TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
May 6, 2024
A Total Solar Eclipse from Sliver to Ring
This is how the Sun disappeared from the daytime sky last month. The featured time-lapse video was created from stills taken from Mountain View, Arkansas, USA on 2024 April 8. First, a small sliver of a normally spotted Sun went strangely dark. Within a few minutes, much of the background Sun was hidden behind the advancing foreground Moon. Within an hour, the only rays from the Sun passing the Moon appeared like a diamond ring. During totality, most of the surrounding sky went dark, making the bright pink prominences around the Sun's edge stand out, and making the amazing corona appear to spread into the surrounding sky. The central view of the corona shows an accumulation of frames taken during complete totality. As the video ends, just a few minutes later, another diamond ring appeared – this time on the other side of the Moon. Within the next hour, the sky returned to normal.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch
May 6, 10:34 PM
Watch live as two NASA astronauts launch from Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft as one of the final steps on the road to certification. Launch of the ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket and Starliner spacecraft is targeted for 10:34 p.m. EDT Monday, May 6 (0234 UTC Tuesday, May 7) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The two NASA astronauts aboard, flight commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams, will test the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system, including launch, docking, and return to Earth. After a one-week stay docked to the International Space Station, the Starliner and crew will land under parachutes in the western United States.
Launch coverage on NASA+ (https://plus.nasa.gov) will end shortly after Starliner orbital insertion. NASA Television (https://nasa.gov/nasatv) will provide continuous coverage leading up to docking and through hatch opening and welcome remarks.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-boeing-starliners-first-crewed-launch-docking/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb3qcR2tUQs
NUBURU Announces a Second Contract With NASA for Next-Generation Blue Laser Space Technology
May 06, 2024 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time
CENTENNIAL, Colo.(BUSINESS WIRE)NUBURU, Inc. (“NUBURU” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: BURU), a leading innovator in high-power and high-brightness industrial blue laser technology, today announced it has been awarded an $850,000 Phase II contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) to advance blue laser power transmission technology as a unique solution to dramatically reduce the size and weight of the equipment needed for Lunar and Martian applications. This contract award builds upon NUBURU’s successful Phase I Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR”) announced in August 2023.
NUBURU’s blue power beaming technology is a revolutionary rethinking of the electrical power grid for the unique Lunar and Martian environments – eliminating the need for transporting heavy copper or aluminum wires, which are neither economically nor logistically practical. The blue power beaming technology approach unlocks the dynamic distribution of power to moving rovers, temporary or permanent stations, and even remote habitats. NUBURU’s blue laser architecture enables a low Size, Weight, and Power (“SWaP”) design, clear visibility aiding navigation, efficient direct diode technology, and advanced direct bandgap solar cell technology for high electrical efficiency. This technology solution is directly aligned with the mission goal of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon permanently. The need has been outlined in NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives in Lunar Infrastructure Goal 1.
In the initial phase I project, NUBURU demonstrated the scientific, technical, and commercial feasibility of its technology. During the Phase II program, NUBURU aims to scale up the power, range, and performance of the blue laser power beaming technology. This program will demonstrate the technology with hundreds of watts of power delivered at kilometer-scale range. Furthermore, NUBURU will advance its high-brightness laser source with a next-generation technology capable of extending the technology range to 10s of kilometers on the lunar surface.
"This second NASA contract is a testament to the innovative nature of our blue power beaming technology, which has the potential to revolutionize power management challenges facing NASA, other space operators, and many commercial enterprises today," stated Brian Knaley, CEO and CFO of NUBURU. "Our upcoming innovation, powered by NUBURU's state-of-the-art Blue Laser technology, is set to significantly decrease the size and weight of necessary equipment to meet routine mission demands."
Mr. Knaley continued, "In addition to Lunar applications, blue laser power beaming has terrestrial applications, including remote power solutions, disaster relief, and DoD contested logistics. NUBURU's unique high-brightness technology has additional applications in industrial, medical, and defense markets that benefit from this SBIR program funding and megamarkets like e-mobility, consumer, electronics, aerospace, healthcare, defense, energy, and industrial applications."
NASA’s SBIR program funds the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that have significant potential for successful commercialization. The SBIR program is designed to drive these technologies to market in a three-phase process, ultimately resulting in commercialization and deployment. This Phase II effort will be a significant step forward towards validating the blue laser power beaming technology at a scale critical for commercial success.
