Articles tagged with Planet Earth
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will precisely map the moon's gravitational pull, revealing differences in density of the moon's crust and mantle. The detailed information gained will facilitate future manned or unmanned missions to land on the moon.
Dartmouth College researcher Robyn Millan will lead a NASA project launching over 40 high-altitude balloons from Antarctica to study the Earth's Van Allen Belts. The balloons will carry instrumentation to better understand how the belts release radiation into near-Earth space, which can be hazardous to astronauts and satellites.
Researchers have successfully drilled four boreholes into the ocean floor near a major earthquake fault zone in Japan. The team collected geophysical information about the rock layers while drilling, revealing unexpected differences in physical stress conditions between active and inactive parts of the plate boundary.
New research reveals that certain areas of the moon are protected by the magnetosphere, reducing radiation exposure for astronauts. The study also highlights the need to consider energetic oxygen particles generated during solar storms.
NASA researchers present groundbreaking discoveries on polar mesospheric clouds, Voyager 2's solar system boundary, Mars rovers' water evidence, and Northern Lights dynamics.
The SECCHI team has obtained images of large waves of solar material sweeping past Earth, confirming the existence of previously known point measurements. The waves are associated with high-density regions that rotate with the Sun and are believed to form as high-speed wind from coronal holes runs into low-speed wind.
The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) spacecraft has successfully completed two environmental tests and is now undergoing thermal and vacuum testing at the Naval Research Laboratory. The satellite will study extreme universe phenomena, including black holes and gamma-ray bursts.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have published two articles in Nature on their findings about the atmosphere, climate and weather patterns of Venus. The studies revealed the presence of a double vortex at the South Pole, which is similar to those found on Earth's polar regions.
The NASA SORCE mission is tracking regional variations in the sun's warming impact on Earth, with possible implications for global climate patterns. The study found that while the sun's brightness affects Earth's temperature modestly, regional temperature changes can vary by a factor of eight.
Scientists have established a correlation between high-energy cosmic rays and distant active galactic nuclei (AGNs), suggesting massive black holes in the center of galaxies as a possible source. The Pierre Auger Observatory detected 28 cosmic rays with energies greater than 60 EeV, most of which originated from locations near known AGNs.
A team of scientists has identified astrophysical objects with charged particles reaching Earth at high energies. The Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina recorded the particles, which carry as much energy as a bullet or a tennis ball off Roger Federer's racket.
The Pierre Auger Observatory has found that the sources of the highest-energy cosmic rays are linked to nearby galaxies with active nuclei in their centers. This discovery provides new insights into the origin and acceleration of these particles.
Researchers have found a significant correlation between high-energy cosmic rays and the cores of nearby galaxies, which emit prodigious quantities of energy. The Auger collaboration has traced the source of these cosmic rays to Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), likely powered by supermassive black holes.
The discovery of a fifth planet around 55 Cancri is significant due to its habitable zone, where water could exist as a liquid. The planet's size and orbit suggest it may be rocky, with a potential for life.
Seismologists have recast their understanding of the Earth's inner workings, depicting it as a dynamic and chemically diverse living organism. New research shows that Earth's upper mantle exhibits chemical heterogeneity beyond just temperature and pressure.
A team of astronomers at UC Berkeley reports a nearly global cloud cover and morning drizzle of methane over Titan's western foothills. The drizzle may be caused by processes similar to those on Earth, with moisture-laden clouds pushed upslope by winds condensing to form a coastal rain.
Astronomers have found persistent morning drizzle of methane over the western foothills of Titan's major continent, Xanadu. The discovery suggests that moisture-laden clouds pushed upslope by winds condense to form a coastal rain, with the drizzle dissipating after local mid-morning.
Scientists have discovered a huge belt of warm dust swirling around the distant star, which is just slightly more massive than our sun. The conditions are suitable for forming rocky planets, and the material mix is reminiscent of lava flows on Earth.
Scientists at NRL capture first images of a comet colliding with a solar hurricane, revealing the detachment of the comet's tail due to coronal mass ejection. The event is triggered by magnetic reconnection, releasing energy and detaching the plasma tail.
University of Missouri-Columbia researchers are awarded $2.16 million to investigate the cause of intraplate earthquakes in North China and the New Madrid area. The multi-institutional study aims to improve understanding of these rare and destructive earthquakes.
