Holianyk Ihor
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New Technologies for Radiation Protection on Deep Space Missions
When we talk about humanity’s future in space, images of astronauts walking on Mars or mining asteroids often come to mind. Yet behind these bold visions lies a sobering reality: space is a hostile environment, and one of the greatest dangers lurking beyond Earth’s protective atmosphere is radiation. Without our planet’s thick blanket of atmosphere and its magnetic shield, astronauts become vulnerable to streams of charged particles from the Sun and high-energy cosmic rays from distant galaxies. Prolonged exposure increases the risk of cancer, neurological damage, and even acute radiation sickness.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
The First Human Flight to Mars: A Reality of the 2030s or Just a Myth?
For centuries, Mars has been a canvas for human imagination. From H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds to Hollywood blockbusters, the Red Planet has been portrayed as everything from a hostile wasteland to humanity’s next home. Today, however, the conversation about Mars has moved beyond fiction. Leading space agencies and private companies are drawing up blueprints for the first human mission. Some experts predict we could see astronauts set foot on Martian soil as early as the 2030s, while others dismiss the timeline as wildly optimistic. The truth, as always, is caught somewhere in between hope, hype, and hard reality.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
The Quipu Superstructure: A Cosmic Tapestry Stretching Across the Universe
When we talk about the “largest things in the universe,” it’s easy to imagine planets, stars, or maybe even black holes. But those are only the building blocks of something far greater. In recent years, astronomers have uncovered vast, interconnected patterns of galaxies that stretch across unimaginable distances. Among these discoveries is the Quipu Superstructure, a gargantuan arrangement of galaxies and galaxy clusters spanning nearly 1.3 billion light-years. To put that in perspective: if you could travel at the speed of light, it would take longer than the entire recorded history of the universe to cross its length.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
Earendel: The Most Distant Star Ever Detected
In the spring of 2022, astronomers spotted something extraordinary through the Hubble Space Telescope: a tiny glimmer of light from the edge of the observable universe. At first, many believed it could be a distant galaxy, or perhaps just a cluster of stars blurred together. But now, thanks to the unprecedented clarity of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists have confirmed that this faint spark is, in fact, a single star.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
Millions of Small Bodies Threatening Earth Will Soon Be Visible — Predictions from LSST and Next-Generation Sky Surveys
For decades, the night sky has looked like a familiar canvas, dotted with stars, planets, and the occasional streak of a meteor. Yet beneath this seemingly calm picture hides a dynamic swarm of small bodies — asteroids, comets, and other fragments left over from the birth of our Solar System. Many of them cross paths with Earth, sometimes uncomfortably close. Until now, only a fraction of these objects have been cataloged. But that is about to change.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Number of Confirmed Exoplanets Has Surpassed 6,000
Only a few decades ago, the idea of planets orbiting stars beyond our Sun lived mostly in the realm of speculation and science fiction. Astronomers could only guess at the possibility of other worlds, and the search for them seemed almost impossible. Yet today, the discovery of exoplanets—planets outside our Solar System—has become one of the most exciting and fast-growing fields in astronomy.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
New Observations of Exoplanet WASP-52 b Reveal Helium and Water Despite Its Host Star’s Fierce Radiation
When astronomers first began discovering exoplanets in the 1990s, most of them were little more than faint dots of light in distant skies. Today, thanks to advanced telescopes and precise techniques, these alien worlds are no longer just points in the dark—they are objects we can study in detail, even down to the chemical makeup of their atmospheres. Recently, the hot Jupiter known as WASP-52 b has surprised astronomers with a remarkable discovery: signs of both helium and water vapor in its atmosphere. This is astonishing, considering the harsh radiation from its host star, which should, in theory, strip such fragile molecules away.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
A Record-Breaking System: The Exoplanet Family Racing Through the Galaxy
Astronomy has a way of surprising us, even when we think we’ve seen it all. We’re used to hearing about new stars, exoplanets, or distant nebulae lighting up the cosmic stage. But sometimes, discoveries are so striking that they make us pause and reimagine what’s possible in the universe.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Mysterious “Dark Beads” Above Saturn’s Pole: JWST Unveils a Cosmic Puzzle
Saturn has always been one of the most enigmatic worlds in our solar system. Known for its dazzling rings, its golden-hued atmosphere, and its bizarre six-sided polar storm, the gas giant is a favorite subject of astronomers. Yet just when we think we’ve learned most of its secrets, Saturn surprises us again. Recently, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured something utterly unexpected in the planet’s northern atmosphere: a string of strange, dark structures scientists are calling “mysterious dark beads.”
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Most Distant Quasar: A Glimpse Into the Dawn of the Universe
Astronomers have recently made a discovery that pushes the limits of our cosmic vision: the most distant quasar ever found. This ancient beacon of light formed just 500 million years after the Big Bang—when the Universe itself was still in its infancy. Peering at this quasar is like looking back across time to witness the first chapters of cosmic history.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
A New System of “Super-Earths” Found Around Star Gliese: Multiple Potentially Habitable Worlds Discovered
Astronomers have once again delivered a discovery that could reshape our understanding of the universe. Orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese, scientists have identified a remarkable planetary system that includes several so-called “super-Earths.” These are worlds larger than our planet, yet still small and rocky enough to resemble Earth in their physical makeup.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Biggest Explosion Since the Big Bang: Astronomers Uncover Traces of a Cosmic Cataclysm
The universe has always been full of surprises. For decades, scientists believed that nothing could rival the scale of the Big Bang — the primordial event that gave birth to space, time, and all matter. But recent observations suggest that billions of years later, the cosmos staged another show of unimaginable power. Astronomers have now confirmed evidence of the largest explosion since the Big Bang, a cosmic outburst so powerful that it reshaped an entire region of space.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
