Some icy exoplanets may have habitable oceans and geysers
A NASA study expands the search for life beyond our solar system by indicating that 17 exoplanets (worlds outside our solar system) could have oceans of liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, beneath icy shells. Water from these oceans could.....»»
Reinforcing the diverse ways people access seafood can ensure healthy communities in the face of change
As climate change affects the oceans, coastal communities—particularly those at the front lines of ocean warming and sea level rise—are facing pressures that could threaten their access to aquatic foods......»»
Saturn’s tiny moon Mimas seems to have an ocean, too
The ocean must have formed relatively recently, but we don't know how. Enlarge / That is actually a moon. (credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute) The once-exclusive club of Solar System objects that host oceans is get.....»»
Newly discovered carbon monoxide-runaway gap can help identify habitable exoplanets
The search for habitable exoplanets involves looking for planets with similar conditions to the Earth, such as liquid water, a suitable temperature range and atmospheric conditions. One crucial factor is the planet's position in the habitable zone, t.....»»
Extreme eruption on young sun-like star signals savage environment for developing exoplanets
Astronomers have detected an extreme eruption from a young star that became more than a hundred times brighter in only a few hours. This discovery offers new insight into how young sun-like stars behave early in their lives, and their impact on the d.....»»
How to watch NASA launch its newest ocean and atmosphere observation satellite tonight
NASA's newest mission to observe Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and how these interact with the changing climate, is launching tonight. Here's how to watch......»»
A super-Earth (and possible Earth-sized) exoplanet found in the habitable zone
Astronomers have found a new Super-Earth orbiting an M-dwarf (red dwarf) star about 137 light-years away. The planet is named TOI-715b, and it's about 1.55 Earth's radius and is inside the star's habitable zone. There's also another planetary candida.....»»
Atmospheres in the TRAPPIST-1 system should be long gone
Trappist-1 is a fascinating exoplanetary system. Seven worlds orbiting a red dwarf star just 40 light-years away. All of the worlds are similar to Earth in mass and size, and three or four of them are potentially habitable. Imagine exploring a system.....»»
Astronomers discover a super-Earth located in the habitable zone
Astronomers have discovered a type of exoplanet called a "super-Earth" located in the habitable zone of its small star - and it's right in our cosmic backyard......»»
Governments spend US$22 billion a year helping the fishing industry empty our oceans. This injustice must end
Overfishing has dire consequences for ocean health and for the millions of people who depend on fish for food and well-being. Globally, catch has been steadily declining since the 1990s. It's a trend that's likely to continue if we fail to act now......»»
Neptune-like exoplanets can be cloudy or clear: New findings suggest the reason why
The study of "exoplanets," the sci-fi-sounding name for all planets in the cosmos beyond our own solar system, is a fairly new field. Mainly, exoplanet researchers like those in the ExoLab at the University of Kansas use data from space-borne telesco.....»»
Why interstellar objects like ‘Oumuamua and Borisov may hold clues to exoplanets
Two celestial interlopers in Solar System have scientists eagerly anticipating more. Enlarge / The first interstellar interloper detected passing through the Solar System, 1l/‘Oumuamua, came within 24 million miles of the Sun i.....»»
Engineers unmask nanoplastics in oceans, revealing their true shapes and chemistry
Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year. The sun's ultraviolet light and ocean turbulence break down these plastics into invisible nanoparticles that threaten marine ecosystems......»»
Global warming caused widespread ocean anoxia 93 million years ago, deep-sea sediments research suggests
Marine anoxia is characterized by the oceans being severely depleted in dissolved oxygen, making them toxic and thus having devastating impacts on the organisms inhabiting them. One such event, known as Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2), occurred ~93.5 m.....»»
Researchers are spying for signs of life among exoplanet atmospheres
The next generation of advanced telescopes could sharpen the hunt for potential extraterrestrial life by closely scrutinizing the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets, new research suggests......»»
Understanding nutrient cycling between algae and bacteria could lead to increased biofuel production
The interactions between algae and bacteria are essential to the primary productivity of Earth's oceans and surface waters. Bacteria can increase the productivity of algae by producing key factors, such as vitamins, iron-chelating molecules, and grow.....»»
How waves and mixing drive coastal upwelling systems
They are among the most productive and biodiverse areas of the world's oceans: coastal upwelling regions along the eastern boundaries of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There, equatorward winds cause near-surface water to move away from the coast. T.....»»
Astronomers analyze masses, orbital properties and atmospheric features of six exoplanets
A recently discovered solar system with six confirmed exoplanets and a possible seventh is boosting astronomers' knowledge of planet formation and evolution. Relying on a globe-spanning arsenal of observatories and instruments, a team led by research.....»»
How the seabed could be a refuge for gorgonian coral forests threatened by marine heat waves
Over the last 20 years, the world's oceans have experienced a significant increase in episodes of high-sea surface temperatures, known as marine heat waves......»»
Marine biologist finds unexpected biodiversity on the ocean floor
Hydrothermal vents and manganese nodule fields in the deep oceans contain more biodiversity than expected, according to the thesis that NIOZ-marine biologist Coral Diaz-Recio Lorenzo will defend at Utrecht University on January 26......»»
Life on Earth uses water as a solvent. What are some other options for life as we don"t know it?
There is a vast menagerie of potentially habitable worlds in the cosmos, which means the universe could be home to a diversity of life beyond what we can imagine. Creatures built on silicon rather than carbon, or organisms that breathe hydrogen inste.....»»