For centuries, light microscopy has greatly facilitated our understanding of how cells function. In fact, entire fields of biology have emerged from images acquired under light microscopes. Indeed, one major element that makes light microscopy so powerful in biological research is the development of various staining methods that permit the …

In the broadest sense a spectrometer is any instrument that is used to measure the variation of a physical characteristic over a given range; i.e. a spectrum. This could be a mass-to-charge ratio spectrum in the case of a mass spectrometer, the variation of nuclear resonant frequencies in an NMR …

Graphene is a 1-atom-thick layer of tightly bonded carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Graphene the world’s first 2D nanomaterial, is widely regarded as the “wonder material” of the 21st century due to the combination of its extraordinary properties. As a single layer of graphite, it is the thinnest …

There are three major launch types for spacecraft: vertical takeoff, horizontal takeoff, and air launch. The cost of launching into space is often measured by the change in velocity required to reach the destination orbit, known as delta-v or Δv. The amount of Δv required for a mission depends on …

Software Defined Radio (SDR) refers to a radio communication system where most of the traditional radio hardware components, such as filters, amplifiers, and modulators/demodulators, are replaced with software running on a general-purpose computer. In an SDR system, the analog signals received by the antenna are digitized by an analog-to-digital converter …

Where conventional satellites were earlier tailored to comply with single mission requirements, satellite developers are gradually adapting the vision of software-defined satellites which can be reprogrammed and reconfigured, to allow a satellite to take up new applications and expand its performance. Instead of viewing a satellite as a monolithic piece …

Spacecraft are man-made machines that operate in space. An orbiting spacecraft is normally referred to as a satellite, although it is manmade as opposed to a natural satellite like our moon. A spacecraft is typically subdivided into two major parts, the payload and the bus. The bus provides the structural body …