Science

SAN FRANCISCO — The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) announced plans Oct. 28 to work with multinational corporation Estée Lauder to solicit microgravity projects aimed at reducing plastic waste. Through the ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge: Beyond Plastics, CASIS is looking for applied research and technology demonstration or maturation projects that

TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite broadband startup OneWeb and a company backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund have signed a $200 million joint venture, with exclusive rights to distribute the network’s capacity in targeted Middle East regions. OneWeb said Oct. 26 it is partnering with NEOM Tech & Digital Holding Company, a business entity Saudi

Taken from the October 2021 issue of Physics World, where it appeared under the headline “The challenge of change”. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app. James McKenzie believes the climate crisis offers opportunities to business – but warns that solutions will only be found with

SUNGNAM, South Korea — Joint drills between the U.S. Space Force and Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force will focus on enhancing space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities of both sides, a senior air force officer said. The ROK Air Force is set to perform joint drills with the U.S. Space Force under an Aug. 27

TAMPA, Fla. — Verizon Communications is working with Amazon to develop solutions for its proposed Project Kuiper megaconstellation, with the aim of using the satellites to extend connectivity services to more rural and remote communities across the United States. The U.S. telecom giant said Oct. 26 it has started developing commercial models and technical specifications

Going green: Waste heat from the European Spallation Source, which is under construction in Lund, Sweden, will eventually be connected to the local heating system rather than being vented into the atmosphere (courtesy: Perry Nordeng/ESS). Top physics facilities in Europe and the US have come together to tackle the climate crisis. The labs – including

SAN FRANCISCO – Hedron, the company formerly called Analytical Space, raised $17.8 million in a Series A funding round. With the infusion of cash, Hedron intends to roll out the first orbital plane of what it intends to be “the world’s first hybrid optical/RF data relay network.” The funding round was led by Fine Structure Venture

TAMPA, Fla. — Arianespace has successfully launched the heaviest satellite SES has ever ordered, marking a cornerstone for a multi-orbit network that is seeing surging demand from commercial aviation customers. Weighing roughly 6,400 kilograms, the all-electric SES-17 satellite lifted off from French Guiana Oct. 23 at 10:10 a.m. Eastern on an Ariane 5 rocket, which

Transforming light: illustration of how an arbitrary linear transform can be achieved in an all-optical system using diffractive surfaces (Courtesy: Ozcan Lab/UCLA) Researchers in the US have shown how all-optical processors could be used to carry out a range of linear mathematical transformations, including Fourier transforms. Using machine learning techniques, Onur Kulce, Aydogan Ozcan and

SAN FRANCISCO — Airbus Ventures announced an investment Oct. 25 in ispace, the Toyko-based company preparing to send its first lander to the moon next year. Airbus Ventures brought ispace into its portfolio because “it’s an extraordinary team that has positioned the right technologies at the right time,” Lewis Pinault, the Airbus Ventures partner who

For the sake of Earth and humanity, it’s time for private enterprise and governments to co-invest to expand human activity in low Earth orbit. To some, that will appear to be a preposterous statement. How can human space flight help hard problems on Earth? What justifies public-private investment? For more than 60 years, discretionary tax

How it works: diagram showing how a soliton (top) plays the role of a mirrored laser cavity (bottom). (Courtesy: Haruna Katayama/Hiroshima University) An electromagnetic analogue for a black hole laser – a system that could theoretically amplify Hawking radiation from the event horizon of a black hole and make it observable – has been proposed

HELSINKI — China launched the Shijian-21 satellite from Xichang late Saturday with the stated aim of testing space debris mitigation technologies. A Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China, at 9:27 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 23, sending Shijian-21 into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC)

WASHINGTON — Space Adventures has dropped plans to fly space tourists on a high-altitude Crew Dragon flight but has not ruled out revisiting the mission concept in the future. Space Adventures announced in February 2020 that it has signed a contract with SpaceX for a Crew Dragon mission that would not go to the International

Taken from the October 2021 issue of Physics World. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app. Laura Hiscott reviews Brave Green World: How Science Can Save Our Planet by Chris Forman and Claire Asher 3D and 4D printing could play a key role in tackling the challenges we

Whether the Chinese tested a weapon or just a reusable space vehicle is impossible to know without seeing the test data, said an industry expert WASHINGTON — China’s reported tests of a hypersonic orbital glide vehicle have sparked alarm in the U.S. as it could further fuel an escalating arms race. The Chinese government said

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded L3Harris Technologies a $120.7 million contract to upgrade a ground-based communications jammer used to block adversaries’ satellite transmissions. The contract, announced Oct. 22, is for upgrades to the Counter Communications System Block 10.2 that currently operates at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; Cape

Circa 1021: reconstruction of the Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. (Courtesy: Dylan Kereluk/CC BY 2.0) In the 1960s the Norwegian archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad along with her explorer husband Helge Ingstad discovered the remains of a Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, which is on the northern tip of Newfoundland in Canada. The