Latest news with #NASA
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mysterious Object Beaming Strange Signals to Earth
Astronomers have discovered a cosmic anomaly that's throwing out pulses of radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes, and they're stumped. Dubbed ASKAP J1832-0911, the object was detected by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, and it's unlike anything seen before. 'This object is unlike anything we have seen before,' said Andy Wang, an astronomer at Curtin University and lead author of a new study published in Nature. 'ASKAP J1832-0911 could be a magnetar or a pair of stars in a binary system with a highly magnetised white dwarf. However, even those theories don't fully explain what we are observing.' The discovery places ASKAP J1832-0911 in a rare class of astrophysical phenomena known as long-period transients (LPTs)—cosmic lighthouses that emit radio waves at intervals of minutes or even hours. Unlike traditional pulsars, which release bursts of radio signals every few seconds or milliseconds, LPTs have been a cosmic mystery since their first detection in 2022. Only ten have been catalogued so far. What sets ASKAP J1832-0911 apart is its dual emission of radio and X-ray signals. The Chandra observatory's confirmation of X-rays from an LPT marks a first in astronomical observations, offering a potential breakthrough in understanding these enigmatic objects. 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,' Wang said. Nanda Rea, a co-author from the Catalan Institute for Space Studies in Spain, suggested that this find hints at a broader population of similar objects. 'Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,' Rea said. 'The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature.' As researchers prepare for more observations with radio and X-ray telescope pairs, the hope is to unlock new models of stellar evolution or even unearth physics that we've yet to Object Beaming Strange Signals to Earth first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
The Sun
an hour ago
- Health
- The Sun
NASA astronauts Butch and Suni emerge from recovery after long Starliner mission
WASHINGTON: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the U.S. astronauts left on the International Space Station last year by Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule, are on the up after returning to Earth in March, emerging from weeks of physical therapy to ramp up work with Boeing and various NASA programs. 'Right now, we're just coming off of the rehab portion of our return,' Wilmore, 62, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. 'Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues.' Wilmore and Williams, who last year set off for an eight-day Starliner test flight that swelled into a nine-month stay in space, have had to readapt their muscles, sense of balance and other basics of Earth living in a 45-day period standard for astronauts returning from long-term space missions. The astronaut duo have spent at least two hours a day with astronaut strength and reconditioning officials within NASA's medical unit while juggling an increasing workload with Boeing's Starliner program, NASA's space station unit in Houston and agency researchers. 'It's been a little bit of a whirlwind,' Williams, 59, said in the interview. 'Because we also have obligations to all of the folks that we worked with.' Williams said some of her post-spaceflight side effects were slower to clear up and she felt tired in late stages of recovery, as dozens of various muscles re-engaged. That made it hard for her to wake up as early in the mornings as she likes, until a little more than a week ago. 'Then I'm up at four in the morning, and I'm like, Aha! I'm back,' she said. Wilmore had some issues with his back and neck before heading to space, being unable to turn his head all the way to the side, he said. That all went away in space where 'you don't have any stress on your body.' When he returned in March, gravity greeted him with the neck pain he left on Earth. 'We're still floating in the capsule in the ocean, and my neck starts hurting, while we still hadn't even been extracted yet,' he said, laughing. The human body, evolved over millions of years in the gravity of Earth's surface, was not meant for spaceflight. The absence of gravity triggers an array of physical effects over time, such as muscle atrophy or cardiovascular shifts that can cause a chain reaction of other health changes. Confinement in a small space and higher solar radiation in space, without the protection of Earth's atmosphere, have other effects. Starliner Problems Propulsion system issues on Boeing's Starliner forced NASA to bring the capsule back without its crew last year and to fold the two astronauts into its normal, long-duration rotation schedule on the ISS. Boeing, which has taken $2 billion in charges on its Starliner development, faces a looming decision by NASA to refly the spacecraft uncrewed before it carries humans again. Boeing spent $410 million to fly a similar uncrewed mission in 2022 after a 2019 testing failure. Reflying Starliner uncrewed 'seems like the logical thing to do,' Williams said, drawing comparisons with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Russian capsules that flew uncrewed missions before putting humans aboard. She and NASA are pushing for that outcome, Williams added. 'I think that's the correct path,' said Williams, who is 'hoping Boeing and NASA will decide on that same course of action' soon.
