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NASA administrator Bill Nelson has lauded billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, who along with five other crew members soared to the edge of the space aboard the VSS Unity spacecraft on Sunday. Nelson, a former astronaut who went to space in 1986, said that it was hard to believe back then that one day it would be possible for regular tourists to travel to space the way it happened on Sunday. “We put up Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom into suborbit 60 years ago, and now we’ve come to this, and I think it’s great,” Nelson told CNBC.

On Sunday, Branson flew more than 80km (50 miles) above the New Mexico desert aboard his rocket plane that lifted off from Spaceport America and safely returned in the vehicle’s first fully crewed test flight to space. Following his flight, the 70-year-old technology and space enthusiast, who founded Virgin Galactic some 17 years ago, said that his mission was a precursor to a new era of space tourism. Virgin Galactic is all geared up for its commercial operations from next year.

A Reuters report quoted Branson as saying, “We’re here to make space more accessible to all. Welcome to the dawn of a new space age.”

In a video from the space, shared by Virgin Galactic on Twitter, Branson could be heard saying, “I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I’m an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth.”

Nelson, meanwhile, was quoted as saying by CNBC that what these billionaires — Branson and Jeff Bezos — were doing was “great.”

“What Elon Musk has done, going to orbit with astronaut crews, I think that is great,” Nelson said. On the criticism of these flights, he said that we can’t lose our characters as “explorers or adventurers.”

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is scheduled to travel to space on July 20 with his brother. New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket system designed by Blue Origin, will take its first astronaut crew to space. Aboard will be Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos and the winner of an online auction for the seat. Blue Origin, an aerospace company, was founded by Bezos in 2000.

Blue Origin said that that unlike Virgin Galactic’s Unity, Bezos’s New Shepard tops the 100-km (62 mile) high mark, called the Karman line, set by an international aeronautics body as defining the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space.

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Blue Origin New Glenn Set for Launch on January 10 from Cape Canaveral

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Blue Origin New Glenn Set for Launch on January 10 from Cape Canaveral

The highly anticipated debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket has been scheduled for January 10, 2025. The heavy-lift rocket, designed for both commercial and government missions, will take off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A launch window of three hours, beginning at 1 a.m. EST, has been announced. The rocket’s inaugural flight marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin as the company aims to validate its capabilities and establish itself as a major player in the space industry.

New Glenn’s Mission and Capabilities

According to Blue Origin, as reported by space.com, the New Glenn rocket is a reusable, 320-foot-tall launch vehicle capable of carrying 50 tons (45 metric tons) to low Earth orbit (LEO). The NG-1 mission will test the company’s Blue Ring spacecraft platform, which is designed to support a variety of orbital payloads. This demonstration will include assessments of communication systems, in-space telemetry, and ground-based tracking capabilities. The payload will remain aboard the rocket’s second stage for a six-hour mission, as stated by Blue Origin.

Booster Recovery and Future Goals

The mission will also attempt a recovery of the rocket’s first stage booster, which will land on a ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, as per reports from space.com. The company’s senior vice president, Jarrett Jones, emphasised the importance of the flight, stating that rigorous preparations had been undertaken but that true insights could only be gained through actual launch experiences.

NG-1 is a critical step toward securing certification for U.S. national security missions. A successful outcome would bring Blue Origin closer to fulfilling these high-stakes contracts, further solidifying its position in the competitive aerospace sector.

This launch will serve as a proving ground for the New Glenn system, with valuable data expected to inform future missions and technology advancements.

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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Spiders Detect Smells Through Leg Hairs, Claims New Study

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Spiders Detect Smells Through Leg Hairs, Claims New Study

New research has revealed that spiders use specialised hairs on their legs to detect airborne scents, offering fresh insights into the sensory abilities of these arachnids. This discovery has resolved a long-standing question about how spiders, which lack antennae like insects, can identify odours such as pheromones. Male spiders were observed using olfactory hairs, known as wall-pore sensilla, to sense sex pheromones emitted by females. This mechanism underscores their ability to locate potential mates through chemical signals.

Olfactory Sensilla Identified

According to a study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the wall-pore sensilla were found on the upper legs of adult male wasp spiders (Argiope bruennichi). These microscopic structures are believed to be critical for detecting pheromones. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed thousands of these sensilla, which were absent in females and juvenile males. This specific distribution supports their role in mate detection. Researchers emphasised to phys.org that these findings have mapped and identified the elusive sensilla, previously thought to be absent in spiders.

Response to Pheromones

Experiments demonstrated the sensitivity of these sensilla to pheromone compounds. Tiny amounts of the substance, such as 20 nanograms, elicited significant neuronal responses. The experiments involved exposing the sensilla to pheromone puffs, and responses were observed consistently across various leg pairs. The researchers concluded that spiders’ olfactory systems rival the sensitivity seen in insects, highlighting their advanced chemical detection capabilities.

Broader Implications

The study explored 19 other spider species and confirmed the presence of wall-pore sensilla in most male spiders, suggesting that this trait evolved multiple times. However, it was noted that some primitive species lack these structures. Future research is expected to investigate how female spiders detect smells, the types of chemicals relevant to their behaviours, and the evolutionary aspects of olfaction in spiders.

This breakthrough provides a foundation for understanding the sophisticated sensory mechanisms that govern spider behaviour.

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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PFAS Chemicals Harm Freshwater Turtles in Australia, New Research Finds

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PFAS Chemicals Harm Freshwater Turtles in Australia, New Research Finds

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often termed “forever chemicals,” is raising concerns over its impact on wildlife health. Recent research has uncovered significant health problems in freshwater turtles in Australia exposed to PFAS. These issues are not limited to adult turtles but extend to their hatchlings. PFAS, widely known for their persistence in the environment, have been found accumulating in the organs of these reptiles, potentially impacting their long-term survival and reproduction.

Study Reveals PFAS Impacts on Australian Turtles

According to a study published in Science of the Total Environment, researchers, led by David Beale, an environmental biochemist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), examined freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii) from three locations in Queensland. These sites varied in PFAS contamination levels, with some showing high concentrations and others barely detectable. The study found that PFAS exposure disrupted metabolic functions in turtles and led to bioaccumulation in vital organs, including the ovaries, liver, kidneys, and heart.

In statements provided to Science News, Beale explained that hatchlings from lab-incubated eggs, derived from PFAS-exposed turtles, showed deformities such as scale abnormalities. He noted that contamination was transferred to offspring via fats and nutrients, raising alarms over generational health impacts.

Concerns Over Declining Juvenile Populations

Reports indicate that juveniles are missing in PFAS-contaminated sites. Beale suggested this could be linked to deformities making them vulnerable to predators or early mortality due to health issues. Differences in egg size and number were also observed, though direct connections to PFAS remain unconfirmed.

Experts Call for Urgent Action

Jean-Luc Cartron, a biologist at the University of New Mexico, expressed concern in his statement to Science News over these findings, emphasising the urgency to address ecological toxicity. He warned that delays in action could result in the loss of entire generations of wildlife.

The research team plans to expand studies to other species and regions, including crocodiles, frogs, and cane toads, to better understand the widespread impact of PFAS on wildlife.

https://www.gadgets360.com/science/news/nasa-delays-artemis-2-and-artemis-3-missions-to-address-key-technical-challenges-7321848

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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