University of Missouri-Columbia researcher Rainer Glaser presents a novel origin-of-life theory suggesting that essential molecule adenine originated from interstellar dust clouds. The presence of highly concentrated hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in these clouds could indicate the existence of adenine, which is crucial for life on Earth.
Scientists at the University of Chicago have found that Titan's climate is analogous to Earth's tropics, with methane clouds and a tropical weather system. The moon's slow rotation rate and atmosphere produce an updraft that lifts evaporated methane into clouds, similar to Earth's ITCZ.
Two teams of scientists found evidence of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago, 100 million years before the Great Oxidation Event, which marked the rise of animal life. This discovery suggests that the evolution of life on Earth was more complex and occurred earlier than previously believed.
A team of scientists from MIT, NASA, and Carnegie Institution created models for 14 different types of solid planets that might exist in our galaxy. The models predict a planet's diameter for a given composition and mass, revealing surprising similarities in how gravity compresses planets of varying materials.
Researchers discovered that material in the lower mantle behaves differently than predicted by models, indicating a continuous spin-transition zone from 620 to 1,365 miles deep. This finding calls into question traditional techniques for modeling this region of the planet and may explain some experimental findings.
Argon atoms are found to be tenaciously bound in the Earth's mantle and move slowly, contradicting widely held theories. This suggests that early degassing was incomplete and primordial gases still remain trapped at great depth.
Researchers found a planet orbiting a star near its end of life, providing insights into the potential fate of our own planet. The discovery suggests that planetary systems can survive the sun's expansion and helium flash, but larger planets may still be vulnerable.
Scientists have found a third type of substorm onset using data from ESA's Cluster satellites and CNSA's Double Star mission. This discovery challenges existing theories about magnetic substorms and their effects on the aurora and GPS signals.
The Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) will measure the sun's ultraviolet radiation changes, causing outages in radio communications and affecting satellites. EVE will provide space weather forecasters with warnings of potential communications and navigation outages every ten seconds.
Researchers have observed elusive oscillations in the Sun's corona, known as Alfvén waves, that transport energy outward from the surface of the Sun. These discoveries can help unlock secrets of the corona's heat and solar storms, and improve our understanding of how the Sun affects Earth.
Astronomers have discovered five Earth-oceans' worth of water falling onto a protoplanetary disk around an extremely young star, IRAS 4B. The 'disk-accretion shock' mechanism is responsible for the formation of planetary systems, and this finding provides valuable insights into the early stages of our solar system's life.
New findings from comet probes confirm the existence of organic molecules and clay particles that could have formed early life. The Cardiff University team argues that comets' liquid interiors provide a suitable environment for life's emergence.
The Phoenix Mars Lander Mission aims to study the history of water and search for complex organic molecules in Martian soil. The team, led by Kounaves, will analyze the chemical record left in the soil to decipher the climatic history of Mars, which may hold vital clues on climate change on Earth.
The discovery of a planet orbiting a giant red star provides insight into the potential fate of our solar system as it evolves into a red-giant star. The planet, located 300 light years from Earth, circles its star every 360 days and offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study the effects of red-giant stars on planetary systems.
Scientists have gained new insights into killer electrons, which can damage satellites and pose a hazard to astronauts. The unique data collected during a geomagnetic storm revealed the mechanism behind their creation, with solar wind particles inducing undulations in Earth's magnetosphere.
Researchers at UCL have detected water vapor in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet, HD 189733b. The discovery was made using NASA's Spitzer telescope and confirms that water might be more common than previously thought outside our Solar System.
Research reveals a 20-year reversal in water mass trends in the subtropical North Atlantic, with upper waters warming and intermediate waters cooling. This finding suggests complex mechanisms drive oceanic responses to global warming.
A team of scientists led by Sébastien Merkel found that post-perovskite, a high-pressure silicate mineral, doesn't fit what is known about the mysterious layer D
Researchers used magnetic eruptions from the sun to detect a molten rock layer roughly 10 miles thick beneath the American Southwest, challenging existing theories about the Earth's mantle. The discovery provides insights into the formation of rocks and minerals at extreme pressures, paving the way for further studies.
Recent findings indicate a trend of increasing water content in the atmospheres of planets, from Jupiter (depleted) to Uranus and Neptune (water-rich). Computer models provide insights into planetary atmospheric chemistry, predicting the composition of Earth-like planets in other solar systems.
