Optical Surfaces Ltd has received an order to supply the University of Oxford, UK with 3 speciality glass prisms for a study that will enable defining key components in the state-of-the-art HARMONI spectrometer being developed for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).
CAD model of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) - Courtesy of ESO.
The ELT, a flagship project of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), will be the largest ground-based optical telescope ever built. Located in Chile, with a primary mirror of 39m diameter, ESO’s ELT, together with its HARMONI spectrometer, is expected to make a huge impact in astronomical observations of exo-planets, Solar System objects, stars, nearby and distant galaxies, quasars and other exotic objects.
The Government is investing the millions in the Harwell science campus near Didcot. The money will help scientists to search for dark matter, test satellites before launch and support work on quantum interferometry projects . The investment in the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) at Harwell includes £1 million for a Strontium Source Laboratory to allow work on cold-atom sensors and instruments. This will support work on quantum projects recently described as a future priority infrastructure for the UK, and act as a local testing ground for larger-scale devices to be delivered by RAL departments.
Harwell science campus. Picture: Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Secret Science of Santa
ZME Science delves into a timely Yuletide investigation of the science that enables Santa to deliver Christmas to millions of children across the globe. If you thought it was magic, think again.
It’s the time of year when our minds are supposed to turn to presents, mince pies, turkey dinner, and eggnog and occasionally goodwill to all mankind. But for some of us, Christmas is a time of torment and sleepless nights. The thoughts that trouble our minds pushing out images of dancing sugar plum-fairies are of the science that allows a single man to deliver presents to every child in the World.
New Polymer Captures Ammonia Preventing Air Pollution
Image Credit: Heloisa Bordallo, The Niels Bohr Institute
A newly developed polymer could trap ammonia, preventing it from polluting the atmosphere, thus improving human health considerably.
Ammonia is a toxic gas that is a major source of air pollution that can harm human health. The compound of nitrogen and hydrogen is a byproduct of both agriculture and industry, and even though it is harmful enough alone causing damage to eyes, throats, and even in extreme circumstances death when it reacts with other air pollutants, it forms ammonium salts that can affect breathing. These fine particles can travel large distances in the atmosphere, thus becoming a widespread problem rather than a localized one.
Polymer to capture ammonia pollution realized phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.