Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Recently, photos of Sunita Williams (currently aboard the International Space Station) sparked discussions about the health impact on astronauts in long-term space missions. Keeping that in mind, scientists and engineers are currently conducting advanced-level research on how to keep astronauts healthy in space.
Using specialized imaging tools, NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague are analyzing biological samples to understand inflammation-related changes caused by the space environment. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are studying how spaceflight affects immune responses and blood clotting - if successful, this may help ensure that all critical bodily functions are preserved during space missions. On the other hand, Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner have measured exhalation rates during forced expiration maneuvers to understand how breathing is affected by the absence of gravity.
Nicola Fox, NASA's Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, unveiled new computational tools (for space research) at the Supercomputing Conference 2024 (SC24). Using a heliophysics foundation model, she spoke about the agency's strategy for various fields, such as heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and biological and physical sciences. Moreover, she showcased data from satellite missions to explain NASA's ability to observe natural events (such as wildfires) in almost real-time.
Besides, she spoke about the role of artificial intelligence in almost all of NASA's major missions these days.
Some time ago, scientists understood that moons of the outer solar system planets (such as Jupiter's Europa and Saturn's Enceladus) may have hidden oceans beneath their icy surfaces. To explore that, NASA has developed a futuristic concept of robots called SWIM - Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers. Built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), these small and self-propelled robots will be equipped with communication and GPS systems to explore the underwater world there.
Exploring alien oceans with tiny robots? These prototypes could pave the way for such a reality!
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) November 20, 2024
A futuristic mission concept – called SWIM – envisions a swarm of cellphone-size robots that could explore the oceans beneath icy moons' shells. Learn more: https://t.co/oSqwn6y14J pic.twitter.com/QQyB1aTOEr
(Credit: NASA JPL)
Notably, NASA recently launched its Europa Clipper probe to study Europa. ESA (European Space Agency), on the other hand, launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer to study Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede. According to reports, NASA is currently working on a mission to examine the moons of Titan and Saturn from close.
According to a recent report published on Environmental Research: Climate, human-caused climate change made Atlantic hurricanes about 29 kilometers per hour stronger in the last six years. Among the 38 hurricanes that occurred between 2019 and 2023, over 30 jumped to one category higher (in terms of intensity) thanks to climate change. Examples include Lorenzo in 2019, Ian in 2022, and Lee in 2023.
Daniel Gifford, a climate scientist at Climate Central who was the lead study author, said in a statement, "We know that the intensity of these storms is causing a lot more catastrophic damage in general. Damages do scale [up] with the intensity. We had two Category 5 storms here in 2024 - Our analysis shows that we would have had zero Category 5 storms without human-caused climate change."
Beryl, Helene, and Milton - the three most disastrous storms this year - increased by 29 kph (18 mph), 26 kph (16 mph), and 39 kph (24 mph) respectively in terms of their wind speed.
