Technology News

Dimorphos, a real pile of rubble

Technology News / By

The asteroid Dimorphos, the subject of a new experiment to divert its trajectory, has everything from a pile of debris from the larger asteroid Didymos around which it orbits, shows a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy (New Window).

Dimorphos was hit by NASA's DART spacecraft in September 2022 to test the ability to divert an asteroid that could hit Earth from its trajectory.

Two light spots, one small and one large, on a dark background.

Open in full screen mode

The asteroid Didymos (top left) and its satellite Dimorphos, about 2.5 minutes before DART impacted the latter. The image was taken by the DRACO imager at a distance of 920 kilometers.

Photo: NASA/Johns Hopkins

The success of the mission, which took place around 11 million kilometers from Earth, could only be measured by the impact of the impact on Dimorphos' orbit around Didymos.

In this strange pair, the first star, with a diameter of about 160 meters, initially orbited the second, with a diameter of 800 meters, in almost 12 hours. A time after impact reduced by more than half an hour. The detail was captured in images by an Italian microsatellite accompanying the DART mission and tracked from Earth using telescopes.

According to the international team led by Sabina Raducan, a specialist in small celestial bodies at the University of Bern, these data indicate that Dimorphos is a pile of rubble, their study summarizes.

According to the simulations, the only solutions we find assume that Dimorphos was originally a very fragile star that offered very little resistance to the impact of DART and its 610 kg weight, explains study co-author Patrick Michel, astrophysicist on the Côte d'Azur. Azure Observatory.

Such fragility that the impact would not only have created a crater about ten meters in diameter, but would actually have led to a complete deformation of the star's body, adds this co-leader of the DART team.

Pebble field

Use of the condition is essential while waiting for the European Space Agency's (ESA) HERA probe, scheduled to reach Dimorphos in 2026, to study the asteroid with much larger resources.

Dimorphos would consist of a heterogeneous silica-based collection, but not the kind of sand field like in Saint-Tropez, but a pebble field like on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, with stones everywhere, smiles Patrick Michel. Rather small rocks, as less than 40% are more than 2.5 meters long, according to the simulations supported by the last images taken by DART before the ship crashed.

And above all, the structure of the star, which we can study with a low-frequency radar from HERA, would be characterized by great porosity, which explains its fragility.

Which speaks of a birth and growth based on debris ejected by his big brother Didymos, who spins like a top, of which he is a little in shape elsewhere. With sufficient speed to eject some of its material through centrifugal action, which agglomerates into dimorphos.

This in itself would be good news for Patrick Michel, who confirms that a silicate asteroid like Dimorphos exhibits roughly the same behavior as the more common carbonaceous asteroids like Bennu or Ryugu, that is, very little drag.

So we would already know who we are dealing with if, in the distant future, it were necessary to distract someone in order to save the Earth. A great advance, because these objects exhibit behavior that contradicts our intuition since they are in a completely different environment than on Earth, emphasizes the expert.

In 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass close to Earth at a distance of about 32,000 kilometers, providing a natural laboratory for studying these stars, he expects.

A mission is being prepared to study the behavior of Apophis during its passage without having to touch it since it will be visible from the ground.

Dimorphos, a real pile of rubble Read More »

Residential real estate: Chiara advocates for state aid for property developers

Technology News / By

Residential real estate Chiara advocates for state aid for property

Financing 2% of the interest rate for 100,000 housing units would cost the state around $1.6 billion over two years, estimates Vincent Chiara. (Photo courtesy of Le Cercle canadienne)

Vincent Chiara believes that only one thing can convince real estate developers to restart housing construction and that is financial support from the provincial or federal government, which could come in the form of financing part of the interest rate.

The president and founder of Mach Group believes that neither the simple abolition of the QST, nor regulatory improvements in terms of obtaining residential building permits, nor raising zoning limits or granting tax breaks are measures that could, in themselves, “move the needle.” for developers to get their pending projects back on track.

