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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced earlier this week that he will be flying to space aboard his space company Blue Origin’s New Shephard vehicle on July 20, accompanied by his brother Mark Bezos. This was supposed to make senior Bezos the first ‘space billionaire’ to actually go into space. But it now seems that another ‘space billionaire’ is eyeing the ‘first’ in this modern space race. A report citing sources says that Virgin Galactic is planning to send Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, on a suborbital flight aboard his space company Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo rocket plane in the first week of July (the 4th of July weekend). How is that for a celebration?

But Virgin Group, as reported by Parabolic Arc, has said that the flight was still subject to obtaining an operator’s licence from the authorities at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Branson’s flight, if everything goes as per the plan, will take off at least two weeks before that off Bezos.

A company spokesman reportedly said in a statement on Tuesday that the company was still in the process of analysing data from their successful May 22 flight, adding that they expect to complete the final test flights this summer through to early fall.

“At this time, we have not determined the date of our next flight. An objective from the last flight was to collect data to be used for the final two verification reports that are required as part of the current FAA commercial reusable spacecraft operator’s licence,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.

The report says Virgin Galactic is said to have announced the plan for Branson’s flight as a response to Blue Origin’s scheduled July 20 flight, but that they had been planning it even before the announcement from Bezos’s company came on June 7.

As for Bezos and Blue Origin, the aerospace company he founded in 2000, the launch calendar has been marked. The New Shephard vehicle scheduled to carry the Bezos brothers — and the winner of an online auction for a spare seat — has flown at least 15 times in the past, but with nobody aboard it.

Bezos also shared an Instagram post telling his followers why he decided to fly to space. In the post, he wrote, “Ever since I was five years old, I’ve dreamed of traveling to space. On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend.”

The third person to accompany Jeff and Mark Bezos still has to go through a bidding war. A blog post on Blue Origin’s website says the bidding for the space seat will conclude with a live online auction on June 12. Those interested in bidding in the live auction have to register by June 10. The blog added that so far “nearly 6,000 participants from 143 countries” had bid.

New Shepard will launch on July 20, reach Karman Line at 100-km mean sea-level, and then descend back to Earth, all in a matter of 11 minutes. The Karman Line is the recognised boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and space.

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See Solar Orbiter’s Latest Images of the Sun’s Surface and Magnetic Fields

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November 21, 2024

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See Solar Orbiter’s Latest Images of the Sun's Surface and Magnetic Fields

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Solar Orbiter spacecraft has delivered the most detailed images of the sun’s surface to date. These images, taken in March 2023 from a distance of approximately 74 million kilometres, were released on November 20. They provide unprecedented insights into the photosphere, the layer of the sun responsible for emitting visible light. The photos reveal the intricate and dynamic patterns of granules—plasma cells roughly 1,000 kilometres wide—formed by convection as hot plasma rises and cooler plasma sinks.

Sunspot Activity and Magnetic Fields Analysed

The images highlight sunspots as cooler, darker regions on the photosphere, where intense magnetic fields disrupt the movement of plasma. The Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) on board the Solar Orbiter produced detailed maps of these magnetic fields, identifying their significant concentration in sunspot regions. According to Daniel Müller, ESA Project Scientist for Solar Orbiter, these observations are essential for understanding the sun’s dynamic processes. The sunspots appear colder because magnetic forces restrict normal convection, causing a decrease in surface temperature.

New Data on Solar Rotation and Winds

A velocity map, known as a tachogram, has also been shared, illustrating the speed and direction of material movement on the sun’s surface. Blue regions represent plasma moving towards the spacecraft, while red areas show plasma moving away, revealing the sun’s rotational dynamics. Additionally, magnetic fields in sunspot regions were seen to disrupt the surface material further.

The sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, was imaged by the spacecraft’s Extreme Ultraviolet Imager. Plasma loops protruding from the sun, visible in these images, are connected to sunspots and contribute to the solar wind. This solar wind, when reaching Earth, often results in auroral displays.