The Sun
an hour ago
- Health
- The Sun
Starliner astronauts recover after 9-month space stay
WASHINGTON: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the U.S. astronauts left on the International Space Station last year by Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule, are on the up after returning to Earth in March, emerging from weeks of physical therapy to ramp up work with Boeing and various NASA programs. 'Right now, we're just coming off of the rehab portion of our return,' Wilmore, 62, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. 'Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues.' Wilmore and Williams, who last year set off for an eight-day Starliner test flight that swelled into a nine-month stay in space, have had to readapt their muscles, sense of balance and other basics of Earth living in a 45-day period standard for astronauts returning from long-term space missions. The astronaut duo have spent at least two hours a day with astronaut strength and reconditioning officials within NASA's medical unit while juggling an increasing workload with Boeing's Starliner program, NASA's space station unit in Houston and agency researchers. 'It's been a little bit of a whirlwind,' Williams, 59, said in the interview. 'Because we also have obligations to all of the folks that we worked with.' Williams said some of her post-spaceflight side effects were slower to clear up and she felt tired in late stages of recovery, as dozens of various muscles re-engaged. That made it hard for her to wake up as early in the mornings as she likes, until a little more than a week ago. 'Then I'm up at four in the morning, and I'm like, Aha! I'm back,' she said. Wilmore had some issues with his back and neck before heading to space, being unable to turn his head all the way to the side, he said. That all went away in space where 'you don't have any stress on your body.' When he returned in March, gravity greeted him with the neck pain he left on Earth. 'We're still floating in the capsule in the ocean, and my neck starts hurting, while we still hadn't even been extracted yet,' he said, laughing. The human body, evolved over millions of years in the gravity of Earth's surface, was not meant for spaceflight. The absence of gravity triggers an array of physical effects over time, such as muscle atrophy or cardiovascular shifts that can cause a chain reaction of other health changes. Confinement in a small space and higher solar radiation in space, without the protection of Earth's atmosphere, have other effects. Starliner Problems Propulsion system issues on Boeing's Starliner forced NASA to bring the capsule back without its crew last year and to fold the two astronauts into its normal, long-duration rotation schedule on the ISS. Boeing, which has taken $2 billion in charges on its Starliner development, faces a looming decision by NASA to refly the spacecraft uncrewed before it carries humans again. Boeing spent $410 million to fly a similar uncrewed mission in 2022 after a 2019 testing failure. Reflying Starliner uncrewed 'seems like the logical thing to do,' Williams said, drawing comparisons with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Russian capsules that flew uncrewed missions before putting humans aboard. She and NASA are pushing for that outcome, Williams added. 'I think that's the correct path,' said Williams, who is 'hoping Boeing and NASA will decide on that same course of action' soon. Results from Starliner testing planned throughout the summer are expected to determine whether the spacecraft can fly humans on its next flight, NASA officials have said. (
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Oceans are getting dark, why it's a wake up call for humanity
Over 21% of the world's oceans have darkened significantly in the last two decades, reducing sunlight penetration into the photic zone, the sunlit upper layer vital to marine life. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This worrying trend, revealed through nearly 20 years of satellite data, is not just an environmental issue but a planetary one. The shrinking photic zone threatens marine biodiversity , disrupts ecosystems, and could weaken the ocean's ability to support life, regulate climate, and produce oxygen. Scientists now warn that this change should serve as a global wake up call, reminding us how closely our future is tied to the health of the oceans. What is ocean darkening? Ocean darkening refers to the reduction in water clarity that limits how far sunlight can penetrate into the ocean. The photic zone, where light supports photosynthesis and marine food webs begin, is shrinking in many regions. This change can be caused by increases in: Nutrients and sediments from agricultural runoff Algal blooms triggered by warming seas Organic material from rainfall and soil erosion Climate-induced changes in ocean surface temperature and current patterns What the research reveals about reduced sunlight Scientists from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory analysed satellite data from NASA's Ocean Colour Web spanning 2003 to 2022. Their findings include: 21% of ocean area darkened, totalling over 75 million square kilometres 9% of the ocean saw photic zones shrink by over 50 metres In extreme cases, depth reduction exceeded 100 metres While 10% of the ocean became lighter, the darkening trend dominates Regions such as the Gulf Stream, Arctic, Antarctic, and enclosed seas like the Baltic showed the most significant changes. Threats to marine life The sunlit zone is home to the majority of oceanic life, from microscopic plankton to fish and larger predators. Darkening waters push light-dependent species closer to the surface, leading to: Increased competition for food and space Disruption in feeding, migration, and reproduction patterns Stress on plankton communities, which are the base of the marine food chain This not only affects biodiversity but could destabilise entire ecosystems. