Latest news with #theoreticalphysicist
Forbes
4 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
The Perseids Are Peaking Now — Here's How To Beat The Moonlight
When is the Perseid meteor shower? Happening right now — and peaking this week — the fastest and brightest meteor shower of the year will likely underwhelm. 'The Perseid meteor shower is active between Jul. 17 and Aug. 24,' said Dr Shyam Balaji, theoretical physicist at King's College London, in an email. 'It peaks on Aug. 12, but the light from the full moon might make meteors harder to spot that night.' Harder, but not impossible. Here's everything you need to know about — and how and when to get the best view of — the Perseid meteor shower this week. Peak Night Is August 12–13 — But Moonlight Will Be a Factor On the peak night, Aug. 12–13, a bright gibbous moon — about 84% lit and rising just as it starts to get dark — will vastly reduce the visibility of 'shooting stars.' 'The light from the full moon might make meteors harder to spot that night,' said Balaji. The best chance may be just after sunset and before moonrise, when the sky is still dark, on Aug. 12 — but it's a narrow window. Expect About 5-10 'Shooting Stars' Per Hour On The Peak Night Although the Perseids can see about 75 'shooting stars' per hour during their peak night, this year observers might spot only five to 10 meteors per hour. That's the huge impact of a bright gibbous moon. 'The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle,' said Balaji. 'The debris falls through the Earth's atmosphere, and as it burns up, you get the meteor shower display.' Find An Open Space With A Clear View Although strong moonlight means there's no point in escaping to dark skies for the Perseids this year, you still need to think about your observing location. "The key would be to find an open space with a clear view of as much of the sky as possible, since meteors can appear anywhere,' said Dr. Qicheng Zhang, astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, in an email. He adds that smoke and smog can also make a noticeable difference. The Peak Night Is Still Worth Watching Despite the Moon Although the Perseid meteor shower will be marred by moonlight, it can still be an astronomical highlight for stargazers. That's because some of the brighter 'shooting stars' — called fireballs — will still be visible to those with lots of patience. The best chance may be just after sunset and before moonrise, when the sky is still dark, on Aug. 12 — but it's a narrow window. There may be reasons to look for Perseids in a darker sky, but there's still likely to be a visible uptick in rates around the peak night. 'The Perseids in the middle of the month are still likely to produce the most visible meteors despite the moon,' said Zhang. You Can Take Evasive Action To Beat The Strong Moonlight There's not much you can do about moonlight interrupting the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, but you can lessen its impact by keeping the moon behind you and, better still, watching from somewhere in shadow. However, be careful that the obstruction you use to block the moon doesn't also block too much of the night sky. That's likely to be a bigger problem the higher the moon rises into the sky after midnight. The Nights Following The Peak Are Also Worth Being Outside For The nights immediately afterwards are also worth being outside for looking for 'shooting stars.' 'The moon rises slightly later each night around the time of the Perseids peak, giving a slightly longer moonless window for later nights,' said Zhang. 'However, typically, the meteor rate drops off substantially from the peak — one would probably still see more meteors on the peak night than afterward, all else equal.' There Could Be A Sudden Outburst Sudden, unpredictable outbursts could increase that number, but they're rare and difficult to forecast. 'Outbursts are notoriously hard to predict since they require us to know precisely how the parent comet responsible for the meteors was behaving centuries ago, long before astronomers were observing it in any detail,' said Zhang. 'Strong outbursts in meteor activity may last only a few hours, and because they're unpredictable in time, require either a lot of luck or watching for many hours to have a reasonable chance of catching.' The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. Look To The North-East For The Best Chance 'Shooting stars' can appear anywhere in the night sky at any time. However, there is a radiant point, a specific location in the night sky from which the meteors appear to originate. 'The best place to view the Perseid meteor shower is in the Northeast near the constellation Perseus,' said Balaji. 'While you can look at the whole sky and are likely to see a meteor, that's the target location.' The brightly lit moon might upset your view of the Perseid meteor shower in 2025, but it will simultaneously create a rather beautiful sight. Look alongside the moon as it rises in the east — albeit uncomfortably near the Perseids' radiant point — and you'll see the planet Saturn, close to looking its biggest, brightest and best in 2025. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Independent Singapore
