The Simpsons predict the future after scientists plan artificial solar eclipse
This is what Mr Burns, the billionaire tyrant, asked the residents of Springfield in a 1996 episode of The Simpsons.
And soon, a group of scientists can say they have.
A UK-led space mission will see astronomers blot out the Sun by using a satellite, once again proving that The Simpsons can predict the future.
The Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission (MESOM), unveiled yesterday at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting, hopes that human-made solar eclipses will help us understand the Sun.
A small satellite will be blasted into a special orbit that allows it to align with the Moon's shadow roughly once every lunar month, or 29.6 days.
Solar eclipses don't sound like much – they happen when the Moon comes between us and the Sun.
But the sight of the silhouette of the Moon eating into the yellow orb of the Sun is a celestial marvel.
The Moon is about 400 times smaller than the Sun, but is 400 times closer to us – when the two align, they're about the same size in the sky.
Sometimes only a small chunk of the Sun is obscured, leading to a partial solar eclipse. Earth can also elbow its way between the Sun and the Moon, which is called a lunar eclipse.
Total solar eclipses aren't a common sight, occurring once every 18 months and can be as short as 10 seconds, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.
But MESOM aims to create 80 of them, each nearly 50 minutes long, across two years.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The artificial solar eclipse will recreate totality – the moment the Moon completely covers the Sun. During this, wispy white strings of light from the Sun's atmosphere, or corona, are visible.
It's these wisps that are of interest to scientists, with eclipses being one of the few times the innermost corona is visible.
But like children being told not to look at the Sun with the naked eye, scientists struggle to get a good look at the corona because of how bright the Sun is, Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Jake Foster told Metro.
'We happen to be extremely lucky here on Earth that total solar eclipses occur, because in the brief few moments that the Moon completely blocks the Sun's surface from view, we can see and study its atmosphere, known as the corona,' he said.
To get around this, MESOM will observe the technologically blocked-out Sun from space. The orbital spacecraft will get up, close and personal with our star – it'll be 56,000km close to the Sun.
The satellite has a high-resolution coronal imager, a very powerful camera, and a corona mass spectrometer that can track the plasma that the Sun spits out.
They'll also use a spectropolarimeter. While it sounds like something that can detect ghosts, the instrument can pick up sunspots, cool, dark spots of the Sun twisted by its magnetic field.
By doing so, the international researchers will be able to forecast space weather better, such as solar storms, the Sun's energy smashing into the Earth, which can cause blackouts and power grid failures. More Trending
Foster said: 'This could rapidly accelerate our chances to answer the big unsolved mysteries of the Sun, such as why its atmosphere (the corona) is so much hotter than its surface.
'Also, the chance to study and better understand space weather caused by the Sun is invaluable, since its effects on the Earth's electrical systems can be devastating if powerful enough.'
The MESOM team submitted their proposal to the European Space Agency's F-class mission call in May. F-class missions are quick and easy projects – at least, in the world of multi-million pound world of space tech.
If given the green light, they expect to start work on MESOM as early as 2026.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Earth is spinning so fast that today will be shorter – but is time going faster?
MORE: Here's how to see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower just around the corner
MORE: Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since 1949 — this is the epiphany it brings your star sign
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Whole new meaning to brushing your teeth... toothpaste made from human HAIR can halt decay
Scientists believe they have found a new weapon to fight tooth decay. The researchers discovered that toothpaste made from human hair can repair damaged teeth better than fluoride-based products – and even completely halt the early stages of decay. They hope the treatments, made using keratin extracted from hair or wool, could be applied either in the form of a toothpaste or as a nail varnish-like gel for more targeted repairs. And the good news is that it could be available in as little as two to three years. Senior author Dr Sherif Elsharkawy, from King's College London, said: 'With further development and the right industry partnerships, we may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut.' Teeth are covered in a hard outer layer called enamel which protects the sensitive inner layers from damage. Although it is the hardest substance in the human body – even stronger than your bones – acidic foods and drinks, and poor dental hygiene can wear enamel away. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, pain and even tooth loss in extreme cases. 'Enamel does not regenerate, once it is lost, it's gone for ever,' said Dr Elsharkawy. Toothpastes with high levels of fluoride can help slow down this process, but they cannot stop it. In the paper, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, Dr Elsharkawy says keratin from hair and wool can permanently restore tooth strength. Keratin is a fibrous protein naturally produced by our bodies that makes up our hair, nails and the outer layer of our skin. The researchers found that, when keratin is applied to teeth, it forms a dense mineral layer which mimics the structure and function of enamel. Waste hair from hairdressers or excess wool from farms could be recycled into toothpaste, meaning dentists could offer a more eco-friendly option that is more effective than current treatments. Author Sara Gamea, a PhD candidate at King's College, told the Daily Mail: 'Because hair is abundant, renewable and often discarded as waste, it provides a sustainable and cost-effective source.'
