atmosphere

Researchers have reported a new type of satellite propulsion that collects air from the upper atmosphere and uses it as propellant, potentially allowing satellites in very low orbit to replenish their fuel indefinitely rather than running out and deorbiting. Readers are debating the engineering feasibility, thrust levels, and how such air-breathing electric propulsion could change the economics of low-orbit missions and satellite lifetimes.

Posts claim that huge crowds, in the hundreds of thousands, have filled the Champs-Elysees in Paris to see Pope Leo XIV, with an atmosphere described as electric. A widely shared post from a Catholic-focused account says the turnout is unbelievable, and the clip or claim has drawn roughly 15,000 likes. The posts describe the scale of the crowd but do not explain what the Pope is in Paris for, so the exact occasion is not clear from the evidence.

An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites to use them as a 'planetary barometer', reading how satellite drag responds to changes in the upper atmosphere. The proposal is drawing attention as an unexpected scientific repurposing of Elon Musk's Starlink constellation, which already concerns researchers because of its growing interference with ground-based astronomy.

Canadian robotics and instrumentation firm MicroWatt has launched North America's first UL Certified inspection robot designed for hazardous locations, such as oil, gas and industrial facilities where explosive atmospheres are a risk. The certification means the robot can be deployed for autonomous inspections in zones that previously required manual monitoring, improving worker safety and reducing the need for human entry into dangerous areas.