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We may finally know what causes will-o’-the-wisps
We may finally know what causes will-o’-the-wisps
The JWST Searches For Stars In A Glowing Gas Cloud
The JWST examined the most vigorous star-forming region in the entire galaxy. It's called Sagittarius B2, and while astronomers have studied it in detail, no other telescope reveals its details the way the JWST can.
It's Not Rocket Science... It's Materials Science
Imagine an engine with no moving parts that runs on continuous explosions. I’m actually sure I one saw a hilarious video of such a device some years ago but alas, am unable to find it and share. Still, the image of the poor occupants being constantly pressed into their seats and accelerated in a series of explosions is likely to be quite a long way from the reality of the new Rotation Detonation Engine. The team of researchers Lehigh University are behind the idea and have just received $2 million to solve the biggest challenge standing in its way, finding materials to build the thing out of that are tough enough to survive the punishment.
Gravitional Wave Detectors Are Affected By Daylight Savings Time
Interference from human activity has always been a sticking point in astronomical observations. Radio astronomy is notoriously sensitive to unintentional interference - hence why there are “radio silent” zones near telescopes where cell phones are banned. But gravitational wave astronomy is affected to an even worse degree than radio astronomy, according to a new paper by Reed Essick of the University of Toronto, and it’s not clear there’s much we can do about it.
Warm Exo-Titans as a Test of Planetary Atmospheric Diversity
What can exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars teach scientists about planetary formation and evolution? This is what a recent study submitted to the American Astronomical Society journals hopes to address as a team of researchers investigated the possibility of exo-Titans, exoplanets with atmospheres comprised of nitrogen and methane like Saturn’s moon Titan, orbiting M-dwarf stars, which are smaller and cooler than our Sun. this study has the potential to help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars and whether they could possess life as we know it.
Can IMAP Solve the Mystery of the Bubble in Space!
When astronauts head out into space they are protected from deadly radiation by their spacecraft and on space walks, their space suit. Back on Earth, we too are protected but by an invisible bubble that’s known as the heliosphere. The heliosphere has been subjected to numerous studies over the years but NASA’s newest mission is set to give us the most detailed of it map ever created.
Marsh Will-o’-the-Wisps Sparked by Strange Chemistry
A phenomenon called microlightning may explain ghostly blue marsh lights
New File Download Process for PSI Large Requests
2 min read
New File Download Process for PSI Large RequestsA recent update to the PSI database improves how large dataset downloads are handled, resulting in more efficient processing for users.
Download requests larger than 1GB are now delivered via email, rather than downloading directly from the website. This allows the system to prepare your files in the background so you can continue working without delays, accessing the files at your convenience once your request is processed.
Why The Change?
This update improves user experience by:
- Reducing system lag and download interruptions.
- Allowing you to stay productive while files are processed in the background.
- Increasing reliability of large downloads.
- Delivering files in manageable parts, making them easier to handle and extract.
How Does it Work?
To download files larger than 1GB:
1. Users select 2 or more desired files and click “Download Zip.”
2. In the Prepared Large Download section:
- Enter the email address where the download access links should be sent.
- Check the box to confirm: “I understand large downloads are delivered in multiple parts via email.”
- Click “Send me the links.”
3. Users will receive an email confirming the download request has been submitted.
4. Once the files are ready, users receive a second email with link(s) to access the download. NOTE: Download links are valid for 7 days from the time you receive the email. Be sure to save the requested files before the links expire.
Best Practices
To ensure a smooth and efficient download experience, especially when working with large datasets, follow these best practices to help reduce processing time, prevent errors, and simplify file handling.
- Download only what you need: Smaller requests are processed faster.
- Split very large requests: If possible, divide and submit large requests into smaller sets to speed up processing.
- Avoid simultaneous large requests: Submit one large download at a time for smoother performance.
- Before extracting, save all ZIP parts to the same folder: This ensures proper extraction of multi-part downloads.
- Download promptly: Remember, download links will expire. Save your files while the link is active.
- Use a reliable email address: Double-check for typos and check your spam/junk folder if you don’t receive the emails.
New File Download Process for PSI Large Requests
2 min read
New File Download Process for PSI Large RequestsA recent update to the PSI database improves how large dataset downloads are handled, resulting in more efficient processing for users.
Download requests larger than 1GB are now delivered via email, rather than downloading directly from the website. This allows the system to prepare your files in the background so you can continue working without delays, accessing the files at your convenience once your request is processed.
Why The Change?
This update improves user experience by:
- Reducing system lag and download interruptions.
- Allowing you to stay productive while files are processed in the background.
- Increasing reliability of large downloads.
- Delivering files in manageable parts, making them easier to handle and extract.
How Does it Work?
To download files larger than 1GB:
1. Users select 2 or more desired files and click “Download Zip.”
2. In the Prepared Large Download section:
- Enter the email address where the download access links should be sent.
- Check the box to confirm: “I understand large downloads are delivered in multiple parts via email.”
- Click “Send me the links.”
3. Users will receive an email confirming the download request has been submitted.
4. Once the files are ready, users receive a second email with link(s) to access the download. NOTE: Download links are valid for 7 days from the time you receive the email. Be sure to save the requested files before the links expire.
Best PracticesTo ensure a smooth and efficient download experience, especially when working with large datasets, follow these best practices to help reduce processing time, prevent errors, and simplify file handling.
- Download only what you need: Smaller requests are processed faster.
- Split very large requests: If possible, divide and submit large requests into smaller sets to speed up processing.
