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Department of the Air Force issues draft documents for new SpaceX launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

Department of the Air Force issues draft documents for new SpaceX launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base – Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Starlink 15-3 mission. Image: SpaceX SpaceX is moving ahead with expansion plans at Vandenberg Space Force Base that will double its West Coast launch cadence and enable Falcon Heavy rockets to fly from California. Last week, the Department of the Air Force issued its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which considers proposed modifications from SpaceX to Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg. At the heart of the request are three key items: Modifying the pad to support the launches of both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets Constructing two new landing pads adjacent to SLC-6 Increasing SpaceX’s permitted launch cadence from Vandenberg from 50 launches to 100 The trans...

Capella Space bets on quantum future under IonQ ownership

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NASA

Capella Space bets on quantum future under IonQ ownership

ST. LOUIS — Capella Space, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite company known for capturing high-resolution images of Earth in all weather and lighting conditions, is preparing for a major pivot — one that could redefine how Earth-observation data is delivered and secured.Earlier this month, IonQ, a Maryland-based quantum computing firm, announced its intent to acquire Capella in an all-stock deal valued at nearly $318 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approval. Capella will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of IonQ but continue to run and upgrade its SAR satellite constellation.IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi, a physicist and entrepreneur, took the company public in 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisiti...

The bold attempt to solve the toughest mystery at the heart of physics

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Science

The bold attempt to solve the toughest mystery at the heart of physics

Physics is tough. Want to spot a ripple in space-time? You just need a detector capable of seeing a length change less than one-millionth the size of an atom. Want to find a Higgs boson? No problem – so long as you have $7 billion, 14 years and 6000 scientists to hand. Still, one experiment is so hard as to make even the cheeriest physicist gulp: testing the idea that gravity is quantum. A theory of quantum gravity is the outstanding goal of modern physics. It would reconcile two currently incompatible pillars of our description of the universe: general relativity, our large-scale theory of gravity; and quantum mechanics, our microscopic account of nature’s other fundamental forces. Individually, these have been thoroughly tested, always passing with flying colours. Y...

Universe’s end – sooner rather than later – Astronomy Now

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Astronomy

Universe’s end – sooner rather than later – Astronomy Now

The vast, magnificent universe of stars, galaxies, and time itself has an expiration date—and it may come far sooner than once thought. A team of Dutch researchers from Radboud University has proposed that the universe could decay in roughly 10⁷⁸ years, compared to the previously believed 10¹⁰⁰ years. Their conclusion stems from a bold reinterpretation of Hawking radiation. The vast Universe, stretching 13.8 billion light years in all directions Originally, Hawking radiation described black holes emitting faint energy due to quantum fluctuations, suggesting they could slowly evaporate. But physicists Heino Falcke, Michael Vendrell, and Walter van Suijlekom have expanded this idea. They suggest Hawking-like radiation applies not only to black holes but to any massive object with a gravitat...

Building Climate Resilience in Communities at Home and Abroad – State of the Planet

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Science

Building Climate Resilience in Communities at Home and Abroad – State of the Planet

Anar Amarjargal grew up in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia—a city once ranked the most polluted capital in the world. Early on, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution to the complex environmental issues her community faced. After completing an undergraduate degree in environment and development in Japan, Amarjargal is now pursuing her M.A. in Climate and Society at the Columbia Climate School. In the Q&A below, she shares her global journey through sustainable investment, food systems and disaster recovery, and how she came to embrace her diverse but interconnected interests within the climate space. Courtesy of Anar Amarjargal What brought you to the M.A. in Climate and Society program? After undergrad, I knew I wanted to deepen my understanding of environmental science and ...