#Virtual Telescope Project

[nature-godsgardenofeden]

LIVE MONDAY ... Spend Christmas with the comet! ❣️💛❤️

At 17 UTC (11 a.m. CST) December 23, the Virtual Telescope Project will provide a goodbye glimpse of Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. It performed beautifully for us in October, but is now headed away from Earth. Join in right here to watch a live view of the departing comet. And see images of 2024’s best comet. ❣️💛❤️

[adastra-sf]

Comet C/2023 A3 (aka Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is still visible in the night sky - we here at Ad Astra headquarters just saw it yesterday after sunset, looking as bright as an airplane contrail (only much narrower and shorter).

By the way, if you haven't yet seen this bright comet, you can watch it live today on the Virtual Telescope Project's YouTube channel starting at 18:00 UTC (1:00pm Central time) thanks to a free livestream on YouTube: X

2024 October 21

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over California Credit & Copyright: Brian Fulda

Explanation: The tails of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS were a sight to behold. Pictured, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was captured near peak impressiveness last week over the Eastern Sierra Mountains in California, USA. The comet not only showed a bright tail, but a distinct anti-tail pointing in nearly the opposite direction. The globular star cluster M5 can be seen on the right, far in the distance. As it approached, it was unclear if this crumbling iceberg would disintegrate completely as it warmed in the bright sunlight. In reality, the comet survived to become brighter than any star in the night (magnitude -4.9), but unfortunately was then so nearly in front of the Sun that it was hard for many casual observers to locate. Whether Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas becomes known as the Great Comet of 2024 now depends, in part, on how impressive incoming comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) becomes over the next two weeks.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241021.html

[nasa]

Launch Your Creativity with Space Crafts!

In honor of the completion of our Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s spacecraft — the vehicle that will maneuver the observatory to its place in space and enable it to function once there — we’re bringing you a space craft you can complete at home! Join us for a journey across the cosmos, starting right in your own pantry.

Stardust Slime

Ingredients:

1 5 oz. bottle clear glue

½ tablespoon baking soda

Food coloring

1 tablespoon contact lens solution

1 tablespoon glitter

Directions:

Pour the glue into a bowl.

Mix in the baking soda.

Add food coloring (we recommend blue, purple, black, or a combination).

Add contact lens solution and use your hands to work it through the slime. It will initially be very sticky! You can add a little extra contact lens solution to make it firmer and less goopy.

Add glitter a teaspoon at a time, using as much or as little as you like!

Did you know that most of your household ingredients are made of stardust? And so are you! Nearly every naturally occurring element was forged by living or dying stars.

Take the baking soda in this slime recipe, for example. It’s made up of sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. The hydrogen was made during the big bang, right at the start of the universe. But the other three elements were created by dying stars. So when you show your friends your space-y slime, you can tell them it’s literally made of stardust!

Still feeling crafty? Try your hand at more pantry projects or these 3D and paper spacecraft models. If you’re eager for a more advanced space craft, check out these embroidery creations for inspiration! Or if you’re ready for a break, take a virtual tour of an interactive version of the Roman Space Telescope here.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[willowwindss]

100 Inventions by Women

LIFE-SAVING/MEDICAL/GLOBAL IMPACT:

Artificial Heart Valve – Nina Starr Braunwald

Stem Cell Isolation from Bone Marrow – Ann Tsukamoto

Chemotherapy Drug Research – Gertrude Elion

Antifungal Antibiotic (Nystatin) – Rachel Fuller Brown & Elizabeth Lee Hazen

Apgar Score (Newborn Health Assessment) – Virginia Apgar

Vaccination Distribution Logistics – Sara Josephine Baker

Hand-Held Laser Device for Cataracts – Patricia Bath

Portable Life-Saving Heart Monitor – Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig

Medical Mask Design – Ellen Ochoa

Dental Filling Techniques – Lucy Hobbs Taylor

Radiation Treatment Research – Cécile Vogt

Ultrasound Advancements – Denise Grey

Biodegradable Sanitary Pads – Arunachalam Muruganantham (with women-led testing teams)

First Computer Algorithm – Ada Lovelace

COBOL Programming Language – Grace Hopper

Computer Compiler – Grace Hopper

FORTRAN/FORUMAC Language Development – Jean E. Sammet

Caller ID and Call Waiting – Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – Marian Croak

