Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Astronomy Daily.
I'm your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to have you
join me today as we embark on another fascinating journey
through the Cosmos. Whether you're a season space enthusiast or
just curious about what's happening up there in the final Frontier,
this podcast is the perfect place for you to catch
up on the latest news and discoveries in the world
of astronomy. Today, we've got an exciting lineup of stories
to explore. We'll delve into groundbreaking research revealing that the
asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs originated from beyond Jupiter.
Will also reveal the incredible technological achievements of China's One mission,
which has just unveiled a stunning high resolution global color
map of Mars. Plus, we'll marvel at the discovery of
a hypervelocity star identified by ordinary citizen scientists, and we'll
discuss the innovative research being done to ensure astronauts can
maintain their mental well being while living.
Speaker 2: And working in space.
Speaker 1: So sit back, relax, and get ready to journey through
the universe with me. We've got a stellar show lined
up for you and I can't wait to dive into
these stories. Let's get started. Have you ever wondered about
the colossal event that wiped out the dinosaurs? Recent findings
have shed new light on that very asteroid, indicating it
originated beyond Jupiter in the outer Solar System. Sixty six
million years ago, a massive asteroid estimated to be around
six to nine miles wide, collided with what is now
the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This cataclysmic event not only
ended the reign of the dinosaurs, but also wiped out
about three quarters of the world species. Researchers have now
pinpointed that this asteroid was a carbonaceous or C type asteroid,
falling under a category laden with high concentrations of carbon.
These findings rule out other theories suggesting the impactor was
a comet or that the debris was the result.
Speaker 2: Of volcanic activity.
Speaker 1: The study unraveled this mystery by analyzing the isotopes of
ruthenium in the debris layer left behind by the impact.
Ruthenium isotopes are particularly telling because their isotopic signature in
the clay layer was almost completely from the impactor itself,
offering a clear distinction between inner and outer Solar System materials.
The researchers concluded that the isotopic ratios matched those found
in C type asteroids, thus confirming the extraterrestrial origin. This
asteroid's journey likely began in the vast icy reaches beyond
Jupiter before it migrated inward and ended up in the
main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Then, possibly due
to a collision, it was sent hurtling towards Earth, sealing
the fate of the dinosaurs. The chixalub impact, leaving a
crater one hundred and twelve miles wide and twelve miles deep,
triggered a series of geological and environmental disasters, ultimately giving
mammals a chance to dominate and eventually leading to the
rise of humans. Understanding the origins of this asteroid not
only fills a crucial gap in the story of Earth's history,
but also enriches our comprehension of the Solar System's dynamics.
Another crucial insight is that carbonaceous asteroids, although common in
the Outer Solar System, rarely strike Earth, making this particular
event extraordinarily unique. This new research gives us a fascinating
peak into the ancient cosmic events that drastically shaped life
on our planet, and as we decode these stellar secrets,
it not only satisfies our curiosity, but may also alert
us to the nature of other space objects that could
someday cross our path. Again, let's turn our attention to Mars,
the planet that keeps on giving. One of the most
exciting developments in Mars exploration comes from China's Tianwen one mission,
which has released a groundbreaking high resolution global color map
of Mars. This is a significant leap forward for scientists
and space enthusiasts alike, as it offers unprecedented detail and accuracy,
allowing us to view the Martian surface in ways never
possible before.
Speaker 2: So why is this map such a big deal?
Speaker 1: Prior to twen one, the best global images of Mars
came from various missions, but they had spatial resolutions exceeding
one kilometer, meaning finer details were often blurred. For example,
the Viking Colorized Global Mosaic, one of the best prior
data sets, could only manage resolutions of about two hundred
and thirty two meters per pixel.
Speaker 2: This new map from ten.
Speaker 1: One one surpasses that by a wide margin, achieving a
remarkable resolution of seventy six meters per pixel. The journey
to create this stunning map began in July twenty twenty two.
The mission utilized the moderate resolution imaging camera MORIIC on
its orbiter, completing two hundred and eighty four orbits and
capturing fourteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty seven images to
cover the entire surface of Mars. These images, with resolutions
between fifty seven and one hundred and ninety seven meters,
provide a near perfect mosaic of the red planet. Additionally,
the Mars Mineralogical Spectrometer MMS collected a trove of data
in the visible and near infrared bands, contributing to the
high quality color representation. Under the expert guidance of Professors
Lee Chun Lai and Jang Rongshau, the chan Win one
science team, along with collaborators, used advanced bundle adjustment technology
to process the image data. By treating Mars as a
unified adjustment network, they managed to reduce position deviation between
images to less than one pixel. This meticulous approach ensured
that the resulting map is not only high resolution, but
also pixel level, seamless let's talk about an extraordinary recent
discovery that has sent ripples through the astronomy community. A
hypervelocity star named J one two hundred and forty nine
plus thirty six.
Speaker 2: This isn't just any star.
Speaker 1: It's speeding through our galaxy at an incredible rate of
about one point three million miles per hour.
Speaker 2: Even more on inspiring.
