ScienceDaily: Space Policy News

Cyberthreats must require governments and businesses to be 'cyberrisk intelligent'

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

In an age where cybersecurity is of foremost interest for governments and businesses, public and private organizations must deploy risk-intelligence governance to secure their digital communications and resources from eavesdropping, theft or attack, according to a new article.

Green spaces may boost wellbeing for city dwellers

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:13:13 EDT

New research has found that people living in urban areas with more green space tend to report greater wellbeing than city dwellers that don't have parks, gardens, or other green space nearby.

How hard is it to 'de-anonymize' cellphone data?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Scientists analyzed data on 1.5 million cellphone users in a small European country over a span of 15 months and found that just four points of reference, with fairly low spatial and temporal resolution, was enough to uniquely identify 95 percent of them. This means that to extract the complete location information for a single person from an “anonymized” data set of more than a million people, all you would need to do is place him or her within a couple of hundred yards of a cellphone transmitter, sometime over the course of an hour, four times in one year. A few Twitter posts would probably provide all the information you needed, if they contained specific information about the person’s whereabouts.

Conservation development has some developers thinking -- and seeing -- green

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:04:04 EST

Homes in neighborhoods that incorporate protected open space command prices 20 to 29 percent higher than those without open space, according to a new study.

Camera inside spiraling football provides ball's-eye view of field

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:20:20 EST

Researchers have shown that a camera embedded in the side of a rubber-sheathed plastic foam football can record video while the ball is in flight that could give spectators a unique, ball's-eye view of the playing field. They developed a computer algorithm that converts the unwatchable, raw video into a stable, wide-angle view.

Skateboarders can be good for the environment

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:59:59 EST

A recent study suggests that skateboarders in Chicago perform in and transform urban spaces by exploring different terrains and developing unforeseen uses. Waxing ledges is a widespread practice among skateboarders that smoothens ledges allowing for speed and exhilaration, communicating to other skateboarders that ‘here is a cool space'.

Doubt cast on late British astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell's 'brainwashing' by Soviets

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:45:45 EST

A new article casts doubt on the alleged "brainwashing" of the late British astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell by the Soviets at the height of the Cold War and explains how his trips beyond the Iron Curtain laid the foundations for the easing of geopolitical tensions between the UK and the USSR.

Children's play spaces becoming increasingly artificial

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:14:14 EST

What makes a good children's play space? Researchers discovers a world of difference between the 'play memories' of older residents of the East End of London -- who recall wandering freely, playing in the spaces between homes, shops and parks -- and the experiences of today's children, forced into rigid, over-designed and artificial play spaces.

In global trade, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:56:56 EST

Researchers examined the relationship between products in global trade and a country’s product specialization pattern and found that a multitude of similar of products can be beneficial to growth, but after a point, the benefit begins to decline.

Better syringe designs could nearly eradicate global annual HIV infections from syringe sharing within eight years

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:59:59 EST

Switching the type of syringe used by people who inject drugs could help curb HIV transmission in countries with injection-driven epidemics within eight years, according to a new article.

National disagreement over NASA's goals and objectives detrimental to agency planning

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:24:24 EST

Without a national consensus on strategic goals and objectives for NASA, the agency cannot be expected to establish or work toward achieving long-term priorities, says a new report.

Government, industry can better manage risks of very rare catastrophic events, experts say

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 EST

The mindset that uses the extreme unlikelihood of a catastrophic event as a rationale for not taking measures before a disaster happens, factored into the risk management failures of the Fukushima Tsunami, 9/11 and other such events, but a better approach is available, experts say.

The Generation X report: How many Gen Xers know their cosmic address?

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:10:10 EDT

Less than half of Generation X adults can identify our home in the universe, a spiral galaxy, according to a new report.

NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new paper

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:17:17 EDT

The United States may lose its leadership role in space to other countries unless it makes research and development funding and processes a renewed and urgent priority, according to a new paper.

Felix Baumgartner successfully lands after highest freefall from edge of space

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:06:06 EDT

After flying to an altitude of 39 kilometers (24 miles) in a helium-filled balloon, Felix Baumgartner completed Sunday morning a record breaking jump for the ages from the edge of space, exactly 65 years after Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier flying in an experimental rocket-powered airplane. The 43-year-old Austrian skydiving expert also broke two other world records (highest freefall, highest manned balloon flight).

