Category: Nasa

Nasa

How artificial intelligence is helping scientists hunt for alien Earths

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A machine-learning algorithm trained on synthetic planetary systems has been let loose — and in the process has identified nearly four dozen real stars that have a high probability of hosting a rocky planet in their habitable zone. “The model identified 44 systems that are highly likely to harbor undetected Earth-like planets,” said Jeanne Davoult, an astronomer at the German Aerospace Agency DLR, in a statement. “A further study confirmed the theoretical possibility for these systems to host an Earth-like planet.” Often, “Earth-like” worlds — Earth-like in the sense that…

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Sols 4511-4512: Low energy after a big weekend?

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Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 2 min read Sols 4511-4512: Low energy after a big weekend? This image was taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4510 (2025-04-14 03:43:40 UTC). NASA/JPL-Caltech Written by Lauren Edgar, Planetary Geologist at…

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Sols 4509-4510: A weekend of long drives

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Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 3 min read Sols 4509-4510: A weekend of long drives This image was taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4507 (2025-04-11 03:54:35 UTC). Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet…

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Matter-spewing ‘singularities’ could eliminate the need for dark energy and dark matter

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A new model of the cosmos does away with the universe’s two most troubling and mysterious elements, dark energy and dark matter, collectively referred to as the dark universe. Here’s the idea. The new concept replaces the dark universe with a multitude of step-like bursts called “transient temporal singularities” that erupt throughout the entire cosmos. It’s possible, scientists say, that these transient temporal singularities could open to flood the universe with matter and energy, causing the very fabric of space to expand. Those rifts would close so quickly they would…

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New photos from European Mars orbiter show dynamic, volcanic Red Planet terrain

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The European Space Agency (ESA) just released some new snapshots from its Mars Express orbiter that detail the dynamic terrain of the Red Planet’s Acheron Fossae region. One of the photos shows trough-like features called “grabens,” which run about 500 miles (800 kilometers), or roughly the length of Germany. They were shaped from ancient volcanic activity that twisted the surface of Mars almost four billion years ago. Flowing lava from the nearby Alba Mons volcano (not pictured) is likely responsible for the smooth region in the bottom center of the…

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NASA Aims to Fly First Quantum Sensor for Gravity Measurements

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Researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, private companies, and academic institutions are developing the first space-based quantum sensor for measuring gravity. Supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), this mission will mark a first for quantum sensing and will pave the way for groundbreaking observations of everything from petroleum reserves to global supplies of fresh water. A map of Earth’s gravity. Red indicates areas of the world that exert greater gravitational pull, while blue indicates areas that exert less. A science-grade quantum gravity gradiometer could one…

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What Is Aerodynamics? (Grades 5-8)

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This article is for students grades 5-8. Aerodynamics is the way objects move through air. The rules of aerodynamics explain how an airplane is able to fly. Anything that moves through air is affected by aerodynamics, from a rocket blasting off, to a kite flying. Since they are surrounded by air, even cars are affected by aerodynamics. What Are the Four Forces of Flight? The four forces of flight are lift, weight, thrust and drag. These forces make an object move up and down, and faster or slower. The amount of…

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What Is Aerodynamics? (Grades K-4)

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3 Min Read What Is Aerodynamics? (Grades K-4) This article is for students grades K-4. What Are the Four Forces of Flight? Aerodynamics is the way air moves around things. The rules of aerodynamics explain how an airplane is able to fly. Anything that moves through air reacts to aerodynamics. A rocket blasting off the launch pad and a kite in the sky react to aerodynamics. Aerodynamics even acts on cars, since air flows around cars. The four forces of flight are lift, weight, thrust and drag. These forces make…

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James Webb Space Telescope sees a celestial Venn diagram around a dying star

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A stunning new image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is allowing astronomers to examine the complex and turbulent final stages of a dying star’s life. The snapshot above showcases NGC 1514, a planetary nebula that resides roughly 1,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. Despite the term, however, NGC 1514 has nothing to do with planets. Instead, at its heart, there are two stars. These stars appear as a single point of light in the James Webb Space Telescope‘s view, and this point of light is encircled…

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