Things Are Looking Up for Asteroid Mining
Asteroids are rich with the metals used in clean energy technologies. As demand soars, advocates argue that mining them in space might be better than mining them on Earth......»»
Statisticians and physicists team up to bring a machine learning approach to mining of nuclear data
Physicists use theoretical models to study physical quantities, such as the mass of nuclei, where they do not have experimental data. However, using a single imperfect theoretical model can lead to misleading results. To improve the quality of extrap.....»»
Restoring mining landscapes in the High Arctic
NINA researchers have played a central role in restoring old mining landscapes in Svalbard, Norway. As of 2024, the restoration is complete......»»
Scientists once again confirm giant asteroid Apophis won’t hit Earth in 2029
Following NASA’s D.A.R.T. mission revelation that asteroid paths could be changed based on collisions, scientists went back to the drawing board to further confirm that … The post Scientists once again confirm giant asteroid Apophis won&#.....»»
Close-up images of DART’s asteroid smashup reveal complex debris
A CubeSat trailed the DART asteroid impactor, capturing images of debris set loose. Enlarge (credit: ASI/NASA) In 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos in a successful test.....»»
Asteroid impacted by spacecraft is reshaped like an M&M ‘with a bite taken out’
In 2022, NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid. Now astronomers have found that the impact may have reshaped the asteroid significantly......»»
NASA"s planetary radar images slowly spinning asteroid
During the close approach of 2008 OS7 with Earth on Feb. 2, the agency's Deep Space Network planetary radar gathered the first detailed images of the stadium-size asteroid......»»
Can we drill for hydrogen? New find suggests additional geological source.
Problems at a chromium mine in Albania traced to nearly pure hydrogen in a fault. Enlarge / Mining operations start right at the edge of Bulqizë, Albania. (credit: Wikimedia Commons) “The search for geologic hydrogen.....»»
Investigators find that streams connected to groundwater show improved detoxification and microbial diversity
Streams with ample connections to shallow groundwater flowpaths have greater microbial diversity and are more effective at preventing toxic forms of metals—often products of upstream mining—from entering and being transported downstream. These st.....»»
Can astronomers use radar to spot a cataclysmic asteroid?
How can humans protect the Earth from "devastating asteroid and comet impacts?" According to the National Academies and their 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, ground-based astronomical radar systems will have a "unique rol.....»»
NASA"s final tally shows spacecraft returned double the amount of asteroid rubble
NASA finally has counted up all the asteroid samples returned by a spacecraft last fall—and it's double the rubble return goal......»»
NASA announces OSIRIS-REx bulk sample mass: 121.6 grams
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from asteroid Bennu when it returned to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023; the largest asteroid sample ever collected in space and over twice the mission's requirement......»»
Extraction of raw materials could rise 60% by 2060—and making mining "greener" won"t stop the damage
The United Nations' flagship Global Resources Outlook report is the portrait of a juggernaut. Due to be published later this month by the UN's International Resource Panel, it highlights how global consumption of raw materials, having increased four-.....»»
NASA has collected a whopping 121 grams of sample from asteroid Bennu
NASA has revealed that its OSIRIS-REx mission delivered 121 grams of material from asteroid Bennu, which is more than twice the mission's goal of 60 grams......»»
After a decade and $1.2 billion, NASA reveals its booty from Bennu: 121 grams
A long way, and a lot of money, for half a cup. Enlarge / A view of eight sample trays containing the final material from asteroid Bennu. (credit: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold) After years of speculation, NAS.....»»
Water is discovered on asteroids — by a defunct NASA mission
Astronomers used data from NASA's SOFIA mission, which ended in 2022, to spot water on the surface of two asteroids located in the asteroid belt of our solar system. A pioneering NASA 747 aircraft outfitted with a big telescope was retired a co.....»»
Clear evidence aquifer exploitation is causing serious impacts on the most iconic national park in Spain
A team led by the Doñana Biological Station and the Geological and Mining Institute of the Spanish National Research Council has reviewed more than 70 studies related to groundwater and the conservation status of one of Europe's most iconic wetlands.....»»
A new study makes the case for asteroid strikes setting in motion global glaciation in the distant past
A research team has picked a side in the "Snowball Earth" debate over the possible cause of planet-wide deep freeze events that occurred in the distant past. According to their new study, these so-called "Snowball" Earth periods, in which the planet'.....»»
10 years preparing for "Armageddon"
It's a scenario made famous by the 1998 film "Armageddon": an asteroid is spotted on a collision course with Earth, and experts scramble to plan a space mission to rendezvous with the asteroid and mitigate the danger. It's classic science fiction, bu.....»»
A former mine at a fossil-rich site is causing the BLM headaches
Blasting is happening at a former mining site that's also home to unique fossils. Enlarge / Blasting taking place at the fossil-rich site. (credit: Bureau of Land Management) Blasting has begun in an area known as “Com.....»»
Large cryptocurrency miners in US now have to report energy use to government
137 mining facilities in the US account for 2.3 percent of electricity demand. Enlarge / A worker installs a row of new mining machines at the largest bitcoin mining facility in the US, located in Rockdale, Texas, on October 9, 2.....»»