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People seem to assume that expensive branded drugs will be less likely to cause them harm than their generic counterparts, which manifests via the "nocebo effect"

When it comes to sending humans back to the moon, knowing how to work with the regolith that coats the ground will be make-or-break. Phil Metzger is studying how to mitigate its dangers and use it as a crucial resource

The FDA recently removed FD&C Red No. 3 from the list of approved food additives. This was not based on any new data or interpretation of the data, but rather was a response to a petition from food safety and environmental groups. Their argument was in turn based on the Delaney Clause, a 1960 law saying that the FDA must ban any […]

The post Why Did the FDA Ban Red Dye #3 first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Exoplanets come in a variety of forms and one particular type, the Hot Jupiters have recently captured the attention of astronomers. They are usually found orbiting extremely close to their host star, completing an orbit in a few days or even hours. It has been thought that they migrated further out from the star, bullying other planets out of their way. Sometimes hurling them into the star or throwing them out of the system entirely. A new study however, suggests their evolution is not quite so violent since a Hot Jupiter has been found in a system with a Super-Earth and an icy giant. 

Hot Jupiters are a class of exoplanet that not surprisingly resemble our own planetary neighbour Jupiter. They are gas giants but that’s where the similarity ends; they have a high temperature and orbit their star at close distance. It can take just a few days to complete an orbit that’s compared to Jupiter’s orbit of 12 years! The intense levels of radiation and heating from their host star can cause temperatures in upper layers to reach over 1,000°C and the planet to swell to greater than expected size. 

This full-disc image of Jupiter was taken on 21 April 2014 with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).

Current theories of planetary formation describe inner planets as composed of more dense material since lighter elements are driven to outer reaches of the system. The outer planets by contrast are made from these lighter elements. The presence of gas planets like Hot Jupiters so close to a star are in direct conflict with this model. Instead it has been thought that they form further out from the star and then migrate inwards as the system evolves. Recent studies have revealed that, until now, Hot Jupiters seem to be the only planet in orbit around their host star. This observation suggests the migration process is likely to lead to an ejection or accretion of any planet closer to the star. 

This artist’s impression shows a Jupiter-like exoplanet that is on its way to becoming a hot Jupiter — a large, Jupiter-like exoplanet that orbits very close to its star. Courtesy: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva

That was until now! A team of astronomers led by the Astronomy Department of the UNIGE Faculty of Science in partnership with UNIBE and UZH and other organisations have suggested another model. They announced the discovery of a multiple planetary system that includes a Hot Jupiter, a Super-Earth on an inner orbit and another gas giant on an outer orbit, much like conventional gas giants. The discovery suggests there must be an alternative migration model that enables the preservation of the system. 

Using photometric measurements of WASP-132 over 400 light years away, the data reveals that WASP-132b was 0.41 Jupiter masses and an orbital period of just 7.1 days. Measurements from the HARPS spectrograph at the La Silla observatory in 2022 revealed the Super-Earth has a mass 6 times that of the Earth. The analysis of the system is still ongoing as the measurements are fine tuned. The Gaia satellite is now measuring the tiny variations in the position of the star to hone in on the planetary masses and orbits. 

Artist’s impression of the Gaia spacecraft detecting artificial signals from a distant star system. In this synchronization scheme, the star system’s inhabitants send the signal shortly after witnessing a supernova, which is also seen by telescopes on Earth. (Credit: Danielle Futselaar / Breakthrough Listen)

What this all tells us is that the current migrations models that enable the gas giants to be orbiting where they are may not be complete. Instead it suggests a more “cool” migration path and less violent journey through the protoplanetary disc for the Hot Jupiter. Quite what the refinement to the model is, still needs to be understood but further measurements of the system will help and the search for similar systems is underway. 

