Articles tagged with Planet Earth
A study reveals that nearly 900 potentially hazardous asteroids are hurtling towards Earth, with some passing within a few moon distances every year. The researchers estimate that only 40% of kilometer-or-larger asteroids have been discovered, leaving the remaining 60% potentially difficult to find.
The new equipment will provide a better view of the earth than ever before, allowing researchers to see specific houses or trees. The lab will supplement its existing technology to track hurricanes and access environmental data from dozens of satellites.
Researchers have made the first direct observations of magnetic reconnection, a switch that allows energy to be transferred between solar wind and Earth. The phenomenon is responsible for aurora borealis, aurora australis, and occasional radio and satellite disruptions.
Researchers at University of Michigan and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology propose alternative theory on Earth's formation. They found that tungsten isotopic compositions of Earth do not match those of enstatite chondrites, supporting the idea that planets received materials from broad regions of the solar system.
Detecting active regions on the far side of the Sun allows for up to two weeks' advance warning of strong solar winds. The method uses Lyman alpha radiation to track sunspot activity and predict severe space weather.
Researchers have found extraterrestrial noble gasses encapsulated within fullerene molecules, providing a new tool for tracing extraterrestrial events. The discovery supports the theory that atmospheric gases and organic compounds were delivered to planets via asteroid and comet strikes.
The solar system's ultimate fate is predicted to be a collapse of the sun into a white dwarf, incinerating the Earth and inner planets in the process. However, a close encounter with a passing star may rescue life by hurling the Earth out of the solar system.
Astronomers discovered that Jupiter's massive thunderstorms closely resemble clusters of thunderstorms on Earth, but develop from the planet's core heat rather than solar heat. These mesoscale convective complexes drive Jupiter's weather system and produce huge quantities of rain.
A new study suggests that planetary systems similar to ours are not common in the galaxy, with only 44.7% of stars capable of supporting such systems. This finding contradicts the theory that planetary systems are necessary for extraterrestrial life.
A recent search using an Arizona-based telescope failed to detect evidence supporting a 13-year-old theory that small comets composed of snow continually bombard the Earth. The researchers found no conclusive evidence for small comets weighing 20-40 tons each, which were predicted to disintegrate in the atmosphere every minute.
A new study found that a sharp decrease in solar wind density caused Earth's magnetosphere to balloon to more than 100 times its normal volume, reaching nearly to the moon. The event, dubbed "The Day the Solar Wind Ran Out of Gas," was rare and only seen a few times since satellites began measuring solar wind 35 years ago.
The 1999 Fall Meeting featured press conferences on climate change, solar activity, and Mars exploration, as well as new discoveries in India and Antarctica. A digital library for Earth science education was also unveiled, providing rapid access to high-quality information.
The TIMED spacecraft, designed and built by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, will undergo final environmental testing at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center before its May 18 launch. The mission aims to study the sun's influence on Earth's Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere region.
The four-part PBS series 'Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth' delves into the importance of microbes in sustaining human life and driving chemistry of life. Dr. Frederic Pfaender, a UNC-CH microbiologist, advocates for watching the series to learn something and enjoy the experience.
Researchers at University College London have developed a novel approach to determine the melting temperature of iron at high pressures, allowing them to estimate the Earth's core temperature. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding earthquakes, volcanoes, and the Earth's magnetic field.
A report on a June 15 earthquake in Mexico highlights the need for enforcing special seismic design standards for critical buildings like schools, hospitals, and fire stations. The study found that these buildings are often constructed with heavier materials than recommended, increasing the risk of damage during earthquakes.
Researchers find geochemical signature in iron indicative of life, allowing for tracing of microbial populations across time and space. The technique could help resolve disputes about past life on Mars and provide insight into the evolution of life on Earth.
The Geological Society of America 1999 Annual Meeting features sessions on geological hazards, climate change, planetary science and Mars exploration. Keynote speakers will discuss the impact of earthquakes, greenhouse conditions and environmental consequences of impact events.
A gamma-ray burst may have melted primordial dust grains, seeding the formation of meteorites and rocky planets like Earth. The theory suggests that only one Sun-like star in a thousand would be close enough to form chondrules.
The Earth is surrounded by a complex system of electric and magnetic fields, known as the magnetosphere, which interacts with charged particles called plasma. Scientists have developed a general model to describe the density of this surrounding plasma, revealing its behavior and effects on our planet.
