Articles tagged with Planet Earth
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
A team at Plymouth University used artificial neural networks to classify five planets as potentially habitable, estimating a probability of life in each case. The technique may aid in selecting targets for future space missions with improved spectral detail.
A new study from the University of Washington found that early Earth's temperature was moderate, not extremely hot or cold, allowing for a stable climate that enabled life to emerge. This discovery is significant for the search for life on other planets, as it suggests that habitable zones may retain stable climates.
Researchers estimate early Earth's climate as temperate, with temperatures ranging from 0-50 °C. Ocean pH increased steadily from acidic to mildly basic over the past 4 billion years.
Researchers propose that Venus' cloudy atmosphere could be a niche for extraterrestrial microbial life due to its highly acidic conditions and presence of sulfuric acid. The atmosphere's unique properties, such as the dark patches composed of concentrated sulfuric acid, have sparked interest in exploring this possibility.
New research analyzing oxygen isotopic compositions of lunar and terrestrial samples supports a high-energy collision model for the Moon's origin. Most of Earth's water is believed to have been delivered before the Moon-forming impact, contradicting previous proposals that it was added later.
Astronomers have detected an Earth-sized planet with a density similar to Mercury's, located 260 million light years away. K2-229b orbits a medium-sized active star and reaches temperatures of over 2000°C.
Researchers developed a new measurement called Radiated Energy Enhancement Factor (REEF) to capture variations in earthquake rupture complexity, revealing regional patterns and differences in fault properties. This improvement could help seismologists better understand earthquake mechanics and hazards.
The TRAPPIST-1 planets are curiously light, suggesting the presence of water instead of atmospheric gases. The team found that the inner planets have less than 15% water by mass, while the outer planets have more than 50%.
Researchers created synthetic specimens similar to upper mantle rocks and measured their rigidity under conditions simulating the Earth's mantle. This study challenges a long-held theory that defects involving water absorption in normally dry rocks control seismic wave speeds.
Researchers at MIT and Australian National University found that seismic waves are essentially blind to water in the Earth's upper mantle. The team's experiments showed that even tiny amounts of water have no effect on seismic wave speeds, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers model asteroid destruction using miniatures and laser blasts, estimating required nuclear explosion energy. The study provides a way to experimentally evaluate asteroid destruction criteria.
Engineers are conducting final testing at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems to ensure the observatory is ready for space. The science payload has already undergone rigorous testing, and the integrated spacecraft and sunshield will soon undergo their own launch environment tests.
Researchers found unique diamond impurities containing Ice-VII, a naturally occurring aqueous fluid from the deep mantle. This discovery provides evidence of water-rich regions deep below the Earth's crust and has significant implications for understanding the planet's inner workings.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University conducted the first laboratory simulations of exoplanet atmospheres to understand haze formation and its impact on habitability. The study found that certain gas combinations produce more haze particles, which can affect atmospheric temperature structures and potentially shield life.
A new study suggests that photosynthesis may have evolved as long as 3.6 billion years ago, contradicting previous estimates. This finding implies that oxygenic photosynthesis, which produces all the oxygen on Earth, started earlier than thought, potentially allowing early life to diversify and dominate the world.
Researchers discovered 1.6 billion-year-old fossilized oxygen bubbles trapped in microbial mats, providing a signature for life. These ancient bubbles were created by cyanobacteria through photosynthesis and suggest a larger role for these microbes in shaping the Earth's ecosystem.
The AZURE mission aims to measure vertical winds in the ionosphere, creating a tumultuous particle soup that redistributes energy and momentum. By tracking colorful tracers released into space, researchers will gain valuable data on the flow of particles in key regions of the ionosphere.
Dr. James L. Burch, SwRI VP, inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame for his leadership and research on space science and magnetosphere interaction. He has contributed significantly to NASA missions, including New Horizons and Juno.
A new explanation for the Moon's origin proposes it formed inside a rapidly spinning, vaporized rock cloud called a synestia. The model resolves several problems in lunar formation and matches the pattern of the Moon's composition.
The Grand Challenge Initiative - Cusp is a series of international sounding rocket missions investigating the physics of heating and charged particle precipitation in the geomagnetic cusp. The team will study the effects of solar activity on Earth's atmosphere, improving navigation and communication near the poles.
Researchers compared the conditions on Europa with those of a terrestrial environment, finding similarities with a deep subterranean mine where bacteria survive without sunlight. They propose that radioactivity in Europa's crust could lead to chemical imbalances and potentially support life.