“We see these types of measures being implemented in places like Longueuil or Gatineau,” he explained during a speech at the Canadian Club. And yet in these places there are no queues to start projects. There was also no massive construction work in other provinces because the sales tax on new buildings was abolished there. Because these measures alone are not enough. »

Financing 2% of interest rate

What Vincent Chiara proposes instead is temporary financial support for project promoters.

He suggests that governments (provincial or federal or both) temporarily fund 2% of the current interest rate until interest rates fall below 4%, which he believes is the financial equilibrium point for a housing project.

“In my opinion, that alone is a game changer,” he says.

The president and founder of Mach Group estimates the average cost of a door (house or house) in Quebec to be $400,000.

“If we fund 2% of $400,000 for 100,000 doors, it would cost the state $800 million a year,” he points out. So maybe $1.6 billion over two years until interest rates fall back below 4%. »

Serious problem

That amount may seem staggering, he admits. But he points to the Northvolt factory and the billions of dollars in funding provided by Quebec to put things in perspective.

“In most major cities in Quebec, the vacancy rate is below 1%,” he notes. It is a serious problem, but governments seem unaware of its extent. We need to accelerate the pace and build more than 150,000 homes per year (Editor's note by 2030), and last year we started with less than 40,000. Thousands of projects are on the shelves and promoters are just waiting for the numbers to make sense before launching them. »

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Our gas emissions measured from space

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Our gas emissions measured from space

Stéphane Germain, founder of GHGSat (Photo: with kind permission)

SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Stéphane Germain has been on the TIME100 climate list for several months, recognizing the 100 most influential leaders committed to climate change. GHGSat, the 120-employee company he founded and leads, operates the only commercial satellite constellation that monitors greenhouse gas emissions.

Of the twelve satellites currently in orbit, 11 measure methane emissions from more than 500,000 industrial sites around the world. The company, which has invested more than $50 million in research and development since its founding in 2011, launched a new satellite last year that also measures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

“My engineering training allowed me to understand how to implement technologies developed by scientists to precisely measure methane emissions from industrial sites, but I had to work with them,” says Stéphane Germain, who initially spent two years validating your idea with potential customers. “When I found my first customers, Hydro-Québec and Suncor Energy, I managed to get financing and the story was over! » says the man who then teamed up with the universities of Waterloo and Toronto to develop his innovative technology and launch it into orbit via satellite.

An ultra-precise sensor

GHGSat's patented sensor is a spectrometer that precisely measures the intensity of light at frequencies corresponding to the presence of methane or CO2. “This allows us to detect and locate a leak or source with an accuracy of up to 25 meters, but also quantify the extent of the emissions. “We have a kind of photo covering an area of ​​about 12 km by 12 km, in which a million pixels each show us a gas concentration,” explains Stéphane Germain.

The company initially looked at methane because “its short-term impact is almost as large as CO2 and there was a clear commercial market for its emissions data, with those for CO2 being better known,” explains the company's CEO or the company tripled its sales every year. Its customers include large oil and gas companies such as Chevron, Shell and Exxon, but also mining companies, landfills, governments and organizations such as NASA and the European Space Agency.

An accelerating collaboration with universities

GHGSat has worked with American universities such as Harvard since its early years. “They are very strong in atmospheric science. We then increased scientific and research collaborations with universities,” explains Stéphane Germain.

Additionally, in December 2023, the company announced new projects with the Global Methane Hub and the Netherlands Space Research Institute (SRON) to reduce methane emissions from landfills. “We had already worked with SRON to leverage the capabilities of our two complementary satellites as part of a project that allowed us to validate our technologies and detect a leak in Central Asia.” We encouraged the site operator to do so repair, which meant a very significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” explains Stéphane Germain.

His company also works with L'École Polytechnique and the National Optical Institute in Quebec. The aim of this collaboration is to use artificial intelligence to accelerate the processing of the growing amounts of data from its satellites while keeping costs under control.

In the entrepreneur's environment: A new generation of sensors is intended to reduce their detection threshold by around five times. “We are in the process of evolving it to stay at the cutting edge of technology and continue to offer our customers the best commercial offering in the world,” says the man for whom corporate research must remain grounded. “Our challenge should always be to find a solution that meets our customers’ needs, not to achieve perfection.”

