News Releases
Space Sciences
Space Sciences
Ancient Galactic Magnetic Fields Stronger than Expected
July 23 — Mining the far reaches of the universe for clues about its past, a team of scientists including Philipp Kronberg of the Laboratory has proposed that magnetic fields of ancient galaxies like ours were just as strong as those existing today, prompting a rethinking of how our galaxy and others may have formed.
Astronomy Days lectures begin July 8 at Bradbury Science Museum
July 2 — A series of six evening lectures that focus on astronomy and the space sciences begins Tuesday, July 8, at Los Alamos Laboratory's Bradbury Science Museum.
Roadrunner supercomputer puts research at a new scale
June 12 — Less than a week after Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Roadrunner supercomputer began operating at world-record petaflop/s data-processing speeds, Los Alamos researchers are already using the computer to mimic extremely complex neurological processes.
Los Alamos Technologies Help Scientists Detect, Record & Interpret 'Monster' Burst of Gamma Rays
March 21 — On the ground and in space, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s science tools provided early information on the first gamma ray burst so powerful that it could be seen with the naked eye. The burst was detected March 19 by NASA's Swift satellite, thanks to software on Swift’s Burst Alert Telescope, which was the first instrument to detect the sudden rise in gamma rays.
Saturn's Moon Rhea Sports a Dusty Halo
March 6 — Who'd have guessed that Saturn has its own moon-sized vacuum cleaners, circling the ringed planet and sucking up electrons from the plasma at the orbit of the icy moons. Or that one of Saturn's moons has its very own vacuum in the form of a hitherto-unknown dust halo, not quite visible as a ring, around the midsection of Rhea, discovered by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini is carrying among its instruments a pair of ion-mass and ion-beam spectrometers built by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Science Satellites Scour Skies for Santa
December 20 — International audiences (young and young-at-heart) will be closely eyeing the Santa-tracking satellite technology of Los Alamos National Laboratory in the coming week.
A One-Two Punch That Makes You See Stars
November 15 — A Los Alamos National Laboratory astrophysicist and his colleagues have discovered that a superbright supernova observed last year might have exhibited an unusual one-two punch.
Plethora of Papers Proves Crashed Mission a Success
October 23 — Despite a resounding crunch into the Utah desert floor in 2004, scientists have mined a treasure trove of data from the Genesis mission.
Grand Plans for a Dawn Launch
September 25 — NASA's Dawn mission, ready for launch Thursday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carries an instrument ready to determine the elemental composition of the asteroid belt.
Understanding Killer Electrons in Space
July 10 — Settling a long-standing scientific debate, Los Alamos scientists have demonstrated conclusively how electromagnetic waves accelerate ordinary electrons in the belts of radiation outside Earth's atmosphere to a state where they become "killer electrons," particles that are hazardous to satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts.
Mars Rover Laser Tool Ready for Testing
June 21 — Mars mission Job One: Get there. Job Two: Find rocks and zap them with your laser tool.
GRaND science instrument moves closer to launch from Cape
April 10 — A mission back in time is nearing the launch pad minute by minute. The Dawn spacecraft, NASA’s mission into the heart of the asteroid belt, arrived at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, today for final processing and launch operations.
'Software glasses' clarify view of lunar thorium
March 15 — Using a novel approach to data analysis, a sharper pair of “software glasses,” scientists are taking a closer look at spectroscopic Moon images to better understand how that body was formed.
NNSA satellite launched on Atlas-5 rocket
March 9 — A small-but-smart satellite experiment, the Cibola Flight Experiment (CFE) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), launched at 10:10 p.m. EST last night aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas-5 rocket and was successfully placed in orbit 350 miles above Earth.
Los Alamos scientist to speak about optical refrigeration
September 18 — Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Richard Epstein will describe the unusual and counterintuitive practice of using lasers to cool certain materials at a "Frontiers in Science" series lecture in Albuquerque.
Supercomputing satellite hits the road
August 31 — A satellite smaller than an armchair is departing Los Alamos National Laboratory this week, heading for a last phase of testing before its December launch.
Seeing the unseen universe
July 31 — A new method for incorporating astronomical observational data into computer simulations promises to be a significant advance in enabling future cosmological surveys aimed at understanding dark energy and dark matter.