Wireless Transmission Technology – Hedy Lamarr

Polaroid Camera Chemistry / Digital Projection Optics – Edith Clarke

Jet Propulsion Systems Work – Yvonne Brill

Infrared Astronomy Tech – Nancy Roman

Astronomical Data Archiving – Henrietta Swan Leavitt

Nuclear Physics Research Tools – Chien-Shiung Wu

Protein Folding Software – Eleanor Dodson

Global Network for Earthquake Detection – Inge Lehmann

Earthquake Resistant Structures – Edith Clarke

Water Distillation Device – Maria Telkes

Portable Water Filtration Devices – Theresa Dankovich

Solar Thermal Storage System – Maria Telkes

Solar-Powered House – Mária Telkes

Solar Cooker Advancements – Barbara Kerr

Microbiome Research – Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello

Marine Navigation System – Ida Hyde

Anti-Malarial Drug Work – Tu Youyou

Digital Payment Security Algorithms – Radia Perlman

Wireless Transmitters for Aviation – Harriet Quimby

Contributions to Touchscreen Tech – Dr. Annette V. Simmonds

Robotic Surgery Systems – Paula Hammond

Battery-Powered Baby Stroller – Ann Moore

Smart Textile Sensor Fabric – Leah Buechley

Voice-Activated Devices – Kimberly Bryant

Artificial Limb Enhancements – Aimee Mullins

Crash Test Dummies for Women – Astrid Linder

Shark Repellent – Julia Child

3D Illusionary Display Tech – Valerie Thomas

Biodegradable Plastics – Julia F. Carney

Ink Chemistry for Inkjet Printers – Margaret Wu

Computerised Telephone Switching – Erna Hoover

Word Processor Innovations – Evelyn Berezin

Braille Printer Software – Carol Shaw

⸻

HOUSEHOLD & SAFETY INNOVATIONS:

Home Security System – Marie Van Brittan Brown

Fire Escape – Anna Connelly

Life Raft – Maria Beasley

Windshield Wiper – Mary Anderson

Car Heater – Margaret Wilcox

Toilet Paper Holder – Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner

Foot-Pedal Trash Can – Lillian Moller Gilbreth

Retractable Dog Leash – Mary A. Delaney

Disposable Diaper Cover – Marion Donovan

Disposable Glove Design – Kathryn Croft

Ice Cream Maker – Nancy Johnson

Electric Refrigerator Improvements – Florence Parpart

Fold-Out Bed – Sarah E. Goode

Flat-Bottomed Paper Bag Machine – Margaret Knight

Square-Bottomed Paper Bag – Margaret Knight

Street-Cleaning Machine – Florence Parpart

Improved Ironing Board – Sarah Boone

Underwater Telescope – Sarah Mather

Clothes Wringer – Ellene Alice Bailey

Coffee Filter – Melitta Bentz

Scotchgard (Fabric Protector) – Patsy Sherman

Liquid Paper (Correction Fluid) – Bette Nesmith Graham

Leak-Proof Diapers – Valerie Hunter Gordon

FOOD/CONVENIENCE/CULTURAL IMPACT:

Chocolate Chip Cookie – Ruth Graves Wakefield

Monopoly (The Landlord’s Game) – Elizabeth Magie

Snugli Baby Carrier – Ann Moore

Barrel-Style Curling Iron – Theora Stephens

Natural Hair Product Line – Madame C.J. Walker

Virtual Reality Journalism – Nonny de la Peña

Digital Camera Sensor Contributions – Edith Clarke

Textile Color Processing – Beulah Henry

Ice Cream Freezer – Nancy Johnson

Spray-On Skin (ReCell) – Fiona Wood

Langmuir-Blodgett Film – Katharine Burr Blodgett

Fish & Marine Signal Flares – Martha Coston

Windshield Washer System – Charlotte Bridgwood

Smart Clothing / Sensor Integration – Leah Buechley

Fibre Optic Pressure Sensors – Mary Lou Jepsen

[mezzopieno-news]

OSSERVATO IL PUNTO PIÙ LONTANO MAI RAGGIUNTO NELL’UNIVERSO

Grazie alla qualità del cielo notturno di Manciano, nella provincia toscana di Grosseto, il Virtual Telescope Project (una struttura consistente in diversi telescopi robotici attiva sia nel campo della ricerca che della comunicazione scientifica) ha compiuto un’impresa senza precedenti nell’osservazione astronomica. Utilizzando un telescopio da 350 millimetri di apertura, sono stati immortalati i dettagli di un quasar situato a una distanza record di 12,9 miliardi di anni luce. Questo significa che la luce da esso emessa è partita quando l’universo aveva appena 900 milioni di anni.

Grazie al “redshift”, l’effetto cosmologico che sposta la luce verso il rosso a causa dell’espansione dell’universo, è stato possibile catturare questa immagine, anche se la maggior parte della sua luce è spostata nell’infrarosso. La scoperta è resa possibile dal cielo particolarmente buio e privo di inquinamento luminoso di Manciano, che ha permesso al telescopio di distinguere la luce più antica mai osservata dall’occhio umano. Il direttore dell’osservatorio, Gianluca Masi, sottolinea l’importanza di preservare un cielo così puro, indicandolo come un vero e proprio “parco delle stelle”. La conservazione di tali luoghi risulta dunque fondamentale per permettere futuri progressi nell’astronomia e nella comprensione dell’universo. Un risultato che riveste un significato ancora più forte se si considera che il telescopio utilizzato ha dimensioni relativamente ridotte rispetto ai più grandi strumenti osservativi del mondo, dimostrando che anche con risorse accessibili è possibile compiere scoperte di rilevanza cosmologica.

