Science
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The Trump Administration just revived the Cold War-era Space Command
Today, President Trump and Vice President Pence announced the return of the US Space Command -- a Cold War-era division of the Air Force that's been on a 17-year hiatus. The revival of the US Space Command is meant to "ensure the protection of America's interests in space," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a news conference Wednesday. But it could be confused with Space Force -- the sixth branch of the military that Trump hopes to create -- or the existing Air Force Space Command, which focuses on Air Force operations in space.
NASA's much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope has finally been assembled
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was initially scheduled for a 2018 launch but suffered a series of delays due to the intricacy of construction it required. As the most complex telescope built to date, the number of parts needed and the necessity to get everything exactly right before launch meant the final date had to be pushed back several times. Now, the telescope is finally assembled and will soon be ready for testing and then, eventually, launch.
NASA starts accepting kids' name suggestions for its Mars 2020 rover
If you're a student who's been mulling over names for the Mars 2020 rover, it's now your time to shine. NASA has started accepting short essays from K-12 students who want to give the robotic explorer a proper identity. You'll have until November 1st to submit an idea, and the competition will be divided into three groups based on grade level (K-4, 5-8, 9-12) with frontrunners advancing based on appropriateness, originality and significance. You probably won't see a Rover McRoverface, then.
DARPA is seeking giant abandoned tunnels for... reasons
DARPA just found a surefire way to creep out people around the world: make an urgent call for the kind of space you'd normally associate with supervillains. The military research agency has put out a request for giant, company- or university-managed underground tunnels that could host "research and experimentation." The requirements are oddly specific, too, with the ideal area covering "several city blocks" while including a complex design, multiple levels and variety like atriums and stairwells.
Harvard's noodly robot fingers are great at grabbing jellyfish
Robots can be a bit heavy-handed. Their forceful grip might not be a problem when they're moving boxes in a warehouse, but they can damage fragile marine creatures like jellyfish. Researchers may have a solution. They've created a robotic hand with a squishy grabber and a gentle grip that uses "fettuccini-like silicone fingers" to catch and release fragile, gelatinous jellyfish.
The Morning After: Nintendo Switch Lite hands-on
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Morning! Today's highlights include another milestone SpaceX launch and our first impressions of the Switch Lite. Also, Hollywood directors want to fix your TV's settings, and Microsoft has scheduled another Surface event.
SpaceX's Starhopper successfully completes its 150m hover test (updated)
Just like yesterday, SpaceX is lined up to attempt its most ambitious launch yet of the water tower-like Starhopper test vehicle. This is all in preparation for its upcoming Starship, but first the Raptor engines and frame need some shorter non-orbital attempts. If all goes well, it will fly to around 500 feet high at about 6 PM ET, but as we saw with yesterday's test, anything can happen, like a wiring issue -- even with just eight tenths of a second left on the countdown. Update: The test went off as planned this time, apparently without a hitch. You can watch the flight below, but we're already looking forward to bigger and better hops.
The Morning After: KFC tries out 'Beyond' faux-chicken
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Even if you're not an esports millionaire (yet), you should still care about your security practices online and offline. We have some tips on how to keep things locked down, plus a look at the new Star Wars trailer and a lawsuit that could lead to iPhone import bans.
SpaceX Starhopper 150m hover test aborted (updated)
Ready for the next generation of SpaceX vehicles? Before the Starship launches, it's testing out the new technology on this Starhopper test vehicle, which is scheduled to make its highest jump yet at about 7 PM ET. If all goes well, it will pop up to about 150m / 500~ feet. Check below for a live stream of the test from Boca Chica Beach, TX. Update (7:08 PM ET): After the countdown paused and restarted, this attempt was aborted with .80 seconds left on the clock. SpaceX is currently "evaluating" its next test opportunity, we'll let you know when you have another chance to see Elon Musk's "water tower" fly. Update 2 (7:38 PM ET): The SpaceX stream indicates a second attempt today is "possible," so...stay tuned? Update 3 (9 PM ET): According to Elon Musk, the igniters have to be checked, so that means waiting until at least tomorrow for another attempt.
