Category Astronomy/Space

Snapshot of gravitational waves propagating from binary black holes merging inside of a star. Credit: Kyoto University, Joseph M. Fedrow

Far from earth, two black holes orbit around each other propagating waves that bend time and space. Gravitational waves was first predicted by Albert Einstein over a century ago on the basis of his theory of general relativity. And as always: Einstein was right. But it took until 2015 for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory to detect gravitational waves for the first time: findings which earned the LIGO team the Nobel Prize in physics two years later. In addition to the shockwave this discovery sent across the scientific community, it also gave researchers the new field of gravitational wave astronomy...

The airplane in which Flagship researchers performed experiment in microgravity. Operated by Novespace, the plane makes special maneuvers to create zero gravity conditions inside the plane. Credit: Graphene Flagship

In a successful collaboration between the Graphene Flagship and the ESA, experiments testing graphene for two different space-related applications have shown extremely promising results. Based on these results, the Flagship are continuing to develop graphene devices for use in space. “Graphene as we know has a lot of opportunities. One of them, recognised early on, is space applications, and this is the first time that graphene has been tested in space-like applications, worldwide,” said Prof...

VLT image of Saturn’s giant vortex at mid-infrared wavelengths. Credit: European Space Agency

Cassini mission study into immense northern storms on Saturn. Immense northern storms on Saturn can disturb atmospheric patterns at the planet’s equator, finds the international Cassini mission in a study led by Dr Leigh Fletcher from the University of Leicester. This effect is also seen in Earth’s atmosphere, suggesting the two planets are more alike than previously thought.

Despite their considerable differences, the atmospheres of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn all display a remarkably similar phenomenon in their equatorial regions: vertical, cyclical, downwards-moving patterns of alternating temperatures and wind systems that repeat over a period of multiple years...

The CubeSat just before it was brought into the launch facility. Credit: University of Colorado Boulder

Charged particles in Earth’s inner radiation belt created by cosmic rays born from supernova explosions. CubeSats, named for the roughly 4-inch-cubed dimensions of their basic building elements, are stacked with smartphone-like electronics and tiny scientific instruments. Built mainly by students and hitching rides into orbit on NASA and U.S. Department of Defense launch vehicles, the small, low-cost satellites have been making history.

Now, results from a new study using CubeSats indicate that energetic electrons in Earth’s inner radiation belt – primarily near its inner edge – are created by cosmic rays born from supernova explosions, said scientist Xinlin Li of the University of Color...