Researchers have recreated superionic water, a state where oxygen remains fixed while protons flow freely, exhibiting properties of both solid and liquid. This discovery could lead to new materials with unique practical applications and provide insights into the physical properties of planets in our solar system.
A new study using the LAser RElativity Satellite (LARES) demonstrates high-precision probing of General Relativity and fundamental physics. The research reveals frame-dragging effects on space-time, with implications for astrophysics.
Researchers believe asteroids can reveal what molecules originally existed in our solar system, helping scientists reconstruct the pathway that led to life on Earth. The study of asteroid and meteorite samples provides strong evidence that certain compounds were present before life formed.
Despite extensive searches, scientists remain puzzled by the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial life. ASU professor Paul Davies suggests that life may have originated on Mars and transferred to Earth, leaving behind a 'shadow biosphere' that could be hiding in plain sight.
Scientists have found that rocks rich in the mineral berthierine, a toxic to decay bacteria, are more likely to preserve soft tissue fossils. This discovery provides a mineralogical signature to find exceptional fossils and potentially supports the search for life on other planets.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) begins its annual eclipse season, which lasts three weeks. During this period, Earth blocks SDO's view of the Sun for short periods, typically lasting from 2-72 minutes.
Researchers have obtained detailed three-dimensional images of a megathrust fault west of Costa Rica, revealing long grooves and other features that may control how the fault slips in an earthquake. The study provides unprecedented insight into the mechanisms at work along these faults, critical for disaster management worldwide.
Astronomers have discovered a trio of super-Earths around the star GJ 9827, with two of them having radii between 1.7 times and 2.5 times that of Earth, sparking debate about their composition. The study's findings provide insight into how these planets form and evolve, with implications for the search for life beyond our Solar System.
Researchers re-created a Titan ocean in a laboratory and studied the freezing temperatures of methane and ethane lakes. They discovered that nitrogen in the liquid causes lakes to freeze at lower temperatures than expected, which could be beneficial for the submarine's operation.
Researchers found evidence of extensive biomass burning at the Younger Dryas Boundary, coinciding with a cometary cloud impact that triggered an 'impact winter', causing widespread extinctions. The study suggests that this event may have contributed to the collapse of the Clovis people and the extinction of megafauna.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University question long-held understanding of Earth's solid center formation, citing energy barriers and supercooling issues. The team proposes alternative solutions, including the possibility of a nucleation-enhancing solid metal affecting the core's crystallization process.
Researchers found that the Moon's excessive equatorial bulge formed slowly over four billion years ago as it receded from Earth. The study suggests a weaker young Sun may have enabled this process, with implications for our understanding of Earth's early energy dissipation.
Researchers quantify viruses swept up into free troposphere, carried thousands of km before being deposited back onto Earth. The majority of viruses were found to have originated from sea spray, indicating long-range transport through the atmosphere.
Researchers have shed new light on the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, revealing that all seven planets are mostly made of rock and contain up to 5% water. The study also found that five planets lack a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere, similar to Neptune or Uranus.
The GOLD mission provides unprecedented measurements of Earth's upper atmosphere, tracking day-to-day changes in temperature and composition. By imaging ultraviolet light, GOLD will create a map of the hemisphere revealing how these forces impact our technological society.
The IMAGE mission used novel techniques like energetic neutral atom imaging to render the invisible visible, capturing large-scale images of the surrounding plasma and revealing new discoveries about Earth's magnetosphere and plasmasphere. This groundbreaking research continues to guide science today.
Researchers used over 40 telescopes to observe a rare event: the blazar CTA 102 increased its brightness by 3,500 times. The team found that the jet's radiation and particles emit in multiple frequencies from different zones, creating a serpentine shape. This discovery supports theoretical models of jet instability and propagation.
Researchers studied spacecraft data to understand magnetic reconnection, a phenomenon that breaks standard laws governing charged particles. The study confirmed theoretical descriptions of magnetic reconnection, which is linked to celestial events such as black holes, pulsars, and supernovas.
NASA's GOLD instrument successfully completed its initial power-on test, paving the way for further research into space weather events. The mission aims to improve forecasting models and understand the dynamic intermingling of space and Earth's uppermost atmosphere.