NASA's Curiosity rover checks in on Mars using Foursquare

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:17:17 EDT

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover checked in on Mars Wednesday using the mobile application Foursquare. This marks the first check-in on another planet. Users on Foursquare can keep up with Curiosity as the rover checks in at key locations and posts photos and tips, all while exploring the Red Planet.

Science fiction is not put to good use in teaching, Spanish study finds

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:30:30 EDT

A new study from Spain finds that science fiction, especially the cinema, is very popular among secondary school students and teachers see it as a good way of motivating interest in the sciences. However, out of the 31 textbooks analyzed, only nine make some form of reference to science fiction cinema as a teaching resource.

Computers get a better way to detect threats

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:50:50 EDT

Computer scientists have developed a technique to automatically allow one computer in a virtual network to monitor another for intrusions, viruses or other kinds of threats.

Report recommends cost-effective plan to strengthen U.S. defense against ballistic missile attacks

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:53:53 EDT

To more effectively defend against ballistic missile attacks, the United States should concentrate on defense systems that intercept enemy missiles in midcourse, a new report recommends.

Tigers take the night shift to coexist with people

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:39:39 EDT

Tigers don't have a reputation for being accommodating, but a new study indicates that the feared and revered carnivores in and around a park in Nepal are taking the night shift to better coexist with their human neighbors. The revelation that tigers and people are sharing the same space flies in the face of long-held convictions in conservation circles. It also underscores how successful conservation efforts need sciences that takes into account both nature and humans.

Neil Armstrong, 1930-2012: U.S. astronaut was first man to walk on the moon

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:36:36 EDT

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, has died, following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82. Armstrong's words "That is one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind," spoken on July 20, 1969, as he became the first person ever to step onto another planetary body, instantly became a part of history.

Berlin beats London and Washington in league table of world's best democratic space, experts say

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:18:18 EDT

New research suggests that Berlin has the best democratic space in the world, topping a list that includes London, Washington and Tokyo.

NASA explains why clocks will get an extra second on June 30

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:19:19 EDT

If the day seems a little longer than usual on Saturday, June 30, 2012, that's because it will be. An extra second, or "leap" second, will be added at midnight to account for the fact that it is taking Earth longer and longer to complete one full turn--a day--or, technically, a solar day.

Rio+20 Summit: Earth observation for us and our planet

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 09:43:43 EDT

The Rio+20 summit on promoting jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable use of our planet's resources closed today after three days of talks. During the summit, the role of Earth observation in sustainable development was highlighted.

Eat less meat and farm efficiently to tackle climate change, scientists say

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:59:59 EDT

We need to eat less meat and recycle our waste to re-balance the global carbon cycle and reduce our risk of dangerous levels of climate change, according to scientists. New research shows that if today's meat-eating habits continue, the predicted rise in the global population could spell ecological disaster. But changes in our lifestyle and our farming could make space for growing crops for bioenergy and carbon storage.

Single-track sustainability 'solutions' threaten people and planet, experts say

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:11:11 EDT

The targets, indicators and approaches being used to pursue progress towards sustainable development at Rio+20 are counter-productive, say scientists in a new paper. Three renowned sustainability institutes argue that global and grassroots innovations must be connected to avoid breaching planetary boundaries and reversing progress on poverty reduction.

Northeast Passage soon free from ice again?

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:31:31 EDT

The Northeast Passage, the sea route along the North coast of Russia, is expected to be free of ice early again this summer. The forecast was made by sea ice physicists based on a series of measurement flights over the Laptev Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.

Space lawyer: Before humans step into commercial spaceflight, laws need giant leap

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:47:47 EDT

SpaceX’s launch to the International Space Station opens a new era in commercial spaceflight -- and raises questions about what laws govern private space companies and what legal obstacles affect future human space travel.

Space law expert: Before first asteroids are mined, legal framework must be improved

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:49:49 EDT

Entrepreneurs' announced venture to extract water and precious metals from asteroids has generated excitement, but it comes amid a vague legal landscape that could complicate plans for space mining, an international space law expert said.

