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Voyager 1’s signal from interstellar space has raised some concerns, as it appears to be more than just a random transmission

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There is a concerning issue with the farthest human-built object. Currently, Voyager 1 is located a staggering 24 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) away from Earth, traversing the vast expanse of interstellar space. Unfortunately, NASA has encountered some difficulties in establishing effective communication with the spacecraft in recent months. However, progress has been made towards finding a solution. The engineering team has found a message in the data stream that the spacecraft sent back.

In September 2023, a problem emerged with the data received from Voyager 1. Typically transmitted in binary code, or a sequence of 0s and 1s representing words, the probe was instead sending a pattern of alternating 1s and 0s. In February, the NASA Voyager engineering team explained to IFLScience that the connection between the spacecraft and Earth was still intact, but Voyager’s “voice” had been replaced by a monotonous dial tone.

This issue prevents scientific information and updates about the condition and health of the probe from being available. This includes crucial information that could potentially uncover the root cause of the issue. Based on our analysis, it appears that the problem lies with the Flight Data System [FDS], one of the probe’s onboard computers. The team is diligently working towards resolving the issue, but it is anticipated that this process may take several months.

Various methods were tried, but there was a significant shift at the beginning of this month. On March 1, the engineering team initiated a command to prompt the FDS to explore alternative sequences within its software package. This was done as a precautionary measure to address any potential corruption and find a possible workaround.

It is worth noting that Voyager 1 is located a staggering distance of 22 light-hours and 34 light-minutes away. Consequently, the transmission of signals to and from NASA requires nearly a full day. The poke did not solve the problem, but it definitely had an impact.

“On March 3, the Voyager mission team observed an anomaly in a specific section of the FDS, which stood out from the rest of the computer’s data stream that was otherwise indecipherable. According to a blog post by the Voyager team, they were initially uncertain about the meaning of the new signal since it did not match the format typically used by Voyager 1 when the FDS is functioning correctly.

However, a scientist working with the agency’s Deep Space Network, responsible for operating the radio antennas that establish communication with various spacecraft, including the Voyagers, successfully deciphered the new signal. Upon analysis, it was discovered that the signal contains a comprehensive record of the FDS memory.

The memory of the FDS includes both its code and information regarding the spacecraft’s status. The team is currently analyzing this data in order to compare it with the data received prior to September. Their goal is to determine the cause of the issue and find potential solutions.

If the team fails to resolve this issue, it could potentially spell the end of operations for Voyager 1, as there is no backup FDS available. However, Voyager 2 is functioning normally; the Voyager mission will continue as long as one probe is still operational,” the Voyager team informed IFLScience previously.

NASA’s projected budget for the upcoming years demonstrates a strong dedication to extending the Voyager mission well beyond its 50th anniversary in 2027.

As Editor here at GeekReply, I'm a big fan of all things Geeky. Most of my contributions to the site are technology related, but I'm also a big fan of video games. My genres of choice include RPGs, MMOs, Grand Strategy, and Simulation. If I'm not chasing after the latest gear on my MMO of choice, I'm here at GeekReply reporting on the latest in Geek culture.

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Why some physicists believe we live in a black hole

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Black holes are enigmatic entities that, despite our extensive knowledge, continue to perplex our comprehension of physics. Physicists have proposed unconventional hypotheses to address the paradoxes encountered during the study of these phenomena. One hypothesis suggests that these paradoxes indicate that our universe is actually a holographic representation. According to this idea, everything we observe and perceive is encoded at the boundary of our universe, which is a three-dimensional representation of a two-dimensional universe, including time. Moreover, there have been suggestions that this could potentially indicate that our universe exists inside a black hole within a larger universe.

Black holes are regions of space that result from the gravitational collapse of massive stars, exhibiting such intense gravity that even light cannot escape. Their presence presented a challenge when examining them from a thermodynamic perspective. After achieving stability, a black hole’s mass, angular momentum, and electric charge are the only factors that determine its final state.