___________________

Fonte: The Virtual Telescope; foto di Pexels

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Se trovi utile il nostro lavoro e credi nel principio del giornalismo costruttivo non-profit | sostieni Mezzopieno

[cavenewstimestoday]

Failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 crashes to Earth after 53 years in orbit

Astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project caught this image of Kosmos 482 during one of its last orbits as it passed over Rome, Italy on May 10, 2025. (Image credit: Gianluca Masi/The Virtual Telescope Project) A failed Soviet Venus lander’s long space odyssey has come to an end. The Kosmos 482 probe crashed to Earth today (May 10) after circling our planet for more than five…

[allthenewzworld]

A long-lost piece of Soviet space history is about to make a fiery return to Earth.

The Cosmos 482 spacecraft, launched in 1972 as part of a failed mission to Venus, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere around May 10 after more than 50 years in orbit.

Originally designed to deliver a descent module to Venus, the probe never escaped low Earth orbit due to a malfunction. That descent module - built to survive the harsh conditions of Venus - has remained in orbit ever since, slowly descending toward Earth.

Astronomer Gianluca Masi and his team at the Virtual Telescope Project will attempt to capture the moment live using robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy. The livestream begins May 8 at 11:40 p.m. EDT (0340 GMT May 9) and will be available on Space.com, the Virtual Telescope's WebTV page, and YouTube.

Tracking the spacecraft will be difficult due to the unpredictable nature of its descent, but if successful, viewers could see it blaze across the sky like a fast-moving meteor. Experts say that because Cosmos 482 was engineered to endure extreme conditions, parts of it could survive reentry and impact Earth.

#allthenewz #space

[sunaleisocial]

NASA Enables SPHEREx Data Return Through Commercial Partnership - NASA

New Post has been published on https://sunalei.org/news/nasa-enables-spherex-data-return-through-commercial-partnership-nasa/

NASA Enables SPHEREx Data Return Through Commercial Partnership - NASA

NASA is partnering with commercial industry to expand our knowledge of Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Recently, NASA collaborated with Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) to support data transfer for the agency’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) mission to explore the origins of the universe. 

“Not only is NASA moving toward commercialization, the agency is making technological advancements to existing systems and saving millions of dollars in the process — all while expanding human knowledge through science and exploration missions,” said Kevin Coggins, associate administrator for NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program.

To receive data from missions in space, NASA relies on the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network, a collection of antennas around the globe.

In preparation for the recently-launched SPHEREx observatory, NASA needed to upgrade an antenna on the world’s most remote continent: Antarctica.

[embedded content]

Transmitted via NASA’s Near Space Network, this video shows SPHEREx scanning a region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The shifting colors represent different infrared wavelengths detected by the telescope’s two arrays. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s SCaN program took a novel approach by leveraging its established commercial partnership with KSAT. While upgraded KSAT antennas were added to the Near Space Network in 2023, SPHEREx required an additional Antarctic antenna that could link to online data storage.

To support SPHEREx’s polar orbit, KSAT upgraded its Troll, Antarctica antenna and incorporated their own cloud storage system. NASA then connected KSAT’s cloud to the NASA cloud, DAPHNE+ (Data Acquisition Process and Handling Environment).

As the Near Space Network’s operational cloud services system, DAPHNE+ enables science missions to transmit their data to the network for virtual file storage, processing, and management. 

“By connecting the Troll antenna to DAPHNE+, we eliminated the need for large, undersea fiberoptic cables by virtually connecting private and government-owned cloud systems, reducing the project’s cost and complexity,” said Matt Vincent, the SPHEREx mission manager for the Near Space Network at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Each day, SPHEREx downlinks a portion of its 20 gigabytes of science data through the Troll antenna, which transfers the files across KSAT’s network of relay satellites to the DAPHNE+ cloud. The cloud system combines and centralizes the data from each antenna, allowing access to all of SPHEREx’s health and science data in one convenient place. 

With coverage throughout its orbit, SPHEREx transmits its 3D maps of the celestial sky, offering new insight into what happened a fraction of a second after the big bang. 

“Missions like SPHEREx use the Near Space Network’s combination of commercial and government antennas,” explained Michael Skube, DAPHNE+ manager at NASA Goddard. “And that is the benefit of DAPHNE+ — it enables the network to pull different sources of information into one central location. The DAPHNE+ system treats government and commercial antennas as part of the same network.” 

The partnership is mutually beneficial. NASA’s Near Space Network maintains a data connection with SPHEREx as it traverses both poles and KSAT benefits from its antennas’ integration into a robust global network – no new cables required. 

 “We were able to find a networking solution with KSAT that did not require us to put additional hardware in Antarctica,” said Vincent. “Now we are operating with the highest data rate we have ever downlinked from that location.” 

For NASA, its commercial partners, and other global space agencies, this expansion means more reliable space communications with fewer expenses. 

Troll’s successful integration into the Near Space Network is a case study for future private and government partnerships. As SPHEREx measures the collective glow of over 450 million galaxies as far as 10 billion light-years away, SCaN continues to innovate how its discoveries safely return to Earth. 