Astrobiologist proposes fleet of probes to seek life on Mars: Sensors would punch into soil, run range of tests

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:31:31 EDT

Astrobiologists are calling for a mission to Mars with "a strong and comprehensive life detection component." At the heart of their proposal is a small fleet of sensor packages that can punch into the Martian soil and run a range of tests for signs of ancient or existing life.

Getting to the moon on drops of fuel

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:18:18 EDT

The first prototype of a new, ultra-compact motor that will allow small satellites to journey beyond Earth's orbit is just making its way out of the lab. The goal of the micro motor: to drastically reduce the cost of space exploration.

35,000 gallons of prevention: Containing a tunnel flood with an inflatable stopper

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:05:05 EDT

Scientists have successfully tested an unprecedented technology for containing flooding or dangerous gases in mass transit tunnels: a giant plug.

Teachers fly experiments on NASA reduced gravity flights

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:59:59 EST

More than 70 teachers had an opportunity to experience what it feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston last week.

Hundreds of threatened species not on official U.S. list, research shows

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:26:26 EST

Many of the animal species at risk of extinction in the United States have not made it onto the country's official Endangered Species Act list, according to new research.

MP3 players 'shrink' our personal space

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:51:51 EDT

Researchers wanted to find out whether there is a way to make the intrusion of our personal space on the subway (underground railway) more tolerable. Their results reveal that listening to music through headphones can change people’s margins of personal space.

Carbon sequestration policy must balance private property, public good, expert urges

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:19:19 EDT

The lack of a settled legal framework that balances private property rights while maximizing the public good ultimately hinders the large-scale commercial deployment of geologic carbon sequestration, according to research by an agricultural law expert.

Astronomy and geophysics bring women into science, UK study shows

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:42:42 EDT

Women are better represented in astronomy and solid-Earth geophysics research than in other areas of physics, according to a major study. Researchers collected data on more than 2000 research employees and students in astronomy and solid-Earth geophysics in the UK to establish the composition of this community and better understand its work. Less encouragingly, the survey results show how these research areas are poor at recruiting people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups and that addressing this deficit remains a significant challenge.

Fukushima: Reflections six months on

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:41:41 EDT

When the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 11, 2011, the world witnessed the largest nuclear incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. In a special Fukushima issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published today by SAGE, experts examine the current and future impact of Fukushima, what might have been done to lessen the scale of the accident, and the steps we need to take both in Japan and worldwide to prevent another nuclear tragedy.

Uncertain climate models impair long-term climate strategies: New calibration satellite required to make accurate predictions, say scientists

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:19:19 EDT

A new paper explains weaknesses in our understanding of climate change and how we can fix them. These issues mean predictions vary wildly about how quickly temperatures will rise, resulting in serious implications for long-term political and economic planning, experts argue.

Cyber security report identifies key research priorities

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:32:32 EDT

Developing self-learning, self aware cyber security technologies, protecting smart utility grids and enhancing the security of mobile networks are among the top research priorities needed to safeguard the internet of tomorrow, according to a new report.

Memorial image taken on Mars on Sept. 11, 2011

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:45:45 EDT

A view of a memorial to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center towers was taken on Mars on Sept. 11, 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Liquor store density linked to youth homicides, U.S. studies find

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:39:39 EDT

Violent crime could be reduced significantly if policymakers at the local level limit the number of neighborhood liquor stores and ban the sale of single-serve containers of alcoholic beverages, according to separate U.S. studies.

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory set to launch experimental TacSat-4 spacecraft

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:17:17 EDT

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory TacSat-4 spacecraft is scheduled to launch, Tuesday, September 27 from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's Kodiak Launch Complex. TacSat-4 is a Navy-led joint mission which provides 10 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) channels and allows troops using existing radios to communicate on-the-move (COTM) from obscured regions without the need for dangerous antenna positioning and pointing.

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory flight-tests autonomous multi-target, multi-user tracking capability

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:49:49 EDT

Researchers have shown an autonomous multi-sensor motion-tracking and interrogation system that reduces the workload for analysts by automatically finding moving objects, then presenting high-resolution images of those objects with no human input.

