The largest planet in the solar system is putting on a show no telescope has fully caught before. New data from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the gas giant’s auroras flickering in bursts measured in seconds, not minutes. Scientists now face fresh questions about where that power comes from.
A study of Campi Flegrei’s crust has uncovered a damaged rock layer underground that may be driving the volcano’s long-running unrest. The zone, weakened by older magma intrusions, now appears to trap gas rising from deeper sources. This buildup of underground pressure could explain both the steady ground uplift and the swarms of small quakes recorded since 2005.
Researchers from Princeton University have experimentally demonstrated that Earth’s rotation through its magnetic field can generate electric power. The findings support a theoretical model that challenges long-standing assumptions about the impracticality of harvesting rotational energy from Earth’s magnetic field.
A new study identifies a recurring 11-year oscillation in global mean sea level linked to the solar cycle. The analysis shows that solar activity influences rainfall distribution and terrestrial water storage, leading to measurable shifts in sea level that align with peaks and troughs in the Sun’s natural cycle.
Scientists are using subtle changes in gravity to reveal the hidden interiors of the Moon and asteroid Vesta. By tracking spacecraft movements, they’ve created detailed maps that uncover thermal differences on the Moon and a uniform structure inside Vesta. This method opens new doors for exploring distant worlds without landing on them.
A new study of the Yilan Crater in northeastern China offers a rare glimpse into the aftermath of a powerful ancient impact. By listening to subtle ground vibrations with passive seismic tools, researchers uncovered a bowl-shaped structure hidden beneath the surface, evidence of a meteorite strike that took place around 49 000 years ago. Their analysis suggests the object hit with such force that the Yilan event ranks among the most powerful known impacts on Earth in the past 80 000 years, likely leaving lasting effects across the surrounding region.
A massive solar storm that struck Earth over 14 000 years ago has been identified as the strongest ever recorded. Traces of the event were discovered in ancient tree rings, revealing a sharp spike in radiocarbon levels in 12 350 BC. The finding extends the known limits of solar activity and provides a rare reference point for dating events in the Late Glacial period.
A recent study reveals that Norway spruce trees in the Italian Alps exhibited synchronized bioelectrical activity during the March 2015 solar eclipse. Using high-resolution sensors, researchers detected collective responses to the eclipse’s rapid environmental changes, indicating a potential shared signaling mechanism among trees.
Scientists have teleported quantum data over a live public internet connection, with quantum signals sharing space with high-speed classical traffic. This is the first time quantum teleportation has worked outside of isolated lab conditions. The experiment proves that quantum communication can run on the same fiber that powers the internet today.
The newly launched Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) mission will advance our understanding of how gravity affects the passage of time. By comparing highly accurate clocks aboard the International Space Station with those on Earth, ACES aims to test key concepts in Einstein’s theory of relativity and explore fundamental physics.
