To address such big ideas, “You need the solar system as your laboratory,” says Sander Goossens. NASA’s MESSENGER satellite collected data during its years orbiting Mercury that enabled the research team to answer questions about the Sun’s interior processes and our fundamental understanding of gravity. Continue Reading UMBC space scientist further confirms Einstein’s theory through new solar research
Nine distinguished faculty and alumni shared their stories at GRIT-X, a TED talk-style event during UMBC’s Homecoming that took listeners “from outer space to inner space, from a makerspace to the classroom, from black holes in the universe to a pacemaker for the brain.” Continue Reading GRIT-X talks showcase experiences of outstanding faculty and alumni “from outer space to inner space”
NASA has served as “a role model and inspirational force,” that has led people to reach for the stars for generations, shares Dean Bill LaCourse. “The Earth and Space Institute is our opportunity to reach for new heights,” he says. “To take that chance in the name of science, commitment, passion, and basic human curiosity.” Continue Reading UMBC dedicates new Earth and Space Institute, building on decades of NASA collaboration
It took “creativity, innovation, and a bit of luck” to build a space-ready detector, shares Jason Link. Now the detector is poised to provide important new data on the sources of cosmic rays and the cosmic energy spectrum. Continue Reading UMBC’s Jason Link leads development of cosmic ray detector headed for International Space Station
“This grant—and the important partnership it represents—will enable us to continue research that advances science and benefits our state and beyond,” says President Freeman Hrabowski. “Moreover, it will create opportunities for students to prepare for careers by working alongside world-class experts.” Continue Reading CRESST II space science consortium to receive $87.5 million from NASA Goddard
The findings offer “an important clue in trying to unravel the formation history of the solar system,” says Sander Goossens. The level of detail they determined for the crater’s structure “hasn’t been done before, anywhere in the solar system.” Continue Reading New Science cover story on massive Moon crater features innovative UMBC research techniques
“These are more massive than our own Sun but squeezed down to something about the size of Washington, DC,” explains Corbet. The forces required to create gamma rays are intense, he says, “It’s like having a particle accelerator in space.” Continue Reading Astrophysicist Robin Corbet discovers rare, high-energy binary star system beyond the Milky Way
Faculty speak about UMBC’s well-rounded research portfolio and focus in on research strengths in physics, geosciences, space science, and bioengineering; students share career goals and experiences working with local communities. Continue Reading Congressman Elijah Cummings discusses UMBC’s research leadership and commitment to Baltimore during campus visit
Mehdi Benna, a Center for Space Science and Technology planetary scientist, is the lead author of a paper confirming the presence of neon in the Moon’s exosphere. The paper was published in Geophysical Research Letters and has received widespread international media attention. In the paper, Benna describes observations from NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, known as LADEE. Though many have suspected that the Moon’s exosphere contained neon, Benna’s paper is the first to confirm its presence. “The presence of neon in the exosphere of the moon has been a subject of speculation since the Apollo missions, but no… Continue Reading Mehdi Benna, CSST, Confirms Presence of Neon in Moon’s Exosphere
As images were released from NASA’s historic New Horizons mission to Pluto, Mehdi Benna was quoted in a Baltimore Sun story and described the significance of the event. He said the science of the mission is most important and determining how Pluto’s history fits in the story of the formation of the solar system. “By completing the flyby of Pluto, we will have visited all the nine planets of the traditional solar system — the way we know it, the way we were taught it in school,” said Benna, a Center for Space Science and Technology (CSST) planetary scientist. Benna told the… Continue Reading Mehdi Benna, CSST, Discusses Importance of New Horizons Pluto Mission in the Baltimore Sun
