Space Stories: Mysterious Signal Solved, Trusting AI in Astronomy, and a New Particle Detected on the Moon

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Image by Anjana Daksh from Pixabay.

Here are some recent space-related stories of interest.

—Phys.org: “Mysterious Fast Radio Burst Turns Out to be From Long-dead NASA Satellite“

A team of astronomers and astrophysicists affiliated with several institutions in Australia has found that a mysterious fast radio burst (FRB) detected last year originated not from a distant source, but from one circling the planet—a long-dead satellite. The team has posted a paper outlining their findings on the arXiv preprint server…The findings could lead to the development of new tools for studying signals coming from space, whether near or far, and possibly new ways to monitor the movement of dead satellites.

—Futurism: “Nobel Prize Winner Warns About Astronomers Using AI to Make Discoveries“

A team of astronomers say they’ve gleaned the mysterious traits of our galaxy’s black hole by probing it with an AI model. But a pretty big name on the field is throwing a little bit of cold water on their work. Just a little bit. Reinhard Genzel, a Nobel laureate and an astrophysicist at the Max Planck Institute, expressed some skepticism regarding the team’s use of AI, and the quality of the data they fed into the model. “I’m very sympathetic and interested in what they’re doing,” Genzel told Live Science. “But artificial intelligence is not a miracle cure.”

—Swedish Institute of Space Physics: “Swedish-built Instrument Discovers New Type of Particle on the Lunar Surface“

A space instrument, built by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), has for the first time detected negative hydrogen ions on the surface of the Moon – a type of particle never seen there before. The discovery was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

Profile: The SkAI Institute?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Three astrophysics research areas to be undertaken by the SkAI Institute. (SkAI Institute)

The SkAI Institute is an abbreviation for the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky. It is a new initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Simons Foundation to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into astronomy.

According to the SkAI Institute’s website, the vision of this new organization is to bring together about 25 partner organization to:

  1. Confront the challenges posed by transformative multi-wavelength and multi-messenger surveys.
  2. Develop innovative, trustworthy AI tools for the research community.
  3. Seed and nurture a diverse generation of interdisciplinary leaders in science and engineering to ethically apply and extend AI within and beyond academia.

The Institute’s initial focus will be (1) Stars, Compact Objects and their Transients, (2) Galaxy Formation and Evolution, and (3) Cosmology and the Early Universe.

In discussing the new institute, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, stated:

The massive amount of data that will be gathered in the coming years by the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory and other large-scale astronomical projects is simply too vast and rich to be fully explored with existing methods…With reliable and trustworthy AI in their toolbox, everyone from students to senior researchers will have exciting new ways to gain valuable insights leading to amazing discoveries that might otherwise remain hidden in the data.

Given the mixed press on recent AI initiatives, it is nice to see AI being directed at a clear need in the field of astronomy. You can learn more about the work of the new Institute by visiting its website.

Podcast: Discussion with Ray Kurzweil

Posted on by onespaceman2000

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews futurist Ray Kurzweil in this repeat StarTalk episode from November 2022 titled “Could We Someday Liver Forever? With Ray Kurzweil.” It is a heavy conversation about living forever as we integrate technology even more into our lives. Throughout the conversation Neil makes reference to a book coming out in 2023. In fact, the book came out in June of this year, which is probably why the episode is available again.

Here is a description of the new book from the publisher:

In this entirely new book Ray Kurzweil brings a fresh perspective to advances toward the Singularity—assessing his 1999 prediction that AI will reach human level intelligence by 2029 and examining the exponential growth of technology—that, in the near future, will expand human intelligence a millionfold and change human life forever. Among the topics he discusses are rebuilding the world, atom by atom with devices like nanobots; radical life extension beyond the current age limit of 120; reinventing intelligence by connecting our brains to the cloud; how exponential technologies are propelling innovation forward in all industries and improving all aspects of our well-being such as declining poverty and violence; and the growth of renewable energy and 3-D printing. He also considers the potential perils of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, including such topics of current controversy as how AI will impact employment and the safety of autonomous cars, and “After Life” technology, which aims to virtually revive deceased individuals through a combination of their data and DNA.

The culmination of six decades of research on artificial intelligence, The Singularity Is Nearer is Ray Kurzweil’s crowning contribution to the story of this science and the revolution that is to come.

