Physics and Astronomy News Archive: April 2006

Image: Mini MIT satellites rocketing to space station

Mini MIT satellites rocketing to space station

Source: MIT   Posted: 4/27/06

A Russian rocket launched Monday, April 24, is carrying the first of three small, spherical satellites developed at MIT to the International Space Station.
Image: Pieces of NASA's Next Mars Mission are Coming Together

Pieces of NASA's Next Mars Mission are Coming Together

Source: NASA   Posted: 4/27/06

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, the next mission to the surface of Mars, is beginning a new phase in preparation for a launch in August 2007.
Image: ESA's Venus Express to reach final destination

ESA's Venus Express to reach final destination

Source: ESA   Posted: 4/9/06

After travelling 400 million kilometres in only about five months, the Venus Express spacecraft is about to reach its final destination.
Image: Quantum Dot Method Rapidly Identifies Bacteria

Quantum Dot Method Rapidly Identifies Bacteria

Source: NIST   Posted: 4/9/06

A rapid method for detecting and identifying very small numbers of diverse bacteria, from anthrax to E. coli, using a quantum dot sensor, has been developed by scientists.
Image: New Evidence on Disappearing Neutrinos

New Evidence on Disappearing Neutrinos

Source: Caltech   Posted: 4/9/06

Physicists have observed the disappearance of muon neutrinos traveling from the lab's site in Illinois to a particle detector in Minnesota. The observation is consistent with an effect known as neutrino oscillation.
Image: Frictionless Motion Observed in Water

Frictionless Motion Observed in Water

Source: USC   Posted: 4/9/06

Researchers at USC and Brown University said they have achieved near-frictionless motion in water by using lasers to spin a molecule like a propeller.