The SPHEREx mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California for the agency’s Astrophysics Division within the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Data will be processed and archived at IPAC at Caltech. The SPHEREx dataset will be publicly available at the NASA-IPAC Infrared Science Archive. Funding and oversight for DAPHNE+ and the Near Space Network come from the SCaN program office at NASA Headquarters and operate out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Troll Satellite Station is owned and operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services and located in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. 

[bondedbyus]

Exploring America's Most Popular Bonds: Safe Havens & Smart Investments

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of finance, the word "security" is synonymous with stability, predictability, and long-term growth. While stocks and cryptocurrencies often dominate the headlines, bonds quietly form the bedrock of countless investment portfolios across America. Just like a telescope helps stargazers view distant galaxies with clarity, bonds allow investors to observe the distant future of their financial security. This article will serve as a telescope into the realm of America's most popular bonds, helping you zoom in on the safest and smartest investments in today’s market.

Understanding Bonds – The Basics

A bond is essentially a loan made by an investor to a borrower, typically a government or corporation. In return, the issuer promises to pay interest over a fixed period and repay the principal upon maturity. Bonds offer a predictable stream of income and are less volatile than stocks, making them ideal for conservative investors.

There are several key terms every bond investor should know:

Issuer: The entity borrowing the money

Coupon Rate: The interest rate paid by the bond

Maturity Date: When the issuer returns the principal

Yield: The return the bond generates over time

Understanding these terms is like adjusting the focus on a telescope — once everything is in clear view, the picture becomes much easier to interpret.

U.S. Treasury Bonds – The Backbone of Secure Investing

When people talk about safety in investing, U.S. Treasury bonds are often the first instruments mentioned. Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, they are considered virtually risk-free.

Treasury Bills (T-Bills): Short-term securities that mature in one year or less. They don’t pay interest but are sold at a discount.

Treasury Notes (T-Notes): Mid-term securities maturing in two to ten years. They pay semiannual interest.

Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds): Long-term investments with maturities up to 30 years.

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS): Bonds indexed to inflation, preserving purchasing power over time.

Treasury securities act as a telescope lens into the economic outlook of the nation. When investors buy these instruments, they're expressing confidence in the long-term stability of the U.S. government.

I Bonds – A Smart Move Against Inflation

Inflation can silently erode the value of money. I Bonds, issued by the U.S. Treasury, combat this by offering a variable interest rate that adjusts semiannually based on the Consumer Price Index.

How They Work: I Bonds have a fixed rate and a variable inflation-adjusted rate. Together, they offer a composite yield.

Tax Benefits: Interest is exempt from state and local taxes and can be tax-free if used for education.

Purchase Limits: Individuals can buy up to $10,000 annually per Social Security number through TreasuryDirect.

Think of I Bonds as a telescope calibrated to detect subtle changes in the economic atmosphere, automatically adjusting focus to keep your investment returns aligned with rising prices.

Municipal Bonds – Invest in America’s Communities

Municipal bonds, or "munis," are issued by state and local governments to fund public projects like schools, highways, and hospitals. They offer tax-exempt interest income, making them attractive to high-income investors.

General Obligation Bonds: Backed by the issuer’s taxing power.

Revenue Bonds: Repaid through specific project revenues.

Municipal bonds provide a unique opportunity to invest in your local community while earning steady, tax-free income. In essence, they offer a close-up, telescope-like view into the progress and development of America's towns and cities.

Corporate Bonds – Higher Yields from America's Giants

Corporate bonds are issued by companies to raise capital for expansion, R&D, or refinancing. These bonds typically offer higher yields than government securities, reflecting the additional risk.

Investment-Grade Bonds: Issued by financially strong companies like Apple or Microsoft.

High-Yield (Junk) Bonds: Offer greater returns but come with increased default risk.

Investors often use corporate bonds to telescope into a company’s financial health. Analyzing earnings reports, debt levels, and industry conditions can help determine the safety of such investments.

Bond ETFs – Easy Access to a Diverse Bond Portfolio

Bond Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) allow investors to buy a diversified basket of bonds with a single transaction. These are especially popular among younger and tech-savvy investors.

Top Bond ETFs:

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG)

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

Advantages: Liquidity, diversification, and ease of access

Considerations: Bond ETFs are subject to market fluctuations

Think of bond ETFs as the wide-angle telescope lens of the bond market. They give you a panoramic view of multiple bond categories without having to examine each one individually.

Choosing the Right Bond for You

Not all bonds are created equal, and your investment choices should align with your financial goals, age, and risk appetite.

Young Investors: Might balance growth-oriented assets with some I Bonds or short-term bond ETFs.

Mid-Career Professionals: May seek stability through a mix of corporate and municipal bonds.

Retirees: Often prefer low-risk Treasury securities for dependable income.

Using bonds effectively is like choosing the right telescope for stargazing. You need the right lens for the right occasion.

