Articles tagged with Planet Earth
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.
A UT Knoxville-led research project is exploring the East Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) to better understand seismic activity and its impact on future earthquakes. The study aims to provide new information on past quakes and inform the planning of new large engineered structures.
A recent study of 17 astronauts found that more than three-quarters had no connection between space motion sickness and their headaches, leading researchers to call for a new secondary disorder classification. The study discovered that space headache is a common and often isolated disabling complaint during space flight.
A study suggests that large meteorite bombardments approximately four billion years ago could have helped to make the early Earth and Mars more habitable for life by releasing water and carbon dioxide into their atmospheres. This process may have created a warmer and wetter environment that was conducive to the emergence of life.
Magnetic blast waves can pinpoint and predict the location where space storms dissipate energy, which is equivalent to 50 gigawatts of power or 10 large power stations. The eye of the storm is located in space beyond low-Earth orbits, providing advance warning of arrival.
A rare radio supernova has been detected in the nearby galaxy M82, providing valuable opportunities for studying star formation and supernovas. The discovery was made using the Allen Telescope Array, which will also search for intelligent life signals around other stars.
Astronomers have devised a technique to identify liquid water on exoplanets similar to Earth, which could indicate potential for life. The method uses observations of light intensity from Earth in visible light bands, revealing dominant colors that suggest land masses and oceans.
A NASA/University team developed a method to indicate the presence of oceans on extrasolar Earth-like worlds by analyzing how Earth's light changes as it rotates. The technique relies on observing blue color changes caused by oceans, which appear bluer than continents.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study suggests that an asteroid attack nearly 4 billion years ago may not have extinguished potential early life on Earth, but instead gave it a boost. The research indicates that microbes could have survived in subsurface habitats and flourished during the Late Heavy Bombardment.
The Herschel Space Observatory, launched by the European Space Agency, hosts a 3.5 meter diameter telescope and observes conditions in galaxy mergers and planetary system formation. NRL scientists will study these phenomena using the observatory's instruments.
Scientists using NASA's THEMIS spacecraft have discovered the connection between 'singing' chorus waves and the generation of hiss, which helps clear killer electrons from Earth's radiation belts. The new research confirms that chorus waves can be refracted into the inner portion of the radiation belts by dense plasma near Earth.
Researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have created an 'astro-comb' to help detect lighter planets around distant stars. The technique sharpens spectroscopy, enabling more accurate pinpointing of planet locations and opening possibilities for detecting more Earth-like planets.
Researchers constructed a nearly complete globe of Mercury using high-resolution and multispectral images, revealing its composition and origin. The study suggests that Mercury's crust formed in repeated volcanic eruptions, unlike the Moon.
Researchers found that comets delivered necessary ingredients for life in the Earth's ancient primordial soup. The chemical composition of comets allowed them to kickstart life by providing stable proportions of noble gases.
The BSSA special issue on rotational seismology discusses research on rotational ground motions, including theory, instrumentation, observation, and interpretation. Rotational effects from earthquakes have been observed for centuries, but were ignored due to practical difficulties in measuring them.
The NRL's SoloHI instrument will provide revolutionary measurements to pinpoint solar storms, offering a pristine view of the solar wind plasma. The Solar Orbiter mission aims to understand how the sun varies and its impact on planetary systems.
A team of scientists exposed a bacterium to Martian conditions, finding it couldn't survive the UV levels. Another study showed bacteria could survive with protection from the surface dust layer. These findings provide baseline studies for planetary exploration.
A new study from the Niels Bohr Institute suggests that changes in CO2 levels can suddenly reach a critical threshold, triggering dramatic climate shifts. The Earth's climate is controlled by three cycles: orbital eccentricity, axial tilt, and rotation, which influence solar radiation.
A North Carolina State University researcher has developed a method to deflect asteroids by attaching a long tether and ballast to the incoming object, changing its center of mass and orbit. This system shows promise in altering the motion of an asteroid to miss hitting Earth.
Scientists can now study coronal mass ejections in 3D, predicting their impact on Earth. This capability will improve forecasts for space weather disturbances and aurora displays.
Scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and University of Oxford have analyzed data to identify details of the major plate boundary event that destroyed 90% of Pisco, Peru. The study reveals maximum intensity and damage occur few tens of kilometers south of the epicenter.
Stereo will use a wide-field-of-view telescope to search for asteroids orbiting the region, which could be leftovers from a Mars-sized planet that formed billions of years ago. The mission aims to provide three-dimensional views of space weather and study its effects on Earth.
The 2007 Solomon Island earthquake highlighted an increased tsunami risk caused by the unusual tectonic plate geography and rapid change in direction. The event showed a localized increase in tsunami heights, potentially creating near-trench islands.
The NIH-NASA partnership aims to facilitate biomedical research on the International Space Station, addressing pressing health questions through unique microgravity conditions. Biomedical experiments will focus on bone and muscle deterioration, infectious disease, cancer growth, and more, with the goal of improving human health on Earth.
A three-year study shows that the reflection of light from the Earth's oceans and continents can be seen on the dark side of the moon, known as earthshine. The brightness varies with the Earth's rotation, highlighting the difference between intense ocean reflections and dimmer land reflections.
Scientists have re-examined Hawaii's formation, finding the Pacific oceanic plate moved under a drifting hotspot, creating a 50 million-year-old bend in the seamount chain. Mantel circulation models aid understanding of forces on tectonic plates and stress estimation for major earthquakes.
A space experiment has shown that bone-destroying cells sense the absence of mechanical resistance and react by destroying bone. This discovery helps explain why bedridden patients and astronauts experience bone loss, providing a potential new drug target for stopping the process.
UK astronomers successfully observed the asteroid 2008 TC3 using the William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, collecting data that helped predict its impact and study its rare F-class composition. The results demonstrate the importance of asteroid research in mitigating potential impacts.
Researchers successfully identified an asteroid in space before it entered Earth's atmosphere, predicting its area of origin and arrival time. The event tested the society's response to a predicted impact, showcasing the ability to quickly evacuate danger zones and take cover.
The Field Museum has received a gift of over $10 million and more than 1,700 meteorite specimens from the Planetary Studies Foundation, establishing the world's largest nongovernment meteorite collection. The collection will be housed in the new Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies.
Astronomers are getting closer to finding an Earth-sized planet in an Earth-like orbit, but detecting its atmosphere will require hundreds of transits and advanced telescopes like JWST. Red dwarf stars offer the best possibility of detecting biomarkers in a transiting Earth's atmosphere.
The Solar Orbiter mission will explore the Sun's plasma properties and composition using the SPICE instrument, advancing our knowledge of the Sun's dynamics. The data will help understand the effects on Earth and the solar system.
Scientists have discovered more support for the idea that amino acids created in space contributed to the origin of left-handed based protein life on Earth. The research found a pattern of excess left-handed isovaline in meteorites, which suggests that water played a role in its creation.
The GOCE satellite will study global ocean currents, ocean topography, and the structure of the Earth's crust with unprecedented precision. The satellite's high-resolution gravity mapping will enhance our understanding of climate change.
A new study from Purdue and Northwestern universities suggests the New Madrid fault system is less active than expected, with reduced surface movement indicating a possible shutdown. The team analyzed GPS data for eight years, finding the ground surrounding the fault system is moving at a rate of less than 0.2 millimeters per year.
A team of scientists suggests that shifting winds in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica may have triggered a rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels at the end of the last ice age. This mechanism could amplify manmade warming and has been supported by sediment core analysis, but other climate models disagree.
A new NOAA study warns that injecting particles into the stratosphere could inadvertently decrease peak electricity generated by large solar power plants. This is due to the reduction of direct sunlight, which is crucial for these systems to function efficiently.
Scientists have mapped large rock formations in the United States that can absorb CO2, potentially increasing carbon sequestration at a faster pace. The ultramafic rocks contain minerals that react naturally with carbon dioxide to form solid minerals, offering a new technology to store heat-trapping carbon dioxide.
Researchers used computer modeling to reconstruct a 1100km subducted tectonic plate and found a connection between New Caledonia and northern New Zealand. The discovery provides evidence of a geographical link between the two islands at that time, shedding light on evolution in the region.
