Articles tagged with Planet Earth
Researchers analyze sulfur isotopes in rocks to track oxygen levels, revealing a raucous period of intense volcanic activity that pushed the atmosphere towards an oxygen-rich state. This breakthrough provides new insights into the emergence of oxygen on Earth and its impact on climate.
Scientists have nearly doubled the size of the IceCube detector under construction at the South Pole, adding 480 optical modules to the existing array. The detector will be capable of detecting high-energy cosmic neutrinos and shedding light on mysterious events like gamma ray bursts and dark matter.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new technique that allows anyone with a computer to download images of the entire solar surface. This technology enables the early detection of solar storms on the far side of the sun, which can be detected days or weeks in advance and affect Earth's orbiting satellites, telecommunica...
The world's growing energy needs could be met without destabilizing the climate through affordable, effective solutions like carbon capture and sequestration. The authors propose large-scale technologies such as solar energy, clean coal technology, and nuclear power to reduce emissions.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research discovered 'anti-planetary' electron rays on Saturn that fly away from the planet, similar to those observed on Earth. These findings suggest a fundamental process underlying polar lights, which were previously only seen on our planet.
Researchers at Boston University found that X-ray bursts from the Sun cause dramatic alterations to Mars' ionosphere, as detected by NASA's MGS spacecraft. The team used measurements on Earth to confirm the findings and gain a better understanding of the phenomenon.
Dr. Kerry Sieh, Dr. Peter Ventzek, and Dr. Denice Denton receive NOGLSTP awards for their groundbreaking work in earth science, semiconductor industry, and engineering education. The recipients are recognized for their leadership in the GLBT community and their commitment to promoting diversity in STEM fields.
A colossal gamma-ray flare from magnetar SGR 1806-20 has profoundly disturbed the Earth's daytime ionosphere. Scientists detected this massive effect using VLF radio waves, which enable them to monitor ionospheric responses to lightning discharges and cosmic events.
Scientists highlight Amazon deforestation, West Antarctic Ice Sheet melting, slowdown of North Atlantic Current, ocean acidification, and the impact of land use changes on the planet's functioning. The symposium showcases new research models and a collaborative databank to assess Earth System consequences.
Astrobiologist Carol Cleland suggests that the search for alien life should focus on physical systems that challenge our current concept of life, rather than relying on familiar definitions. She argues that detecting life beyond Earth is likely to be difficult due to the vast differences in genetic material between known and unknown or...
Margaret Turnbull has shortlisted five stars for radio signal detection and five for direct imaging of Earth-like planets. Her criteria include age, metallicity, and residency on the main sequence, favoring Sun-like stars with stable orbits.
Scientists simulated the cores of giant planets and exoplanets to understand how they formed and evolved. They found that extreme temperatures and pressures lead to the formation of metallic crystals, affecting a planet's magnetic field and surface activity.
Researchers explore how science can help understand and alleviate poverty, with a focus on biophysical parameters and energy services. They find strong correlations between disaster vulnerability, soil fertility, drought frequency, and malaria exposure, highlighting the need for tailored solutions.
Researchers found ancient lunar impacts that scarring the moon to its core, potentially creating the 'man in the moon' feature. The study suggests a large object hit the far side of the moon, sending a shockwave through the core and affecting the Earth-facing side.
Researchers apply constructal theory to predict global climate characteristics, including average wind speed and temperature differences. The findings challenge previous understanding of factors driving climate patterns and may aid in predicting environmental changes.
The study provides key insights into the composition of comets, with three pockets of thin ice detected on Tempel 1. The surface ice appears to have been exposed over time through geologically active jets, revealing an abundance of organic matter and water.
Researchers from UC Berkeley found no signature of life in Earth's topography, contrary to previous assumptions. Instead, they suggest that life's influence is more subtle, shaping landforms like rounded hills and meandering rivers, but not creating unique features.
Astronomers discover an Earth-like planet with a solid core, orbiting a red dwarf star five times less massive than the sun. The discovery, made using microlensing technique, reveals thousands of potentially habitable planets in distant parts of the galaxy.
Astronomers have discovered the first and only icy exoplanet that matches theoretical predictions for Solar System formation. OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb orbits a small red star at an extremely close distance, with a surface temperature of -220°C, and is likely to resemble Pluto more than rocky planets like Earth.
Astronomers have detected a rocky, icy planet about five-and-a-half times the mass of Earth, located over 20,000 light years away. The discovery was made possible by gravitational microlensing, which may lead to finding smaller planets in habitable zones around stars.
