It's time to save all that trimmed hair and wool offcuts for a good purpose.

Charles Sturt University researchers turn wool and hair offcuts into graphite for lithium batteries.

Researchers say they have found a way to heat and compress hair and wool and turn it into graphite, paving the way for Australia to become a key producer of lithium batteries for storing renewable energy.

A Charles Sturt University research team has unlocked the power of human hair and other fibres as the key ingredient to develop sustainable energy storage solutions and eliminate bio-waste.

Research fellow Amandeep Singh Pannu said graphite was "a key material in lithium batteries and there is an ever expanding demand for finding ways to store renewable energy sources".

"As the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles increases, the need for lithium-ion batteries follows," Dr Singh said.

"One eco-friendly, carbon-rich source that is abundant and readily available everywhere is human hair and offcuts of wool that has virtually little or no value.".......

.....Dr Singh said producing graphite sustainably from waste in Australia would hugely benefit the national energy sector, as traditional mining involved environmental challenges and required the use of harsh chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid.

He said while natural graphite was cheaper and lower in energy consumption, synthetic graphite had better fast-charge capability and battery longevity.

"These are clean sources right through the entire process, with very minimal pollutants or negative outputs," Dr Singh said.

Australia has a large supply of lithium, but currently has to import graphite......

The wait will be longer to see if this thing actually works properly.

Boeing Spacecraft Leak Discovered Days Before Launch.

Boeing's Starliner mission has been delayed for the second time in as many weeks after a helium leak was detected in the spacecraft's service module, according to a statement by the company on Tuesday.

Last week, Boeing's first crewed launch to carry astronauts into space was aborted due to a potential issue with the oxygen relief valve in the Atlas rocket, which is run by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), and not an issue with the Starliner itself.

The mission at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is now delayed until at least May 21 at 4:43 p.m., according to Boeing.

The company said engineers traced the leak announced Tuesday to a component on one of the propulsion system's 28 control thrusters used for maneuvering in Earth's orbit.

Boeing said NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Houston on May 10 to spend time with their families. The pair will fly back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida soon, according to the company......

China have managed something out of the ordinary - a rocket launched when it wasn't supposed to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c897xl1r7v9o

Well, it was an engine test, which appears to have gone well, indeed perhaps just a bit more than just "well", but far too well. Whatever was meant to hold the rocket down failed and the rocket flew, albeit briefly, the flight ending in a ground contact event and a RUD that certain American rocket men wold be "proud" of.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Underground cave found on moon could be ideal base for explorers

Researchers have found evidence for a substantial underground cave on the moon that is accessible from the surface, making the spot a prime location to build a future lunar base.

Analysis of radar data collected by Nasa’s lunar reconnaissance orbiter (LRO) revealed that the Mare Tranquillitatis pit, the deepest known pit on the moon, leads to a cave 45 metres wide and up to 80 metres long, an area equivalent to 14 tennis courts. The cave lies about 150 metres beneath the surface.

Such caves could form the basis for a moonbase or an emergency lunar shelter because the temperature is relatively stable inside and astronauts would be naturally shielded from harmful cosmic rays, solar radiation and micrometeorites.

Mission to end in a fiery conclusion.

NASA Asteroid-Hunting Telescope To Burn Up in Atmosphere.

NASA's NEOWISE spacecraft is about to return to Earth in a blaze of glory after 15 years of service.

The NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission has been using a space telescope to spot asteroids and comets flying around our solar system since 2009 but engineers commanded the spacecraft to turn its transmitter off for the last time Thursday, NASA has stated.

The defunct spacecraft will soon enter the Earth's atmosphere, burning up in late 2024.

"The NEOWISE mission has been an extraordinary success story as it helped us better understand our place in the universe by tracking asteroids and comets that could be hazardous for us on Earth," Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, said in a statement. "While we are sad to see this brave mission come to an end, we are excited for the future scientific discoveries it has opened by setting the foundation for the next generation planetary defense telescope."......

Cheers.

A window into the body: New technique makes skin invisible

Researchers have developed a new way to see organs within a body by rendering overlying tissues transparent to visible light. The counterintuitive process—a topical application of food-safe dye—was reversible in tests with animal subjects, and may ultimately apply to a wide range of medical diagnostics, from locating injuries to monitoring digestive disorders to identifying cancers.

... One dye the researchers predicted would be particularly effective was tartrazine, the food dye more commonly known as FD & C Yellow 5. It turns out, they were correct: when dissolved into water and absorbed into tissues, tartrazine molecules are perfectly structured to match refractive indices and prevent light from scattering, resulting in transparency.

