Image: A lab with a view

London, UK (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
An international team of scientists has successfully modeled the formation and evolution of some of the most powerful magnetic fields in the Universe. Led by researchers from Newcastle University, the University of Leeds, and institutions in France, the study was recently published in Nature Astronomy. The findings reveal that the Tayler-Spruit dynamo, activated by fallback material from s

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Can copper be turned into gold? While ancient alchemists pursued this elusive goal, modern science knows such a transformation requires nuclear reactions. However, some materials, like graphite and diamond, share the same atomic composition-pure carbon-yet differ vastly due to atomic arrangement. While converting graphite into diamond demands extreme heat and pressure, a more practical material

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
In a significant technological milestone, ESA has commenced the large-scale migration of Galileo's Control Centres, a complex endeavor that engaged over 200 experts from ESA, industry partners, and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). This marks the start of a comprehensive modernization effort aimed at upgrading Galileo's Ground Segment, a globally dispersed network of operational sit

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
For the first time, astronomers have successfully detected and analyzed the magnetic field surrounding a young star in a region where planetary formation is believed to be underway. By using dust as a tracer, researchers have mapped out the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field, shedding new light on the processes that shape planetary systems. Planets emerge within swirling clo

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Researchers using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission have identified an enormous exoplanet and a brown dwarf, marking a first in planetary discovery via Gaia's ability to detect stellar wobbles caused by gravitational interactions. These objects, found orbiting low-mass stars, present an unusual scenario that challenges established theories of planetary formation. A new stu

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 10, 2025
The search for life beyond Earth is among the most ambitious scientific quests. One promising method is to locate motile microorganisms, capable of self-propelled movement, which serves as a strong biological indicator. If such movement is driven by a specific chemical, it is referred to as chemotaxis. A team of German researchers has now introduced a new and simplified technique to stimul

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
The SETI Institute has introduced the Davie Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence for Astronomy, inviting researchers to enhance machine learning pipelines for exoplanet detection. The selected fellow will collaborate with Dr. Vishal Gajjar and his research team, along with partners at the SETI Institute and IIT Tirupati in India. This initiative aims to advance supervised con

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has secured a contract with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to design and develop the Emirates Crew and Science Airlock Module for the Lunar Gateway station orbiting the Moon. The signing ceremony, held in Abu Dhabi, included the presence of Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 06, 2025
Venturi Astrolab (Astrolab) and Astrobotic have confirmed that the Astrolab FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover will be transported to the Moon aboard Astrobotic's Griffin lander as part of Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1). The rover will be deployed at the Nobile Region near the lunar south pole, with the mission slated for late 2025. Originally designed to carry NASA's VIPER payload und