Astronomers discovered a massive star that collapsed into a black hole without exploding as a supernova, challenging the typical view of star formation. The study suggests that up to 30% of massive stars may quietly collapse into black holes without producing a supernova.
Scientists will fly nine planes over Alaska and northwest Canada to gather data on changing Arctic ecosystems. The ABoVE field campaign aims to understand how environmental changes affect the local environment and beyond.
Heavy rainfall was detected within a cluster of powerful storms east of Sri Lanka, with GPM's radar data showing storm tops reaching heights above 16 km. The analysis is important to understanding the economy of India and the amount and timing of monsoon rainfall.
A NASA scientist is developing an instrument to search for signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa, leveraging experience from building a Mars instrument. The Ocean Worlds investigation will analyze molecular biosignatures in surface and subsurface samples.
Extreme rainfall in northeastern Australia exceeded 374 mm near Queensland coast, with storms associated with a low-pressure trough. The heavy rainfall was the heaviest since tropical cyclone Debbie hit Queensland in late March.
The NASA Search and Rescue office is developing second-generation beacons with improved accuracy, which could save thousands of lives worldwide. The new beacons aim to reduce the search area from 2 kilometers to 100 meters, minimizing risk for responders.
The MMS mission has discovered a hybrid motion exhibited by electrons in intermediate strength magnetic fields, characterized by spiraling and bouncing motions. This phenomenon plays a key role in magnetic reconnection, a process that can explosively release large amounts of stored magnetic energy.
Astronomers have discovered a moon orbiting the third largest dwarf planet in our solar system using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery provides key insights into how moons formed in the young solar system.
The study found that VLF radio communications can interact with particles in space, creating a barrier around Earth. This 'barrier' corresponds to the inner edge of the Van Allen radiation belts and may help remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment.
NASA's Operation IceBridge expanded its Arctic ice survey range this year, covering a wider area than ever before with denser and more accurate measurements. The mission also explored the Eurasian half of the Arctic Basin and measured a newly formed crack on Petermann Glacier.
A new study examines the effects of high-altitude nuclear explosion tests on Earth's magnetic environment, revealing similarities with natural radiation belts and auroras. The research sheds light on the impact of space weather on satellites and astronauts.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing a space-based sodium lidar to study the complex relationship between the chemistry and dynamics of the mesosphere, which lies 40-100 miles above Earth's surface. The instrument aims to provide higher-resolution data on small-scale dynamics in the upper atmosphere.
Scientists have identified the source of unexpected flashes of light reflecting off Earth's surface captured by NASA's EPIC camera. High-altitude ice crystals are the cause of these glints, which were previously thought to be limited to water on land or oceans.
The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged two galaxies in close proximity, each traveling at approximately 2 million kilometers per hour. Their interaction will cause distortions and changes to the structures of both galaxies due to gravitational forces.
Tropical Cyclone Ella is intensifying and NASA observed heavy rainfall in the storm. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected rain falling at a rate of over 231 mm per hour in an intense feeder band on Ella's eastern side.
Tropical Cyclone Ella is characterized by large bands of thunderstorms wrapping around the center and from the east. The storm's maximum sustained winds increased to near 63 mph as it continued moving westward.
A NASA study using Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes reveals a primitive atmosphere around HAT-P-26b, composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. The planet's water signature suggests it formed closer to its star or later in the planetary system than similar planets.
Tropical Cyclone Donna produced extremely high rainfall totals, with IMERG estimates exceeding 62.4 millimeters (24.6 inches) in areas affected by the storm.
Tropical Storm Adrian formed on May 10, but quickly lost steam, weakening to a remnant low pressure area by May 11. The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to near 30 mph (45 kph), with some further weakening forecast over the next 48 hours.
The first tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean has formed, marking an unusual start to hurricane season. Located west of Costa Rica, Tropical Storm Adrian is moving northwest and strengthening due to warm waters.
Tropical Cyclone Donna was being weakened by strong wind shear southeast of New Caledonia. Cloud top temperatures reached -70 degrees Fahrenheit due to strongest thunderstorms being pushed away from the center.
The Crab Nebula has been extensively studied, yet astronomers still have much to learn. By combining data from multiple telescopes, a team of scientists gained new insights into the object's complex physics.
Tropical Cyclone Ella affects American Samoa, prompting a high surf advisory due to large south swells and rip currents. The storm is expected to continue impacting the U.S. territory until May 12.
Tropical Cyclones Donna and Ella are affecting Fiji, with warnings in effect for New Caledonia. Satellite imagery shows the cyclones' weakening system, with warming cloud tops and a ragged eye.
Tropical Cyclone Ella forms in the Southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji, with NASA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing its early stages. The system is expected to weaken due to high vertical wind shear as it approaches landfall in three days.
The petitSat mission aims to study the link between plasma enhancements and Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) in Earth's ionosphere. The satellite will measure plasma densities and ion distributions using two instruments, providing valuable insights into the transmission of GPS and radar signals.
