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Gizmodo
21-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Astronomers Spot Companion Star in Orbit Around Iconic Star Betelgeuse, Confirming Suspicions
In 2024, astronomers surmised that Betelgeuse might have a stellar 'buddy.' If this hypothetical companion existed, it would help answer some questions about the red supergiant's strange glowing patterns. As it turns out, these suspicions were correct. After numerous false signals and empty search results, astronomers with NASA's Ames Research Center have confirmed that Betelgeuse does, in fact, have a tiny buddy star. The young star, with a mass about 1.5 times that of the Sun, likely exerts some unsolicited influence on the larger star's gravitational field and the cosmic dust floating in its vicinity. The interactions between the two stars make it appear as though Betelgeuse—unlike most stars of its kind—undergoes an additional, extended period of intermittent dimming roughly every six years. 'Papers that predicted Betelgeuse's companion believed that no one would likely ever be able to image it,' Steve Howell, an astronomer who led the team that discovered the star, said in a statement. 'This now opens the door for other observational pursuits of a similar nature.' For the discovery, astronomers used the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, employing a technique known as speckle imaging, which uses very short exposure times to wipe out distortions in space images caused by Earth's atmosphere. This allowed the researchers to directly capture the companion star at a high enough resolution to identify some key characteristics about the newly discovered star, such as its mass and temperature. What's fascinating about 'BetelBuddy'—as the researchers who predicted its existence called it in a past interview with Gizmodo—is that it was probably born around the same time as Betelgeuse. To put this into perspective, Betelgeuse, a red supergiant, is nearing the end of its stellar lifespan, and astronomers predict it could explode into a fiery supernova within a decade or so. But the newly discovered companion star is so young that it hasn't even started igniting hydrogen at its core, implying that it's still at the earliest stages of stellar evolution. This is likely because Betelgeuse, which is somewhere between 10 and 20 times the mass of our Sun, has a far shorter lifespan compared to its lightweight buddy. Given Betelgeuse's relative proximity to Earth, astronomers have studied it more closely than most other stars for centuries. From their observations, astronomers found that the star's brightness varies on a cycle of about 400 days, with a secondary period lasting around six years. Variable stars are relatively common, but astronomers had long struggled to explain why Betelgeuse had an extended dimming period. To be clear, this is different from the 'Great Dimming' of Betelgeuse from 2019 to 2020, which scientists suspect is the result of the star ejecting a large cloud of dust that subsequently blurred its brightness. The Mystery of Betelgeuse's Weird Dimming Is Likely Solved With the new discovery, astronomers now have a good answer to the mystery behind the years-long dimming and brightening pattern of the huge star Betelgeuse. They expect, however, that Betelgeuse's intense gravitational pull will gobble up the young star within the next 10,000 years. Thankfully, this won't be the first and last time we see BetelBuddy alive. Astronomers expect the young star to pass within our telescopes' detection range in November 2027, when it flies the farthest away from Betelgeuse.
Mint
14-06-2025
- Science
- Mint
How Nasa biologist Sharmila Bhattacharya is prepping humans for space
Sharmila Bhattacharya, a scientist at the US space agency Nasa, has long focused on a singular goal: understanding how space conditions affect living organisms and using that knowledge to protect human health in space. For more than 25 years, she has focused on how phenomena like gravity and radiation impact tiny organisms like fruit flies and yeast, which share cellular and genetic traits with humans. These insights help develop strategies to safeguard astronauts. Now leading science and technology utilisation at Nasa's Ames Research Center, she also oversees initiatives that apply science and technology to advance space exploration. 'My role includes working closely with those in computing and aerospace engineering as we explore ways to foster meaningful collaborations—whether with private aerospace firms, government bodies or international partners," she told Lounge in an interview last week. Bhattacharya was in India to speak alongside European Space Agency (ESA) flight surgeon Brigitte Godard at the Lodha Genius Programme, a joint initiative by Ashoka University and the Lodha Foundation. In their talk, 'Biology: A Bridge Between Science, Medicine, and Space Exploration", they drew on their careers—from supporting astronauts to launching space experiments—to highlight how biology shapes human health in extreme environments like the International Space Station (ISS). 'Whether it's insulin for diabetes or vaccines during the covid-19 pandemic, it all begins with basic research. The process starts with understanding biology at its most fundamental level. It's no different in space science," explains Bhattacharya for whom joining Nasa was a stroke of serendipity. Born in Nigeria and raised in India, Bhattacharya, now 61, traces her love for biology to a school in Kolkata where teacher Leela Choudhury sparked her interest in the subject. She studied human physiology at Presidency College and then biological chemistry at Wellesley College in 1987. After a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton and postdoctoral research in neurobiology at Stanford in 1999, she spotted a Nasa job ad seeking scientists with her precise background. She applied, was selected, and began her career at Nasa's Ames Research Center that very year. Also read: How John Matthai became a leading light of economic policy in independent India 'You can learn a lot about human responses from these tiny creatures," Bhattacharya says, referring to fruit flies. During her postdoctoral research, for instance, she showed that 'you could take genes critical for synaptic communication (how brain cells use chemical signals to share information) from a mammal and insert them into a fruit fly, and the neurons would still communicate". It's the first step, according to her. 