Articles tagged with Planet Earth
CU-Boulder is leading a $3.3 million concept study for a lander mission to Venus, aiming to study the planet's surface, climate, and atmosphere. The mission will compare Venus with other terrestrial planets and help understand Earth's fate.
Researchers found blue stragglers with different properties, indicating both collision-induced and vampirism-based formation. These findings provide direct evidence of star cluster dynamics on stellar evolution.
Researchers found evidence of fog at Titan's south pole, using Cassini data to isolate clouds and prove an active methane hydrological cycle. The discovery provides insight into Titan's atmosphere and its potential for liquid methane and ethane on the surface.
A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic captured vast curtains of aurora borealis colliding, producing explosive outbursts of light. Researchers believe these collisions reveal a common sequence of events connected to events in Earth's plasma tail.
Astronomers have discovered a 'super-Earth' orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. The planet, GJ1214b, is about 6.5 times as massive as the Earth and orbits its star once every 38 hours.
A new study finds that Earth's polar ice sheets are susceptible to significant melting under moderate global warming scenarios, potentially leading to a 6-9 meter sea level rise. This could result in permanent submersion of low-lying coastal areas and hundreds of millions of people being displaced.
Recent NASA missions suggest conditions necessary for life may exist on the icy satellites of Saturn and Jupiter, particularly Europa and Enceladus. Liquid water beneath their surfaces could harbor life, with tidal forces keeping oceans from freezing up due to eccentric orbits.
Scientists analyze data from NASA's Terra satellite to assess the health of Earth's ocean, land, and atmosphere, finding that droughts may have negative effects on ecosystems earlier than thought. The satellite also tracks natural hazards such as flooding, mudslides, and wildfires to help governments respond and mitigate consequences.
Researchers have discovered two new planetary systems with low-mass 'super-Earths' orbiting nearby sun-like stars. The planets are smaller than previously discovered worlds and may be habitable.
An international team of astronomers has discovered six low-mass planets, including two super-Earths, around two nearby Sun-like stars. The discovery indicates that low-mass planets are common and potentially habitable worlds may be found within a few years.
A team of researchers from the University of Manchester and University of Houston used advanced analytical techniques to test volcanic gases, revealing a clear meteorite signature that suggests the atmosphere came from outer space. The study's findings imply that ancient Earth's oceans also originated from extraterrestrial materials.
A trio of papers in Nature suggests a new method of predicting earthquakes, focusing on the stresses inside the Earth's crust. The forecasting model can estimate stress levels and provide an indirect measure of future quake sizes and locations.
Researchers suggest that the planet's oblong orbit exposes different areas of Titan to varying amounts of sunlight, affecting precipitation and evaporation cycles. This leads to an uneven distribution of lakes in the northern and southern polar regions.
A team of scientists argue that slowing global warming through REDD policies may not fully protect biodiversity. The researchers suggest that careless implementation could lead to the degradation of high-biodiversity areas instead.
Astronomers are using a record-breaking 35-telescope array to measure the sky with extreme precision. The project aims to create a stronger, more precise reference grid for celestial positions.
Researchers have found two Earth-sized bodies with oxygen-rich atmospheres, which are not planets but rather unusual white dwarf stars. The discovery was made using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and suggests that these stars may have descended from massive progenitor stars.
Researchers observed the onset and stagnation of 3D magnetic reconnection in a lab experiment. The study reveals unexpected features not considered in 2D models, including asymmetric reconnection fields and forces.
Researchers found ultra-primitive material with higher abundances of presolar grains, indicating a diverse processing of materials in different comets. This discovery allows for comparison of cosmic processes on a microscopic scale four-and-a-half billion years ago.
A new celestial map, ICRF2, provides precise location of the Earth's orientation for GPS navigation. The map uses observations of approximately 3,000 quasars and a network of radio telescopes to achieve high accuracy, with uncertainties as small as 40 microarcseconds.
Researchers at CU-Boulder are developing a precise laser ruler to measure tiny changes in infrared light caused by the gravitational wobble of small, cool stars as they interact with rocky planets. The technique will allow them to detect Earth-like planets around M stars, which are much more common than larger stars.
Scientists are using seismic noise to reconstruct the history of hurricanes in the North Atlantic, analyzing patterns produced during hurricanes and regular storms. Preliminary results suggest that hurricanes produce recognizable patterns, allowing researchers to potentially establish a link between global warming and hurricane frequen...
