A new study published in Nature Astronomy provides evidence that our solar system passed through a dense interstellar cloud 2 – 3 million years ago, exposing Earth to higher cosmic radiation and altering the climate. The discovery suggests that the Sun’s location in space might shape Earth’s history more than it was previously considered.
A new auroral phenomenon, potentially a twin of the STEVE aurora, was discovered in Norway on December 28, 2021. The finding, confirmed by ESA’s Swarm satellite data, reveals an eastward stream of hot gases at dawn, similar to the westward stream seen at dusk.
A new study published in the Journal of Climate explored the impacts of the massive eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai on January 15, 2022, and highlighted significant effects on winter weather patterns across multiple continents, with impacts expected to last for several years.
New research reveals that deep magma buoyancy, rather than the proportion of solid and molten rock, drives volcanic eruptions. The study, conducted by researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Bristol, highlights the importance of searching for clues much deeper in the Earth’s crust, where rocks are first melted into magma before rising to chambers closer to the surface.
MIT researchers have recently reported the detection of 2-methoxyethanol, a previously unknown molecule, in space. The study utilized machine learning and ALMA observations to find this complex molecule in the star-forming region NGC 6334I. The discovery enhances the understanding of molecular complexity during star formation, providing new insights into the chemical processes that occur in space.
Scientists from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the University of Maryland have provided evidence of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key climate regulator. Published in Frontiers in Marine Science, the research utilized over six decades of oceanic data to track the health of this vital oceanic component. This slowdown, observed primarily in the last two decades, could have profound implications on global climate patterns.
On September 26, 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission made history by intentionally colliding with the asteroid Dimorphos, significantly altering both its orbital period and physical shape. This is the first time humanity has purposefully altered the motion of a celestial object, as well as the first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology.
Scientists at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, announced the discovery of a vast volcano and a potential glacier ice sheet in Mars’ Tharsis volcanic province, near the equator. The finding, based on images from spacecraft orbiting Mars since 1971, highlights a volcano provisionally named “Noctis” and suggests the presence of glacier ice beneath a volcanic deposit. This discovery opens new avenues for studying Mars’ geological evolution and future exploration.
As we extend our reach into the cosmos, the clutter of space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) becomes a pressing concern, threatening the safety and sustainability of space operations. To help with this growing problem, a recently published study in the journal IET Radar, Sonar & Navigation, introduced a promising solution leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the detection of these small but hazardous objects.
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered vast reservoirs of water vapor in the disc around HL Tauri, a young star 450 light-years away from Earth, unveiling processes that may lead to the birth of planets rich in water and redefining our search for life in the universe.
