Three NASA satellites will observe Mercury's transit, offering a rare opportunity to study planetary motion and the sun's effects. The event will also be used to calibrate space instruments and test spacecraft.
A NASA study finds that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations can increase crop yields by boosting photosynthesis and reducing transpiration, but this effect varies regionally. Some crops like wheat and rice benefit from higher CO2 levels, while others like maize may experience yield losses.
Severe spring thunderstorms spawned over 67 tornadoes across the US, with intense rainfall totals reported in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Heavy flooding caused six fatalities in Palestine, Texas, while six inches of rain were recorded in southern Mississippi.
Dennis Reuter and his team are selected as finalists for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for their contributions to the New Horizons mission to Pluto. The LEISA instrument provided groundbreaking data on Pluto's surface composition, expanding scientists' understanding of the outer solar system.
Astronomers have linked a record-breaking cosmic neutrino, Big Bird, detected in 2012 to a powerful outburst from the black hole at PKS B1424-418. The association is supported by data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other space-based observatories.
The James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror is the largest yet sent into space, made of 18 beryllium segments coated with a thin layer of gold. The telescope will study the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets similar to Earth, as well as the evolution of our own solar system.
A recent study found that carbon dioxide fertilization is responsible for 70 percent of the greening effect on Earth's vegetated lands over the past 35 years. Nitrogen also plays a significant role in this process. The study used satellite data to determine the leaf area index, or amount of leaf cover, over the planet's vegetated regions.
The PIPER (Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer) balloon mission aims to detect primordial gravitational waves and prove the universe expanded faster than light after the Big Bang. The discovery could establish a link between gravity and quantum mechanics, resolving long-standing puzzles in physics.
Astronomers discover a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake, the second brightest icy dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. The moon's diameter is estimated to be 100 miles across and its orbit completes around Makemake in 12 days or longer.
Tropical Cyclone Amos weakened and dissipated in the Southern Pacific Ocean on April 24, 2016, after being torn apart by increasing wind shear. The storm's elongation was evident in composite satellite images, with heaviest rainfall appearing in its northwestern quadrant.
Tropical Cyclone Amos is affecting the Southwestern Pacific Islands, particularly Wallis and Futuna and American Samoa. The storm's maximum sustained winds have increased to 90 knots, with forecasters predicting intensification before a weakening trend begins.
NASA tracks Tropical Cyclone Fantala's decreasing wind speeds and intensifying rainfall rates, with estimates suggesting maximum sustained winds of 105 knots (121 mph). The storm is expected to encounter adverse conditions that will prompt a weakening trend north of Madagascar as it continues to move west toward the African mainland.
The Bubble Nebula, observed by Hubble, is a vast bubble being blown into space by a super-hot, massive star. The nebula is 7 light-years across and resides 7,100 light-years from Earth. A seething star forms this nebula, with gas escaping at over 4 million miles per hour.
The study uses a rare type of cosmic ray that acts like a tiny timer to determine the age and distance of galactic cosmic rays. The results suggest that these cosmic rays were created recently and are coming from nearby clusters of massive stars within 3,000 light years of Earth.
NASA's GOES-West satellite captures organized circulation of Tropical Cyclone Amos, indicating imminent rapid intensification. The storm is expected to become a hurricane by April 22, with potential threat for flash flooding in American Samoa.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala continues to move north of Madagascar with significant changes in its intensity and track. The storm showed heavy rainfall and a clouded eye due to vertical wind shear, causing it to reverse course and move southeastward over its earlier track.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala is a Category 2 hurricane with a wide, clear eye and powerful thunderstorms. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 105 knots (120.8 mph/194.5 kph) on April 20.
Tropical Cyclone 20P formed in the Southern Pacific Ocean, with NASA's RapidScat instrument detecting tropical-storm-force winds on April 18. The storm is expected to affect American Samoa by the weekend, posing a threat of high surf and flash flooding.
Scientists observed a current sheet during a December 2013 solar flare, confirming the role of magnetic reconnection in solar flares. The detailed measurements from three NASA missions provide unprecedented insight into the complex physics behind solar eruptions.
Aerosol jet printing uses a carrier gas and printer heads to deposit metal particles, promising to slash manufacturing time for circuit boards from a month to a day. The technique can print around bends, on spheres or flat surfaces, making it ideal for detector assemblies with many tiny components.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala reached Category Five intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 knots (173 mph), making it one of the strongest storms in the South Indian Ocean. NASA satellites tracked the storm's intense rainfall and powerful thunderstorms, providing critical data on its size and wind patterns.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala reached Category 5 status in the Southern Indian Ocean, with wind speeds exceeding 30 meters per second. The storm had a wide eye and powerful thunderstorms wrapping around it, according to NASA's observations from the RapidScat instrument and MODIS satellite.
The detection of a brief gamma-ray burst consistent with the same part of the sky as gravitational waves offers a unique window into the universe. By analyzing this event, scientists can gain insights into the dynamics leading up to black hole mergers and shed light on the nature of gravity.
Scientists used NASA satellite data to study cloud cover, finding it helps identify the size and location of important animal and plant habitats. The study found that variations in cloud cover sharply delineate the boundaries of ecological biomes relevant to many unique species.
