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In a study published in IEEE Access on October 15, researchers have highlighted the potential of using skin conductance to detect human emotions. The study examined how variations in sweat levels, which alter the skin’s ability to conduct electricity, could provide insights into emotional states. According to the findings, these physiological responses, triggered by emotions like fear, humour, or familial bonding, could pave the way for more emotionally intelligent technology in the future.

Skin Conductance and Emotion Analysis

The research was carried out by scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University. During the study, 33 participants were shown videos designed to evoke specific emotions, ranging from horror scenes to family reunion clips. Measurements were taken using probes attached to their fingers. These probes recorded how quickly skin conductance peaked and returned to baseline. Distinct patterns were identified, with fear responses persisting the longest, while humour elicited quicker but shorter-lived reactions.

The team explained in their report that fear’s prolonged response might be tied to evolutionary survival mechanisms, while the mixed nature of family bonding emotions appeared to create slower, overlapping reactions. They also noted that limited studies have explored the dynamics of skin conductance associated with humour and fear.

Potential Applications and Challenges

As per the report, combining skin conductance data with other physiological signals, such as heart rate or brain activity, could significantly enhance the accuracy of emotion detection. While this research does not directly involve robotics, the findings are considered foundational for integrating emotion-detection capabilities into future technologies. Hypothetical applications include stress-responsive smart devices or media platforms that adapt to user moods.

Conventional methods of emotion detection often rely on facial recognition or voice analysis, which can be prone to errors and raise privacy concerns. The researchers suggest that skin conductance may offer a more reliable and less invasive alternative.

For the study, the team highlighted a growing interest in leveraging physiological signals for emotionally intelligent services, indicating potential advancements in personalised technologies.

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Dead NASA Satellite Relay 2 May Have Caused Mysterious 2024 Radio Burst

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June 27, 2025

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Dead NASA Satellite Relay 2 May Have Caused Mysterious 2024 Radio Burst

In June 2024, scientists detected a mysterious, powerful burst of radio waves originating from within our galaxy. At first, they thought it was coming from a pulsar or another undiscovered cosmic object. However, an analysis revealed the origin of the signal was too close to the Earth. Astronomers think it was caused by a long-dead NASA satellite Relay 2, was launched in 1964 but ceased operations in 1967 after its communication systems failed. Yet, nearly 60 years later, it mysteriously emitted a powerful radio signal, the researchers said in a new preprint study, which was posted June 13 to the server arXiv and has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Relay 2: A Silent Satellite Sends a Loud Signal

According to the study, the signal was detected using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope array. These intense flashes typically originate from deep space and can carry more energy in milliseconds than the sun emits over several days.

But this signal, lasting just 30 nanoseconds, was traced back to the vicinity of Earth, too close for ASKAP to focus on clearly. After ruling out cosmic sources, the team traced the pulse to the orbit of Relay 2. Despite having no functioning systems, the satellite somehow emitted the brightest radio flash in the sky at that moment.

Researchers proposed two theories: a micrometeorite impact that created a radio-emitting plasma cloud, or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) caused by charge buildup on the satellite’s aging materials.

New Clues About Spacecraft Behavior and Space Debris

Though both mechanisms could produce similar signals, scientists lean toward electrostatic discharge as the likelier cause. According to space physicists, older spacecraft like Relay 2 may be especially prone to such energy releases due to outdated materials and limited shielding.

Karen Aplin told New Scientist that studying these accidental emissions could help monitor ESD events on today’s small satellites — many of which also lack advanced protection. In an increasingly crowded orbital environment, this detection method may offer a novel tool for evaluating space debris and satellite health.

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James Webb Telescope Captures First Direct Image of Saturn-Mass Exoplanet

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June 27, 2025

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James Webb Telescope Captures First Direct Image of Saturn-Mass Exoplanet

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured its first direct image of a newly discovered exoplanet. Astronomers announced that Webb imaged a Saturn-mass planet orbiting the nearby young star TWA 7. Dubbed TWA 7 b, the planet’s mass is only about 0.3 times that of Jupiter – roughly Saturn’s mass – making it the smallest planet ever seen via direct imaging. Most of the nearly 6,000 known exoplanets have been detected indirectly. To spot TWA 7 b, the JWST team used a coronagraph (like a solar eclipse) to block the star’s light and reveal the faint planet.

Detecting a Hidden World

According to the study published in the journal Nature, Webb’s team targeted TWA 7 because its dusty disk is viewed nearly face-on, revealing clear ring structures. They used Webb’s MIRI instrument with a coronagraph to mask the star’s glare. After processing the data, a faint infrared point source appeared roughly 1.5 arcseconds from TWA 7 (about 50 times the Earth–Sun distance).

This source lies in a gap of the star’s second dust ring. Its brightness and color match what theoretical models predict for a young, cold planet roughly Saturn’s mass. The object seems to be carving out the ring gap just as an orbiting planet would. Astronomers ruled out other explanations (like a background star) to confirm the signal is best explained by a planet.

A Step Toward Smaller Worlds

TWA 7 b’s Saturn-like mass makes it about ten times less massive than any exoplanet previously captured in a direct image. Its discovery shows that Webb can now image worlds far smaller than the giant exoplanets seen before. Scientists say the telescope may eventually detect planets as light as 10% of Jupiter’s mass, pushing toward Earth-like size.

This breakthrough “paves the way” to imaging truly terrestrial planets in the future. Astronomers even predict that upcoming observatories could dramatically increase the number of Earth-size planets seen by direct imaging. Next-generation telescopes – on the ground and in space – are being planned with even more powerful coronagraphs to hunt for the first directly photographed Earth analogues.

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James Webb Telescope Detects Methanol and Ethanol Near Young Stars, Hinting at Life’s Origins

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June 27, 2025

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James Webb Telescope Detects Methanol and Ethanol Near Young Stars, Hinting at Life’s Origins

In the recent research done by using the James Webb Telescope, in March 2024, scientists found that ethanol and other icy organic compounds near protostars IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385. The findings were published in the JOYS+ program. It can offer insights into the cosmic chemistry that can help in knowing the formation of the planet and the potential for life on it. This also suggests how the building blocks in life can travel in space. The scientists observed alcohol in the orbit of a young star, adding to the understanding of life on Earth.

Methanol and Its Isotopes Detected Around Star HD 100453

As per the recent study conducted by NASA’s JWST, Methanol and its isotopes have been found in gases around the star called HD 100453. It is about 330 light years away from our planet. It has been observed for the first time that scientists have found isotopes of methanol in the shape of a disk. This was reported on June 5, 2025, in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Methanol: A Building Block of Life

Methanol acts as a building block for organic compounds like amino acids, which are essential for life. Researchers had found that methanol, but not the rare isotopes, is star-forming structures. These isotopes of methanol give a valuable insight into the ingredients needed for building life on Earth.

HD 100453: A Star Bigger Than the Sun

HD 100453 is larger than the Sun, with more than 1.6 times the mass of the Sun. This signals that methanol and other molecules in the disk exist as gas and farther from the home star, which could be the case when the solar system was quite young. The smaller stars consist of cooler disks, and the molecules are frozen and undetectable.

Link Between Methanol and Comet Chemistry

The researchers found that the ratio of methanol to other organic molecules is similar to that of the comets in the solar system. The findings signal that the ices near the protoplanetary disks clump to form comets filled with organic molecules, which are the result of collisions. This research gives the idea that comets may have played a major role in offering important organic material to the Earth billions of years ago.

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