need to know

May 26, 2020

Known as Demonstration Mission 2 (Demo-2), it will be Crew Dragon's second orbital launch, third launch on a Falcon 9 rocket, and - most importantly - the United States' first domestic astronaut launch in nearly a decade. However, Wednesday's launch will be the first time that the company will be sending humans into space. Disruptive weather is looking more and more likely on Wednesday as a tropical disturbance lingers around the eastern coast of Florida .

Moon mission: NASA seeks candidates for 8-month isolation

May 26, 2020

The Mars mission is among a number of new space projects China is pursuing, including putting Chinese astronauts on the moon and having a space station by 2022. Compensation is available for participating in the mission. As far as compensation goes, NASA is somewhat vague on the details but does promise "different levels of compensation depending upon whether or not you are associated with NASA or if you are a NASA employee or contractor".

NASA administrator discusses 'Launch America' with OAN

May 26, 2020

The launch will see the pair leave the U.S. to dock at the International Space Station nineteen hours later, where they will spend 19 hours on orbit, with orbit-raising burns and also a manual flight test. Hurley is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2, and will handle launch, landing and recovery. Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 are now vertical at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) after completing a critical static fire test and dry dress rehearsal .

Scientists anxious over Earth's weakening magnetic field; swarm satellites to investigate

May 25, 2020

He added, "We are very lucky to have the Swarm satellites in orbit to investigate the development of the South Atlantic Anomaly". The satellites that are having technical difficulties because of this phenomenon are explicitly created to detect and calculate the different magnetic signals that make up the magnetic field of the Earth."Over the last decade, the current eastern minimum for the South Atlantic Anomaly has emerged and has been growing vigorously in recent years", said Jürgen ...

Model X to Carry Astronauts to Launchpad for 'Demo-2' Mission

May 25, 2020

They will be part of the SpaceX's Demo-2 mission. NASA clarified that although people globally were under various forms of quarantine to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the astronauts' new constraints are standard. If possible, astronauts have the opportunity to spend quarantine at home. The coronavirus, which attacks the lungs, typically triggers symptoms such as dry cough and fever.

Trump to attend Florida launch of SpaceX flight: White House

May 25, 2020

They had been training at their home base in Houston, Texas. The astronauts are set to launch from Kennedy on a test mission to the International Space Station, or ISS, on Wednesday, May 27. Behnken called it "an awesome time to be an astronaut, with a new spacecraft". Bob Behnken - will be in the capsule when it lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center next week.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon arrives for its date with destiny

May 25, 2020

NASA is less than a week away from launching humans into space from United States soil for the first time since the Space Shuttle era. Top officials at the USA space agency and Elon Musk's company had been meeting since Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final checks of the Crew Dragon space capsule ahead of its maiden May 27 crewed mission.

Trump to attend manned SpaceX launch - should journalists be anxious?

May 24, 2020

The astronauts are scheduled to blast off in SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and head to the International Space Station ( ISS ) as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP), the space agency announced on Saturday. Part of the reason the launch is so historic is that it makes the country no longer reliant on Russian Federation for seats to space. Wayne Hale, a retired space shuttle flight director and program manager who serves on the NASA Advisory Council, views SpaceX's upcoming ...

Thailand begins coronavirus vaccine trials on monkeys

May 24, 2020

He explained that accelerating efforts to develop the coronavirus vaccine in this way is "not compromising in any way the safety or the scientific integrity". These experiences allowed them to begin testing the new vaccine on February 25. A single vaccine may not be enough to meet the world's needs, as Dr. Fauci said in a document.

Will virus keep Florida spectators from astronaut launch?

May 24, 2020

The launch will mark the first time NASA astronauts have blasted off from US soil since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. Before leaving for Florida, Hurley said: "It's an incredible time for Nasa and the space programme as it again launches U.S.

Chinese City Wuhan Confirms Ban On Trade, Eating Of Wild Animals

May 23, 2020

Nearly all hunting has been banned within the city limits unless it is government sanctioned for "scientific research, population regulation, monitoring of epidemic diseases and other special circumstances". A civet cat, the wild animal believes to have carried SARS to humans in another outbreak nearly two decades ago, will fetch 600 yuan. PETA spokeswoman Emily Rice said: "Another pandemic is inevitable if we fail to learn from this one, which is why PETA is calling on the World Health ...