Smart Investments Start with Safe Choices

America’s most popular bonds offer a range of benefits from safety and tax advantages to higher yields and inflation protection. Whether you're peering through the safe lens of a Treasury bond or exploring the dynamic world of corporate debt, bonds remain a foundational tool in financial planning.

Just as astronomers trust their telescopes to observe distant galaxies, wise investors trust bonds to navigate the vast universe of investment options with clarity and confidence. Start building your future today by adding some of these time-tested instruments to your portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are U.S. Treasury Bonds risk-free? A: While they are considered the safest investment because they are backed by the U.S. government, they are still subject to inflation and interest rate risk.

Q: What bond gives the highest return in 2025? A: High-yield corporate bonds typically offer the best returns, but also carry more risk. I Bonds may also offer strong returns in an inflationary environment.

Q: What’s the difference between bonds and bond ETFs? A: Bonds are individual debt instruments, while ETFs are collections of multiple bonds traded on stock exchanges. ETFs offer more liquidity but can fluctuate in value.

Q: Can bonds beat inflation? A: Yes, especially Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and I Bonds, which are designed to adjust with inflation.

Q: Is it too late to invest in bonds? A: Not at all. Bonds should be a part of every diversified portfolio, regardless of market conditions.

[hayadan]

Advanced Observations Almost Eliminate the Risk of Asteroid 2024 YR4 Collision in 2032

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) tracked the asteroid with the Very Large Telescope in Chile and reached a more accurate prediction of the trajectory of the asteroid that threatened to destroy entire cities. In recent weeks, calculations have been made according to which the chance of an impact ranges from 1% to 2.3%.

Cutting-Edge Observations Rule Out a Catastrophic Impact

Recent advanced observations using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), along with data from international astronomical facilities, have significantly refined the projected trajectory of asteroid 2024 YR4, nearly eliminating the risk of a collision with Earth.

The asteroid, which has an estimated diameter of 40 to 90 meters, was first detected in December 2024, initially sparking real concerns. At one point, calculations suggested a 3% chance of impact on December 22, 2032, the highest probability ever recorded for an asteroid of this size. Such an impact could have caused widespread destruction, comparable to the Tunguska event of 1908.

Recognizing the potential danger, international teams of astronomers immediately mobilized, utilizing state-of-the-art measurement tools like FORS2 and HAWK-I. These instruments, designed to provide highly detailed data on distant celestial objects, helped astronomers dramatically refine their calculations, reducing uncertainty and leading to a much clearer assessment of the asteroid's trajectory.

Refined Calculations Bring Good News

By mid-January, with additional data from global observatories, scientists were able to pinpoint the asteroid’s path with extreme accuracy. The probability of an impact has now been reduced to an astonishingly low 0.001%, practically ruling out any risk.

Olivier Hainaut, a senior astronomer at ESO, compared the process to narrowing the beam of a flashlight—what once seemed like a wide and uncertain orbital path has now been refined into a precise and well-defined trajectory.

“Following the new information, we recognize that the beam is no longer directed towards Earth,” Hainaut explained.

This breakthrough in planetary defense underscores the critical role of precision observations in protecting Earth from potential cosmic threats.

2024 YR4 is Moving Away, But Monitoring Continues

With asteroid 2024 YR4 moving away from Earth, it is becoming increasingly faint, requiring large and highly sensitive telescopes like the VLT at Paranal in Chile for further tracking. Though the asteroid is no longer considered a significant threat, its detailed observation has provided crucial insights into asteroid orbits and planetary defense strategies.

These findings emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring of potentially hazardous objects in the solar system. The ability to predict, track, and assess asteroid threats with high precision is a testament to technological progress and international collaboration.

The Future of Planetary Defense

The scientific and technological conclusion is clear—thanks to ESO’s VLT and global astronomical efforts, the once concerning threat of asteroid 2024 YR4 has virtually disappeared. This success highlights the effectiveness of planetary surveillance and warning systems and the crucial role of advanced technology in cosmic threat mitigation.

While the asteroid no longer poses a danger, researchers will continue to track it to enhance our understanding of asteroid dynamics and refine future prediction models. The success of this effort is a remarkable milestone in planetary defense, demonstrating how cutting-edge science and global cooperation can keep Earth safe from potential cosmic hazards.

[industrynewsupdates]

A Comprehensive Overview of Investigational New Drug CDMO Market Landscape

 The global investigational new drug CDMO market size is expected to reach USD 7.79 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. This is largely due to the increased R&D investments, along with stringent regulations pertaining to IND.

The U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are health authority bodies that regulate the use of investigational drugs in the U.S. and the European Union, respectively. In addition, investigational review boards (IRBs) in the U.S. and ethics committees (ECs) in the European Union must approve the use of drugs in humans.

It is the requirement of a federal law that a drug be the subject of an approved marketing application prior to it is distributed or transported across the state lines. Hence, sponsors aiming to conduct clinical studies that involve an IND should gain exemption from the FDA to permit the shipping of the investigational drug to clinical investigators in several states.

The pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy in 2020 and has an ongoing impact on various industries. However, the market for IND CDMO has benefited from the pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, prospective sponsors demanded facility audits to ensure CDMOs had the required capacity, equipment, and personnel to undertake their projects. Nowadays, CDMOs should find new ways to attract new sponsors, such as through videos, virtual reality, and other technologies that allow sponsors to virtually experience the site.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Investigational New Drug CDMO Market

Investigational New Drug CDMO Market Report Highlights

• In terms of product, the small molecule segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 88.4% in 2023. This is largely due to the increasing number of small molecules in development. Besides, in 2019, the small molecules dominated the new drug approvals accounting for 79% of all the NME approvals

• Based on service, the contract development segment led the market in 2023. The contract development offers several benefits over in-house development of drugs, such as access to industry experts, less time to market, cost-effectiveness, and more focus on core competencies

• By end user, pharmaceutical companies accounted for the largest share in 2023. This is due to the changes in the pharmaceutical industry that have an impact on research and development strategies, which, in turn, influence new drug approval trends

• Asia Pacific to register the fastest growth rate of 7.8% over the forecast period. Due to the rapid growth of pharmaceutical firms and contract manufacturing organizations in developing countries, such as India and China, the region is likely to overtake Europe and North America in the near future.

Investigational New Drug CDMO Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global investigational new drug CDMO market on the basis of product, service, end-use, and region:

Investigational New Drug CDMO Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Small Molecule

• Large Molecule

Investigational New Drug CDMO Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Contract Development

o Small Molecule

o Bioanalysis and DMPK Studies

o Toxicology Testing

o Pathology and Safety Pharmacology Studies

o Drug Substance Synthetic Route Development

o Drug Substance Process Development

o Form Selection Crystallization Process Development

o Scale-up of Drug Substance

o Pre Formulation

o Preclinical Formulation Selection

o First In Man Formulation/ Process Development

o Analytical Method Development / Validation

o Release Testing of Drug Substance and Drug Product

o Work Up Purification Steps

o Telescoping & Process Refining

o Initial Optimization

o Formal Stability of Drug Substance and Drug Product

o Large Molecule

o Cell Line Development

o Process Development

• Contract Manufacturing

o Small Molecule

o Large Molecule

Investigational New Drug CDMO End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Pharmaceutical Companies

• Biotech Companies

• Others

Investigational New Drug CDMO Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• North America

o U.S.

o Canada

o Mexico

• Europe

o UK

o Germany

o France

o Italy

o Spain

o Denmark

o Sweden

• Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o South Korea

o Thailand

• Latin America

o Brazil

o Argentina

• Middle East & Africa

o South Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Kuwait

List of Key Players in the Investigational New Drug CDMO Market

• Catalent, Inc.

• Lonza

• Recipharm AB

• Siegfried Holding AG

• Patheon Inc.

• Covance

• IQVIA Holdings Inc.

• Cambrex Corporation

• Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

• Syneous Health

Order a free sample PDF of the Investigational New Drug CDMO Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[nasa]

Let's Explore a Metal-Rich Asteroid 🤘

Between Mars and Jupiter, there lies a unique, metal-rich asteroid named Psyche. Psyche’s special because it looks like it is part or all of the metallic interior of a planetesimal—an early planetary building block of our solar system. For the first time, we have the chance to visit a planetary core and possibly learn more about the turbulent history that created terrestrial planets.

Here are six things to know about the mission that’s a journey into the past: Psyche.

1. Psyche could help us learn more about the origins of our solar system.

After studying data from Earth-based radar and optical telescopes, scientists believe that Psyche collided with other large bodies in space and lost its outer rocky shell. This leads scientists to think that Psyche could have a metal-rich interior, which is a building block of a rocky planet. Since we can’t pierce the core of rocky planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, and our home planet, Earth, Psyche offers us a window into how other planets are formed.

2. Psyche might be different than other objects in the solar system.

Rocks on Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth contain iron oxides. From afar, Psyche doesn’t seem to feature these chemical compounds, so it might have a different history of formation than other planets.

If the Psyche asteroid is leftover material from a planetary formation, scientists are excited to learn about the similarities and differences from other rocky planets. The asteroid might instead prove to be a never-before-seen solar system object. Either way, we’re prepared for the possibility of the unexpected!

3. Three science instruments and a gravity science investigation will be aboard the spacecraft.

The three instruments aboard will be a magnetometer, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, and a multispectral imager. Here’s what each of them will do:

Magnetometer: Detect evidence of a magnetic field, which will tell us whether the asteroid formed from a planetary body

Gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer: Help us figure out what chemical elements Psyche is made of, and how it was formed

Multispectral imager: Gather and share information about the topography and mineral composition of Psyche

The gravity science investigation will allow scientists to determine the asteroid’s rotation, mass, and gravity field and to gain insight into the interior by analyzing the radio waves it communicates with. Then, scientists can measure how Psyche affects the spacecraft’s orbit.

4. The Psyche spacecraft will use a super-efficient propulsion system.

Psyche’s solar electric propulsion system harnesses energy from large solar arrays that convert sunlight into electricity, creating thrust. For the first time ever, we will be using Hall-effect thrusters in deep space.

