Wellington start-up Litmaps raises $1m to revolutionise science research
Litmaps, a Wellington-based start-up that's just raised $1 million in a Series A funding round, is redefining how scientists navigate the sea of academic literature by merging citation network analysis with generative AI (artificial intelligence).
Founded in 2016 by Axton Pitt and Kyle Webster, the platform now serves over two million researchers globally, including institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and the University of Cambridge.
Its mission? To 'accelerate impactful science' by helping researchers identify gaps in knowledge and avoid redundant work.
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A 10-fold Increase In Rocket Launches Would Start Harming The Ozone Layer
The international space industry is on a growth trajectory, but new research shows a rapid increase in rocket launches would damage the ozone layer. Several hundred rockets are launched globally each year by a mix of commercial companies and nation-state space programmes. These take place at around 20 sites, almost all in the northern hemisphere, with the most prolific launch rates currently from the United States, China, New Zealand and Russia. Our latest research explores the tipping point when launching more rockets will begin to cause problems. Our findings show that once rates reach 2,000 launches a year – about a ten-fold increase on last year – the current healing of the ozone layer slows down. We argue that with care, we can avoid this future. The economic benefits of industry growth can be realised, but it will take a collaborative effort. Rocket launches thin the ozone layer The ozone layer protects life on Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is slowly healing from the effects of chlorofluorocarbons and other damaging chemicals emitted last century, thanks to global cooperative agreements under the Montreal Protocol. Gases and particulates emitted by rockets as they punch through the atmosphere are known to thin the ozone layer. So far, they don't cause appreciable ozone depletion, as relatively few launches take place each year. However, launches are steadily increasing. In 2019, there were 102 launches. By 2024, that increased to 258 worldwide. There are expected to be even more in 2025. At multiple sites worldwide, the launch industry projects impressive levels of future growth. For US-based launches, a three-fold increase in the number of rockets launched in 2023 is expected as soon as 2028. One driver of this growth is the effort to build out satellite constellations to tens of thousands of units, positioned low in Earth's orbit. These require many launches to create and are happening in several nations, run by a number of companies. Once in place, these constellations require ongoing launches to keep them supplied with active satellites. Potential delay in ozone recovery To figure out how future launches could affect the ozone layer, we first built a database of ozone-depleting chemicals emitted by rockets currently in use. We then fed this database into a model of Earth's atmosphere and climate, and simulated atmospheric composition under several scenarios of higher rates of rocket launches. We found that with around 2,000 launches worldwide each year, the ozone layer thins by up to 3%. Due to atmospheric transport of rocket-emitted chemicals, we saw the largest ozone losses over Antarctica, even though most launches are taking place in the northern hemisphere. Fortunately, the ozone losses are small. We wouldn't expect to see catastrophic damage to humans or ecosystems. However, the losses are significant given global efforts underway to heal the ozone layer. The global abundance of ozone is still around 2% lower than before the onset of losses caused by chlorofluorocarbons. Future ozone losses are not locked in Encouragingly, we found no significant ozone loss in a scenario of more modest rates of around 900 launches per year. However, this is for the types of rockets that are in use right now around the world. We focus on current launch vehicles because it is uncertain when the new and massive rockets currently in development will enter use. But these larger rockets often require far more fuel, which creates more emissions at each launch. Rocket propellant choices make a big difference to the atmosphere. We found fuels emitting chlorine-containing chemicals or black carbon particulates have the largest effects on the ozone layer. Reducing use of these fuels as launch rates increase is key to supporting an ongoing recovery of the ozone layer. Re-entering spacecraft and satellite debris can also cause damage. However, the global scientific community doesn't yet fully understand the chemistry around re-entry. Our work provides a realistic 'floor' for the lowest level of damage that will occur. But it is important to remember that these effects are not locked in. It is entirely possible to create a launch industry where we avoid harmful effects, but that would require reducing use of chlorine-containing fuels, minimising black carbon emissions by new rockets and monitoring emissions. It will take keen effort and enthusiasm from industry and regulators, working together with scientists. But this needs to start now, not after the damage is done. Disclosure statement Laura Revell is a member of the International Ozone Commission and the UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, which assesses the effects of ozone depletion on life on Earth. She is a Rutherford Discovery Fellow, funded by the Royal Society of NZ Te Apārangi. Michele Bannister is the NZ delegate for the International Astronomical Union, serves on the COSPAR-NZ national committee, is a voting member of Aerospace New Zealand, and has research collaborations with the IAU Centre for Protection of the Dark & Quiet Sky. She is a Rutherford Discovery Fellow, funded by the Royal Society of NZ Te Apārangi.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Booming space industry could hurt ozone layer's recovery
Photo: Twitter/SpaceX The rapidly growing number of rocket launches could slow the recovery of the ozone layer, a study led by New Zealand scientists shows. The ozone layer is healing because of countries phasing out CFCs - but rocket launches could slow its recovery if the space industry grows as fast as it wants to, found researchers from the University of Canterbury, Harvard, Saint Petersburg State University and elsewhere . They are urging space companies to choose cleaner fuels to minimise ozone damage as rockets pass through the stratosphere. "At the moment it's a not problem because the launches happen too infrequently," said University of Canterbury atmospheric scientist Laura Revell, one of the authors of the study . "As we get more and more launches taking place - because there are companies out there with very bold ambitions to increase launch frequency - this is potentially going to be a problem." Although most rockets are launched from the Northern Hemisphere, the worst impacts on the protective layer of ozone will be felt over Antarctica, with implications for sunburn and cancer-causing UVB rays reaching people living in Aotearoa. In a conservative growth scenario where launches take place about once a week at all currently active launch sites - about 900 in total a year - "we do see some some ozone loss but not significant amounts," said Revell. "But when we look at a more ambitious scenario, when we looked at the upper limits of what might be launched in future - around 2,000 launches year - we saw levels of ozone loss that are concerning in the context of ozone recovery," she said. Based on current rates of licensing, that level could be reached in 2030, said the authors. They said the industry had already grown from 102 launches worldwide in 2019, to 258 in 2024. The ozone layer as seen from space. Photo: 123rf Revell said the study was not saying there was going to be widespread depletion or that melanoma rates were going to skyrocket, "but a few per cent depletion, which is enough to offset the gains we have seen the past few years as CFCs have been phased out." She said the Electron rockets launched from Mahia peninsula by Rocket Lab had a relatively minor impact because of their small size. She said the space industry needed to consider its choices of fuel, as it grew. "This is not locked in. It is possible to avoid a future in which we have a scaled up rocket launch industry and also a slowing of ozone recovery, but there needs to be care taken and global efforts to ensure we are very mindful of what is emitted and where." "Not all fuel types actually cause ozone depletion." Ozone losses are driven by the chlorine produced from solid rocket motor propellant, and black carbon which is emitted from most propellants, the study says. Revell said the problem had been known about since the 1980s but was becoming more relevant as more rockets were launched. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Dr Greg Walton: How we can achieve big change with small acts
Dr Greg Walton is a professor of psychology at Stanford University. He says a kind word, a tiny shift in thinking or a feeling of belonging can create big, lasting changes in people's lives. His new book is a reminder that big outcomes can grow from the smallest, most ordinary beginnings. It's called Ordinary Magic: The Science of How We Can Achieve Big Change with Small Acts. Photo: Stanford University
