Ocean currents intensifying will cause warmer and stormier weather along eastern coasts of South Africa, Asia, Australasia, and South America over the next 100 years. A new study suggests capping global warming at 2 degrees Celsius would require net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2085.
New research reveals an 'electric wind' strong enough to remove water components from Venus' upper atmosphere, stripping it of its oceans. This powerful electric field accelerates oxygen ions to escape speeds, contributing to the loss of atmospheric gases.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that Venus' electric field is capable of accelerating oxygen ions to escape the planet's gravity, stripping away significant amounts of water over billions of years. This discovery challenges previous theories about the planet's loss of oceans and atmospheres.
A powerful electric wind can strip water from an atmosphere, stripping Venus of its oceans, and may have played a significant role in Earth's loss of oceans. The discovery was made by NASA-funded researchers using the ESA's Venus Express mission.
Recent studies suggest that many planets orbiting M dwarf stars, which are similar in size to Earth, may retain thick atmospheres due to their strong gravity, making them inhospitable to life. However, smaller planets comparable to Venus or Mars could potentially lose these atmospheres through evaporation.
Researchers find that planets in the red giant habitable zone can stay warm for up to half a billion years, potentially allowing life to thrive. This discovery offers optimism for the chances of life existing on worlds orbiting older stars.
Researchers discovered that differences in male and female brains develop from a ground state containing features of both sexes. Sex-specific wiring in the brain results in dimorphic behavior, with distinct patterns emerging in males and females.
Researchers discovered Venus flytraps exploit common plant defense systems to capture insects, utilizing touch-sensitive trigger hairs and glands that promote insect digestion. The traps' gene expression patterns resemble those of roots, suggesting a nutrient uptake mechanism.
The Venus flytrap's carnivorous lifestyle is built on herbivore defense strategies, utilizing sensory hairs to capture prey. The plant's genes show a mix of leaf and root characteristics, with glands that supply digestive enzymes and nutrients.
Three exoplanets, similar to Earth and Venus, orbit an ultracool dwarf star just 40 light years from Earth. The planets may have regions with temperatures suitable for liquid water and life.
The study, published in Icarus, found that ferric chloride is the most likely substance causing UV absorption in Venus's atmosphere. Sulfur particles are no longer considered responsible for this effect.
Researchers at NIST and ORNL have developed a new microwave imaging technique that allows for the visualization of processes occurring at boundaries between liquids and solids. This approach enables the study of technologically and medically important processes without damaging samples or interfering with the process being studied.
The bladderwort's trap snaps shut faster than the blink of an eye, catching prey with powerful suction. Recent research reveals structural adaptations to different environments, allowing plants to lure and catch various prey types.
A new study from the University of Maryland provides geochemical evidence for the onset of plate tectonics around 3 billion years ago. The analysis of trace element ratios correlates to magnesium content in ancient rocks suggests that this process began during the Archean eon.
Researchers discovered that Venus flytraps use action potentials to determine the size and nutrient content of struggling prey. The plants then balance the cost and benefit of hunting by adjusting their production of costly ingredients.
A new theory suggests that life on other planets would become extinct quickly due to unstable planetary environments. The Gaian Bottleneck model proposes that most fossils in the universe are from extinct microbial life, not complex species like dinosaurs or humans.
Researchers at OIST discovered two ancient genetic components involved in sex determination in ants. The study found that a mechanism called complementary sex determination is used, where females are diploid and males are haploid. This system has been linked to the evolution of sex determining genes dating back over 100 million years.
A team of international researchers suggests that a large and hot mantle plume was necessary to break the early Earth's lithosphere, leading to the first subduction and Plate Tectonics. The conditions required for this process included a thick and heavy lithosphere, liquid water in the oceans, and a large enough plume to produce signif...
The discovery of GJ 1132b, a rocky planet orbiting a red dwarf star, has sparked excitement among astronomers. With temperatures potentially conducive to hosting an atmosphere, this planet is close enough (39 light-years away) to be studied in detail with the Hubble Space Telescope and future observatories.
Researchers propose that mantle plumes played a crucial role in initiating plate tectonics on Earth. Computer simulations suggest that plume-induced weaknesses in the lithosphere could have led to the formation of subduction zones and the emergence of modern plate boundaries. The study provides a possible explanation for the early hist...
