Articles tagged with Planet Earth
A new study from the University of Washington and MIT reveals that global warming is not solely caused by carbon dioxide's 'blanket' effect, but also involves shortwave radiation. The research shows how CO2 initially traps heat, but as the planet warms, it absorbs more solar radiation, leading to continued warming.
The study finds that the Earth's ancient oceans held much lower concentrations of sulfate, a key biological nutrient, than previously recognized. This scarcity would have shaped the nature and evolution of early life on Earth, with implications for understanding the planet's early biosphere.
Scientists propose creation of new research program to study humanity's future in astronomical context, leveraging astrobiology and sustainability. They calculate average lifetime of species with energy-intensive technology could lead to collapse or sustainability, informing decisions for a sustainable future.
A team of 100 researchers, led by Rutgers biologist Dr. Jessica Ware, has completed a groundbreaking two-year project to map the evolution of insects using molecular data. The study found that insects originated around 480 million years ago, contemporaneous with the earliest terrestrial plants, and developed wings before other animals.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown dense rock structure in the Earth's crust beneath Chile, influencing the size of a massive earthquake. The structure played a key role in slowing down the rupture, generating stronger shaking at the surface.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discover evidence of water on Earth dating back to the planet's formation. The findings suggest that Earth formed as a wet planet with water on its surface.
Scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries about how space weather affects our planet, including the role of magnetic reconnection in accelerating solar wind particles. Researchers have also found significant differences in plasma density between the solar wind and magnetosphere, shedding light on this complex phenomenon.
A large active region on the sun erupted with an X-class flare on October 27, 2014, its fourth since October 24. The flare was part of a week-long series of substantial flares beginning on October 19.
Researchers at Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy observed a nova's early fireball stage and revealed its complex expansion. The study, published in Nature, used the CHARA Array to create high-resolution images of the explosion, shedding new light on the structure of ejected material.
A substantial X1.6 class solar flare occurred on October 22, 2014, peaking at 10:28 a.m. EDT, as observed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. This is the third significant flare from the same region of the sun since October 19, indicating increased solar activity.
The nation's first tsunami evacuation refuge is being built in Washington state to shelter over 1,000 people within a 20-minute walking distance. The vertical structure will be the roof of an elementary school gym, designed to withstand massive earthquakes and storm surges.
Researchers Elise Harrington and Allan Treiman re-analyzed twenty-year-old spacecraft data to study Venus's surface. They found radio waves reflected differently at different elevations, creating a pattern of brightening with increasing elevation, followed by 'radio black' spots at the highest locations.
Jacob Bean, an assistant professor at UChicago, has received a 2014 Packard Fellowship to study exoplanets and their atmospheres. He aims to gain a deeper understanding of planetary formation, chemistry, and habitability.
Researchers use Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes to study super-Earths, discovering that water worlds are possible compositions. The team's analysis reveals that super-Earths could have acquired their mass by pulling in solid material from distant orbits.
Astronomers develop a new laser-based technology called the green astro-comb to detect tiny Doppler shifts, helping identify habitable zone planets. The device will enable precise measurements of exoplanet gravity, allowing for better detection of rocky worlds like Earth.
A recent study found that approximately 20% of older adults in the affected area were homebound, highlighting a public health concern. The study's geographical analysis revealed that distances to retail stores and availability of hawker bus services significantly impacted the risk of being homebound.
The UCR-led 'Alternative Earths' team will analyze ancient rocks to determine how oxygen developed on Earth billions of years ago. By studying the chemical fingerprints left by early life forms, they aim to understand what evidence would confirm that a planet is habitable and teeming with life.
Researchers from PTB have refuted the assumption that radioactive nuclides' decay rate depends on distance from the Sun. Long-term measurements show no seasonal variations or solar influence, contradicting previous US-American findings.
The study reveals two distinct stages in Earth's response to solar wind forcing, with most energy deposited in the polar atmosphere during the second stage. Researchers are working to understand a potential delay between stages, which could provide near-term warnings for space weather disruptions.
A Washington State University undergraduate has developed a new method for detecting water on Mars using an index called groundmass crystallinity. This method could potentially be useful for not only studying rocks on Earth but also on other planets.
