Astronomy

Information theory tells us the limits of what can and cannot be communicated – and without it, the digital revolution could never have happened

Boeing Starliner's parachutes will be tested once more during an uncrewed test on Sept. 7. It was originally supposed to host astronauts, but NASA changed the plan mid-mission.

Tiny satellites, also known as CubeSats, are pictured after being deployed into Earth orbit from a small satellite orbital deployer on the outside of the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module.

A guide to Paramount's free Star Trek Day programming and special campaigns.

On a recent expedition, researchers braved summer storms in northern Greenland to learn the secrets of the ancient peoples who lived there 4500 years ago

On a recent expedition, researchers braved summer storms in northern Greenland to learn the secrets of the ancient peoples who lived there 4500 years ago

Information on faces recognised, voice commands and internet searches can be extracted from an Amazon Echo smart assistant without help from the user or manufacturer

Information on faces recognised, voice commands and internet searches can be extracted from an Amazon Echo smart assistant without help from the user or manufacturer

The experiment aboard China's Tiangong space station will expose bricks made of moon-soil simulant to space's harsh conditions, helping shape the future of lunar infrastructure.

China's reusable space plane has landed after spending over 8 months in orbit on a largely secret mission.

Week in images: 02-06 September 2024

Discover our week through the lens

NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) can be seen with the naked eye as it orbits Earth, and can be tracked with a helpful app.

BepiColombo made a close flyby of Mercury on Sept. 4, getting just 103 miles (165 kilometers) above the planet.

Galaxies of the NGC 7771 Group are featured in

Social scientists are uncovering the intricate group dynamics of gossip

Meteorologists predicted a busy Atlantic hurricane season—and a recent lull in activity doesn’t negate that

Wispy whorls on the moon’s surface are as lovely as they are strange. Scientists are starting to unravel their origins

Boeing's Starliner capsule will depart the ISS without astronauts today (Sept. 6), and you can watch the action live.

Caring for aging loved ones brings its own set of emotional and physical hurdles. Experts offer guidance on finding support.

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Rover trials in a quarry in the UK showing a four-wheeled rover, known as Codi, using its robotic arm and a powerful computer vision system to pick up sample tubes. 

The rover drives to the samples with an accuracy of 10cm, constantly mapping the terrain. Codi uses its arm and four cameras to locate the sample tube, retrieve it and safely store it on the rover – all of it without human intervention. At every stop, the rover uses stereo cameras to build up a 180-degree map of the surroundings and plan its next maneouvres. Once parked, the camera on top of the mast detects the tube and estimates its position with respect to the rover. The robotic arm initiates a complex choreography to move closer to the sample, fetch it and store it. 

The sample tubes are a replica of the hermetically sealed samples inside which NASA’s Perseverance rover is collecting precious martian soil inside. To most people on Earth, they resemble lightsabres.

The reddish terrain, although not fully representative of Mars in terms of soil composition, has plenty of slopes and rocks of different sizes, similar to what a rover might encounter on the martian surface. Quarry testing is an essential next step in the development process, providing a unique and dynamic landscape that cannot be replicated indoors. 

ESA continues to run further research using the rover to maintain and develop rover capabilities in Europe.

Read the full article: Rovers, lightsabres and a piglet.