New sun missions to help NASA better understand Earth-sun environment
NASA has selected two science missions—the Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm—to help improve our understanding of the dynamics of the sun, the sun-Earth connection, and the constantly changing space environment. These missions will.....»»
"Killer electrons": Lightning storms play cosmic pinball with space weather
When lightning strikes, the electrons come pouring down. In a new study, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, led by an undergraduate student, have discovered a novel connection between weather on Earth and space weather. The team utili.....»»
Europa Clipper mission to investigate potential habitability of Jupiter"s moon
A NASA spacecraft is ready to set sail for Jupiter and its moon Europa, one of the best bets for finding life beyond Earth......»»
Mars analog stations investigate lichen biodiversity during simulated missions
Once you know where to look for them, lichens are everywhere. These composite organisms—fungal and photosynthetic partners joined into a greater whole—can survive on a vast array of surfaces, from rocks and trees to bare ground and buildings. The.....»»
Researchers uncover role of plasma waves in mysterious heating of sun"s corona
There is a profound mystery in our sun. While the sun's surface temperature measures around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, its outer atmosphere, known as the solar corona, measures more like 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, about 200 times hotter......»»
How did the building blocks of life arrive on Earth? Zinc fingerprints in meteorites offer clues
Researchers have used the chemical fingerprints of zinc contained in meteorites to determine the origin of volatile elements on Earth. The results suggest that without 'unmelted' asteroids, there may not have been enough of these compounds on Earth f.....»»
What"s behind the northern lights that dazzled the sky farther south than normal
Another in a series of unusually strong solar storms hitting Earth produced stunning skies full of pinks, purples, greens and blues farther south than normal, including into parts of Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City......»»
Stunning aurorae visible around the world caused by solar storms
Beautiful aurorae were visible in locations around the world this week due to increased activity from the sun......»»
The Hunt for Life on Europa Is About to Kick Up a Gear
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is set for launch, finally revealing if this icy moon of Jupiter is habitable or not......»»
"Inside-out" galaxy growth observed in the early universe
Astronomers have used the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe the 'inside-out' growth of a galaxy in the early universe, only 700 million years after the Big Bang......»»
Ubuntu 24.10 Oracular Oriole brings tighter security controls
Canonical released Ubuntu 24.10 Oracular Oriole, which brings notable advancements, including an updated kernel, new toolchains, and the GNOME 47 desktop environment, along with significant enhancements in software security. “Oracular Oriole sets a.....»»
First greenhouse gas plumes detected with NASA-designed instrument
The imaging spectrometer aboard the Carbon Mapper Coalition's Tanager-1 satellite has identified methane and carbon dioxide plumes in the United States and internationally......»»
Asteroid mining: A potential trillion-dollar industry
Earth's newest celestial neighbor has finally arrived. Astronomers using a powerful telescope in Sutherland, South Africa, first detected the 33-foot-long asteroid in August, reporting their discovery in Research Notes of the American Astronomical So.....»»
Weever stings provide scientists with a unique way of assessing impacts of environment on coastal fish populations
Weever fish are perhaps most commonly known for the painful stings they deliver to beach goers around the UK coastline......»»
Study: Disappointment, not hatred is driving polarization in the states
A new study is redefining how we understand affective polarization. The study proposes that disappointment, rather than hatred, may be the dominant emotion driving the growing divide between ideological groups......»»
From chaos to structure: How a bunch of seemingly disorganized cells go on to form a robust embryo
Pipetting liquids into tiny test tubes, analyzing huge datasets, poring over research publications—all these tasks are part of being a scientist. But breaking this routine is essential. Time away from the usual work environment can spark creative i.....»»
New discoveries: Three tiny species added to South Africa"s spectacular marine life
South Africa's marine realm is globally unique because of the two major ocean currents that meet here. The cold, slow-moving Benguela and the warm, fast-flowing Agulhas currents create a special environment that supports high levels of biodiversity......»»
How did magma oceans evolve on early Earth and Mars? Iron chemistry and primordial atmospheres offer clues
Before Earth became the blue planet, it was engulfed by a very different kind of ocean: a vast, deep magma ocean reaching down hundreds or perhaps even thousands of kilometers......»»
Yes, nature is complex—but saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it
Nature loss directly threatens half the global economy. The rapid destruction of biodiversity should alarm the many Australian businesses dependent on nature, such as those in agriculture, tourism, construction and food manufacturing. Yet nature cons.....»»
Catastrophically warm predictions are more plausible than previously thought, say climate scientists
What will the future climate be like? Scientists around the world are studying climate change, putting together models of the Earth's system and large observational datasets in the hopes of understanding—and predicting over the next 100 years—the.....»»
Animal social interactions could speed up evolution
Scientists typically predict how species evolve by looking at their genes and the environment they live in, but new research from the University of Aberdeen has highlighted a key factor that's often overlooked: social interactions, where the genes of.....»»