Scientists mimic cat eyes to create artificial eye that sees better in the dark, detects camouflaged objects

A team of engineers from the Center for Nanoparticle Research, Seoul National University, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, all in Korea, has developed a new type of artificial eye based on natural cat eyes.

In their study published in the journal Science Advances, the group copied two features of cat eyes that give them unique abilities to see in the dark and to detect camouflaged objects.

As the researchers note, cameras installed on drones and robots are based on circular apertures that mimic the human eye, an approach that results in imagery with both a foreground subject and the background kept in focus. This approach sometimes makes it difficult for the camera to keep track of the target object.

Animals, such as cats, use a different approach: They have vertically slitted eyes to capture an asymmetric depth of field. Because of that, the researchers chose to use the cat eye architecture as a means for developing a new type of artificial eye.

1 has to wonder why they spent 10yrs on this, but I guess that it kept them out of trouble.

Scientists have mapped a fruit fly's brain. It's a neurobiological milestone.

Scientists announced a milestone in neurobiological research on Thursday that may provide insight into brains across the animal kingdom, including people.

They mapped the brain of an adult fruit fly.

A large international collaboration of scientists known as the FlyWire Consortium worked on the project, which detailed more than 50 million connections between more than 139,000 neurons — brain nerve cells — in the insect.

The research sought to decipher how brains are wired and the signals underlying healthy brain functions. It could also pave the way for mapping the brains of other species.......

Cheers.

Wow!

That is actually fantastic, and a giant leap up from mapping the wiring of slugs and worms...


Hold onto your own head!!

Keep searchin',
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Jupiter is up to 9% Rock and Metal, Which Means it Ate a lot of Planets in its Youth

Key takeaways:

1) New data from Juno’s Gravity Science instrument shows that Jupiter’s core has higher concentrations of metals, indicating it consumed many rocky planetesimals during its formation.

2) Jupiter’s metal-rich core suggests it formed by accreting larger bodies rather than small pebbles, shedding light on the planet’s rapid growth in its early years.

3) The abundance of metals decreases from Jupiter’s core outward, suggesting there is minimal convection in its atmosphere, contradicting previous assumptions.

4) Findings from Jupiter’s metallicity give insight into exoplanet studies, suggesting that observed atmospheric metallicity may underestimate the true metal content in distant gas giants.

5) James Webb Space Telescope data on exoplanet atmospheres may not fully reveal the metallicity of gas giants’ interiors, similar to Juno’s findings on Jupiter.

Will the ISS last until 2030?

Do NASA Astronauts Need To Evacuate Leaking ISS? :Fact Check.

Speculation has been growing over leaks on the International Space Station (ISS), with reports in the media suggesting that NASA astronauts may have to evacuate or face dire consequences.

Concerns escalated following a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which labeled these leaks a "top safety risk."

This has led some to question whether an emergency evacuation might be imminent. But does this situation pose an immediate danger to the astronauts on board?

Leaks on the ISS have been a known issue since 2019, when the first leak was detected in the Russian section of the station, specifically in the Service Module Transfer Tunnel.

This part connects a docking port to the main module and, in ISS terms, is not a crucial area.

NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, currently manage the situation by keeping the leaky hatch closed when possible, effectively minimizing risk.

In September 2024, a new OIG report noted that leaks remain a primary concern, highlighting cracks and air losses as ongoing safety risks.

Following the report, NASA officials confirmed to The Washington Post that they are closely monitoring four cracks and 50 other "areas of concern."

Although the frequency and size of leaks are increasing, NASA and Roscosmos have been working together to identify the root cause, monitor for new cracks and assess overall station integrity..........

The "root cause" is easy enough:

Cyclic expansion-contraction, unevenly with differential strains, across the entire structure, every 90 minutes...

Add a little corrosion and embrittlement...


... So... The oldest and/or most highly strained joints and structural interfaces will lead the way into degradation...

Don't anyone sneeze?


I wonder how the structure wobbles during orbit reboosts?

Fly safe folks!
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Will the ISS last until 2030?

Do NASA Astronauts Need To Evacuate Leaking ISS? :Fact Check.

from a comment to this very article:

[...] The three things that should concern us are, first, the fact that Russia always pretends that risks are controlled or understood - they lie about them constantly. They have simple, rugged systems that do not fail often so they feel that they can recover from problems - and they mostly have. [...] The third thing is that NASA is known to accept the word of the Russians too quickly, for fear of making them more difficult to deal with. So we have never had reliable data on risks in Russian systems.

This (supposedly?) American NASA engineer describes from own experience what is (and ever was) my gut feeling.

