Science in telegram

2023-11-14 20:40:16 An artificial intelligence algorithm successfully developed a catalyst for extracting oxygen from Martian meteorites in just six weeks.

This task, if performed by a human using standard chemical screening (where each full cycle takes five hours to find an optimal catalyst from the same composition of Martian rocks), would have taken two thousand years.

The project is being spearheaded by scientists from China and presented by @science Open / Comment

2023-11-06 14:47:01 https://spacenews.com/house-bill-would-fully-fund-mars-sample-return-block-cooperation-on-exomars/ Open / Comment

2023-10-31 15:28:53 New Horizons with JWST:

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) unveils breathtaking details of the Crab Nebula, showcasing a vibrant celestial dance of gas, dust, and charged particles around its heart - the Crab Pulsar. A glimpse into the cradle of star formation, the JWST’s infrared eyes reveal what was once veiled. Discover more about this cosmic revelation here . Open / Comment

2023-10-26 08:05:10 Unveiling the Most Water-Repellent Surface Ever!

Scientists have crafted a surface dubbed as the most water-repellent ever. By employing a liquid-like coating, water rolls off this surface at angles 500 times shallower compared to other superhydrophobic materials. This novel technology, creating ‘liquid-like surfaces’, presents a game-changer, especially in automotive, marine, and aerospace sectors, where repelling water is crucial. The innovative surface behaves like a lubricated platform, ensuring water slides right off, setting a new standard in superhydrophobic materials .

@science Open / Comment

2023-10-23 16:28:30 This beautifully preserved Viking ship was discovered in a large burial mound at Oseberg Farm in Norway, dating back to the early 9th century.

@science #history Open / Comment

2023-10-15 20:12:49 A Cosmic Marvel: Charon Up Close!

This breathtaking image showcases Charon, the largest of Pluto’s five moons. Observed by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft during its historic flyby in 2015, Charon’s rugged terrain, deep canyons, and varied surface colors reveal a complex geological history.

Notable Features:

• Canyons: Some of Charon’s canyons are deeper than the Grand Canyon on Earth!
• Varied Terrain: The northern hemisphere, known as Mordor Macula, is darker than the southern part, suggesting differences in the moon’s crust and materials.
• Impact Craters: These are a testament to the many space objects that have collided with Charon over billions of years.

Charon orbits Pluto at a distance so close that they are often considered a binary system. Their mutual gravitational pull ensures that they always face each other with the same side.

@science Open / Comment

2023-10-09 05:15:41 The Fungal Tornado: Unveiling the Story Behind a Photograph

In the recent annual Big Picture Photography Contest, a captivating image titled “The Fungal Tornado” made its way to the finals, although it didn’t clinch the winning spot. However, its unique allure captured our attention, and here’s why.

The photo was crafted by biologist Lu Yang amidst the majestic mountains of Westland National Park, located on New Zealand’s South Island. It was described by a jury member as a “mesmerizing and mortally terrifying frame”. The image encapsulates the fleeting moment of spore dispersion by the fungus Armillaria novae-zelandiae, a distant relative of the mushrooms known as honey fungus found in other parts of the world.

This endemic species to New Zealand has, over recent decades, found its way to other continents where it morphed into a menacing invasion. It wreaks havoc on local vegetation by rotting their roots, usually leading to a fatal end for the affected flora. Through this photograph, Lu Yang not only captured a beautiful yet ephemeral natural phenomenon but also spotlighted an ecological challenge that extends beyond the borders of New Zealand.

@science Open / Comment

2023-10-01 13:54:32 The Mysterious Sound of the Aztec Death Whistle

Did you know about the haunting sound of the Aztec death whistle? This unique instrument was exclusively used by the Mexica and was first discovered during the excavation of a temple in Mexico City in the 1990s. Contrary to popular belief, the original whistle does not produce a sharp shriek-like sound. Instead, music archeologist Arnd Adje Both tested the original excavated whistles and described the sound as similar to "atmospheric noise generated by the wind."

While some believe that hundreds of warriors would use these whistles simultaneously in battles, there's limited evidence to support this claim. The actual purpose of the whistle, based on its discovery location and imagery related to death, is more likely to be ceremonial or religious rather than for warfare.

So, if you've heard a terrifying version of this whistle, it's probably a much larger reproduction! And if that sound made you uncomfortable, have you ever wondered if you might have misophonia?

@science Open / Comment

2023-09-28 06:49:19 Uranium Radiation in Wilson's Cloud Chamber

The cloud chamber, a pivotal device in particle physics, was invented in 1912 by the Scottish physicist Charles Wilson. For his groundbreaking invention, Wilson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1927.

For many years, the cloud chamber stood as the sole effective method for directly visualizing the paths of elementary particles. This instrument played a crucial role in the discovery of the positron and muon. Additionally, it was instrumental in studying the interactions between alpha particles and nitrogen atoms at the nuclear level.

@science Open / Comment

2023-09-25 17:12:30 A tardigrade walks among algae.

@science Open / Comment