Latest news with #DeanMurray
Miami Herald
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Company creates $92K Ferrari wall sculpture for car fans
By Dean Murray A British company has created the ultimate wall-hanging for car fans - a $92K Ferrari. Crafted as a 75% scale representation of the legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa J, the 3.1m-long piece will be limited to just 19 examples worldwide. Oxfordshire-based Hedley Studios says each piece is created using traditional hand-forming and polishing techniques, taking over 300 hours of skilled craftsmanship. Officially recognized by Ferrari, the sculpture features authentic details including the Prancing Horse badge, front and rear light lenses, and bonnet straps. Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, said: "The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is a car steeped in history and magic, and with our stunning wall sculpture, we've aimed to capture the spirit of the original icon's creation. "The legends of Maranello that masterminded and crafted the 250 Testa Rossa were meticulous and delicate in their technique, and our team of engineers have emulated this focus and dedication in their hours spent crafting our wonderful Testa Rossa J sculpture." The post Company creates $92K Ferrari wall sculpture for car fans appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Scientists perplexed by strange signals from beneath Antarctica
By Dean Murray Scientists are baffled by weird signals detected beneath Antarctica. A cosmic particle detector designed to pick up rays from space instead recorded a series of bizarre signals from under the ice. Penn State, whose scientists are part of the international research group, said the signals "defy the current understanding of particle physics." The unusual radio pulses were detected by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment, a range of instruments flown on balloons high above Antarctica that are designed to detect radio waves from cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere. The goal of the experiment is to gain insight into distant cosmic events by analysing signals that reach the Earth. However, rather than reflecting off the ice, the signals - a form of radio waves - appeared to be coming from below the horizon, an orientation that cannot be explained and may hint at new types of particles or interactions previously unknown to science. "The radio waves that we detected were at really steep angles, like 30 degrees below the surface of the ice," said Stephanie Wissel, associate professor of physics, astronomy and astrophysics who worked on the ANITA team searching for signals from elusive particles called neutrinos. She explained that by their calculations, the anomalous signal had to pass through and interact with thousands of kilometres of rock before reaching the detector, which should have left the radio signal undetectable because it would have been absorbed into the rock. "It's an interesting problem because we still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are, but what we do know is that they're most likely not representing neutrinos," Wissel said. Neutrinos, a type of particle with no charge and the smallest mass of all subatomic particles, are abundant in the universe. Usually emitted by high-energy sources like the sun or major cosmic events like supernovas or even the Big Bang, there are neutrino signals everywhere. The problem with these particles, though, is that they are notoriously difficult to detect, Wissel explained. "You have a billion neutrinos passing through your thumbnail at any moment, but neutrinos don't really interact," she said. "So, this is the double-edged sword problem. If we detect them, it means they have travelled all this way without interacting with anything else. We could be detecting a neutrino coming from the edge of the observable universe." Analysis revealed the other detectors did not register anything that could have explained what ANITA detected, which led the researchers to describe the signal as "anomalous," meaning that the particles causing the signal are not neutrinos, Wissel explained. The signals do not fit within the standard picture of particle physics, and while several theories suggest that it may be a hint of dark matter, the lack of follow-up observations with IceCube and Auger really narrows the possibilities, she said. Penn State has built detectors and analysed neutrino signals for close to 1ten years, Wissel explained, and added that her team is currently designing and building the next big detector. The new detector, called PUEO, will be larger and better at detecting neutrino signals and it will hopefully shed light on what exactly the anomalous signal is. "My guess is that some interesting radio propagation effect occurs near ice and also near the horizon that I don't fully understand, but we certainly explored several of those, and we haven't been able to find any of those yet either," Wissel said. "So, right now, it's one of these long-standing mysteries, and I'm excited that when we fly PUEO, we'll have better sensitivity. In principle, we should pick up more anomalies, and maybe we'll actually understand what they are. We also might detect neutrinos, which would in some ways be a lot more exciting." The researchers published their results in the journal Physical Review Letters. The post Scientists perplexed by strange signals from beneath Antarctica appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
New super-black paint could fix satellite light pollution problem