For more information on NUBURU’s Blue Laser technology and capabilities, visit: www.nuburu.net.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240505188154/en/NUBURU-Announces-a-Second-Contract-With-NASA-for-Next-Generation-Blue-Laser-Space-Technology
THE EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY (EVA) SUIT
MAY 4, 2024
In February 2022, Jared Isaacman and SpaceX announced the Polaris Program, an effort designed to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities, while also supporting important causes here on Earth.
Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew will perform SpaceX’s first-ever Extravehicular Activity (more commonly known as an EVA or spacewalk) from Dragon, which will also be the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk. This historic milestone will also be the first time four astronauts will be exposed to the vacuum of space at the same time.
Supporting the crew throughout the spacewalk will be SpaceX’s newly-developed EVA suit, an evolution of the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit crews currently wear aboard Dragon human spaceflight missions. Developed with mobility in mind, SpaceX teams incorporated new materials, fabrication processes, and novel joint designs to provide greater flexibility to astronauts in pressurized scenarios while retaining comfort for unpressurized scenarios. The 3D-printed helmet incorporates a new visor to reduce glare during the EVA in addition to the new Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera that provide information on the suit’s pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. The suit also incorporates enhancements for reliability and redundancy during a spacewalk, adding seals and pressure valves to help ensure the suit remains pressurized and the crew remains safe.
All of these enhancements to the EVA suit are part of a scalable design, allowing teams to produce and scale to different body types as SpaceX seeks to create greater accessibility to space for all of humanity.
While Polaris Dawn will be the first time the SpaceX EVA suit is used in low-Earth orbit, the suit’s ultimate destiny lies much farther from our home planet. Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require the development of a scalable design for the millions of spacesuits required to help make life multiplanetary.
https://www.spacex.com/updates/
Science leaders back UK’s Professor Mark Thomson to lead CERN
2 May 2024
Some of the leading minds from across the world of science, including former Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government Sheila Rowan and pioneering space physicist Professor Michele Dougherty, have given their backing to Professor Mark Thomson’s bid to be the next Director-General of CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics.
Professor Thomson is a renowned Cambridge University particle physicist, and today (Tuesday 2 May) he takes his campaign to Geneva, to set out how he has the scientific credentials, experience and vision to lead the world’s foremost international centre for particle physics, directly to the world-leading experts based in and around CERN itself.
Whilst in the city he will visit CERN itself, meet scientists currently working on some of their most advanced research, and host a reception at the UK’s Permanent Mission in Geneva for scientific and diplomatic leaders and decision-makers.
Professor Mark Thomson said:
I am running for Director-General because I have the scientific credentials, the experience and the vision to deliver an even brighter future for every one of CERN’s member states, for its world-class staff, and for the fundamental breakthroughs this organisation continues to unlock in our understanding of the Universe.
As a former CERN researcher myself, and a current CERN Council member, I’m excited to come back to Geneva and speak directly to the brilliant people, who make CERN’s breakthroughs possible, about my vision for the years ahead.
Minister at the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Viscount Camrose said:
Professor Mark Thomson has shown throughout his career that he has what it takes to bring diverse teams of the world’s best and brightest together, to tackle some of the most complex and challenging questions modern science can present.
His remarkable track record of dedicated service to the global scientific community sets him out as the very best candidate, to lead CERN to an exciting future. It is my pleasure to support his candidacy, in Geneva today.
The research taking place at CERN is at the cutting edge of physics, giving us incredible insights into the very nature of the universe through work on the Large Hadron Collider, and other experiments of unrivalled depth and scale.
Breakthroughs that are made there, like the creation of the World Wide Web, are critical to scientific progress across the board, and have the potential to improve everyone’s lives.
A new Director-General for CERN will be selected later this year, following a vote amongst the organisation’s member states. Professor Thomson announced his candidacy in April, setting out a threefold vision to deliver an even brighter future for CERN, as the organisation faces decisions in the coming years that will shape its future profoundly – including the delivery of a major upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider.
If elected, Professor Thomson would develop an ambitious Strategic Plan for how CERN develops and makes major investment decisions over the next 5 years, would strengthen links with all of CERN’s member states, and would build an inclusive and supportive culture for CERN staff.
