Pompeii, Italy (AFP) April 19, 2024
Pompeii is shining a light on mysterious rites of ancient Rome thanks to terracotta-style solar roof tiles installed on one of its most famous villas.
The traditional-looking tiles have solar photovoltaic cells inside, allowing the UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve its aesthetics while generating clean energy to illuminate its frescoes.
And though the project is in its early stages,
London, UK (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
A study conducted by The University of Manchester highlights significant health and environmental risks from the informal recycling of lead-acid batteries used in off-grid solar systems in Malawi. These batteries are essential for providing electricity in regions without traditional power grids, a crucial step towards broader electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers noted
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
Lithium, known for its reactivity and essential role in lithium-ion batteries, is critical for sustainable energy technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. Given the surge in lithium demand, researchers are looking into less conventional sources beyond the primary ones such as pegmatites and volcanic clays.
A promising avenue is being explored by a team from
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are advancing fusion technology by integrating two established plasma control methods-electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) and resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP). This combination has shown promising results in improving plasma management, crucial for generating electricity through fusion.
The t
Ottawa (AFP) April 22, 2024
Negotiators from 175 countries are meeting from Tuesday in Canada to nail down a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution with many sticking points to be resolved five months after the last round of talks in Kenya.
Nations in 2022 agreed to finalize by the end of this year a world-first UN treaty to address the scourge of plastics found everywhere from mountain tops to ocean depths, an
Paris (AFP) April 19, 2024
At the Nona Source showroom in northern Paris, designers pick through luxurious textiles with ornate names: curly alpaca, geometrical macrame guipure, silk diamond cloque Jacquard.
What makes them really exotic, however, is that they all come from "deadstocks" - the leftovers designers discard when they have finished with a roll of fabric.
Until recently, it was common for deadstocks
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
A recent study featured in Engineering has demonstrated significant carbon storage capabilities in shale reservoirs when using CO2 fracturing technology. This research, a joint effort by PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (Beijing), the National Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Oil (Daqing), and China University of Petroleum (Beijing), marks a major step to
Vienna (AFP) April 19, 2024
There has been no damage to Iranian nuclear sites following explosions Friday in the centre of Iran that have been described as Israeli revenge attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
"IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran's nuclear sites," the Vienna-based agency said on X, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
The agency called for "extrem
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
Zeolites are critical in various industries, yet understanding their catalytic properties remains challenging due to the complexity of hydroxyl-aluminum groups. Comprehensive atomic-scale analysis is vital for unraveling the catalytic activity of zeolites and for the development of efficient catalysts. Many factors, such as low quantities, meta-stable properties, and structural similarities, oft
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
A collaboration of scientists from Argonne National Laboratory and universities has proven the existence of a rare phase of matter combining elements of both crystal and glass, known as Bragg glass. This discovery, using advanced X-ray and machine learning techniques, marks a significant milestone in understanding complex material structures.
Crystals and glasses, while often appearing sim
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
MDA Space (TSX: MDA) has been granted a $250 million contract extension by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to continue its support for robotics operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The extended contract, effective from 2025 to 2030, assigns new responsibilities to MDA Space, including the role of robotics flight controllers.
"Robotics flight controllers are the pilots i
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
Silicon-based electronics are nearing their physical limits, necessitating the exploration of new materials to meet technological advancements. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, known for their diverse properties such as superconductivity and magnetism, are emerging as viable alternatives for electronic components like transistors. The challenge lies in controlling these properties, which is a com
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 23, 2024
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method that could enhance the precision of measuring time by leveraging the properties of superradiant atoms. This approach aims to address some of the existing limitations of modern atomic clocks, which are crucial in technologies ranging from GPS systems to space travel.
The second, as a unit of measurement, is defined with gre
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
D-Orbit has announced a collaboration with SkyServe to integrate edge computing on the SkyServe STORM platform, utilizing the ION Satellite Carriers. This partnership aims to enhance in-orbit data processing capabilities significantly.
As part of Mission Matterhorn, the SkyServe STORM platform will utilize D-Orbit's real-time earth observation data, computational power, and data distributi
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
Organic compounds vital for life, peptides, which are integral to numerous biological functions, have been found to form on cosmic dust particles even in environments thought inhospitable due to the presence of water. This discovery was made by Dr. Serge Krasnokutski and his team at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy's Astrophysics Laboratory in collaboration with the University of Poitiers.
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided new insights into Io, one of Jupiter's moons, through detailed animations derived from recent flybys. These visuals spotlight a towering mountain and a vast lake of cooling lava named Loki Patera. The mission, powered by solar energy, has also delivered updates on Jupiter's polar cyclones and its water content.
Scott Bolton, Juno's principal investigator
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
Tsinghua University's latest research emphasizes the critical importance of in situ lunar construction as we shift from exploration to the establishment of Moon habitats. Focusing on regolith solidification and formation, the study, led by Professor Feng, evaluates nearly 20 techniques for creating building materials directly from lunar soil, aiming to maximize efficiency and reduce dependency o
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
Using a vast archive of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope images, astronomers have identified a previously unseen group of small main-belt asteroids. This discovery involved analyzing over 37,000 images collected by Hubble over 19 years, leading to the detection of 1,701 asteroid trails, 1,031 of which had not been cataloged previously. Notably, around 400 of these are smaller than one kilometer i
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has introduced a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines, designed to improve several performance metrics of rocket engines such as thrust levels, specific impulse, and thrust-to-weight ratios, ultimately enhancing the payload capacity of launch vehicles.
The innovation was developed by ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSS
London, UK (SPX) Apr 19, 2024
Orbex, a prominent UK spaceflight company, has announced a GBP 16.7 million investment from a consortium of six key investors as part of an extension to its Series C funding round, bringing its total raised funds to GBP 102 million. This investment will support the acceleration of its 19-meter long, two-stage rocket, Prime, designed for launching small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. The rocket
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
Researchers at the University of Helsinki's Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) have demonstrated that modern weather prediction models can estimate the energy Earth emits and reflects into space. This energy influences the trajectories of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Utilizing these models, the team, led by Sanam Motlaghzadeh, a doctoral researcher funded by the Ness
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 23, 2024
Galileo, born in the Netherlands in the 1990s and developed at ESA's ESTEC in Noordwijk, stands today as a testament to European innovation and technological ambition. This satellite navigation system has evolved into the largest and most complex constellation and ground segment in Europe, playing a pivotal role in various sectors including agriculture, search and rescue, robotics, and more.
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) successfully launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province at 7:45 am on Sunday, delivering the new Yaogan 42B remote-sensing satellite into its planned orbit.
The Yaogan 42B, the newest member of China's expanding remote-sensing satellite fleet, is designed to enhance Earth obs
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2024
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), known for their immense bursts of gamma radiation, are among the universe's most intense phenomena, with energy outputs surpassing the sun's expected lifetime production in mere seconds. Originating from the research team at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Dr. Jon Hakkila has spearheaded new findings published in The Astrophysical Journal, along with co-au
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2024
Though Venus is a harsh environment with extreme temperatures and toxic clouds, it provides crucial data on the conditions that might limit life on other planets, according to a recent study.
"Earth is often seen as a model for habitability; however, without comparing it to other planets, we remain unaware of the potential boundaries," stated Stephen Kane, UC Riverside astrophysicist and l