MAROKO133 Breaking ai: Earth-sized ‘super telescope’ detects lowest-mass dark object ever

📌 MAROKO133 Hot ai: Earth-sized ‘super telescope’ detects lowest-mass dark object

A team of astronomers used a global network of telescopes to detect the lowest-mass dark object ever observed.

The discovery could guide future research into similar dark objects. Ultimately, these discoveries can help to rule out theories about the nature of dark matter, allowing scientists to understand the mysterious substance better.

The object emits no light, meaning the astronomers had to use a clever workaround to find it. Instead of directly detecting the object itself, they observed how its gravity distorts light passing nearby.

Searching for invisible objects

The team behind the discovery used a vast global network of telescopes to make their discovery.

These include the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia, the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in Hawaiʻi, and the European Very Long Baseline Interferometric Network (EVN). According to a press statement, the EVN includes radio telescopes in Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Puerto Rico to create an “Earth-sized super telescope”.

They published their findings in two different papers in Nature Astronomy and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. They detail how the team discovered the object through gravitational lensing.

When the light of distant objects passes near another large cosmic object, it is curved and magnified. Astronomers often use this effect to peer further into the ancient universe than would otherwise be possible. In this case, the team used it to infer the existence of a dark object causing the effect.

Astronomers could infer the amount of matter in invisible objects based on the distortion.

“It’s an impressive achievement to detect such a low mass object at such a large distance from us,” Chris Fassnacht, co-author on the Nature Astronomy paper, from the University of California, Davis, explained in the press statement. “Finding low-mass objects such as this one is critical for learning about the nature of dark matter.”

Uncovering the mystery of dark matter

Through their observations, the team of astronomers determined that the dark object has a mass roughly a million times larger than our sun. Still, they don’t know exactly what it is. It could be an inactive dwarf galaxy, or a clump of dark matter 100 times smaller than any observed.

The discovery could shed new light on the nature of dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up roughly a quarter of the universe. Scientists, for example, have long wondered whether dark matter can exist in small clumps without a nearby star.

The mysterious cosmic object has the lowest mass of any dark object discovered via gravitational lensing with a global telescope network. Moving forward, the team believes their methods could help find similar objects.

“Given the sensitivity of our data, we were expecting to find at least one dark object, so our discovery is consistent with the so-called ‘cold dark matter theory’ on which much of our understanding of how galaxies form is based,” lead author Devon Powell, from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA), Germany, explained. “Having found one, the question is whether we can find more and whether the numbers will still agree with the models.”

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Update ai: 7 biggest challenges the EV charging sector must tackle to

The global shift toward electric mobility is no longer a distant vision – it’s happening right now. Governments, automakers, and consumers are racing toward an electrified future, but the journey is only as strong as it gets.

While electric vehicles offer cleaner transportation and reduced emissions, their adoption still has roadblocks that must be taken care of. From grid strain to inconsistent standards, the challenges are as vast as they are urgent.

Here’s a look at the seven biggest problems EV infrastructure faces today and innovative solutions that could overcome them.

1. Limited grid capacity and load management

Source: Getty Images

The electrical grid’s inability to meet the rising power demand is one of the biggest challenges in scaling the EV infrastructure. Over 90% of charging network operators believe limited energy supply will slow their growth, as EV charging could raise the United States’ total electricity demand from 0.2% today to 23% by 2050.

This growing load could lead to voltage fluctuations, outages, and system disruptions during peak charging hours.

Several innovative solutions are emerging to address these grid challenges. Battery storage systems, such as Wallbox’s fast-charging and storage bundles, help balance load by storing cheap energy during off-peak hours.

Meanwhile, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, led by Nissan and Enel X, allows EVs to return stored power to the grid, potentially offsetting up to 25% of Europe’s projected €584 billion grid upgrade costs.

2. Geographic and demographic disparities

The uneven distribution of EV charging infrastructure is a huge challenge. Urban centers and affluent neighborhoods have robust charging networks, but the same can’t be said about rural regions.

This inadequacy makes it difficult for residents in such regions to own and operate electric vehicles, slowing down nationwide EV adoption.

Several approaches are addressing these disparities. The US Department of Transportation’s rural charging programs and India’s FAME and EESL schemes focus on equitable deployment.

Mobile charging units are also emerging as flexible, temporary alternatives until the infrastructure is established.

3. Charging compatibility problems

A major challenge in the EV ecosystem is the lack of standardized charging systems. With multiple connector types like CCS, CHAdeMO, and Tesla’s Supercharger, drivers often face uncertainty about whether their vehicles can charge at a given station.

This fragmentation causes consumer confusion and creates an underutilized charging infrastructure. This hinders the seamless experience essential for mass EV adoption.

The industry is adopting common standards and smarter communication systems to overcome these issues. The North American Charging Standard (NACS/J3400) is rapidly emerging as the dominant connector, with Tesla opening its Supercharger network to other manufacturers through adapters.

4. Fixing unreliable EV chargers

Source: Getty Images

Charging providers claim uptime. There are 95-99% levels, but real-world data paints a completely different picture. According to ChargerHelp’s 2025 report, the first-time charging success rate is only around 71% globally.

This inconsistency frustrates drivers and reduces their confidence in public charging networks, further slowing EV adoption.

To improve this issue, companies are working on refining both technology and management systems. For instance, Tesla’s Supercharger network handles over 42 million sessions yearly with strong reliability.

Governments are also stepping in with their valuable contributions. The US requires charging ports to maintain at least 97% annual uptime, and the EU is pushing for 98–99%.

Meanwhile, NIO is pioneering battery swapping stations that replace charging altogether, allowing EV drivers to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones quickly.

5. High infrastructure investment costs

High upfront costs are among the biggest barriers to expanding EV charging infrastructure. In North America, a 60-120kW fast-charging station ranges from $10,000-$30,000 for equipment alone.

In Europe, prices are even higher because of regional labor and regulatory factors. These high upfront costs make it difficult for businesses to earn quick returns, slowing infrastructure growth.

Companies and governments are trying new financing and cost-reduction methods. Globally, about $1.2 trillion has already been committed to EV and battery manufacturing, mainly from the US, Europe, and China.

Coming to costs, Chinese manufacturers like Olink offer affordable DC chargers that can be upgraded easily later.

6. Data privacy concerns

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🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com