A new study suggests that some minerals beneath the Earth's surface could be of extraterrestrial origin. Researchers propose that a 'rain' of comets and meteorites may have deposited precious metals such as platinum and rhodium in the rock portion of the Earth, challenging internal geological processes.
Researchers propose a solution to the crucial problem of ensuring reliable radio communication between Mars and Earth during solar alignments. A pair of communication relay satellites in B-orbits equipped with electric ion propulsion can 'hover' over points leading and trailing Mars' orbit, providing full-time communications.
Research papers published in Geophysical Research Letters highlight a surge in Arctic ozone-destroying gas levels and the discovery of lunar subsurface features. Climate models are also being revised to account for ozone variations, improving our understanding of atmospheric interactions.
The article discusses the potential of sustainable Earthship design in reducing environmental impact. Researchers argue that these self-sufficient homes can provide long-term shelter and financial independence, but still rely on technological systems for resource production.
A NASA DC-8 aircraft will conduct six-week flights over West Antarctica to image the ice sheets and estimate future sea-level rises. The mission aims to understand the rapid Antarctic melting and its impact on global climate change.
Researchers created the first self-sustaining meander in a laboratory using alfalfa sprouts to represent vegetated stream banks. They found that vegetation on the outer bank is crucial for slowing down erosion and allowing bars to grow on the inner bank.
A new study finds that a 2005-2007 drought in the southeastern United States was not exceptional but rather part of a normal dry period, while population growth and poor planning are major contributors to water scarcity. The region's future droughts are uncertain and could strike at any time due to unpredictable weather patterns.
Scientists have found evidence of water on the moon's surface using a NASA instrument, which detects wavelengths of light reflecting off the lunar soil. The discovery suggests that water may originate from an astronomical phenomenon called the solar wind, forming trace amounts in the lunar soil.
The USGS is upgrading critical earthquake monitoring networks with new technology, providing emergency responders with more reliable data to save lives and reduce economic losses. The modernization project will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in regions prone to earthquakes.
Researchers propose setting upper limits on CO2 levels, species extinction rates, freshwater use, and other environmental factors to avoid irreversible changes. The proposed thresholds aim to ensure a stable future for humanity, with exceeding these boundaries potentially leading to catastrophic consequences.
Scientists have found that the number of sunspots provides an incomplete measure of changes in the Sun's impact on Earth over the course of the 11-year solar cycle. High-speed streams of wind from the Sun intensify the energy of Earth's outer radiation belt, posing hazards to satellites and space travelers.
Researchers at UCLA have found a surprise energy transfer mechanism from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere, which could improve spacecraft safety and reliability. This discovery contradicts long-held assumptions about the control of energy transfer rate.
New studies reveal dry years getting drier in Pacific Northwest, explore rainfall-humidity relationship, and analyze ancient solar cycles using radioactive tracers. These findings highlight the impact of climate change and solar activity on Earth's water cycle and atmosphere.
Astronomers have discovered the first close-up of a white dwarf star orbiting a companion star, set to explode into a supernova in a few million years. The white dwarf is unusual, with twice its expected mass and a diameter half that of Earth.
Researchers from the University of Georgia have identified a gaseous version of naphthalene, a component of mothballs, in deep-space clouds emitting unusual infrared light. The discovery provides insights into the composition of interstellar dust and its association with stellar lifecycles.
Global climate change has a significant impact on deep-sea microfossil communities, with different groups responding differently to extinction events. In the Fraser River delta, anthropogenic subsidence is increasing relative sea-level rise by a factor of 2-5 times due to man-made structures.
Researchers pinpointed Ridge A as the ideal location due to its extreme cold and dryness, averaging -70°C in winter, and minimal atmospheric turbulence, making it suitable for high-quality astronomical images.
Research reveals subtle links between solar cycles, stratospheres, and tropical Pacific Oceans, driving periodic weather patterns globally. The study predicts the intensity of climate phenomena like Indian monsoon and tropical Pacific rainfall years in advance.
Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology and University of Copenhagen found that Carbonyl Sulphide, produced by volcanic activity, kept the planet warm, offsetting the weak young sun's energy. This discovery explains how Earth avoided freezing solid and paved the way for life to emerge.
