Are We Prepared for Contamination Between Worlds?
Slashdot reader Tangential shares what he describes as "an interesting article on Gizmodo discussing how we could easily contaminate other planets/moons as we explore them." "Based on our recently demonstrated vulnerability to locally evolved bacte.....»»
Geologist helps track lead pollution in a Tibetan glacier, revealing global impact of human activities
A collaborative research team involving Texas A&M University geologist Dr. Franco Marcantonio has examined the source of lead contamination in a Tibetan glacier, concluding that human activities have introduced the pollutant metal into some of the mo.....»»
NASA"s Europa Clipper spacecraft will investigate whether an icy moon of Jupiter can support alien life
Discovering extraterrestrial life would be one of the most profound scientific and philosophical revelations that our species has ever made. But such a big discovery won't come easy. Our starting point is to first search other worlds for signs of hab.....»»
Death toll from powerful storm Helene tops 150 in US
The death toll from powerful storm Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, has climbed to at least 155, authorities said Tuesday, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to survey the damage......»»
The Last of Us season 2 trailer: Viewers are probably not prepared for this
Joel and Ellie return, but we also get glimpses of Isaac and Abby. The Last of Us season 2 trailer. Today marks the debut of the first full trailer for the second season of The Last of Us, the grim but compelling post-apocalyptic dr.....»»
Nature is adapting to climate change—why aren"t we?
Humanity may be no better prepared for the impacts of climate change today than in the 1970s......»»
Mixing it up: Hybrid work models can offer the best of both worlds for worker well-being and productivity
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sparked debate on the future of work in New Zealand this week when he ordered public service employees back to the office......»»
Researchers name beetle after National Geographic photographer
A new beetle species has been named to honor a fellow Husker, bridging the worlds of academia and wildlife conservation......»»
Could stars hotter than the sun still support life?
Although most potentially habitable worlds orbit red dwarf stars, we know larger and brighter stars can harbor life. One yellow dwarf star, for example, is known to have a planet teaming with life, perhaps even intelligent life. But how large and bri.....»»
One company appears to be thriving as part of NASA’s return to the Moon
"This has really been a transformational year for us." Enlarge / The second Intuitive Machines lander is prepared for hot-fire testing this week. (credit: Intuitive Machines) One of the miracles of the Apollo Moon landin.....»»
A drug made by a Florida company has been recalled for a possibly lethal contamination
A drug made by a Florida company has been recalled for a possibly lethal contamination.....»»
Homeopathic company refuses to recall life-threatening nasal spray, FDA says
Consumers should stop using SnoreStop, FDA says. Enlarge (credit: Getty | Florian Gaertner) The maker of a homeopathic nasal spray with a history of contamination is refusing to recall its product after the Food and Drug.....»»
Nanoparticle-based remediation of chromium-contaminated water shows high efficiency
Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water across the country. However, heavy metal contamination in groundwater presents a significant health hazard. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a nanomaterial-based.....»»
The harder I work, the luckier I get? What coaches, athletes and fans need to understand about luck in sport
In the world of elite sport, where everything is planned down to the last minute detail, surprisingly few are prepared to acknowledge the inherent role of luck in the outcomes of sporting contests......»»
Groundwater cleanup boost: Tailoring 3D media for DNAPL contaminant removal
Groundwater contamination by organic pollutants, such as non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), poses significant environmental and health risks. These contaminants, often released from industrial activities, can persist in the subsurface environment, for.....»»
Roblox announces AI tool for generating 3D game worlds from text
New AI feature aims to streamline game creation on popular online platform. Enlarge (credit: SOPA Images via Getty Images) On Friday, Roblox announced plans to introduce an open source generative AI tool that will allow.....»»
Could comets have delivered the building blocks of life to ocean worlds like Europa, Enceladus and Titan?
Throughout Earth's history, the planet's surface has been regularly impacted by comets, meteors, and the occasional large asteroid. While these events were often destructive, sometimes to the point of triggering a mass extinction, they may have also.....»»
Super Typhoon Yagi threatens southern China, Vietnam
Southern China's Hainan province evacuated over 400,000 people ahead of the expected landfall on Friday of Super Typhoon Yagi, while tens of thousands prepared to seek shelter in neighboring Vietnam from what is set to be the strongest storm to hit t.....»»
More water worlds than we thought might support life
Too much water on exoplanet surfaces would mean high pressure ices, not life. Enlarge / High pressure ices near the crust are a feature of water-rich worlds.` (credit: Benoit Gougeon (University of Montreal)) The possibi.....»»
After Starliner, NASA has another big human spaceflight decision to make
"We still have a lot of work to do to close out the heat shield investigation.” Enlarge / The Artemis II Orion spacecraft being prepared for tests at NASA’S Kennedy Space Center in Florida in June 2024. (credit: NASA / Rad S.....»»
Polymer foam aims to transform oil spill cleanup
University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new material that can absorb more than eight times its weight in oil, offering a new solution in preventing groundwater contamination from spills or accidents. The study, "Fabrication of Triblock El.....»»