A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.
Researchers suggest that a rare radioactive isotope found in deep-sea sediments may be evidence of a nearby supernova. The explosion could have caused a 'cosmic-ray winter' leading to mini-extinctions about 5 million years ago, with effects still detectable today.
A UNC-CH study explains that variations in Earth's orbit over tens of thousands of years account for the timing of ice ages, providing a more complex understanding of long-term climate change. This new research confirms a theory from the 1920s and sheds light on predicting future global climate change.
Guillermo Gonzalez argues that the Sun's exceptional characteristics made intelligent life emerge on Earth. The Sun is unusually massive and has a stable light output, making it an ideal place for life to thrive. This rules out over 95% of stars in the Galaxy as potential candidates.
NASA has selected 23 organizations to develop revolutionary space-based power generating systems that harness the Sun's energy for Earth and space. The selected teams will receive $6.4 million in funding to create commercially viable space solar power technologies.
Researchers have found evidence of chlorine emissions in the atmosphere of Io, a Jupiter moon with high volcanic activity. The discovery suggests that salt may be present on Io's surface due to chemical reactions or geological processes.
A team of astronomers has discovered a unique cluster of young stars, approximately 8 million years old, located 97 parsecs from Earth. The cluster, centered around eta Chamaeleon, is one of the nearest to our planet and exhibits unusual characteristics.
NYU chemist Robert Shapiro challenges existing assumptions about life's universality with a new theory that simple cellular life may arise from organic chemistry and self-organizing systems. He also advocates for continued search for extraterrestrial life in nearby worlds like Mars, Europa, and Titan.
A worldwide study of the Sun's quiet period reveals insights into solar activity and its effects on Earth. The research, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, explores the Sun's large-scale, stable structures that dominate the solar corona at solar minimum.
Scientists have discovered magnetic stripes on Mars, similar to those found on Earth, suggesting the planet was once magnetized and had a global magnetic field. These findings provide insights into Mars' formation and evolution, shedding light on its potential for hosting liquid water.
The sundial is designed to track the passage of hours and seasons on Mars, with calibration targets to adjust camera brightness and tint. The instrument carries a message from Earth to future Martian explorers, wishing them a safe journey and joy of discovery.
Astronomers have detected the brightest optical celestial object ever recorded using a low-cost, automated telescope built from recycled lenses and hardware. The ROTSE-1 telescope captured optical emissions from a gamma ray burst while it was still arriving, providing new insights into the phenomenon.
Dr. Jeanne Sauber will present a lecture on the earthquake hazard in Alaska, studying subduction from space, at the National Science Teachers Association convention in Boston. She will discuss direct measurements of subduction using space-based data and its implications for Alaskan plate movement.
AGU's Spring Meeting will address pressing issues such as climate change, nuclear waste management, and the impacts of global variability. The event will feature a diverse range of special sessions and press conferences.
An asteroid approximately 30-50 metres across has been discovered in an orbit close to Earth's, likely originating from the Moon. The object's unusual nearly circular orbit is unlike most comets and asteroids that cross the Earth's orbit.
Computer models of Venus' changing climate system may provide insights into Earth's dynamic past and potential future. The models suggest that volcanic activity could have increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to a cooling effect on the planet.
The AGU Book 'New Perspectives on the Earth's Magnetotail' provides first-hand information on energetic particles and reveals basic properties of plasma in the universe. Edited by top experts, it offers a basis for understanding cosmic processes and auroral/geomagnetic phenomena.
The NASA Explorer MIDEX Program has selected the Auroral Multiscale Midex Mission (AMM) for a feasibility study. The mission aims to study the interaction between Earth's atmosphere and its nearby space environment, with a focus on understanding auroral phenomena.
Polar spacecraft has taken the first measurements showing that solar events directly affect our outer atmosphere. The results correlate CMEs with enhanced ion outflows from the upper ionosphere, providing a new understanding of the complex interactions between the sun and Earth's magnetic field.
New research reveals the Van Allen radiation belts are powerful particle accelerators generating 'killer electrons' that can severely impair satellites. The accelerated electrons have a dramatic effect on human technological systems, including satellite failures and pager service disruptions.
