Articles tagged with Planet Earth
New data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows that radiation from some solar flares can continue for up to five hours beyond the initial minutes. The total energy from this extended phase sometimes has more energy than the initial event, increasing our understanding of flare physics and its impact on Earth's atmosphere.
A recent study reveals that humans are the primary agents of exotic earthworm dispersal in North America's forests. Non-native species can accelerate organic material breakdown, reducing habitat for animals and increasing soil erosion.
The September issue of GSA Today focuses on the Upper Midwest's geology, introducing the Mid-Continent Rift System and its evolution. The articles also emphasize the role of geologists in sustainable resource use and long-term resilience.
A team of scientists will explore the deep carbon cycle to uncover information about carbon hundreds of miles below Earth's surface. They aim to convert carbon dioxide into a rock-like material and potentially discover new materials with industrial applications.
Researchers analyze asteroid dust brought back by Hayabusa spacecraft, confirming stony asteroids are birthplace of most meteorites. The discovery sheds light on the history of early solar system events and provides a new understanding of the origin of ordinary chondrites.
Two studies reveal that the star was torn apart by intense tides as it approached the black hole, creating an unprecedented outburst of energy. The outburst produced X-rays and radio emissions that pointed straight at Earth, offering insights into relativistic beaming.
New images show the solar wind's dynamic interactions, including piling up at the leading edge of a CME, voids in the interior, long thread-like structures, and V-shaped structures centered on the current sheet. These findings are changing the way scientists think about space weather.
A new study using lead and neodymium isotopes in lunar rocks indicates the moon is approximately 4.36 billion years old, challenging the long-held estimate of 4.5 billion years old. This finding also has implications for the age of Earth, suggesting it may be younger than previously believed.
Researchers used a global circulation model to demonstrate how atmospheric waves affect Titan's weather patterns, leading to sharp and surprising cloud shapes. The study reveals that these waves can cause intense precipitation, shaping Titan's surface through erosion.
The study shows that the fault involved in the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake was simple on the surface but complicated at depth. Researchers used a combination of GPS data, remote sensing techniques, and seismological data to produce an extremely well-resolved model of the earthquake.
X-class flares are the largest explosions in the solar system, producing as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs. These powerful events can cause long-lasting radiation storms that harm satellites, communications systems, and ground-based technologies.
Scientists have discovered nucleobases, building blocks of genetic material, in meteorites that suggest an extraterrestrial origin. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that certain meteorites brought these compounds to Earth, providing a possible source for life.
A new study suggests that a collision between the moon and a smaller companion moon could have formed the lunar farside highlands. The model proposes that the impact did not form a crater, but instead piled material onto one side, creating a mountainous region.
A Kansas State University physicist led a team gathering precise measurements of the Earth's radioactivity, revealing that radioactive decay is responsible for about half of the planet's heat. The study provides insight into the Earth's interior and helps geologists understand models for plate movement, magnetic fields, and volcanoes.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 mineral inclusions in diamonds to determine when the Wilson cycle of plate tectonics began. The study found that continents started breaking apart and colliding around three billion years ago, leading to the growth of the Earth's continental crust and the distribution of ores and materials.
A small volcanic province has been discovered on the Moon's far side, revealing clues to its thermal history. The province was created by upwelling of silicic magma and challenges current ideas about the Moon's volcanic history.
Researchers recreate pyrite, dubbed fool's gold, to study geological events and gain insight into the Great Oxygenation Event. Bacteria's influence on early composition of pyrite is disputed, providing a clearer picture of the process.
Researchers analyzed data from over 4,000 mineral inclusions in diamonds to determine that the Wilson cycle of plate tectonics began around 3 billion years ago. This marks the start of the process that shaped the Earth's continental crust and led to mountain building and ocean basin closures.
Landsat satellites have been monitoring the Missouri River for extended periods, showing heavy rains and snowmelt causing prolonged flooding. The USGS WaterWatch website provides real-time streamflow data, highlighting the devastating impact of the flood on the region.
The University of Tennessee is part of a $800 million NASA mission to collect samples from asteroid 1999 RQ36, which may hold clues to the origin of life. The mission aims to investigate organic molecules and water on the asteroid, potentially hazardous to Earth.
Scientists at Georgia Tech analyzed data from the March 11 Japan earthquake, finding that subsurface materials were weakened by as much as 70%, affecting how faults deliver movement to buildings and bridges. The study could improve building design and help predict effects of rare and extremely powerful events.
