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Backwards through time? We travel forwards every day, but traveling back could let us change our past, visit old friends, or manipulate the timeline to our benefit… Although our knowledge of space and time remains incomplete, we can still use what we know to consider possible time machines. But what kind of paradoxes would this entail and how can we resolve them? Join us today on a special journey through time.

An educational video written and presented by Professor David Kipping.

This video is based on research conducted at the Cool Worlds Lab at Columbia University, New York. You can now support our research program directly here: https://www.coolworldslab.com/support.

All music used is licensed by SoundStripe.com or through Creative Commons:

Continue reading “Traveling Back in Time” | >

It reached speeds greater than Mach 5, maybe even Mach 20.

The U.S. Air Force has successfully completed the test of its full prototype operational hypersonic missile at the Elgin Air Force Base off the Southern California coast on December 9, a press release said. The hypersonic missile, dubbed Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), met all objectives of the test flight.

Designed and developed by Lockheed Martin, ARRW, an air-to-ground missile, is a boost-glide vehicle that can strike “fixed, high-value and time-sensitive targets”, as per the press release. The missile can be carried under the wing of an aircraft such as the B-52 bomber.

LockheedMartin/ Twitter.

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A Dutch entrepreneur is helping to fight climate change rather unexpectedly — by using cryptocurrency mining to grow tulips!

In a modern twist, the Dutch are using bitcoin mining to reap an age-old bounty — tulips! Known for centuries as one of their most iconic cash crops, these beloved flowers now have another purpose in Holland: powering cryptocurrency.

The idea is so promising that even philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb has compared bitcoin mining in greenhouses to his concept of the “black swan” event. Despite the comparisons to Tulipmania, Koning believes that Dutch agriculturalists could benefit greatly from bitcoin mining in the years ahead.

Even though the cryptocurrency sector is currently facing a major downfall – from $16,300 per unit to $68,000 in 2021, De Groot is not worried.

Continue reading “A Dutch startup uses Bitcoin mining to grow tulips in the Netherlands” | >

This new breakthrough opens the door to limitless clean energy.

The time has finally come. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are the first in the world to demonstrate net energy production from nuclear fusion.

In other words, theirs was the first ever nuclear fusion experiment to produce more energy than was required to run the experiment in the first place.

Researchers achieved the milestone, also known as fusion ignition, at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) during a controlled fusion experiment last Monday, Dec. 5, according to a statement from the US Department of Energy (DOE). They waited for peer-review results before revealing the results to the world.

Continue reading “Finally! Nuclear fusion scientists achieved net energy production in a historic first” | >

It could reduce fuel costs by a fifth and pollution.

Edinburgh-based Skyrora is a company aiming for many firsts. It wants to be the first company to accomplish an orbital launch from U.K. soil but is likely to end up being known as the first company that converts unrecyclable waste plastic into rocket fuel.

With the recent completion of the Artemis I mission, humanity is well on its way to setting up a settlement on the Moon and now has Mars in its sights. As our goals become more ambitious, we also need larger rockets that can take us to faraway destinations. However, rocket launches require tons of fuel and produce larger amounts of carbon emissions.

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The private space firm has had another record-breaking year.

SpaceX has already had an astronomical year. And now, the private space company is offering to sell insider shares at a price that would raise its valuation to roughly $140 billion.

SpaceX’s new $140 billion valuation.

Sundry Photography/iStock.

Continue reading “New SpaceX tender offer reportedly raises company’s valuation to 0 billion” | >

Dust devils have played crucial roles in Mars rover missions.

Scientists analyzed the sound recordings of a Martian dust devil traveling across Mars’ ancient lakebed, the Jezero crater, for the first time. The researchers carried out an analysis of multi-sensor data that suggested the dust devil was more than 118 meters (387 feet) tall. As per a press statement, the findings may improve our understanding of surface changes, dust storms, and climate variability on Mars, which may have implications for space exploration.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

The researchers carried out an analysis of multi-sensor data that suggested the dust devil was more than 118 meters (387 feet) tall. As per a press statement, the findings may improve our understanding of surface changes, dust storms, and climate variability on Mars, which may have implications for space exploration.

Continue reading “Scientists can learn a great deal about Martian dust devils only” | >

A hidden mechanism for achieving glides of hundreds of feet is revealed by computational modelling.

Scientists are currently thinking of ways to create robots resembling the gliding motion of flying snakes, according to a study published today (Dec .13) in Physics of Fluids.

‘Undulations’ encourage lift.

KaraGrubis/iStock.

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A study reveals that light from these galaxies traveled for 13.4 billion years.

A study by an international team of astronomers has identified a group of the earliest galaxies confirmed to date. The team based its findings on the data processed by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The galaxies are estimated to be less than 400 million years after the big bang, and light from these sources has taken roughly 13.4 billion years to reach the Earth’s atmosphere.

Sololos/iStock.

Astronomer and co-author, Emma Curtis-Lake from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom said that “it was crucial to prove that these galaxies do, indeed, inhabit the early universe. It’s very possible for closer galaxies to masquerade as very distant galaxies.”

Continue reading “James Webb helps to identify most distant galaxies confirmed to date” | >

Could zebrafish’s ability to regenerate the heart work in mammals as well?

The processes by which zebrafish repair injury to their hearts were combined with viral vectors used in human gene therapy, according a study published today (Dec .13) in Cell Stem Cell.

Repairing-related genes that can be ‘shut-off’.

Continue reading “Gene therapy could save mice from heart attacks — humans could be next” | >