US expedition yields first breakthrough paper about life under Antarctic ice
Bozeman MT (SPX) Aug 27, 2014 -
The first breakthrough paper to come out of a massive U.S. expedition to one of Earth's final frontiers shows that there's life and an active ecosystem one-half mile below the surface of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, specifically in a lake that hasn't seen sunlight or felt a breath of wind for millions of years.
The life is in the form of microorganisms that live beneath the enormous Antar ...
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Hot-spring bacteria reveal ability to use far-red light for photosynthesis
University Park PA (SPX) Aug 27, 2014 -
Bacteria that grow in environments enriched in far-red light use a previously unknown process for harvesting energy. This discovery lays the foundation for further research aimed at improving plant growth and harvesting energy from the Sun, and understanding dense blooms like those now occurring on Lake Erie and other lakes worldwide.
A paper describing the discovery will be published in t ...
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Composition of Earth's mantle revisited
Argonne IL (SPX) Aug 27, 2014 -
Research published last week in Science suggested that the makeup of the Earth's lower mantle, which makes up the largest part of the Earth by volume, is significantly different than previously thought.
The work, performed at the Advanced Photon Source at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, will have a significant impact on our understanding of the lower mantle, sc ...
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Japan mulls enhancing missile detecting capability
Tokyo, Japan (XNA) Aug 26, 2014 -
Japan is mulling to further and effectively use space to detect early signs of ballistic missile so as to boost its defense capabilities, local media reported on Saturday.
The Japanese Defense Ministry hopes to promote empirical research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and also considered to set up a special force for space surveillance within the Self-Defense Forces, Ja ...
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Delivery by drone
Boston MA (SPX) Aug 27, 2014 -
In the near future, the package that you ordered online may be deposited at your doorstep by a drone: Last December, online retailer Amazon announced plans to explore drone-based delivery, suggesting that fleets of flying robots might serve as autonomous messengers that shuttle packages to customers within 30 minutes of an order.
To ensure safe, timely, and accurate delivery, drones would ...
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R-7 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Aug 27, 2014 -
On August 21, 1957, the USSR successfully launched the R-7/SS-6 Sapwood intercontinental ballistic missile, which was developed by experts from Special Design Bureau (OKB) No. 1, under the supervision of Chief Designer Sergei Korolev.
The two-stage R-7 ICBM could deliver one thermonuclear warhead to just about any region of a theoretical enemy's territory. This new formidable weapons syste ...
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Eta Carinae: Our Neighboring Superstars
Washington DC (SPX) Aug 28, 2014 -
The Eta Carinae star system does not lack for superlatives. Not only does it contain one of the biggest and brightest stars in our galaxy, weighing at least 90 times the mass of the sun, it is also extremely volatile and is expected to have at least one supernova explosion in the future.
As one of the first objects observed by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory after its launch some 15 years ...
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