The decline of large predators and herbivores worldwide is causing substantial changes to ecosystems, leading to increased disease transmission and invasive species. This 'trophic downgrading' also affects soil, water, vegetation, and the atmosphere.
Researchers use old mathematical techniques and insights on CMEs to devise a fresh way to measure magnetic fields in the sun's upper atmosphere. By spotting a diffuse ring around a CME, they can determine the strength of the magnetic field using Alfvén speed.
Two NASA probes, part of the THEMIS mission, will map the lunar surface and its magnetic field. The ARTEMIS mission aims to acquire a full 3D view of the moon's magnetic fields and surrounding environment.
Researchers developed new Coulomb failure criteria for reservoirs and fault slips, taking into account viscous stress and Reynolds stress. The study used flow-driven pore-network crack model and hybrid hypersingular integral equation-lattice Boltzmann method to analyze the Zipingpu reservoir and Longmenshan slip.
Scripps researchers identify a new force driving Earth's massive tectonic plates, finding that plumes of hot magma from the deep interior play a crucial role in shaping the planet. This 'plume-push' mechanism has been linked to significant geological events, including the formation of volcanoes and the movement of continents.
Flood warnings remain in effect along the Iowa/Nebraska border as Missouri River waters continue to rise near Omaha. NASA's Landsat 5 satellite captured an image of the affected area, showing the Interstate cut off by floodwaters just south of Missouri Valley, Iowa.
The Sun weighs 333,000 Earths and sustains a core temperature of 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. Berman explores the Sun's impact on climate change, human behavior, and our daily lives.
The Genesis mission analysis shows differences in oxygen and nitrogen isotopes between the sun and rocky inner planets, including Earth. These findings suggest that the solar system's formation was more complex than previously thought.
The study found that rocky planets, including Earth, are enriched in 17O and 18O by about 6% relative to 16O. This supports the 'isotopic self-shielding' mechanism, where photolysis of carbon monoxide liberates oxygen atoms that are sequestered into water molecules.
Heavy rains in Canada caused historic flooding in Minot, N.D., with over 4,000 homes and businesses affected. The Souris River reached nearly four feet higher than its all-time high set in 1881.
The Genesis mission has provided the first oxygen and nitrogen isotopic measurements of the Sun, showing significant differences from those on Earth. These results suggest that the solar system was formed through a complex process, with different astrophysical mechanisms contributing to the composition of space dust.
Scientists have developed new ultrasound tools that can be used in space and remote areas, allowing non-physician astronauts to perform diagnostic exams. The tools include a catalog of 'space-normal' imagery of the human body, enabling astronauts to provide care without consulting a physician on Earth.
The Wallow North and Horseshoe 2 fires in eastern Arizona have burned over 487,016 acres, with the Landsat 5 satellite capturing images of the blazes. The satellite's false-colored imagery helps emergency managers plan containment strategies.
Astronomers discovered a massive black hole in a distant galaxy that ripped apart a star, creating a powerful beam of energy that crossed 3.8 billion light years to Earth. The extreme brightness of this event was due to the small fraction of the sky illuminated by the jet of light towards the Milky Way.
Researchers at George Mason University have discovered a phenomenon called magnetic ropes, which are believed to trigger solar storms. These rope-like structures heat up to extreme temperatures and can produce a strong electric current that powers the eruption.
A team of scientists found that solar minimums lead to geomagnetic effects on Earth due to the speed of the solar wind, interplanetary magnetic field strength, and coronal hole placement. Coronal holes caused a decrease in solar wind speed and southward magnetic components, resulting in lower geomagnetic effects.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will observe the total lunar eclipse on June 15, capturing detailed images and data on how different areas of the moon's day side cool off during the event. The Diviner instrument will record temperature changes in various regions, revealing information about the uppermost few millimeters of th...
The CoGeNT experiment has detected a seasonal signal variation in its data, consistent with the predictions of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The team is cautious, as the signal could be due to random fluctuations or experimental errors.
A UCF scientist is part of a historic mission to retrieve the first-ever sample from an asteroid in orbit. The team will navigate unusual gravity fields and rotate quickly to land on the asteroid, collecting pristine space rock for insights into Earth's origins.
