Latest news with #Earth-made
Axios
20-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
How a Mass. startup is using space to transform drug delivery
A Worcester-based biotech startup is testing the limits of its space-grown particles in hopes of delivering better, more consistent treatments for osteoarthritis, cancer and other conditions. Why it matters: The research conducted by Eascra in recent flights could help lay the groundwork for an advanced manufacturing industry in space, Mari Anne Snow, the company's cofounder and CEO, tells Axios. Catch up quick: Eascra has conducted experiments on five flights in space since 2023 to determine how developing Janus Base Nanoparticles (JBNs) — tiny particles that can deliver drugs to the human body — in microgravity changes their function. The space-grown JBNs were more uniform in shape and size than their Earth-made counterparts, making for more consistent drug delivery, Snow says. Eascra used the nanoparticles to apply drugs to a tumor and other medicines. Researchers found the particles could maintain mRNA at room temperature for extended periods of time. (It usually requires cold storage). The latest: Astronauts have spent the past five weeks on the International Space Station expanding Eascra's JBN production in space. When they return to Earth later this week, they will bring the space-grown samples and evaluate their quality, including in animal testing. "At that point, we'll have comparison data that will tell us specifically what is the verified improvement from Earth to space production," Snow says. Those experiments will likely be done by late summer, followed by a third-party evaluation of Eascra's findings. Zoom out: The goal is to start discussions with the Food and Drug Administration about seeking approval for space-made medicine, Snow says. Getting drugs and gene editing that rely on space-grown nanoparticles to market could take close to a decade, Snow predicts. Yes, but: The research has relied on both private space exploration and public grants, including several from the Department of Defense. In the meantime, Eascra is continuing as normal.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Astronauts could make 'Moonglass' solar panels from lunar dust
Could moonbases be powered by solar panels made from melted moon dust? That's what a team of scientists led by Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, in Germany, have been trying to have made a 'moonglass' solar panel prototype. A prototype is an early version of a design which you can use to test out what works and what doesn't hope is that astronauts living on the Moon could make moonglass solar panels to provide them with power. Why not use solar panels instead? 'Why not make solar panels on Earth and put them on board a rocket to the Moon?' - we hear you ask!Well, that is what astronauts and engineers have been doing over the last few years. "The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price," says researcher Felix solar panels are quite heavy, and transporting them to space increases the weight of the rocket carrying them, meaning it needs more power to blast off, which costs more money."They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or thick foil as cover. It's hard to justify lifting all these cells into space." said Felix Felix's team are looking into the possibility of making solar panels on the Moon using materials available on the lunar surface. This change could reduce a spacecraft's launch weight by 99.4%, cut 99% of transport costs, and make long-term living on lunar bases more possible. What is moonglass, and how have scientists made it? As part of their research the scientists made a synthetic - or man-made - version of moon dust and melted it down to make then mixed in a crystal material called perovskite - which is able to cheaply, easily and efficiently turn sunlight into scientists say this could be done by astronauts on the Moon, using concentrated sunlight to melt the materials the team put their prototype panels to the test, they zapped them with space-grade radiation, and found that the moonglass versions performed better than the Earth-made ones. This is because standard glass slowly turns brown in space, blocking sunlight and meaning it doesn't work as well. However, moonglass has a natural brown tint, which prevents it from further darkening, and makes the solar panels more resistant to radiation. The scientists still have a few unanswered questions from their research, including how the Moon's environment would affect the making like the Moon's gravity being different to on Earth, and whether the Moon's changing temperatures could affect the team hopes that one day they can launch a small experiment to the moon to test out their solar panels in real lunar conditions."From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use moon dust," said lead researcher Felix Lang. "Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future moon city will need."
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
99% savings: Radiation-proof solar cells made from moon dust to power lunar bases
The same dust that settles on astronauts' boots might one day provide energy for their Moon habitats. Researchers have developed solar cells crafted from simulated Moon dust that efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, withstand radiation damage, and reduce the need to transport heavy materials into space. This breakthrough could address one of space exploration's biggest challenges: ensuring a reliable energy source for future lunar settlements. 'The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price,' says lead researcher Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, Germany. 'They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or a thick foil as cover. It's hard to justify lifting all these cells into space.' Rather than sending solar panels from Earth, Lang's team is diving into exploration aimed toward existing materials on the Moon. They aim to replace Earth-made glass with 'moonglass,' or glass derived from lunar regolith. This shift alone could cut a spacecraft's launch mass by 99.4%, lower transport costs by 99%, and make long-term lunar settlements more feasible. To try their idea, the researchers melted simulated moon dust into moonglass and constructed a new type of solar cell. They then paired moonglass with perovskite—a range of highly efficient, low-cost solar materials. With these new cells, it was possible to generate up to a hundred times more energy for every gram sent to space when compared to conventional space solar panels. 'If you cut the weight by 99%, you don't need ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon," says Lang. "Plus, our cells are more stable against radiation, while the others would degrade over time.' Radiation is a major challenge for solar panels in space. Over time, standard glass darkens from radiation exposure, blocking sunlight and reducing efficiency. But moonglass, already naturally tinted by moon dust impurities, remains stable and resists further darkening, giving it a distinct advantage. Another major benefit is that moonglass is easy to manufacture. It does not require complicated purification processes, and concentrated sunlight can melt lunar regolith into glass. By refining the glass's thickness and the solar cells' composition, the team achieved 10% efficiency, which is a promising start. The researchers think that using clearer moonglass will enable efficiency to reach 23%, making it comparable to solar panels made on Earth. Still, challenges remain. The Moon's lower gravity could affect how moonglass forms, the solvents used for perovskite processing won't work in a vacuum, and extreme temperature swings could threaten material stability. To test their solar cells in real lunar conditions, the researchers hope to send a small-scale experiment to the Moon. "From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use Moon dust," says Lang. "Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future Moon city will need." The study has been published in Device.
