Latest news with #NewJerseyInstituteofTechnology
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Sharpest Solar Images Ever: Pink 'Raindrops' On The Sun Captured In Unprecedented Detail
Advanced ground-based telescopes use adaptive optics (AO) to produce sharp images by correcting atmospheric distortion, capturing stunning views of planets, stars, and celestial objects. Recently, a team at the National Solar Observatory applied AO technology to study the Sun's corona in remarkable detail, as per Science Alert. The corona, the Sun's outermost layer, stretches millions of kilometres into space and is mysteriously hotter than the underlying photosphere, a phenomenon known as the 'coronal heating problem.' This region is governed by powerful magnetic fields and is the source of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can interact with Earth's magnetosphere, triggering auroras and geomagnetic storms. Observing the Sun's corona is challenging due to its dimness compared to the Sun's surface. Typically, it's visible during total solar eclipses or through space-based coronagraphs that mimic an eclipse. However, researchers have now used Adaptive Optics (AO) to study the corona from Earth. AO employs computer-controlled, deformable mirrors to counteract atmospheric interference, producing clear images. A team from the National Solar Observatory and the New Jersey Institute of Technology developed an AO system for the 1.6-meter Goode Solar Telescope, enabling precise observations of the corona's fine structure. "Resolving fine structures in the Sun's corona may provide key insights into rapid eruptions and the heating of the corona," the authors write in their research article. Here we present observations with coronal adaptive optics reaching the diffraction limit of a 1.6-m telescope to reveal very fine coronal details," the authors wrote in a paper titled Observations of fine coronal structures with high-order solar adaptive optics. Solar prominences, loops, and rain are all composed of plasma, and understanding these phenomena requires observing their fine details. Key questions remain unanswered, such as how plasma in the corona is heated to millions of kelvins when the Sun's surface is only 6,000 K, and what triggers eruptions. "The turbulence in the air severely degrades images of objects in space, like our Sun, seen through our telescopes. But we can correct for that. It is super exciting to build an instrument that shows us the Sun like never before," Dirk Schmidt, NSO Adaptive Optics Scientist, who led the development, said in a press release. This video captures a dynamic prominence featuring a large-scale twist and cascading coronal rain. Coronal rain occurs when strands of coronal plasma cool and descend back to the Sun's surface. "Raindrops in the Sun's corona can be narrower than 20 kilometres. These findings offer new, invaluable observational insight that is vital to test computer models of coronal processes," said NSO Astronomer Thomas Schad. " Another video displays a dense, cool quiescent prominence with intricate internal flows. The next video showcases post-flare coronal rain, where plasma strands, guided by the Sun's magnetic field lines, cascade along curved paths rather than straight lines. These images, captured at the highest resolution ever achieved, reveal unprecedented details of this phenomenon. Solar telescopes using adaptive optics (AO) have historically detailed the Sun's surface with 1,000 km precision but struggled to image the corona. The new coronal AO system, developed with contributions from NSO Chief Technologist Thomas Rimmele, achieves 63 km resolution, the theoretical limit of the 1.6-meter Goode Solar Telescope. Described as transformative by NJIT's Philip Goode, this technology enhances resolution tenfold, revolutionising solar science. "With coronal adaptive optics now in operation, this marks the beginning of a new era in solar physics, promising many more discoveries in the years and decades to come," said Mr Goode.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New Imaging Technique Makes the Sun Look Like a Swirling Pink Liquid
A swirling sea of pink, where fluffy tufts float majestically upward, while elsewhere violet plumes rain down from above. This is the Sun as seen in groundbreaking new images — and they're unlike anything you've ever laid eyes on. As detailed in a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists have leveraged new coronal adaptive optics tech to bypass the blurriness caused by the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere, a time-old obstacle that's frustrated astronomers' attempts to see features on our home star at a resolution better than 620 miles. Now, they've gotten it down to just under 40 miles — a light year sized leap. The result is some of the clearest images to date of the fine structures that make up the Sun's formidable corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere known for its unbelievable temperatures and violent, unpredictable outbursts. The authors are optimistic that their blur-bypassing techniques will be a game-changer. "These are by far the most detailed observations of this kind, showing features not previously observed, and it's not quite clear what they are," coauthor Vasyl Yurchyshyn, a research professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Center for Terrestrial