“According to French astrophysicist Jean-Pierre Luminet’s 2016 review, in classical general relativity, a black hole effectively traps any particle or form of radiation within its cosmic confinement, preventing their escape.” “To an external observer, the moment a material body passes through an event horizon, all information regarding its material properties becomes inaccessible.” Only the updated values of mass (M), angular momentum (J), and electric charge (Q) are retained. Consequently, a black hole engulfs a vast quantity of information.

It may appear straightforward—or at least as straightforward as physics can be. However, if a black hole possesses mass (which is typically substantial), it should theoretically possess a temperature in accordance with the first law of thermodynamics. Furthermore, in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, it should emit thermal radiation. Stephen Hawking demonstrated that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation, which is generated at the boundary of a black hole.

“Hawking subsequently identified a paradox.” “If a black hole undergoes evaporation, a fraction of the information it possesses becomes permanently irretrievable,” Luminet elaborated. A black hole’s thermal radiation does not retain or replicate information about the matter it ate. The irrevocable loss of information contradicts one of the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. The Schrödinger equation states that in physical systems that undergo changes over time, information cannot be created or destroyed. This property is referred to as unitarity.

This phenomenon is referred to as the black hole information paradox, and due to its apparent contradiction with our existing comprehension of the cosmos, it has been extensively examined and discussed.

Examining the thermodynamics of black holes within the context of string theory led to the discovery of an alternative solution. Gerard ‘t Hooft demonstrated that the total number of independent variables within a black hole is directly proportional to the surface area of its horizon, rather than its volume. This enables the examination of the entropy of a black hole.

“In terms of information, Luminet explains that each bit, represented as either a 0 or a 1, corresponds to four Planck areas. This correspondence enables the derivation of the Bekenstein-Hawking formula for entropy,” Luminet concludes. “To an external observer, it appears that the information regarding the entropy of the black hole, which was previously contained within the three-dimensional arrangement of objects that entered the event horizon, is no longer accessible.” However, according to this perspective, the data is encoded on the flat, two-dimensional surface of a black hole, similar to a hologram. Thus, Hooft concluded that the information consumed by a black hole could be fully recovered through the process of quantum evaporation.

Although it is consoling to know that black holes do not violate the second law of thermodynamics, this has given rise to the unusual idea that a three-dimensional space’s two-dimensional boundary can explain its physics.

It has been suggested that the universe itself could potentially function like a black hole, with all phenomena occurring at its boundary and our observations arising from these interactions. However, this concept does not apply to the space outside of a black hole. This idea is quite unconventional, with some unexpected additions. For example, there is a suggestion that gravity may emerge as a force from entanglement entropy at the boundary.

The theory falls short in its ability to provide a convincing explanation for our universe, as standard physics continues to offer the most accurate description of the observable universe. However, there are valid justifications for why individuals consider it of great importance.

In order for the model to be valid, it is crucial that the Hubble radius of the universe, which represents the radius of our observable universe, is equivalent to its Schwarzschild radius. This refers to the size of a black hole that would form if all the matter within it was compressed into a single point. These two figures are unexpectedly similar, although this could be attributed to a cosmic coincidence.

There are other factors to consider, like this comprehensive chart that indicates the possibility of our existence within a black hole within a larger universe. However, until a theory emerges with substantial evidence and predictions that surpass our current knowledge of physics, we recommend refraining from succumbing to an existential crisis. This applies regardless of whether you perceive yourself as a three-dimensional entity existing within conventional space-time or as a holographic projection originating from a two-dimensional boundary within a larger universe.

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A potential development of the first lunar railway is anticipated within the next ten years

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For people to live on the Moon’s surface permanently, they need to be able to use Moon resources. Not everything can be brought to Earth. But it’s not likely that the base will have everything it needs right there. Some things will need to be moved. It’s not a new idea to have cars (well, buggies) on the Moon, but now scientists are thinking about a very different idea: a railway system that floats.

FLOAT, which stands for “Flexible Levitation on a Track,” is the name of the project. The goal is to make payload transportation that is self-driving, dependable, and effective. As part of its mission, it will move payloads from spacecraft landing zones to the base and from mining sites to places where resources are taken out or where the soil is used for building.