Bruce Marsh's groundbreaking discovery in Antarctica reveals a network of interconnected vertical columns with crystalline mush, overturning a long-held concept. This new understanding is being carefully laid out methodically and precisely, promising to reshape the discipline of magmatism.
The University of Florida is part of a virtual Astrobiology Institute studying the origin and evolution of life in the galaxy. Chemists are searching for universal DNA features that could be found in potential Martian life, which may help overcome the difficulty of recognizing non-terrestrial life.
A new imaging spectrometer developed at the University of Illinois helps scientists study auroras and their effects on Earth's atmosphere. The instrument characterizes spatial distribution of auroral emissions across different altitudes.
Researchers have found a small gap in the auroral oval, which appears about 7% of the time between 10pm and midnight. The discovery was made using data from the Ultraviolet Imager aboard the Polar spacecraft and suggests that changes in the interplanetary magnetic field may be responsible.
This week, Earth will pass by the orbit of comet Giacobini-Zinner on October 8th, which could lead to a historic Giacobinid meteor storm. If debris is present ahead of the comet, hourly rates may exceed 3000 meteors per hour, rivaling the predicted Leonid storm.
A powerful gamma-ray and X-ray burst from a distant star caused significant changes in Earth's upper atmosphere, leading to increased ionization levels and reduced radio signal range. The event has implications for our understanding of the ionosphere and its interactions with external energy sources.
A major geomagnetic storm, the strongest in recent years, is affecting communication and navigation satellites due to an intense solar flare. The storm's speed was twice normal, causing unusual penetration of electrons into the Earth's magnetosphere.
A scientific team's findings suggest that tsunamis may pose a significant threat to the Pacific Rim and other coastline regions due to the instability of submarine structures. The team believes that earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater can trigger massive underwater landslides, resulting in devastating tsunamis.
A critical chemical reaction previously thought to support microbial life deep below Earth's surface is now considered highly unlikely. Microorganisms are likely living on organic matter associated with rock, not hydrogen, according to researchers.
A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters finds that a review of thousands of nearby stars failed to show any rogue stars capable of altering comet orbits and sending them towards Earth. The researchers used the HIPPARCOS catalogue, which measures the location and motion of over 120,000 stars, and found no evidence of a
The research proposes that cosmic ray jets can cause lethal amounts of muons, destroying the ozone layer and creating new species through rapid mutations. The theory explains key characteristics of massive extinctions and suggests ways to gather evidence for past catastrophes.
The Stardust mission, launched in February, will be the first mission since Apollo to return samples of space material to Earth for analysis. The spacecraft will encounter Wild 2, a comet that alters course among the inner planets, and trap small particles from its coma.
Astronomers have observed a significant increase in Triton's surface temperature, causing its thin atmosphere to thicken, and potentially leading to global warming. The moon is approaching an unusually warm summer season, with temperatures rising by 5% over the past nine years.
Scientists plan to use stereo imaging to analyze the three-dimensional structures of the Sun's corona, which can help predict explosive events like coronal mass ejections and solar flares.
A new computer simulation shows how a small cosmic cloud could suddenly burst the heliosphere, potentially leading to catastrophic climate changes and increased exposure to deadly cosmic radiation. The simulation may help guide Voyager 1 and 2 through a series of shock waves and a massive 'wall' in space nearly two decades from now.
Recent research by the USGS aims to characterize and mitigate earthquake hazards in the region. The study highlights that nearly every state east of the Mississippi River has experienced damaging earthquakes, with some causing widespread damage.
The American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting will feature presentations on earthquake hazards, ocean science, and Mars research. Scientists will discuss recent discoveries and share insights on natural restoration of contaminated aquifers.
Scientists propose that interplanetary dust accumulation could have triggered gradual extinctions, such as the demise of dinosaurs, and influenced Earth's climate over long periods. The research challenges current understanding of the Milankovich Effect, which is believed to drive climate change on a 100,000-year scale.
A team of astronomers from the University of Florida and Harvard University have discovered a star surrounded by a disk of dust that may be forming planets. The disk, known as HR 4796A, is about 220 light years from Earth and is thought to represent what Earth's solar system looked like in its infancy.
Scientists are searching deep ice from the Antarctic for signs of life that could survive in icy conditions, with a focus on Europa. The discovery of liquid water beneath the surface of another moon raises possibilities about potential life on Europa.