The Auroras Should Be Spectacular This Summer, Thanks to Solar Maximum
Increasing solar activity over the next year could bring more opportunities to see fantastic displays of the northern lights......»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
More than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died this year when humidity and heat pushed past survivable limits—it"s just the start
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Muslims undertake the Hajj—the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca. In 2024, the pilgrimage took place in mid-June, the start of the Saudi summer......»»
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.....»»
Webb offers best glimpse ever into icy planetesimals of early solar system
New studies led by researchers at the University of Central Florida offer for the first time a clearer picture of how the outer solar system formed and evolved based on analyses of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and centaurs......»»
Aerosols could be weakening summertime circulation in the Northern Hemisphere
Over the past several decades, summer jet streams (or west to east wind flow) and weather systems in the Northern Hemisphere have weakened. Projections suggest the trend will continue, which could make extreme heat events more likely and affect air q.....»»
Uncovering a centaur"s tracks: Scientists examine unique asteroid-comet hybrid
Although our solar system is billions of years old, we've only recently become better acquainted with one of its more dynamic and captivating inhabitants known as (2060) Chiron......»»
These squirrels are cold-blooded vole killers
Novel hunting behavior may have emerged alongside a marked increase in the local vole population this summer. They seem so sweet and innocent but these squirrels.....»»
Mars orbiter spots retired InSight lander to study dust movement
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) caught a glimpse of the agency's retired InSight lander recently, documenting the accumulation of dust on the spacecraft's solar panels. In the new image taken Oct. 23 by MRO's High-Resolution Imaging Science.....»»
What is a dark comet? A quick guide to the "new" kids in the solar system
In 2017, NASA discovered and later confirmed the first interstellar object to enter our solar system......»»
Solar-powered plasma technology offers a sustainable solution for seed germination challenges
Seed aging is a critical challenge for seed banks and agricultural industries, significantly reducing germination rates and seedling vigor. This decline not only leads to economic losses but also undermines efforts to preserve genetic diversity......»»
How an iconic desert tree survives extreme heat—and the unique risk it"s facing now
New research has found that the punishing summer temperatures and persistent drought conditions in much of Arizona and the Southwest are dealing a double whammy to trees attempting to regulate their own temperature, putting a critical part of the des.....»»
Observations suggest sun-like stars emit superflares once per century
There is no question that the sun is a temperamental star, as this year's unusually strong solar storms show. Some of them led to remarkable auroras even at low latitudes. But can our star become even more furious?.....»»
Tidal streams of interstellar objects may flow through the Milky Way like braided rivers
We know that interstellar objects occasionally visit our solar system. So far, we have only discovered two interstellar objects (ISOs), but that's mainly because we can only distinguish them from solar system bodies by their orbital motion, and that.....»»
New insights into the evolution and paleoecology of mosasaurs
Mosasaurs are extinct marine lizards, spectacular examples of which were first discovered in 1766 near Maastricht in the Netherlands, fueling the rise of the field of vertebrate paleontology. Paleontologist Michael Polcyn presented the most comprehen.....»»
How to catch a supernova explosion before it happens—and what we can learn from it
Stars are born, live and die in spectacular ways, with their deaths marked by one of the biggest known explosions in the universe. Like a campfire needs wood to keep burning, a star relies on nuclear fusion—primarily using hydrogen as fuel—to gen.....»»
My favorite Mac accessory is infinitely more comfortable than other peripherals
At the start of this year, I told my doctor about experiencing constant severe wrist pain since the prior summer. A few weeks later I was connected to a machine with gentle shocks to complete a nerve conduction study. As expected, the cause was moder.....»»
Apple confirms these missing Apple Intelligence features are still being developed
Apple announced today that iOS 18.2 is coming today, including the next round of Apple Intelligence-powered features. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of major Apple Intelligence features announced at Apple’s developer conference last summer to co.....»»
An interstellar visitor helped shape the orbits of the planets
The orbits of the planets around the sun have been the source for many a scientific debate. Their current orbital properties are well understood but the planetary orbits have evolved and changed since the formation of the solar system......»»