Space-based supercomputer in design at Los Alamos
April 26 — Los Alamos National Laboratory today announced funding of a new space payload which dramatically increases on-orbit computational capabilities.
Cassini measures geysers of Saturn's moon Enceladus
March 10 — Cassini data obtained during a close flyby of the Saturn moon Enceladus support an observation that large amounts of water are spewing into space from the tiny moon's surface.
High energy gamma rays may emanate in the Milky Way
December 14 — Los Alamos scientists have evidence from the Laboratory's Milagro telescope that TeV (one trillion electron volts) gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation known, can originate in the plane of the Milky Way galaxy.
Bradbury Science Museum talk focuses on getting people to Mars
November 4 — Los Alamos National Laboratory technical staff member Elizabeth (Betsy) Cantwell will talk about some of the critical risks for ambitious manned flights beyond Earth's low orbit in a talk Nov. 9 at Los Alamos' Bradbury Science Museum.
Los Alamos scientist to speak on gamma ray bursts
September 2 — A few times a day a special type of massive star transforms itself into a black hole, simultaneously collapsing and ejecting material in a jet that moves very close to the speed of light. During their fleeting existence, these jets flood much of the universe with an enormous burst of gamma rays.
Los Alamos to host Mars talk
July 11 — Members of the media are invited to a talk on Mars exploration at Los Alamos National Laboratory, beginning at 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday (July 13).
Robotic telescope discovery sheds new light on gamma-ray bursts
May 18 — A new type of light was detected from a recent gamma-ray burst, as discovered by Los Alamos National Laboratory and NASA scientists using both burst-detection satellites and a Los Alamos-based robotic telescope.
Scientists model physics of stellar burning
April 14 — A University of California scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory working with astronomers from around the world recently validated a computer model that predicts the rebirth and stellar burning and mixing processes of evolved stars.
Los Alamos software key to new Swift satellite mission
November 16 — "Swift," a new NASA satellite, will head for the heavens Nov. 17, designed to detect gamma-ray bursts and whip around to catch them in the act. And the trigger software that makes the flying observatory smart enough to do this comes from the Space Science team at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Los Alamos wizardry to aid new Mars science laboratory
December 22 — Having analyzed Mars from afar via orbiting satellite, Los Alamos National Laboratory instruments will next be on their way to get out and play in the Martian dirt. Two of the eight instruments aboard NASA's planned Mars Science Laboratory rover, scheduled for launch in 2009, include Los Alamos technology.
New NASA IBEX mission to carry Los Alamos instrument
January 28 — A new NASA mission, IBEX, will probe the very edge of the solar system, capturing the quiet hum of a vast, distant shock wave. One of its two instruments is a compact Los Alamos device called the High Energy Neutral Atom Imager.
Telling a salty tale of martian water
October 7 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, along with a scientist from Indiana University have devised a method for determining whether sulfate salts can account for evidence of water on Mars. The work could pave the way to a better understanding of the martian environment and the history of water on Mars.
A traveling-wave engine to power deep space travel
September 16 — A University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory and researchers from Northrop Grumman Space Technology have developed a novel method for generating electrical power for deep-space travel using sound waves. The traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator has the potential to power space probes to the furthest reaches of the Universe.
The Space Simulator - Modeling the universe on a budget
June 22 — For the past several years, a team of University of California astrophysicists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been using a cluster of roughly 300 computer processors to model some of the most intriguing aspects of the Universe. Called the Space Simulator, this de facto supercomputer has not only proven itself to be one of the fastest supercomputers in the world, but has also demonstrated that modeling and simulation of complex phenomena, from supernovae to cosmology, can be done on a fairly economical basis.
Scientists announce cosmic ray theory breakthrough
April 28 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have proposed a new theory to explain the movement of vast energy fields in giant radio galaxies (GRGs). The theory could be the basis for a whole new understanding of the ways in which cosmic rays -- and their signature radio waves -- propagate and travel through intergalactic space.
Is he here yet? Lab scientists keep tabs on Santa
December 23 — Los Alamos National Laboratory's Space Data Systems (ISR-3) is keeping an eye out for Santa. Beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, ISR-3 will track the jolly old elf on his whirlwind travels around the world and give hourly updates via its Web site at http://santa.lanl.gov on Santa's progress toward Northern New Mexico.
