Universities Space Research Association

Rare Dust Particle from Ancient Extraterrestrial Meteorite Unveils Insights into Stellar Origins

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 1, 2024
The Astrophysical Journal, Dust, Isotope, LPI, Universities Space Research Association, Solar System, Research, British Gas, 3D, Noetics, Curtin University

WASHINGTON and HOUSTON, April 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking discovery published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal, scientists have identified a rare dust particle lodged within an ancient extraterrestrial meteorite, shedding new light on the origins of stars beyond our solar system.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON and HOUSTON, April 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking discovery published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal, scientists have identified a rare dust particle lodged within an ancient extraterrestrial meteorite, shedding new light on the origins of stars beyond our solar system.
  • It measures all ions on the periodic table except noble gases, has sub-nm spatial resolution and a detection limit of 10 ppm.
  • The instrument is very new to the field and Dr. Nevill was among the first to use it for planetary sciences.
  • "The results challenge current astrophysical models, indicating processes are occurring in stellar environments we do not yet fully understand."

Study Suggests Significant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Linked to Ukraine Conflict

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 19, 2024
Universities Space Research Association, Research, General assembly, Temperature, SCI, Climate change, Paris Agreement, Science, Data collection, Conference, COP, United Nations, UNFCCC, U.N, EGU, GHG, GHC, Environ, Renewable energy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recently released study sheds light on substantial greenhouse gas (GHC) emissions associated with the war in Ukraine.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recently released study sheds light on substantial greenhouse gas (GHC) emissions associated with the war in Ukraine.
  • Examining the initial 18 months since the conflict's commencement in 2022, the study emphasizes the intricacies of monitoring GHC emissions during wartime.
  • Prof. Bun emphasized that following the current U.N. convention would attribute all emissions to Ukraine, including those resulting from war-related damages.
  • The study suggests that GHG emissions from Ukraine's territory during the 1.5-year period exceeded the annual emissions of some European countries, such as Austria, Portugal, and Hungary.

USRA Announces 2023 Distinguished Undergraduate Award Winners Recognizing Academic Excellence

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 11, 2023
Memory, Faculty, Student, University, Engineering, Creativity, Universities Space Research Association, USRA, Science, Nursing, Management

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association (USRA) proudly unveiled today the winners of the prestigious 2023 USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association (USRA) proudly unveiled today the winners of the prestigious 2023 USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards.
  • USRA's commitment to excellence reflects itself in these prestigious awards which recognize outstanding undergraduate students across diverse majors.
  • Congratulations to the 2023 Distinguished Undergraduate Award winners!"
  • The USRA 2023 Distinguished Undergraduate Award winners, selected from a group of exceptional applicants are as follows:
    There were also several Honorable Mentions:
    Established to honor the service and memory of individuals who made significant contributions to their fields and to USRA, these awards are made possible by financial contributions, including those made by USRA employees.

Dr. David C. Noone Named Director of Earth from Space Institute at Universities Space Research Association

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023
University, Carbon, University of Colorado, Florida Space Institute, Research, Senior, Earth science, Oregon State University, Scientist, NASA, Honor, Climate, USRA, PECASE, NASA Group Achievement Award, University of Colorado Boulder, Water, Biodiversity, Universities Space Research Association, Environment, Science

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association (USRA) proudly announces the appointment of Dr. David C. Noone as the new Director of the Earth from Space Institute (EfSI).

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association (USRA) proudly announces the appointment of Dr. David C. Noone as the new Director of the Earth from Space Institute (EfSI).
  • His research focuses on modeling and observing dynamical processes controlling the environment and climate system.
  • Prior to joining the University of Auckland, he held tenured positions at Oregon State University and University of Colorado Boulder.
  • We look forward to the impactful contributions he will bring to USRA's Earth from Space Institute."

USRA Scientist Unlocks Crucial Data, Validating Rare Discovery of a Synchronized Six-Planet System

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Ames Research Center, Universities Space Research Association, ISCB Senior Scientist Award, Nature, Research, Paper, NASA, James Webb Space Telescope, Sun, University, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, Planet, Phosphorus, Medical imaging, Moon, TESS

The planets in the HD 110067 system revolve around the star in a precise orbital pattern.

Key Points: 
  • The planets in the HD 110067 system revolve around the star in a precise orbital pattern.
  • When the closest planet to the star makes 3 full revolutions, the second one makes exactly 2 during the same period.
  • Among the over 5500 exoplanets discovered so far, it is not uncommon to discover several planets orbiting a star.
  • Rapetti's code was the game changer in enabling the research team to complete this discovery, confirming a six-planet resonance chain.

Advances in Quantum Computing Pave the Way to Next Generation Quantum Optimization Algorithms

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
SAAM, Principal, Rigetti Computing, Associate, Noise, Research, DARPA, Universities Space Research Association, Ames Research Center, NASA, Education minister, Algorithm, USRA, Research institute, Microscope, Science Advances

This research is part of the DARPA Optimization with Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (ONISQ) program -- awarded to USRA in 2019 to direct a tight scientific collaboration between USRA, NASA and Rigetti Computing.