A NASA model has simulated stealth solar storms from the sun, showing how slow and quiet processes can create massive magnetic field twists that speed out into space without warning. The models match space-based observations, revealing a complex process that generates energy over two weeks.
Tropical Cyclone Donna is a powerful hurricane intensifying in the South Pacific Ocean between Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The storm generated very high amounts of rainfall, with some areas receiving over 7.4 inches of rain per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Donna was a Category 2 hurricane that blanketed the islands of Vanuatu with strong storms and heavy rain potential. The storm's cloud top temperatures were as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating heavy rainfall.
The RAISE mission will take 1,500 images of the sun's surface in just five minutes, providing high-cadence observations of its dynamic processes. By analyzing these images, scientists can study solar flares and massive eruptions, gaining insights into the sun's complex magnetic activity.
The Abell 370 galaxy cluster is a rich mix of various galaxy shapes, including massive elliptical and spiral galaxies. Nearly a hundred distant galaxies have multiple images caused by the lensing effect, with some featuring mysterious-looking arcs of blue light.
Tropical Cyclone Donna is generating heavy rainfall with precipitation rates reaching over 53 mm per hour. The storm's intense rain bands are expected to batter Vanuatu's northern islands with maximum sustained winds of up to 127 mph.
Tropical Cyclone Donna formed in the South Pacific and is now threatening Vanuatu. The storm intensified under favorable atmospheric conditions, including strong poleward outflow and warm water, before tracking westward at 5 knots per hour.
A team of scientists found a massive wave of hot gas in the Perseus galaxy cluster using Chandra X-ray Observatory data and computer simulations. The wave is thought to have formed billions of years ago after a small galaxy cluster grazed Perseus, causing its gas supply to slosh around an enormous volume.
The CARAFE airborne campaign will gather data on greenhouse gas levels and vertical wind speeds over a range of vegetation types in the Mid-Atlantic region. This will help improve computer models that predict Earth's carbon sinks and inform greenhouse gas policy decisions.
Astronomers have discovered a unique star in the constellation of Lacerta, which is millions of times closer to Earth than the galaxy NGC 7250, allowing it to overpower its light
Tropical cyclone Frances strengthened in the western Timor Sea, with NASA satellites capturing visible and rainfall data. The storm's maximum sustained winds were estimated at 50 knots (57.5 mph), with strong convective storms near the center dropping rain at a rate of over 70 mm per hour.
Tropical Storm Muifa is weakening due to vertical wind shear, as revealed by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The storm has a low level center of circulation with very little precipitation, and is expected to dissipate in a day or two.
Tropical Storm Frances has formed in the Beagle Gulf, east of Darwin, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing clear images of the storm. The storm is expected to intensify as it moves southwest through the Timor Sea and may develop into a Category 2 system early on Friday.
Tropical Storm Muifa is being closely monitored by NASA satellites, which have gathered temperature data showing very strong storms with cloud tops above 210 kelvin. The storm is expected to peak at 45 knots before turning northeast and weakening.
A new study proposes a unified model for solar eruptions, suggesting that smaller events like coronal jets can be explained by the same process as massive coronal mass ejections. The breakout model, which was previously used to describe CMEs, has been adapted to explain the formation of jets.
Tropical Depression 03W formed on April 24, 2017, with intense convective storms dropping heavy precipitation rates. The GPM satellite revealed tall storm towers with rainfall exceeding 8.5 inches per hour.
Scientists analyzed dozens of TGFs launched by tropical storms, confirming that storm intensity alone is not the key factor for producing these events. Most TGFs occurred as systems intensified, with stronger electric fields driving clouds higher into the atmosphere.
New data from NASA's Cassini mission, combined with measurements from Voyager spacecraft and IBEX, suggests that the sun's magnetic field creates a rounded heliosphere, rather than a comet-shaped structure. The study reveals that the heliosphere is nearly symmetrical, which could impact how cosmic rays reach the inner solar system.
Tropical Storm Arlene was absorbed by a frontal system in the North Atlantic Ocean, weakening from a tropical storm to a subtropical storm. The NOAA GOES-East satellite captured the moment on April 21, showing the storm being 'eaten' by the weather system.
A large, wispy shell of gas, Sh2-308, is blown out by intense radiation from the extreme Wolf-Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris. The star's ongoing activity pushes the bubble to grow bigger and farther apart.
Tropical Storm Arlene formed on April 20, 40 days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was tracked by NASA-NOAA satellites, showing a large area of thunderstorms swirling far from land areas. As it moves west, Arlene is expected to lose its tropical characteristics and dissipate by April 21.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite observed the remnants of Tropical Cyclone 02W dissipating southeast of Taiwan due to strong vertical wind shear. The system was torn apart as it moved north-northeast through the Luzon Strait, resulting in its demise.
NASA identified a subtropical depression in the North Atlantic on April 19, which became the Atlantic's first tropical depression by April 20. Heaviest rainfall rates were found near the low-pressure center, with some storms dropping rain at over 36 mm/hour.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a well-defined low-level circulation center in the remains of Tropical Depression 02W, located near the Philippines. The system is expected to move northward but faces unfavorable conditions for intensification.