Media Advisory: Robots, scientists and Pueblo school kids
November 3 — Continuing its all-star annual series of robot-building workshops, scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory will bring the cold, hard, hand of science to bear in the classroom this week. Armed with a box of robot kits and a cumulative 100-plus years of professional experience, Los Alamos scientists will do a show-and-tell that should turn some heads at Jemez Valley Elementary School, Jemez Valley Middle School, San Diego Riverside School, Walatowa High and Jemez Valley High School.
Los Alamos hosts Gamma-Ray Burst anniversary conference
September 8 — Scientists from around the world are convening this week to debate and share their latest research at the Gamma-Ray Burst 2003 Symposium in Santa Fe, September 9 – 12, 2003. Los Alamos National Laboratory is sponsoring the symposium, the largest of its type to date.
Biggest cosmic explosions also may propel fastest objects in universe
August 13 — The most powerful explosions in the universe, gamma-ray bursts, may generate the most energetic particles in the universe, known as ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), according to a new analysis of observations from NASA's Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory.The most powerful explosions in the universe, gamma-ray bursts, may generate the most energetic particles in the universe, known as ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), according to a new analysis of observations from NASA's Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory.
Los Alamos releases new maps of Mars water
July 24 — new maps of likely sites of water on Mars showcase their association with geologic features such as Vallis Marineris, the largest canyon in the solar system.
Southwestern Consortium pursues radio telescope project
June 11 — Working closely with Los Alamos National Laboratory as part of the Southwest Consortium, officials at the University of New Mexico announced today that they are leading the effort to propose a new low frequency radio astronomy observatory be built in a region covering New Mexico and Western Texas. The planned Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope will be similar to the Very Large Array (VLA) telescope near Socorro, N.M. but will be more widely distributed across the region and will operate at longer wavelengths.
XMM-Newton satellite uncovers diffuse X-ray emission and the first accreting X-ray pulsar in Andromeda Galaxy
May 26 — In the most sensitive X-ray survey of our neighboring galaxy, Andromeda (M31), the X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite observatory (XMM-Newton) has uncovered hundreds of X-ray sources and provided new insights into the nature of the interstellar medium in the spiral arms of our own galaxy as well as those of Andromeda.
The weatherman of Mars
December 9 — Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of Arizona Lunar Planetary Laboratory, Tucson, AZ, and Cornell University, Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Ithaca, NY have discovered further evidence for the possible existence of a changing, and perhaps predictable, Martian climate.
GENESIS' first year a success
December 10 — As scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory begin analysis of first-year data from the solar wind probe GENESIS they have determined the spacecraft is working so well that they are considering possibilities for research beyond the planned 2004 mission completion date. Three of GENESIS' instruments were designed and built at Los Alamos.
Taos goes Lunar: hosts international science meeting
September 11 — The Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is hosting an international gathering of lunar scientists in Taos, N.M. beginning Thursday. Los Alamos, who played a major role in the recent Lunar Prospector mission to the moon, together with the University of California Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Los Alamos' Center for Space Science and Exploration and the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, is organizing and hosting "The Moon Beyond 2002: Next Steps in Lunar Science and Exploration."
Hidden X-ray population revealed in satellite survey, new 'dipper' in Andromeda Galaxy
June 4 — In the most-sensitive study ever of our neighbor galaxy, the X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite observatory (XMM-Newton) has uncovered a new population of X-ray sources. Examining new satellite data, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the United States Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory discovered more than 100 X-ray sources in the Andromeda galaxy.
New Supernova models take on third dimension
June 4 — Astrophysicists from Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, have created the first 3-D computer simulations of the spectacular explosion that marks the death of a massive star. Presented to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Albuquerque, N.M., today, the research by Michael Warren and Chris Fryer eliminates some of the doubts about earlier 2-D modeling and paves the way for rapid advances on other, more exotic questions about supernovae.
Mars Odyssey quenches researchers' thirst for water data
May 28 — Researchers with the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory have determined that Mars has enough water to sustain human exploratory missions.
