Science News related to Milky Way, Biospheres, Boiling Cauldron Where Stars are Born, Exoplanets, Big Bang, Ocean Microplastics, Power Consumption, Soft Electronics
Note: I do not write/own any of the science news bits (and cover picture) given here. The links on each of the news bits will redirect to the news source. The content given under each headline is a basic gist and not the full story.
Cover Picture Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, HST Frontier Fields
1. Research Adds New Wrinkle to Understanding the Origins of Matter in The Milky Way
Source: University of Maryland Baltimore County
21 Jun 2021
New findings suggest that carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen cosmic rays travel through the galaxy toward Earth in a similar way, but, surprisingly, that iron arrives at Earth differently. Learning more about how cosmic rays move through the galaxy helps address a fundamental, lingering question in astrophysics: How is matter generated and distributed across the universe?
Original written by: Sarah Hansen
2. Earth-Like Biospheres on Other Planets May Be Rare
Source: Royal Astronomical Society
23 Jun 2021
A new analysis of known exoplanets has revealed that Earth-like conditions on potentially habitable planets may be much rarer than previously thought. The work focuses on the conditions required for oxygen-based photosynthesis to develop on a planet, which would enable complex biospheres of the type found on Earth.
3. First Clear View of a Boiling Cauldron Where Stars are Born
Source: University of Maryland
23 Jun 2021
Researchers created the first high-resolution image of an expanding bubble of hot plasma and ionized gas where stars are born. Previous low-resolution images did not clearly show the bubble or reveal how it expanded into the surrounding gas.
4. Exoplanets Get a Cosmic Front-Row Seat to Find Backlit Earth
Source: Cornell University
23 Jun 2021
Scientists have identified 2,034 nearby star-systems – within the small cosmic distance of 326 light-years – that could find Earth merely by watching our pale blue dot cross our sun. That’s 1,715 star-systems that could have spotted Earth since human civilization blossomed about 5,000 years ago, and 319 more star-systems that will be added over the next 5,000 years.
5. Cosmic Dawn Occurred 250 To 350 Million Years After Big Bang
Source: University College London
24 Jun 2021
Cosmic dawn, when stars formed for the first time, occurred 250 million to 350 million years after the beginning of the universe, according to a new study. The study suggests that the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scheduled to launch in November, will be sensitive enough to observe the birth of galaxies directly.
Original written by: Blaine Friedlander
6. Scientists Use NASA Satellite Data to Track Ocean Microplastics from Space
Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
25 Jun 2021
Scientists have developed an innovative way to use NASA satellite data to track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean. The new technique relies on data from NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), a constellation of eight small satellites that measures wind speeds above Earth’s oceans and provides information about the strength of hurricanes.
7. Slashing Display Power Consumption
Source: University of Michigan
25 Jun 2021
A new electrode that could free up 20% more light from organic light-emitting diodes has been developed. It could help extend the battery life of smartphones and laptops, or make next-gen televisions and displays much more energy efficient.
8. New Soft Electronics Don’t Break, Even When Punctured
Source: Virginia Tech
25 Jun 2021
A team of researchers has created a new type of soft electronics, paving the way for devices that are self-healing, reconfigurable, and recyclable. These skin-like circuits are soft and stretchy, sustain numerous damage events under load without losing electrical conductivity, and can be recycled to generate new circuits at the end of a product’s life.
Original written by: Alex Parrish
That’s all the science news for this week! Maybe you can help me provide news better. Leave a comment below if you have any suggestions or send me a message via the contact form! Have fun!