Research (CSTR), said in a statement about the work. "It is super exciting to build an instrument that shows us the Sun like never before," echoed lead author Dirk Schmidt, an adaptive optics scientist at the US National Solar Observatory. Stretching for millions of miles into space, the corona is the staging ground for the Sun's violent outbursts, which range from solar storms, to solar flares, to coronal mass ejections. One reason scientists are interested in these phenomena is because they continue to batter our own planet's atmosphere, playing a significant role in the Earth's climate and wreaking havoc on our electronics. Then, at a reach totally beyond our very limited human purview, is the corona's mighty solar wind, which sweeps across the entire solar system, shielding it from cosmic rays. But astronomers are still trying to understand how these solar phenomena occur. One abiding mystery is why the corona can reach temperatures in the millions of degrees Fahrenheit, when the Sun's surface it sits thousands of miles above is no more than a relatively cool 10,000 degrees. The conundrum even has a name: the coronal heating problem. The level of detailed captured in the latest images, taken with an adaptive optics system installed on the Goode Solar Telescope at the CSTR, could be transformative in probing these mysteries. One type of feature the unprecedented resolution revealed were solar prominences, which are large, flashy structures that protrude from the sun's surface, found in twisty shapes like arches or loops. A spectacular video shows a solar prominence swirling like a tortured water spout as it's whipped around by the sun's magnetic field. Most awe-inspiring of all are the examples of what's known as coronal rain. Appearing like waterfalls suspended in midair, the phenomenon is caused as plasma cools and condenses into huge globs before crashing down to the sun's surface. These were imaged at a scale smaller than 100 kilometers, or about 62 miles. In solar terms, that's pinpoint accuracy. "With coronal adaptive optics now in operation, this marks the beginning of a new era in solar physics, promising many more discoveries in the years and decades to come," said coauthor Philip R. Goode at the CSTR in a statement. More on our solar system: Scientists Detect Mysterious Object in Deep Solar System
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TekStream To Bring Public-Private Workforce Development Program to Educause Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference
TekStream and Partners Establish New Table Stakes for Cybersecurity Higher Education Training ATLANTA, May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TekStream, a cybersecurity and IT solutions leader, is bringing its public-private workforce development program to the Educause Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference in Baltimore, MD, from May 19-21, 2025. The framework will be discussed during a breakout session, Removing Economic, Social and Demographic Barriers to Cybersecurity, on Tuesday, May 20, at 4 p.m. TekStream, in partnership with Louisiana State University, Splunk, and AWS, provides cybersecurity through automation, shared threat intelligence, consistent architecture, and student training that offers a higher degree of skills than current academia provides. Initially launched as a pilot, the student-powered SOC represents a first-of-its-kind approach to affordable MDS and high-quality, hands-on student cybersecurity training. The program has been implemented at other higher education institutions nationwide, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, since its initial success. The breakout session, taking place during the second full day of the event, will be presented by Bruce Johnson, Senior Director, Enterprise Security at TekStream; Sharon Kelley, Executive Director for Information Security & CISO at New Jersey Institute of Technology; Craig Woolley, Chief Information Officer at Louisiana State University; and Ed Wozencroft, Vice President for Digital Strategy & CIO at New Jersey Institute of Technology. The panel will discuss how the student-powered SOC alleviates the expense of a standalone cybersecurity approach, how they use AI for level 1 detections and how student training overcomes the barrier AI has created for entry-level job seekers. Session attendees will: Learn how the collaborative SOC protects entities on an institutional, statewide and national level. Hear how LSU and NJIT's training includes escalation, response, remediation and threat intelligence skills that aren't teachable from textbooks. Discover how LSU and NJIT are creating economies of scale, removing barriers to best-in-class cybersecurity with partners. Demand for well-trained, qualified employees is at an all-time high, with an industry average vacancy rate of 28%. Meanwhile, new graduates looking to enter the cybersecurity industry are struggling to overcome the hurdle of AI augmenting level 1 analysis, replacing most entry-level cybersecurity positions. TekStream's public-private workforce development program goes beyond current higher-ed classroom education to provide real-time, hands-on training, combining real-world cybersecurity incident response and engineering experience with a formal, tiered curriculum, oversight and customized guidance. "The industry is at a crossroads right now, needing