Author: NeRD

NASA tests high-tech software for future mission to search for life on Jupiter’s moon Europa

NeRD

Artificial intelligence is being developed to provide a robotic brain for a future NASA mission to land on the icy surface of one of the solar system’s ocean moons, such as Europa or Enceladus. The autonomous software is being developed by teams of researchers who are making use of a robotic arm, mimicking that belonging to a lander or rover, and a virtual reality simulation at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Ames Research Center, respectively. Imagine that you’re a robotic lander designed to study Jupiter‘s moon Europa, which hosts…

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Scientists Share Early Results from NASA’s Solar Eclipse Experiments 

NeRD

5 Min Read Scientists Share Early Results from NASA’s Solar Eclipse Experiments  On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the North American continent from Mexico’s Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. This photo was taken from Dallas, Texas. Credits: NASA/Keegan Barber On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse swept across North America, from the western shores of Mexico, through the United States, and into northeastern Canada. For the eclipse, NASA helped fund numerous research projects and called upon citizen…

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Learn how Pike and Number One met at Starfleet Academy in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum’ (exclusive)

NeRD

It’s been pretty quiet except for the crickets in the “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” frontier lately, and after a NYCC Season 3 update at Paramount+’s Star Trek Universe Panel this past October that included a thrilling clip of the Enterprise engaging with Gorn attack ships, we haven’t heard much more. No doubt a brand new trailer is somewhere on the horizon, but until that third season enters Paramount+’s streaming orbit sometime in 2025, one method of maintaining one’s interest in Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his gallant crew…

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NASA TechLeap Prize: Space Technology Payload Challenge

NeRD

The Space Technology Payload Challenge invites individuals, teams, and organizations to submit applications for systems that advance technology to address one or more of NASA’s shortfalls. These shortfalls identify technology areas where further technology development is required to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. In addition, technologies to address these select shortfalls are also potentially well suited for a suborbital or hosted orbital flight demonstration to help mature the innovation. The expectation is that the technology will be tested at the end of the challenge aboard a suborbital…

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3D Printable Bioreactor for Deep Space Food Production

NeRD

NASA’s Synthetic Biology Project is turning to the 3D printing experts in the GrabCAD community for ideas and or designs that could lead to the ability to reuse and recycle small scale bioreactors to reduce the mass and volume requirements for deep space missions. Ideally, designs that could be printed using a 3D printer, using recyclable plastics, or a design using cleanable and reusable materials can be created. Award: $7,000 in total prizes Open Date: December 2, 2024 Close Date: February 24, 2025 For more information, visit: https://grabcad.com/challenges/3d-printable-bioreactor-for-deep-space-food-production

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Geminid meteor shower fills the sky with ‘shooting stars’ in spectacular time-lapse photos

NeRD

Miguel Claro is a professional photographer, author and science communicator based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular images of the night sky. As a European Southern Observatory Photo Ambassador and member of The World At Night and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, he specializes in astronomical “Skyscapes” that connect both Earth and the night sky. This image of the Geminid meteor shower is the result of a fair amount of work consisting of aligning stars aligning and combining ten folders that each contained hundreds of gigabytes…

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Station Science Top News: Dec. 6, 2024

NeRD

Astronaut cognitive performance remains generally stable Researchers found that astronauts on six-month missions to the International Space Station demonstrated generally stable cognitive performance but mild changes in certain areas, including processing speed, working memory, attention, and willingness to take risks. This research provides baseline data that could help identify cognitive changes on future missions and support development of appropriate countermeasures. Research to date has suggested mild decreases in some cognitive performance domains during spaceflight, likely influenced by spaceflight stressors such as radiation and sleep disruption. Longer missions represent greater exposure…

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NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from US Students Abroad

NeRD

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams aboard the International Space Station on Oct. 15, 2024. (Credit: NASA) Students from U.S. military families based overseas will have the chance to hear NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station answer their prerecorded questions. On Wednesday, Dec. 11, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams will respond to questions submitted by students from Stuttgart Elementary, followed by another call on Thursday, Dec. 12, with Nick Hague answering questions from Kwajalein School System students. Watch the 20-minute space-to-Earth calls on NASA+ at 12:25…

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‘Silo’ Season 2: ‘The Harmonium’: Does Judge Meadows get her wish to go outside?

NeRD

If you’re any kind of fan of the fantastic Steve Zahn, and frankly who isn’t, you’re in for a real treat in this fourth episode of “Silo” Season 2 titled “The Harmonium.” Watching him innocently describe trapeze artists and exotic animals to Juliette while she’s trying to craft a breathing tube apparatus to swim down to a submerged level of Silo 17 is a sheer revelation and a true testament to his enormous range.   Juliette might be a bit annoyed at his carrying on about circuses, elephants’ altruism, and…

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