'You start with flies, yeast or rodents—then build up to human tissue models and eventually astronauts." In 2018, as part of the Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform (MVP) Fly 01, she and her team at Nasa performed experiments on genetically identical fruit flies under three conditions: microgravity (where people or objects appear to be weightless), artificial gravity (emulating normal gravity, or 1G, in space) via centrifuge, and on Earth. 'The flies exposed to microgravity showed the most changes in brain function," she recalls. Those exposed to artificial gravity had changes that fell between those seen in microgravity and on Earth, implying that artificial gravity might be a viable countermeasure to protect astronaut health on long missions. Artificial gravity, for instance, is already being explored for future commercial space stations. 'If rotating platforms or centrifuges become viable, we'll be able to test these countermeasures more directly in human environments," Bhattacharya elaborates. Gravity, however, isn't the only variable in space. Radiation is another big one. On Earth, we're shielded by the atmosphere and the magnetic field. But beyond the Van Allen belts (which prevent the fastest, most energetic electrons from reaching Earth)—toward the Moon or Mars—exposure increases. The ISS, for instance, protects scientists by shielding against micro-meteoroids, radiation exposure controls in a pressurised, climate-controlled environment. Orbiting within Earth's magnetosphere (the protective bubble around Earth created by its magnetic field) offers added protection. Onboard protocols, exercise, nutrition and health monitoring help mitigate the effects of microgravity and ensure astronaut safety during extended missions. But galactic cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles from outside our solar system, are harder to block—they can penetrate spacecraft and pose health risks to astronauts by damaging human cells. Hence, to understand radiation's biological effects, in November 2022, Bhattacharya's lab pioneered the BioSentinel mission—a yeast-based biosatellite launched on the uncrewed Artemis I mission that sent the Orion spacecraft to a lunar orbit, and returned it to Earth after a 25-day journey. In her current role at Nasa, she is also collaborating with scientists from other countries and from fields like aerospace engineering, computation, and commercial aerospace. This explains why she's closely following the Axiom-4 mission—the first time that India, Poland and Hungary will execute a mission aboard the ISS. Axiom-4 is a partnership between Nasa, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), US-based private space infrastructure developer Axiom Space Inc., and ESA. Also read: Quick commerce will mess with people's health, says Luke Coutinho The Axiom Mission 4 crew, initially set to launch on 9 June but delayed due to a technical issue, will lift off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft en route to the ISS. Once docked, the astronauts—including Isro's Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot—will spend up to 14 days conducting science, outreach, and commercial work aboard the orbiting lab. A FASCINATION FOR THE STARS Bhattacharya is confident that space biology—and space science more broadly—will continue to grow. The reasons are twofold: more countries are now reaching for space, and the private sector is getting increasingly involved. She cites examples of companies like Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, and other US-based companies including Axiom, Varda Space, and Vast. 'This opens up many more opportunities for science," she points out. In the past, for instance, researchers might have had to wait a year between spaceflight experiments. 'Now, we could potentially send one every other month." She also believes that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be indispensable to future space missions. 'Imagine AI tools that can autonomously analyse data, optimise experiments, and adapt in real time during long missions. That's the kind of support we'll need as we go farther. As a species, we're wired to be curious," she says. 'AI will continue to work hand in hand with the research we're doing, helping us move faster and smarter." When asked if there could be life beyond Earth, she points out that current space missions are already searching for water, oxygen, and other Earth-like conditions. Bhattacharya urges a broader perspective: 'Maybe life out there doesn't need oxygen or even carbon. Maybe we've seen it and didn't recognise it." That's where advanced sensors and human intuition must work hand in hand. Also read: Meet Morningstar Khongthaw, the man who grows bridges For her, the future lies in collaboration: humans and machines, biology and engineering, nations and disciplines. She's also proud of mentoring the next generation. A recent highlight: her former postdoctoral trainee Ravi Kumar Hosamani now leads the Sprouts experiment aboard Axiom-4, studying fenugreek and moong dal in space—crops that could feed astronauts and support their health. And what's her advice to students? 'Stay curious. Trust your instincts. And don't be too hard on yourself. You never know where the path might lead." Bhattacharya describes space as an emergent frontier, even though humanity has ventured there for decades. 'What gets me up in the morning is the love of science and technology. It's not a job, it's not work—it's fun," she says. 'The more nations work together in space, the more we learn—about the cosmos, about biology, and about ourselves."