Landsat 5 satellite helps emergency managers fight largest fire in Arizona history

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:39:39 EDT

The largest fire in the history of the state of Arizona continues to burn and emergency managers and responders are using satellite data from a variety of instruments to plan their firefighting containment strategies and mitigation efforts once the fires are out.

Report provides NASA with direction for next 10 years of space research

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:12:12 EDT

A group of prominent researchers from across the United States published a report that is intended as a guide as NASA plans the next 10 years of research in space. The scientists developed a blueprint for fundamental physics research in space for the next 10 years.

Renewal of a life and physical sciences research program at NASA could facilitate longer, farther human space missions

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:32:32 EDT

By elevating its life and physical sciences research program, NASA could achieve the biological understanding and technical breakthroughs needed to allow humans to be sent deeper into space, according to a new report.

What choice do we have?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:15:15 EDT

Too much choice can be a bad thing -- not just for the individual, but for society. Thinking about choices makes people less sympathetic to others and less likely to support policies that help people, according to a new study.

Designing a city for safe protests

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:23:23 EST

Recent events in Egypt proved that large urban spaces are essential to the healthy expression of civil dissent. Architects and city planners should design useful and effective spaces to allow for widespread assembly and civil participation, experts say.

New assessment of black carbon and tropospheric ozone's role in climate change

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:28:28 EST

Specific measures could already have a positive impact on climate protection and public health. These measures do not replace those related to carbon dioxide, and their full implementation could reduce global warming by 0.5 degrees C.

Better mapping of human settlements to support crisis management operations

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:18:18 EST

When a major disaster strikes in remote parts of the world, knowing if the area is populated, and how densely, is crucial for the effective organization of humanitarian operations. This information will soon be available on a global scale.

Social networking provides insights into leadership, trust and mobility

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:16:16 EST

Computer scientists provide insights into how the analysis of our social networking interactions could discover things like the emergence or decline of leadership, changes in trust over time, and migration and mobility within particular communities online.

Post-9/11 security zones blight landscape, create 'architecture of fear'

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:19:19 EST

A new study says post-9/11 "security zones" in major American cities blight landscape, create "architecture of fear" and safety effects may be negligible.

Satellites pinpoint drivers of urban heat islands in northeastern U.S.

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:38:38 EST

The size, background ecology, and development patterns of major northeastern cities combine to make them unusually warm, according to NASA scientists. Summer land surface temperatures of cities in the Northeast were an average of 13°F to 16°F (7°C to 9°C) warmer than surrounding rural areas over a three year period, the new research shows. The complex phenomenon that drives up temperatures of cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. is called the urban heat island effect.

Earth and space science missions have fewer risks if conducted by a single government agency, report finds

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:11:11 EST

Earth and space science missions developed and implemented by federal agencies in collaboration typically result in additional complexity and cost and increased risks from divided responsibilities and accountability, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Disease tracking: Is there an app for that?

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 07:58:58 EST

British scientists are hoping to use the location, or 'geo', information that is increasingly a part of mobile internet and phone usage, to track the spread of infectious diseases and so provide important clues about how quickly a pandemic might occur and also provide data with which epidemiologists can work.

NASA partnership sends earth science data to Africa

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:43:43 EDT

A unique partnership between NASA and agencies in Africa and Europe has sent more than 30 terabytes of free Earth science satellite data to South African researchers to support sustainable development and environmental applications in Africa.

SERVIR: Program brings satellite imagery, decision support tools to Himalayan region

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:06:06 EDT

NASA and USAID are expanding SERVIR to the Himalayas to address critical issues such as land cover change, air quality, glacial melt and adaptation to climate change.

World Cowpea Research Conference: Crop experts embrace legume prized for protein and resilience to hot, dry climates

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:51:51 EDT

A long neglected crop with the potential to halt hunger for millions in Africa, sustain the livestock revolution underway in developing countries, rejuvenate nutrient-sapped soils, and even feed astronauts on extended space missions, is attracting scientists from around the world to Senegal this week for the 5th World Cowpea Research Conference.

New map offers a global view of health-sapping air pollution

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:41:41 EDT

In many developing countries, the absence of surface-based air pollution sensors makes it difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get even a rough estimate of the abundance of a subcategory of airborne particles that epidemiologists suspect contributes to millions of premature deaths each year.