Articles tagged with Planet Earth
A new NASA study finds that Earth's energy budget remained out of balance despite unusually low solar activity between 2005 and 2010. The planet continued to absorb more energy than it returned to space, with carbon dioxide levels needing to be reduced to restore equilibrium.
Researchers used data from orbiting spacecraft to discover that energetic electrons are swept away by solar wind particles during periods of heightened solar activity. The findings aim to improve predictions of geomagnetic storms and protect satellites and astronauts.
The Space Weather Laboratory will implement ensemble forecasting, producing up to 100 computerized forecasts simultaneously, improving the reliability of space weather alerts. This new capability is crucial for protecting astronauts and NASA spacecraft from potential harm during periods of increased solar activity.
New studies reveal mantle-driven uplift in the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau, while also documenting extensional fault systems in the Aegean Sea. Additionally, researchers examine the impact of fault-enhanced irregularities on groundwater flow paths, with implications for nuclear waste repositories.
Researchers have discovered layers of bacterial microbes in underwater caves, each with specialized forms of life adapted to different depths and conditions. The findings suggest that microbial life can thrive in extreme environments, potentially providing insights into the origins of life on Earth and its possibility elsewhere.
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project has been renamed Suomi NPP in recognition of Verner Suomi's contributions to weather forecasting and climate change research. The new name reflects the mission's objective of advancing scientific knowledge of Earth and improving weather forecasts.
New research suggests that sunshade geoengineering may actually increase crop yields in most regions, alleviating temperature stress and improving productivity. However, the approach carries risks, including unintended consequences on precipitation and deployment-related conflicts.
A team of scientists has detected a faint 'satellite galaxy' 10 billion light years away, making it the lowest-mass object at such a distance. This finding could help confirm or reject theories about the structure of the cosmos.
The Galileo program seeks to bridge the precision fiber optic controls and long-baseline astronomical interferometry technical communities to enable faster imaging of objects in geosynchronous orbit. By harnessing the power of flexible fiber optics, researchers aim to create a new means of better, faster imaging of objects in GEO.
A recent study found that a large fraction of planets have orbital distances between 0.5 and 10 sun-Earth distances, challenging the previous assumption that most extrasolar planets were gas giants closer to their stars.
Researchers at UH Manoa have discovered a novel chemical route to form PAHs, challenging conventional wisdom that they only occur at high temperatures. The study suggests that low-temperature chemistry can initiate the synthesis of the first PAH in interstellar space.
The discovery of three smallest confirmed planets ever detected outside our solar system may boost the likelihood of existence of habitable planets. The planets, all rocky with a solid surface, orbit a small star called KOI-961, which is similar to red dwarfs, the most common type in the Milky Way.
Most of the Milky Way's 100 billion stars have planets similar to Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The research found an average of 1.6 planets in the habitable zone around each star.
Researchers have discovered two new planets, Kepler-34b and Kepler-35b, orbiting a binary star system using data from NASA's Kepler mission. The low-density gas giants are comparable in size to Jupiter but much less massive, with Kepler-34 being about 24% smaller and Kepler-35 being about 26% smaller.
Current high levels of carbon dioxide are disrupting normal patterns of glaciation, delaying the next ice age by tens of thousands of years. This could lead to a significant increase in sea levels due to melting ice sheets.
Research papers published in AGU journals explore the impact of a Saturn moon on its magnetosphere, as well as a new way to measure Earth's magnetosphere. Scientists also discover that Loch Ness in Scotland is affected by ocean tidal loading, which controls the loch's tide.
Researchers have discovered two planets of sizes comparable to Earth orbiting an old star that has just passed the red giant stage. The planets, named KOI 55.01 and KOI 55.02, are thought to be the dense cores of ancient giant planets whose gaseous envelopes were vaporized during the immersion phase.
Astronomers have discovered two Earth-sized planets, KOI 55.01 and KOI 55.02, that survived the red-giant expansion of their host star, KIC 05807616. The planets are extremely close to their host star and experience harsh temperatures up to 16,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers have discovered two planets that survived being engulfed by their parent star, shedding new light on stellar and planetary systems. The discovery may also offer insights into the possible future of our own solar system.
Astronomers using NASA's Kepler mission have detected two Earth-sized planets, Kepler-20e and 20f, orbiting a G-type star. The discovery brings scientists closer to their goal of finding a twin Earth, with the planets expected to have rocky compositions and masses less than those of Earth.
