S-STEM Scholar Jeff Pietila's Blog

            M. L. Yusupovich  is the deputy head on educational affairs in Uzbekistan and commented about the Airbus (Tyrell, 2022) announcement of their blended wing hydrogen aircraft demonstrator in his peer reviewed research paper published in the Texas Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies on March 17, 2022.  He first lays out the case that research activities and funding should focus on for key areas.   The first being liquid hydrogen fuel and propulsion components, secondly aircraft systems, then infrastructure ramp-up, and finally regulatory framework  (Yusupovich, 2022) .             He shared that today, hydrogen fuel cell technology is being used for several types of applications including to provide emergency backup power to critical facilities like hospitals.  Also, to replace grid electricity for critical load facilities like data cente...

        Researchers at the University of Missouri and University of Chicago have developed an artificial material, called a metamaterial, which can respond to its environment, independently decide, and perform an action not directed by a human being. For example, a drone making a delivery might evaluate its environment including wind direction, speed, or wildlife, and automatically change course to complete the delivery safely (ScienceDaily, 2021) .      Guoliang Huang, Huber and Helen Croft Chair in Engineering, and co-author on the study, said the mechanical design of their new artificial material incorporates three main functions also displayed by materials found in nature.  These include sensing, information processing, and actuation or movement.      Some examples of these natural materials include the quick reaction of a Venus fly trap's leafy jaws to capture an insect, chameleons changing the color of thei...

         In space news this week, Northrop Grumman announced a successful launch of a geostationary satellite abord a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.  These four 63-inch diameter Graphite Epoxy solid rocket boosters provide about 1.5 million pounds of thrust for the rockets initial launch sequence.  (Northrop Grumman, 2022)   The launch deployed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES-T Satellite.             This satellite will monitor weather on earth and in space.  The GOES-T mission is a follow-on of the GOES-R program which is a collaborative effort between NOAA and NASA.  NASA builds and launches the satellites for NOAA, which operates them and distributes their data to users worldwide.  This satellite imager provides images of weather patterns, hurricanes, and severe storms every 30 seconds or so.  It also detects approaching space weather hazards such a...