Construction on MARS

  Material which could be used to build first colony on MARS 

During crewed Mars missions in the coming years, finding ways to reduce supply loads and utilize local materials will be a crucial element to ensuring the success of our explorations of the Red Planet. To address this, researchers are working to achieve this goal, allowing Mars explorers to grow their own building materials directly on the Red Planet. Scientists are finding ways to turn Martian dirt into usable metals. This breakthrough could make it possible to build settlements on Mars without bringing everything from Earth. Swinburne and CSIRO researchers have successfully produced iron in Mars-like conditions, opening the door to metal production beyond Earth. The vision of establishing settlements on Mars has captured the imagination of billionaires, government space programs and space exploration advocates. However, building such colonies requires vast amounts of material, and transporting it all from Earth is not practical. To put it in perspective, sending NASA’s one-ton Perseverance Rover to Mars cost around US$243 million.

For CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellow and Swinburne graduate Dr Deddy Nababan, the solution may lie in Mars’s own soil, known as regolith. This new project, with support from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts, the US space agency’s funding arm for radical, long-term concepts related to aerospace. The team spent years developing living substances which can form construction materials on their own, and they have now applied their work to autonomous construction on Mars, utilizing the local regolith. Swinburne and CSIRO researchers have successfully made iron under Mars-like conditions, opening to door to off-world metal production. “Sending metals to Mars from Earth might be feasible, but it’s not economical. Can you imagine bringing tonnes of metals to Mars? It’s just not practical,” Dr Nababan says. “Instead, we can use what’s available on Mars. It’s called in-situ resource utilization, or ISRU.” More specifically, Dr Nababan is looking at astrometallurgy, making metals in space.

This work may be the answer to bringing construction materials across vast distances and into challenging environments which are normally lacking in resources. Other attempts to forge construction materials from the Martian regolith have focused on addressing the material shortage, but remain impractical as they have overlooked the likely labour shortage which any early Mars missions will encounter. Creating solutions for these conditions called for bonding regolith particles with various compounds composed of magnesium or sulphur, as well as a geopolymer concept. Still, all of these required more intensive hands-on work than those early explorers would be able to dedicate to the project. There have been approaches attempting to minimize the required labour by relying on microbes to help power a self-growing technology. While bacteria and fungi can bind particles into more useful construction materials, such as bricks, the microbes involved often suffer from survivability issues. Previous attempts relied on a single species, requiring a great deal of care and nutrient feeding to remain viable, replacing the regolith bonding focus with an all new task: caring for the microbes.

As it turns out, Mars has all the ingredients needed to make native metals. This includes iron-rich oxides in regolith and carbon from its thin atmosphere, which acts as a reducing agent. Swinburne University of Technology astrometallurgist, Professor Akbar Rhamdhani, is working with Dr Nababan to test this process with regolith simulant, an artificial recreation of the stuff found of Mars. The researchers used a regolith simulant which mimics the materials found at Gale Crater on Mars. “We picked a simulant with very similar properties to that found at Gale Crater on Mars and processed them on Earth with simulated Mars conditions. This gives us a good idea of how the process would perform off-world,” he says. The simulant is placed inside a chamber at Mars surface pressure and heated at increasing temperatures. The experiments showed pure iron metal formation around 1000°C, with liquid silicon-iron alloys produced around 1400°C. “At high enough temperatures, all of the metals coalesced into one large droplet. This could then be separated from liquid slag the same way it is on Earth,” Professor Rhamdhani says. Along with Dr Nababan, Prof Rhamdhani is collaborating with CSIRO’s Dr Mark Pownceby to further advance the process. They’re particularly focused on making metals with zero waste, where the byproducts of the process are used to make useful items.

Minimizing astronauts’ commitments to construction-related labour was a major focus for the team. To that end, they produced a resilient multi-species synthetic community, resulting in a fully autonomous self-growing process which requires no external nutrients. The heterotrophic filamentous fungi that the team utilized have significantly greater survivability than heterotrophic bacteria, while promoting the formation of biominerals to serve as a bonding agent for regolith particles. Photoautotrophic diazotrophic cyanobacteria complete the synthetic lichen by converting atmospheric carbon dioxide and dinitrogen into oxygen and organic nutrients to feed the fungi and increase the carbonate ion concentration, which the fungi bind to their cell walls. The filamentous fungi complete the cycle by providing water, minerals and CO2 to the cyanobacteria. Both the fungi and cyanobacteria release biopolymers which adhere the regolith particles together.

In space exploration, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is becoming increasingly important because every kilogram launched aboard a rocket adds to the cost and complexity of a mission. Although launch costs are gradually decreasing, the scale of resources needed to support human exploration remains enormous. Significant progress is already being made, including the first off-world demonstration of ISRU. NASA’s MOXIE experiment, carried by the Mars Perseverance rover, successfully generated breathable oxygen from nothing more than the carbon dioxide in Mars’s atmosphere. Metal production is the next giant leap. Prof Rhamdhani hopes Mars-made alloys could be used as shells for housing or research facilities and in machinery for excavation. “There are certainly challenges. We need to better understand how these alloys would perform over time, and of course, whether this process can be recreated on the real Martian surface,” Prof Rhamdhani says. But in the meantime, Swinburne and its partners are doubling down. Prof Rhamdhani, together with Dr Nababan and Dr Matt Shaw, another CSIRO researcher and Swinburne alum, recently delivered a 4-day bespoke workshop on astrometallurgy in South Korea. The feedback was promising. “We’re starting to see increased interest in this field globally as the world gets serious about Mars exploration,” he says. “To make it happen, we’re going to need experts from many fields, mining, engineering, geology and much more.” For Dr Nababan, the benefits go beyond exploration. He hopes their research will also drive more efficient metallurgy here on Earth. “By doing this, I wish that I can help the development of space exploration, and at the end it will bring good to human life here on Earth.” In testing, the process was successful and fully autonomous, growing in a mixture of simulated regolith, inorganic liquid, light and air. With the material creation process demonstrated, the team is moving on to testing their regolith material.  

