Latest news with #EmbryRiddle
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Stellar Death Shrouds
In brilliant new images, the James Webb Space Telescope has captured a rare glimpse at the gaseous "shrouds" that surround dying stars before they go supernova. Known as Wolf-Rayet stars, which were discovered nearly 160 years ago by astronomers Charles Wolf and Georges Rayet at the Paris Observatory and named in their honor, these ancient stars are, as notes, surrounded by a "shroud" of cosmic dust that will eventually explode outward and lay the foundations for new stars. These aged stars, as explains, have burned off most of their hydrogen. According to Noel Richardson, the leader of the team at Florida's Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University that found four new Wolf-Rayet systems, the hydrogen burn-off signals that the stars are dying. As they do, powerful winds that pump out of the star system roughly every eight years create the concentric rings that make up these ghastly "shrouds." While these star systems' existence has been known for the better part of two centuries, their dusty veils have only been observed once before, when the Webb telescope caught similar imagery around WR-140, an aging binary star system located about 5,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. As explained in an Embry-Riddle statement, this discovery from Richardson and his students not only affirms that other Wolf-Rayet stars form those beautiful, dusty shrouds in the harsh void of space, but also could contribute to our understanding of the stellar life cycle. Astronomer Ryan Lau — who works at the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab in Tucson and helped Richardson's team with the new Wolf-Rayet images — said in the university's statement that he's looking forward to seeing what else these strange shells can teach us. "Where does this dust go?" Lau posited. "We want to learn what exactly the chemistry of this dust is. To do that, we need to take spectra to identify specific grain composition — the physical properties — to get an idea of the chemical contribution to the interstellar medium." To capture such poignant and awe-inspiring moments in the lives of star systems is already an incredible feat — and with the Webb telescope's sophisticated equipment, there will likely be more where that came from. More on Webb: James Webb Discovers First-Ever Exoplanet by Taking a Picture of It
Fast Company
08-07-2025
- Fast Company
Texas flood recovery efforts face an unexpected obstacle: drones
The flash floods that have devastated Texas are already a difficult crisis to manage. More than 100 people are confirmed dead after the July 4 deluge, and many more remain missing. But while recovery efforts are underway, Texas authorities are grappling with a compounding challenge: civilian drone operators interfering with emergency response. Amateur pilots are either trying to capture dramatic footage of the disaster or, in some cases, attempting to locate missing or stranded people themselves. That's not just unhelpful—it's dangerous. 'We know that people want to volunteer, but what we are starting to see is personal drones flying,' Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a recent press conference. Rice discouraged these have-a-go heroes with drones. 'These personal drones flying is a danger to aircraft, which then risks further operations,' he added. What might seem like good intentions from above is, in practice, making things worse on the ground. 'Particularly with emergency response, people think that they're doing good, when, in reality, they're causing more harm than good,' says Ryan Wallace, a professor and drone expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This isn't a new problem. In January 2025, a drone collided with one of two Super Scooper amphibious aircraft fighting the Los Angeles wildfires. The collision forced the aircraft to land and be decommissioned, instantly halving the region's firefighting capacity. 'It's a sad reality that people have been flying drones over disaster zones without permission ever since the technology came into widespread use over a decade ago,' says Arthur Holland Michel, a drone expert and author of Eyes in the Sky. The growing availability of consumer drones over the past decade has worsened the issue. 'As drones became less expensive in the 2010s, more people had them for unregulated recreational use or professional photography,' explains Robin Murphy, professor emeritus at Texas A&M University. She recalls how, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, officials had to call the sheriff to stop a civilian trying to film flood footage to sell to the news, just so official drone teams could gather time-sensitive emergency data. Between 2015 and 2025, there have been 190 recorded instances of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) incursions, conflicts, or airspace intrusions that interfered with wildfire and U.S. Forest Service operations, according to Wallace. Despite repeated education campaigns, the message isn't sinking in. 'Aviation authorities have tried again and again to educate drone users about the very real risks of interfering with rescue efforts and disaster relief, but it just doesn't seem to get through to some people,' Wallace says. While technical and legal options exist to disable unauthorized drones, the burden often falls on responders, who should be focused on saving lives and not policing airspace. The comparison, Murphy notes, is stark: 'It's like a civilian walking up to a SWAT team commander during an active shooter event and offering to help cover off an angle because they have a gun permit. There are so many problems with this,' she says. 'The person doesn't have radios, doesn't know the parlance, isn't trained in SWAT, there are procedures for joining an agency, the agency would be liable for this person's actions, and so on. Same thing with self-deploying drones.' Low-flying civilian drones also pose a collision risk to helicopters operating just above the ground to aid trapped residents. In crowded and chaotic airspace, the presence of rogue drones can quite literally turn deadly. Even when drone pilots aren't disrupting emergency aircraft, their contributions often can't be used. 'The emergency managers usually can't use the data because it is not verified,' says Murphy. 'For example, agencies can't accept a report from a person claiming to be a civil engineer they have never met and without credentials who says a building is about to collapse; the agencies have a process for obtaining data according to accountability standards.' The file formats from commercial drones also don't always align with agency tools. One colleague, Murphy recalls, spent 40 hours converting well-meaning footage from a civilian into a usable format after a fire. 'What is disturbing to me personally is the lack of enforcement or consequences,' she adds. 'The agencies are in a no-win situation and can't do it; if they come down hard on self-deployed teams—assuming they had time during a response.' As for why early warnings didn't prevent more loss of life during the Texas floods, some observers point to recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which may have led to the early retirement of a key local meteorologist. The forecasting question may take time to answer, but the drone problem is already making itself known.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Embry-Riddle graduate participated in NASA study about Mars travel
