The earliest atmosphere on Mercury
Mercury is a most unusual planet. The smallest planet in the solar system, and the closest planet to the sun, it is in a 3:2 spin resonance, slowly turning and experiencing scorching heat up to 430 degrees Celsius, and the night side frigid, down to.....»»
Novel toxic gas sensor improves the limit of nitrogen dioxide detection
Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science developed a toxic gas sensor with the world's highest sensitivity. This sensor can precisely monitor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas in the atmosphere, at room temperature with.....»»
A carbon-lite atmosphere could be a sign of water and life on other terrestrial planets, study finds
Scientists at MIT, the University of Birmingham, and elsewhere say that astronomers' best chance of finding liquid water, and even life on other planets, is to look for the absence, rather than the presence, of a chemical feature in their atmospheres.....»»
The atmosphere of an exoplanet reveals secrets about its surface
As astronomers have begun to gather data on the atmospheres of planets, we're learning about their compositions and evolution. Thick atmospheres are the easiest to study, but these same thick atmospheres can hide the surface of a planet from view. A.....»»
Ordering of neutrino masses may be revealed by measuring those produced in Earth"s atmosphere
A group of physicists, three with Harvard University's Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, and the fourth with the University of Liverpool, has found evidence suggesting that additional measurements of neutrinos g.....»»
Researchers reveal linkage between wildfire activity and abrupt climate events during the Holocene
As a major Earth system component, wildfire plays an important role in the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems and climate system, with significant impacts on the atmosphere, radiation effects, vegetation, surface properties, global biogeochemical cycles.....»»
Planetary scientists simulate oxidation of iron by giant impact during atmospheric evolution of early Earth
Giant-impact driven redox processes in the atmosphere and magma ocean may have played crucial roles during the evolution of the Earth. However, the absence of rock records from the time or era makes it challenging to understand these processes......»»
World can"t rely on tree planting to limit climate change, says report
Little consideration has been given by the IPCC to the feasibility of schemes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—despite many countries banking on it as part of their net zero plans......»»
Snowflake accelerations mysteriously follow a predictable pattern
A winter wonderland calls to mind piles of fluffy, glistening snow. But to reach the ground, snowflakes are swept into the turbulent atmosphere, swirling through the air instead of plummeting directly to the ground......»»
Europe"s earliest cities relied on fertilizer and plant protein, isotope analysis shows
Nutrition in Trypillia mega-sites is currently the focus of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1266 at Kiel University (CAU). In the forest steppe northwest of the Black Sea—today the territory of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine—mega-sit.....»»
Hydrothermal mercury: The natural story of a contaminant
An international team of researchers including scientists from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel has produced the first global estimate of mercury emissions from hydrothermal sources at mid-ocean ridges based on measurements......»»
Custom software speeds up, stabilizes high-profile ocean model
On the beach, ocean waves provide soothing white noise. But in scientific laboratories, they play a key role in weather forecasting and climate research. Along with the atmosphere, the ocean is typically one of the largest and most computationally de.....»»
FTC investigating Adobe over making it too hard to cancel subscriptions
The FTC is investigating Adobe, after widespread consumer complaints that the company makes it too hard to cancel app subscriptions. Adobe was one of the earliest software companies to switch from a one-off purchase model to recurring subscription.....»»
Earliest evidence for domestic yak found using both archaeology and ancient DNA
The high-altitude hero of the Himalayas, yak are among the few large animals that can survive the extremely cold, harsh and oxygen-poor conditions of the Tibetan Plateau. In the mountainous regions of Asia, yak and yak–cattle hybrids serve as vital.....»»
Great frigatebirds wearing backpacks map the atmosphere
Scientists often field check their findings, heading outside to see if computer models match with what is happening in the real world. But doing so is challenging when the field is two and a half miles up. Enter a new field assistant: The great friga.....»»
New study sheds light on how much methane is produced from Arctic lakes and wetlands
When it comes to greenhouse gases, methane is one the biggest contributors. Not only is it massively abundant—it's about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere......»»
NASA"s MAVEN observes the disappearing solar wind
In December 2022, NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission observed the dramatic and unexpected "disappearance" of a stream of charged particles constantly emanating off the sun, known as the solar wind. This was caused by a spec.....»»
Earliest "true" saddle in east Asia discovered
Archaeologists have used radiocarbon dating to analyze the oldest true wooden frame saddle in East Asia, revealing how the rise of Mongolian steppe cultures was likely aided by advances in equestrian technology......»»
Researchers transform captured greenhouse gases into cyclic carbonates with biomass derivatives
Carbon dioxide is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for global warming and climate change. Direct capture of CO2 in the air is one of the solutions proposed to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere, but comb.....»»
Current carbon dioxide levels last seen 14 million years ago
The last time carbon dioxide in the atmosphere consistently matched today's human-driven levels was 14 million years ago, according to a large new study Thursday that paints a grim picture of where Earth's climate is headed......»»
Study suggests climate played a crucial role in human migration from Africa
About 6 million years ago, in the deep forests of eastern Africa, something spectacular happened. Chimpanzees, our closest relative in the animal kingdom, evolved in one direction, while our earliest ancestors continued in another......»»