Scientists have simulated 3D exotic clouds on GJ1214b, an exoplanet with a flat spectrum that indicates high-altitude clouds or haze in its atmosphere. The clouds could be of salt and are thought to form deep in the atmosphere before rising into the upper atmosphere.
Researchers used a new process to model planetary formation, showing that rocky planets grow from pebbles, resulting in the massive differences between Earth and Mars. The VSPA model explains why Mars is smaller than expected by suggesting that aerodynamic drag prevents pebbles from colliding with objects near the Red Planet.
Researchers at University of Bristol have discovered a new type of plant movement that uses falling raindrops to drive its trapping mechanism, outperforming the Venus flytrap. The pitcher plant's lid pivots up and down like a springboard, flinging ants into the trap with peak velocities similar to a jumping locust.
Researchers found an O-type star, NGC 1624-2, has the largest known magnetosphere, trapping gas and creating a massive aura of hot, dense plasma. The star's powerful stellar winds are up to 100,000 times denser than our Sun's solar wind.
A new hypothesis suggests that large bolides pierced early thin lithosphere, causing massive partial melting and forming cratonic crust. This process is thought to have occurred on a Venus-like Earth, which preserved a more complete geological record of its infancy.
A team of researchers at UMass Amherst has developed a way to use curved creases to give thin curved shells a fast, programmable snapping motion. This technique avoids the need for complicated materials and fabrication methods, enabling rapid shape changes in structures.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that Earth's first crust was torn from the planet and lost to space due to asteroid bombardment, leading to the evolution of its plate tectonics, magnetic field and climate. This phenomenon, known as impact erosion, helps explain why Earth is habitable while Venus is not.
A new species of scarab beetle, Termitotrox venus, was discovered in Cambodia and named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love. The beetle's unique characteristics include its large size compared to its relative and its ability to coexist with termites.
Scientists measured the absorption of different wavelengths of light in Venus' atmosphere, revealing clues about its composition and temperature. This research will help improve studies of exoplanets and future missions to Venus.
Researchers discovered a new protein, Callipygian, which aids in cell migration by shutting off proteins at the front edge of cells. The protein helps create the back of a cell, allowing it to move directionally.
Researchers exploring strategies in biology to create different mechanical properties, such as draglines and pheromonal trails, reveal principles that inform new material designs. By understanding nanoconfinement and the role of mechanics in biological systems, scientists can speed up discovery and develop innovative materials.
UCSB sociologist Thomas Scheff argues that psychology's scientific method is blind to the insights of intuition, leading to misconceptions about catharsis, stigma, and self-esteem. Future studies could split scales into cognitive and emotional components to address these issues.
Researchers found that Titan's atmosphere loses hydrocarbons and nitriles due to a polar wind powered by sunlight and the Saturnian magnetic field. This phenomenon has been observed on Earth in polar regions, suggesting Titan may have a similarly widespread 'polar wind' beyond its poles.
Scientists have discovered transient spikes in temperature at several spots on Venus' surface, indicating active flows of lava. The hotspots are clustered in a large rift zone called Ganiki Chasma, suggesting ongoing volcanic activity.
Researchers will present novel optical systems for detecting exoplanets and measuring the Sun's internal structure. A device called a laser frequency comb will also detect minute changes in light from the sun, enabling the detection of Earth-like planets around distant stars.
Scientists propose using infrasonic observations to study geological dynamics of Venus, with potential applications in understanding planet's interior and history. Researchers plan to deploy balloons or satellites above Venus' surface to detect barometric pressure changes or airglow, which could reveal seismic activity on the planet.
The 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake was measured directly from space 450 kilometers above the planet's surface. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites captured the significant ionospheric signature produced by the quake's infrasonic wave output.
A NASA study found that small solar eruptions, like a slow-moving CME, can cause significant atmospheric loss in planets without magnetic shields. This research has implications for understanding habitability and the potential effects of solar storms on other planets.
A team of Brown University engineers found that the unique internal structure of sea sponge spicules contributes to their remarkable anchoring ability. The pattern of decreasing layer thickness from center to edge enhances the spicule's strength and stability, potentially inspiring new engineering designs.
This special issue delves into the latest research on molecular gastronomy, perception of food, growing crops, obesity, and diet's impact on the circadian clock. Researchers discuss the science behind cooking techniques, flavor creation, and how chefs are pioneering new fermentation reactions.
Researchers found a mysterious warm layer at altitudes of 90-100 km on Venus' night side, 20-40 degrees warmer than predicted. This anomaly may be connected to the ozone layer and could be caused by chemical reactions involving chlorine-based substances.