Nuclear Battery which might last for 433 Years

 NASA’s most ambitious Power source, a Nuclear Battery which could last 433 Years  

What if a space probe could run for over 400 years? NASA’s new nuclear battery might make that possible. Spacecraft have used a plutonium isotope to stay afloat for decades, but another isotope could last even longer. Radioisotope power systems (RPS) keep spacecraft going with nuclear batteries. Until now, RPS operated using a plutonium isotope, but researchers have found that an isotope of americium could keep spacecraft engines going even longer. A collaborative effort between NASA and the University of Leicester is now developing batteries with this isotope for future missions. Space, at least as far as we can fathom, is infinite. Rocket fuel is finite. While we haven’t yet found a way of keeping spacecraft from sputtering to a halt light-years away from Earth, NASA has the next best thing, and it’s radioactive.

The goal of NASA and the University of Leicester are to develop a new nuclear battery powered by americium-241, a radioactive isotope capable of fuelling space probes for 433 years. The research was recently featured and it could mark a major turning point in how we think about long-duration space missions. NASA has been using radioisotope power systems (RPS) which involve nuclear batteries since the early 1960s to power missions including both Voyagers, New Horizons, Curiosity, and, most recently, Perseverance. (The Dragonfly quadcopter meant to explore the methane lakes and seas of Saturn’s moon Titan will also rely on RPS.) Radioisotopes are unstable forms of elements which can only regain stability by degrading, and it is the breakdown of radioisotopes which generates heat and keeps the battery going. While that might sound futuristic enough, NASA is intending to level it up. The space agency has used plutonium-238, or plutonium oxide, as fuel for decades. The half-life of this isotope, how long it takes for an isotope’s radioactivity to drop to half its original level, is nearly 88 years. Now, however, the isotope americium-241 is being eyed for upcoming missions. With a half-life of almost 433 years, it lasts centuries longer than plutonium-238, and could keep spacecraft venturing far further into the unknown.

Radioisotopes need to meet NASA’s strict criteria to qualify for missions. For one, whatever form they take needs to be nontoxic (or minimally toxic) to the body, and they need to be insoluble so they are not easily absorbed by the body. As such, the fuel is usually in ceramic form, so instead of vaporizing and potentially being breathed in, they break into large fragments which cannot be absorbed even if ingested. For another, spacecraft instruments also need to be kept safe, so any radioisotopes used in a battery must have a sufficiently long half-life, remain stable at high temperatures, and only need a small amount to generate a blast of heat. This allows them to keep obiters, rovers and space telescopes going for decades. Radioisotope power systems (RPS) generate electricity from the heat released by radioactive decay, and they’re a big reason missions like Voyager, New Horizons, Curiosity, and Perseverance have lasted so long. Until now, these batteries relied on plutonium-238, which breaks down steadily over time but can only power missions for a few decades at best. Americium-241 changes that. With a half-life of 433 years, it keeps producing heat for centuries. This opens the door to truly long-term missions, ones that could outlast not just the spacecraft’s designers but entire generations of scientists. And yes, NASA has strict safety standards for anything radioactive. Americium-241 passes the test. It’s “minimally toxic,” and when used in ceramic form, it won’t vaporize. If something goes wrong, it breaks into large, chunky pieces, meaning it’s a lot less likely to be inhaled or absorbed into the body. 

Until now, only plutonium-238 has been able to pass. But this past January, NASA’s Glenn Research Centre (Glenn) and the University of Leicester in the UK joined forces and agreed to test-drive americium-241. They are also looking into using an optimal method of generating electricity from this radioactive fuel, instead of a system that can only power up a spacecraft using a crankshaft, a free-piston Stirling convertor allows pistons to float within the engine in microgravity (NASA has been using them for years). In 2020, a convertor at NASA’s Glenn Research Centre which was running on RPS reached 14 years of maintenance-free operation, which just so happens to be the minimum life needed for many deep space missions. Wayne Wong, head of Glenn’s Thermal Energy Conversion Branch, described the progress as “particularly significant” for missions which have long cruise times and can’t afford any downtime. “Previous flight projects determined that the mission duration requirement for RPS is 14 years, particularly for outer planetary missions with long cruise times.” Plutonium-238 had been on a 30-year production hiatus before 2011, when NASA received government funding to support the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy to restart production for space missions. The isotope is currently produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and several other facilities. The production process for americium-241 is currently undergoing improvements for efficiency and safety at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

One of the challenges with plutonium-238 is that it’s expensive and slow to make. In contrast, americium-241 is much easier to get. It’s a common by-product of nuclear reactors, so there’s already a decent supply. Right now, Los Alamos National Laboratory is working on improving the production process, making it safer and more efficient for long-term use in space. There are some challenges. Americium-241 emits more gamma radiation than plutonium, which means better shielding will be needed. But engineers seem confident that’s a solvable problem, especially considering how much longer this fuel can last. This tech isn’t just about extending mission timelines. It’s about changing how we think about space travel entirely. A probe launched in 2050 could, in theory, still be functioning in the year 2480. That’s not science fiction anymore, it’s a real possibility. Missions like Dragonfly, a nuclear-powered drone heading to Saturn’s moon Titan, are already banking on long-lasting battery tech. If americium-241 proves viable, it could fuel the next generation of deep space explorers, ones designed to operate for hundreds of years without stopping. Meanwhile, the Voyagers keep heading further and further from the Solar System, still powered by RPS, leading the way for missions to come. And as the Voyager spacecraft powered by the fading warmth of old-school RPS, NASA’s new battery tech is getting ready to take over, lighting the path for everything that comes next in world around us. 

