News about PaperPanda, Open Access, and Research
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is three days into the deployment of its massive sunshield — and it still has about three days to go. The $10 billion Webb launched on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) to seek out heat signals from the early universe. To pick up these faint signals, the observatory’s optics and instruments must … Read more
By Clare Wilson A participant in a clinical trial for aducanumab Kayana Szymczak/New York Times/Redux/eyevine EXPECT to see debate over a new medicine to treat Alzheimer’s disease, called aducanumab, continue into 2022. Approved in the US last June, it is the first drug designed to treat a possible cause of this form of dementia, rather than the symptoms. … Read more
We’ve been searching the cosmos for the best deals on Christmas gifts for space fans, with discounts on a range of products. This guide has all the best gifts we’ve been able to find, and there are really great savings to be had. Whether you’re looking to pick up something for little ones, like Playmobil’s … Read more
Groups campaigning for electronics manufacturers to make it easier for people to repair their own devices scored a surprise victory when Apple promised to sell parts and tools for fixing iPhones Technology 31 December 2021 By Matthew Sparkes iPhones require careful repairs wichan yodsawai/Alamy Apple made a surprise announcement in November that it would begin … Read more
Bacteria may soon be muscling in on new kinds of manufacturing. Researchers have developed a technique that uses the common bacterium Escherichia coli to synthetically produce a muscle protein called titin, which could someday build tough and pliable fibers. Uses could range from medical sutures to impact-resistant or biodegradable fabrics. The titin is dozens of … Read more
Prepare for liftoff with a host of out-of-this-world Lego space deals. The brick-building toymaker has a huge range of space toys and sets out there, so we’ve searched the internet for the very best Lego space deals and put them in this handy guide, so you don’t have to. The Lego Space sets featuring in … Read more
The growing demand for computer chips, used in everything from cars to fridges, has collided with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a global shortage that is likely to continue through 2022 Technology 31 December 2021
In 2014, amateur astronomers in New Zealand glimpsed a flare of light emanating from the constellation of Centauri. NASA later confirmed this blaze was a massive supernova explosion from another galaxy an incredible 57 million light-years away from our Milky Way. “Dedicated amateur astronomers often make intriguing discoveries – particularly of fleeting astronomical phenomena … Read more
Rocketry is hard, and international players in the industry are constantly trying to learn from any failures. The year 2021 saw more than 10 failures of various missions during or shortly after launch, from the United States to China to South Korea. Below are the list of failed space missions this year and what we … Read more
By Gege Li A larva of a polychaete worm Jan van IJken Photographer Jan van IJken THESE mesmerising shots reveal the microscopic beauty of plankton – and their predators. They are part of a film and photo project called Planktonium by photographer Jan van IJken, who captured this diverse array of species in various Dutch … Read more