By Dean Murray British researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites by painting them black. A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University ofSurrey is aiming to tackle what has become a major concern for astronomers worldwide. They are working on using Surrey NanoSystems's newest product, Vantablack 310, which is a super-black coating. When Vantablack 310 is applied to a surface, it reflects only 2% of incoming light, meaning it absorbs the remaining 98%. This high level of light absorption makes the coated surfaces appear extremely dark, helping to minimise the unwanted brightness from satellites that can disrupt the work of stargazers. More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth, and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations. To combat this problem, satellite operators have begun experimenting with mitigation strategies, including dark coatings and changes to satellite position, though the negative impact on ground-based measurement persists. Surrey NanoSystems, with a heritage in ultra-black technologies, says their new solution, Vantablack 310, is a handleable, customer-applied coating, resistant to the challenging LEO environment. The technology will be trialled on the Jovian 1 mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, which will be the first satellite mission from JUPITER – the Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research. One side of a shoebox-sized CubeSat will be coated with Vantablack 310, marking the first UK-led initiative to explore solutions for reducing satellite brightness. The initiative aims to not only improve space sustainability but also demonstrate the efficacy of Vantablack 310 as a hull-darkening solution. Dr. Keiran Clifford, Senior Technologist and project lead at Surrey Nanosystems, said: "Our latest coating technology, Vantablack 310, offers super-black performance across a wide range of viewing angles, while remaining robust to the challenging LEO environment. "We're proud to be working with our partners at the University of Surrey to deliver innovations in the satellite sector, ensuring sustainable and equitable access to a night sky for all." Researchers from the University of Surrey are developing ways to evaluate the experiment from Earth. The post New super-black paint could fix satellite light pollution problem appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US unveils city-destroying nuclear missile after years of secrecy
By Dean Murray The United States has unveiled its city-destroying nuclear cruise missile after years of secret development. The first image of the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) reveals a sleek, stealthy weapon designed to evade modern air defenses, with a range said to exceed 1,500 miles. It is thought the missile will have an adjustable nuclear yield between 5–150 kilotons, allowing uses ranging from tactical effect to destroying cities. A yield of 150 kilotons is 10 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945. The LRSO is set to replace the Cold War-era AGM-86B and will be carried by both the forthcoming $585m B-21 Raider and upgraded B-52 bombers. Air Force officials confirmed that the LRSO has already undergone a series of successful flight tests is set for frontline service by 2030. The post US unveils city-destroying nuclear missile after years of secrecy appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Cold War-era nuclear sub gets dismantled
By Dean Murray Amazing scenes show a hero British nuclear-powered submarine being dismantled. HMS Swiftsure became famous during the Cold War for sneaking underneath a Soviet aircraft carrier to snap photographs. During the 1977 mission, Swiftsure penetrated a large-scale Soviet Northern Fleet exercise in the Barents Sea, evading multiple layers of escorts to approach and hide directly beneath the Kiev for several hours. With works underway at defense company Babcock's facilities at Rosyth in Scotland, it is the first British nuclear-powered submarine to be fully dismantled and decommissioned. Swiftsure was the lead ship of its class of nuclear fleet submarines built for the Royal Navy. Entering service in 1973, Swiftsure served until 1992. The UK Ministry of Defense's (MOD) Defense Nuclear Enterprise's (DNE) Submarine Dismantling Project says they have achieved a major milestone after completing the fin cut and removal on the submarine. An estimated 90% of Swiftsure's total weight will be recycled, with some of the high-quality steel repurposed into components for future Royal Navy submarines. The MOD said: "Lessons from Swiftsure will develop the blueprint for the recycling of the remaining decommissioned Pressurised Water Reactor 1 submarines, with high-quality steel already recovered from decommissioned submarines being repurposed into components for future submarines." According to the military website Navy Lookout, there are seven decommissioned nuclear-powered subs in Rosyth, including Swiftsure, and 16 at Devonport in Plymouth. Sir Chris Gardner KBE, CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: "To see the fin of Swiftsure removed is a significant marker of progress in the Defense Nuclear Enterprise's Submarine Dismantling Project. "Our colleagues continue to work tirelessly alongside our industry partners in Rosyth to deliver a proven dismantling method using this demonstrator vessel. My thanks go to everyone involved in this groundbreaking work." Lorraine Russell, Senior Responsible Owner for the Submarine Disposals Program, said: "The Project showcases our commitment to sustainable disposal practices. By recycling materials wherever possible, we're ensuring these vessels that served the nation so well continue to provide value even after decommissioning." The post Cold War-era nuclear sub gets dismantled appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