NASA Scientists Detect Parallel Universe Where Time Runs Backward

May 23, 2020

There is a constant "wind' of high-energy particles coming from space some of which are a million times more powerful than anything generated on Earth". Again, as the media says, NASA has not come up discovering the parallel universe, but it has given the chance of imagination what the parallel universe would look like if it really exists.

Earth`s magnetic field weakens; satellites and spacecrafts malfunction

May 23, 2020

However, according to reports, that magnetic field is now weakening. Over the past two centuries the Earth has lost about 9% of the magnetic field. One most speculated reason behind this is that there is a chance that the time for Earth's pole reversal is coming near.

NASA gives go-ahead for first crewed SpaceX flight on May 27

May 23, 2020

Elon Musk's company is gearing up for the Wednesday (May 27) launch of the Demo-2 mission , which will send NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. "We're living the dream", he said. That'll be next week, to the rocket launch. There'll be a final launch readiness review on Monday, leading up to Wednesday's launch day with President Donald Trump and other VIPs in attendance.

COVID-19: Wuhan officially bans eating wild animals

May 22, 2020

Zoonotic diseases like coronavirus can easily spread from animals to humans at wet markets. For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za . According to CBS News , Wuhan's government will offer farmers cash payouts to stop breeding wild and exotic animals.

Distillate Demand Down by 7% Over Year: IEA

May 22, 2020

The agency, which had expected 2020 to be a bumper year for green energy, slashed its two-year forecast for growth in renewable capacity by almost 10 percent. "However, uncertainty remains over projects that had planned to secure their financing this year and become operational next year", it added. Birol said the resilience of the renewables industry can not be taken for granted, and warned governments against reining in clean energy spending to weather the looming economic crisis wrought ...

Climate change turns parts of Antarctica green: ‘Beginning of a new ecosystem’

May 22, 2020

Although often considered devoid of plant life, Antarctica is home to several types of algae, which grow on slushy snow and suck carbon dioxide from the air. The team calculated that algae on the peninsula now absorb levels of Carbon dioxide equivalent to 875,000 average vehicle journeys. Blooms of green snow algae were found to grow in the warmer regions of the continent, where average temperatures are just above 0C during the summer months.

Astronomers spot likely first evidence of a new planet being born

May 21, 2020

The space-focused researchers think they've spotted the phenomenon around 520 light-years away from Earth . This twist lies at about the same distance from the AB Aurigae star as Neptune from the sun. It's also believed to be responsible for the shape of spiral galaxies and interactions between Saturn's moons and rings, but in this case it's important because it indicates a crucial sign in planet formation .

Global emissions down by 17% amid pandemic restrictions

May 21, 2020

The 17-percent decline in Carbon dioxide emissions compared to 2019 levels came in early April, when confinement measures around the world were at their peak. While air travel has been significantly impacted by restrictions on worldwide travel, the overall impact on global emissions was comparatively small.

Storm Arthur nears North Carolina coast

May 21, 2020

East Coast. The Hurricane Center said Arthur was moving northeast at 16 miles per hour (26 kph) Monday on a path expected to take its center away from the North Carolina coast, as it takes a more eastward path into Tuesday. The Bermuda Weather Service forecast for today said: "Tropical Storm Arthur will pass to our distant northwest tomorrow before it is then projected to re-curve and possibly pass to our near north as a post-tropical system".

Astronauts arrive for NASA’s 1st home launch in decade

May 21, 2020

To celebrate the class of 2020 - from kindergarten to graduate school - SpaceX and NASA are inviting students from around the world to submit their photo to fly on America's first human spaceflight in almost a decade. NASA test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken flew to Florida from Houston aboard one of the space agency's jets. Col. Hurley, 53, who piloted the final USA space shuttle mission in 2011, said it's "an exciting time to be in the space business".

US Air Force Launches Mysterious X-37B Plane for Space Experiments

May 20, 2020

The X-37B runs various missions for the USA, though its specific aims are actually classified. The X-37B is 29 feet long (nine meters), with a wing span of 15 feet (4.5 meters). The Air Force said in a statement that its launch honors all front-line workers and responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those who have been affected by the outbreak.

NASA's human spaceflight chief ousted just before big launch

May 20, 2020

Doug Loverro , NASA's associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, has abruptly and unexpectedly resigned from his post, just days before a historic launch . He served in that capacity from the time Gerstenmaier was reassigned last July to when Loverro started at the beginning of December. The immediate effect of Loverro's departure is hard to calculate.

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