Researchers propose that a second generation of planets, including super-Earths, existed in the inner solar system before being destroyed by Jupiter's massive migration. This scenario helps explain why Earth and other terrestrial planets have relatively low masses compared to exoplanets orbiting other sun-like stars.
A research team at the University of Arizona has discovered sulfide chondrules in meteorites, providing evidence for a new type of environment in the early solar system. The discovery sheds light on the formation of elements essential for life, such as carbon and oxygen.
Scientists used bistatic radar to create high-resolution images of Venus' surface from Earth, revealing features like mountains, craters, and volcanoes. The technique enables comparison of images taken at different periods, helping detect signs of active volcanism or geologic processes.
Christophe Lavelle's research combines biophysics with genome compaction and gene expression to improve cooking techniques. The study of molecular gastronomy reveals the physical and chemical processes involved in food preparation and consumption, leading to healthier eating habits and more delicious meals.
Astronomers have discovered a star that is 11.2 billion years old and has at least five Earth-size planets, revealing that planetary formation occurred throughout the universe's history. The system, Kepler-444, consists of five planets with sizes between Mercury and Venus, orbiting a smaller star than our sun.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a Sun-like star with orbiting Earth-sized planets dating back to the dawn of the Galaxy. The discovery, Kepler-444, hosts five small planets smaller than Mercury and Venus.
Researchers have developed a fluorescent hormone biosensor that reveals the dynamics of jasmonate signalling in plants, allowing for the imaging of plant defence mechanisms in real time. This breakthrough enables the study of how plants coordinate their defence responses to mechanical damage and disease.
Astronomers discovered eight new planets in the habitable zone of their stars, doubling the number of small planets believed to exist. Two of these, Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b, are the most Earth-like known exoplanets, with a high probability of being rocky and having liquid water on their surface.
Astronomers have found evidence that the recipe for Earth applies to terrestrial exoplanets orbiting distant stars. The HARPS-North instrument measured the masses of small, Earth-sized worlds and found a tight relationship between mass and size, suggesting rocky compositions similar to those of Venus and Earth.
New research at Arizona State University's Planetary Aeolian Laboratory found that wind speeds necessary to move sand-size particles on Titan are about 40 percent too low. Dune particles on Titan need winds of at least 3.2 miles per hour to start moving, contradicting previous estimates.
Researchers found that tens of thousands of small impacts could efficiently jettison Earth's entire primordial atmosphere, while giant impacts would be less effective. The team's calculations suggest that the early Earth was likely devoid of its original atmosphere, with Venus and Mars also experiencing significant atmospheric loss.
A new study by McGill University and UCL finds that Mars experiences a transitional 'macroweather' regime between weather and climate. The sun plays a major role in determining macroweather on Mars, with temperature and wind fluctuations occurring over 1.8 Martian days.
Researchers found that dissolved oxygen levels significantly impacted scavenger response on submerged carcasses. In areas with low oxygen levels, smaller creatures like squat lobsters were unable to break through the skin, while larger ones were kept out.
Researchers develop acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) technology to overcome technical challenges in balloon-borne imaging. AOTFs enable flexible, compact, and low-power narrowband or hyperspectral imaging, suitable for various planetary science applications.
Researchers Elise Harrington and Allan Treiman re-analyzed twenty-year-old spacecraft data to study Venus's surface. They found radio waves reflected differently at different elevations, creating a pattern of brightening with increasing elevation, followed by 'radio black' spots at the highest locations.
Astronomers develop a new laser-based technology called the green astro-comb to detect tiny Doppler shifts, helping identify habitable zone planets. The device will enable precise measurements of exoplanet gravity, allowing for better detection of rocky worlds like Earth.
Researchers at UC Davis have found a way to form oxygen in one step by using a high-energy vacuum ultraviolet laser to excite carbon dioxide. This process could be occurring naturally on Mars and Venus, where carbon dioxide dominates the atmosphere. The discovery adjusts models of planetary atmosphere evolution.
Researchers at Nova Southeastern University will investigate biological indicators in men with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The four-year study aims to develop more effective treatment plans using existing drugs.
New observations from NASA's Venus Express mission show giant holes in Venus' ionosphere, suggesting a more complex magnetic environment. The findings provide additional clues to understanding Venus' atmosphere and its interactions with the solar wind.