Among the graduates of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Campus launching the next step in their careers May 31 was at least one who hopes to launch into space someday ― and maybe even head to Mars. Like other graduates set to walk across the stage, Shareef Al Romaithi, from Abu Dhabi, is already in an established career. The Worldwide Campus offers a range of fully online degree programs, which is attractive to professionals. Romaithi, 41, is a captain with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. But what first drew him to Embry-Riddle was his dream of becoming an astronaut. "I followed the steps of the Apollo astronauts, and so I became an engineer," he said. He graduated Saturday with his master's degree in space operations. He already has a doctorate in aviation and a bachelor's and two master's degrees in aerospace and aviation-related areas. Embry-Riddle expected 465 students to graduate from the Worldwide Campus May 31: 257 undergraduates and 208 graduate students. The commencement ceremony was held at the ICI Center at the Daytona Beach campus. In separate events in May, more than 1,700 students participated in graduation ceremonies for the university's residential campuses in Daytona Beach and Prescott, Arizona. On Saturday, Al Romaithi's wife attended his graduation with him. They have three daughters. While "life took a different path" that led him to commercial flight, he still wants to be an astronaut, he said. His interest in the field prompted him to participate in a NASA study to simulate a journey to Mars, according to Etihad Airways. The study put him and a few others in a "habitat" about the size of a studio apartment for 45 days to study the effects of isolation, limited privacy and limited space on crew performance, he said. Getting to the red planet would actually take seven to 10 months, according to NASA. "They view it (45 days) as the ideal time to collect the necessary amount of data for their own purposes," Al Romaithi said. Despite the cramped quarters and lack of privacy, he described it as a smooth experience. And, if the opportunity to go to Mars ever does come up, Al Romaithi said he's interested. "I mean, if there's a return ticket, then why not?" he said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Embry-Riddle graduate says he'd be open to Mars visit
Bloomberg
31-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How Long Will It Take to Fix Air Traffic Control?
How long will it take to address the outages plaguing our air traffic control system? Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Air Traffic Management Program Coordinator Michael McCormick says it won't happen overnight, even as the Trump administration calls for an overhaul of the system. (Source: Bloomberg)
Travel Daily News
28-05-2025
- Science
- Travel Daily News
Advanced air mobility operations at Orlando International Airport
Embry‑Riddle research shows air taxis and autonomous aircraft can safely integrate into Orlando International Airport without disrupting commercial flights. DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – A study by Embry‑Riddle researchers has demonstrated that advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles, such as air taxis and autonomous aircraft, could be integrated at Orlando International Airport in Florida without disrupting existing commercial air traffic. The research, published in April in the MDPI journal Aerospace, represents one of the first evaluations of AAM integration at a major U.S. airport, according to the peer-reviewed paper. The study was commissioned by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), the public entity that operates and manages Orlando International Airport. The researchers collaborated with the aviation authority to identify preferred 'corridors' within Orlando International's airspace that could accommodate the integration of AAM aircraft. These futuristic aircraft – capable of vertical takeoff and landing or short takeoff and landing operations – are emerging to transport people or cargo in urban and regional areas. Using historical air traffic data from one of the airport's busiest days – March 25, 2023 – the researchers employed state-of-the-art modeling software to simulate the effects of AAM integration on potential wake turbulence and air traffic conflicts. The software, known as Total Airspace and Airport Modeler, can simulate existing and redesigned airspace, flight schedules, aircraft paths, wake turbulence, airport ground operations and many other factors. Using this advanced simulation modeling, the study found that operating up to 22 AAM vehicles would result in zero air traffic or wake turbulence conflicts. The researchers said that the study has established a foundation for other researchers and airport officials to understand the operational impacts and factors of integrating AAM aircraft into the National Airspace System in a safe and controlled environment. According to the published paper, examining the ramifications of integrating AAM into the current air transportation system is critical due to the potential impact 'on the safety of the traveling public.' Dr. Victor Fraticelli Rivera, assistant professor of Aeronautical Science, said that the study, conducted at one of the nation's busiest airports, 'offers an opportunity to explore innovative transportation solutions within congested, complex and highly regulated airspace,' adding that 'collaboration with all stakeholders in the aviation and aerospace ecosystem is vital to ensure AAM's sustainable, efficient and safe integration.' Also involved in the study were Dr. Robert Thomas, associate professor of Aeronautical Science; Carlos Castro Peña, director of operations for Embry‑Riddle's Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems; and Sakurako Kuba, a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, whose research focuses on aviation and aerospace cybersecurity, air traffic simulation and airspace traffic pattern visualization. Kuba's role in the project was simulating air traffic using the historical flight data and implementing conceptual AAM configurations at the airport to quantify airspace impact, she said. 'Contributing to real-world challenges in AAM development provides students with valuable exposure to the future of airspace operations,' Kuba said. 'It allows us to grasp the idea of existing airspace management and to better understand how next-gen airspace development is evolving.' Kuba said collaboration with industry partners and receiving their feedback was also particularly valuable. 'It not only helps us grow professionally but also builds confidence in our skills and prepares us for impactful careers in this emerging field,' she said. Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said the study complements an ongoing collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration's Innovate 28 program, which explores integrating AAM safely into Orlando International's airspace. 'We appreciate the partnership with Embry‑Riddle,' Lyttle said, 'and hope the research will advance connection and innovation within the Central Florida aerospace ecosystem.'