06-08-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Too risky or just right? Experts split on nuclear power for Singapore
SINGAPORE: As Singapore races to decarbonise its economy and meet rising energy demands and climate change, the debate over nuclear power has taken on renewed relevance. Past discussions have largely dismissed the idea due to safety and geographic concerns; new nuclear technologies — such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and thorium molten salt designs — have not just reopened the conversation but enabled a new vision for our evolving energy needs. These next-generation nuclear systems are promoted as safer, more compact, and cleaner than traditional reactors. Some advocates have suggested that Singapore could one day deploy them offshore or in partnership with regional neighbours. A physicist's message Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad, a theoretical physicist and member of the RDU Central Executive Committee, remains firmly sceptical. He argues that nuclear energy, regardless of form, is a poor fit for Singapore's physical and structural realities. 'Our limited land, the impossibility of effective evacuation, and lack of geological capacity to store nuclear waste — they represent physical boundaries that must be observed with scientific discipline,' he says. He added that 'there is no outside zone, no rural province, no extended hinterland to fall back on. All risks remain localised.' While thorium molten salt reactors are seen as promising alternatives, Dr Ahmad points out that the most advanced prototype, located in China's Gobi Desert, only produces two megawatts of thermal energy. 'To be clear, Singapore currently consumes more than fifty-five terawatt-hours of electricity per year, and that is projected to rise significantly by 2035,' he said. He is also wary of proposals to site such reactors offshore. Operating nuclear systems in marine environments introduces further complexity: corrosion from saltwater, vulnerability to severe weather, fuel transport and waste disposal issues — all magnified in Singapore's heavily trafficked coastal areas. Even the waste from thorium reactors, though smaller in volume, must be stored securely for centuries. He also notes the economic challenge. Developing small-scale, experimental nuclear platforms would require massive investment, a regulatory system overhaul, and centuries-long commitment, all for a technology not yet proven at scale. In contrast, renewables like solar and regional grid integration are already showing real returns. IAEA sees nuclear as a natural fit Yet others believe Singapore could — and potentially should — embrace nuclear technology in the near future. Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently told an audience at the National University of Singapore that nuclear energy could be a vital solution for the city-state's clean energy future. 'In my opinion,' he said, 'Singapore could rightly be the most perfect example of a country that needs nuclear energy.' Given the lack of hydropower, limited land for wind and solar farms, and rising energy demand, Grossi believes a compact nuclear plant could offer a level of energy density 'you cannot match with anything else.' He highlighted the potential of small modular reactors — creating an ecosystem designed with passive safety features, lower risk profiles, and smaller footprints. Although still largely in the research and pilot stage globally, Grossi believes SMRs will be commercially viable within a few years. The core of the nuclear conversation in Singapore is not just about apprehension but about weighing the risks, benefits, and trade-offs of alternative pathways as voiced by a range of commentators with different stakes in the energy race. Grossi then floated the idea of regional collaboration, 'Singapore could develop a plant in collaboration with another ASEAN country,' he suggested, pointing to a future where shared infrastructure might ease national constraints. Dr Ahmad also believes the path forward lies in accelerating Singapore's renewable energy investments, expanding regional grid partnerships with countries like Indonesia, which is pursuing its own nuclear ambitions, and scalable technologies that don't come with radioactive waste or existential safety concerns. The IAEA, meanwhile, argues that Singapore's spatial limitations and advanced technologies are precisely why nuclear power might be its best option — a clean, dense, reliable energy source that requires little land and could ensure long-term stability in a nation attempting to 'go green'.