New world record for internet speed by Japan

 Japan’s latest breakthrough is rewriting the rules of speed : 4 million times faster than the average speed in US

Japan has just crushed records with a new internet speed so fast, it’s almost hard to believe. Imagine streaming entire libraries, massive data collections or ultra-high-definition videos in mere minutes. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening now thanks to a ground breaking achievement from Japanese researchers. A team in Japan set a new world record in fibre optics, reaching a data speed of 1.02 petabits per second over roughly 1,123 miles with a new kind of optical fibre. The achievement yielded a capacity–distance product of 1.86 exabits per second per mile. This rate is about 4 million times higher than the US median fixed broadband download speed of about 285 Mbps. Lead researcher Hideaki Furukawa of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan guided the transmission experiments and system work. They’ve developed an optical fibre system which can transmit over the equivalent of traveling from New York to Florida. To put this into perspective, this speed would open doors to a future where data moves at incredible rates.

The team in Japan smashed the previous world record of just over 50,000 gigabytes per second, doubling this accomplishment in a matter of months. This remarkable leap was made possible by creating a new form of optical fibre cable. Unlike conventional cables, this advanced fibre bundles 19 standard fibres into a tiny strand barely thicker than a single human hair, roughly five-thousandths of an inch in diameter. The cable fits 19 light paths inside a cladding that measures about 0.005 inches, the same size used by most existing lines. This design allows it to slot into current routes without changing the outside diameter. The cores share a single glass cladding and are engineered to behave the same way, so the light follows a uniform path through each core. This uniform behaviour reduces power swings and lowers loss in both the C band and L band, the primary wavelength ranges for long-distance links. The design also avoids the spacing penalties of uncoupled multicore layouts, where engineers minimize crosstalk by spacing cores farther apart. Less data loss means stronger signals and the ability to send information much farther without interruption. This optical fibre is specifically designed to optimize long-distance transmission, making it a game-changer for telecommunications infrastructure.

Interestingly, the design fits into existing cable installations since it matches the typical thickness of conventional single-fibre cables. This means upgrades won’t require costly, large-scale overhauls of the current network, a clever way to increase capacity while keeping costs and disruptions low. In a coupled layout, the system allows mixing between cores and later corrects it using digital processing at the receiver. Low fibre loss across wide wavelengths, combined with predictable coupling, made long range and high rate possible at the same time. Earlier projects achieved fast signals over much shorter spans, but this approach pushes capacity and reach together. A petabit equals one million gigabits, a unit that marks a leap beyond the gigabit tier common to residential plans. The capacity–distance product multiplies data rate by distance to compare systems which go fast, far or both. Before this breakthrough, the same research team had achieved similar speeds but only across a short span, less than one-third of the 1,120 miles covered this time. The major obstacles were finding ways to reduce data loss and boost signal strength enough to maintain quality over longer distances. Their latest system transmits data 21 times through the cable, ensuring it reaches the receiver after traveling over a thousand miles without significant degradation.

A multicore fibre places several cores inside one cladding so that many signals travel in parallel. MIMO is a digital filter which separates mixed signals from different cores or modes, allowing the original data streams to emerge cleanly. Long-haul optical links use the C band and L band as their main wavelength windows because standard amplifiers operate efficiently in those ranges. The 16-state Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16QAM) method stores more information per symbol than simpler formats, raising data rates when noise and distortion are controlled. Looking back, it’s incredible how far we’ve come in such a short time. Just remember the frustration of dial-up internet, where waiting several minutes just to open a single photo was normal. Now, we’re talking about speeds which make those early experiences feel like ancient history. The team built 19 synchronized recirculating loops, each fed by one core of a 53.5-mile spool that included splitters, combiners, amplifiers and a control switch. A switch sent the signal around the loop 21 times before it reached a bank of receivers, producing the full end-to-end distance. They lit 180 wavelengths across the C and L bands and modulated each with 16QAM, a higher-order format which increases bits per symbol when conditions are clean enough. Multiple wavelengths across two bands gave the system a wide runway for total throughput. At the end, a coherent 19 channel receiver separated spatial channels while a MIMO engine untangled the mixed signals introduced by the coupled cores. Error correction code finished the job and produced the net payload figure used to report the result.

This progress is timely. With global data use expected to multiply rapidly in the coming years, the demand for new, scalable high-capacity communication systems is exploding. Japan’s advancement provides a promising roadmap to meet this demand, potentially transforming how governments, businesses and everyday users interact with data. So, what does this mean for you? Imagine streaming 8K videos or engaging in highly immersive virtual experiences without buffering or delays. Large-scale scientific research, cloud computing and even personal data backups could proceed almost instantly, reshaping what’s possible in almost every digital endeavour. Short bursts in a lab are one thing; dependable hauls between cities are another. Long spans expose loss, amplifier noise, nonlinear effects and chromatic dispersion which often remain hidden on short test beds. Engineers track progress in optical fibre systems with the capacity-distance product, which multiplies rate by distance to summarize both speed and reach in a single number. A higher product means a system can carry more bits for longer without running out of margin. This demonstration shows that dense spatial channels inside a standard-sized fibre, combined with broad wavelength use and shared amplification, can lift that product. It achieves this without changing the outside fibre size, a practical way to scale, since networks care about what fits in ducts, trays and connectors.

With data flowing from continent to continent at lightning-fast pace, the potential for innovation grows exponentially. Developers of the Internet of Things, augmented reality, and smart cities will benefit immensely from the existence of stable, ultra-fast networks. This breakthrough isn’t just about raw speed, it’s a foundation for a more connected and intelligent world. A key choice was keeping the cladding diameter at about 0.005 inches, which matches the size used by most installed fibre and the tools built around it. “For fibre fabrication and deployment, it is highly beneficial to use fibres with a standard cladding diameter,” said Menno van den Hout from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. Keeping dimensions and interfaces familiar lowers the barrier to field trials and later deployment if costs align. It also enables step-by-step rollouts, where multicore spans boost capacity on tough segments while other spans remain single-core. The idea of space-division multiplexing has been studied for more than a decade, and its value has been demonstrated across many experiments. “This Review summarizes the simultaneous transmission of several independent spatial channels of light along optical fibres to expand the data carrying capacity of optical communications,” said Benjamin Puttnam of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. This record from Japan illustrates the relentless human pursuit of pushing boundaries. Each technological leap sparks new opportunities and redefines the limits of what our devices and networks can do. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities this opens up, but also a reminder that innovation never stops around the world.

