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SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule, part of the CRS-31 mission, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on December 16, 2024 at 11:05 a.m. EST, according to reports. The spacecraft, carrying thousands of pounds of research materials and supplies, is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida on December 17. NASA officials confirmed that while the event will not be live-streamed, updates will be available via the agency’s ISS blog.

Cargo and Research Materials on Board

CRS-31’s return cargo includes experimental specimens and critical equipment used for microgravity research conducted on the ISS. As per reports, Dragon remains the sole operational cargo spacecraft capable of safely returning scientific materials to Earth. Other resupply vehicles, such as Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and Russia’s Progress spacecraft, burn up during reentry, disposing of station waste.

The Dragon capsule was launched on November 4 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It delivered approximately 2,700 kilograms of supplies, research tools, and fresh food to support the Expedition 71 astronauts.

Extended Stay of Astronauts

The crew aboard the ISS includes NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived earlier this year aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally planned for an eight-day mission, technical complications with Starliner led to an extended stay of nearly eight months. Sources state that both astronauts will return to Earth in February 2025 on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.

Recovery and Post-Splashdown Research

Following splashdown, NASA will rapidly retrieve the Dragon capsule to preserve the integrity of time-sensitive experiments. According to reports, the recovered cargo will be transported to NASA’s Systems Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center for further examination. This process ensures continued research on materials exposed to the microgravity environment during the mission.

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Ancient Human Remains Reveal Brutal 4,000-Year-Old Massacre in Somerset

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Ancient Human Remains Reveal Brutal 4,000-Year-Old Massacre in Somerset

The discovery of 4,000-year-old human remains at Charterhouse Warren in Somerset has unveiled a harrowing chapter of British prehistory. The analysis of over 3,000 bone fragments belonging to at least 37 individuals, ranging from newborns to adults, has indicated an unprecedented level of violence. The findings, published in Antiquity, revealed evidence of scalping, decapitation, defleshing, tongue removal, evisceration, and signs of cannibalism. Researchers have suggested that these acts represent a dark episode of social and political violence in the Early Bronze Age, estimated between 2200 and 2000 B.C.

Evidence of Brutality

As per reports, the bone analysis conducted by Rick Schulting, an archaeologist at the University of Oxford, and his colleagues, highlighted violent deaths, with 30 percent of skulls showing fractures sustained around the time of death. Approximately 20 percent of the bones bore cut marks inflicted by stone tools, indicating post-mortem actions. Decapitation was confirmed in six individuals based on damage to cervical vertebrae, while marks on jawbones and ribs suggested tongue removal and evisceration. Evidence of crushing fractures on small bones pointed to human chewing.

Unclear Motivations Behind the Violence

According to the research team, these actions do not align with any known Bronze Age funerary practices. The scale of violence and the number of victims suggest a massacre. The study speculated that the brutality could have been retaliatory or related to violations of social norms, possibly reflecting intense political motives. Anna Osterholtz, bioarchaeologist at Mississippi State University, remarked in an email to Live Science that violence of this nature often served a social function, influencing group identity and relationships.

Possible Connection to Disease

Teeth from two child victims contained traces of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. This discovery has led researchers to propose that fear linked to illness may have played a role in escalating tensions within the community. Work on the remains continues, with researchers aiming to further unravel the events surrounding this grim episode of British prehistory.

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Scientists Develop New Approach to Capture Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae



Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Get Shazam Integration, Enabling Hands-Free Music Identification on the Go

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Scientists Develop New Approach to Capture Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae

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Scientists Develop New Approach to Capture Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae

A study published in Physical Review Letters explores a new approach to detecting the gravitational wave memory effect, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein’s general relativity. This effect refers to the permanent alteration in the distance between cosmic objects caused by a passing gravitational wave. Scientists suggest that existing gravitational wave observatories could capture this elusive signature, specifically from core-collapse supernovae (CCSN), which occur when massive stars over ten times the Sun’s mass collapse and explode.

Core-collapse supernovae generate gravitational waves with unique characteristics due to their changing quadrupole moments during collapse. According to reports, while the amplitude of these waves is lower compared to signals from black hole or neutron star mergers, they provide critical insights into stellar interiors. Unlike electromagnetic signals, which originate from a supernova’s surface, gravitational waves emerge from deep within, offering a rare glimpse into the dynamics of a collapsing star.

Challenges of Detecting Supernova Gravitational Waves

Detection of gravitational waves from CCSN has proven difficult due to their lower amplitudes, shorter durations, and complex signatures. Reports state that these waves fall below the sensitivity range of current high-frequency detectors such as advanced LIGO. However, the study indicates that low-frequency gravitational waves from CCSN exhibit a “memory” effect. This effect arises from anisotropic neutrino emissions and matter movement during collapse, leaving a non-zero gravitational disturbance.

As per reports, the research team, led by Colter J. Richardson from the University of Tennessee, analysed three-dimensional simulations of non-rotating CCSN with masses up to 25 solar masses using the CHIMERA model. Their findings revealed a distinct ramp-up in gravitational wave signals characteristic of memory with matched filtering techniques, the team concluded that signals from a 25 solar mass supernova could be detected up to 10 kiloparsecs away, a range accessible by existing observatories.

Potential for Future Research

Richardson highlighted, as per sources, the significance of exploring low-frequency gravitational waves and encouraged further investigations using the study’s methodology. Future research may focus on common merger events or improvements in detector sensitivity to refine the detection of memory signals.

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Google’s Whisk AI Experimental Tool Can Mash-Up Images to Generate Unique Outputs



NASA Satellite Image Reveals Unique Horseshoe-Shaped Deception Island in Antarctica

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NASA’s Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS

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NASA's Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS

A technology demonstration involving NASA’s Astrobee robot was carried out aboard the International Space Station (ISS), with astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 72 Commander, posing alongside the innovative robotic system in a newly released image. Williams, stationed in the Japanese Kibo laboratory module, mimicked the robot’s flexible, tentacle-like arms designed for satellite servicing and space debris management. Reports state that the technology demonstration, Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling (REACCH), integrates advanced robotic features to enhance space operations.

Features of the Astrobee REACCH System

Astrobee, a cube-shaped free-flying robotic system, assists with various tasks aboard the ISS. According to reports, the REACCH system, which equips the Astrobee robot with flexible, gecko-inspired adhesive arms, is being tested to capture objects of diverse shapes, sizes, and surface materials. The arms are said to replicate the adhesive properties found in gecko feet, allowing the robot to securely grasp items in microgravity conditions. These advancements could lead to improved satellite maintenance and effective methods for debris removal in orbit.

Objectives and Testing Process

As reported by NASA, the technology demonstration involves capturing free-floating targets made of different materials under varying conditions, aimed at testing the arms’ performance in the ISS environment. The REACCH system’s capability to repeatedly and safely manoeuvre objects could play a significant role in extending satellite lifespans and addressing the growing challenge of space debris.

Mission Updates for Sunita Williams

Sunita Williams assumed command of the ISS on September 22 and has been aboard since June 6, along with NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore. Both astronauts’ return was delayed due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft, leaving them to remain in orbit until February 2025. Reports suggest their mission continues to focus on advancing key technological developments such as the Astrobee REACCH initiative.

This innovative demonstration underscores ongoing efforts to refine robotic systems for future space exploration and satellite maintenance.

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