New theory straightens out sun's curved magnetic fields
May 28 — A long-accepted model of the sun's magnetic fields holds that the fields radiate outwards from the sun into space in great curving arcs in the sun's equatorial regions and growing ever more radial at higher solar latitudes. That model has been proven only partly right by direct measurements of magnetic fields by the Ulysses solar orbiter and other spacecraft.
Astronomers link X-ray flashes to gamma-ray bursts
April 23 — Astronomers announced today the discovery of what may be the lower-energy "poor relations" of cosmic gamma-ray bursts, the fantastically powerful explosions occurring daily in distant galaxies throughout the universe. If the relationship is confirmed by future observations, this potentially new breed of burst, called an X-ray flash, will provide key information to solve the decades-old puzzle of how these most powerful explosions in the universe are produced.
Mars Odyssey's neutron spectrometer maps water-ice
March 1 — Scientists today unveiled maps that detail the location of hydrogen, that may indicate water-ice, just below Mars' surface. The maps are based on data from a neutron spectrometer built at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and flown aboard NASA's Mars Odyssey now in orbit around the Red planet. The data are supported by simultaneous measurements made using the Mars Odyssey's gamma-ray spectrometer.
Deep space flight ends, but exploration continues
December 18 — NASAs Deep Space 1 carrying PEPE, or plasma experiment for planetary exploration, an instrument designed and built at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, will be put to rest today after a successful event-filled mission in space.
Los Alamos instruments capturing the sun
December 4 — NASA's Genesis mission swings into full gear today as its instruments, three of which were designed and built by the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, begin capturing particles from the sun.
Yule track Santa's progress with Laboratory web site
December 20 — With a little help from Los Alamos National Laboratory's Nonproliferation and International Security Division, children of all ages can track Santa Claus' trek from the North Pole around the world on Christmas Eve.
Los Alamos spectrometers part of four-satellite Cluster II mission
August 4 — Imaging spectrometers developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory are among the science tools aboard the new, four-satellite Cluster II mission.
Taking pictures of the invisible tracking weather above the sky
December 17 — Using a technique called neutral atom imaging from a satellite high above the North Pole, researchers at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing pictures of the magnetosphere, an invisible magnetic layer around the Earth. These pictures will be essential to a better understanding of the "weather" in space, where a blast of solar wind particles can knock out a multimillion-dollar satellite.
Taking pictures of the invisible: Tracking weather above the sky
December 17 — Using a technique called neutral atom imaging from a satellite high above the North Pole, researchers at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing pictures of the magnetosphere, an invisible magnetic layer around the Earth. These pictures will be essential to a better understanding of the "weather" in space, where a blast of solar wind particles can knock out a multimillion-dollar satellite.
Lightning over oceans more plentiful than expected
December 9 — Storms over the oceans generate more lightning than previously realized, and researchers may be able to use this finding in studies of atmospheric energy distribution mechanisms linked to climate and weather effects.
Energy from the sun can be captured and redistributed globally through the latent heat carried in water vapor. Storm clouds with lightning tend to be more intense and provide a relatively greater release of latent heat through rainfall -- condensation of the water vapor. Remote tracking of such systems may tell researchers where substantial amounts of latent heat are being released over the ocean and thus better understand energy distribution through the atmosphere.
Los Alamos instruments to prospect for water on the moon
December 30 — Three Los Alamos instruments on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lunar Prospector, scheduled for a Jan. 5, 1998, launch, will look for water, map the location of valuable elements and gather data on events that release gases from below the surface of Earth's nearest neighbor.
First results from nonproliferation satellite expand knowledge of lightning, TIPPs
December 9 — Just three months after its launch, Los Alamos National Laboratory's FORTE satellite is detecting many thousands more radio bursts from lightning strikes and other phenomena than previously reported.
Los Alamos science instruments to fly on Cassini
October 8 — Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists led the development of two scientific sensors that will provide key measurements of the space environment around Saturn when the Cassini spacecraft reaches the ringed planet in 2004.
The two sensors are part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer, or CAPS, a microwave oven-sized unit that is one of 12 scientific instruments on the two-story-tall Cassini spacecraft. Cassini, a joint effort of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency and the European Space Agency, is scheduled for launch Oct. 13.