Nuclear battery with 50-year lifespan and triple efficiency

Chinese Scientists have build nuclear battery with 50-year lifespan and triple efficiency

Researchers in China have developed a novel nuclear battery which can withstand at least half a century of radiation and deliver three times the energy efficiency of conventional designs. The team set out to improve battery performance in extreme environments, led by Haisheng San, PhD, a professor at Xiamen University, and Xin Li, PhD, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. Chinese researchers have unveiled a ground breaking nuclear battery technology that promises to deliver threefold energy efficiency and withstand extreme environments for over 50 years, marking a significant leap forward in sustainable power solutions. The new radio-photovoltaic cells offer compact, long-term nuclear power. Following are the some of the important points:-

Chinese researchers have developed a novel nuclear battery with threefold energy efficiency.

Challenges include the cost and production of strontium-90 radioisotopes.

The technology uses strontium-90 radio-photovoltaic cells for long-term, reliable power.

This advancement could significantly impact global energy policies and sustainability efforts.

In recent years, the quest for sustainable and efficient energy solutions has become increasingly urgent. A team of Chinese researchers has made a ground breaking advancement in this field by developing a novel nuclear battery. According to the scientists, conventional power systems, especially those used in extreme conditions such as space or deep-sea infrastructure, struggle with long-term reliability. "Conventional power sources (e.g., chemical batteries, fuel cells and photovoltaic cells) fail to meet the stringent operational demands of harsh environments, including long-term durability, maintenance-free operation and continuous self-sustaining capabilities,” the researchers said. Their limited energy density, sensitivity to environmental factors, and the need for periodic maintenance make them impractical for missions which require continuous, unattended power over many years. Now, in a bid to address these challenges, the researchers developed strontium-90 radio-photovoltaic cells (RPVCs) built on a waveguide light concentration (WLC) structure. This innovative technology promises to deliver three times the energy efficiency of existing designs while withstanding extreme environmental conditions for over half a century. This development is particularly significant for applications in challenging environments, such as deep-sea exploration and space missions, where conventional power systems often struggle to perform reliably over extended periods.

The innovative design integrates multilayer-stacked GAGG: Ce (Cerium-doped gadolinium aluminium gallium garnet) scintillation waveguides with strontium-90 radioisotopes. Ce is a single-crystal scintillator known for its excellent photon detection capabilities. It is among the brightest available, with an emission peak at 520 nanometers (nm). The setup converts radioactive energy into light, which is then directed toward photovoltaic cells which generate electricity. In performance trials, a single RPVC unit achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 2.96 %, significantly higher than existing RPVC designs. The core of this advancement lies in the development of strontium-90 radio-photovoltaic cells (RPVCs) built on a waveguide light concentration (WLC) structure. These cells integrate multilayer-stacked GAGG: Ce scintillation waveguides with radioisotopes, enabling the conversion of radioactive energy into electricity. The use of Cerium-doped gadolinium aluminium gallium garnet (GAGG: Ce) is crucial, as it provides exceptional photon detection capabilities, making it one of the brightest scintillators available. In addition, the team reported an output of 48.9 microwatts (μW) from a single unit, with a multi-module version reaching 3.17 milliwatts (mW). The prototype also demonstrated a short-circuit current of 2.23 milliamperes (mA) and an open-circuit voltage of 2.14 volts (V). “We designed and fabricated an RPVC that achieves a balance between efficiency and stability,” the scientists said. The process involves converting radioactive energy into light, which is then directed toward photovoltaic cells that generate electricity. The efficiency achieved combined with the ability to generate up to 3.17 milliwatts in a multi-module setup, represents a significant step forward in nuclear battery technology.

Most notably, when the team simulated long-term use by exposing the RPVCs to electron beam irradiation equivalent to 50 years of radiation exposure, the devices showed only a modest 13.8 % drop in optical performance. One of the most remarkable aspects of this technology is its durability. The researchers subjected the RPVCs to electron beam irradiation equivalent to 50 years of radiation exposure, simulating long-term use. This resilience makes them highly suitable for applications where continuous, unattended power is crucial. The WLC-based RPVCs not only achieve high power output but also maintain outstanding long-term stability. The system minimizes energy loss by directing light from the scintillator directly into the photovoltaic cells, requiring no moving parts or external energy input. While challenges remain in terms of mass production and cost reduction of strontium-90 radioisotopes, the current research marks a substantial step forward in promoting nuclear battery applications.

Summarizing the advantages of the discovery, the team elaborated that WLC-based RPVCs can achieve both high power output and outstanding long-term stability, representing a substantial advancement in facilitating nuclear battery applications. “The WLC structure realizes a 3-fold improvement in energy conversion efficiency compared with conventional RPVC structures,” the researchers explained. Despite the promising results, the large-scale production of RPVCs is currently limited by several challenges. The cost and availability of strontium-90 radioisotopes pose significant hurdles which need to be addressed for widespread adoption. Additionally, the researchers acknowledge the need for advancements in mass production techniques to make this technology economically viable. Nonetheless, the potential applications of this technology are vast. From powering deep-sea exploration equipment to sustaining space missions, the RPVCs offer a reliable and efficient energy source for environments where conventional power systems falter. The researchers’ work has laid the foundation for further developments in nuclear battery technology, with the promise of even greater efficiencies and wider applications in the future.

“The irradiation equivalent to 50 years of service confirms that WLC-based RPVCs have great long-term service stability,” researchers added. The system minimizes energy loss by focusing light from the scintillator directly into the photovoltaic cells while requiring no moving parts or external energy input. The development of these advanced nuclear batteries also has significant global implications. As countries strive to meet increasing energy demands while reducing carbon footprints, innovations like the RPVCs offer a sustainable alternative. The ability to provide long-term, maintenance-free power solutions could revolutionize energy infrastructures, particularly in remote and challenging environments. Moreover, this advancement positions China as a leader in nuclear battery technology, potentially influencing global energy policies and research priorities. As the development of nuclear battery technology progresses, the potential for transforming energy infrastructures remains vast. How will these advancements influence global energy policies and the future landscape of sustainable power solutions? As the world grapples with energy challenges, collaborations and knowledge sharing across borders could accelerate the adoption and refinement of such technologies, benefiting the global community. “Although large-scale production of RPVCs is still limited by challenges such as mass production and cost reduction of strontium-90 radioisotopes, the current research results mark a substantial step forward in promoting nuclear battery applications,” the researchers concluded. 