Mudslides caused by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake may release significant amounts of greenhouse gas, including carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, into the atmosphere. The study found that the ecosystem impacts of these mudslides could be equivalent to twice the loss of nitrogen from California ecosystems due to wildfires.
The American Institute of Physics has announced the winners of its 2008 Science Writing Awards, honoring four individuals who have improved the public's understanding of physics and related sciences through their creative endeavors. The award recipients include two scientists, a journalist, and a children's book author.
Comet Lulin is releasing a great amount of gas, making it an ideal target for X-ray observations. Swift's UVOT detects hydroxyl molecules, revealing a cloud spanning nearly 250,000 miles, while the XRT sees X-rays from the comet's atomic cloud.
A team of CU-Boulder students and professionals will operate the Kepler spacecraft from launch, monitoring onboard systems and uploading commands twice a week. The mission aims to identify small, rocky planets in habitable zones, fueling growing excitement among space scientists.
The new ultrasound technology, SCAN, uses non-invasive imaging to assess bone quality and predict fracture risk. It also assists in healing fractures by stimulating bone regeneration, making it a cost-effective and accessible tool for healthcare providers.
Deep-sea drilling reveals extensive rock deformation and concentrated slip zones in shallow regions, contradicting long-held assumptions. The discovery sheds light on the complex mechanics of faulting and tsunamis, highlighting the megasplay fault as a key contributor to largest tsunami-generating plate slips.
Paul Davies, a renowned cosmologist, questions the conventional notion that there's only one form of life on Earth. He suggests that life might exist in unexpected places, such as extreme environments, and could be undetected due to our limited detection methods.
Renowned biologist Ursula Goodenough explores the connection between science, ethics, and a culture of sustainability. Her work proposes an 'ecomorality,' prioritizing stewardship of the environment, in response to humanity's impact on the planet.
Researchers have found hundreds of new planets beyond our solar system, with evidence for all three classes of planets detected in extra-solar systems. Carnegie Institution scientists predict that many planets will be habitable, potentially inhabited by life.
Scientists will discuss new techniques to understand planetary formation, habitability, and potential for life. Experts will share insights on the probability of finding Earth-like planets within a few dozen light years of the sun.
A study published in PLOS Genetics has found that the genetic adaptation rgy plays a crucial role in allowing the deep-sea bacterium Nautilia profundicola to survive rapid temperature fluctuations. The bacteria's genome also revealed genes necessary for growth and sensing environmental conditions.
The European team discovered the smallest transiting extrasolar planet, CoRoT-Exo-7b, orbiting a star slightly smaller than the Sun. The planet's radius is about twice that of Earth and orbits its host star in just 20 hours.
Scientists have observed a spectacular heating of the planet HD8606b, where global warming reached 1,500 degrees Kelvin in just six hours. The planet's extremely eccentric orbit and proximity to its star led to this extreme temperature increase, providing valuable insights into its atmospheric properties.
Researchers are building additional radar units to monitor global space weather and its impact on human life. The new radars will join three existing mid-latitude radars for a continuous chain of coverage from Europe to eastern Asia.
Wallace Broecker, a renowned geochemist, receives the Frontiers of Knowledge Award for his pioneering work on ocean-atmosphere interactions and early warnings about climate change. He will donate the $527,000 prize to support research on climate change.
McGill researchers shed light on Earth's beginnings with the discovery of its oldest rocks, found to be 4.28 billion years old. Additionally, scientists from McGill and the MUHC have made significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment and tumour communication, offering new avenues for research and potential treatments.
Researchers discovered that Martian winds create pits and hills, causing small rocks to roll forward into the wind. The process is repeated, forming regular patterns, with clusters of rocks adapting by shielding the middle or outer rocks from the wind.
Two newly discovered meteorites from Antarctica have feldspar-rich rock called andesite, similar to those found on Earth. The rocks' age and chemical signature suggest they formed on an undifferentiated asteroid with a diameter over 100 kilometers, providing insights into the early stages of planetary formation.
Climate researchers show that large volcanic eruptions temporarily cooled the tropics over the past 450 years. However, recent eruptions may have been overridden by rising temperatures. The study found that higher latitudes are more sensitive to volcanism and are vulnerable to temperature shifts.