Research on Earth's systems and resources. Covers green energy, ocean oxygen and metal deposits, lunar exploration, and geothermal power.
EarthLab aims to simulate physical climate, environmental, and ecological systems for better predicting natural disasters and understanding Earth's spheres. The facility will enable researchers to predict Earth systems on a vast time and spatial scale.
A team from the University of Arizona recreated the history of a dust grain formed during the solar system's birth, providing insights into planetary system formation processes. The analysis revealed clues about the environmental conditions that shaped the grain's journey, contradicting current theories on protoplanetary disk physics.
A global geodatabase of vegetation plots has been published as open access, containing data from 114 countries and all climate zones on Earth. The sPlotOpen database provides a balanced representation of the Earth's vegetation, enabling researchers to study biodiversity and climate change across different regions.
A recent analysis of Venus' surface found evidence of tectonic motion in the form of crustal blocks that have jostled against each other, indicating that Venus is still geologically active. This discovery provides insight into exoplanet tectonics and the earliest tectonic activity on Earth.
Measurements of iron spectrum in cosmic rays reveal that hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen nuclei travel through the galaxy similarly, but iron arrives differently. The findings provide a measurement of the galaxy structure and particle propagation through observations of element abundances and energy spectra.
A new study analyzing 260 million years of major geological events reveals recurring clusters of activity every 27.5 million years. The research suggests that these global geologic events are correlated and not random, providing statistical evidence for a common cycle.
A new study suggests that carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen cosmic rays travel through the galaxy toward Earth in a similar way, but iron arrives differently. Scientists believe this could indicate unique sources or propagation methods for different elements.
Two University of Arkansas researchers will study how carbon-dioxide ice pits in Mars' polar caps have formed and evolved over time. They aim to better understand the seasonal and long-term cycles of these ice pits and their impact on Martian atmospheric dynamics.
Researchers at Shinshu University and the National Polar Research Institute found a Forbush decrease in cosmic ray counts during a CME event, but the CR density exceeded its original level before exiting the Magnetic Flux Rope. The high-speed solar wind caused this unusual enhancement of CR density through local compression of the MFR.
For the first time, scientists have created a 3D map of the heliosphere boundary using data from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite. The boundary marks the edge of the solar system and protects Earth from interstellar radiation.
A lunar sample from the Apollo 17 mission has been analysed to determine its age, source crater and geological trajectory. The study suggests the sample is around 4.2 billion years old, providing a valuable reference point for understanding the Moon's early evolution and Earth's origins.
Researchers have calculated that exomoons orbiting free-floating planets could harbor sufficient water to make life possible and sustain it. The study found that the presence of cosmic radiation and tidal forces could keep water in a liquid state, making these systems promising for the detection of life beyond Earth.
A new study at Lund University tracked meteorite flux to Earth over 500 million years, revealing a stable flux contrary to current theories. Researchers analyzed sedimentary rocks and extracted chromium oxide grains from nearly 10,000 meteorites.
Astronomers observed a massive protostar called Cep A HW2, revealing two distinct features: a wide-angle wind near the star and a highly-collimated jet at a greater distance. The discovery raises questions about the formation mechanisms of stars across different mass spectrums.
Twice a day, a faint layer of metals sinks down through the atmosphere at 90 miles high above Boulder, Colorado. The discovery provides a window into the high-altitude region where interactions between the sun, earth, and magnetic field can create conditions for surface life to thrive.
A team of scientists has found that fluids play a key role in deep-focus earthquakes, which occur between 300 and 700 kilometers below the planet's surface. The research suggests that water carried down from oceanic plates was instrumental in creating these mysterious events.
Researchers found prebiotic ethanolamine in a molecular cloud near the center of our galaxy, suggesting it may have formed in space and was incorporated into meteorites and planetesimals. This discovery supports the idea that the molecule could have contributed to the assembly and evolution of primitive cell membranes on early Earth.
A team led by Santa Fe Institute Professor Chris Kempes has developed a new ecological biosignature based on mathematical patterns in elemental ratios. This approach may help scientists detect life in systems that don't resemble Earth's conditions.
Scientists have discovered a clear pattern in extreme space weather events, making it possible to predict when they will occur. The findings suggest that Moon missions may be delayed to avoid the most intense periods of solar activity, which can pose risks to astronauts and satellites.
The discovery of plutonium-244 and iron-60 in ocean crust suggests violent cosmic events occurred near Earth millions of years ago. The study's findings imply that supernovae can produce these heavy elements, complicating our understanding of their origins.