World’s first-Electric-flying-car

 World’s first-Electric-flying-car to start operations at Silicon Valley airports 

The first all-electric flying car is here, and it could land at an airport near you. Yes, flying cars are real. They are not just in the movies anymore. The first all-electric flying car is about to take flight after signing agreements with several airports. The car has been in the making for a decade. Now the world’s first electric flying car is testing at airports. Just a few years ago, not many thought this day would come. Alef Aeronautics has been developing its electric flying car since 2015, attracting major investors like Tim Draper, known for his early investment in Tesla. In 2022, Alef became an internet sensation after unveiling a new prototype, dubbed the Model A. The company claims the vehicle (or aircraft) can drive 220 miles and has a 110-mile flight range. 

San Mateo-based Alef has signed agreements with the Hollister and Half Moon Bay airports to conduct operations of the world’s first flying car, a road vehicle which can take off vertically. The company will begin test operations alongside other aircraft types. Less than a year later, the California-based startup became the first to receive a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Alef took it a step further, becoming the first company to receive pre-orders for an aircraft sold through a car dealership. Alef had also released a video earlier this year, giving its potential consumers a glimpse of the ‘Ultralight’ version of Model A jumping over another vehicle.

Now, the company is set to begin its test operations at the two Silicon Valley airports, Half Moon Bay and Hollister. It will test how the car works with other aircraft in air traffic. Both airports could also serve as a base for flying cars in the near future, according to the company. Planning to start with the Model Zero Ultralight, Alef plans to expand its product base with other Model Zero models and the commercial Model A. We got our first look at the all-electric flying car in action earlier this year after Alef released a video of an “ultralight version” of the Model A jumping over another vehicle. The company claimed it was the “first-ever video in history of a car driving and vertically taking off”. CEO Jim Dukhovny introduces the Model A electric flying car at the Detroit Auto Show. In yet another first, Alef announced it has now secured agreements to begin operations at two new Silicon Valley airports: Half Moon Bay and Hollister Airport. The flying cars will operate, both as a car and as an aircraft, alongside other types of aircraft, to assess their performance in common air traffic patterns. According to Alef’s website, the company has been working on building the flying car for almost a decade. The goal of the company is to develop its first consumer product, the Alef Model A.

Both airports could serve as a base for a future fleet of flying cars, according to Alef. It will start with the Model Zero Ultralight, but Alef plans to expand with other Model Zero models and the commercial Model A. Planned operations include driving, vertical takeoff, forward flight and vertical landing, as well as air and ground manoeuvring. The vehicle is also classified as ‘ultralight’, meaning the company doesn’t need to have any legal certifications to fly the car, according to the company. Alef pointed out that the classification brings certain restrictions for operators, such as limiting flights to daylight hours and prohibiting ultralight vehicles from flying over congested or densely populated areas like cities or towns. This is not what anyone thought flying cars would be when they were dreaming of them decades and decades ago. This is an unwieldy, overly expensive, hovering compromise on bicycle wheels. It’s not a real car and it’s not a true flying one. Alef says its flying car is “100% electric, drivable on public roads, and has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.”

The flying car will be 100% electric, along with a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles. Thanks to its Model A, Alef created a buzz on social media in 2022 after unveiling its prototype. “On average, the Alef flying car uses less energy per trip than a Tesla or any other EV,” the company said. “Alef first and foremost is a car, using the automotive infrastructure, automotive business model and automotive market. The novelty is integrating a car into the aviation infrastructure and air traffic,” said Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef. “Working in safe, controlled, non-towered airport environments will help Alef, FAA, airport operators, and pilots see how this will work in the future at scale. Electric aviation is more environmentally friendly, quieter and requires less space, hence it is good to see Silicon Valley airports embracing electric aviation,” he continued.

Alef’s flying electric car can jump over another vehicle. The company has already signed supply agreements for industry-grade parts with PUCARA Aero and MYC, which supply major industry giants such as Boeing and Airbus. The startup has already received more than 3,300 pre-orders for its fully electric flying car, which is expected to be priced at around $300,000. Customers can place a pre-order on Alef’s website with a $150 deposit, or pay $1,500 to secure a spot in the priority queue. This partnership with the two airports could pave the way for Alef to introduce flying car fleets at these key hubs in the future. For the airports themselves, it marks progress toward embracing electric aviation. Still, the upcoming test operations go beyond that, showcasing not only the fusion of car and aircraft technologies but also advanced AI-driven safety systems similar to those used in autonomous vehicles. Alef is already building pre-production models in California, but customer deliveries are expected to begin next year.

World’s biggest hydropower dam in Tibet

 Construction on the project of the century started by China 

China has started building a mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, which could become the world’s largest source of hydroelectric power when completed, according to Chinese officials. The project on a river that runs through Tibet and India downstream could dwarf the Three Gorges Dam when completed. The dam will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Project is expected to be completed by 2030. It has been one of the most shocking news stories of recent times. China is carrying out the construction of a dam on the Yangtze River that, according to studies, would be displacing the Earth's axis. This three gorges dam has a current capacity of around 40 trillion litres of water. Although, as shocking as it may be, the Asian country wants to continue building megastructures which benefit the creation of energy, the next project it is going to carry out could leave the Three Gorges Dam far behind.