Tropical cyclone Fantala continues to intensify, moving westward over the South Indian Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 100 knots on April 15, making it a Category 4 hurricane and a major threat to Mauritius.
Fantala storm intensifies over 12 hours, reaching 120 knots in wind speed, with wave heights of 30 feet. NASA's Aqua and International Space Station satellites monitor the storm's progression, predicting a possible threat to Madagascar before turning southeast.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala intensified with sustained winds near 80 knots, prompting heavy rainfall of up to 189 mm/h. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts further intensification and potential impact on northern Madagascar.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala has developed with a 15 nautical-mile-wide eye and strong thunderstorms circling the low-level center. The storm is intensifying rapidly as it moves west toward Madagascar, with projected peak winds of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph) after three days.
Tropical cyclone Zena intensified over Vanuatu and Fiji with very high cloud tops and intense rainfall. The GPM satellite measured rainfall rates of almost 300 mm/hour in some areas.
Tropical Cyclone Zena intensified in the South Pacific Ocean near Vanuatu on April 5, 2016, causing sustained winds of over 35 knots. The GPM satellite measured intense downpours dropping rain at a rate of almost 154 mm per hour
Astronomers have discovered a record-breaking supermassive black hole weighing 17 billion suns in the center of a galaxy in a sparsely populated area of the universe. The massive object's size defies expectations, as it is 10 times more massive than predicted for a galaxy of its mass.
New Horizons provided three years of measurements of the solar wind, filling a crucial gap between what other missions see closer to the sun and what Voyager spacecraft see further out. The data helps round out our picture of the sun's influence on space, including the origins of radiation hazards for astronauts.
Tropical Cyclone 18P formed west of Vanuatu on April 5, with strong thunderstorms and a thick band wrapping into the center from the south. The storm is expected to move east-southeast, cross Vanuatu, and track just south of Fiji before weakening.
Researchers map phytoplankton blooms using NASA satellite data, revealing El Nino's effect on the marine food web. Phytoplankton populations drop during El Nino events due to disrupted upwelling, impacting fisheries and fish populations.
The GPM core observatory satellite measured heavy rainfall rates of over 3.6 inches per hour in a powerful storm east of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The satellite also revealed the three-dimensional structure of precipitation in storms beneath it, showing storm tops reaching heights above 7.4 miles.
Scientists can now accurately estimate rainfall amounts by understanding the size distribution of raindrops and snowflakes globally. The new data provides insight into storm growth and behavior, helping predict complex interactions that impact weather patterns.
Astronomers used Hubble to study the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster, discovering a rich tapestry of over half a million stars. The cluster surrounds the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and offers insights into its formation.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite imaged the remnant low pressure area, with poorly-defined center circulation and clouds pushed southeast. The storm weakened rapidly due to strong vertical wind shear, ultimately deteriorating into a low-level trough by March 30.
Researchers used NASA satellite data to predict mule deer birth rates by tracking vegetation growth patterns. This tool, called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), measures vegetation health and helps forecast when does will give birth to fawns.
Tropical Cyclone 17S formed on March 28 with sustained winds near 40 knots, located about 726 nautical miles south-southeast of Diego Garcia. The storm is expected to continue moving south before being disrupted by dry air.
Scientists at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center report that Arctic sea ice extent reached a record low wintertime maximum in 2016, with the lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979. The warming ocean waters are likely to contribute to continued declines in Arctic sea ice cover.
The Suomi NPP satellite spotted the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Emeraude in the Southern Indian Ocean, with a large area of remnant clouds visible. The system's maximum sustained surface winds were estimated at 20-25 knots, and its minimum sea level pressure was near 1005 millibars.
Tropical Cyclone Emeraude was severely weakened into a depression by March 22, 2016, with winds dropping to 30 knots. A visible image captured by the Suomi NPP satellite showed a swirl of clouds and isolated thunderstorms southwest of the center.
Tropical Cyclone Emeraude is weakening due to a partially exposed low-level circulation center and moderate vertical wind shear. The storm will continue to lose strength over the next couple of days as it moves westward through the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean.
The new gravity map provides a detailed view of Mars' interior, revealing a liquid outer core and massive seasonal precipitation. The improved resolution helps understand the formation of specific regions and confirms previous indications about Martian tides.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed critical cryogenic testing on its science instruments, a crucial step towards launch. The observatory will capture faint light from the universe's first objects after the Big Bang once launched into space.
A new NASA-Harvard University study finds that climate change has diminished the connection between droughts and wine grape harvest timing in France and Switzerland. Earlier harvests are often associated with higher-quality wines, but recent changes may impact wine production.
Tropical Cyclone Emeraude intensified rapidly after forming on March 15, 2016, with GPM's radar measuring extreme rainfall rates of over 8.2 inches per hour. The storm peaked at 125 knots and then weakened, but is expected to re-intensify as it curves toward the southwest.
NASA captured infrared temperature data of Tropical Cyclone Emeraude's clouds and measured its surface wind speed, revealing strong storms with potential to generate heavy rain. The storm intensified rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane on March 17.
Tropical Cyclone Emeraude formed on March 15, 2016, in the South Indian Ocean, with intense rainfall rates exceeding 220 mm/h. GPM data revealed a 3D structure of precipitation, indicating storm tops heights above 15 km.