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NASA Landscape intelligence is how earth observation data specialist Rezatec describes its use of satellite and other remote-sensing technologies to help businesses manage their land-based assets and respond to environmental changes. Since its formation two years ago, the company, which originated at University College London (UCL), has used earth observation (EO) techniques on projects ranging from measuring carbon stock to mapping Mallorca’s bio-economy. Partners include organisations as diverse as the European Space Agency (ESA), green cleaning products manufacturer Ecover, British Sugar and power generator Drax.

A private Orbital Sciences-built cargo launch to the International Space Station ended in a fiery explosion just seconds after liftoff Tuesday night (Oct. 28). Orbital's unmanned Antares rocket exploded in a brilliant fireball shortly after launching from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at 6:22 p.m. EDT (2222 GMT), crashing back down to the launch pad in a flaming heap. The Antares was carrying Orbital's unmanned Cygnus spacecraft, which was toting 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) of food, scientific experiments and other supplies on this flight — the third cargo mission to the space station under a $1.9 billion contract the company holds with NASA.

The views in this article were presented at a debate on geoengineering hosted by the Institute for Science and Ethics at Oxford Martin School.

More than 25 years ago, an abandoned NASA spacecraft fulfilled its mission, fell silent, and has since been hurtling around the sun, somewhere between the orbits of Earth and Mars. Now, a University of Arizona engineering student is trying to wake it up. Jacob Gold, an undergraduate student majoring in aerospace engineering, is on a mission against time. If he can’t make contact with the SUV-sized space probe when it swoops by the moon this summer, it will disappear into the depths of space, not to return until Gold is 50 years old.

On 11 January 2007 a Chinese ground-based missile was used to destroy the Fengyun-IC spacecraft, an aging satellite orbiting more than 500 miles in space since May 1999. Although the test was hugely successful from a military point of view, demonstrating China's ability to use very sophisticated weapons to target regions of space that are home to various satellites and space-based systems, it caused great concerns to both the military and scientific communities.

Scientists are taking the public with them to study the world's coral reefs, thanks to 360 degree panoramas from Google's underwater street-view format. Results from this pioneering project (which will allow ecologists to harness people power to discover how coral reefs are responding to climate change) will be presented at INTECOL, the world's largest international ecology meeting, in London this week. Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland leads the research associated with the Catlin Seaview Survey. The Survey uses image recognition technology to automatically assess creatures on the seabed; so far it has already taken hundreds of thousands of images on the Great Barrier Reef and in the Caribbean.

Researchers working to design new materials that are durable, lightweight, and environmentally sustainable are increasingly looking to natural composites, such as bone, for inspiration.  Bone is strong and tough because its two constituent materials, soft collagen protein and stiff hydroxyapatite mineral, are arranged in complex hierarchical patterns that change at every scale of the composite, from the micro up to the macro. 

Creaform Inc. helps companies seamlessly create, simulate, verify, and collaborate in 3-D, significantly enhancing their turnaround times and profitability. In addition to designing and selling its 3-D laser scanners/systems, 3-D digitizers, portable CMMs, dual camera sensors, and distributing other 3-D measurement systems and software, Creaform offers design and engineering services, reverse engineering, finite element analysis, 3-D and long-range scanning, inspection, training, and staff outsourcing. Leader in portable 3D measurement solutions and 3D Engineering Services, announces the installation of probing optical technology and noncontact 3D measurement systems at the BMW plant in Munich, Germany. The TRUaccuracy technology, which is integrated in all Creaform systems, was a key factor in the decision.

What Can Cool Buildings In Full Sunlight Without Electricity? Homes and buildings chilled without air conditioners. Car interiors that don’t heat up in the summer sun. Tapping the frigid expanses of outer space to cool the planet. Science fiction, you say? Well, maybe not any more.

"Geoengineering is large-scale intervention in the Earth system to counteract human-induced climate change. There are two main types of geoengineering approaches: Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and Solar radiation management (SRM)." — University Of Exeter: Climate Change & Sustainable Futures. In 2009, a Royal Society report warned that geoengineering was not an alternative to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but conceded the technology might be needed in the event of a climate emergency.

Samsung -Korean electronics giant- is nipping at Apple's heels. But it is still missing one crucial element. The technology press loves a good narrative. And among the most beloved narratives is a good horserace. Two rivals struggling to better each other with new products or new features. The archetypal tech rivalry, between Microsoft and Apple not only lasted for decades, it helped make Silicon Valley what it is today. During the rise of the smartphone, the great race between mobile operating-system makers has been chronicled in detail. Early leaders like Nokia and Blackberry gave up the lead to Apple's iPhone and Google's Android. Microsoft, meanwhile, fought just to stay in this race.

DG Environment has worked together with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and other European Commission services towards the development of a harmonised methodology for the calculation of the environmental footprint of products (including carbon).

The lightning war between Samsung and Apple is already here. Samsung's newest, feature-packed Galaxy S4 may put pressure on Apple Inc to accelerate its pace of smartphone design and venture into cheaper devices - both departures from usual practice. The latest Galaxy, unwrapped with much fanfare in New York on Thursday, defeats the iPhone in most technical aspects. But the challenges it encapsulates run deeper than just a simple specifications comparison.

Even as the demand for electricity grows, new guidelines could help improve power grid reliability and reduce electricity cost, researchers say.