Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing graphene-based sensors to detect atomic oxygen and other trace elements in the upper atmosphere, as well as structural strains in spacecraft. The sensors could greatly simplify the measurement of atomic oxygen and provide insights into the impact on spacecraft lifetime.
Typhoon Bopha intensified with a 'hot tower' thunderstorm reaching 12 kilometers high, indicating storm intensification within 6 hours. The storm also produced areas of bitterly cold cloud-top temperatures of -63C/-81F, where the strongest thunderstorms and heaviest rainfall were found.
Scientists using NASA satellite data and climate models have projected an increase in fire risk across the US by 2050, with more fire seasons expected to be longer and stronger. The analysis suggests that greenhouse gas emissions will lead to drier conditions favoring fire activity.
Curiosity rover analyzed its first solid sample of Mars using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. The analysis included separating molecules, identifying chemicals, and detecting volatiles and isotopes to search for signs of life.
NASA's Terra and TRMM satellites gathered data as Super Typhoon Bopha approached the Philippines, revealing its maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. The storm intensified into a Category 5 typhoon on December 3, prompting warnings for the region.
The NASA HS3 mission has ended its 2012 campaign with a final data-collection flight in the North Pacific Ocean. The Global Hawk aircraft tested three new hurricane-tracking instruments: HIWRAP, HIRAD, and HAMSR, which will be used in next year's campaign to study hurricanes and severe storms.
Typhoon Bopha intensified into a typhoon with NASA's TRMM satellite capturing rainfall data and noticing 'Hot Tower' thunderstorms. The storm had several hot towers over 9.3 miles high, indicating an increased risk of intensification.
The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season was marked by 19 tropical cyclones, with 10 becoming hurricanes and one major hurricane. The TRMM satellite's accurate measurements revealed high rainfall totals in 'Hurricane Alley,' with some areas receiving over 38 inches of rain.
The study uses combined imaging power to unveil spectacular jets of the galaxy, powered by a 2.5-billion-solar-mass central black hole. The jets exhibit unusual ring-like structures and are composed of high-energy plasma beams, subatomic particles, and magnetic fields.
The MESSENGER spacecraft provided new lines of evidence for the existence of water ice on Mercury, with measurements from its laser altimeter and hydrogen concentrations from the neutron spectrometer. The findings suggest that ice is present near the north pole, covered by a layer of material in most areas.
Tropical Storm Bopha is moving through Micronesia in the western North Pacific Ocean, triggering warnings and watches. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts to Woleai and surrounding islands, with the center passing about 180 miles south of Woleai on Friday night.
Data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show a shift in seasonal sunlight causing a sudden change in atmospheric circulation on Saturn's moon Titan. This unexpected turn reveals the key factor in Titan's atmosphere circulation is the slant of light, which led to sinking air at altitudes previously thought to be upwelling.
Tropical Storm Bopha intensifies in western North Pacific, developing a distinct tail-like band of strong thunderstorms. The storm is expected to become a typhoon by Thursday afternoon, Nov. 29.
A NASA study using TRMM satellite data found that 2010 was the deadliest year for rainfall-triggered landslides, with 1,765 fatalities and $759 million in damages. The research used a global database of landslide events and satellite-based rainfall information to identify areas with high landslide risks.
The GOES-R Series Program has completed a successful review, demonstrating readiness to launch the new series starting in late 2015. The new satellites will provide improved weather forecasts and warnings, with enhanced imaging and atmospheric observations.
NASA's Aqua satellite captures infrared image of Tropical Storm Bopha on Nov. 27, indicating a lot of power and cold cloud tops with temperatures below -63F. The National Weather Service issues warnings and watches for affected islands, as the storm is expected to continue intensifying.
Researchers are exploring an emerging processing technology developed by Analog Devices Lyric Labs that could revolutionize onboard data processing in space. The technology, which represents probabilities rather than binary ones and zeros, enables parallel calculations, reducing power consumption and increasing efficiency.
Scientists have spotted a second Pac-Man thermal shape on Tethys, confirming that high-energy electrons can dramatically alter an icy moon's surface. The discovery suggests a more complex and varied process in the Saturn system.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) with speeds of 375 miles per second reached the sun's surface in November 2012, marking the third Earth-directed CME since November 20. The event may cause geomagnetic storms and auroras near the poles, but is unlikely to disrupt electrical systems or GPS communications.
Tropical Depression 26W is threatening islands within Micronesia with heavy rain and strong winds. NASA's TRMM satellite imagery showed large, fragmented thunderstorms containing heavy rain and towering convective towers indicating intensification.
On Nov. 20, 2012, a coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed by NASA spacecraft, with speeds of 450 miles per second, a slow to average speed for CMEs. The event had significant space weather implications and was closely monitored by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory captured two prominence eruptions on Nov 16, 2012, releasing plasma into space. The eruptions occurred between 1-5 a.m EST and did not appear to be Earth-directed.
A team of NASA engineers has created a low-cost, easy-to-apply sprayable paint that adsorbs gaseous molecules and prevents them from adhering to instrument components. The new technology overcomes limitations of existing techniques, providing a more effective solution for protecting sensitive satellite instruments and spacecraft.
Astronomers have discovered a super-Jupiter orbiting the star Kappa Andromedae, with a mass about 12.8 times greater than Jupiter's. The object's ambiguity between being a planet or brown dwarf allows researchers to explore theoretical limits of planetary formation.