Source : Not all Hot Jupiters orbit solo

The post Hot Jupiters Can Co-Exist with Other Planets appeared first on Universe Today.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s it was all about the Moon. The Apollo program took human beings to the Moon for the first time and now over 50 years later things are really hotting up again. The latest mission to head toward our celestial neighbour is a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching Blue Ghost Mission 1 and the HAKUTO-R lander. The Blue Ghost is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) and it carries a total of 10 NASA payloads, the other is a private Japanese enterprise to explore the Moon. The launch went well and both landers will arrive shortly. 

The exploration of the Moon has been a key part of space research offering key insight into the origins of the Moon and the Solar System itself. With the possibility of future human bases on the Moon the interest in lunar exploration has started to gain momentum. Of particular note is NASA’s Artemis program and other international missions like those from China and India are making great progress. They not only intend to learn more about the Moon and its physical properties but also hope to serve as stepping stones for future exploration. 

Global map of the Moon, as seen from the Clementine mission, showing the lunar near- and farside. If we’re going back to the Moon, we’ll need a Lunar GPS. Credit: NASA.

Yet another chapter has opened in the book of lunar exploration with a launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket. This reusable two-stage launch vehicle was designed and developed by SpaceX to reduce the cost of a launch. It’s first flight was back in 2010 and since then has enjoyed success with around 200 successful launches to its name. One of its two charges this time was the Commercial Lunar Payload.

Carrying the a payload from Firefly Aerospace, the Commercial Lunar Payload set off on its journey from launch complex 39A ahead of its landing on 2 March 2025. As wonderfully articulated by NASA’s Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy ‘The mission embodies the bold spirit of NASA’s Artemis campaign – a campaign driven by scientific exploration and discovery.’

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IXPE spacecraft is the first satellite dedicated to measuring the polarization of X-rays from a variety of cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars. Launch occurred at 1 a.m. EST. Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky

It’s destination is near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium. On arrival at lunar the surface, it will test and demonstrate drilling capability, collection technology of the lunar regolith, the use of GPS, radiation tolerant computing and lunar dust protection methods. The mission will help to set the stage for a later human visit to the Moon, possibly even to develop a permanent lunar base. 

NASA has selected three commercial Moon landing service providers that will deliver science and technology payloads under Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) as part of the Artemis program. Each commercial lander will carry NASA-provided payloads that will conduct science investigations and demonstrate advanced technologies on the lunar surface, paving the way for NASA astronauts to land on the lunar surface by 2024…The selections are:..• Astrobotic of Pittsburgh has been awarded $79.5 million and has proposed to fly as many as 14 payloads to Lacus Mortis, a large crater on the near side of the Moon, by July 2021…• Intuitive Machines of Houston has been awarded $77 million. The company has proposed to fly as many as five payloads to Oceanus Procellarum, a scientifically intriguing dark spot on the Moon, by July 2021…• Orbit Beyond of Edison, New Jersey, has been awarded $97 million and has proposed to fly as many as four payloads to Mare Imbrium, a lava plain in one of the Moon’s craters, by September 2020. ..All three of the lander models were on display for the announcement of the companies selected to provide the first lunar landers for the Artemis program, on Friday, May 31, 2019, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. ..Read more: https://go.nasa.gov/2Ki2mJo..Credit: NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth

There will be a total of ten payloads on as part of the CLPS; Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity, Lunar PlanetVac, Next Generation Lunar Retroflector, Regolith Adherence Characterisation, Radiation Tolerant Computer, Electrodynamic Dust Shield, Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager, Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder, Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment and Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume Surface Studies. 

Being launched alongside Blue Ghost but following its own trajectory to the Moon is the Japanese built HAKUTO-R M2 Resilience lander. Unlike Blue Ghost, HAKUTO-R will take a low energy trajectory to the Moon arriving in about four months time in Mare Frigoris. On arrival, it will deploy a lunar rover called Tenacious which will collect small samples of lunar regolith. Under a contract which was awarded by NASA back in 2020, the regolith will be sold back to NASA for $5,000 USD. 