Key Points: 
  • This research is part of the DARPA Optimization with Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (ONISQ) program -- awarded to USRA in 2019 to direct a tight scientific collaboration between USRA, NASA and Rigetti Computing.
  • The work is focused on developing fundamental advances of quantum optimization methods that will be impacting the U.S. military capabilities in the future.
  • Noise in quantum hardware has been a persistent problem and to mitigate this issue the researchers introduced an innovative quantum algorithm, inspired by and building on recent advances in the field of quantum hybrid optimization.
  • The results were recently published in the paper "Quantum-Enhanced Greedy Combinatorial Optimization Solver" in Science Advances.

New Study Finds Venus' Atmosphere is a Consequence of Ancient "Earth-Like" Plate Tectonics

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Life, Planet, Brown University, Purdue University, Universities Space Research Association, Carbon, Nitrogen, Solar System, Water, Lunar, Lunar and Planetary Institute, LPI, Nature Astronomy, Nightclub, Coal

WASHINGTON and HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A paper published today in Nature Astronomy indicates that Venus-type atmospheres are potentially a consequence of early phases of plate tectonics.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON and HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A paper published today in Nature Astronomy indicates that Venus-type atmospheres are potentially a consequence of early phases of plate tectonics.
  • The lead author on this paper is Universities Space Research Association's Dr. Matthew Weller at the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
  • Despite broad similarities in mass and size to Earth, Venus shows no clear evidence of plate tectonics recorded on its young surface, and Venus' atmosphere is strikingly different.
  • Venus is shrouded by a thick carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere resulting in an extreme greenhouse climate with surface temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

New Study Reveals How Supernovae Collisions Ignite the Birth of Stars and Planets in the North Celestial Pole Loop

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Gaia, Paper, X-ray, Planet, Astronomy, The Astrophysical Journal, Ageing, Loop, NCP, Explosion, Radio, Universities Space Research Association, Attention, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, Lithium, Medical imaging, Telescope, Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope

The lead author of the paper is Universities Space Research Association's Astronomer Emerita, Dr. Joan Schmelz.

Key Points: 
  • The lead author of the paper is Universities Space Research Association's Astronomer Emerita, Dr. Joan Schmelz.
  • Radio data from the 100-m telescope in Effelsberg, Germany show multiple signatures of an expanding shell.
  • A second neutron star candidate in another binary studied by Gaia may be (in part) responsible for this shell.
  • Our results confirm that the LLIV Arch and NCP Loop are components of expanding shells with the mass, age, energy and momentum values that agree with models of aging supernovae.

USRA Scientist Secures NASA Grant to Probe Profound Effects of Deep Space Environment on Biological Systems

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Heart, Orion (spacecraft), Human, Universities Space Research Association, Drosophila melanogaster, International Space Station, Artemis 2, Brain, Science, USRA, Spacecraft, NASA, Artemis, LEO, Knowledge, Scientific research on the International Space Station, Environment, Communications satellite

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA recently awarded Dr. Janani Iyer, a scientist at Universities Space Research Association (USRA), a three-year flight grant to investigate the effects of deep space on Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) spanning multiple generations.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA recently awarded Dr. Janani Iyer, a scientist at Universities Space Research Association (USRA), a three-year flight grant to investigate the effects of deep space on Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) spanning multiple generations.
  • Unlike the relatively protected environment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment, deep space (beyond Earth's magnetosphere) subjects astronauts to significantly higher rates of ionizing radiation—approximately ten times greater.
  • Replicating deep space radiation in Earth-based analog facilities or on the International Space Station is challenging since it cannot be accurately replicated.
  • However, the upcoming Artemis II mission provides a unique opportunity to study biological responses associated with the deep space environment.

Leading experts from NVIDIA, NASA, Gartner, Coinbase and DHL to headline Tech Week Singapore in October

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 22, 2023
Cloud, Discovery Air, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Digital Agency, Huawei, Universities Space Research Association, Main, Business, Element, McKinsey & Company, Associate, Marketing, Assistant, Government, USRA, IMDA, NASA, Google Cloud, TechWeek (magazine), High commissioner, Big data, AI, Forrester, Dyson, Investment, DHL, Film industry, Medical device, Video game, Government Technology Agency, NVIDIA, MTR, Marina Bay Sands, Coinbase, Clean Energy Expo Asia

Asia's leading technology event for business will feature industry-leading speakers from McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, DHL Express Singapore, Doctor Anywhere, Gartner, MTR Hong Kong, NASA, NVIDIA, Keppel Data Centres, Forrester, amongst more than 600 speakers across all theatres in Tech Week Singapore 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Asia's leading technology event for business will feature industry-leading speakers from McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, DHL Express Singapore, Doctor Anywhere, Gartner, MTR Hong Kong, NASA, NVIDIA, Keppel Data Centres, Forrester, amongst more than 600 speakers across all theatres in Tech Week Singapore 2023.
  • Partner, SG Tech, will also be in attendance to celebrate the region's digital advancements alongside various Embassies and High Commissions representatives from across the region.
  • Tech Week Singapore is a nexus of ideas and innovation where we can contribute to the dynamic evolution of technology."
  • Tech Week Singapore attracted more than 22,000 visitors in 2022, a record-breaking success following the pandemic.