How to keep Earth from being cooked by the ever-hotter Sun
Here are two options for future humans to keep us in the habitable zone. I’d wager a guess that we are, as a species, rather fond of our home planet (our wanton carbon emissions notwithstanding). But the ugly truth is that the Eart.....»»
We’re about to fly a spacecraft into the Sun for the first time
"Quite simply, we want to find the birthplace of the solar wind." Almost no one ever writes about the Parker Solar Probe anymore. Sure, the spacecraft got some attention when it l.....»»
Study reveals flies more vulnerable than bees to climate change
Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth's most prolific pollinators—and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures......»»
Apollo lunar mission samples reveal origins of lunar water and its connection to Earth"s early history
A team of international scientists has unveiled groundbreaking research on the origins of lunar water, offering insights that could reshape our understanding of the Earth-moon system and the broader solar system. Published in the journal Proceedings.....»»
Ancient Mars" thick crust could have supported hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas, new research suggests
A new study explores how variations in Mars' crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet's magmatic evolution and hydrological systems. The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests that the.....»»
Solving renewable energy’s sticky storage problem
When the Sun doesn't shine and the wind is calm, humankind still needs power. When the Sun is blazing and the wind is blowing, Germany’s solar and wind power plants swing into h.....»»
Arctic Ocean reveals unexpected variety in hydrothermal vent formations
A new study about Earth's northernmost seafloor hydrothermal system shows even more variety in vent styles than previously thought......»»
Prototype sunscreen uses TiO₂ nanoparticles to cool skin while blocking UV rays
Wearing sunscreen is important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation but doesn't cool people off. However, a new formula, described in Nano Letters, protects against both UV light and heat from the sun using radiative cooling......»»
NASA payload aims to probe moon"s depths to study heat flow
Earth's nearest neighboring body in the solar system is its moon, yet to date, humans have physically explored just 5% of its surface. It wasn't until 2023—building on Apollo-era data and more detailed studies made in 2011–2012 by NASA's automate.....»»
Arctic Siberia summers were up to 10°C warmer than today during the Last Interglacial, study finds
Interglacials are, as the name suggests, warm periods between planetary glaciations when the expanse of ice on Earth shrinks. Currently, we are in an 11,000 year-long interglacial period known as the Holocene. Prior to this, the Last Interglacial occ.....»»
Massive volcanic eruptions did not cause the extinction of dinosaurs, say climate scientists
Massive volcanic eruptions on the Indian peninsula have long been proposed as an alternative cause for the demise of the dinosaurs. This phase of active volcanism took place in a period just before Earth was struck by a meteorite, 66 million years ag.....»»
New radar algorithm reveals hidden dance of ionospheric plasma
At night, charged particles from the sun caught by Earth's magnetosphere rain down into the atmosphere. The impacting particles rip electrons from atoms in the atmosphere, creating both beauty and chaos. These high-energy interactions cause the north.....»»
Researchers explore, sample and interpret lunar volatiles in polar cold traps
The moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one of the coldest places on th.....»»
Astronaut-on-a-chip: Multi-organ tissue chips simulate space radiation"s impact on human health
As astronauts venture further into space, their exposure to harmful radiation rises. Researchers from Columbia University are simulating the effects of space radiation here on Earth to determine its impact on human physiology using multi-organ tissue.....»»
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this idea a reality. However, there are several scient.....»»
Old moon, young crust: Violent volcanism may mean the moon is much older than previously thought
After its formation, the moon may have been the scene of such immense volcanic activity that its entire crust melted several times and was completely churned through. At that time, the moon orbited significantly closer to Earth than today. The result.....»»
Comprehensive analysis reveals hidden genomic evolution of brown algae
Covering over 70% of Earth's surface, the oceans are home to countless life forms that maintain ecological balance and support human well-being. Among these, brown algae (Phaeophyceae) play a crucial role in sustaining coastal habitats, supporting ma.....»»
Survey of 26,000 dead stars confirms key details of extreme stellar behavior
A study of more than 26,000 white dwarf stars has confirmed a long-predicted but elusive effect in these ultra-dense, dying stars: Hotter white dwarfs are slightly puffier than cooler ones, even when they have the same mass......»»
Ancient clay remedy may have potential to boost modern gut health
A team of scientists has discovered that an ancient medicinal clay known as Lemnian earth (LE) could inspire new understanding of how to support present-day gut health......»»
Climate change could overwhelm sewage systems. Here"s how green infrastructure could help
Aside from hotter summers and melting glaciers, climate change is transforming how, when and where rain falls. This challenges much of the world's sewer systems, especially with the added strains of population growth and increased urbanization......»»
NASA finalizes strategy for sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit
As part of the agency's efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach toward advancing microgravity science, technology, and exploration for the benefit o.....»»