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The closer a volcano is to erupting, the greener the trees around it look from space
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists can tell whether a volcano is about to erupt from the greenness of the trees around it, with more vibrant leaves indicating a potentially imminent blast. Until now, these subtle color changes could be observed only from the ground — but researchers have recently found a way to monitor them from space. A new collaboration between NASA and the Smithsonian Institution could "change the game" when it comes to detecting the first signs of a volcanic eruption, volcanologists said in a statement published by NASA earlier this month. These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blasts, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides and toxic gas clouds. "Volcano early warning systems exist," Florian Schwandner, a volcanologist and chief of the Earth Science Division at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, said in the statement. "The aim here is to make them better and make them earlier." Current indicators of an imminent volcanic eruption include seismic activity, changes in ground height and sulfur dioxide emissions, which are visible from space. Scientists also look out for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions linked to magma near Earth's surface, but these are harder to pinpoint with satellites than sulfur dioxide due to the ubiquity of CO2 in the atmosphere. "A volcano emitting the modest amounts of carbon dioxide that might presage an eruption isn't going to show up in satellite imagery," Robert Bogue, a doctoral student in volcanology at McGill University, Canada, said in the statement. Related: Watch mesmerizing 1,000-foot-tall lava fountains: Kilauea volcano erupting in ways not seen for 40 years But researchers are particularly interested in detecting these emissions because CO2 is one of the very first signs of a coming eruption — preceding even sulfur dioxide, according to the statement. To that end, scientists have been developing methods to monitor carbon dioxide based on the color of trees around volcanoes. Clouds of CO2 wafting from volcanoes that are about to blow boost the health of surrounding trees and plants, making their leaves greener and more lush. "The whole idea is to find something that we could measure instead of carbon dioxide directly," Bogue said in the statement. Until recently, scientists had to trek to volcanoes if they wanted to measure their CO2 levels. By using the color of tree leaves as an indicator of volcanic gas concentrations, researchers can save themselves the trouble of accessing remote and potentially dangerous locations — instead relying on satellites to do the hard work. A 2024 study published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment revealed a strong correlation between the carbon dioxide and trees around Mount Etna in Italy. Using pictures taken by Landsat 8 and other Earth-observing satellites between 2011 and 2018, the study's authors showed 16 clear spikes in both the amount of CO2 and vegetation's greenness, which coincided with upward migrations of magma from the volcano. "There are plenty of satellites we can use to do this kind of analysis," study lead author Nicole Guinn, a doctoral student in volcanology at the University of Houston in Texas, said in the statement. RELATED STORIES —Mystery of Bolivian 'zombie' volcano finally solved —Alaskan volcano Mount Spurr showing activity that will 'most likely end in an explosive eruption,' scientist says —Never-before-seen chain of volcanoes discovered hiding near the Cook Islands Measuring the greenness of trees from space won't be useful in all volcanic settings, however. Many volcanoes don't host trees – or at least not enough trees to measure with satellites, according to the statement. Some trees and forests may respond unexpectedly to changing carbon dioxide levels — for example, if they have been affected by fires, diseases or abnormal weather conditions. "Tracking the effects of volcanic carbon dioxide on trees will not be a silver bullet," Schwandner said. "But it is something that could change the game." To expand on the potential of the new method, researchers from NASA, the Smithsonian Institution and other organizations recently launched the Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean (AVUELO), which will compare satellite images of trees around volcanoes with ground observations. The aim is to ensure the data match, so that scientists can calibrate space-borne instruments and take the research forward.
