Explore

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept to Map Minerals on Celestial Bodies Across Solar System

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept to Map Minerals on Celestial Bodies Across Solar System

NASA has provided funding for an early-stage project named 'Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys,' or 'Slingshot,' which aims to extend 'Landsat-style mineral intelligence' to other celestial bodies, including the Moon. This concept is a Phase 1 study for a future large-scale Discovery-class mission. The proposed spacecraft would travel between various worlds, such as the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars' moon Phobos, to scan for minerals. The primary goal is to determine if Raman spectroscopy, a technique currently used for close-up mineral and water detection by missions like NASA's Perseverance on Mars, can be effectively employed from orbit or during a flyby. This method involves using reflected light from a laser to analyze the molecular structure and composition of minerals. The project seeks to overcome the significant challenge of distance, as Raman scattering is very faint and difficult to detect from far away. Current tests have achieved detection at approximately 120 meters, but this study ...

NASA Simplifies Lunar Spacesuit Design to Accelerate Artemis IV Mission Timeline

NASA Simplifies Lunar Spacesuit Design to Accelerate Artemis IV Mission Timeline

NASA has decided to adopt a simpler spacesuit design for its initial lunar surface missions, a move aimed at accelerating the Artemis program's goal of landing humans at the Moon's south pole as early as 2028. This decision was announced during an internal meeting by Artemis Program Manager Jeremy Parsons. The agency will collaborate with Axiom Space to develop a 'Sortie Suit' variant of the previously planned spacesuit. The primary objectives for this new design are to reduce the spacesuit's mass and complexity, and to simplify the interfaces between the spacesuits and lunar landers. This initiative comes after concerns about the progress rate of spacesuit development. Approximately four years ago, NASA awarded spacesuit development contracts to two providers, Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace. However, Collins Aerospace withdrew in 2024, leaving Axiom as the sole provider. The Sortie Suit is intended for use in initial landing missions, which will utilize landers developed by both SpaceX and Blue Origin.

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept for Mineral Mapping Across Solar System

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept for Mineral Mapping Across Solar System

NASA has provided a Phase 1 grant to the 'Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys' study, a conceptual project aimed at developing a small spacecraft capable of mapping minerals on various celestial bodies within a single mission. This initiative, whimsically named 'Slingshot,' seeks to bring 'Landsat-style mineral intelligence' to destinations beyond Earth, including the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars' moon Phobos. The primary goal is to assess the feasibility of using Raman spectroscopy from orbital or flyby distances (approximately 30 to 50 kilometers) to identify mineral compositions. Raman spectroscopy, which analyzes reflected light from a laser to determine molecular structure, is currently used for close-up mineral detection, such as by NASA's Perseverance mission on Mars. The project addresses the challenge of detecting faint Raman scattering over vast distances, with previous tests reaching only about 120 meters.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Financial Disclosures Under Scrutiny for Apparent Ethics Violations

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Financial Disclosures Under Scrutiny for Apparent Ethics Violations

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, appears to have violated federal ethics law in his recent financial disclosures, according to a review by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. The review found several discrepancies, including Paxton reporting ownership of seven homes but no income from them, despite six being listed for rent during the reporting periods. Additionally, he did not disclose mortgages totaling $1.3 million for three condos at a Utah golf resort, which federal law requires if they are not personal residences. Paxton also undervalued a plot of Texas land, reporting it at up to $50,000 last year, while his business partner stated his share has been worth approximately $1 million for years. Ethics experts indicate that receiving income without reporting it and failing to disclose required liabilities are violations of federal disclosure law. These apparent omissions obscure Paxton's true financial picture, making it difficult for voters to assess his net wort...

Boise Airport Air Traffic Control Tower Evacuated Due to Smoke Odor, Causing Flight Delays

Boise Airport Air Traffic Control Tower Evacuated Due to Smoke Odor, Causing Flight Delays

The Boise Airport's air traffic control tower was evacuated on Sunday at approximately 2:30 p.m. following reports of a smoke odor. Although there was no active fire detected, the evacuation was conducted as a precautionary measure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation to determine the source of the odor. As a result of the tower's evacuation and the ongoing investigation, travelers flying into and out of Boise Airport are experiencing flight delays, estimated to be around 30 minutes. Despite the evacuation, aircraft are still permitted to arrive at and depart from the airport, albeit with the noted delays.