A new study published in Nature reveals that Mars developed in just two to four million years after the solar system's formation, significantly faster than Earth. This rapid formation helps explain why Mars is so small compared to our planet.
The OSIRIS-REx mission will explore the asteroid 1999 RQ36 for over a year, collecting pristine organic material that may have seeded life on Earth. The returned samples will provide geologic context essential to expanding our understanding of the solar system and likely organic molecules.
The OSIRIS-REx mission aims to study the asteroid 1999 RQ36, a primitive near-Earth object that contains original material from the solar nebula. The mission will return samples to Earth in 2023, providing insights into the solar system's formation and potential biosignatures.
The study reveals the spatial compactness of the event, with a 250-kilometer-long fault experiencing significant slip, and high- and low-frequency seismic waves coming from different areas of the fault. This information will help scientists improve infrastructure and prevent loss of life through better application of seismological data.
A new study claims that species extinction rates have been overreported by as much as 160%, using widely used methods. However, the global extinction crisis is still very real, according to researchers. The study's findings suggest that habitat loss is not as dire as previously thought, but conservation efforts are still necessary.
Astronomers at UC Berkeley are using the Green Bank radio telescope to search for signals from advanced civilizations on 86 Earth-like planets identified by Kepler. The team aims to detect signals that could be indicative of life, scanning a range of frequencies including the water hole, a canonical place to look for intentional signals.
A new analysis of NASA's Galileo data confirms the existence of a molten magma layer on Jupiter's moon Io, explaining its intense volcanic activity and shedding light on the Earth and moon's formation. The 'ocean' of magma is estimated to be 30 miles thick and features blistering temperatures of over 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists at Indiana University will study methane production in Arctic environments to help NASA detect carbon-based life on Mars and other celestial bodies. The three-year project aims to understand the conditions that support life on Earth and how they compare to those found elsewhere in the solar system.
The new EarthScope National Office at ASU aims to explore and discover the 4-D structure and evolution of the North American continent. The program deploys thousands of seismic instruments across the US, providing unprecedented data on Earth's dynamics.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used GPS data to find that a section of the eastern Andes is locked in place, allowing stress to build up and potentially leading to large earthquakes. The study suggests that earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.9 are possible in the region.
Astronomers discover densest solid planet 55 Cancri e, with a diameter 60% larger than Earth, orbiting its star every 17 hours. The planet's immense density makes it unlikely to have an atmosphere at surface temperatures of up to 2,700 degrees Celsius.
Researchers used interferometry to take close-up pictures of the winter star Regulus, finding that the actual temperature difference between its equator and poles is much less than previously thought. The study's findings challenge a century-old theory, highlighting the importance of accurate measurements in astronomy.
Solar activity has increased significantly after a three-year period of minimal sunspot activity, signaling the start of Solar Cycle 24. The longest recorded period of inactivity began in 2008 and lasted until this year.
Pharmaceuticals flown on space missions may have shorter shelf-life due to radiation and vibration, according to a NASA study. The researchers found that exposure to chronic low-dose ionizing radiation and repackaging of solid medications can compromise stability.
Researchers used GPS satellite systems to measure tide-induced displacements and estimate density and elastic moduli, revealing an abnormal low-density asthenosphere under the western United States and eastern Pacific Ocean. The study provides new directions for understanding Earth's chemical and mechanical dynamics.
Researchers studied freshwater fish fossils to understand the Neogene water cycle in Central Africa. A study proposed that Nuna was Earth's first supercontinent. Ancient cave systems near the Allgau Mountains preserved the oldest radiometrically dated dripstones known in the European Alps.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of two white dwarfs orbiting each other every 39 minutes. The stars are expected to collide and merge in 37 million years, resulting in the formation of a single star. This discovery marks the first time such an event has been observed.
Researchers found that those who think it's warmer than usual are more likely to believe in and feel concern about global warming. The study suggests that weather may have influenced recent declining faith in climate science, but the results may vary depending on the poll.
New research reveals striking similarities between ancient and modern oceanic crust, shedding light on early Earth's heat loss and tectonic settings. The study extends the record of oceanic crust generation back to at least 3.8 billion years ago.
Scientists suggest that bombardments of micro-meteorites on Earth and Mars four billion years ago led to catastrophic cooling effects, making it hard for early life to thrive. The influx of sulphur dioxide into the atmospheres of both planets could have plunged them into an Arctic winter, lasting millions of years.