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Jeff Bezos ‘obsessed' with making wife Lauren Sanchez next Bond girl
Jeff Bezos is 'obsessed' with casting his wife Lauren Sanchez in the latest Bond film, Hollywood insiders have claimed. The Amazon founder is reportedly pushing the makers of Bond 26 to consider Sanchez, a journalist, trained pilot, and one-time astronaut, for a role as the latest Bond girl. Since Ursula Andress first hit screens as the original Bond girl in 1961 playing Honey Ryder in Dr No, the role of the fictional spy's love interest has become a coveted one. The role, which has become almost as iconic as that of Mr Bond himself, has been played by the likes of Eva Green, Honor Blackman, Halle Berry and Jane Seymour. 'This isn't just fantasy casting - Jeff wants her on screen, period,' a Hollywood source told Rob Shuter, a British gossip blogger and former executive editor of OK! magazine's US edition. The insider added that the billionaire is 'obsessed' with finding a role for his wife, 55, in the new film, which is slated for release next year or early 2027. Despite fervent speculation, it's still not clear who will replace Daniel Craig as 007 in the film. The actor bowed out of the franchise after starring in No Time To Die in 2021. The films director was announced as Denis Villeneuve, the French-Canadian filmmaker behind the Dune franchise, in July. Bezos, the third-wealthiest person in the world, took over the franchise when he acquired MGM as part of a takeover of MGM studios by Amazon in 2022. The original producing founders of the Bond franchise, the Broccoli family, controlled the franchise since the first 007 film, Dr No, in 1962. Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman bought the rights to Ian Fleming's spy novels in 1961 and set up the British studio Eon Productions, in London. Bezos's takeover sparked concern the beloved British spy and his adventures would become 'commercialised', with author William Boyd warning fans they would soon see '007 theme parks'. 'Certainly wait for Bond aftershave – and for the theme park and the dinner jackets,' he told The Observer. 'The new owners will have to commodify everything about their billion-dollar purchase, so there will be nightclubs and vodkas.' Shortly after acquiring the Bond franchise, Bezos tweeted: 'Who'd you pick as the next Bond?' prompting a flurry of posts from concerned fans who begged him: 'Please don't ruin this franchise'. Others urged the 61-year-old to be true to Mr Bond's roots and keep him a Brit. According to Mr Shuster's Substack, the Amazon mogul can 'do what he wants' with the films, after handing over a rumoured $8.5m (£6.3m). While Sanchez is not well known for her acting, she has featured in a number of films. Sanchez played a television journalist in Fight Club, and made minor appearances in The Day After Tomorrow, Fantastic Four, and White House Down.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
Perseid meteor shower: When and how to watch the celestial spectacle
Stargazers will have their best chance to see the annual Perseid meteor shower on Tuesday night. The Perseid shower can contain 50 to 100 meteors per hour, and has been described by Nasa as the 'most popular meteor shower of the year'. Here is everything you need to know about how and when to catch the display in the skies above Britain. What is the Perseid meteor shower? Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a stream of meteoroids, which are pieces of debris left behind by a comet. In the case of the Perseid shower, the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle has passed through the solar system and left a giant, invisible trail of space debris. Upon coming into contact with the Earth's atmosphere, the debris burns up – creating bright, fiery streaks which we can see. The Perseid shower – named after Perseus, the constellation that the meteors are believed to originate from – are also known for their fireballs. These are characterised by larger explosions of light and colour which stay in the sky for longer than the average meteor streak. What time will it be visible? The Perseid shower has been active since July 17 and will continue until Aug 24. Your best chance of catching a glimpse is from midnight on Tuesday until the early hours of Wednesday. Where is the best place to watch? Visibility of this year's Perseid meteor shower may be hindered by the Sturgeon Moon – the name given to the August full moon – which will continue to illuminate the night sky on Tuesday. Stargazers in northern England, East Anglia and the Midlands are expected to have clear skies throughout the night, with some cloudy spots in Northern Ireland as well as the south coast and north-west of England. To give yourself the best chance of seeing the phenomenon, avoid areas with lots of lights, such as towns and cities, which can create a glare and obscure your view. Lying down with a view of the whole sky gives you the best chance of spotting meteors. Ensure you give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness – it can take about 20 minutes for them to adapt.