Scientists launched a sounding rocket to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, producing the aurora. The experiment deployed barium thermite canisters that generated plasma clouds, which interacted with ionospheric plasma, creating electromagnetic fields and waves.
Researchers used ancient zircons to reconstruct Earth's evolution and determine that modern plate tectonics emerged roughly 3.6 billion years ago. This finding suggests that the dynamic crust, which supports life on Earth, began to take shape during this time.
A new study by a joint Japan/US-based team has developed a machine learning technique that assesses complex organic mixtures using mass spectrometry to reliably classify them as biological or abiological. This approach may help detect extraterrestrial life with a different evolutionary history than Earth-life.
Researchers developed a global GNSS seismic monitoring system that can rapidly assess earthquake magnitude and fault slip distribution within seconds. This system can provide early warnings for large earthquakes and tsunamis, buying more time for evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns.
Rice University scientists attribute Earth's nitrogen to rapid growth of moon- to Mars-sized bodies. The study shows that the competition between accretion and differentiation determines the retention of volatile elements like nitrogen.
Researchers have found a new feature in the diffuse aurora, where sections of the background-like glow disappear and then reappear after a short period. This phenomenon, dubbed 'diffuse auroral erasers,' has never been mentioned in scientific literature and raises questions about its frequency and potential impact on Earth's climate.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have demonstrated a swarm of photons that somersault in lockstep, pointing their spin perpendicular to their direction of propagation. This surprising result has potential applications in nonlinear optics and free-space optical communications.
Hilary Martens receives $443,000 grant to investigate the structure of the Earth's interior using GPS observations of ocean tides. The project aims to improve understanding of plate tectonics and surface hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes.
Researchers have pinned down the precise length of a day on Venus, the tilt of its axis and the size of its core. The new measurements reveal an average day on Venus lasts 243.0226 Earth days, roughly two-thirds of an Earth year, with variations in rotation rate due to the planet's heavy atmosphere.
A new simulation study led by UCL researchers suggests that studying black hole-neutron star collisions could provide a new measurement of the Universe's expansion rate, helping to resolve a long-standing dispute. The study found that instruments on Earth could detect ripples in space-time caused by up to 3,000 such collisions by 2030.
A University of California San Diego engineering professor has solved the mystery of deep-focus earthquakes, which originate between 400 and 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Her new theory explains how high pressures cause olivine rock to transform into denser spinel, leading to volume collapse and seismic waves.
A new simulation led by University of Chicago geoscientist Edwin Kite finds that high-altitude water ice clouds could have created a greenhouse effect on early Mars, enabling the presence of flowing rivers and lakes. The study challenges previous assumptions about the Martian climate and offers insights into the planet's habitability.
A high school junior has built a low-cost seismometer device that detects earthquakes with accuracy and provides users with a few seconds of warning to take action. The device, costing less than $100 to make, has been successfully tested and detected several recent earthquakes in Southern California.
A new study published in Astrobiology finds that Martian meteorites contain the necessary ingredients to support microbial life, including water and radioactive elements. The researchers believe that wherever there's groundwater on Mars, there's a good chance of finding habitable environments for subsurface microbial life.
Research suggests that global warming caused a shift in the Earth's axis due to glacial melting and changes in land water storage. The study analyzed data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, finding that water loss on land contributed significantly to the eastward change in polar drift.
Astronomers have discovered a pulsar, a dense and rapidly spinning neutron star sending radio waves into the cosmos. The finding is significant as it hints at a large population of pulsars awaiting discovery in the Southern Hemisphere, with the potential to be detected by the Square Kilometre Array telescope.
A massive flare from Proxima Centauri, the star closest to our sun, has been detected, shattering previous records. The flare was observed for 40 hours using nine telescopes and produced a wide spectrum of radiation.
A new study reveals that most areas depicted as 'untouched' were actually inhabited and used by human societies for thousands of years, sustaining native biodiversity. The research supports empowering Indigenous peoples and local communities to promote long-term environmental stewardship and conservation.
Experts warn of potential global catastrophes such as engineered pandemics and nuclear annihilation, while also identifying areas for improvement. Scientists like Martin Rees argue that promoting wise technology deployment can minimize risks and ensure a sustainable future.