Source : Liftoff! NASA Sends Science, Tech to Moon on Firefly, SpaceX Flight

The post Two Lunar Landers are Off to the Moon appeared first on Universe Today.

Experts highlight the need for a clear framework when it comes to AI research, given the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by children and adolescents using digital devices to access the internet and social media.

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion by enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion. The DNA-nanoparticle motor uses the 'burnt-bridge' Brownian ratchet mechanism. In this type of movement, the motor is being propelled by the degradation (or 'burning') of the bonds (or 'bridges') it crosses along the substrate, essentially biasing its motion forward.

The world’s largest economy and second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases will withdraw from the global climate pact, disrupting efforts to tackle climate change

A new paper led by Professor Imanuel Lerman of UC San Diego provides a review of the field of bioelectronic medicine and the most promising opportunities for life-changing new therapies and diagnostics.

A new paper led by Professor Imanuel Lerman of UC San Diego provides a review of the field of bioelectronic medicine and the most promising opportunities for life-changing new therapies and diagnostics.

Scientists are unlocking the secrets of halide perovskites -- a material that's poised to reshape our future by bringing us closer to a new age of energy-efficient optoelectronics. Two physics professors are studying the material at the nanoscale: a place where objects are invisible to the naked eye. At this level, the extraordinary properties of halide perovskites come to life, thanks to the material's unique structure of ultra-thin crystals -- making it astonishingly efficient at converting sunlight into energy. Think solar panels that are not only more affordable but also far more effective at powering homes. Or LED lights that burn brighter and last longer while consuming less energy.

Scientists are unlocking the secrets of halide perovskites -- a material that's poised to reshape our future by bringing us closer to a new age of energy-efficient optoelectronics. Two physics professors are studying the material at the nanoscale: a place where objects are invisible to the naked eye. At this level, the extraordinary properties of halide perovskites come to life, thanks to the material's unique structure of ultra-thin crystals -- making it astonishingly efficient at converting sunlight into energy. Think solar panels that are not only more affordable but also far more effective at powering homes. Or LED lights that burn brighter and last longer while consuming less energy.

A team of researchers has developed innovative methods to enhance frequency conversion of terahertz (THz) waves in graphene-based structures, unlocking new potential for faster, more efficient technologies in wireless communication and signal processing.

A team of researchers has developed innovative methods to enhance frequency conversion of terahertz (THz) waves in graphene-based structures, unlocking new potential for faster, more efficient technologies in wireless communication and signal processing.

Experiments have yielded a fascinating new type of matter, neither granular nor crystalline, that responds to some stresses as a fluid would and to others like a solid. The new material, known as PAM (for polycatenated architected materials) could have uses in areas ranging from helmets and other protective gear to biomedical devices and robotics.

The US contributes around a fifth of the budget for the World Health Organization – its withdrawal from the public health body will impede efforts to control the global spread of diseases and could put the US at risk

Water desalination plants could replace expensive chemicals with new carbon cloth electrodes that remove boron from seawater, an important step of turning seawater into safe drinking water.

An interdisciplinary team has developed a groundbreaking technology that addresses key limitations in clean hydrogen production using microwaves. They have also successfully elucidated the underlying mechanism of this innovative process.

Transition metals have long been used as catalysts to activate small molecules and turn them into valuable products. However, as these metals can be expensive and less abundant, scientists are increasingly looking at more common elements as alternatives. In a recent study, researchers used a concept called 'frustrated Lewis pairs' to develop a transition metal-free catalyst for activating hydrogen. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient chemical processes.

If you've ever tossed a generous pinch of salt into your pasta pan's water for flavor or as an attempt to make it boil faster, you've likely ended up with a whitish ring of deposits inside the pan. A group of scientists, inspired by this observation during an evening of board games and pasta dinner, wondered what it would take to create the most beautiful salt ring inside the pasta pan they report their findings about what causes these peculiar salt particle cloud deposits to form.