- Avoid simultaneous large requests: Submit one large download at a time for smoother performance.
- Before extracting, save all ZIP parts to the same folder: This ensures proper extraction of multi-part downloads.
- Download promptly: Remember, download links will expire. Save your files while the link is active.
- Use a reliable email address: Double-check for typos and check your spam/junk folder if you don’t receive the emails.
Joe A. Adam Presents Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) Research at 2025 ISSRDC
3 min read
Joe A. Adam Presents Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) Research at 2025 ISSRDC The Ring-Sheared Drop (RSD) experiment, conducted in the Microgravity Glovebox on ISS, helps scientists learn more about Alzheimer’s & Dementia in hopes of a future cure to similar neurological diseases. NASAAt the virtual 2025 ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSDRC), Joe A. Adam of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, presented the topic titled “Surface Science in Microgravity – Fluid Geometry in the Ring-Sheared Drop,” presented to a broad audience from academia and the scientific community during the Physical Sciences and Materials Development session.
Dr. Adam provided a comprehensive overview of the Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) hardware, experiment campaigns and the evolving role of RSD in advancing biophysical science, particularly in the characterization of proteins. Leveraging the absence of gravity aboard the ISS, the RSD enables researchers to isolate shear-induced aggregation processes relevant to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, offering insight into mechanisms that are difficult to observe with ground-based experiments.
The presentation traced the RSD development, beginning with the initial campaign in 2016 which was funded by Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) for hardware development and the first science campaign, and culminating in the most recent 2025 flight campaign, which involved the study of three key proteins: Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Insulin, and Human Serum Albumin (HSA).
A highlight of the session was a discussion of the RSD’s custom camera configuration, which has enabled a novel fluid characterization technique known as Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV). This method allows researchers to visually track particle motion within the fluid drop, supporting the validation and refinement of theoretical and computational models describing protein behavior in microgravity.
Adam further explained how in-situ imaging and velocimetry techniques, enabled by the unique RSD camera setup, enhance the analysis of fluid flow and shear-driven aggregation at the molecular level.
The presentation showcased a series of comparative videos from past and current RSD campaigns, illustrating protein dynamics under varying sample compositions. He emphasized how flight data are being compared against Earth analog experiments to 1) validate predictive models and 2) inform the design of future microgravity research – the two-fold focus of the research from the beginning.
The session concluded with a summary of preliminary findings from the 2025 campaign, including multi-geometry rheometry results, which offer deeper insight into the viscoelastic behavior of proteins under shear. These findings may well contribute to the development of future pharmaceutical and therapeutic strategies.
To view the entire presentation, a recording is available for downloaded from the 2025 ISSRDC site.
Visit the Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) database to access experiment data from two RSD campaigns, Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals (IBP-I) and Amyloid Fibril Formation (AFF) with additional RSD data planned for release in 2026.
Joe A. Adam Presents Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) Research at 2025 ISSRDC
3 min read
Joe A. Adam Presents Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) Research at 2025 ISSRDC The Ring-Sheared Drop (RSD) experiment, conducted in the Microgravity Glovebox on ISS, helps scientists learn more about Alzheimer’s & Dementia in hopes of a future cure to similar neurological diseases. NASAAt the virtual 2025 ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSDRC), Joe A. Adam of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, presented the topic titled “Surface Science in Microgravity – Fluid Geometry in the Ring-Sheared Drop,” presented to a broad audience from academia and the scientific community during the Physical Sciences and Materials Development session.
Dr. Adam provided a comprehensive overview of the Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) hardware, experiment campaigns and the evolving role of RSD in advancing biophysical science, particularly in the characterization of proteins. Leveraging the absence of gravity aboard the ISS, the RSD enables researchers to isolate shear-induced aggregation processes relevant to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, offering insight into mechanisms that are difficult to observe with ground-based experiments.
The presentation traced the RSD development, beginning with the initial campaign in 2016 which was funded by Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) for hardware development and the first science campaign, and culminating in the most recent 2025 flight campaign, which involved the study of three key proteins: Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Insulin, and Human Serum Albumin (HSA).
A highlight of the session was a discussion of the RSD’s custom camera configuration, which has enabled a novel fluid characterization technique known as Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV). This method allows researchers to visually track particle motion within the fluid drop, supporting the validation and refinement of theoretical and computational models describing protein behavior in microgravity.
Adam further explained how in-situ imaging and velocimetry techniques, enabled by the unique RSD camera setup, enhance the analysis of fluid flow and shear-driven aggregation at the molecular level.
The presentation showcased a series of comparative videos from past and current RSD campaigns, illustrating protein dynamics under varying sample compositions. He emphasized how flight data are being compared against Earth analog experiments to 1) validate predictive models and 2) inform the design of future microgravity research – the two-fold focus of the research from the beginning.
The session concluded with a summary of preliminary findings from the 2025 campaign, including multi-geometry rheometry results, which offer deeper insight into the viscoelastic behavior of proteins under shear. These findings may well contribute to the development of future pharmaceutical and therapeutic strategies.
To view the entire presentation, a recording is available for downloaded from the 2025 ISSRDC site.
Visit the Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) database to access experiment data from two RSD campaigns, Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals (IBP-I) and Amyloid Fibril Formation (AFF) with additional RSD data planned for release in 2026.
How Hurricane Humberto Is Pulling Tropical Storm Imelda Away from the U.S.
In a version of the Fujiwhara effect, Hurricane Humberto is pulling Tropical Storm Imelda eastward and away from the U.S.