Researchers identify five double star systems, Kepler-34, -35, -38, -64 and -413, as potential candidates for supporting life. The study shows that these systems have a permanent Habitable Zone, where liquid water could persist on the surface of any Earth-like planets.
Researchers at University of Würzburg are developing AI technology to analyze images from Mars and other planets, detecting previously unknown anomalies such as circular holes and geysers. The project aims to train AI on board a small satellite in space to learn independently and report discoveries back to Earth.
A new study highlights scenarios where a rocky planet around a sun-like star could have oxygen in its atmosphere without life. Astronomers say next-generation telescopes need to characterize planetary environments and detect multiple lines of evidence to distinguish false positives from signs of life.
A team of researchers has discovered that Jupiter's polar cap is threaded with both open and closed magnetic field lines, contradicting the long-held assumption of all lines being either open or closed. This finding reveals a complex topology of Jupiter's magnetosphere, raising new questions about its interaction with the solar wind.
A team of researchers explored the effect of solar radiation modification technologies on ecology, focusing on a specific strategy called stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) that creates a sulfate aerosol cloud in the stratosphere to reduce incoming sunlight and radiation. The study highlights the complexity of cascading relations...
Researchers discovered a 800-meter diameter comet nucleus with large grains of phyllosilicate, similar to talcum powder, and evidence of organic molecules. The team used the Subaru Telescope to observe thermal infrared radiation, indicating the surface temperature had reached over 330 degrees Celsius in the past.
New research reveals the permanent rise of oxygen in our atmosphere happened 100 million years after initial estimates. The discovery suggests fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen levels played a key role in extreme climate changes and extinction events.
A team of experts, including Phoebe Zarnetske and Jessica Gurevitch, investigate the ecological impacts of reflecting sunlight to cool the planet. Their research highlights the complexity of cascading relationships between ecosystem function and climate under different scenarios.
A new study finds a correlation between the end of solar cycles and a switch from El Nino to La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The researchers applied a 22-year solar clock to find this elusive correlation, which could improve predictability of major El Nino and La Nina events.
Researchers identified a Goldilocks zone for raindrop size to determine which drops make it to the surface. This behavior helps model cloud cycles and predict exoplanet habitability.
The Deep-time Digital Earth program is a 'big science' initiative that aims to transform research in deep-time Earth Science through data-driven abductive discovery. The program will create an open platform for linking existing deep-time Earth data and integrating geological data, enabling users to explore Earth's evolution by specifyi...
Researchers suggest most of Earth's carbon was delivered from the interstellar medium, avoiding vaporization entirely. This discovery sheds light on the origin of life on Earth and suggests a delicate balance between too little or too much carbon for habitability.
The study proposes a coupling model of the five spheres of the earth system with the oxygen cycle as the core. Key findings include the link role of the oxygen cycle in shaping our current habitable Earth and its effects on modern and geological time scales.
Space agencies are turning their attention back to Venus, the closest planet to Earth, to learn more about its atmosphere and geology. Recent findings have generated renewed interest, and multiple missions are planned to study Venus' surface and atmospheric chemistry.
The permanent rise of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere, a pivotal period in Earth's history, occurred 100 million years later than thought. This change led to a 1.5 billion year period of climatic stability before another major period of rising oxygen and climate instability.
Scientists predict ocean currents on Enceladus, driven by salinity variations like those in Earth's Southern Ocean. The research suggests a pole-to-equator circulation influencing heat and nutrient distribution.
A Rutgers-led study reveals the 20th century saw the fastest sea-level rise in 2,000 years along much of the US Atlantic coast. The global increase from melting ice and warming oceans was more than twice the average for the past 1800 years.
Researchers from Curtin University discovered the first solid evidence of the start of the supercontinent cycle, finding that plate tectonics operated differently two billion years ago. The study suggests that a single supercontinent may not have existed before this time period.
A team of researchers has identified two complex PAHs in the Taurus Molecular Cloud, a patch of space where stars are not yet forming. This discovery suggests that these molecules can form at much lower temperatures than expected, potentially leading to new insights into planet formation.
A new study published in Nature reveals that transform faults are actively involved in shaping the ocean floors, contradicting a previous assumption. The research found that these faults cause extension of the seafloor and magmatism at their outer corners.
Researchers at North Carolina State University conducted a pilot study to model ferrovolcanism, the predicted manifestation of planetary volcanism on metallic worlds. They found that metallic lava flows travel 10 times faster and spread more thinly than rocky flows, creating braided channels with smooth, thin layers.