He has the exceptional scientific credentials and the experience required, to make a success of the role. Professor Thomson currently leads a scientific organisation of similar size and budget to CERN, the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, and is one of the most accomplished particle physicists of his generation, including more than two decades of experience in working on CERN projects.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/science-leaders-back-uks-professor-mark-thomson-to-lead-cern
New video of sun's surface captures eruption bigger than Earth
4:21pm May 6, 2024
A new video of the sun's surface has captured an eruption bigger than the size of Earth.
The European Space Agency recently shared footage of the sun's "ever-changing landscape", which was filmed by its Solar Orbiter in September last year.
It showed golden hair-like structures of gas emerging from inside the sun, which can reach heights of up to 10,000 kilometres. 
A small eruption of cooler material rising and then collapsing into the surface was also captured by the instrument.
"Don't be fooled by the use of 'small' here: this eruption is bigger than Earth," the European Space Agency said.
The bright areas seen in the vision reach about one million degrees celsius, while the dark areas absorb radiation.
The Orbiter made its closest approach to the fiery planet about 43 million kilometres away - about one third of the Earth's distance from the sun.
At the same time, NASA's Parker Solar Probe skimmed about 7 million kilometres from the surface of the sun to measure particles and the magnetic field.
"This was a perfect opportunity for the two missions to team up, with ESA-led Solar Orbiter's remote-sensing instruments observing the source region of the solar wind that would subsequently flow past Parker Solar Probe," the European Space Agency said.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-video-of-suns-surface-captures-eruption-bigger-than-earth/374c1b2c-5074-4f4c-bf06-5028a3cef0fa
Cool pictures, interesting dot indeed
Cluster of 'UFOs' spotted in night sky after powerful 5.6-magnitude earthquake
15:36, 6 May 2024
A cluster of what appeared to be UFOs stunned onlookers after they were spotted in the night sky following a 5.6-magnitude earthquake.
The tremor was recorded about 25 miles from Turhal, about 481 miles east of Turkey's largest city Istanbul, at about 6:10pm on April 18. While the quake had a shallow depth of six miles, it was widely felt in the region.
Locals were left stunned when a swarm of bright lights shimmered in the night sky later that night. In one recording, dozens of bright lights could be seen shooting across the night sky as a couple discussed what it could be. The man said: "You need to see this." A woman replied: "What are those? Why are the birds shining like white gold?"
The video was widely shared on Instagram on May 1, as reported by What'sTheJam. While some people had otherworldly explanations, others were more grounded in what they believed the lights were.
One local commented: "They're either souls or angels." Another said: "They are seagulls flying over a light source, nothing mysterious about this." Ethan wrote: "There are some natural phenomena that produce lights in the sky around fault lines, especially after earthquakes."
"It's a gaggle of geese that were on the ground feeding in a cornfield when they were forced to take flight because of the earthquake," said someone else. Numy remarked: "If I were an alien, I wouldn't bother creating mysteries. I would just expose myself." Tim joked: "Is it a reveal party gone wrong?"
UFOs, also known as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) are observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena. Last year, Nasa chief Dr Thomas Zurbuchen said UAPs do exist but insisted they could be China using "unfriendly advanced" technology.
Zurbuchen made the revelation following instances of Chinese spy balloons being discovered flying above the US. A Chinese spy balloon shot off the coast of South Carolina was part of a large-scale surveillance operation, according to the Pentagon.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/cluster-ufos-spotted-night-sky-32745820
Brazil floods death toll nears 90 as rescue efforts continue amid skyscrapers of Porto Alegre
May 6, 2024 / 8:51 AM EDT
Porto Alegre — From top to bottom, rescuers have been scouring buildings in Porto Alegre for inhabitants stuck in apartments or on rooftops as unprecedented flooding turned the streets of the Brazilian metropolis into rivers. In the state capital's Sarandi neighborhood, firefighters first evacuated people who had found refuge on the roofs of apartment buildings, then went in for those on the higher floors inside.
"Now, we are evacuating those on the second and third floors," Daniel Batista da Rocha, a fire fighter from the flood-battered southern state of Rio Grande do Sul told AFP mid-search on Sunday. But the task is complex in a city with many tall buildings, wide avenues, and some 1.4 million inhabitants.