5. This mission runs on collaboration.

To make this mission happen, we work together with universities, and industry and NASA to draw in resources and expertise.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the mission and is responsible for system engineering, integration, and mission operations, while NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Services Program manages launch operations and procured the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Working with Arizona State University (ASU) offers opportunities for students to train as future instrument or mission leads. Mission leader and Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton is also based at ASU.

Finally, Maxar Technologies is a key commercial participant and delivered the main body of the spacecraft, as well as most of its engineering hardware systems.

6. You can be a part of the journey.

Everyone can find activities to get involved on the mission’s webpage. There's an annual internship to interpret the mission, capstone courses for undergraduate projects, and age-appropriate lessons, craft projects, and videos.

You can join us for a virtual launch experience, and, of course, you can watch the launch with us on Oct. 12, 2023, at 10:16 a.m. EDT!

For official news on the mission, follow us on social media and check out NASA’s and ASU’s Psyche websites.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

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[beatiewolfe]

Boston Globe features imPRINTING by Beatie Wolfe at Museum of Science Boston

At the Museum of Science, a sonic self-portrait brings neurology to life

Part artist and part engineer, the conceptual artist and musician Beatie Wolfe is inviting visitors into her head

By Malcolm Gay Globe Staff,Updated January 23, 2025, 3:31 p.m.

When neuroscientists say they “listen” to the brain, they’re often using electrodes to monitor some of the brain’s billions of neurons, eavesdropping on a mere sliver of the rowdy conversation from which consciousness emerges.

But visitors to the Museum of Science can listen in on the whole brain of conceptual artist and musician Beatie Wolfe, whose sonic self-portrait, “imPRINTING,” will make its US debut at the MoS on Jan. 30.

Forgoing electrodes, Wolfe’s installation uses old-school telephones connected to a retro-futuristic “thinking cap,” a sort of next-gen glass hard drive encoded with innumerable hours of audio recorded from Wolfe’s life. Pick up an individual phone line, and you can explore different areas of Wolfe’s brain via the hopes, dreams, ideas, songs, conversations, and fears associated with each region.

“It was so important for me that no two people have the same experience,” multidisciplinary artist and musician Beatie Wolfe said of her art installation "imPRINTING."Mario de Lopez

Wolfe has included hundreds of hours of recordings from her life: everything from collaborations with astronomers and musicians to adolescent journal entries and road trips. The result is a vast aural landscape.

“It was so important for me that no two people have the same experience,” the Anglo-American Wolfe, who premiered “imPRINTING” during the 2023 London Design Biennale, at Somerset House, said by phone. “Anyone coming through will hear [a] unique kind of brain picture.”

Wolfe’s multidisciplinary approach to art making has included numerous collaborations over the years. Her environmental video project, “From Green to Red,” sets to music an arresting visualization of NASA data that charts rising CO2 levels over the past 800,000 years. “Smoke and Mirrors” uses the “Blue Marble” image of Earth to display rising methane levels juxtaposed with advertising slogans from the oil industry.

She’s set to release a series of records this spring with musician and producer Brian Eno, and she previously worked with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Robert Wilson to beam her album, “Raw Space,” into outer space using the Holmdel Horn Antenna, the radio telescope Wilson and Arno Penzias used to detect evidence of the Big Bang.

“Let’s see, if we’re six years out,” said Wilson of the transmission, “it’s six light years away — somewhere.”

The initial impetus for “imPRINTING” came more than a decade ago when Wolfe read “Musicophilia,” the late neurologist Oliver Sacks’s investigation into music’s effects on the brain. When her grandmother and father-in-law were diagnosed with dementia, Wolfe decided to try playing her guitar for her relatives, eventually performing for residents at her father-in-law’s facility in Portugal.

The response, she said, was revelatory: People who had previously been quiet began to perk up, clapping and talking to one another.

“There was this sense that there’s a responsibility to do something, to keep pulling the thread,” said Wolfe, who began performing at memory-care facilities across Britain. “The idea was to see if we could recreate what happened in Portugal, but with the controls, with doctors, and essentially do our own research piece.”

She added that as she toured, she witnessed “inexplicable” moments, describing one man who’d been “virtually catatonic.”

“The carers there were just hoping to get, you know, a smile or something,” said Wolfe, who noted that the man began moving his arm in time to the music. “Then, within two minutes of the song, he’s standing up. One of the carers is going over, and I’m thinking, what’s going on? And then I realized that they’re dancing.”

Nusha Askari, executive director of the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, at Stanford University, said part of what she likes about Wolfe’s work is that it makes accessible the complexities of the brain.

“It’s so rare for someone to be able to draw from these different areas,” said Askari. “She has a beautiful way of integrating things.”

Even so, by the time organizers invited Wolfe to exhibit at the London Design Biennale, Wolfe said she’d grown frustrated by what she called the “binary roadmap” that differentiates artists from engineers.