The Air Force’s secret space plane sets a new record: 718 days in orbit
The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane has been orbiting Earth since September 7th, 2017, crossing the 718 day mark and breaking its previous record of 717 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes in flight. While little is known about the classified X-37B, we do know that it's able to stay in operation for such long stretches of time thanks in part to its solar panels and a lack of a human crew.
Experiments with a single atom rule out the 'fifth force' theory of dark energy
Scientists have long known that the universe is expanding, but in the '90s data from the Hubble telescope showed something strange: the expansion is happening faster now than it did when the universe was younger. This flew in the face of all our models of the universe, and physicists realized that there must be some kind of energy throughout space which accelerates the universe's expansion. They named this phenomenon dark energy, and decades later we still have little idea what it could be.
NASA's new moon-landing supercomputer is more powerful and more eco-friendly
NASA has officially opened its new supercomputer, Aitken, at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. It uses a modular design which requires less electricity and power than traditional facilities and and it will allow researchers to run complex simulations more quickly.
Gene editing tool could treat many diseases created by mutations
The use of gene editing to eliminate diseases has numerous challenges, including the not-so-small problem of dealing with mutation-based conditions like Huntington's. Existing approaches that replace the gene could cause damage. Salk Institute scientists say they've created a tool that can perform edits when mutations are at work. SATI (Single homology Arm donor mediated intro-Targeting Integration) builds on HITI, a variant of the familiar CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique, deals with mutations by inserting a healthy copy of a troublesome gene into the non-coding region of DNA. As the DNA repairs itself, the normal gene integrates into the genome alongside the old one -- it eliminates the harm from the mutation without taking risks.
Papercraft-inspired math turns any sheet into any shape
You might not need exotic manufacturing techniques to produce custom-shaped objects. If Harvard scientists have their way, you could start with little more than a sheet and some math. They've created a math framework that borrows from the Japanese papercraft technique of kirigami (which uses strategic cuts to produce art) to transform any sheet into any shape. Effectively, it involves designing backwards -- the intended shape is the last part of the process.
Divorce dispute leads to accusation of crime in space
This is one spaceflight milestone that NASA isn't about to celebrate. Former Air Force intelligence officer Summer Worden and her family have filed complaints accusing Worden's estranged spouse, astronaut Anne McClain (above), of committing a crime while in space. When McClain appeared to know of Worden's spending habits despite an ongoing separation battle, Worden found that McClain had accessed their still-linked bank account while aboard the International Space Station -- supposedly committing the crimes of identity theft and improper access to private financial records.
Scientists bioprint living tissue in a matter of seconds
Bioprinting holds great potential for repairing injuries, testing drugs or replacing whole organs, but it's currently limited in complexity, viability and speed -- you can't just create tissue on a whim. Soon, though, it might be a matter of crafting whatever you need when you need it. Scientists at EPFL and University Medical Center Utrecht have developed an optical system that can bioprint complex, highly viable living tissue in "just a few seconds." It would represent a breakthrough compared to the clunky, layer-based processes of today.
Sphero acquires LittleBits and its set of scientific toys
The popular STEAM education company Sphero announced today that it has acquired LittleBits. You may remember LittleBits as the company behind toys that teach kids about electronics, and Sphero has made a name for itself creating educational coding robots. Together, the companies plan to bring STEAM and coding products to more classrooms, homes and educational programs.
The Morning After: iPhone 'Pro' rumors
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. We're ready with our review of Samsung's big-screen Galaxy Note 10+, and the rumor machine is already cranking up ahead of Apple's next big iPhone reveal. Also, an OTA update can make some Teslas handle better at high speeds.
Russia tests new Soyuz rocket by sending a humanoid robot to the ISS
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, has just launched a new Soyuz booster on a trip to the ISS. Unlike other Soyuz flights that blast off to bring astronauts to the space station, this trip has no humans on board. It does, however, have a passenger: a humanoid robot nicknamed Fyodor. The machine's real model name is Skybot F-850, and it's one of the latest versions of the FEDOR robot Russia has been working on for years.
Watch astronauts install commercial spacecraft adapter on the ISS
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan are floating around in low Earth orbit today, installing the second of two docking adapters on the International Space Station. The international docking adapters -- or IDAs -- will allow Boeing and SpaceX commercial spacecraft to connect to the ISS and deliver crew members and supplies. Earthbound humans can watch the spacewalk on NASA's live feed below.