"There is a lot of water… it is deep. The (rescue) boats are travelling at the same height as the power cables. So, to navigate, we must cut the cables," said Rocha, dressed in a wetsuit, life vest and yellow helmet.
The floods had killed at least 83 people in the state by early Monday morning, according to the civil defense agency, with dozens more missing and some 115,000 forced to leave their homes.
Besides Porto Alegre, hundreds of towns and villages were hit, leaving thousands of people without access to drinking water, electricity, telephone service or internet.
The clock was ticking for rescuers to reach those still unaccounted for in the worst climate disaster ever to befall the wealthy, southern region of Brazil. According to the Porto Alegre mayor's office, the level of the Guaiba River that runs past the city reached about 17.4 feet on Sunday — higher than the previous record recorded during historic flooding in 1941.
Volunteers were helping professional rescuers involved in the search operation.
"We are doing our best to help. Everyone helps in their own way," said volunteer Luis Eduardo da Silva, 32, from Porto Alegre.
His mission was to collect essential supplies such as life jackets, water and fuel to bring to those in need. He said those deliveries were being done in the daylight hours when it's "easier to locate" people amid the devastation.
"At night, it gets complicated," said Silva.
People were also delivering bottled water and food to makeshift distribution points around the city, including gas stations.
The state government has appealed for donations of mattresses, sheets and personal hygiene products. Many neighbors were lending out boats and jet skis to aid the rescue effort.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/floods-southern-brazil-death-toll-rescue-efforts-continue-porto-alegre/
Russia to Hold Nuclear Drills Near Ukraine After Angry Exchange With West
06 May 2024 06:53 AM EDT
Russia said Monday it will hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons amid rising tensions after comments by senior Western officials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.
The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a fifth term in office and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The drills are a response to "provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
It was the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battlefield. They are less powerful than the strategic weapons — massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are intended to obliterate entire cities.
The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine's Western allies about becoming more deeply engaged in the 2-year-old war, where the Kremlin's forces have gained an upper hand amid Ukraine's shortage of manpower and weapons. Some of Ukraine's Western partners have previously expressed concern that the conflict could spill beyond Ukraine into a war between NATO and Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn't exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv's forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Some other NATO countries providing weapons to Kyiv have balked at that possibility.
The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, heightening tension between Russia and NATO. The war already has placed significant strain on relations between Moscow and the West.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron's recent statement and other remarks by British and U.S. officials had prompted the nuclear drills.
"It's a new round of escalation," Peskov said, referring to what the Kremlin regarded as provocative statements. "It's unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures."
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the French and British ambassadors.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the nuclear exercises "contribute to increasing instability."
"In the current security situation, Russia's actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless," Billström told Swedish news agency TT.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council that's chaired by Putin, said in his typically hawkish fashion that the comments by Macron and Cameron risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a "global catastrophe."
It wasn't the first time Europe's military support for Ukraine has prompted nuclear saber-rattling. In March 2023, after the U.K.'s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium, Putin said he intends to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine neighbor Belarus.
The ministry said the exercise is intended to "increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to fulfill combat tasks" and will be held on Putin's orders. The maneuvers will involve missile units of the Southern Military District along with the air force and the navy, it said.
The Russian announcement stirred little reaction in Ukraine, where the spokesman for the Military Intelligence agency, Andrii Yusov, said on national television: "Nuclear blackmail is a usual practice of Putin's regime; it does not constitute major news."
Western officials have blamed Russia for threatening a wider war through provocative acts. NATO countries said last week they are deeply concerned by a campaign of hybrid activities on the military alliance's soil, accusing Moscow of being behind them and saying they represent a security threat.
Peskov dismissed those claims as "new, unfounded accusations leveled at our country."
Germany said Monday it recalled its ambassador to Russia for a week of consultations in Berlin following an alleged computer hack of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones hit two vehicles Monday in Russia's Belgorod region, killing six people and injuring 35 others, including two children, local authorities said. The area has been hit by Kyiv's forces in recent months.
One of the vehicles was a minibus carrying farm workers, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
It was not possible to independently confirm the report.
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/russia-ukraine-war/2024/05/06/id/1163576/