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The Cool Science Stuff Thread

PBS is airing a series on exploring the planets. If you haven't seen it, try to catch one of the shows. It's really interesting.
 

James Webb captures image of the most distant star ever discovered​

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...1&cvid=ad429822d5764e9c8485a5ee9f96edef&ei=17

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1f9UX0.img?w=534&h=543&m=6
This image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope of a massive galaxy cluster called WHL0137-08 contains the most strongly magnified galaxy known in the universe’s first billion years: the Sunrise Arc, and within that galaxy, the most distant star ever detected. The star, nicknamed Earendel, was first discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope. Follow-up observations using Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) reveal the star to be a massive B-type star more than twice as hot as our Sun, and about a million times more luminous. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA; Science: Dan Coe (STScI/AURA for ESA, JHU), Brian Welch (NASA-GSFC, UMD); Image Processing: Zolt G. Levay
 

Scientists strengthen concrete by 30 percent with used coffee grounds​

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...&cvid=1a061fb8f67a4537b0639a5138d9b962&ei=135

Humans produce around 4.4 billion tons of concrete every year. That process consumes around 8 billion tons of sand (out of the 40-50 billion tons in total used annually) which has, in part, led to acute shortages of the building commodity in recent years. At the same time, we generate about 10 billion kilograms of used coffee grounds over the same span — coffee grounds which a team of researchers from RMIT University in Australia have discovered can be used as a silica substitute in the concrete production process that, in the proper proportions, yields a significantly stronger chemical bond than sand alone.

“The disposal of organic waste poses an environmental challenge as it emits large amounts of greenhouse gases including methane and carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change,” lead author of the study, Dr Rajeev Roychand of RMIT's School of Engineering, said in a recent release. He notes that Australia alone produces 75 million kilograms of used coffee grounds each year, most of which ends up in landfills.

Coffee grounds can't simply be mixed in raw with standard concrete as they won't bind with the other materials due to their organic content, Dr. Roychand explained. In order to make the grounds more compatible, the team experimented with pyrolyzing the materials at 350 and 500 degrees C, then substituting them in for sand in 5, 10, 15 and 20 percentages (by volume) for standard concrete mixtures.

The team found that at 350 degrees is perfect temperature, producing a "29.3 percent enhancement in the compressive strength of the composite concrete blended with coffee biochar," per the team's study, published in the September issue of Journal of Cleaner Production. "In addition to reducing emissions and making a stronger concrete, we're reducing the impact of continuous mining of natural resources like sand," Dr. Roychand said.

"The concrete industry has the potential to contribute significantly to increasing the recycling of organic waste such as used coffee," added study co-author Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, a Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellow at RMIT. "Our research is in the early stages, but these exciting findings offer an innovative way to greatly reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to landfill,” where it's decomposition would generate large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
 

Scientists make breakthrough in research that could change the way our homes are constructed: ‘A significant result’​

Story by Rick Kazmer

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle...&cvid=1a061fb8f67a4537b0639a5138d9b962&ei=157

Humans may one day be living in homes fit for gnomes.

Researchers at the UK’s New Castle University are using fungal networks (called mycelium) to build structures. The goal is to create lighter-weight buildings, reducing our reliance on concrete and lessening negative environmental impact.

Mycelium, small strings that are part of a fungus, intertwine underground with tree roots. It’s part of a network of plants that pass water and nutrients to each other, even allowing trees to “communicate,” according to the National Forest Foundation.

Mushrooms, the fairytale home of garden gnomes, are a byproduct that grows on the surface.

Researchers are now leveraging the growth properties of the organism to create mycocrete, an ingenious paste that, when dried, is “stronger and more versatile” than other fungi biomaterials.

“Our ambition is to transform the look, feel and wellbeing of architectural spaces using mycelium in combination with biobased materials such as wool, sawdust, and cellulose,” Newcastle’s Dr. Jane Scott said in a university report.