Supernovas release enormous amounts of energy, but are too far away to harm Earth's ozone layer. Gamma-ray bursts could pose a threat if directed towards our planet, but estimates suggest it's unlikely to occur in the near future.
A recent study found that humans have doubled the rate of nitrogen inputs into global ecosystems since the industrial era, with significant effects on water quality and coastal marine fisheries. The increased nitrogen levels can lead to reduced water quality, economic costs and even impact human sustainability.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded the total lunar eclipse on Dec. 10, 2011, providing insights into the moon's surface cooling during the event. The West Coast saw totality, while East Coasts experienced a slight dimming of the moon.
Scientists used Landsat satellite data to study Yellowstone's geothermal activity and identify changes in the park's unique landscape. The study found that satellite data can detect big changes in geothermal areas, but not necessarily what is happening or exactly where.
WHOI scientists Henry Dick and Joe Pedlosky received prestigious medals from the American Geophysical Union. Dick was awarded the Harry H. Hess Medal for his work on the mantle melting and ocean crust formation along global ocean ridges.
A team of researchers has discovered a large, rocky planet with a surface temperature comparable to a comfortable spring day on Earth. The planet orbits in the middle of its star's habitable zone, where liquid water is expected to exist.
Researchers used a new 3D climate model to simulate early Earth's climate, finding that the planet was more prone to deep freezes than previously thought. The study suggests that an atmosphere containing 6% carbon dioxide could have kept temperatures warm enough for liquid water to exist.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have recreated ancient minerals to reveal the earliest atmospheric conditions on Earth, challenging years of research on life's origins. The findings suggest an atmosphere dominated by water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, rather than methane-filled wasteland.
Magnetic pole reversals occur frequently over millions of years, with hundreds of occurrences recorded in the past three billion years. The process is gradual and does not have significant effects on plant or animal life, climate, or glaciation.
Scientists use Caenorhabditis elegans to study the effects of long-duration space exploration on humans. The worms develop and reproduce in space just like on Earth, making them an ideal model for investigating the challenges of Martian habitation.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system. The goal is to provide seconds to several minutes of warning before the ground shakes, saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars in the event of an earthquake.
Researchers have detected Schumann resonance in space using the VEFI instrument aboard the C/NOFS satellite, finding waves of extremely low frequency that can be as low as 8 Hz. This discovery provides a new tool to study Earth's weather, electric environment, and atmospheric composition from above.
The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard NASA's NPP satellite has acquired its first measurements, capturing high-resolution imagery of Eastern North America. The data will be used to observe the Earth's surface, including fires, ice, ocean color, vegetation, clouds, and land and sea surface temperatures.
The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on NASA's Curiosity rover measures the Martian surface radiation environment, shedding light on habitability and planning for future human missions. RAD's data will help scientists assess conditions favorable for life and determine required radiation shielding.
A new system for classifying exoplanets could catalogue newly discovered worlds with potential for life. The methodology uses two indices to describe a planet's Earth-like features and chemical/physical parameters conducive to life.
For the first time, astronomers have produced a complete description of a black hole using precise measurements. The new information reveals that the black hole is nearly 15 times more massive than our Sun and spinning over 800 times per second.
Researchers have found a body of liquid water on Europa, similar to the North American Great Lakes, which could support life. The newly discovered lake is covered by floating ice shelves that facilitate nutrient and energy transfer between the surface and a vast ocean below.
Scientists have compared MINI-ME's observations with those from two other instruments to reveal a host of interrelated phenomena occurring together in the dynamic region. The findings show that oxygen ions course outward along Earth's magnetic field lines, driving ion outflow events.
Despite predictions of a giant solar flare, NASA confirms it's physically impossible to destroy Earth. In fact, scientists have studied the sun's activity for millennia with no harm.
The NRL-developed MIGHTI satellite instrument is part of the ICON mission to study the Earth's ionosphere and its impact on communications. The ICON mission aims to understand the extreme variability in the ionosphere, which can interfere with signals.
Scientists propose a novel mechanism for generating a magnetic field on the moon, driven by physical stirring of the liquid core. The 'geodynamo' could have operated for at least a billion years, explaining the presence of magnetized rocks and making predictions about the strength of the field over time.
