Research on Earth's systems and resources. Covers green energy, ocean oxygen and metal deposits, lunar exploration, and geothermal power.
The boreal forest and treeless shrublands may experience significant changes due to climate change, with potential loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption. The study highlights the need for adaptation and cooperation to mitigate these impacts.
The review highlights major impediments to sustainability, including industrial capitalism and fossil fuel use. The authors propose a radical shift in values, supported by education, policy, economic incentives, and technological innovation.
The TESS24 conference will focus on the impact of space weather on various systems, including satellites, GPS, and power grids. Experts will discuss new predictions for Solar Cycle 25's peak intensity and the possibility of superflares happening every 6,000 years.
A new study reveals that the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, moves 6-8 centimeters once or twice a day due to slip events triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream. This movement has significant implications for understanding the stability of Antarctica's ice shelves and potential icequakes.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that ocean-atmosphere coupling enhances teleconnection patterns, leading to more meandering jet streams and extreme weather events. The study highlights the significance of extratropical ocean-atmosphere interactions in climate variability.
A team from the University of Copenhagen contributed to an Antarctic experiment studying neutrinos, which may hold the answer to whether gravity also exists at the quantum level. The study found no conclusive changes in neutrino properties, but the results do not exclude the possibility of quantum gravity.
Researchers from Tohoku University have developed a new signal processing technique that improves particle motion analysis in the time and frequency domain. This approach enables the detection and identification of various polarized seismic waveforms, including S-waves and P-waves, with improved accuracy.
A new study predicts that Australia's soil will become a net emitter of carbon dioxide, releasing more CO2 into the air than it absorbs. This could account for 8.3% of current emissions and worsen climate change unless farming methods are improved.
A recent study from the University of Copenhagen found that the oldest Scandinavian bedrock originated in Greenland approximately 3.75 billion years ago. The discovery provides new insights into the formation of continents and the emergence of life on Earth, highlighting the importance of fixed continents for supporting life.
Researchers discovered that 19 amino acids essential to life on Earth can persist for up to four weeks in concentrated sulfuric acid, which is similar to the concentrations found in Venus' clouds. This finding suggests that the clouds of Venus could support complex chemicals needed for life.
A University of Arizona-led study explores sulfur's significance in the emergence of life on Earth, shedding light on its possible role as an RNA precursor. The research suggests that sulfur's reactivity could have hindered its availability for origin-of-life chemistry.
Elfi Kraka and colleagues develop a novel machine learning interatomic potential called ANI-1xnr that accurately simulates atomic-level interactions in various environments. The model has the potential to aid in understanding planetary care, drug interactions and exploring cosmic materials.
Ben-Gurion University scientists propose a unified theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and Earth, suggesting common causes despite different planetary environments. The research was conducted using wind tunnel experiments and reveals the possibility of similar patterns on Earth.
Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered eight new deep-sea species of marine sponges in the Balearic Islands, increasing the ecological importance of the region. The study reveals a strong case for the inclusion of underwater mountains and caves within the Natura 2000 Network, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.
Scientists create detailed models of the terrestrial water cycle using high-resolution satellite data to predict floods, droughts, and other extreme events. The Digital Twin Earth Hydrology Platform allows for interactive simulations and visualizations to enhance flood and landslide prediction and optimize water resource management.
A new study reveals that human activity has altered the global freshwater cycle, resulting in a significant increase in dry and wet deviations. The research found that the frequency and spread of these exceptions have nearly doubled compared to pre-industrial conditions.
Researchers at Cornell University have devised a novel way to determine ocean temperatures of distant worlds based on the thickness of their ice shells. This technique can be used to enhance NASA's mission findings about Europa and Enceladus, two Jovian and Saturnian moons that could potentially support life.
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, tested the future LIFE mission's capabilities on real spectra using data from NASA's Aqua Earth observation satellite. It demonstrated that a space telescope like LIFE could detect signs of a temperate, habitable world on Earth-like exoplanets.
Researchers at UBC Okanagan are revisiting old building practices to improve sustainability. They found that wood fly ash can enhance the strength of rammed earth construction, reducing sand exploitation and increasing insulation properties.
Astronomers have discovered an extreme Earth-like planet with lava oceans that orbits its sun-like star every four days. The young planet, just 500 million years old, is the nearest Earth-sized planet found so far and could provide valuable insights into the evolution of planets similar to our own.