The mega-project in the foothills of the Himalayas will include five hydropower stations on the river, which is also known as the Brahmaputra, further downstream in India, and the Jamuna River in Bangladesh. Beijing had planned the project for several years, and approval was given in December last year, linking the development to the country’s carbon neutrality targets and economic goals in the Tibet region. “The electricity generated will be primarily transmitted to other regions for consumption, while also meeting local power needs in Tibet,” Xinhua reported. It will generate more energy than all the nuclear power plants in France. Chinese government has already approved the construction, which would have a budget of around $167 billion. This mega structure would be carried out by taking advantage of the natural drop in the waters of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This waterfall consists of 2,000 meters over 50 km's of the river's course. The company, created specifically for the construction of the dam, has set its start-up for the year 2030.

The project is expected to cost an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan ($167.1bn), Xinhua said. India said in January that it had raised concerns with China about the project, saying it would “monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests”. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said at the time that China “has been urged to ensure that the interests of the downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas”. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the project would not have any “negative impact” downstream, adding that China “will also maintain communication with countries at the lower reaches” of the river. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aim of this new hydroelectric power station in Tibet is to "accelerate the development of clean energy and combat climate change", as at present most of the energy is produced by highly polluting coal.

China annexed Tibet in 1950, and has built several dams on the region’s rivers, prompting concerns from Tibetans about the potential impacts on the unique ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibet’s vast glaciers and major rivers provide fresh water to 1.3 billion people in 10 countries, according to Yale’s E360 environmental magazine. The Yarlung Tsangpo is the world’s highest river, reaching some 5,000 metres (16,404 feet) above sea level, and is considered sacred to Tibetans. One of the serious problems that this project could trigger is the large amount of water needed to make it work. Water that will possibly be retained, affecting countries such as India or Bangladesh. Now, the international scientific community will have to remain attentive to how this may influence the Earth's rotational balance, since the Three Gorges Dam must be added to this new situation. The new dam is also being built just 30km (18 miles) from China’s vast border with India, much of which is disputed, with tens of thousands of soldiers posted on either side. Once built, the dam could provide as much as three times as much energy as the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in central China. The Three Gorges Dam, which was completed in 2003, controversially displaced some 1.4 million people. Tibet is much more sparsely populated, with some 2,000 people displaced for the construction of the Yagen Hydropower Station.

Evidence of life on Mars

 Searching evidence for life which might have existed on Mars

For decades, the search for extraterrestrial life has relied on complex missions, new instruments and billion-dollar budgets. After spending so much time on the Martian surface, the Opportunity rover sent troves of data back to Earth for scientists around the world to analyse in hopes of learning more about the red planet’s geology and atmosphere, past and present. One of those scientists was John Grant, a planetary geologist at the National Air and Space Museum. His aim was to find evidence of conditions which could have supported life on Mars. “It seems that all the necessary pieces are there on Mars for life to have existed,” John said. “We’ve found that there are areas on Mars where water was flowing in the distant past as well as relatively more recently. That’s evolved my thinking from ‘okay, so there was some water long ago' to ‘there were some big lakes there’ to ‘there were habitable environments and maybe life'.” But now, a PhD student and his supervisor at Imperial College London have shown that a device already sitting on Mars could answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Is anything alive out there, right now? The breakthrough comes from Solomon Hirsch and Professor Mark Sephton of Imperial’s Department of Earth Science & Engineering. The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) is an instrument that is already installed on the Curiosity rover and planned for use on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. The team realized that this common piece of equipment can be used in an entirely new way.

Space exploration is a hell of a show, there are surprises around every corner. If we were to find evidence of life on Mars, it would surely make some of us start to question our own existence. It would tell us more about how life evolves. We only have one data point so far, and that’s Earth. There’s been this question since humanity first started to ruminate on big ideas about whether we’re alone in the universe. If you only have to go one planet away to find life, it speak volumes about how life may be distributed throughout the universe. It also changes how and why we explore in and outside our solar system in the future. It also provides us, as humans, some perspective on our place in the universe. “Space agencies such as NASA and ESA don’t know their instruments can already do this,” Sephton said. “Here we have developed an elegant method that rapidly and reliably identifies a chemical bond that shows the presence of viable life.” 

The GC-MS has a long pedigree in planetary science, with earlier versions flying on the Viking missions of the 1970s. Traditionally, scientists have used it to analyse gases released from rocks and soils. But Hirsch and Sephton discovered it could also detect fragile molecular bonds inside the membranes of living cells, a marker of life that is present only while an organism is alive or has very recently died. The technique focuses on intact polar lipids (IPLs), the molecules which make up the external membranes of bacteria and more complex cells. These molecules degrade within hours of death, making them a reliable sign of living organisms. When fed into the GC-MS, IPLs leave behind a sharp, unmistakable spike on the instrument’s readout. “If we find signs of life beyond Earth, the first question will be: Is it living right now?” Hirsch said. “It’s thrilling to think that the technique we developed here could be used to help answer that question.” Researchers unexpectedly found a clear biosignature in polar lipids using GC-MS, with equipment already deployed on space missions. If scientists ever detect such a spike on Mars or another world, it will provide direct evidence of active life rather than long-extinct biology.

Mars is not a welcoming place for life. Its thin atmosphere, freezing surface temperatures and constant radiation from space make survival difficult. Visiting Mars can have implications in other fields. Medical doctors have a completely different set of rationales. How does the human body respond to radiation? If we're ever going to get off the Earth and be an exploring species, Mars is one of the places where we should start. But still, we haven’t gotten to the question of “why?” Why go through all this trouble to study space at all, when we’ve got so many problems to solve here on Earth? Hirsch admits that expectations of finding organisms on the planet’s surface are low. But he points out that life is resourceful. “Life finds amazing ways to survive in extreme circumstances,” he noted. Future missions will also dig deeper into Mars’ crust, where conditions may be more favourable. The Rosalind Franklin rover, part of the delayed ExoMars mission, will drill several feet beneath the surface, where microbes could remain shielded from radiation and potentially active. Beyond Mars, icy moons like Europa and Enceladus are even more promising. They are known to host subsurface oceans and erupt plumes of water vapour into space. Sephton envisions the method being applied there too. “Our active life detection method could be deployed on Mars and the plumes of icy moons in the outer solar system, or in samples returned to Earth from potential alien biospheres,” he said.

