SAN ANTONIO — November 5, 2024 —Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. James Walker has received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Hypervelocity Impact Society. This honor recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of hypervelocity science. Hypervelocity impact is typically viewed as impacts at speeds above 2 kilometers per second (4,475 miles per hour); for some materials, however, lower speed impacts display hypervelocity impact effects.

A new study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics by researchers from the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the University of Bologna and Indiana University presents the first 3D kinematic analysis of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters, offering unprecedented insights into their formation and evolution. Examining 16 representative clusters in the Milky Way, this research reveals key kinematic differences that shape our understanding of how these ancient, densely packed star groups, typically containing 1-2 million stars, formed and evolved over time. Lead author Emanuele Dalessandro from INAF highlights that these findings provide the first solid evidence of multiple star formation events in globular clusters, advancing a major topic of debate in astrophysics over the last two decades.

“One of the most important scientific questions today is how many potential Earth-like Habitats (EHs) exist in the Galaxy, and how many of these planets could, in principle, support aerobic life?” according to an article in the peer-reviewed journal Astrobiology by Helmut Lammer and Manuel Scherf, from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute. In two additional articles in Astrobiology, the authors, together with Laurenz Spross, from the University of Graz, derived a new formula that can be used to estimate the maximum occurrence rate of EHs in the Galaxy, and applied this formulation to the galactic disk by considering only requirements that are already scientifically quantifiable.

Renowned astronomer, Dr. Jill Tarter, SETI Institute co-founder and pioneering SETI researcher, will be honored with the inaugural Tarter Award for Innovation in the Search for Life Beyond Earth at the SETI Institute’s 40^th Anniversary celebration on November 20, 2024, in Menlo Park, CA. This new award recognizes individuals whose projects or ideas significantly advance humanity’s search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence. The Tarter Award honors contributions across science, technology, education, art, philosophy, law and ethics that support SETI’s mission to search for life and intelligence beyond Earth.

“Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Jill, knows one thing about her—she never, never gives up the fight for what she believes in,” said Jim Bildner who serves on the Tarter Award Selection Committee.  “And the quest to search for life beyond our planet exists in no small part due to her tireless efforts over decades. And yes, as the inspiration to Carl Sagan for his character Ellie Arroway played by Jody Foster in Contact, she has inspired thousands of women to pursue their dreams in science and astronomy. In a world full of challenges, Jill shows us the power of one human life to make a difference in the lives of others."