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SpaceX successfully launched a batch of next-generation spy satellites for the United States National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) late on 5th September 2024. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:20 p.m. EDT, sending classified satellites into orbit. The mission, designated NROL-113, is part of the NRO’s new satellite network aimed at enhancing its reconnaissance capabilities. This was SpaceX’s second launch of the day, following an earlier mission from Florida that deployed 21 Starlink internet satellites.

Falcon 9’s Smooth Landing

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, which had already been reused 19 times, landed successfully on SpaceX’s droneship, “Of Course I Still Love You,” which was stationed at the Pacific Ocean. This marks the booster’s 20th launch and landing, with 14 of those missions being for SpaceX’s Starlink programme. The successful recovery of the booster is another milestone for SpaceX, showcasing its proficiency in reusing rockets to reduce the cost of space missions.

NRO’s Proliferated Architecture

NROL-113 is the third mission under the NRO’s “proliferated architecture,” a system designed to increase resilience through numerous smaller satellites. While the specifics of the satellites’ functions remain classified, this architecture reflects the NRO’s strategy to deploy more robust and flexible satellite systems. SpaceX had also launched the first two missions in this series, NROL-146 in May and NROL-186 in June, continuing its close collaboration with the U.S. military.

86 SpaceX Launches in 2024

SpaceX has now completed 86 orbital missions in 2024, with the majority focused on expanding its Starlink internet network. Despite setbacks earlier in the year, including an upper-stage failure in July and a failed booster landing in August, the company is continuing its rapid launch schedule, reinforcing its position as a leader in spaceflight.

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Moves Closer to First Orbital Launch

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September 27, 2024

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Moves Closer to First Orbital Launch

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, the much-anticipated rival to SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy, has taken a major step forward with a successful second-stage hot-fire test. This crucial test was conducted to validate key interactions between the rocket’s subsystems, its two BE-3U engines, and the ground control systems. The test, which lasted 15 seconds, represents a major advancement for New Glenn as it heads towards its first orbital launch in November 2024.

Validating the Second Stage Systems

The recent test focused on the New Glenn rocket’s second stage, ensuring its subsystems work cohesively under real-world conditions. The BE-3U engines, designed for high-energy missions, performed exceptionally well, demonstrating the thrust vector control system and the tank pressurization system to steer and fuel the rocket during its flight. The test also allowed Blue Origin’s launch operations team to rehearse critical launch procedures, ensuring the team was prepared for the November mission. This launch will take place at Cape Canaveral, Florida, from Launch Complex 36.

Looking Ahead: New Glenn’s First Mission

After several delays, Blue Origin has confirmed that New Glenn’s first mission (NG-1) will transport the Blue Ring orbital platform, designed by Blue Origin, into space. This mission marks a significant milestone for the company, which has thus far focused mainly on suborbital tourism with its New Shepard rocket.

A Rival to SpaceX

While Blue Origin has been slower to market, New Glenn is seen as a potential game changer in the commercial space industry. With a height of over 320 feet and its powerful BE-3U and BE-4 engines, New Glenn is built for ambitious missions, ranging from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit.

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Depression Could Be Linked With Brain’s Attention Guiding Network

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September 27, 2024

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Depression Could Be Linked With Brain’s Attention Guiding Network

New research is shedding light on the brain‘s role in depression, particularly through the discovery of an enlarged salience network in people suffering from the condition. This brain network, located primarily in the frontal cortex and striatum, is responsible for processing rewards and focusing attention on significant stimuli. The findings open promising avenues for early detection and personalised treatments for depression. The study claims that the brain network responsible for guiding attention was twice as large in those individuals who later developed symptoms of depression.

What is the Salience Network?

The salience network helps the brain determine which stimuli are most important and worthy of attention. It processes rewards and manages our focus on both external and internal factors. In people with depression, researchers have discovered that this network is significantly larger, potentially explaining the cognitive and attentional issues often associated with the disorder.

The Significance of This Enlargement

Studies have shown that the salience network in individuals with depression can be almost twice the size of that in healthy controls. Interestingly, this expansion does not fluctuate with changes in mood, suggesting that it is a stable trait rather than a symptom-based occurrence. This has led researchers to believe that an enlarged salience network could serve as an indicator of depression risk, even before the condition develops.

Implications for Early Detection and Treatment

This discovery could lead to innovative ways to identify individuals at risk for depression. Since the salience network can be detected early, even in children who are yet to develop depressive symptoms, this could transform preventative care. Furthermore, interventions targeting this specific network, such as neuromodulation techniques or personalised therapies, could become a future treatment path.

A Step Towards Precision Medicine in Mental Health

The research is still in its early stages, but experts believe that understanding the mechanisms driving salience network expansion could pave the way for new pharmaceutical and therapeutic interventions. By focusing on how this network contributes to depression, scientists hope to tailor treatments more effectively, improving patient outcomes.

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Did Pollen Allergies Lead to Woolly Mammoth Extinction?

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September 27, 2024

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Did Pollen Allergies Lead to Woolly Mammoth Extinction?

Woolly mammoths have long been thought to have disappeared due to a combination of factors, such as climate change and human activity. However, a recent study proposes an unexpected hypothesis: pollen allergies may have played a role in their extinction. The study suggests that at the end of the last Ice Age, a surge in vegetation led to excessive pollen production. This may have triggered allergic reactions in mammoths, impacting their sense of smell. Since mammoths relied heavily on smell for various vital functions, such as finding food, evading predators, and locating mates, pollen-related allergies could have severely disrupted these abilities.

Could Allergies Explain Extinction?

Researchers argue that this impairment during mating season may have made it difficult for mammoths to communicate and breed, contributing to a sharp population decline. However, further testing, including examining fossilized mammoth remains for immune proteins associated with allergic responses, is needed to confirm this theory.

Scepticism Around the Hypothesis

While the study presents a compelling narrative, not all experts are convinced. Evolutionary biologist Vincent Lynch, for example, points out that mammoth extinction is more likely to have been caused by a combination of environmental shifts and human hunting. Until more concrete evidence emerges, the pollen allergy theory remains an intriguing but debated topic in mammoth research.

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