How can you build and operate a space station together with such a 'partner', featuring such a safety mentality? It is the same mentality which led to many plane catastrophes which instantly were blamed to pilots or mechanics (individuals; preferably those who died); but never to negligent Soviet or Russian designs, processes, rules (responsible groups of influential people).

You wouldn't want to develop a passenger plane together under the same conditions.

Russia causes a stink on space station.

How One Bad Smell Led the ISS To Shut Down a Russian Spacecraft.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were met with a bizarre and unwelcome arrival when a Russian spacecraft docked: a foul smell.

The "unexpected odor" was detected after the Progress 90 cargo spacecraft—carrying several tons of food, fuel, and supplies—docked on the Russian Poisk module of the ISS on Saturday, perturbing the Russian cosmonauts that opened the hatch.

Along with the noxious smell, the cosmonauts also noticed droplets floating in the air, leading the hatch to the Progress to be immediately shut, and the Russian module closed off to the rest of the ISS while air quality levels were tested and scrubbed.

"After opening the Progress spacecraft's hatch, the Roscosmos cosmonauts noticed an unexpected odor and observed small droplets, prompting the crew to close the Poisk hatch to the rest of the Russian segment," NASA said in a statement posted to X on Sunday........

Russia causes a stink on space station.

Could it possibly be rotting/decomposing food as the source of the stench?

An Iranian born Aussie biotechnologist comes up with an idea and shows where his heart belongs.

Australian inventor makes chemical-free compost, fertiliser from agricultural waste.

Australia means so much to Iranian-born Sam Jahangard, he's willing to turn down a $500-million business deal.

The biotechnologist invented a natural agricultural waste solution, which he wants to keep in Australia, instead of accepting an offer from the United Arab Emirates.

He said his loyalty and love for the country made him comfortable to take the multi-million-dollar hit.

"Australia was the only country that offered me and my family nationality so [I've] become a very proud Australian as an Australian national," he said.

"I actually feel rooted here and Australia offers a platform for very high quality education to my only child and I see a future."

The Iranian-born scientist migrated to Australia 17 years ago and became a citizen.

Dr Jahangard grew up in a small Iranian fishing village in a house with dirt floors and no electricity.

He studied at European universities on scholarships and became a biotechnology expert focusing on aquaculture.

His knowledge led him to create ways to quickly turn agricultural waste streams from feedlots, food waste, invasive weeds and species, into chemical-free compost, fertilisers and pest management products........

Cheers.

Flat Earther Expedition to Antartica Bolsters Case That Our Planet Is Round

A team of Flat Earth conspiracy theorists recently traveled to Antarctica in the hopes of proving—once and for all—that our planet is, in fact, flat. Unfortunately for them, the trip seems to have confirmed what scientists and geologists have long told everybody, and what photographic evidence and videos have already proven: our planet is round.

Jeffery finally gets his rocket off the ground, but the 1st landing didn't go as planned.

Bezos’ New Glenn rocket has lifted off for the first time.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has launched his massive New Glenn rocket which blasted off for the first time with the help of his space company Blue Origin.

The rocket’s inaugural mission had been delayed by several years but finally hit the skies at 2:03am local time today (6:03pm AEDT) after blasting off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida.

The mission is said to be critical to Blue Origin’s efforts to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which dominates the commercial space industry.......

Cheers.

India hits a milestone.

India successfully conducts historic space-docking test.

Indian space agency Isro has for the first time successfully conducted space docking by joining together two small craft in space.

The technology is essential for the country's future ambition to build an Indian space station and put a person on the Moon.

The mission called SpaDeX blasted off from Sriharikota launch pad in southern India on 30 December. The two spacecraft, launched on a single rocket, separated in space. The docking process, initially scheduled for 7 January, was rescheduled a number of times.

On Thursday morning, the space agency announced that it had created history by becoming only the fourth country in the world with such technology after United States, Russia and China.......

Cheers.

For some of us it maybe the last chance we get.

All planets align this week in super rare ‘planetary parade’ that you won’t see again until 2040.

A rare planetary parade is to emerge in the night sky this week for the last time until 2040.

Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Saturn and Mercury will be strung across the sky in an arc shape on 28 February.

Stargazers will have to wait 15 years for the next alignment involving seven planets.

The moment will be short, and stargazers across Australia should head out around 30 minutes after sunset to catch the parade.

Only five planets, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mercury, will be visible to the naked eye.

Uranus and Neptune are simply too far away from Earth, and therefore require a telescope or binoculars to view them.

While they will mostly look like larger, twinkling stars - you will be able to set Venus and Mars apart from the rest.

Venus will be the brightest in the sky, shining twice as bright as the North Star, Polaris.

Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will appear as bright-white points of light, while Mars has a distinct orange glow.......

Cheers.