The process is quite the biology experiment. Scientists take mycelium spores and mix them with materials the spores can devour and grow on, including grains.

This mixture is put into a mold and placed in a room that might resemble your basement right now — warm, dark, and humid. The mycelium grows to form and is dried, creating a building material that could be a cleaner fill-in for foam, timber, or plastic, per Newcastle research.

In the latest innovation, the experts have improved the process by using flexible, tube-shaped knitted molds, which are hung from a frame. This allows for more oxygen to enter, helping to create what the experts call mycocrete, CleanTechnica reported.

The team proved the concept through a unique build called BioKnit, which was tested for strength, outperforming past samples. It’s a “complex freestanding dome constructed in a single piece without [joints] that could prove to be weak points, thanks to the flexible knitted form,” according to Newcastle experts.

It looks sort of like a birdcage. A university photo shows two people sitting inside it.

If this fungus can prove versatile enough to replace concrete in even a portion of our buildings, the results could be impactful. Princeton University reported that concrete is the “most consumed” product on Earth, not counting water. The concrete industry contributes 4.4 billion tons of air pollution a year, per Princeton.

Now, the experts must create the right mycelium mix for buildings, before it goes mainstream.

It’s “a significant result, and a step toward the use of mycelium and textile biohybrids within construction,” Scott said in the university report
 

Hestia Turns Your Smartphone Into a Fully-Fledged Telescope​

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...p&cvid=99f7c08c0cfd426aba0cbf78050ba66d&ei=36

Ever fancied capturing the vast expanse of the cosmos right through your smartphone? Well, the future of stargazing is here, and it’s more pocket-friendly than you’d imagine. Enter Hestia, the latest brainchild of smart telescope manufacturers, Vaonis. Currently making gravitational waves on Kickstarter, this innovative bit of tech promises to turn your everyday smartphone into a smart telescope. Only, you won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to get your hands on it.

Hestia isn’t just another fancy gadget to add to your collection; it’s a revolution in astrophotography. While our smartphones boast high-performance camera sensors, their astronomical capabilities have always been, let’s admit, a bit on the ‘meh’ side. But Hestia is here to go where no smartphone has gone before. With the ability to amplify brightness up to 25 times and enhance sharpness fivefold, this device is set to bring the universe closer to us than ever before.

The Hestia, which has already garnered the support of over 8,000 backers on Kickstarter, seamlessly combines a telephoto lens with top-notch software. The result? Your smartphone camera transforms into a full-blown astronomy observation and photography station. And for those who aren’t tech-savvy, Vaonis promises a user-friendly experience. Even if you’re a newbie to the world of stargazing, you’ll be capturing celestial wonders in minutes.

Hestia is designed to be compatible with both iOS and Android phones. So, whether you’re team iPhone or a die-hard Android fan, Hestia’s got you covered. And for those keen on capturing deeper space objects like nebulas, you might want to whip out the latest smartphones for the best results.

While the James Webb Telescope is out there giving us breathtaking views of Pandora’s Cluster, Hestia ensures you don’t miss out on the celestial action right from your backyard.

Now, let’s talk dollars. With pledges starting at a mere $189 for the basic Hestia system, this piece of tech luxury won’t have you breaking the bank. And if you’re feeling a tad more extravagant, there are pricier packs with added goodies like solar filters and tripods.

Speaking of solar, here’s a heads-up for all you skywatchers. Come April 8, 2024, Hestia will prove its weight in gold when a solar eclipse graces our skies. And with the sun gearing up for a period of maximum solar activity next year, there’s never been a better time to invest in this piece of stargazing brilliance.

Intrigued? Ready to dive into the world of astrophotography? Check out Hestia’s Kickstarter campaign and be a part of the next big thing in the universe of tech luxury. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just someone who loves gazing at the stars from your backyard, Hestia promises an experience that’s truly out of this world. And who knows? With Hestia by your side, the next Neil Armstrong could be one of us. Here’s to exploring the final frontier right from our backyards!
 
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