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why ocean darkening matters to humanity This is not just a marine crisis, as humans are deeply connected to ocean health . The shrinking photic zone affects: Oxygen production: marine phytoplankton produce over 50% of Earth's oxygen Food security: a disrupted ocean food web threatens global fisheries Climate regulation: oceans absorb carbon dioxide and heat, and changes in biological activity may reduce this capacity Regional impacts: A mixed picture Not all areas are darkening equally: Darkening: coastal waters of the North Sea, Celtic Sea, eastern England and Scotland, and the Irish Sea Lightening: the English Channel and waters north of Scotland to Orkney and Shetland These mixed trends highlight the complexity of factors at play, including regional climate effects, rainfall patterns, and human land use. A global wake up call The ocean is more dynamic and sensitive than often perceived. Professor Tim Smyth stresses that even minor reductions in light availability can fundamentally shift marine ecosystems . When photic zones shrink, marine life is squeezed into shallower layers, altering behaviours, survival rates, and ecological balances. This research is not a prediction, it is a documented transformation already underway. It signals the urgent need for: Better land and ocean management Reduced agricultural runoff Climate change mitigation mitigation Sustained ocean monitoring Conclusion: Time to take action Ocean darkening is more than a scientific observation, it is a clear signal that Earth's systems are under stress. Humanity must pay attention. Our oceans not only host life below water but also support life on land. If the light in our oceans fades, the consequences will ripple across ecosystems, economies, and generations. This is the time to act, not just to save marine life, but to secure a liveable future for us all.
India Today
2 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
NASA's Starliner crew Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams finish recovery phase
Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, the U.S. astronauts left on the International Space Station last year by Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule, are on the up after returning to Earth in March, emerging from weeks of physical therapy to ramp up work with Boeing and various NASA programs."Right now, we're just coming off of the rehab portion of our return," Wilmore, 62, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. "Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues."advertisementWilmore and Williams, who last year set off for an eight-day Starliner test flight that swelled into a nine-month stay in space, have had to readapt their muscles, sense of balance and other basics of Earth living in a 45-day period standard for astronauts returning from long-term space missions. The astronaut duo have spent at least two hours a day with astronaut strength and reconditioning officials within NASA's medical unit while juggling an increasing workload with Boeing's BA.N Starliner program, NASA's space station unit in Houston and agency researchers."It's been a little bit of a whirlwind," Williams, 59, said in the interview. "Because we also have obligations to all of the folks that we worked with."Williams said some of her post-spaceflight side effects were slower to clear up, and she felt tired in the late stages of recovery, as dozens of various muscles re-engaged. That made it hard for her to wake up as early in the mornings as she likes, until a little more than a week I'm up at four in the morning, and I'm like, Aha! I'm back," she had some issues with his back and neck before heading to space, being unable to turn his head all the way to the side, he said. That all went away in space where "you don't have any stress on your body."When he returned in March, gravity greeted him with the neck pain he left on Earth."We're still floating in the capsule in the ocean, and my neck starts hurting, while we still haven't even been extracted yet," he said, human body, which evolved over millions of years in the gravity of the Earth's surface, was not meant for absence of gravity triggers an array of physical effects over time, such as muscle atrophy or cardiovascular shifts that can cause a chain reaction of other health changes. Confinement in a small space and higher solar radiation in space, without the protection of Earth's atmosphere, have other PROBLEMSPropulsion system issues on Boeing's Starliner forced NASA to bring the capsule back without its crew last year and to fold the two astronauts into its normal, long-duration rotation schedule on the which has taken $2 billion in charges on its Starliner development, faces a looming decision by NASA to repair the spacecraft uncrewed before it carries humans again. Boeing spent $410 million to fly a similar uncrewed mission in 2022 after a 2019 testing Starliner uncrewed "seems like the logical thing to do," Williams said, drawing comparisons with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Russian capsules that flew uncrewed missions before putting humans aboard. She and NASA are pushing for that outcome, Williams added."I think that's the correct path," said Williams, who is "hoping Boeing and NASA will decide on that same course of action" from Starliner testing planned for the summer are expected to determine whether the spacecraft can fly humans on its next flight, NASA officials have Watch
