Latest news with #ESA
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
DWP to end six benefits by 2026 with millions set to lose out in months
DWP to end six benefits by 2026 with millions set to lose out in months The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing with the phasing out of older benefits for millions this year The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing to phase out older benefits for millions this year (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) People receiving certain benefits are being urged to take action if they wish to continue receiving payments. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is persisting with the phasing out of older benefits for millions this year. A few years ago, the DWP began transitioning individuals on specific benefits, known as legacy benefits, over to universal credit, which was launched in 2013. This process, known as managed migration, has been gradually implemented over several years, with individuals being informed that they would be transitioned and, in some cases, would need to make a universal credit claim, according to WalesOnline. Full-scale managed migration kicked off in April 2023, extending to different regions across Great Britain. The six legacy benefits being phased out include: Child and working tax credit Income-based jobseeker's allowance Income support Income-related employment Support allowance Housing benefit Tax credit is the first of 2025's legacy benefit closures. According to the DWP website, the benefit was set to cease in April 2025, meaning recipients must respond to their migration notices to continue receiving benefits. Article continues below Those affected have three months from the date on their migration notice to apply for universal credit. Furthermore, the planned transition of approximately 800,000 recipients of income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) alone, or income-related ESA in conjunction with housing benefit, has been expedited. This had initially been postponed to 2028/29. The DWP began sending migration notices to these claimants in September 2024, with the aim of informing all individuals in this group by December 2025. The DWP plans to move all legacy benefit recipients to universal credit by March 2026, completing the rollout and ending all legacy benefits by this date. Here is the complete timeline of managed migration: Article continues below Here is the full timeline of managed migration:
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Hello, neighbor! See the Andromeda galaxy like never before in stunning new image from NASA's Chandra telescope (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The galaxy next door to the Milky Way, Andromeda, has never looked as stunning as it does in a new image from NASA's Chandra X-ray space telescope. The image of the galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31), was created with assistance from a range of other space telescopes and ground-based instruments including the European Space Agency (ESA) XMM-Newton mission, NASA's retired space telescopes GALEX and the Spitzer Space Telescope as well as the Infrared Astronomy Satellite, COBE, Planck, and Herschel, in addition to radio data from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. All these instruments observed Andromeda in different wavelengths of light across the electromagnetic spectrum, with astronomers bringing this data together to create a stunning and intricate image. The image is a fitting tribute to astronomer Vera C. Rubin, who was responsible for the discovery of dark matter thanks to her observations of Andromeda. As the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way, at just around 2.5 million light-years away, Andromeda has been vital in allowing astronomers to study aspects of galaxies that aren't accessible from our own galaxy. For example, from inside the Milky Way, we can't see our galaxy's spiral arms, but we can see the spiral arms of Andromeda. Every wavelength of light that was brought together to create this incredible new image of Andromeda tells astronomers something different and unique about the galaxy next door. For example, the X-ray data provided by Chandra has revealed the high-energy radiation released from around Andromeda's central supermassive black hole, known as M31*. M31* is considerably larger than the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). While our home supermassive black hole has a mass 4.3 million times that of the sun, M31* dwarfs it with a mass 100 million times that of the sun. M31* is also notable for its occasional flares, one of which was observed in X-rays back in 2013, while Sgr A* is a much "quieter" black hole. Andromeda was chosen as a tribute to Rubin because this neighboring galaxy played a crucial role in the astronomer's discovery of a missing element of the universe. An element that we now call dark matter. In the 1960s, Rubin and collaborators precisely measured the rotation of Andromeda. They found that the speed at which this galaxy's spiral arms spun indicated that the galaxy was surrounded by a vast halo of an unknown and invisible form of matter. The mass of this matter provided the gravitational influence that was preventing Andromeda from flying apart due to its rotational speed. The gravity of its visible matter wouldn't have been sufficient to hold this galaxy then, astronomers have discovered that all large galaxies seem to be surrounded by similar haloes of what is now known as dark matter. This has led to the discovery that the matter which comprises all the things we see around us — stars, planets, moons, our bodies, next door's cat — accounts for just 15% of the "stuff" in the cosmos, with dark matter accounting for the other 85%. The finding has also prompted the search for particles beyond the standard model of particle physics that could compose dark matter. Thus, there's no doubt that Rubin's work delivered a watershed moment in astronomy, and one of the most important breakthroughs in modern science, fundamentally changing our concept of the universe. Related Stories: — How did Andromeda's dwarf galaxies form? Hubble Telescope finds more questions than answers — The Milky Way may not collide with neighboring galaxy Andromeda after all: 'From near-certainty to a coin flip' — Gorgeous deep space photo captures the Andromeda Galaxy surrounded by glowing gas June 2025 has been a brilliant month of recognition of Rubin's immense impact on astronomy and her lasting legacy. In addition to this tribute image, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first images of the cosmos as it gears up to conduct a 10-year observing program of the southern sky called the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Additionally, in recognition of Rubin's monumental contributions to our understanding of the universe, the United States Mint recently released a quarter featuring Rubin as part of its American Women Quarters Program. She is the first astronomer to be honored in the series.