Los Alamos and Surrey Satellite contract for Cibola flight experiment platform
March 10 — Los Alamos National Laboratory and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) announced today a contract agreement for development of an advanced satellite platform for ionospheric and lightning studies.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke to address Los Alamos Space-Elevator conference
September 9 — Sir Arthur C. Clarke, world-renowned science fiction author, will address the Second Annual Space Elevator Conference held Sept. 12-15 in Santa Fe. The event is co-sponsored by Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Institute for Scientific Research Inc. (ISR).
Los Alamos makes first map of ice on Mars
February 15 — Lurking just beneath the surface of Mars is enough water to cover the entire planet ankle-deep, says Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Bill Feldman.
Wonder of a solar eclipse discussed at Bradbury Science Museum talk Jan. 30
January 24 — A total eclipse of the sun isn't something that happens frequently. Last month, Los Alamos astrophysicist Stephen Becker traveled to Ceduna, South Australia to view such a phenomenon.
Mars within Los Alamos' Neutron Spectrometer's reach
October 19 — A neutron spectrometer designed and built at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is closing in on Mars aboard NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey.
Regional teachers LASSO the stars
August 7 — Nearly two dozen teachers will blast off the new school year this fall using a curriculum they developed with the help of space scientists from the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Los Alamos instruments to capture the sun
July 23 — Three instruments designed and built by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will help scientists understand the origin of the solar system.
XMM-Newton discovers X-ray nova and unique, pulsating white dwarf in the Andromeda Galaxy
June 4 — In its first look at the Andromeda Galaxy, known as M31, the X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite observatory has revealed several unusual X-ray sources. In examining new satellite data, an international team of scientists, including researchers at the United States Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, discovered an unusually bright spot created by an enormous X-ray nova outburst. Another mysterious object has been found as well: one of the "coolest" sources of the central region appears to be a luminous white dwarf with an extremely soft energy spectrum and the shortest X-ray pulsation period seen to date.
Proven Los Alamos technology on trek to Mars
April 4 — A neutron spectrometer designed and built at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is aboard NASA's Mars Odyssey set to launch Saturday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Lunar Prospector provides a world of data
March 12 — Los Alamos National Laboratory present their latest findings from NASA's Lunar Prospector mission at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, Texas.
Laboratory researcher named AGU Fellow
March 5 — Michelle Thomsen, a scientist at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been named a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, a selection based upon her pre-eminence in science.
Space Center at Los Alamos names Funsten as new leader
February 7 — Physicist Herb Funsten has been chosen as director of the Center for Space Science and Exploration at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Attack of the robot scientists
December 12 — Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will bring the cold, hard, hand of science to bear in the classroom this week. Armed with a box of robot kits and a cumulative 100-plus years of professional experience, five Lab scientists will do a show-and-tell that should turn some heads Thursday among their third-grade audience at Jemez Valley Elementary School.
Los Alamos gamma ray burst work advances on satellite
October 6 — They burn as brightly as 100 million billion stars, flash randomly across the heavens, and were discovered more than 25 years ago here at the US Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory. Now, with tomorrow's launch of the High Energy Transient Explorer, gamma ray bursts (GRBs) will begin to reveal more of their secrets as the latest in detection equipment is lifted into orbit.
Los Alamos unleashes GENIE on Cerro Grande destruction
July 25 — The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is using a sophisticated image analysis technology to create high-resolution maps of the destruction caused by the Cerro Grande wildfire.
MTI satellite begins scientific work, maps Cerro Grande Fire damage
June 14 — With its orbital checkout phase complete, the Multispectral Thermal Imager satellite, MTI, is inaugurating the scientific-data development stage of its three-year mission by starting to provide pictures of the fire-ravaged Los Alamos area, among other cooperative U.S. sites.
Los Alamos instrument flies aboard IMAGE satellite
March 28 — When a Boeing Delta II rocket blasted skyward Saturday, among the items in its satellite payload was a device about the size of an overnight bag. Dubbed MENA, for Medium Energy Neutral Atom imager, the 10-pound sensor developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory will work with similar devices aboard the IMAGE satellite to provide the first global images of the major plasma regions and boundaries of the Earth's magnetosphere. These sensors also will study the reactions of these charged particle areas to the solar wind.
MORE SPACE SCIENCES NEWS >>>
