Science News related to Galactic Cosmic Rays, Free-Floating Planets, Plasma in Liquids, Building Biomaterials, New Radio Receiver, Jupiter’s X-Ray Aurora, Seeing with Radio Waves
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.
1. Mystery Of Heavy Elements in Galactic Cosmic Rays
Source: Southwest Research Institute
6 Jul 2021
Scientists have used data from the Southwest Research Institute-led Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to explain the presence of energetic heavy elements in galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). GCRs are composed of fast-moving energetic particles, mostly hydrogen ions called protons, the lightest and most abundant elements in the universe. Scientists have long debated how trace amounts of heavy ions in GCRs are accelerated.
2. Kepler Telescope Glimpses Population of Free-Floating Planets
Source: Royal Astronomical Society
6 Jul 2021
Tantalising evidence has been uncovered for a mysterious population of “free-floating” planets, planets that may be alone in deep space, unbound to any host star. The results include four new discoveries that are consistent with planets of similar masses to Earth.
3. Igniting Plasmas in Liquids
Source: Ruhr-University Bochum
7 Jul 2021
Physicists have taken spectacular pictures that allow the ignition process of plasma under water to be viewed and tracked in real time. The team has provided the first data sets with ultra-high temporal resolution, supporting a new hypothesis on the ignition of these plasmas.
4. Developing New Techniques to Build Biomaterials
Source: University of Leeds
7 Jul 2021
Scientists have developed an approach that could help in the design of a new generation of synthetic biomaterials made from proteins. The biomaterials could eventually have applications in joint repair or wound healing as well as other fields of healthcare and food production.
5. New Radio Receiver Opens Wider Window to Radio Universe
Source: National Institutes of Natural Sciences
8 Jul 2021
Researchers have used the latest wireless technology to develop a new radio receiver for astronomy. The receiver is capable of capturing radio waves at frequencies over a range several times wider than conventional ones. The receiver can also detect radio waves emitted by many types of molecules in space at once. This is expected to enable significant progresses in the study of the evolution of the Universe and the mechanisms of star and planet formation.
6. Scientists Solve 40-Year Mystery Over Jupiter’s X-Ray Aurora
Source: University College London
9 Jul 2021
In a new study, researchers combined close-up observations of Jupiter’s environment by NASA’s satellite Juno with simultaneous X-ray measurements from the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton observatory. The research team discovered that X-ray flares were triggered by periodic vibrations of Jupiter’s magnetic field lines. These vibrations create waves of plasma (ionised gas) that send heavy ion particles “surfing” along magnetic field lines until they smash into the planet’s atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of X-rays.
7. Seeing With Radio Waves
Source: University of Tsukuba
10 Jul 2021
Scientists used the quantum effect called “spin-locking” to significantly enhance the resolution when performing radio-frequency imaging of nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond. This work may lead to faster and more accurate material analysis, as well as a path towards practical quantum computers.
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!