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Why does Mars look purple, yellow and orange in ESA's stunning new satellite image?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Despite being known as the Red Planet, Mars shows off its swirling yellows, oranges and browns in a new satellite photo from the European Space Agency (ESA). The Earth-toned surface also reveals an impact crater and four sneaky dust devils making their way across the region. The Rothko-like image was taken by a high-resolution camera on ESA's Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia, an area of Mars critical to research about the planet's past and its potential to house humans in the future. Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system, Arcadia Planitia is a region of intrigue. It's laden with solidified lava flows that are, at most, 3 billion years old. The area is also thought to host water ice close to the planet's surface, making it an area of interest when planning future missions to Mars, according to a statement from ESA. Arcadia Planitia is home to visiting "dust devils," short-lived columns of wind akin to small tornadoes. Dust devils form when the Martian surface warms the air just above it, leading the air to rise and pulling dust with it. The new image shows four dust devils as they snake their way across the plains of the region. Easy to overlook, you can spot them as whitish puffs of dust near the center of the image, straddling the boundary between the darker brown and lighter red parts of the plain. A large impact crater sits in the bottom right corner of the photo and measures 9 miles (15 kilometers) across, according to ESA. The formation of layered material around the crater is evidence that the ground encompassed notable amounts of water ice during impact, and lack of clear erosion of the crater dates it to relatively recently on the geological timeline. Related: Perseverance rover spots peculiar 'spider egg' rock on Mars — and scientists have no idea how it got there If you noticed that the image is blurry, you're discerning an effect of the wind on Mars. Gusts of air pick up and carry tiny particles of debris from the planet's surface, which creates a minor visual haze. RELATED STORIES —Mars rover captures first close-up photos of giant 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet —Long, dark 'streaks' spotted on Mars aren't what scientists thought —NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surface The wind that causes the haze is also responsible for the reddish area at the top of the photo. The red region is covered in ridges called "yardangs," which are formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves the most resistant rock still standing. Below the red section is purplish-brown terrain, which has a high concentration of silicates and a low concentration of iron, the statement notes. The difference in colors also stems from properties of the sand, like density and size, which affect how the grains accumulate and travel across Mars.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rocket Lab Stock Surges Aiming for Orbit with ESA Deal
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB) just gave investors a reason to smileits stock popped 13% after snagging two launch orders from the European Space Agency. The deal covers the December 2025 liftoff of two prototype satellites (built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space) to test a low Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing network. ESA tapped Rocket Lab for its knack at quick turnarounds and small-sat expertise to meet a spring 2026 deadline under International Telecommunication Union rules. While these two missions are high-profile, ESA's longer-term rollout of around 300 satellites will likely favor European launchers, making this a big but potentially one-off win for RKLB outside its home turf. This ESA nod cements Rocket Lab's standing in the hot small-launch marketits 43.7% year-to-date rally shows investors believe in the commercial space story. Still, future growth hinges on building a more diverse customer lineup once ESA goes back home. You'll want to watch for updates on the December 2025 launch and any fresh contractscommercial or governmentalthat fill RKLB's manifest. Analyst targets for Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB) sit at an average of $28.30about 19% below current levelswith a high-side forecast of $35 and a low of $16. This spread reflects divergent views on the sustainability of RKLB's post-ESA-launch rally and the broader small-sat launch market. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Rocket Lab Shares Are Jumping Today
June 26 - Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares jumped more than 7% Thursday morning after the company secured two launch contracts from the European Space Agency to deploy satellites for a test navigation constellation. The missions will carry a pair of small satellites designed to support the ESA's Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (LEO-PNT) system. The satellites are being developed by two separate manufacturers, GMV and Thales Alenia Space, and are part of a broader 10-satellite initiative. The first satellite is scheduled for launch no earlier than December 2025. Both launches are required to take place before spring 2026, in order to meet frequency and orbital slot deadlines imposed by the International Telecommunication Union. Rocket Lab was selected largely due to its ability to meet the ESA's tight timeline. However, future launches for the full constellation, expected to include up to 300 satellites, will likely be awarded to European launch providers. Shares of Rocket Lab surged following the news, extending the stock's year-to-date rally to over 43% as of Thursday morning. While this contract may not guarantee long-term work with the ESA, it reinforces Rocket Lab's position as a responsive partner for timely satellite deployment. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
