December 25, 2017

Scientists Accidentally Discover Completely New Kind of Quantum Material (Source: Newsweek)
Physicists have discovered the existence of an entirely new kind of quantum material, more or less on accident. The breakthrough could lead to the creation of a semimetal with the potential to revolutionize energy transmission technology.

Researchers from the Rice Center for Quantum Materials in Houston, Texas, and the Vienna University of Technology in Austria, recently created a theoretical model they hoped would help them better understand high-temperature superconductivity, according to a Rice University press release. To their surprise, the model revealed the potential to create a never-before-seen semimetal in an completely separate branch of physics: topological quantum materials. (12/24)

Arecibo Radio Telescope Captures New Images of 'Potentially Hazardous Asteroid' (Source: Newsweek)
When Hurricane Marie swept through Puerto Rico, it left behind extensive damage to many structures, including the Arecibo Observatory Planetary Radar—the world’s second-largest single-dish radio telescope. Although the telescope's radio activity resumed in a matter of days, its ability to collect radio observations was halted for months. More than three months later, the telescope is finally back up and running as usual.

3200 Phaethon—an Apollo asteroid—came the closest to Earth it has ever been on December 16. On that date, the telescope captured high-quality images of the asteroid, which won't be in such close proximity to Earth until the year 2093, according to Space.com. The new radar images show off the asteroid’s immense size, shape, as well a notable dark feature near one of its poles.

It’s unknown exactly where the massive object came from, but one theory suggests it used to be a comet; however, it’s true origin has perplexed astronomers. In 1983, Pantheon became the first-ever asteroid to be discovered via satellite. For decades, the NASA-funded Arecibo Observatory has provided important images of both Pantheon and various other types of data to scientists. (12/24)

World View Balloon Goes Boom (Source: Arizona Daily Star)
An exploding balloon at World View's Tucson headquarters rattled neighbors but caused no serious damage Tuesday. The balloon was in the process of being deflated after a successful ground test when it ruptured, the company said, causing superficial damage but no injuries. The force of the bursting balloon was felt at a neighboring Raytheon Missile Systems facility, which reported falling ceiling tiles and dust debris. World View didn't say if this test involved the use of hydrogen or helium to inflate the balloon. (12/24)

NASA Begins Preps for 2069 Interstellar Mission (Source: New Scientist)
NASA has begin planning for an interstellar mission… for launch in 2069. A JPL researcher said at a conference last week that planning is underway for a mission to Alpha Centauri, but added it's "very nebulous" at this stage, with most of the technology needed for such a mission having yet to be developed. The study, and the 2069 schedule, are based on language in NASA appropriations added by Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas), who chairs the appropriations subcommittee that funds the agency and has been an advocate for such a mission. (12/24)

China's CASIC Gets Funding to Develop Small Rocket (Source: GB Times)
A Chinese company has secured more than $180 million in funding to develop small launch vehicles. CASIC Rocket Technology Company, also known as Expace, said it signed agreements Monday for the funding round to support work on its Kuaizhou series of small solid-fueled launch vehicles. Its Kuaizhou-1A rocket made its first launch in January, with the larger Kuaizhou-11 scheduled to debut in the first half of 2018. (12/24)

Senate Committee Blocks Trump's ExIm Bank Pick (Source: Space News)
A Senate committee Tuesday blocked the White House's nominee to be chairman of the Export-Import Bank, while approving four other board nominees. Two Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee joined the committee's Democrats in voting against Scott Garrett to chair the bank's board. They argued that Garrett, an outspoken critic of the bank when he served in the House, was the wrong choice to lead the export credit agency. The other four board nominees passed by wide margins and await confirmation by the full Senate. The board has been without a quorum for more than two years, preventing it from approving large deals, including those for commercial satellites and launches. (12/24)

Boeing and Lockheed Have a New Rival in Space (Source: Motley Fool)
No one sells more goods and services to the government than Lockheed Martin and Boeing. These two aerospace giants are the Nos. 1 and 2 biggest contractors to the federal government, respectively -- and to the Pentagon and NASA -- according to a 2016 report by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). And yet, when it comes to space contracting, these two behemoths now have a new rival. No, I'm not talking about SpaceX. I'm talking about Virgin Orbit. Click here. (12/24)

UFO Spotted by Guillermo Del Toro (Source: Newsweek)
Film director Guillermo del Toro once saw a “crappy," but terrifying unidentified flying object while gazing at the stars in his native Mexico. Speaking in an interview series at a California film school in November, The Shape of Water movie maker described being scared after seeing the UFO in the sky when he was younger. “You sound like a complete lunatic, but I saw a UFO. I didn't want to see a UFO. It was horribly designed,” he said, explaining that he had the unexpected encounter while hanging out with a friend in the Mexican mountains.

“We sit down to watch the stars and have the beer and talk. We were the only guys by the freeway. And we saw a light on the horizon going  super-fast, not linear like. And I said, 'Honk and flash the lights.' And we started honking,” the 53-year-old auteur said, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“And it went from there to here—like 1,000 meters away—in less than a second and it was so crappy,” he added. “It was a flying saucer. So clichéd, with lights going like this. It's so sad. I wish I could reveal they're not what you think they are. They are what you think they are. And the fear we felt was so primal.” Del Toro said he hopped into the car and started driving quickly. First, he looked back and noticed it was following them and when he glanced back again, it was gone. (12/25)