Researchers used high-resolution techniques to analyze organic material from the early Earth, shedding light on the formation and composition of ancient biomass. The study found evidence of biological origin in microscopically small particles, suggesting a turbulent history of sediment deposits.
Researchers analyzed over 200 butterfly and moth genomes to understand their evolutionary history. They found that chromosomes have remained largely unchanged since the last common ancestor over 250 million years ago, despite the diversity seen today in wing patterns and caterpillar forms.
The commercial space sector has seen significant growth, with over 2,660 satellites launched into orbit in recent years. International collaborations are also expanding, enabling diverse perspectives and new ideas to emerge in science and space exploration.
A common mineral in red soils, goethite locks away trace metals over time, rendering them unavailable for plants and animals. The study found that up to 70% of nickel was non-recoverable and only 8% of cadmium was irreversibly bound.
A Yale-led research team suggests that large asteroids could have triggered 'Snowball Earth' events, where the planet's surface was covered in ice for thousands of years. The study found that asteroid strikes could have tipped Earth into a state with sea ice thickness of up to 10 meters, even if initial climate conditions were already ...
A team of researchers at Kyushu University found that Japan's current policy may not be enough to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve decarbonization goals. To address this, the government must extend vehicle longevity, invest in a cleaner energy mix, and decarbonize the supply chain.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system that provides a rare glimpse into the formation of planets around a young star. The system consists of six confirmed planets and potentially a seventh, all forming under similar conditions at an age of just 700 million years.
Researchers at UTSA's Department of Physics and Astronomy have used deconvolution algorithms to enhance images of galaxy NGC 5728 obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope. The study reveals a faint extended feature that could be part of an outflow from a supermassive black hole interacting with the host galaxy.
Researchers created a network of 4.9 billion plausible chemical reactions using blockchain, shedding light on prebiotic molecules and primitive metabolism. The study also demonstrates how blockchain can be used to solve complex problems in science at a lower cost.
Scientists have found a shallow soda lake in western Canada that meets the conditions required for life to emerge, including high levels of dissolved phosphate. This discovery provides new support for the idea that life could have emerged from lakes on early Earth, around 4 billion years ago.
Researchers have discovered melt splashes on Ryugu samples containing silicate glasses with voids and small inclusions of spherical iron sulfides. The chemical compositions suggest that Ryugu's hydrous silicates mixed with cometary dust, indicating the transport of primitive organic matter from space to Earth.
Researchers precisely dated some of the oldest fossils of complex multicellular life, tracking a pivotal moment in Earth's history when new lifeforms teemed in the seas. The fossils, including creatures like Aspidella terranovica, showcase early evidence of large-scale multicellular organisms.
Scientists have discovered an Earth-sized planet in our solar backyard that may be similar to early Earth due to its proximity to the Sun and crowded system. The newly discovered planet was identified using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and is part of a young star system called the Ursa Major Moving Group.
Astronomers have discovered a small, cold exoplanet with an orbital period of 146 days, providing insight into planetary formation and evolution. The planet, HD88986b, is about twice the size of Earth and orbits a star similar to the Sun.
Researchers have identified the oldest thylakoid membranes, 1.2 billion years older than previously known, in 1.75 billion-year-old fossil cyanobacteria. This discovery provides a new approach to understand the early diversification of life and the role of cyanobacteria in the Great Oxygenation Event.
An international study classifies groundwater as a keystone ecosystem, emphasizing its critical role in sustaining both humanity and biodiversity. The researchers propose eight key themes for improved groundwater conservation to reduce biodiversity loss and counterbalance climate change.
A novel transparent spectral converter, GdPO4-GC:Eu3+/Pr3+, absorbs UV photons and re-emits them as visible light, increasing photovoltaic devices' conversion efficiency. This technology shields PCs from UV damage and enhances their sensitivity to UV photons.
Researchers use quantum chemical calculations to understand sodium's transformation into an insulator at high pressures. The study confirms theoretical predictions made by Neil Ashcroft and connects it with chemical concepts of bonding.
Researchers have devised a new method to identify habitable planets and potentially inhabited planets by comparing atmospheric CO2 levels, which suggests the presence of liquid water. This signature can be detected with current telescopes, providing a path to identify life on exoplanets.
Scientists propose searching for depleted carbon dioxide in planetary atmospheres as a sign of liquid water and potentially life on other planets. A study suggests that low carbon abundance relative to neighboring planets could indicate habitability.