Researchers at UC Davis have found a way to form oxygen in one step by using a high-energy vacuum ultraviolet laser to excite carbon dioxide. This process could be occurring naturally on Mars and Venus, where carbon dioxide dominates the atmosphere. The discovery adjusts models of planetary atmosphere evolution.
New research suggests the Moon's 'ocean of storms,' Oceanus Procellarum, was formed by ancient rifts in the crust that provided a magma plumbing system. This theory argues against the long-held impact basin hypothesis and provides a new alternative for understanding the region's unique shape and composition.
Researchers observe massive polar cloud at Titan's south pole, composed of hydrogen cyanide ice, and conclude that the upper atmosphere must have cooled by over 50 degrees in less than a year.
A new study has shown that the water found on Earth originated before the Sun formed, suggesting that many exoplanets may also have access to abundant water. This discovery has important implications for the potential for life elsewhere in the galaxy.
A team of scientists found that much of Earth's water originated as ices in interstellar space, predating the Sun's birth. This discovery has implications for the potential emergence of life elsewhere in the universe.
The Earth's massive tectonic plates are driven by a self-sustaining process that has shaped the modern planet. Early continents triggered plate motion by placing major stress on surrounding plates, forcing them to be pushed under at their edges.
New study suggests that early Earth's crust was cool enough for surface water to form during some periods, challenging the long-held idea of a hostile environment. The research compared zircon crystals from Iceland with those formed over 4 billion years ago and found similarities in their compositions.
Researchers found nanodiamonds and high-temperature materials in Europe, North America, and South America, indicating a major extraterrestrial impact event. The discovery supports the cosmic impact hypothesis for the Younger Dryas period's sudden climate change.
Researchers from MIT and Turkey analyzed 20 years of GPS data to predict a major earthquake near Istanbul. The analysis suggests that the next large earthquake will occur along a seismic gap beneath the Sea of Marmara, west of Istanbul.
Astronomers have pinpointed the 'Venus Zone' as a critical area around stars where planets are likely to exhibit unlivable conditions. This definition will help Kepler researchers distinguish between habitable and uninhabitable planets, enabling better understanding of Earth's atmospheric evolution.
Researchers developed parameters to distinguish Venus-like planets from Earth-like ones based on distance from stars. The study identified 43 potential Venus-like planets with characteristics like size and orbit, but atmospheric conditions remain unknown.
Researchers confirm that textbook theory behind volcanoes is incorrect, with no evidence for narrow mantle plumes. Instead, large, slow-moving chunks of mantle drive volcano formation through plate tectonics.
Astronomers used a global network of radio telescopes to measure the distance to the Pleiades star cluster, resolving a long-standing controversy. The result is a precise measurement of 443 light-years, accurate to within one percent.
Researchers studied a unique solar storm that interacted with Earth's magnetic field, revealing the presence of a dense solar filament material. The event showed a complex interplay between the CME and the magnetosphere, resulting in reduced magnetic effects.
Researchers using the Green Bank Telescope have found pebble-size particles near the Orion Nebula, a potential new class of interstellar particles that could aid planet formation. These dense ribbons of rocky material may represent a mid-size class of particles, with sizes up to a centimeter across.
Researchers found microbes actively contribute to dripstone formation, with layers mirroring seasonal changes. The discovery sheds light on the role of biological life in shaping Earth's geology and has implications for understanding microbial life beyond Earth.
A team of scientists has found seven tiny grains captured by Stardust, likely visitors from interstellar space. The particles are diverse in terms of chemical composition and structure, with some having a fluffy structure like snowflakes.
Researchers analyzed near-real-time data from the April 1 earthquake in Iquique, Chile, and found that it occurred on a fault gap not ruptured since 1877. The study suggests that while the current stress was not released during the quake, it leaves open the possibility of another significant event.
A long-lasting foreshock series in northern Chile controlled the rupture process of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, which occurred in a region where the two colliding tectonic plates were partly locked. The study suggests that the unbroken regions north and south may break in separate smaller earthquakes.
Three massive volcanic eruptions occurred on Jupiter's moon Io within a two-week period, leading scientists to speculate about their frequency. The eruptions, characterized by 'curtains of fire', suggest that if observed more frequently, many more events might be seen on Io.