The method could also help right here at home. Sephton sees the technique as both cost-effective and versatile. Instead of designing entirely new instruments for each mission, scientists could repurpose existing ones to do more than originally intended. Teams preparing to analyse samples returned from Mars are planning multimillion-dollar facilities to screen for possible life. A quick and simple GC-MS test would make the task more efficient, flagging which samples deserve deeper analysis. It’s an approach that may accelerate discoveries without requiring decades of waiting for the next mission to launch. It shows that sometimes the tools for transformative science are already in our hands – it just takes a new perspective to see them differently.

Whether or not life is discovered, the technique itself represents a leap forward. The search for extraterrestrial life is often portrayed as a grand adventure, requiring futuristic technology and vast budgets. Hirsch and Sephton’s work offers a humbler but no less profound possibility: the answer to one of humanity’s oldest questions may already be riding around the Martian surface waiting to be asked the right question in the right way. As Hirsch put it, the possibility remains remote but real: “Our expectation of finding things alive on the Martian surface is low due to the hostile temperature and radiation conditions. Still, we aren’t ruling out the possibility.” And if life does exist, this new approach may be the simplest way to prove it. By exploring things beyond Earth, we inspire people to get interested in and involved in science. Reaching Mars will inspire a lot of people around the world and might bring some new era of thought process about the universe.

The Bombardier Global 8000

Bombardier Global 8000 stuns the world with Record-Breaking flight 

The Bombardier Global 8000 is the world’s fastest civilian aircraft since Concorde with a top speed of Mach 0.94. In the fast-evolving world of aviation, the unveiling of the Bombardier Global 8000 represents a remarkable leap forward in both speed and luxury. This new aircraft, which has successfully completed its flight tests, stands as the fastest civil aircraft since the iconic Concorde. By combining cutting-edge technology with unparalleled comfort, the Global 8000 is set to redefine the standards of business travel. As the aviation community eagerly anticipates its official launch, this aircraft not only promises to set new benchmarks in performance but also to influence the future direction of the industry. It is the only business jet with four true living spaces and a range of 8000 nautical miles to take you faster, farther and in greater comfort than anything else in business aviation. Following are the some of the important points:-

The Bombardier Global 8000 is the fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde, reaching speeds of Mach 0.94.

Bombardier is committed to sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly technologies and supporting sustainable aviation fuel initiatives.

 The aircraft offers exceptional luxury and comfort with four distinct living spaces for up to 19 passengers.

 With a range of 8,000 nautical miles, it connects major cities like Dubai and Houston without stopping.

The first business jet to go supersonic in testing, Global 8000 is the fastest civil aircraft with a top speed of Mach 0.94 and a first ever ultra-high-speed cruise of Mach 0.92. The Bombardier Global 8000 is making waves in the aviation industry with its unprecedented speed. Capable of reaching a top speed of approximately 721 mph, this aircraft is rewriting the rules of civil aviation. Equipped with GE Aerospace Passport engines, the Global 8000 combines speed with efficiency, ensuring reliable performance. Its aerodynamic design is crafted to maximize speed while maintaining safety and stability, setting a new standard for business jets. 

The world becomes within reach with an 8,000 NM range, an ultra-high-speed cruise range of up to 4,200 NM and the longest reach from the shortest runways. The Global 8000 can connect distant cities without the need for refuelling stops. This capability opens up new possibilities for non-stop long-haul routes, linking cities such as Dubai and Houston or Singapore and Los Angeles. The aircraft’s ability to operate from smaller airports further enhances its versatility. As noted by Bombardier’s vice president, Stephen McCullough, the Global 8000 is poised to redefine the landscape of business aviation, offering capabilities which were once thought to be unattainable.

Global 8000 business jet is the only one to offer the comfort of four spacious suites and a range of 8,000 NM, so you never need to compromise on cabin space for range. Beyond its impressive speed, the Bombardier Global 8000 offers an extraordinary level of luxury and comfort, making it a standout choice for discerning travellers. The aircraft is designed to accommodate up to 19 passengers, featuring four distinct living spaces which provide a personalized and comfortable travel experience. These include a dedicated crew rest area, allowing for extended flights without compromising on service quality. The cabin is equipped with advanced noise-cancellation technology and customizable interiors, creating a serene environment that meets the highest standards of luxury. The Global 8000 also boasts state-of-the-art amenities, ensuring passengers remain productive and entertained during their journey. With its focus on passenger comfort, the Global 8000 is set to redefine the expectations of luxury air travel. It gives the comfort of the most spacious cockpit and crew quarters in the industry, the precision of cutting-edge fly-by-wire technology and the power of advanced automation. High-speed internet access and cutting-edge entertainment systems are standard, catering to the needs of modern travellers. This combination of performance and luxury positions the Global 8000 as a leader in the business jet market, offering an unrivalled experience for those who demand the best. 

The introduction of the Bombardier Global 8000 is poised to have far-reaching implications for the aviation industry. Its unmatched speed and range set a new benchmark for business jets, challenging competitors to innovate and enhance their offerings. The aircraft’s ability to access remote airports expands travel possibilities, potentially transforming the dynamics of business travel. Furthermore, by prioritizing sustainability, Bombardier is setting an example for environmentally responsible aviation, encouraging other manufacturers to adopt similar practices. Smooth Flĕx Wing is like an in-air shock absorber, engineered to help dampen turbulence for the industry’s smoothest ride and the best wet and dry runway performance. As environmental concerns grow, the Bombardier Global 8000 represents a significant step toward sustainability in aviation. The aircraft incorporates numerous eco-friendly technologies aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. Its engines are designed to be more fuel-efficient, decreasing emissions without sacrificing performance. Additionally, the Global 8000 is constructed using materials optimized for sustainability, resulting in a lighter, more efficient structure.