Tropical Depression 25W showed a small area of heavy rainfall near the South China Sea, with rates reaching 2 inches per hour, while the rest of the storm had light to moderate rainfall. The depression was weakening due to wind shear and land interaction, eventually dissipating over the Andaman Sea on Nov. 15.
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy, MACS0647-JD, which offers a glimpse into the early universe 420 million years after the Big Bang. The galaxy was magnified by a massive cluster using gravitational lensing, revealing three images of the same object.
The Hinode spacecraft observed two solar eclipses in 2012 and 2013, capturing distinct views of total and partial eclipses. The mission provided valuable insights into the Sun's surface magnetism, shedding light on sunspot activity.
Tropical Depression 25W formed over the western North Pacific Ocean and is affecting southern Vietnam. The depression has maximum sustained winds of 28.7 mph near its center, with moderate wind shear hindering its organization.
A narrow corridor in the southern hemisphere experienced a total solar eclipse on Nov. 13, 2012, with observers in northern Australia witnessing dim structures around the sun's edge. The corona, made of electrified gas and plasma, was observed to be constantly moving in response to magnetic fields.
The Hinode mission will coordinate with ground-based observations during the November 13, 2012, total solar eclipse to produce a combined dataset. This study will focus on the sun's corona, including its temperature distribution and magnetic fields.
A mid-level solar flare, classified as M6, was observed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on November 13, 2012. The flare caused a moderate radio blackout affecting GPS and communications signals for several minutes to hours.
Sandy's remnants continue to linger over a large area in eastern Canada and the northeastern US, with low-pressure areas stretching from Newfoundland and Labrador west over Quebec, Ottawa, and Toronto. The National Weather Service projects that the low-pressure area will shift offshore by November 6.
Tropical Depression Nilam has covered southern India with its clouds, stretching from Chennai to Kerala, according to NASA's MODIS image. Heavy rainfall is expected over Rayalaseema, Karnataka, and south coastal Andhra Pradesh before the storm dissipates.
Tropical Storm Rosa experienced strong convection pushed southeast of its center due to wind shear. The AIRS instrument captured infrared images showing the strongest thunderstorms in that area had cloud tops as cold as -63F (-52C), leading to heavy rain, weakening Rosa's organization.
Using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, scientists measured the most accurate amount of starlight in the universe and determined the extragalactic background light (EBL), also known as cosmic fog. The EBL is a fossil radiation field created by ancient starlight that continues to travel through the universe.
FOXSI will study nanoflares on the sun using a state-of-the-art x-ray telescope that focuses incoming x-rays. The mission aims to understand energy transfer and coronal heating by observing how these small flares impact the sun's atmosphere.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured a night-time view of New York City, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania, revealing the extent of the power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy's landfall on October 29. The images show areas where power has not been restored, with comparisons to earlier images highlighting the affected regions.
Asteroid belts may play a key role in the evolution of complex life. According to a NASA study, only a tiny fraction of planetary systems seem to have giant planets in the right location to produce an asteroid belt of the appropriate size. This suggests that our solar system may be special.
Hurricane Sandy's heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding along the US eastern seaboard, with rainfall totals over 260mm in open Atlantic waters and 180mm in coastal areas. The storm resulted in over 120 reported deaths, mainly due to flooding and high winds.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NASA/NOAA's Suomi NPP captured a composite image of Hurricane Sandy just hours before its historic landfall. The satellite's day-night band sensor revealed city lights and clouds illuminated by the full moon, providing a unique view of the storm's structure.
The animation shows Hurricane Sandy's transformation from a strengthening tropical depression to a ferocious Nor'easter that brought devastating damage to the mid-Atlantic region. Total damage was estimated at $20 billion dollars.
A recent study found that dust's longwave radiation absorption causes more than half of the cooling effect to be countered by warming. This regional phenomenon has significant implications for understanding dust's influence on climate and moisture fluctuations.
Tropical Cyclone Nilam brought heavy rainfall to Sri Lanka, with cloud top temperatures as cold as -63F (-52C), indicative of intense storms. The cyclone's center was forecast to make landfall in Tamil Nadu, India, on October 30.
Tropical Storm Rosa is intensifying rapidly, with strong convection around its center hinting at heavy rainfall and powerful thunderstorms. The storm's maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph, and it's expected to strengthen before weakening by November 1.
Hurricane Sandy was a massive storm that covered 1.8 million square miles from the Mid-Atlantic to Canada and New England. NASA satellites captured its size, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph and minimum central pressure rising to 952 millibars.
Tropical Storm Son-tinh made landfall in northern Vietnam and is curving to the northeast, tracking over southern China. The storm's powerful thunderstorms are reaching high into the troposphere, dropping heavy rainfall at rates of 50 mm/2 inches per hour.
NASA used CloudSat and Aqua satellites to study Hurricane Sandy's structure and behavior, revealing a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. The storm's large wind field and heavy precipitation associated with its outer bands posed significant challenges for the eastern US coast.
The TRMM satellite provided valuable insights into Hurricane Sandy's properties, including a weak eyewall with modest precipitation and relatively light updrafts. The satellite also detected vigorous storm cells in the super-sized rainband extending to the west and north of the hurricane's center.
Tropical Storm Son-tinh is a powerful storm with strong thunderstorms in its northwestern quadrant and center. It is expected to make a landfall south of Hanoi, Vietnam on October 28, moving west-northwest at 11 knots.
Hurricane Sandy is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the Mid-Atlantic region, with forecasters calling it a potential 'Frankenstorm'. NASA satellites have provided crucial rainfall data, helping predict total rainfall amounts of 6-12 inches across Haiti and the Dominican Republic.