A pair of postdoctoral researchers at Penn State suggest that we have not looked in enough places to ensure the absence of extraterrestrial artifacts. They used a probabilistic method to determine if sufficient searching has been done, finding it challenging to rule out their presence.
Researchers suggest looking for artificial illumination on distant planets as they orbit their stars, which could provide a measurable signal. This technique relies on the assumption that intelligent life uses Earth-like technologies and could potentially spot alien cities using future generations of telescopes.
A NASA-sponsored study found that prolonged space flights can cause a range of visual system changes in astronauts, including blurry vision and abnormalities in the eye tissues. The study's findings have implications for long-duration manned space voyages, such as a trip to Mars.
The study found that ancient oceans contained lethal sulfide, making vast areas of seafloor inhospitable to animals. The discovery suggests that poisonous oceans delayed the emergence of animal life on Earth.
Researchers have made significant findings on the San Andreas Fault and Japan's 1944 Tonankai earthquake. The study reveals that seismic slip can propagate to shallow levels along megasplay faults, while another discovery sheds light on osmium behavior in a subduction system using chromian spinel from Bonin Island beach sands.
Researchers established diffusion parameters for argon in jarosite, allowing them to measure the age of the mineral and surface conditions. This discovery provides a roadmap for studying Martian samples brought back to Earth, with implications for searching for potential habitats harboring life.
Astronomers have discovered a planet-sized object, dubbed WD 0806-661 B, that is as cool as the Earth's surface. This brown dwarf has a mass similar to Jupiter but orbits a white dwarf companion at a vast distance of 2500 AU.
A British engineering team is embarking on a scientific mission to collect water and sediment samples from a subglacial lake in Antarctica. The 'deep-field' research mission aims to find new forms of microbial life and provide clues about the Earth's past climate, with potential implications for understanding the evolution of life on o...
A new study suggests that short-hard interstellar radiation events could have a significant impact on life on Earth, depleting the ozone layer and allowing deadly ultraviolet radiation to penetrate. The rate of these events is estimated to be about once per 100 million years, with potential effects on extinctions in the fossil record.
The European Space Agency (ESA) will collaborate with NASA on the Solar Orbiter mission, a spacecraft designed to study the powerful influence of the sun. The mission aims to understand how solar activity affects Earth's magnetic environment and potentially damaging satellites.
Researchers detected high-energy gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar system, which cannot be explained by current models. The observations exceed 100 billion electron volts, shedding new light on pulsars and their behavior.
Astronomers at the University of Michigan discovered ocean-like water in Comet Hartley 2, a finding that suggests comets may have delivered a significant portion of Earth's oceans. The discovery was made using data from the Herschel Space Observatory and suggests that the source of Earth's oceans is more complex than previously thought.
An interdisciplinary UNH team has been awarded a $5 million NSF grant to investigate the complex physical processes linking the dynamic Sun-Earth system. By analyzing polar ice cores for nitrate spikes, they aim to unravel the history of ancient solar activity and establish the range of extreme solar events.
A new study by NASA and international scientists detects temperature changes in Venus' upper atmosphere, contrary to the planet's harsh surface conditions. The findings suggest that atmospheric circulation patterns may be more complex than previously thought, with potential implications for understanding Earth's own atmospheric evolution.
A powerful X1.9-flare has been recorded from sunspot 1302, which is growing and showing no signs of quieting down. The flare could deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on September 26.
Scientists have discovered that atmospheric gases are mixed into the Earth's mantle during subduction, providing clues to the planet's birth and evolution. The study suggests a more complex history of gas dissolution than previously thought, contradicting the idea that most Earth gases were delivered by meteorites.
Astronomers at Yale University have discovered the first two potential exoplanets found by Planet Hunters users analyzing real scientific data from NASA's Kepler mission. The candidate planets orbit their host stars with periods ranging from 10 to 50 days and radii that range in size from two-and-a-half to eight times Earth's radius.
New studies suggest that Arctic sea ice loss is not irreversible, while radiation hazards for spacefarers and air travelers are likely to rise due to solar activity. Researchers also predict an increase in space weather radiation events over the next century.
Researchers at the University of Bristol analyzed ancient rock samples to determine the origin of Earth's precious metals. They found that the planet's accessible reserves of gold and other precious elements are the result of a catastrophic meteorite shower that hit the Earth after its core formation.