new, qualified talent to enter a workforce with few entry-level positions for them," says Bruce Johnson. "What we are doing with LSU and NJIT is opening the door for a new, accessible talent pipeline that is replicable, easy to stand up and affordable to manage." Within the program, students are taught how to differentiate severity, identify risk, assess blast radius, implement effective remediation, communicate appropriately and work as a team, with professional oversight from TekStream. In turn, TekStream covers odd hours (the time outside of traditional business working hours), ensuring that LSU and NJIT have the 24/7 coverage needed without burdening students. Unlike other student-powered SOCs, TekStream pulls candidates from all majors and backgrounds. Students within the program learn at their own pace, progressing as quickly or slowly as they like. This approach expands post-graduation opportunities for the students, allowing them to establish a thorough resume and portfolio and giving them the skills needed to enter mid-level roles right after graduation. Ten students will have successfully completed the program with this year's spring graduating class. In addition to its application for improving higher-education learning for students, TekStream's workforce development program offers a fast-paced, easy-to-manage framework for entities looking to upskill existing employees. In early use cases, some organizations have been able to upskill their existing IT and cybersecurity talent in as little as six weeks. Visit to learn more about the event, or stop by the session on May 20 at 4 p.m. About TekStream TekStream, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, helps clients accelerate digital transformation by navigating complex technology environments with a combination of technical expertise and staffing solutions. TekStream provides battle-tested processes and methodologies to help companies with legacy systems get to the cloud faster so they can become more agile, reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies. With hundreds of successful deployments, TekStream guarantees on-time and on-budget project delivery and is proud to have 98% customer retention. View source version on Contacts Media Contact Brianna LaRoucheTrevelino/Kellerblarouche@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
TekStream To Bring Public-Private Workforce Development Program to Educause Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TekStream, a cybersecurity and IT solutions leader, is bringing its public-private workforce development program to the Educause Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference in Baltimore, MD, from May 19-21, 2025. The framework will be discussed during a breakout session, Removing Economic, Social and Demographic Barriers to Cybersecurity, on Tuesday, May 20, at 4 p.m. TekStream, in partnership with Louisiana State University, Splunk, and AWS, provides cybersecurity through automation, shared threat intelligence, consistent architecture, and student training that offers a higher degree of skills than current academia provides. Initially launched as a pilot, the student-powered SOC represents a first-of-its-kind approach to affordable MDS and high-quality, hands-on student cybersecurity training. The program has been implemented at other higher education institutions nationwide, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, since its initial success. The breakout session, taking place during the second full day of the event, will be presented by Bruce Johnson, Senior Director, Enterprise Security at TekStream; Sharon Kelley, Executive Director for Information Security & CISO at New Jersey Institute of Technology; Craig Woolley, Chief Information Officer at Louisiana State University; and Ed Wozencroft, Vice President for Digital Strategy & CIO at New Jersey Institute of Technology. The panel will discuss how the student-powered SOC alleviates the expense of a standalone cybersecurity approach, how they use AI for level 1 detections and how student training overcomes the barrier AI has created for entry-level job seekers. Session attendees will: Learn how the collaborative SOC protects entities on an institutional, statewide and national level. Hear how LSU and NJIT's training includes escalation, response, remediation and threat intelligence skills that aren't teachable from textbooks. Discover how LSU and NJIT are creating economies of scale, removing barriers to best-in-class cybersecurity with partners. Demand for well-trained, qualified employees is at an all-time high, with an industry average vacancy rate of 28%. Meanwhile, new graduates looking to enter the cybersecurity industry are struggling to overcome the hurdle of AI augmenting level 1 analysis, replacing most entry-level cybersecurity positions. TekStream's public-private workforce development program goes beyond current higher-ed classroom education to provide real-time, hands-on training, combining real-world cybersecurity incident response and engineering experience with a formal, tiered curriculum, oversight and customized guidance. 'The industry is at a crossroads right now, needing new, qualified talent to enter a workforce with few entry-level positions for them,' says Bruce Johnson. 