Bombardier’s commitment to environmental responsibility extends beyond the aircraft itself. The company is actively involved in initiatives to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can significantly reduce carbon emissions. This aircraft stands as a testament to what can be achieved when performance and sustainability are prioritized, setting a precedent for future developments in the aviation industry. The launch of the Global 8000 also reflects the growing demand for high-performance business jets that offer both speed and luxury. By integrating latest technologies and practices, the Global 8000 not only advances aviation capabilities but also aligns with global efforts to combat climate change. As global business travel recovers, the need for efficient, long-range aircraft becomes increasingly clear. The Global 8000 is well-positioned to meet this demand, offering a unique blend of technological advancement and passenger comfort. It is certain that Bombardier Global 8000 would influence the future of aviation and redefine the standards of luxury travel around the world.

74 hours non-stop flying on only solar power

 747-Sized Drone flies 74 hours non-stop on only solar power

US-based aerospace startup Skydweller Aero has successfully flown its solar-powered drone for nearly three days straight in recent tests. The aircraft, which has a wingspan wider than a Boeing 747, flew entirely on solar and battery power, and then did it again. And it did it fuelled by nothing but photons and electrons for the entire time. The company's stated goal is to eventually achieve "perpetual" flight, in which the drone would only have to land once it needs maintenance. “In back-to-back missions, Skydweller, the world’s largest solar-powered aircraft, stayed aloft for 73 and 74 hours, powered entirely by sunlight,” said the firm. “Over the course of four recent flights, the aircraft logged 222 total hours in the air, validating its endurance, resilience and transformative potential.” This represents significant progress toward the company’s ultimate goal of achieving “perpetual” flight. Because Skydwellers are solar-powered, they are green with zero carbon footprint.

The recent tests were conducted by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), the drone's first potential customer. The Navy is interested in what a Skydweller could bring to its operations in Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which encompasses Mexico, Latin America, and all nearby waters. Loaded up with a variety of sensors, a Skydweller could sweep for piracy, drug trafficking or any other illegal activity.  The US Navy is assessing the Skydweller for long-duration intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions within the vast US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area. Of course, lots of drones and other aircraft already exist which can do that. Skydweller's party trick is its flight time, which is just outrageously good. For reference, the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, which has a wingspan of 131 feet, can only fly for around 30 hours. The Skydweller's recent tests got as far as 74 hours. That mostly has to do with how the two are refuelled: where the Global Hawk has a turbofan engine which requires good old-fashioned jet fuel, the Skydweller is fully electric and solar.

The aircraft’s performance is a result of its power system and lightweight construction. Its airframe is built from carbon fibre and its expansive wings are covered with 17,000 solar cells which can generate up to 100 kW of power. While the Air Force does have in-air gas stations, in the form of the KC-135 and the newer KC-46 planes, Global Hawks and other drones are not equipped to receive fuel from them. There is a logic to that: since drones are often operating in hostile areas and hoping to stay undetected, flying a jumbo jet over to it doesn't make a lot of sense. The Global Hawk therefore has to fly back to base to get its petroleum fix. During daylight hours, this electricity drives the drone’s four propellers and on board systems while also charging a 1,400-pound battery system. After sunset, the aircraft draws power from these batteries, allowing it to continue flying through the night until the sun rises to recharge the system. 

By contrast, the carbon fibre Skydweller has no gas tank at all, but rather 1400 pounds of batteries, fully 25% of the maximum capacity weight. But even better are what's on those enormous wings, 17,000 solar cells, making 100kW of power. During the day, that's enough to power the four propeller's, avionics and up to 800 pounds of sensor equipment. It's also enough to charge up those batteries, which it then flies on during the night. Recharge mid-air the next day, fly another night; recharge mid-air the next day, fly another night. That's what these recent tests demonstrated. Again, the goal is perpetual flight, and that opens up a whole Pandora's box of opportunities. “Skydwellers are made out of carbon fibre and are capable of uncrewed perpetual flight, typically staying aloft for 30-90 days or longer,” highlighted the company.  This means the aircraft would only need to land for mechanical maintenance, not for fuel. Besides, this drone can carry payloads of up to 881 pounds (400 kg). This significantly improved over previous solar UAVs, which had limited use because they couldn’t carry heavy loads.

For the military, the use cases here are pretty clear. Need to observe an enemy base constantly,  have a Skydweller fly in circles nearby forever. Or is there a place where a terrorist commander will probably show up, someday, maybe? Just park a Skydweller there and have it alert you if he ever shows up. Neverending patrols are another good option, as is a kind of backup GPS capability. Such a capability would allow for a continuous presence over a target area with fewer aircraft and lower operational costs compared to conventional fleets. The ability to provide unbroken monitoring over large swaths of ocean and land could aid in detecting activities like drug trafficking and illegal fishing. The Skydweller platform offers a different operational model than existing ISR assets. The jet-powered RQ-4 Global Hawk, for example, has a flight time of around 30 hours before it must return to base for fuel. While the military operates refuelling tankers, using them for uncrewed aircraft in sensitive areas is often not tactically feasible. The Skydweller’s self-powering design circumvents this logistical constraint.

“Our customers are planning to deploy Skydwellers for long-duration missions like detecting drug smugglers and pirates at sea, providing continuous aerial coverage above war zones, surveilling naval activity in contested waters without risking flight crew’s lives, and tracking wildlife migration and poaching in Africa,” concluded Skydweller. Its AI-driven data processing enables on board target classification, dramatically reducing data loads sent to ground control and enabling efficient bandwidth use, which is critical for long-duration autonomous missions. Beyond government use, Skydweller Aero plans to enter the commercial sector. The drone could be equipped with sensors for scientific applications, such as atmospheric data collection or environmental monitoring. Skydweller Aero makes it clear that it has commercial ambitions, too. For example, sensors could be used for scientific research, too. Meanwhile, SpaceX's Starlink promises the internet to anyone anywhere, but it's also blinding our telescopes and congesting low earth orbit, it accounts for 60% of all satellites! Skydwellers could hang out in far-flung areas and provide customers with high-speed internet without either of those issues around the world.