Speaker 1: It was first spotted by some of the eighty thousand
citizen science volunteers participating in the Backyard World's Planet nine project.
It's amazing to see how collaborative efforts between professional astronomers
and dedicated amateurs can lead to such groundbreaking findings. Hypervelocity
stars are rare, and J one thousand, two hundred forty
nine plus thirty six holds the distinction of being the
first very low mass hypervelocity star discovered. Located just four
hundred light years from Earth, it stands as the nearest
known hypervelocity star to our planet. To put it in perspective,
our Sun orbits around the Milky Way at about two
hundred and twenty kilometers per second. J two hundred forty
nine plus thirty six, however, is moving at almost three
times that speed, clocking in at about six hundred kilometers
per second.
Speaker 2: What makes J one two.
Speaker 1: Hundred forty nine plus thirty six exceptionally intriguing is its
potential trajectory that suggests it might eventually escape the gravitational
pull of the Milky Way entirely. This star isn't just
speeding through space. It's possibly headed for an exit from
our galaxy. Such a scenario leads us to question what
forces could have propelled it to such velocities.
Speaker 2: There are a.
Speaker 1: Couple of fascinating theories. One possibility is that JA A
two hundred forty nine plus thirty six was originally in
close orbit with a white dwarf. If the white dwarf
underwent a supernova explosion, it could have given J one thousand,
two hundred forty nine plus thirty six the necessary kick
to achieve its hypervelocity status. Another theory suggests that it
might have been flung out from a globular cluster with
black hole binaries through complex gravitational interactions. This discovery is
significant not only because it expands our understanding of hypervelocity stars,
but also because it highlights the effectiveness of citizen science projects.
By partnering with initiatives like backyard worlds Planet nine. Anyone
with an interest in astronomy can contribute to real scientific discoveries.
So what's next for J one thousand, two hundred forty
nine plus thirty six. Astronomers are keen on studying its
elemental composition to uncover more about its origins, whether it's
the remnants of a supernova or a dynamical ejection from
a globular cluster. This speedy starr offers a stellar opportunity
to unlock more secrets of our galaxy. Life on the
International Space Station is a far cry from what we
experience on Earth. Imagine seeing multiple sunrises and sunsets every
day from your confined space, dealing with packed schedules, and
adjusting to the lack of gravity. These unique conditions of
spaceflight can seriously impact the performance and well being of astronauts. Fortunately,
a range of studies on the ISS are focused on
understanding these effects and testing new technologies to counteract them.
One fascinating project is ESA's Circadian Light study. This investigation
is testing an innovative lighting system designed to help astronauts
maintain a more natural daily rhythm, also known as circadian rhythm.
An LED panel automatically adjusts the light spectrum throughout the
day to mimic natural daylight conditions on Earth. This study
aims to see how this lighting system influences sleep, stress levels,
and overall well being. The insights could also benefit shift
workers and those in extreme or remote environments.
Speaker 2: Back on Earth.
Speaker 1: Earlier Can ducted the Circadian Rhythm's investigation, which looked at
how daily rhythms are affected during long space missions. In space,
the cycles of light and dark don't match. The twenty
four hour routine were used to Traditionally, measuring core body
temperature has been the gold standard for determining circadian rhythms,
but it can be quite invasive and inconvenient. For this investigation,
researchers developed non invasive skin sensor technology that continuously records
body core temperature over extended periods. As we look towards
missions to the Moon or Mars, communication delays will be inevitable.
The Calm Delay Assessment study explored how these delays might
impact astronauts dealing with medical and other emergencies. The findings
showed that communication delays increased stress and frustration, reduced task efficiency,
and impair teamwork. However, the study also highlighted potential countermeasures
such as enhanced training and improved teamwork strategies to mitigate
these challenges. Moving on to mental health, the Neuromapping Study
has been investigat how spaceflight alters brain structure and function.
Speaker 2: Not only did this.
Speaker 1: Research find significant changes in brain connectivity, but it also
identified substantial increases in brain volume linked to longer missions.
The finding suggests that intervals between missions should be more
than three years to allow for full recovery. For a
more personal perspective, the journal's investigation had crew members write
daily entries. These entries provided valuable insights into how various
factors like work, sleep, and group interactions affect mental well
being in space. The studies findings are helping improve living
and working conditions for future astronauts. Lastly, ESA's VR Mental
Care project is exploring the use of virtual reality technology
to help astronauts relax and maintain better mental health during
their missions. Using a VR headset, astronauts can escape to
virtually simulated environments, potentially easing stress, anxiety, and even post
traumatic stress disorder. Thank you so much for joining me
on this episode of Astronomy Daily.
Speaker 2: I hope you found our journey through the.
Speaker 1: Latest discoveries in space and astronomy as fascinating as I did.
I'm Anna and it's always a pleasure to share this
cosmic adventure with you. If you want to stay updated
with the latest happenings in the universe, don't forget to
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join our community of fellow space enthusiasts. Once again, I'm
Anna and this has been Astronomy Daily. Keep looking up
and I'll see you next time. Sunday start story is
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