Scientists simulated the runaway greenhouse effect, transforming habitable climates into hostile environments, with significant changes in atmospheric structure and cloud coverage. The study provides key insights for the search of life elsewhere, as it demonstrates a critical water vapor threshold beyond which a planet cannot cool down.
Researchers at Ohio State University are testing the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar to help with wildfire detection and improve first responders' ability to predict and respond to deadly forest fires. The new tool has potential for tracking wildfires from start to finish, monitoring soil moisture, and discerning flame-prone areas.
Scientists at Ohio State University discovered that tropical ice cores can provide accurate measurements of surface global mean temperature. The study found that the temperature in the middle and upper troposphere cooled by 7.35 degrees Celsius during the Earth's glacial period, shedding light on new theories about climate dynamics.
Erle Ellis, professor of geography and environmental systems, argues that human societies have developed unprecedented capabilities to scale up and transform ecological systems. However, these advancements often come with negative environmental consequences, such as climate change and species extinctions.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters sheds light on methane emissions from Arctic lakes and wetlands. Researchers found that small, unmapped lakes contribute only about 3% of the region's methane emissions, significantly reducing the cumulative amount previously thought to be emitted.
A groundbreaking study on Ryugu samples has revealed the impact of terrestrial weathering on primitive meteorite spectra. The findings suggest that actual CI chondrite parent bodies likely exhibit darker and flatter reflectance spectra than previously thought.
Researchers found that space weather events can trigger 'wrong side' failures in rail signalling systems, which are more hazardous than 'right side' failures. This study highlights the need for the industry to consider the risks of space weather and explore mitigation strategies.
Researchers have discovered lipid fossils in ancient rocks, providing clues about the evolution of life. The findings suggest that a shift in animal feeding strategies occurred around 1.6 billion years ago, with some species abandoning phytosterol production as they obtained this nutrient from algae.
A team led by USC Dornsife researchers has uncovered stark differences in the impact of a 200-million-year-old mass extinction event on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The study found that land-based ecosystems were hit harder, with nearly 96% of species going extinct, while marine ecosystems showed resilience with only 71% of gener...
Researchers find complex microbial communities forming giant mounds of rock in a harsh desert environment, resembling ancient stromatolites. The discovery provides an unprecedented look at the earliest stages of life on Earth and may hold clues about life on Mars.
The report highlights six key recommendations to change course, including coordinated action to trigger positive tipping points. Averting the crisis and doing so equitably must be the core goal of COP28 and ongoing global cooperation.
A clay mineral called smectite, formed through plate tectonics, efficiently traps organic carbon and could help buffer global warming. Smectite's accordion-textured folds effectively trap dead organisms, preventing them from being consumed by microbes.
Researchers analyzed Antarctic sediment records to understand past ice sheet behavior, finding frequent and rapid growth and recession cycles over thousands of years. The study suggests that climate factors beyond Earth's orbit may trigger these changes, potentially leading to unexpected ice sheet dynamics in the coming centuries.
The portal brings together genomic data from different biodiversity projects to aid conservation and biodiversity efforts. It allows researchers to understand genetic factors that make a species unique, including its vulnerabilities and strengths in adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Researchers characterized nearly 600 microbial genomes, revealing two types of microbes: minimalists and maximalists. Minimalists share resources with friends, while maximalists can produce energy and transform biomolecules, offering insights into life in the Earth's crust and potential on Mars.
The Telescope Array has detected the second-highest energy cosmic ray ever observed, with an energy equivalent to dropping a brick on your toe from waist height. The Amaterasu particle deepens the mystery of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, which may follow particle physics unknown to science.
Two GEOMAR researchers will receive €2 million EU funding over five years to study the Antarctic ice sheet, carbon cycles, and deep-sea biodiversity. Their projects aim to improve climate projections and solve deep-sea mysteries.
A Lancaster University PhD student used a new method to calculate the optical depth of Saturn's rings, revealing their transparency. By analyzing changes in Cassini's Langmuir Probe data during solar eclipses, the researcher determined how much sunlight passed through each ring.
Researchers use rhenium as a proxy for carbon to quantify the rate of fossil carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere. The study found that high rates of carbon breakdown persist from mountaintop to floodplain, offering valuable insights into the planet's history and response to climate challenges.
A new modelling study led by UCL researchers finds that faster Arctic warming will breach the global 1.5C and 2C temperature thresholds five and eight years earlier than expected. This accelerated warming adds substantial uncertainty to climate forecasts, highlighting the need for more extensive monitoring of temperatures in the region.