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'I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.' (Sara Williams)
The European Space Agency Has Made A Snap-Proof Super-Thin Space Tether
Electric solar sails use long metal tethers that conduct electricity and interact with solar wind ions and propel a spacecraft. Invented in 2006, the technology could allow us to sail through space cheaper and faster than ever before: One day, the European Union’s ESAIL project could take us to Pluto in as little as five years.
But the technology is still working out some kinks. About half of all orbital tether tests have either failed to deploy or snapped under the impact of micrometeoroids, according to the European Space Agency. But now the agency is saying they’ve made an unsnappable tether for a solar sail, just in time for the April launch of ESTCube-1, Estonia’s first satellite.At only about half the width of a human hair, the tether is made of several aluminum wires interwoven so that even if one is cut, an electric charge can still run through it to create thrust. Within Earth’s magnetic field, the system could be used as a braking system to take spacecraft out of low orbit.
A 10-meter long version will be tested as a deorbiting method on ESTCube-1, a student-built satellite project from the University of Tartu. A longer, 100-meter tether will be used on CubeSat Aalto-1, a Finnish student satellite scheduled to launch later next year, according to the ESA.
(via scinerds)
Found this gem. There are still good people in the world. (FB)
http://proud-atheist.tumblr.com
Ricky Gervais is the gift that just keeps on giving.
http://proud-atheist.tumblr.com
Computer simulated pyramidal neurons | wellcome images
This computer simulated image was created using software called the ‘TREES toolbox’, which allows scientists to generate neuronal structures indistinguishable from those found in the real biological brain. This image shows synthetic neurons that represent the optimized size, shape and connectivity of pyramidal neurons analogous to those found in the cortex of the brain. Pyramidal neurons are so-called because they have a pyramid- shaped cell body (soma), they are also characterized by long branching dendrites. They are found in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus) of mammals and are thought to be involved in cognitive function.
Each neuron is assigned a different colour so that individual structures and processes can be easily distinguished. These highly accurate synthetic neurons have the added advantage of being manipulated and viewed in a number of different ways, helping scientists learn more about cell shape and how neurons are constructed.
2011 Wellcome Image Award winner.
(via scinerds)
I love this pic! non believer hurt by believer
http://proud-atheist.tumblr.com
