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Robot dog can stifle weeds by blasting them with a flamethrower

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Science

Robot dog can stifle weeds by blasting them with a flamethrower

A robot dog equipped with a flamethrower could be used to stop weeds growing on farms, potentially offering a replacement for harmful herbicides. Even highly targeted herbicides can cause environmental problems, affecting local wildlife, and “superweeds” are quickly evolving resistance to the most common weed-killers like glyphosate. In search of an alternative solution, Dezhen Song at Texas A&M University and his colleagues have developed a weed control system that uses a brief burst of heat from a propane-powered flamethrower controlled by a robotic arm, attached to a Spot robot manufactured by Boston Dynamics. Rather than incinerate the weeds, the robot is designed to identify and heat up the centre of the plant, which can stop it growing for se...

Buckley SFB helps DoD monitor, restore monarch migration > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

Buckley SFB helps DoD monitor, restore monarch migration > United States Space Force > Article Display

BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Every year, monarch butterflies make a multi-generational migration across North America to overwintering sites in Mexico and California, with many passing through Colorado along the way. Buckley Space Force Base is one of many locations across the Department of Defense where wildlife biologists are working to monitor and restore habitats for monarchs to help facilitate this migration.Monarch populations have declined by over 90% in recent years due to multiple threats including habitat loss. Currently, the monarch is a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act."Monarch butterflies are an important indicator species for the health of our environment," said Veronica Reed, Buckley’s U.S. Fis...

An Inclusive Learning Destination Center for All

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NASA

An Inclusive Learning Destination Center for All

Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month Did you know an eclipse has sound? Thanks to innovative technology, guests can listen to the sonification of an eclipse using a LightSound box which converts data (light intensity) into sound. Guests are shown experiencing the October 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse at Space Center Houston using a sound machine box. (Photo Courtesy, Aaron Rodriguez). Space Center Houston is a destination to explore the marvels of space and human spaceflight bringing people and space closer together, and this includes individuals with disabilities to fully immerse themselves in the wonders of space.  As a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), the science center is the first Autism-...

US Space Forces Korea holds first change of command ceremony > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

US Space Forces Korea holds first change of command ceremony > United States Space Force > Article Display

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Col. John Patrick accepted command of U.S. Space Forces Korea from Lt. Col. Joshua McCullion during a change of command ceremony at Osan Air Base, July 12.The event marks the first official change of command for the unit, which was activated as a USSF field component under U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific and assigned to the U.S. Forces Korea sub-unified command in December 2022.Patrick took command of SPACEFOR-KOR from his previous assignment at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he established NATO’s Combined Force Space Component Command and the NATO Space Centre. He is a career space operations officer, with command experience at the squadron level and joint experience in both Germany and Belgium.Brig. Gen. Anthon...

Take a look behind the scenes at the world’s largest fusion experiment

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Science

Take a look behind the scenes at the world’s largest fusion experiment

The 30-metre-deep assembly pit for the tokamak©enrico sacchetti Extreme in scale and ambition, this is ITER, the €20-billion energy project being built in southern France. It is set to pave the way to fusion power, akin to that which fuels the sun. Work started on the world’s biggest fusion experiment in 2006 through an international effort, including the European Union, the US, China and Russia. The first run of the reactor, during which it will create superhot matter known as plasma – a state necessary for nuclear fusion to occur – was scheduled for 2020. This was first pushed back to 2025, and fresh delays have now postponed it to 2035. Meanwhile, exclusive photographs taken by Enrico Sacchetti offer a glimpse into ITER’s construction and potential. One of the Toroi...