Our gas emissions measured from space Read More »

 IMAX Theater – Florida Sunshine

Technology News / By

One experience you can enjoy during your stay is visiting the IMAX theater at the Museum of Discovery and Science (401 SW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale). Here are three of the performances shown.

Blue whales

Documentary – Blue whales are the largest animal that has ever lived, larger than dinosaurs. They are longer than a jet plane and their tongue weighs as much as an elephant. The huge screen is the only place where you can see them in life size! Experience the adventure of a lifetime and discover a long-lost pod of blue whales in a remote corner of the ocean that no scientist or film crew has explored before. What the expedition reveals will help inspire new marine protected areas.

The film will also feature a wide range of characters, including all the stars of the ocean: dolphins, sharks, orcas, sea lions and turtles.

Cities of the future

Documentary – Imagine traveling 50 years into the future and discovering smart cities designed to be completely sustainable. Renewable energy is our main source of energy, Space Solar provides solar energy 24 hours a day, everything is recycled and you have your own individual pods which are powered by magnetic levitation and use little to no energy. You can also drive an electric flying vehicle! Traffic jams are a thing of the past. It's not science fiction. Engineers are currently developing plans for a sustainable world. And on a huge screen!

Hubble

Documentary – Using the power of IMAX® 3D, Hubble 3D, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, takes moviegoers on an unprecedented journey through distant galaxies to explore the majesty and mystery of our celestial surroundings. Experience unprecedented 3D flights through the vastness of the universe and accompany astronauts on spacewalks in some of the most challenging and important endeavors in NASA history.

In May 2009, the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis launched a mission to perform critical repairs and upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope, the world's first space observatory located 350 miles above Earth. There was an IMAX 3D camera on board that was operated by the shuttle astronauts. Impressive footage was captured of the five complex spacewalks required to make these repairs, as well as close-up images of the effort to put the telescope into orbit. The shuttle's mechanical arm reached a speed of 17,500 miles per hour and an unexpected problem that threatened to sabotage its entire mission.

Dates and times can be found at: https://mods.org/showtimes

 IMAX Theater – Florida Sunshine Read More »

Mistral, now backed by Microsoft, introduces conversational AI

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Mistral now backed by Microsoft introduces conversational AI

The launch of ChatGPT and the subsequent release of other models across the Atlantic had triggered a race against time on the European side. (Photo: 123RF)

French company Mistral AI, one of the two AI pioneers in Europe, announced a partnership with Microsoft and its conversational AI on Monday, less than a year after its founding.

At the same time as its new language model Mistral Large, the third to be introduced by the company, Mistral announced the existence of “Chat”, a reference to the American Open AI's predecessor ChatGPT.

The French group, valued at around $2 billion according to financial sources, boasts performance comparable to GPT-4. The difference is that it currently offers conversational AI specifically for businesses and not the general public.

The Mistral Large model will be available starting Monday to customers of Azure AI, the Microsoft platform with which Mistral announced a partnership without revealing the terms.

“This is an important milestone for us as the unmatched performance of this multilingual model continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with cutting-edge artificial intelligence,” said Arthur Mensch, co-founder of Mistral AI, in a press release.

Microsoft, in turn, welcomed the partnership with the start-up, which it described as “groundbreaking and innovative”. This “is based on a shared commitment to providing safe and reliable AI systems and products,” the American giant said.

According to the Financial Times, Microsoft has made a small investment in Mistral.

Global calling

Founded in April 2023, Mistral AI, whose three French founders come from the ranks of Meta (parent company of Facebook) and Google, has always expressed the desire to offer an alternative to the models of large American technology companies.

“We have a clear goal: to create a European champion with a global focus in artificial intelligence,” said one of its co-founders, Arthur Mensch, in a press release in December.

The launch of ChatGPT and the subsequent release of other models across the Atlantic had triggered a race against time on the European side.

“There is a pretty strong cultural dependence” on the United States when it comes to AI, Arthur Mensch pointed out in October. For example, unlike its American counterparts, Mistral AI focuses on developing open source models that can be used by everyone.

