Connect with us

Published

1 month ago

on

Engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California and AeroVironment are conducting an extensive investigation into the final flight of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which occurred on January 18, 2024. According to reports, the rotorcraft, initially designed for a short demonstration of aerial flight on Mars, exceeded expectations by completing 72 flights over nearly three years. Details from the investigation, which are set to be released in a technical report, aim to inform future aircraft designed for extraterrestrial exploration.

Ingenuity’s Last Flight

The 72nd mission was planned as a routine ascent to test systems and capture images, reportedly. Data indicates that the helicopter reached an altitude of 40 feet before descending. Reports reveal that communication with the vehicle ceased shortly after it landed. Images received days later confirmed significant damage to the rotor blades, bringing Ingenuity’s operational career to an end.

Cause of the Incident

According to reports, experts suggest that a lack of distinguishable surface features in Jezero Crater’s sand ripple terrain was the probable cause of the navigation system’s failure. Håvard Grip, the first pilot of Ingenuity, explained in a statement that the navigation system, relying on surface texture tracking, struggled in the featureless environment. The resulting errors reportedly led to high horizontal speeds at touchdown, causing severe mechanical stress.

Continuing Contributions

Despite being grounded, Ingenuity still transmits weather and avionics data to the Perseverance rover, aiding ongoing Mars research. According to Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity’s project manager, in a statement, this mission marked a pioneering use of commercial off-the-shelf processors in space, demonstrating their potential durability in harsh environments.

Next Steps for Martian Flight

NASA engineers are exploring future designs inspired by Ingenuity. Concepts under review include the Mars Chopper, a larger rotorcraft capable of carrying scientific instruments and autonomously exploring challenging terrains. This development aims to extend the boundaries of aerial exploration on Mars while building on the legacy of Ingenuity’s achievements.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Science

New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Retains 80 Percent Capacity After 25,000 Cycles

Published

3 hours ago

on

January 22, 2025

By

New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Retains 80 Percent Capacity After 25,000 Cycles

Engineers and materials scientists have achieved a major advancement in battery technology, developing a lithium-sulfur battery that retains 80 percent of its charge capacity after 25,000 charging cycles. The new design, which uses a specially formulated electrode, represents a significant improvement over conventional lithium-ion batteries. The breakthrough could pave the way for smaller, lighter, and longer-lasting energy storage solutions, addressing critical demands in electronics and electric vehicles.

Key Innovations in the Study

According to a study published in Nature, sulfur was utilised as a core component for the battery’s solid electrode. Despite being abundant and cost-effective, sulfur has historically posed challenges due to issues such as ion loss and expansion during reactions with lithium. These problems were tackled by incorporating a glass-like mixture composed of sulfur, boron, lithium, phosphorus, and iodine. The iodine element was found to enhance electron movement during redox reactions, allowing for faster charging and improved performance.

As reported by Techxplore, the research demonstrated that the porous atomic structure of the electrode facilitated ion diffusion, eliminating the need for intermediary movements. This structural stability, combined with the chemical properties of the glass-phase electrolyte, contributed to the battery’s durability across an unprecedented number of cycles.

Performance and Potential Applications

The experimental lithium-sulfur battery maintained its capacity even under high temperatures, a notable advantage in demanding environments. Standard lithium-ion batteries typically degrade after approximately 1,000 cycles, making this new battery’s longevity a striking development. Despite its promise, the study’s authors acknowledged the need for further research to improve energy density and explore alternative materials that could reduce the battery’s overall weight.

Efforts are being directed at refining this technology to support the growing demand for energy storage in applications ranging from consumer electronics to renewable energy systems.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.



Heavy Dark Matter Could Break the Standard Model, New Research Shows

Continue Reading

Science

Small Carnivores Were Crucial for Early Levant Diets, Says New Study

Published

4 hours ago

on

January 22, 2025

By

Small Carnivores Were Crucial for Early Levant Diets, Says New Study

The nutritional reliance on small carnivores by early hunter-gatherer societies in the Levant has been highlighted through recent archaeological discoveries. A series of excavations at the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB) site of Aḥihud, located in present-day Israel, has revealed the widespread use of red foxes, wildcats, and other small carnivores for meat and fur. This period, dated between approximately 10,500 and 10,100 years ago, coincided with a transformative phase as communities transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming-based lifestyles.

Findings at the Aḥihud Site

According to the study published in Environmental Archaeology, various archaeological materials, including animal bone fragments, were recovered during salvage excavations in 2012 and 2013. These materials included 1,244 animal remains, with a significant proportion belonging to small carnivores such as red foxes, beech martens, Egyptian mongooses, and European badgers. Dr. Shirad Galmor, the lead researcher, explained to Phys.org that the high quantity of small carnivore bones, coupled with observable cut marks, sparked deeper investigation into their utilisation.

Evidence of Skinning and Consumption

Through taphonomic analysis, it was found that more than 12 percent of red fox remains and 19 percent of wildcat remains exhibited distinct cut marks, compared to lower percentages in larger game like gazelles and cape hares. These marks suggested both skinning for fur and butchering for meat. Burn marks on some of the bones further supported their use as food.

Implications for Neolithic Societies

The findings underscore the previously overlooked significance of small carnivores in the dietary and economic practices of early Neolithic communities. While earlier studies primarily attributed the presence of such remains to fur trade, these results open new avenues for understanding their role as a dietary staple during this period of societal evolution.

Researchers emphasise the need for additional studies to explore the contributions of small carnivores at other archaeological sites across the southern Levant.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Heavy Dark Matter Could Break the Standard Model, New Research Shows



New Study Uncovers Discrepancies in Universe’s Expansion Rate, Challenges Cosmology Models

Continue Reading

Science

Heavy Dark Matter Could Disrupt Universe’s Fundamental Laws

Published

5 hours ago

on

January 22, 2025

By

Heavy Dark Matter Could Disrupt Universe’s Fundamental Laws

The concept of heavy dark matter has raised concerns about its implications for the universe’s fundamental structure. While dark matter has been theorised as a key component explaining several astrophysical phenomena, new research indicates that particles exceeding a certain mass could disrupt the Standard Model of particle physics. The ongoing quest to identify dark matter, which forms the bulk of the universe’s mass yet eludes direct detection, continues to challenge prevailing theories.

Constraints on Dark Matter Mass

According to a study published on the preprint server arXiv, the mass of potential dark matter particles has significant implications. Experiments have largely focused on a mass range between 10 to 1,000 giga-electron volts (GeV), comparable to the heaviest known particles like the top quark and the W boson. However, researchers have now explored higher mass ranges, uncovering potential inconsistencies.

The study highlights that dark matter particles interacting with the Higgs boson, which plays a crucial role in providing mass to particles, could have profound effects. If dark matter particles were to exceed several thousand GeV, their influence on the Higgs boson’s mass would disrupt the balance observed in particle interactions. Such alterations could theoretically undermine the stability of the universe’s particle framework.

Potential Implications and Alternative Theories

As reported by space,.com, these findings suggest that dark matter models involving heavy particles may not align with observed physical laws. Alternate scenarios propose that dark matter could interact through mechanisms unrelated to the Higgs boson or that its properties are entirely different from current predictions. Axions, ultralight particles supported by some theoretical models, have been proposed as a lighter candidate, prompting renewed interest and investigation.

The study’s insights also point towards refining experimental approaches. Should the hypothesis about heavy dark matter hold, future experiments may need to prioritise the search for lower-mass particles. This pivot could reshape the strategies employed in detecting the elusive component that holds the universe’s secrets.

Continue Reading

Trending