A team of NJIT solar physicists observed that the amount of light reflected by Earth has increased since 2000, despite less sunlight reaching the surface. The result is a paradoxical increase in global temperatures, which could be due to changes in cloud cover and altitude.
Researchers precisely measured the mass of a millisecond pulsar, PSR J1909-3744, using precise pulse arrival time measurements and disentangled the Shapiro delay effect from Roemer delay. The result reveals the white dwarf companion's mass to be 1.44 times that of the sun with an uncertainty of 0.02 solar masses.
Astronomers used Aluminum-26 to estimate supernova frequency and star formation rate in the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery confirms the enrichment process continues to seed elements needed for life.
A team of astronomers from MIT and Williams College observed the light from a star as it disappeared behind Charon and reappeared on the other side. They determined Charon's radius to be 606 ± 8 km, roughly twice the width of Massachusetts, and established a density of 1.72 g/cm3.
The Stardust spacecraft is returning to Earth after a 2.88 billion-mile journey, carrying samples of comet Wild 2 and interstellar dust. The samples are expected to provide key information on the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago.
Scientists use Chandra to observe the Northern Lights dancing in X-ray light, revealing changing bright arcs of energy above the Earth's surface. The team detects low-energy X-rays generated during auroral activity, expanding our understanding of solar storms and their impact on the planet.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution found that Earth's mantle separated into chemically distinct layers faster and earlier than previously believed. The layering happened within 30 million years of the solar system's formation, revising the standard model of the geochemical evolution of the Earth.
A new U. of Colorado study challenges previous findings on Mars' Meridiani Planum region, suggesting it was more geologically similar to volcanic regions in North America or Europe. The research proposes that the region's chemical composition was created by sulfur-bearing steam vapors moving up through volcanic ash deposits.
The ST5 Project is testing new technologies for future science missions, with three micro-satellites weighing around 25 kg each. The satellites will demonstrate the benefits of a constellation of small low-cost spacecraft obtaining simultaneous measurements in different locations.
The North Magnetic Pole's movement may be part of a normal oscillation and will eventually migrate back toward Canada. Scientists tracked the pole's movement using sediment records from Arctic lakes, providing a reliable timeline and revealing a 'jerk' in the magnetic field every 500 years.
The Huygens probe has revealed that Titan's surface is a barren, 'river' landscape where water ice congeals like stone. Methane plays a similar role to water on Earth, existing in solid, liquid, and gas states. The dense atmosphere has conditions similar to those early in our solar system.
Research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Carnegie Institution suggests that planting trees in the US could cool the Earth for a few decades, but lead to planetary warming in the long term. Tropical forests, however, can help keep global temperatures cool by evaporating water and absorbing carbon dioxide.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters found that northern temperate forests can contribute to global warming by absorbing a lot of sunlight without losing much moisture. In contrast, tropical forests help keep the Earth cool by evaporating large amounts of water. The research suggests that planting forests at certain la...
Clouds play a crucial role in shaping weather forecasts and longer-term climate predictions due to their patterns and formations. However, the issue of how to define a cloud remains unresolved as various satellite observations and instruments produce inconsistent results, leading to fuzzy measurements of planetary cloud cover.
Researchers revisited the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to resolve a discrepancy between seismic and geodetic models. The new model suggests that the rupture propagated at 'supershear' speed, resulting in an earthquake of shorter duration.
Agricultural activity dominates over a third of the Earth's landscape, posing environmental challenges such as deforestation and water pollution. New maps track changing agricultural land use patterns worldwide, highlighting emerging trends like soybean production in Argentina and Brazil driven by China's demand.
The PULSE collaboration has achieved outstanding scientific results by studying pulsars to test fundamental laws and understand extreme conditions. They discovered the first known double pulsar, confirming Einstein's general theory of relativity.
A team of geologists and anthropologists reevaluated the alleged 40,000-year-old human footprints in Mexico, determining a new age of around 1.3 million years using argon/argon dating technique. This revised date challenges the accepted theory that humans arrived in the Americas at 11,000 years ago, sparking debate among researchers.
A new study published in Science Express suggests that early Earth likely had continents and was habitable, with substantial continental crust forming by 4.4-4.5 billion years ago. The researchers used hafnium as a tracer element to infer the existence of early continental formation on Earth.
A team of astronomers has discovered a hot Jupiter planet in a triple star system, challenging conventional theories of planetary formation. The discovery suggests that it is possible for planets to form around the host star and then be captured by a binary system, explaining the unusual configuration of the HD 188753 system.
