Astronomers have discovered that asteroid 1998 KY26, the target of Japan’s Hayabusa2 extended mission, is far smaller and faster-spinning than previously thought. Astronomers have conducted a new study of the asteroid 1998 KY26 using observatories across the globe, including the European Southern
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An Asteroid’s Billion-Year-Old Secret Is a “Genuine Surprise” to Scientists
A group of scientists, including researchers from the University of Tokyo, has found evidence that liquid water once moved through the body of the asteroid that eventually gave rise to the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. Remarkably, this activity occurred more than a billion years after the asteroid originally formed.
The discovery comes from the study of tiny rock fragments collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The results challenge the long-standing belief that water-related processes on asteroids happened only during the earliest stages of solar system history. This new understanding could influence models of how Earth itself was formed.
Although scientists have developed a fairly detailed picture of how the solar system came together, important questions remain. One of the biggest mysteries is how Earth acquired such an abundance of water. For decades, researchers have suspected that carbon-rich asteroids, such as Ryugu, which were created from ice and dust in the outer regions of the solar system, played a major role in supplying that water. Ryugu was visited by the Hayabusa2 mission in 2018, marking the first time a spacecraft both studied such an asteroid directly and returned samples to Earth. These precious materials are now helping researchers address some of the most fundamental questions about the origins of our planet.
Scientists Develop the World’s First Rechargeable Hydride Ion Battery
Scientists have built the first rechargeable hydride ion battery. Hydride ions (H⁻) have drawn interest as potential charge carriers for future electrochemical devices because of their extremely low mass and high redox potential. Yet, progress has been limited since no electrolyte has been able to
Tiny Quantum Dots Could Transform How We See in the Dark
Scientists have created eco-friendly “quantum inks” that can replace toxic metals in infrared detectors. The breakthrough could make night vision faster, cleaner, and more accessible to a wider range of industries.
Toxic Metals vs. Infrared Innovation
Manufacturers of infrared cameras are facing a growing challenge. Many of the materials used in today’s detectors, including toxic heavy metals, are now restricted under environmental regulations. As a result, companies often find themselves forced to choose between maintaining performance or meeting compliance standards.
Here’s what Harold Katcher’s plasma fraction actually is
Donate to the Rejuvenation Science Institute:https://www.rejuvenescimento.org/donationIn this video, Nina Torres Zanvettor, vice-president of the Rejuvenatio…
Battery made from natural materials could replace conventional lithium-ion batteries
What if the next battery you buy was made from the same kinds of ingredients found in your body? That’s the idea behind a breakthrough battery material made from natural, biodegradable components. It’s so natural, it could even be consumed as food.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M University, including Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Dr. Karen Wooley and Professor of Chemical Engineering Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, has developed a biodegradable battery using natural polymers. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Wooley’s research group in the College of Arts and Sciences has spent the past 15 years shifting toward natural products for the construction of sustainable and degradable plastics materials. Lutkenhaus, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, has been using organic materials to design a better battery. She suggested collaboration to combine Wooley’s naturally sourced polymers with her battery expertise.