The new model presented on Monday is also configured in five languages ​​(French, English, German, Spanish and Italian).

A “champion” France

A desire for independence promoted by politicians: While Mistral AI successfully raised 105 million euros in June 2023, Emmanuel Macron announced his desire to make France the “champion” in this field.

In mid-January, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the EU to “double its efforts” so as not to fall behind.

France has positioned itself particularly well in the race for AI in Europe: in addition to the encouragement given by the President of the Republic to the launch of Mistral AI, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire recently highlighted his desire to see the emergence of “an AI specific to France model” and creates jobs.

In mid-February, Google opened an AI research center in Paris, and the country will host the next in-person edition of an AI security summit.

But few European companies can claim the title of serious competitors to ChatGPT and others Gemini (Google) and Copilot (Microsoft): besides Mistral AI, only the German Aleph Alpha has such ambitions.

And the desire for European sovereignty is threatened by the very large investments made by the USA. In November, despite raising €500 million, Aleph Alpha's CEO feared his company was “in existential danger” after learning that another $13 billion had been poured into OpenAI.

Mistral, now backed by Microsoft, introduces conversational AI Read More »

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water

Technology News / By

A delightful find that will delight both lovers of water activities and people looking for a cozy cocoon to recharge new batteries!

We head to the edge of Lac Trois Saumons in Saint-Aubert in the Chaudière-Appalaches region to show you a charming chalet nestled on an intimate wooded plot.

A split-level house built in 1960 and decorated with blue appears proudly through this generous nature. Numerous improvements have been made since then and the interior combines vintage charm with modern finishes.

André Dussault of Sotheby's International Realty Québec is the agent responsible for the sale of this little gem.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive? The abundance of natural light brightens the open area and makes it extremely inviting!

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

Thanks to the generous windows that surround virtually the entire open area, natural light accompanies you in beauty, enhancing your quiet brunch mornings as you enjoy the view.

The dining area, kitchen and living room form one long room with a very pleasant atmosphere. The cathedral ceiling, adorned with slats and beams, gives this delightful communal living area a sublime effect that seems to be enhanced tenfold by the enveloping brightness.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The first area, consisting of the dining area and kitchen, rests on a ceramic floor that fits the modern furnishing style.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

Modernized in 2020, the trendy-looking kitchen features numerous polyester cabinets and a beautiful island with a lunch counter, so several people can come together for a quick meal or toast an aperitif.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The huge window facade almost gives the impression of being on a boat with a view of the lake in the background.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The area opposite has a more rustic and warm character with its wood-paneled walls and slow-burning wood-burning fireplace. People come here to seek refuge after a day outdoors, to relax and plan the next day's activities with family or friends.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

Between the living room and the kitchen, a staircase leads to the upper hallway, the style of which harmonizes with that of the living room.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The bathroom still has a retro feel with its ceramic tiles throughout. In addition to the tiles decorated with delicate patterns, the room features a separate shower and a vanity with storage space.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

As for the bedrooms, there are two of them and they measure 8ft 3.6in x 7ft 1.3in and 9ft 3.6in x 8ft 7.2in. Both can accommodate two visitors and with the addition of a sofa bed in the living room you can accommodate even more guests.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

We complete the interior exploration by connecting the hall with the second entrance. The washing and drying facilities are located here.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The property with an area of ​​27,938 square meters extends from the street to the lake and is separated from the neighboring properties. Privacy is perfectly maintained not only thanks to the dense vegetation that surrounds the house, but also due to the elevation of the property.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

The terrace is particularly noteworthy

Divided into three different areas, this terrace allows you to fully enjoy the panoramic water and mountain views. The spa and sauna area faces west, making it the ideal place to admire the sunsets.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

In addition to a shed, there is a boat shelter at the edge of the property, which features 143 feet of shoreline on Lac Trois Saumons.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty QuebecPerfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

This waterfront oasis of calm is located a dozen minutes from the shops and amenities of Saint-Aubert, as well as 20 minutes from Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, 35 minutes from Montmagny and 70 minutes from Lévis.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Sotheby's International Realty Quebec

A perfect place to have fun at any time of the year!