Future Missions to Study Solar Poles

The Solar Orbiter, launched in 2020 as a joint mission with NASA, aims to capture unprecedented views of the sun’s poles. These observations are scheduled for 2025, when the spacecraft’s orbit will align for a direct perspective. The recent imaging involved the assembly of 25 smaller images, a complex process now expected to accelerate for future releases.

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Human Cell Atlas Mapping 37 Trillion Human Cells for Disease Insights

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November 21, 2024

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Human Cell Atlas Mapping 37 Trillion Human Cells for Disease Insights

Efforts to create a comprehensive map of all human cells have taken a significant leap forward. Researchers associated with the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), a global scientific consortium, have released over 40 studies detailing critical progress in mapping the 37 trillion cells that make up the human body. These findings, published on 20 November in Nature journals, focus on cells in organs such as the lungs, skin, and brain and outline advanced computational tools for analysing vast datasets.

The project aims to profile cells from diverse populations worldwide to identify their unique functions, locations, and interactions at various stages of life. Already, data from 100 million cells sourced from over 10,000 individuals in more than 100 countries have been collected. By 2026, researchers plan to present the first draft of the atlas, with future versions expected to incorporate billions of cells.

Detailed Discoveries Across the Body

Among the recent findings is a comprehensive cellular map of the digestive system, from the oesophagus to the colon. This work, based on data from 190 individuals, uncovered a type of cell involved in inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Professor Itai Yanai of NYU Langone Health noted that these cells likely trigger immune responses, contributing to inflammation in diseased tissues.

Other studies have shed light on early human development, including insights into skeletal formation during pregnancy and conditions like craniosynostosis. Maps comparing fetal brain development with lab-grown brain organoids also highlight the accuracy of these models, which replicate human brain activity up to the second trimester.

Implications for Medical Research

The findings have implications for drug discovery and disease understanding. Dr Aviv Regev, co-chair of the HCA, likened the work to advancements in mapping technologies, stating, “We have transitioned from basic, crude maps to something as detailed as Google Maps.” However, she acknowledged the significant work that lies ahead to complete this ambitious project.

The research has already led to groundbreaking discoveries, including the identification of a new lung cell type and insights into tissues vulnerable to COVID-19. Scientists aim to continue refining these maps, using organoids and other methods to unravel human biology and disease mechanisms.

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Study finds Irminger Sea key to Atlantic current’s stability

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November 21, 2024

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Study finds Irminger Sea key to Atlantic current’s stability

A new study highlights the critical role of the Irminger Sea, located off southeastern Greenland, in maintaining the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC, a global ocean conveyor belt, is crucial for regulating Earth’s climate, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. According to research led by Dr Qiyun Ma, a postdoctoral researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, disruptions in this region could have far-reaching climate impacts.

Dr Ma emphasised that freshwater input into the Irminger Sea directly inhibits deep-water formation, a key process for sustaining the AMOC. This reduction in deep-water currents, caused by increasing Arctic meltwater, significantly alters atmospheric circulation and disrupts the broader ocean current system. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted monitoring of the Irminger Sea, as findings suggest its influence on the AMOC surpasses that of neighbouring regions, including the Labrador Sea and Nordic Seas.

Freshwater Flow Weakens Ocean Currents

The research simulated scenarios of increased freshwater in four regions of the North Atlantic and assessed the AMOC’s sensitivity. It was discovered that the Irminger Sea plays a unique role in regulating deep-water formation across adjacent seas, including the Labrador Sea. Freshwater input in this area also exacerbates climate extremes, such as altered precipitation patterns in North America and the Amazon Basin.

Wider Climate Implications

Findings from this study align with earlier predictions of Northern Hemisphere cooling and Arctic sea ice expansion due to a weakening AMOC. Additionally, slight warming in the Southern Hemisphere and disruptions to tropical monsoon systems were observed. Dr Ma pointed out that the location of freshwater input heavily influences these outcomes, making precise predictions more challenging.

The study, published in Science Advances on November 20, highlights the growing need for climate experts and policymakers to address AMOC vulnerabilities. Enhanced monitoring of sensitive areas like the Irminger Sea could aid in developing adaptive strategies to mitigate future climate disruptions.

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