“Why don’t I make something like a sonic self-portrait that shows all these different brain channels and simultaneously brings neurology to life,” Wolfe recalled thinking, “and also shows how we don’t have to be one thing or another.”

Wolfe had made a point of recording many of her adventures, and she poured hours and hours of audio into “imPRINTING.” For instance, the phone line to the “Inner Self” connects to the hippocampus, a small brain structure vital to learning and memory, revealing journal entries from her adolescence and teen years. The line that connects to the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with cognitive and emotional processing, is a “radio-style” channel that includes her space broadcast with Wilson and studio experiments with Eno, among other things. Meanwhile, a pair of lines to the limbic system, the so-called emotional nervous system, features music from throughout Wolfe’s career and new music available only through “imPRINTING.”

“Of course, to have all these brain channels, you need them to be coming out of a thinking cap,” said Wolfe. She added that the telephones are wired into the custom-made cap, which holds the audio in a novel glass technology that can store vast amounts of data without using energy.

“These tiny pieces of glass [in the cap] are at the point on the brain that they connect with,” she said. “If that part of the brain could talk, what would it sound like?”

Wolfe’s installation, which runs through the end of the year, will kick off a yearlong series of programming at the MoS devoted to being human.

James Monroe, the museum’s creative director of programming, said that in the coming year the museum will explore everything from how technology has changed our lives, to body systems, genetics, evolution, cures and treatments, mental health and aging.

Wolfe’s self-portrait “is going to touch on every single one of those themes for the year and be really inclusive,” he said. “I just thought it was a really sort of genius way of distilling some of that hardcore science into” something more accessible.

imPRINTING

Through Dec. 31. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, 617-723-2500, www.mos.org

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

PUNCH spacecraft make final pit stop before launch

NASA’s PUNCH mission will soon start studying the origins of the solar wind.

Four small suitcase-sized spacecraft, designed and built by Southwest Research Institute, have made a final Earth-side pit stop at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH, mission is sharing a ride to space with the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) observatory.

“The PUNCH mission will integrate our understanding of the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere visible during total solar eclipses, with the ‘solar wind’ that fills and defines the solar system,” said PUNCH Principal Investigator Dr. Craig DeForest of SwRI’s Solar System Science and Exploration Division. “Once the constellation is deployed, we’ll be able to routinely see and understand the solar wind itself, as it streams out from our star and washes over Earth.”

The PUNCH constellation of satellites is targeted to launch in late February 2025 into a polar orbit along the day-night line, so the spacecraft will remain in the sunlight with a clear view in all directions.

Three satellites will carry SwRI-developed Wide Field Imagers (WFI) — heliospheric imagers providing views from 18 to 180 solar radii, or 45 degrees, away from the Sun in the sky. The WFIs use an artificial “horizon” and deep baffles to view the very faint outermost portion of the solar corona and the solar wind itself.

“The instrument reduces direct sunlight by over 16 orders of magnitude or a factor of 10 million billion — the ratio between the mass of a human and the mass of a cold virus,” DeForest said. “The wide-field achromatic optics are based on the famous Nagler eyepiece design used in terrestrial telescopes.”

One satellite carries a coronagraph, the Narrow Field Imager developed by the U.S. Naval Research Lab, that images the Sun’s corona continuously.

All four spacecraft are synchronized to serve as a single “virtual instrument” to capture roughly a quarter of the sky, centered on the Sun. Each spacecraft also includes a camera, developed by RAL Space, to collect three raw images, through three different polarizing filters, every four minutes. In addition, each spacecraft will produce a clear unpolarized image every eight minutes, for calibration purposes.

“When electron particles scatter sunlight, the waves of light become aligned in a particular way — this is polarized light,” DeForest said. “By measuring the light using polarizing filters similar to polarized sunglasses, PUNCH scientists can make a 3D map of the features they see throughout the corona and inner solar system.”

This new perspective will allow scientists to discern the exact trajectory and speed of coronal mass ejections as they move through the inner solar system, improving on current instruments that only measure the corona itself and cannot measure motion in three dimensions.

“The PUNCH team proved to be remarkably resilient as we successfully overcame a number of late-breaking challenges over the last several months to complete integration and environmental testing of the four observatories,” said PUNCH Project Manager Ronnie Killough. “I look forward to a successful launch!”

The Small Explorers (SMEX) program provides frequent flight opportunities for world-class scientific investigations from space using innovative, efficient approaches within the heliophysics and astrophysics science areas. In addition to leading the PUNCH science mission, SwRI will operate the four spacecraft. The PUNCH team includes the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which is building the Narrow Field Imager, and RAL Space in Oxfordshire, England, which is providing detector systems for four visible-light cameras.

IMAGE: SwRI-led PUNCH spacecraft have arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California  in preparation for launch, targeted for the end of February. This image illustrates how the four PUNCH satellites will spread out around Earth along the day-night line to create a complete view of the corona and solar wind. Three of the PUNCH satellites will carry SwRI-developed  Wide Field Imagers, and one will carry the Narrow Field Imager. Credit Southwest Research Institute