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 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 new study shows that Earth’s upper atmosphere can pulse in near-perfect sync with subtle rhythms from the Sun. Researchers tracked minute-scale bursts from a powerful solar flare and found matching fluctuations in electron density overhead. The discovery reveals a direct, finely timed link between solar activity and conditions in Earth’s ionosphere.
A new study from the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaiʻi has revealed surprising connections between two major volcanic features in the Pacific. By tracing the Louisville hotspot as the source of both the Ontong Java Plateau and a series of underwater volcanoes, the researchers have uncovered fresh insights into the Pacific Ocean’s geological history. This discovery challenges old ideas and offers a clearer picture of how the seafloor and the islands above it have formed over millions of years.
A major earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone would cause sudden coastal land subsidence, allowing seawater to penetrate farther inland. When combined with projected sea-level rise, this would substantially increase flood exposure in currently unaffected communities across northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Similar risks are present in other coastal regions located near active subduction zones worldwide.
Chinese experts propose using nuclear weapons as a last resort to protect Earth from potential asteroid crashes. The team, led by Zhang He of the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, stressed that current planetary defense technologies, including NASA’s DART mission, may be insufficient against larger asteroids.