The selling price is $695,000.

Would you like to know a little more about this charming waterfront chalet? Check out his profile.

Perfect place to escape! Cottage camouflaged by trees by the water Read More »

Brain Canada Foundation launches Season 3 of the Playing with Marbles Podcast

Technology News / By

Classified in: Science and technology, health, Covid-19
Subjects: New products/services, arts/entertainment, health

MONTREAL, February 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Playing with Marbles, the Brain Canada Foundation's English podcast about all things brain, is back. This season we begin from the perspective of people who have experienced various mental illnesses.

Half of Canadians have suffered from a mental illness before the age of 40, and young people are particularly at risk. Whether due to societal pressures, post-pandemic stress or the current political climate, young Canadians often experience disproportionate rates of mental health issues.

“Every year, one in four young people need access to mental health services,” says Viviane Poupon, president and CEO of the Brain Canada Foundation. In fact, it is becoming more and more present, and not because we are aware of it, but because the need is growing and we recognize it and must act now. »

Follow host Katie Jensen into six unique brains to understand what it's like to be a young person living with anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, brain deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and dissociative identity living disorder and eating disorder. You'll also hear from neuroscientists and clinicians about what they think is happening in the brain and learn about some of the newest treatments available.

“Each episode this season tells the story of a real person living with a real mental illness,” says Katie Jensen. Since most mental illnesses begin at a young age, this is the time of year when we begin to experience them. »

Listeners can expect to hear from researchers funded by the Brain Canada Foundation, including Drs. Jo Henderson. Tamara Vanderwal and Sheena Josselyn as well as many other special guests.

Playing with Marbles is a production of Vocal Fry Studios and the Brain Canada Foundation. This season is produced with support from RBC Future Launch.

Playing with Marbles is available on the platform of your choice.

Some numbers:

Learn more about what the Brain Canada Foundation is doing to combat mental illness in Canada.

Contact: Brielle Goulart, Digital Communications & Stewardship Officer, Brain Canada, 450-915-2253, [email protected]

You can find a photo accompanying this press release at the following address:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1937208e-edc6-42f8-a8f7-a53e7984f77a/en

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The American probe Odysseus sends its first images from the south of the moon

Technology News / By

The U.S. company Intuitive Machines' Odysseus probe has sent its first images from the southernmost location on the Moon, where no spacecraft has ever landed. The private company ©e shared two photos on the social network X on Monday.

• Also read: Odysseus Probe: Humanity must learn “many things” about the Moon in order to fly to Mars

• Also read: The American lunar probe Odysseus probably landed on its side

• Also read: The Odysseus probe lands on the moon; a first for the private sector

The spacecraft, more than four meters high, landed on the moon at 11:23 p.m. GMT on Thursday, a first for the United States in more than 50 years. This is also a first for a private company.

But twists and turns, particularly a navigation system failure, made the final descent difficult and the probe ended up on its side instead of landing vertically.


AFP

“Odysseus continues to communicate with Nova Control flight controllers from the lunar surface,” Intuitive Machines said Monday, publishing on

In particular, the device carries scientific instruments from NASA, which wants to explore the south pole of the moon as part of its Artemis missions before sending its astronauts there. The American space agency has decided to order this service from private companies.


AFP

This strategy should allow him to make the trip more often and for less money. But also to stimulate the development of a lunar economy that can support a sustainable human presence on the Moon, one of the goals of the Artemis program.

It was a “success with small downsides,” commented astronomer and space mission expert Jonathan McDowell to AFP, saying that while “there is certainly something to be said about being ready for the next missions,” the NASA project is heading in the right direction goes.

Japan's SLIM probe, which has been stationed on the moon since the end of January, has been activated again, Jaxa, the country's space agency, announced on Monday. Additionally, it was positioned at an angle and its west-facing photovoltaic cells received no sunlight.

For Jonathan McDowell, these two falls could be an indication that the upper parts of current probes are too heavy and therefore current generation machines are more prone to tipping over in low gravity conditions.

The American probe Odysseus sends its first images from the south of the moon Read More »