NASA’s experimental X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (Quesst) aircraft has reached a crucial testing milestone with its engine fired up for the first time. Since late October, engineers at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, have been carrying out phased engine tests to evaluate the X-59’s performance and systems integration. These tests mark a significant step toward the aircraft’s initial flight, though an official date for this event has not been determined.

Engine Tests and Performance Evaluations

Engine tests began with low-speed operations, allowing engineers to inspect for leaks and verify that key systems, such as hydraulics and electrical components, function smoothly with the engine running. Once basic checks were complete, the X-59’s engine was powered up in full for an initial assessment. Jay Brandon, NASA’s X-59 chief engineer, explained that the tests served as a “warmup” to ensure the engine performed correctly and supported various critical aircraft systems.

The jet operates with a modified F414-GE-100 engine, a version of the F414 series used in the U.S. Navy’s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. To predict the sound levels the X-59 might produce, NASA has used F/A-18 jets to simulate the aircraft’s unique sound profile, which is quieter than conventional sonic booms.

Design Features and Goals

The X-59 is designed to reach Mach 1.4, with a target altitude of 55,000 feet. Its long, streamlined nose — extending over 11 meters — is crafted to reduce sonic booms to a mild “thump” sound, instead of the disruptive noise traditionally associated with supersonic travel. With its shape, the X-59 could support regulatory shifts allowing quieter supersonic flights over populated areas.

In January 2024, NASA unveiled the X-59’s revolutionary cockpit design, which lacks a forward-facing window. To compensate, pilots rely on an “eXternal Vision System” that provides a forward view via a digital display, combining camera feeds with augmented reality. Pam Melroy, NASA Deputy Administrator, highlighted this technology as a means to overcome limitations in visibility due to the aircraft’s design.

Next Steps and Community Research

Upcoming testing phases will examine the aircraft’s responses to different simulated scenarios and include taxi tests to ensure smooth ground operation. Once airborne, the X-59 will fly over select U.S. cities to gauge public response to its quieter sound profile. Data gathered will support NASA’s goal of demonstrating viable, noise-minimised supersonic flight for potential future commercial applications.

A study has shown that the well-preserved fossil of a nodosaur, a plant-eating dinosaur, could withstand the force of a high-speed car crash. The fossil, discovered in Alberta, Canada, belongs to Borealopelta markmitchelli , a species that lived around 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. This fossil is one of the best-preserved dinosaur specimens ever found, offering unprecedented insights into the defensive capabilities of the nodosaur’s armour.

Study Insights from Expert Researchers

The research, led by biomechanical paleontologist Dr. Michael Habib from UCLA, revealed that the keratin sheaths covering the nodosaur’s bony spikes were significantly thicker than originally thought. The thickness of the keratin layer on the fossil was measured at nearly 16 centimetres in some areas, much thicker than the keratin found in modern-day animals like cattle horns. This keratin, combined with bony spikes, provided an exceptionally strong defence.

According to Dr. Habib, the strength of the nodosaur’s armour was such that it could withstand over 125,000 joules of energy per square metre—equivalent to the force from a high-speed car collision. The research highlighted that this armour was a defence against predators but it also likely played a role in combat between males of the same species.

Adaptations for Flexibility and Protection

The study further suggested that the nodosaur’s armour, consisting of a flexible keratin layer, allowed for greater mobility and protection. If the keratin was damaged, it could be shed, offering a quick recovery mechanism compared to brittle bone armour that could crack under impact. The presence of keratin would also have allowed the dinosaur to fight effectively with its rivals, which could have been crucial in mating battles.

The fossil’s remarkable preservation has led to further insights into the armour of other dinosaur species, with researchers suggesting that similar adaptations might have been widespread among armoured dinosaurs.

New research has revealed that meteoroid trails, left behind by long-period comets, could help scientists detect potentially hazardous comets years before they approach Earth. These rare comets, which take hundreds or even thousands of years to complete their orbits, often go unnoticed until it is too late to prepare for a possible collision. However, scientists have now found a way to track these comets by observing the meteoroid streams they leave in their wake.

Tracking Comet Paths Through Meteoroid Trails

The study has been accepted for publication in The Planetary Science Journal, and is available as a preprint via arXiv. Long-period comets (LPCs) are known for their infrequent visits to the solar system. While comets like Halley’s Comet pass by Earth every 76 years, other comets only make an appearance once every few centuries. Some of these distant comets could pose a significant threat if their orbits bring them close enough to Earth. A comet with a large enough impact could release massive amounts of energy, potentially equivalent to hundreds of thousands of megatons of TNT.

By studying meteor showers, which are caused by the debris from these comets, researchers believe they can track the paths of these hazardous comets. Samantha Hemmelgarn, a graduate student at Northern Arizona University and lead author of the study, explained that meteoroid streams from long-period comets are less affected by planetary gravitational forces. This makes it easier to predict the orbits of the parent comets.

New Method Could Provide Years of Warning Time

The study used existing data from 17 meteor showers with known comet parents. By simulating comet streams and comparing them with known comet paths, researchers were able to predict where to look for these long-period comets. The results suggest that such methods could give scientists years of advanced warning before a comet poses a serious threat to Earth.

While this technique is not foolproof and has limitations, it is a step forward in planetary defence. The upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, is expected to detect these long-period comets well in advance, allowing for better preparedness.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its potential, the method cannot detect comets with orbital periods longer than 4,000 years, as their meteoroid streams would be too sparse to detect. However, this new approach could greatly improve early detection of more imminent threats, offering humanity a better chance to prepare for a possible comet impact.