International

Learn about seven important NASA discoveries

Photo: NASA

October 15 |

As part of the commemoration of the discovery of the exoplanet Kepler 452-b, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States (U.S.), this Sunday is worth knowing seven important discoveries of this U.S. agency in recent years.

The cosmic body identified by the Kepler telescope, to which it owes its name, was confirmed by NASA on July 23, 2015.

Kepler-452b is an exoplanet, a planet revolving around a star other than the Sun, which in this case is a G2-type yellow dwarf, which is known as Kepler-452.

The agency responsible for the civil space program, as well as for aeronautical and aerospace research, since its foundation in 1958 has developed space exploration and science projects, which have led to relevant discoveries in several aspects.

1) The study of twins
In April 2019 NASA published the controversial results of an investigation known as the Twins Study.

A set of ten teams of researchers from the United States (U.S.) set out to observe the changes that might occur to a human being when exposed to the risk of traveling into space for a year.

The scientists compared a wide range of samples and measurements from identical twin brothers, retired astronauts Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly. Scott was sent into space, while Mark remained on Earth.

One of the results revealed the lengthening of the space-bound twin’s telomeres, special features at the ends of each strand of DNA that generally shorten with age, which demonstrated how a human body can adapt to a variety of changes generated by the environment of outer space flight.

2) Observing the Earth from space
There are a wide variety of scientific studies based on images that NASA crew members take using Crew Earth Observations (CEO).

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NASA’s orbiting space station carries its crew and cameras over different points on Earth at different times and the station revisits the sites at varying intervals, allowing images of many areas to be collected at different times of the day and night.

In this way experts discovered that artificial lighting at night affects the behavior of urban wildlife, according to a study of light levels in the city of Chicago that was based on images taken by astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS).

3) A revealing microscope
A miniaturized fluorescence microscope made it possible to observe changes in living cells in microgravity.

This microscope enables real-time analysis of cell behavior during long-duration spaceflight. Its rapid imaging capability allows monitoring of cellular and molecular reactions that can happen more rapidly in altered gravity environments.

The implementation of real-time analysis methods on the station furthers the understanding of how cells in the human body react and adapt to the space environment.

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4) The universe in better resolution
NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) facilitates measurements with excellent precision of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of black hole collapse.

In early 2018 JAXA’s All-Sky X-ray Imaging Monitor (MAXI) captured a new transient X-ray source in the sky designated MAXI J1820 + 070.

Nicer began monitoring the source and discovered that it was a binary black hole system with a mass much larger than that of the Sun. In addition, recorded measurements have revealed how the inner edge of a black hole’s accretion disk (and the corona above it) vary in size and shape as a black hole consumes material from a companion star.

5) Spaceflight decreases crew performance on Earth.
Astronauts’ bodies adapt to microgravity while in space. When crew members return to Earth, they show significant decreases in manual dexterity, multitasking, motion perception, and the ability to operate a vehicle.

NASA researchers confirmed that the post-flight performance decline was related to spaceflight factors and not to other factors such as lack of practice or sleep.

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6) Cement in space
Another discovery confirmed by NASA suggests the possibility of building places to live on the Moon or Mars.

It is a research called Microgravity Investigation of Cement Solidification (MICS), which reveals that samples processed in space show considerable changes in the microstructure of cement compared to those processed on Earth, such as increased porosity, or the presence of more open spaces.

Showing that cement can harden in space is of great importance for future lunar constructions.

7) Keep it clean
New materials are needed to slow the growth and spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and silver coatings, according to research called Biorisk-KM-Metally, conducted by the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) and confirmed by NASA.

The researchers conducted tests on an antimicrobial coating called AGXX® and compared it with silver and stainless steel coatings. For the study, crew members placed 12 plates on the space station’s toilet door, with one plate coated in each tested material to be collected at six, 12 and 19 months.

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In all time lapses, the experts found that the AGXX® coating had significantly fewer bacteria than surfaces coated with silver and stainless steel. These data are useful for the development of ideal technologies to reduce the risk of biological damage to space hardware and equipment.

International

Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.

The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.

The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).

“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.

Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”

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International

Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.

Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.

A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”

According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.

International

Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.

Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.

“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.

“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.