Using ambient noise correlation, University of Illinois researchers Xiaodong Song and Zhen J. Xu observed significant changes in the behavior of parts of Earth's crust affected by three major earthquakes. The technique allowed them to detect tiny changes in seismic velocity over large areas.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have created a laser technique that can help identify a rare isotope called 182Hf, which would prove that a supernova once exploded near our solar system. The technique uses negative ions and laser light to detach an extra electron from some elements while leaving others intact.
Researchers have found that slight shifts in solar radiation caused by Earth's rotation and axis are linked to the demise of ice ages. The study, published in Science, confirms a theory developed over 50 years ago and provides a more precise understanding of how ice sheets melt in response to radiative forcing mechanisms.
Scientists are presenting research on coupled biogeochemical cycles, which study the interactions between Earth's biology, chemistry, and geology. The study highlights the importance of understanding these interconnected processes in addressing human impacts such as global warming and acid rain.
New University of Washington research suggests comets unlikely cause mass extinctions, contradicting long-held belief. The study shows that Jupiter and Saturn's gravitational fields protect Earth from most comets, limiting potential impact.
Numerical simulations show that comet-like objects in a disk outside the solar system were scattered into the outer asteroid belt during a violent phase of planetary evolution. The models suggest that dramatic upheaval occurred in the solar system around 3.9 billion years ago, affecting nearly every nook and cranny.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will undergo final testing before its anticipated November launch. The mission aims to study the sun in unprecedented detail and its effects on Earth, collecting 1.5 terabytes of data daily.
The development of genome annotation standards is crucial for advancing microbial genomics, but a lack of standards hinders comparisons and discoveries. Kyrpides suggests several innovative approaches to ease the data processing bottleneck, including proxy approaches and pan-genome representations.
Researchers at Arizona State University suggest early greening of the planet by primitive ground huggers led to complex life on Earth. This event, around 700 million years ago, allowed for soil sequestration of carbon and increase in oxygen levels, paving the way for higher life forms.
Astronomers have discovered two giant supernovae 11 billion years ago, providing unprecedented insights into the early universe. The discovery was made using a new technique that allows for the detection of distant dying stars.
Climate model simulations suggest the Toba supervolcano's eruption caused a decade of severe volcanic winters, with devastating consequences for humanity and ecosystems. The study also analyzed fault movement during the Wenchuan earthquake, finding that simultaneous ruptures of two faults contributed to the disaster. Additionally, scie...
The LROC camera system has taken its first images of the Moon, revealing detailed topography and subtle features. The instrument is performing exceptionally well, with a resolution of approximately 1.4-meters/pixel, and will soon begin mapping the lunar surface at 50-cm/pixel.
The Deepsea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU has begun riser-drilling operations in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone, targeting a depth of 1,600 meters. This marks a significant milestone in ocean drilling, as CHIKYU becomes the first vessel capable of drilling deep beneath the ocean floor and in seismogenic zones.
A new computer model reveals striking detail about sunspots, including their structure and dynamics. The simulations capture convective flow and energy movement that underlie sunspots, enabling scientists to better understand their role in solar output and climate patterns.
Researchers reconstructed CO2 levels over the past 2.1 million years, revealing that today's levels are 38% higher than the highest recorded levels in history. The study confirms that warmer intervals coincided with higher carbon dioxide levels, shedding new light on the earth's cycles of cooling and warming.
Astronomers use ESA's XMM-Newton and Integral space observatories to study a magnetar outburst from the rare 'dead' star SGR 0501+4516. The outburst lasted over four months and released hundreds of smaller bursts, providing valuable insights into extreme matter conditions.
New research using meteorite grains reveals that the material incorporated into Earth's planets and life has younger cosmic roots than previously thought. The study found that most of these grains spent less time in interstellar space than estimated, with some as young as 3 million years old.
A team of international scientists captured a snapshot of Earth's chemical signature using a lunar eclipse, providing crucial information for identifying potentially habitable planets. The observation, published in Nature magazine, offers a unique opportunity to study planetary atmospheres and compositions.
Astronomers at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's William Herschel Telescope have confirmed an effective way to search the atmospheres of planets for signs of life. This method uses transmission spectra, which can reveal vital information about a planet's atmosphere, providing clues about potential biological processes.
Scientists at the University of Leeds and NASA have developed a new cleaning protocol to ensure that Earth-based microorganisms don't contaminate Mars samples. The protocol was tested on various sampling devices, including rover scoops and glacial ice core drills, and found to effectively remove detectable organic biosignatures.