You will want listen to the podcast interview, and afterward you might even want to pick up the book.

Credit: Viking

Space Stories: Spaceplane Planned for ISS, AI Assists Astronomy, and Water Older Than the Sun

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artist’s rendering of the Dream Chaser DC-100 spaceplane. (Sierra Space)

Here are some recent stories of interest.

—New Atlas: “World’s First Commercial Spaceplane in Final Stages Before Debut ISS Flight“

The world’s first winged commercial spaceplane has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, its final destination before its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year. Following rigorous testing at Ohio’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility, the Dream Chaser DC-100 spaceplane named Tenacity got the green light to commence final pre-launch preparations, such as finishing its thermal protection system and payload integration, before it hitches a ride on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket to deliver 7,800 pounds (3,540 kg) of food, water and science experiments to the ISS.

—MIT Technology Review: “Astronomers are Enlisting AI to Prepare for a Data Downpour“

In deserts across Australia and South Africa, astronomers are planting forests of metallic detectors that will together scour the cosmos for radio signals. When it boots up in five years or so, the Square Kilometer Array Observatory will look for new information about the universe’s first stars and the different stages of galactic evolution.  But after syncing hundreds of thousands of dishes and antennas, astronomers will quickly face a new challenge: combing through some 300 petabytes of cosmological data a year—enough to fill a million laptops…In preparation for the information deluge, astronomers are turning to AI for assistance, optimizing algorithms to pick out patterns in large and notoriously finicky data sets. Some are now working to establish institutes dedicated to marrying the fields of computer science and astronomy—and grappling with the terms of the new partnership.

—BBC Sky at Night: “Earth’s Water is Even Older Than the Sun, Having Formed Billions of Years Ago, Say Astronomers“

How old is Earth’s water? Could it be older even than the planet itself? A team of astronomers say they’ve found the “missing link” that shows how water is delivered from gaseous star-forming regions in space to planets like Earth. The research suggests that Earth’s water is even older than the Sun. The news comes as a result of studies of a dusty planet-forming disc surrounding a star 1,300 lightyears from Earth

It Was Inevitable – NASA Names First Chief AI Officer

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David Salvagnini, currently NASA’s chief data officer, will now also hold the title of Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer. It seems to be the trend these days as AI infiltrates organizations.

With regards to the new position, NASA noted:

This appointment is in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. Salvagnini now is responsible for aligning the strategic vision and planning for AI usage across NASA. He serves as a champion for AI innovation, supporting the development and risk management of tools, platforms, and training.

How important is AI to the future of the space industry? I asked deepai.org/chat and got back this self-important reply:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a crucial role in the space industry, transforming various aspects of space exploration, development, and operations. Here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

  • Spacecraft Operations: AI algorithms are used to monitor and control spacecraft systems, enabling autonomous decision-making and reducing the need for human intervention. This improves the efficiency and reliability of spacecraft operations.
  • Data Analysis: AI-powered data analysis tools are used to process vast amounts of data collected from space missions, such as satellite imagery, astronomical observations, and sensor data. This enables scientists to identify patterns, detect anomalies, and make more informed decisions.
  • Robotics and Automation: AI is being used to develop more advanced robotic systems for space missions, such as autonomous robots for planetary exploration and satellite maintenance. This reduces the risk of human error and increases the efficiency of operations.
  • Predictive Maintenance: AI-powered predictive maintenance tools are used to detect potential issues in spacecraft systems, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of equipment failure.
  • Space Weather Forecasting: AI models are used to predict space weather events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can impact satellite communications and navigation systems.
  • Exoplanet Hunting: AI-powered algorithms are used to analyze data from exoplanet-hunting missions, such as NASA’s Kepler space telescope, to identify potential exoplanet candidates.
  • Astronomical Research: AI is used to analyze large datasets from astronomical observations, such as galaxy distributions, star formation rates, and dark matter detection.
  • Space Traffic Management: AI-powered systems are being developed to manage space traffic, ensuring safe and efficient operations in low-Earth orbit.
  • Cybersecurity: AI-powered cybersecurity tools are used to detect and prevent cyber threats in space systems, protecting sensitive data and ensuring mission continuity.
  • Mission Planning: AI algorithms are used to optimize mission planning, taking into account factors such as propulsion systems, communication networks, and terrain analysis.

If this is true, then Mr. Salvagnini will be a very busy man.