Researchers created a three-dimensional computer model that generates Jupiter's massive east-west winds and alternating jets at higher latitudes. The model suggests convection driven by deep internal heat sources powers the surface winds, providing a possible answer to why they remain stable for centuries.
A new system can predict the total magnitude of an earthquake within seconds, allowing for tens of seconds of warning. This allows for critical actions such as shutting down power grids and evacuating buildings, potentially saving lives and reducing damage.
The European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft is on its journey to Venus, where it will study the planet's extremely hot atmosphere, high pressure, and mysterious 'super-rotation'. The spacecraft will deploy instruments to probe the surface and atmosphere, with a planned mission duration of at least two Venusian days.
The Venus mission aims to study the planet's surface and atmosphere, with a focus on volcanoes and potential biological activity. The spacecraft will use advanced instruments to detect 'hotspots' in the clouds and make a positive detection of volcanoes.
A new transmission system using phased array technology could improve planetary radar and spacecraft communication efficiency, enabling more data to be collected from science spacecraft. The system's low power consumption and lack of moving parts make it a cost-effective alternative to current systems.
Researchers discovered two types of fluids at depths of up to 180 kilometers, with one being a liquid rich in water and the other a thick hydrous melt containing dissolved matter. This study sheds light on the role of hidden fluids in shaping precipitation and volcanic eruptions.
Researchers at Ohio State University have detected the largest-ever recorded movement of Earth's crust under the weight of flooded Amazon, suggesting a way to estimate total fresh water on the planet. The study reveals an annual oscillation pattern three inches deep in the bedrock beneath the Amazon River Basin.
Researchers analyzed 29 chunks of enstatite chondrite meteorites, which formed billions of years ago and are believed to hold clues about the early Earth's conditions. The study found that these rocks likely formed at lower temperatures than previously thought, shedding light on the planet's distant past.
Researchers have developed a novel solar antenna that combines antenna functions and solar cells on a single surface, reducing weight and increasing efficiency. The technology has the potential to power homes and send/receive signals, improving data gathering capabilities in remote regions.
Researchers at Imperial College London analysed primitive meteorites, coal-like rocks older than the Earth, and found they are depleted of volatile elements. This suggests 'volatile depletion' may be an inevitable part of planet formation across many planetary systems.
Research suggests climate change will lead to decreased air quality in Texas and the western U.S., while the Midwest is predicted to receive more rain, which could help reduce ozone levels. Satellite data also reveals the temperature of Earth's ring current, with plasma ion temperatures consistent with in situ measurements.
Researchers have found evidence of past water on Mars at the Gusev crater, indicating a hydrologic system that deposited magnesium sulfate and formed highly oxidized coatings. The study used data from the Spirit rover's trenches to detect high levels of magnesium sulfate and showed a tight correlation between magnesium and sulfur.
Researchers used chondrites to calculate early Earth's atmosphere, finding a reducing atmosphere with methane and ammonia. This contradicts the Miller-Urey experiment, which relied on an oxidizing atmosphere.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect Earth-like planets by analyzing the chemistry of silicate vapor and steam-rich atmospheres. The approach uses thermochemical equilibrium calculations to identify the presence of silicon monoxide gas, which is expected to be distinct at high temperatures during the planet's formation.
Researchers analyzed seismic wave data from 30 earthquakes and found waves passing through the inner core arrived earlier when separated in time, indicating material had moved into the path taken by waves traveling through the inner core. The study's findings suggest a dynamic planet with significant changes over millions of years.
Researchers Cornelia Class and Steven L. Goldstein re-evaluate geochemical arguments using new databases, finding evidence favors whole-mantle convection. This supports the idea that most of Earth's mantle has been subject to the same forces driving crust movements.
Researchers used seismic data to create images of solidified lenses and sills embedded in the Earth's crust/mantle boundary, suggesting a complex formation process. The findings imply that the lower oceanic crust is generated from multiple smaller magma sources rather than a single large source.
The European Space Agency's Cluster satellites have observed small-scale vortex turbulence, previously predicted by mathematical models, in the plasma surrounding Earth. The discovery has significant implications for understanding solar activity and its effects on our planet.
A new model suggests that the transition from a hydrogen-rich atmosphere to an oxygen-rich one occurred approximately 2.4 billion years ago, driven by the escape of hydrogen atoms into space. This allowed free oxygen to oxidize the crust and eventually dominate the atmosphere.
A study of the Haughton Impact Crater has revealed life-friendly features at ground zero, including hydrothermal systems and blasted rocks that are easier for microbes to inhabit. The crater's unique geology makes it a prime target in the search for signs of past or present life on Mars.