Researchers are studying various biosignatures to infer the composition of extrasolar planet atmospheres. They explore theories about what other worlds might be like, including different types of pigments for photosynthesis. One key clue is disequilibrium, where simultaneous presence of contradictory substances could indicate life.
A team of Canadian and U.S. researchers have found evidence that ragged features on Mars' surface were once shorelines of massive ancient oceans. The study suggests that a shift in Mars' spin axis within the past 2-3 billion years deformed these shorelines.
UC Berkeley scientists discovered that Mars' shoreline variations can be explained by the movement of its spin axis, and thus its poles. The team calculated that an initial shift of 50 degrees from today's pole would disrupt the Arabia shoreline.
A new computer modeling study suggests geoengineering schemes could cool the planet within a few decades, but failure or cancellation could lead to catastrophic temperature spikes. The research highlights the need for careful consideration of these strategies.
NASA is exploring the possibility of adding a lightweight grapple fixture to the James Webb Space Telescope to enable safe emergency servicing operations in space. The feasibility study aims to determine if the feature will be added to the telescope before its planned launch in 2013.
Researchers have created conditions similar to those inside the Earth to study its inner workings. The study provides new insights into the planet's materials and processes under high pressure, revealing surprising findings about the D'' layer near the core.
The US Naval Academy is partnering with NASA to build a satellite called MidSTAR-2, which will carry four experiments into space in 2011. The satellite will study the Earth's thermosphere, gamma rays, and solar winds, providing valuable insights into these phenomena.
A large area of low but increasing gravity over North America has been discovered, reflecting the lingering impact of the last ice age. The study provides an unprecedented image of the geometry of the long-vanished Laurentide ice sheet and reveals that its ghost still hangs over the continent.
Researchers have mapped weather on a gas giant planet called HD 189733b, discovering supersonic winds that can move at speeds of up to 22,000 mph. The winds are so fast they redistribute heat across the planet's surface, with dayside and nightside temperatures differing by only 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers found that water ice exists in variable depths and is patchy across the Martian surface. The discovery was made using data from NASA's THEMIS camera on the Mars Odyssey orbiter, which showed that areas with rocky surfaces have deeper ice deposits, while dusty areas allow ice to survive closer to the surface.
The discovery of a 300-million-year-old rainforest fossil has transformed our understanding of the ecology of the Earth's first rainforests. The fossilized forest, covering over 10,000 hectares, provides a unique snapshot of tropical rainforests 300 million years ago.
An international team of researchers has found evidence of the Earth's earliest forest trees, dating back 385 million years. The discovery includes upright stumps of fossilized trees that reached at least 8 meters in height, forming the first known forests on earth.
Researchers used Earth-based light data to identify dominant photosynthesis colors for extrasolar planets, narrowing the range of expected colors. This new approach will guide future space telescope designs to study habitable planets and detect alien life.
New study suggests tropical forests are efficient at cooling the planet due to their ability to store large amounts of carbon and produce reflective clouds. In contrast, forests in snowy areas can warm the Earth by absorbing sunlight that would otherwise be reflected back into space.
Researchers adapt oil industry technology to image the core-mantle boundary at 2,900 kilometers beneath Central and North America, providing detailed views of the lower mantle. The technique helps understand Earth's internal heat engine and giant cycle of heat production and transfer.
The Seismological Society of America honors MIT's M. Nafi Toksoz for his 40-year investment in the field, defining seismology and its practice. He has mentored over 100 postdoctoral students, promoting a research environment at MIT.
Researchers have found that the Earth's magnetic field was nearly as strong 3.2 billion years ago as it is today, contrary to previous studies. The discovery suggests that the Earth was well protected from the solar wind, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere and bathe its surface in lethal radiation.
Researchers at Yale and Wesleyan Universities have found that the sensitivity of Earth's climate to changes in carbon dioxide has been consistent for 420 million years. The study confirms that each doubling of atmospheric CO2 translates to an average global temperature increase of about 3° Celsius.
Researchers found evidence of magnetic reconnection in turbulent plasma around Earth using ESA's Cluster satellites. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the behavior of turbulent plasma and its role in fundamental processes such as energy dissipation and particle acceleration.
Michael Shay, a UD assistant professor of physics and astronomy, received an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award to study magnetic reconnection and its impact on space weather. His research aims to predict solar storms and protect astronauts and satellites.