Solar Sails and Comet Tails: How Sunlight Pushes Stuff Around
It seems crazy, but light actually exerts a physical force on objects. It could power a new generation of spacecraft for deep-space missions......»»
Reviewing iOS 18 for power users: Control Center, iCloud, and more
Never mind emojis—here’s some stuff that makes iOS more efficient. Enlarge / Control Center has a whole new customization interface. (credit: Samuel Axon) iOS 18 launched this week, and while its flagship feature (Ap.....»»
A $1 billion solar cell factory is coming to this U.S. state — and hundreds of new jobs are on the way
A $1 billion solar cell factory is coming to this U.S. state — and hundreds of new jobs are on the way.....»»
NASA watches a peanut-shaped asteroid drift past Earth
Peanuts! Get your peanuts here! The solar system has been passing out peanuts lately in the form of two different oddly shaped asteroids that recently passed by Earth, and both look like over-sized peanuts......»»
Scientists have found evidence of past extreme solar storms—they could be disastrous for technology-based society
In September 1859, the same year that Darwin published "On the Origin of Species," telegraph systems across Europe and North America stopped working and started sparking, leading to fires in some cases......»»
four-pack of Apple AirTags for only $79 thanks to early Prime deal
Stop losing your stuff with the Apple AirTag. Get four of these Bluetooth trackers for only $79 in Amazon's early offers for its Prime Big Deal Days event......»»
Hidden craters reveal Earth may once have had a ring—like Saturn
The rings of Saturn are among the most famous and spectacular features in the solar system. Earth may once have had something similar......»»
This wire-free TP-Link security camera is $70 today — you save $50
The TP-Link Tapo MagCam C425 security camera is on sale from Amazon with a $50 discount, and you can also get it as a bundle with a solar panel at $70 off......»»
This Garmin solar-charging smartwatch is $100 off today
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is a self-sufficient smartwatch packed with features that make it perfect for hiking. It's on sale now at Amazon......»»
An ambitious mission to Neptune could study both the planet and Triton
Mission concepts to the outer solar system are relatively common, as planetary scientists are increasingly frustrated by our lack of knowledge of the farthest planets. Neptune, the farthest known planet, was last visited by Voyager 2 in the 1980s......»»
Using sunlight to turn greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals
McGill University researchers have harnessed the power of sunlight to transform two of the most harmful greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. The discovery could help combat climate change and provide a more sustainable way to produce certain ind.....»»
How to View the ‘Comet of the Century’ C/2023 A3
September will see the appearance of C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, that has traveled for tens of thousands of years through the solar system......»»
Earth to have new mini-moon for two months
A pair of asteroid dynamics researchers from Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria have found that a small asteroid will make one orbit around the Earth starting this month before departing back into other parts of the solar system......»»
JunoCam spots new volcano on active Io
A new volcano has been spotted on Jupiter's moon Io, the most geologically active place in the solar system. Analysis of the first close-up images of Io in over 25 years, captured by the JunoCam instrument on NASA's Juno mission, reveal the emergence.....»»
Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope produces its first magnetic field maps of the sun"s corona
The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the world's most powerful solar telescope, operated by the NSF National Solar Observatory (NSO), achieved a major breakthrough in solar physics by successfully producing its first detailed maps of the sun's coron.....»»
Steering molecular twisting for hydrogen generation
Researchers from the Faculty of S&T at the University of Twente have developed a novel approach for the design of efficient solar fuel devices. Research performed by graduated Ph.D. student Kaijian Zhu shows that reducing the light-induced twisting o.....»»
Speakers announced for the Ars Technica infrastructure event in San Jose
Come register to join us on September 18, learn some stuff, and hang out! Enlarge / The Computer History Museum, where we'll be meeting for our Bay Area adventure on September 18! (credit: SpVVK / Getty Images) Howdy, Ar.....»»
NASA will proceed with final preps to launch Europa Clipper next month
After a four-month review, NASA says suspect transistors on Europa Clipper are good to go. Enlarge / The main body of NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft is reflected in one of the mission's deployable solar array wings during testi.....»»
Like a diamond in the sky: How to spot NASA"s solar sail demo in orbit
Now that its reflective sail has deployed fully open in orbit, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System can be seen in the night sky from many locations across the world!.....»»
Parker Solar Probe lines up for final Venus flyby
NASA's Parker Solar Probe executed a short maneuver on Aug. 26 that kept the spacecraft on course for the mission's seventh and final planned Venus flyby on Nov. 6......»»
Why are black holes stable against their own gravity?
Neutron stars are timelike matter with a maximum mass of about 2.34 solar masses in quantum chromodynamics (the strong color force). Black holes are spacelike matter that have no maximum mass, but a minimum mass of 2.35 solar masses. Indeed, black ho.....»»