U.S. Senate Candidate Ken Paxton Faces Scrutiny Over Financial Disclosure Discrepancies

U.S. Senate Candidate Ken Paxton Faces Scrutiny Over Financial Disclosure Discrepancies

U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton is under scrutiny following a joint investigation by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, which identified significant errors and omissions in his federal financial disclosures. The report alleges that Paxton failed to include rental income, $1.3 million in condo mortgages, and accurate property valuations in his recent filings. For instance, Paxton reported little to no rental income from seven homes, despite reporters finding recent rental listings for six of them. Additionally, three Utah condo mortgages totaling $1.3 million were not disclosed, and his valuation of a 20% share in a 42-acre undeveloped property near Burleson was significantly lower than his business partner's estimate. Paxton's campaign has dismissed these findings as a partisan attack aimed at manufacturing controversy, defending his financial record. His August filing showed a net worth between $1 million and $27 million, a substantial increase from the previous year's range of negative $1.9 million to po...

Ohio State University Settles for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed Researcher Ties to China

Ohio State University Settles for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed Researcher Ties to China

The Ohio State University has agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve federal allegations that it failed to disclose a former researcher's affiliations with Chinese entities while receiving taxpayer-funded research grants. The Justice Department alleged that from 2012 to 2023, Ohio State did not properly report affiliations and financial support involving Chinese universities and state-run research organizations in applications and reports submitted to NASA and the National Science Foundation. These allegations included a principal investigator's participation in China’s Thousand Talents Program. Ohio State stated that it uncovered and investigated former earth science professor C.K. Shum’s foreign affiliations itself and subsequently reported them to federal authorities. Shum is no longer employed by the university. The university suspended Shum’s principal investigator privileges, halted spending on relevant federal awards, initiated disciplinary proceedings, and repaid the federal grant funds in question.

Elizabeth Smart pens emotional post after losing bodybuilding competition

Elizabeth Smart pens emotional post after losing bodybuilding competition

Elizabeth Smart, who recently began a bodybuilding career, reflected on her loss at a competition in a new social media post.

Salt Lake City Public Utilities Addresses Two-Month-Long Treated Water Leak Amid Conservation Efforts

Salt Lake City Public Utilities Addresses Two-Month-Long Treated Water Leak Amid Conservation Efforts

Salt Lake City Public Utilities confirmed that treated drinking water has been leaking into a street near 600 South and 500 West for nearly two months. A local resident, David Bourdon, first noticed the continuous flow and reported it to the city, expressing frustration given ongoing calls for water conservation. The department estimates the leak is equivalent to two or three garden hoses running constantly. Deputy Director Jason Brown stated that the leak was not prioritized as a major water main break because it was controlled and did not cause immediate emergencies or road closures. The repair has been complicated by its location within a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) right-of-way, requiring access to two lanes on a heavily traveled route.

NASA Introduces New Opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations

NASA Introduces New Opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released Amendment 68 to ROSES-2025, introducing a new opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (HWO-PSI) under program element D.8. This initiative aims to advance the scientific foundation necessary to reduce risks for a potential future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) mission. The HWO mission concept, recommended by the Astro2020 decadal survey, is envisioned as the first space mission specifically designed to search for life beyond our solar system, capable of transformative science across astrophysics and planetary science. Mandatory Notices of Intent for this program are due by September 10, 2026, with full proposals due by October 26, 2026. Proposals will undergo dual anonymous peer review. Additionally, Amendment 73 to ROSES-2025 includes a correction to Section 3.3.2 of D.9 Habitable Worlds Observatory Instrument Concept Assessments (HWO-ICA) concerning collaborators on category 2 proposals, with proposals for D.9...

Anson Resources Subsidiary A1 Lithium Receives $194 Million Business Incentive for Utah Project

Anson Resources Subsidiary A1 Lithium Receives $194 Million Business Incentive for Utah Project

Anson Resources Subsidiary A1 Lithium Receives $194 Million Business Incentive for Utah Project

On This Day: Color Television Took a Major Step Toward the Modern Era

On This Day: Color Television Took a Major Step Toward the Modern Era

The journey of color television has been a continuous evolution of technical innovation, moving from rudimentary mechanical systems to the sophisti...