After an amateur astronomer recorded observations of a satellite in high Earth orbit on Jan. 20, 2018, NASA coordinated the use of five separate antennas to acquire radio frequency signals from the object. The signals matched the expected characteristics of the IMAGE mission, suggesting it could be the lost satellite.
Oceans contained plentiful oxygen long before its accumulation in the atmosphere, providing energy-rich habitat for early life. Researchers used computer models to simulate chemical reactions in ancient ocean sediments and compared results with data from ancient rocks and seawater.
The NASA GOLD Mission observes the dynamic intermingling of space and Earth's uppermost atmosphere, seeking to understand what drives change in this critical region. The mission provides fast observations to monitor hour-by-hour changes in space weather and improves forecasting models for satellites, astronauts, and life on Earth.
The Earth BioGenome Project will map the DNA of all known eukaryotic species, including plants, animals, and single-celled organisms. The ambitious 10-year project is expected to cost $4.7 billion.
Researchers from McGill University develop a miniature life detection platform to identify and analyze microorganisms in extreme environments, providing proof-of-concept for direct life detection on Mars and other planets. The technique has potential applications on Earth, including detecting pathogens during epidemics in remote areas.
Portland State University biologist Ken Stedman and colleagues advocate for virus research beyond Earth, proposing NASA investigate viruses on Saturn's moons, Mars, and ancient deposits. They suggest Earth viruses could survive in space and potentially be spread extraterrestrially.
Researchers develop a modular 'life detection platform' to directly detect and characterize microorganisms in extreme environments. The platform uses existing low-cost technology in new ways, enabling real-time analysis of microbial ecology and DNA sequencing.
A NASA team has demonstrated fully autonomous X-ray navigation in space, utilizing millisecond pulsars to precisely determine the location of an object moving at thousands of miles per hour. This technology offers a new option for deep-space navigation that could work in concert with existing spacecraft-based radio and optical systems.
Researchers analyzed the Hypatia stone, a pebble found in Egypt, and discovered unique minerals that suggest it originated from pre-solar material. The stone contains polyaromatic hydrocarbons, metallic aluminum, phosphides, and moissanite, which are uncommon in our solar system.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute develop theory that chemical reactions supporting life today could have occurred with ingredients likely present on early Earth. The citric acid cycle's precursor, glyoxylate, is identified as a key molecule in these reactions.
The ICON and GOLD missions are teaming up to provide comprehensive observations of the ionosphere, a little-understood area close to home. By capturing detailed remote and in situ data, these missions will help improve situational awareness for astronauts and humans on the ground.
Researchers used MMS data to identify regions where high-energy electrons are accelerated, a key step in understanding magnetosphere energy conversion. This discovery will help scientists study magnetic reconnection and its effects on Earth's power grids and GPS communications.
A new study projects that high humidity in many regions will dramatically increase in coming decades, surpassing humans' ability to work or survive. Potentially affected areas include the southeastern US, Amazon, Africa, and eastern China, with hundreds of millions of people facing severe human impact.
A recent study published in Nature found that Mars' surface water was absorbed by its crust over time, leaving the planet essentially dry. The research suggests that approximately 300 meters of surface water on Mars could have been locked up in microscopic mineral structures.
Scientists propose that Martian surface reacted with water and then absorbed it, increasing rock oxidation. The planet's composition, temperature profile and iron content made the surface prone to reaction, dragging water down into the mantle.
Scientists from UCLA and University of Wisconsin-Madison analyze ancient fossils, discovering primitive photosynthesizers, methane producers, and consumers. The findings suggest that life in the universe is widespread and not difficult to form.
A NASA-led team has identified that gravity waves are the primary driver of Jupiter's equatorial jet stream's reversal, with convection in the lower atmosphere producing waves that travel up to the stratosphere. The findings could help scientists better understand the dynamic atmosphere of Jupiter and other planets.
The discovery of microscopic fossils in a 3.5-billion-year-old rock piece in Western Australia confirms life on Earth began before this date. The study identified 11 microbial specimens from five separate taxa, linking their morphologies to chemical signatures characteristic of life.
The California Academy of Sciences has described 85 new plant and animal species, including flowering plants, sharks, fish, scorpions, and sea slugs. The discoveries were made over five continents and three oceans, highlighting the vast diversity of life on Earth.
Researchers found small, Earth-like planets in Alpha Centauri that may have been overlooked and eliminated the possibility of large Jupiter-sized planets. The study uses advanced spectrographic instruments to narrow the search for habitable planets in our closest neighboring system.