Interesting about the technology is that the tracks are not fixed. Since they are unrolled right onto the lunar regolith, FLOAT doesn’t need much site preparation. Robots that can levitate will be able to move over the tracks. Since they don’t have wheels or legs, they don’t have to deal with the sharp regolith and its damaging power.

There is a layer of graphite on the flexible film track that lets diamagnetic levitation happen, and a flex circuit creates electromagnetic thrust. You don’t have to use the third layer, but if you do, it’s a solar panel that will power the system when it’s in the sun. The robots may be different sizes, but the team thinks that every day they can move 100 tons of stuff over several kilometers.

In phase II, six NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) have been moved forward. FLOAT is one of them. A new way to get astronauts to Mars quickly and an idea for a liquid space telescope are two others. For FLOAT, phase II will be all about designing and building a smaller version of the system that will be tested in a moon-like environment. This will also help us learn more about how the environment affects tracks and robots and what else is needed to make this idea a reality.

In a statement, John Nelson, NIAC program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said, “These different, science fiction-like ideas make up a great group of Phase II studies.” “Our NIAC fellows always amaze and inspire us. This class makes NASA think about what’s possible in the future.”

These projects got $600,000 to keep looking into whether they were possible. As the leader of FLOAT, Ethan Schaler from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is in charge. If the system keeps showing what it can do, it could be an important part of life on the Moon by the 2030s.

Phase I projects have also been announced. The ideas include new designs for telescopes, ways to make Mars less dangerous, and even a group of very small spacecraft that could reach our nearest stars in 20 years.

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Astronomy

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is occurring this month, and its peak can be observed at a specific time

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Currently, Earth is undergoing one of its three most active meteor showers. The Eta Aquariids, remnants of Halley’s comet, are observed during the month of May. During this period, Earth approaches the comet’s orbit at a distance of approximately 9.7 million kilometers (6 million miles), which is close enough to collect residual dust particles.

The Eta Aquariids exhibit a frequency of up to one meteor per minute, although this level of activity is limited to individuals residing near the equator and in the southern tropics. For the rest of the population on Earth, it is anticipated that there will be a more moderate but still highly respectable rate of 10 to 30 meteors per hour. The optimal time in the Northern Hemisphere is during the pre-dawn period when the sky is at its maximum darkness, particularly in areas located away from urban centers. The midnight hours are also favorable in the Southern Hemisphere.

Allow approximately 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt; thus, it is important to take this into account. The duration of the meteor shower spans from April 19 to May 28 annually. The zenith of meteor activity is anticipated to occur during the nights of May 5th and 6th; however, there is a high probability of observing numerous meteors throughout the entire week.

Our orbit intersects with the orbit of Halley’s comet twice annually. In May, this event results in the occurrence of a meteor shower. In October, the remnants form the Orionid meteor shower. The Eta Aquariids derive their name from their origin at the star Eta Aquarii.

Halley’s comet exhibits significant luminosity and possesses a comparatively brief orbital period, completing one revolution around the sun every 76 years. For a period of more than 2,250 years, humans have been engaged in the act of observing it. The earliest documented sighting of this phenomenon occurred in 240 BCE and was recorded in the Book of Han by Chinese astronomers in 12 BCE. The year 1066 witnessed the depiction of this event in two significant historical records: the Bayeux Tapestry, which documented the Norman Conquest of England, and the petroglyphs created by the Chaco, indigenous Americans in present-day New Mexico.

The appearance of a comet in 1301 inspired Giotto di Bondone to depict the Star of Bethlehem as a comet, which had a lasting influence on its portrayal for the next seven centuries. Although observations had been made for thousands of years, it was not until 1705 that Edmond Halley discovered the periodicity of them.

The most recent observation of the object from Earth occurred in 1986, and it is expected to return to the inner solar system in 2061. Currently, it is returning to its original position after reaching its maximum distance from the sun in December.

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