'What we are doing with LSU and NJIT is opening the door for a new, accessible talent pipeline that is replicable, easy to stand up and affordable to manage.' Within the program, students are taught how to differentiate severity, identify risk, assess blast radius, implement effective remediation, communicate appropriately and work as a team, with professional oversight from TekStream. In turn, TekStream covers odd hours (the time outside of traditional business working hours), ensuring that LSU and NJIT have the 24/7 coverage needed without burdening students. Unlike other student-powered SOCs, TekStream pulls candidates from all majors and backgrounds. Students within the program learn at their own pace, progressing as quickly or slowly as they like. This approach expands post-graduation opportunities for the students, allowing them to establish a thorough resume and portfolio and giving them the skills needed to enter mid-level roles right after graduation. Ten students will have successfully completed the program with this year's spring graduating class. In addition to its application for improving higher-education learning for students, TekStream's workforce development program offers a fast-paced, easy-to-manage framework for entities looking to upskill existing employees. In early use cases, some organizations have been able to upskill their existing IT and cybersecurity talent in as little as six weeks. Visit to learn more about the event, or stop by the session on May 20 at 4 p.m. About TekStream TekStream, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, helps clients accelerate digital transformation by navigating complex technology environments with a combination of technical expertise and staffing solutions. TekStream provides battle-tested processes and methodologies to help companies with legacy systems get to the cloud faster so they can become more agile, reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies. With hundreds of successful deployments, TekStream guarantees on-time and on-budget project delivery and is proud to have 98% customer retention.
Miami Herald
21-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Rare' new species found in 16-million-year-old amber. ‘Like finding a diamond'
In the neotropics, a group of rare ants blends in with its surroundings. The ants are called Basiceros, or dirt ants, and are rarely encountered in the wild. Their bodies are covered with specialized hairs that stick to soil and litter, creating a camouflaged exterior. Now, a new species has been discovered — but it's 16 million years old. A piece of amber from the early Miocene was discovered in the northern mines of the Santiago Providence of the Dominican Republic and then deposited in a natural history museum, according to a study published April 17 in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Inside was a perfectly preserved ant, and one that didn't look like species previously identified. 'Dirt ants are rare finds in the wild. Finding one today is exciting given how well they stay hidden, but captured in amber, it's like finding a diamond,' study author Gianpiero Fiorentino said in an April 15 news release from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The ant was identified as a worker, relatively small compared to known relatives, and was likely dark brown in color before preservation, according to the study. It was named Basiceros enana, derived from the Spanish word for dwarf, researchers said. The species is only 5.13 millimeters long (0.21 inches), making it the smallest known species within the Basiceros genus, according to the release. 'Our results show that the embiggening of these ants was relatively rapid,' Fiorentino said. 'They almost doubled in size in the span of 20 million years. This goes against the previous belief that the ants started larger and became smaller over time, Fiorentino explained. The fossil also shows the ant's ability to hide, or crypsis, has been a survival strategy for millions of years with little change as hairs hold particles close to their exoskeleton. 'What this shows is that playing dead and hiding pays off,' said Fiorentino. So far, the nine known species of dirt ants had only been found in rainforests from Costa Rica to southern Brazil, but the presence of the new species in the Dominican Republic means dirt ants once lived in the Caribbean, according to the release. The find raises questions about where dirt ants originated, and how they got where they are today. 'Often lineages will have what appear to be fairly straightforward biogeographic histories. If you find a group of animals that only live in South America up to Costa Rica today, you really have no reason to expect that their early relatives lived in the Caribbean,' study author Phil Barden said in the release. 'A fossil like this underscores how the distribution of living species can belie the complex evolutionary history of life on our planet.' Researchers believe there may have been a land bridge between the Caribbean and Central America that would have allowed the ants to move from the mainland to the islands, but eventually, the species went extinct. 'These ants are predators, and an overall trend that we see from the Caribbean is a loss of predator ant diversity,' Fiorentino said. The Dominican Republic is a nation in the Caribbean on the east side of a shared island with Haiti. The research team includes Fiorentino, Barden, Rodolfo Probst, Adrian Richter and Evan P. Economo.
