Lucy spacecraft snaps stunning image of Earth during flyby
Earlier this month, NASA's Lucy spacecraft whipped by Earth as it performed a flyby. While it was passing by, it snapped images of both the Earth and the moon......»»
Can the "hard steps" in the evolutionary history of human intelligence be recast with geological thresholds?
What took so long for humans to appear on Earth? The Earth is 4.6 billion years old, and life began about 4 billion years ago, yet humans—the only intelligent, technological species we know of in the universe—have existed only for the last 200,0.....»»
Afar mantle plume study offers new insight into deep Earth processes
Sophisticated analysis of tiny bubbles of ancient gas trapped in volcanic rocks, combined with new geophysical modeling, has cast new light on long-held assumptions about the deep Earth......»»
Nanostructures in the deep ocean floor hint at life"s origin
Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan and The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydro.....»»
Walking on the Moon in Cologne: Europe"s lunar life simulator
A large, ordinary-looking warehouse in the German city of Cologne is the closest you can get to walking on the moon—without leaving Earth......»»
Planetary defense research mission readies for asteroid visit
The European Space Agency is about to launch a spacecraft on an important research mission designed to bolster planetary defense......»»
Astronaut’s stunning photo shows ‘flowing silver snakes’
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station has captured some stunning images of Earth showing 'flowing silver snakes' and 'glowing golden claws.'.....»»
Research abounds at the International Space Station
At the International Space station, researchers are making strides in everything from Earth science to chemical properties. Here's what they're up to and why it matters......»»
Extreme polar light environment of the North and South Poles sustains biodiversity, researchers suggest
Researchers working in Finland propose that the unique light environment of the Earth's polar regions creates conditions that result in circumpolar hybrid zones around the North and the South Poles. These extreme conditions increase the synchrony of.....»»
High-pressure reactions can turn nonporous rocks into sponges
In deep Earth, rocks take up and release water all the time, and the effects can be wide reaching. Dehydration can cause rocks to crack and trigger earthquakes, and over geologic timescales, this water cycling can influence plate tectonics and move c.....»»
A Soyuz capsule with 2 Russians and 1 American from the International Space Station returns to Earth
A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one American from the International Space Station landed Monday in Kazakhstan, ending a record-breaking stay for the Russian pair......»»
Advanced civilizations will overheat their planets within 1,000 years, researchers suggest
Earth's average global temperatures have been steadily increasing since the Industrial Revolution. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), Earth has been heating up at a rate of 0.06°C (0.11°F) per decade since 1850—or ab.....»»
NASA has a fine plan for deorbiting the ISS—unless Russia gets in the way
"If the deorbit vehicle is ready, do we go ahead and bring it home?" Enlarge / This photo of the International Space Station was captured by a crew member on a Soyuz spacecraft. (credit: NASA/Roscosmos) A little more tha.....»»
Europa Clipper overcomes transistor issue and is ready for launch next month
This May, engineers working on NASA's Europa Clipper had to deliver the kind of news that no one wants to announce: there was a problem with the spacecraft......»»
A record of the Earth’s temperature covering half a billion years
With one exception, a strong link between carbon dioxide and global temperatures. Enlarge / The cycle of building and breaking up of supercontinents seems to drive long-term climate trends. (credit: Walter Myers/Stocktrek Images).....»»
Algorithm used on Mars rover helps scientists on Earth see data in a new way
A new algorithm tested on NASA's Perseverance Rover on Mars may lead to better forecasting of hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that impact millions globally......»»
Plants could still grow well under alien skies
Photosynthesis changed Earth in powerful ways. When photosynthetic organisms appeared, it led to the Great Oxygenation Event. That allowed multicellular life to evolve and resulted in the ozone layer. Life could venture onto land, protected from the.....»»
Life might thrive on the surface of Earth for an extra billion years
The sun is midway through its life of fusion. It's about 5 billion years old, and though its life is far from over, it will undergo some pronounced changes as it ages. Over the next billion years, the sun will continue to brighten......»»
Hubble lights the way with new multiwavelength view of galaxy NGC 1559
The magnificent galaxy featured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is NGC 1559. It is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Reticulum, approximately 35 million light-years from Earth. The brilliant light captured in the curre.....»»
New study takes the Earth’s temperature over a half-billion years
With one exception, a strong link between carbon dioxide and global temperatures. Enlarge / The cycle of building and breaking up of supercontinents seems to drive long-term climate trends. (credit: Walter Myers/Stocktrek Images).....»»
Scientists scan TRAPPIST-1 for technosignatures
If you are going to look for intelligent life beyond Earth, there are few better candidates than the TRAPPIST-1 star system. It isn't a perfect choice. Red dwarf stars like TRAPPIST-1 are notorious for emitting flares and hard X-rays in their youth,.....»»