Researchers found that an outer companion planet's gravitational pull can generate tidal heating, extending the habitable zone and potentially allowing older Earth-sized planets to host life. The study suggests that discovering such planets may lead to finding inner companion worlds, increasing their chance at hosting life.
Research suggests that giant asteroid impacts significantly altered the early Earth, mixing and melting its surface. The findings provide new insights into the role of asteroid bombardments in shaping the Hadean Earth's surface.
Asteroid impacts were a key factor in shaping early Earth's surface, with large collisions melting and burying the crust. The Hadean eon's geography was heavily reprocessed, with impact-generated melt contributing to the formation of the Moon.
Researchers created a model showing how Mercury's core dynamics contribute to its unusual magnetic field, which is three times stronger in the north than south. This finding indicates that planets have multiple ways of generating a magnetic field.
Researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics propose that silicon-capped hydrocarbons like SiC3H, SiC4H and SiC5H may be responsible for the diffuse interstellar bands. The team analyzed laboratory spectra and theoretical calculations to support their hypothesis.
An international research team has shown that the soft X-ray glow blanketing the sky originates from both inside and outside the solar system. The bulk of the radiation comes from a local hot bubble of gas in our galactic neighborhood, while the solar wind contributes up to 40 percent.
Researchers propose using industrial pollution as a sign of intelligent life, which could be detectable with the James Webb Space Telescope. The team found that CFCs could be used to identify advanced civilizations, but this method requires an ideal environment, such as an Earth-like planet circling a white dwarf star.
Researchers estimate four to five large earthquakes occurred on the Seattle fault or related faults during the past 3,500 years. The study uses geologic data and new field evidence to reconstruct earthquake patterns in the Puget Lowland, a structurally complex region.
A team led by University of Oregon geologist Gregory Retallack analyzed Curiosity rover images and data to discover Earth-like soil profiles with cracked surfaces lined with sulfate. This finding suggests that Mars may have had a more habitable climate in the past, increasing the possibility of microbial life.
Landsat 8 uses monthly lunar scans as a baseline calibration to ensure the accuracy of its land-cover information. The satellite's Operational Land Imager collects data on different wavelengths of light, and the moon's stable surface allows for precise tracking.
Scripps scientists find evidence of super-fast deep earthquakes that rupture at depths of over 400 km, offering new clues about the forces behind these events. This discovery provides insights into fast-breaking earthquakes near Earth's surface.
Computer modeling by NASA scientists shows that friction could be key to survival for distant Earth-sized planets in dangerous orbits. Some planets may move into safer orbits faster than expected due to tidal stress-induced friction.
Researchers used MESSENGER data to detect solar neutrons created in solar flares, providing a direct link to the flare process. The combined use of NASA mission data from MESSENGER and STEREO spacecraft offers new information about particle acceleration in solar flares.
The Geological Society of America recognized Susan Kieffer, Lisa Tauxe, Francis Macdonald as GSA's highest honors for their seminal research contributions to various geosciences. The awards were presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Vancouver, Canada.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-like planet in a binary star system, expanding the search for habitable planets. The planet orbits one of the stars at almost exactly the same distance from which Earth orbits the sun, but is much colder due to its host star's dimmer light.
Researchers found that Martian salts can melt ice they touch, forming liquid water within minutes. The discovery suggests small amounts of liquid water could exist across large swaths of Mars' surface, potentially supporting microbial life.
Ariel Anbar, a leading geoscientist, has been selected as an HHMI Professor at ASU, focusing on developing online virtual field trips to teach Earth's evolution. The grant will support his research and educational activities, aiming to re-invigorate instruction in historical geology.
Researchers found evidence of seasonal cycles on Saturn's moon Titan, with temperature and sunlight driving surface changes. The discovery supports the idea that liquid methane might flow and evaporate in response to changing exposure to sunlight.
Researchers analyzed Stanley Miller's old samples and replicated his 1958 experiment, finding peptides formed under basic conditions. This discovery suggests a new path to the formation of proteins and enzymes necessary for life.
Scientists observe a mysterious geologic object on Ligeia Mare, the second-largest sea on Saturn's moon Titan, which may be the first observation of dynamic geological processes. The 'Magic Island' is thought to result from changing seasons and could provide insights into Titan's liquid environments.