Hypersonic Weapons Can't Hide from New Eyes in Space

Trouble viewing? View in your browser. View all Scientific American publications.

    

January 18, 2022

Dear Reader, Before they can stop new hypersonic weapons, defense systems need to track them. But picking out a threat as it moves over the Earth's surface is like detecting a single lightbulb against a background of more lightbulbs. A new system of satellite-based detectors aims to solve the problem—with help from algorithms that find the signal in the noise.

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology

Defense Hypersonic Weapons Can't Hide from New Eyes in Space Tracking the missiles is like picking out one light bulb against a background of light bulbs, but new technology aims to see them more clearly By Jason Sherman

Public Health New Sensor Tells You How Well Your Mask Is Working FaceBit tracks a face covering's fit and wear time, as well as its wearer's vital signs By Sophie Bushwick

Psychology How Targeted Advertising on Social Media Drives People to Extremes People seeking to radicalize others are using ads to push conspiracy theories and extremist views By Jeanna Matthews,The Conversation US

Space Exploration Moon's Hidden Depths Uncovered with New Algorithm The permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles might contain thick ice reservoirs By Connie Chang

Renewable Energy Solar Power Could Boom in 2022, Depending on Supply Chains Shipping delays and rising a equipment costs could hamper installations By Benjamin Storrow,E&E News

Artificial Intelligence How AI Could Prevent the Development of New Illicit Drugs The DarkNPS algorithm has predicted the formulas of millions of potential drugs By Doug Johnson,Undark

Climate Change New Nuclear Power Plants Are Unlikely to Stop the Climate Crisis These plants take too long to build and bring online, and we don't have that much time By Naomi Oreskes

Astronomy It's Time for a Global Ban on Destructive Antisatellite Testing The orbital debris created in the explosions is dangerous, long-lasting and a threat to the growing space economy By Brian Weeden,Victoria Samson

FROM THE STORE Scientific American Volume 326, Issue 2

QUOTE OF THE DAY "From initial design through clinical testing and mass production, it takes four to six months to generate new batches of a variant-specific vaccine for distribution ... But experience shows that new variants can emerge and flame out on shorter timescales." Charles Schmidt, Scientific American

ADVERTISEMENT

FROM THE ARCHIVE The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons These novel missiles cannot live up to the grand promises made on their behalf, aerodynamics shows By David Wright,Cameron Tracy | August 2021

LATEST ISSUES

Questions?   Comments?

Download the Scientific American App

To view this email as a web page, go here. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add news@email.scientificamerican.com to your address book. Unsubscribe     Manage Email Preferences     Privacy Policy     Contact Us