Category: Science

(BBC): Australia has unveiled a defence agency focused on space, designed to counter Russia and China’s ambitions. Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the Defence Space Command would secure Australia’s place in the cosmos. Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, who will lead it, said she was “scared” by Australia’s inability to combat Beijing and Moscow’s activities. The… Continue reading Australia announces new ‘Space Command’ defense agency

(AP): NASA’s new space telescope has gazed into the distant universe and shown perfect vision: a spiky image of a faraway star photobombed by thousands of ancient galaxies. The image released Wednesday from the James Webb Space Telescope is a test shot — not an official science observation — to see how its 18 hexagonal… Continue reading Space telescope’s image of star gets photobombed by galaxies

(BBC): Researchers believe there may be a planet that could sustain life, in the vicinity of a dying sun. If confirmed, this would be the first time that a potentially life-supporting planet has been found orbiting such a star, called a “white dwarf”. The planet was detected in the star’s “habitable zone”, where it’s neither… Continue reading Life could exist on planet orbiting ‘white dwarf’ star

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP): SpaceX and NASA are investigating a parachute issue that occurred on the last two capsule flights. One of the four main parachutes was slow to inflate during the return of four astronauts to Earth last November. The same thing happened last week as a Dragon cargo capsule was bringing back science… Continue reading SpaceX, NASA looking into sluggish chutes on last 2 flights

(AP): Get ready to learn more Greek letters. Scientists warn that omicron’s whirlwind advance practically ensures it won’t be the last version of the coronavirus to worry the world. Every infection provides a chance for the virus to mutate, and omicron has an edge over its predecessors: It spreads way faster despite emerging on a… Continue reading Expect more worrisome variants after omicron, scientists say

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP): NASA’s new space telescope opened its huge, gold-plated, flower-shaped mirror Saturday, the final step in the observatory’s dramatic unfurling. The last portion of the 21-foot (6.5-meter) mirror swung into place at flight controllers’ command, completing the unfolding of the James Webb Space Telescope. “I’m emotional about it. What an amazing milestone.… Continue reading Space telescope’s ‘golden eye’ opens, last major hurdle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP): NASA’s new space telescope is on the verge of completing the riskiest part of its mission — unfolding and tightening a huge sunshade — after ground controllers fixed a pair of problems, officials said Monday. The tennis court-size sunshield on the James Webb Space Telescope is now fully open and in… Continue reading NASA’s new space telescope ‘hunky-dory’ after problems fixed

BERLIN (AP): Germany on Friday is shutting down half of the six nuclear plants it still has in operation, a year before the country draws the final curtain on its decades-long use of atomic power. The decision to phase out nuclear power and shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy was first taken by the… Continue reading Germany shuts down half of its 6 remaining nuclear plants

(BBC): Elon Musk is facing a social media backlash after China complained that its space station was forced to avoid collisions with satellites launched by his Starlink Internet Services project. The country’s space station had two “close encounters” with Starlink satellites this year, Beijing claimed. The incidents behind the complaints, lodged with the UN’s space… Continue reading Elon Musk criticised after China space complaint to UN

(AP): The world’s largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away Saturday on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas… Continue reading Space telescope launched on daring quest to behold 1st stars