Using advanced computer simulations, scientists have shown how easily a runaway greenhouse effect can quickly transform a habitable planet into a hellish world incapable of life. This research not only has implications for our understanding of extrasolar planets, or “exoplanets”, but it also offers insights into the Earth’s man-made climate crisis. The team of astronomers … Read more
A group has been formed to study and promote a space-based solar shield to help ward off global climate change. The idea has been discussed for years, but the Planetary Sunshade Foundation is releasing documents that support the concept and highlight the practical feasibility of the approach. A planetary solar shield, the Foundation advises, could … Read more
Astronomers have discovered not one but two planetary systems with sun-like stars at their hearts. Both systems contain mini-Neptune planets and one is home to a huge “super-Jupiter” world, all of which are many times more massive than Earth. Studying these realms could lead to a better understanding of how planets form and evolve around … Read more
It’s that time of year when people start looking for the best Christmas sales and wrapping gifts. But what is the best type of tree to put them under? While some enjoy the smell of a real tree and the fun of picking one out at a local farm, others prefer the simplicity of artificial … Read more
People have been sailing the world’s oceans for thousands of years, but not all of them have reached port. Researchers estimate that there are approximately three million shipwrecks worldwide, located in shallow rivers and bays, coastal waters and the deep ocean. Many sank during catastrophes – some during storms or after running aground, others during … Read more
Over the past three years, a highly contagious, often fatal form of bird flu has taken a staggering toll on animals around the world. The virus, known as H5N1, has infected birds in more than 80 countries. According to the Department of Agriculture, the disease has infiltrated large commercial poultry farms and small backyard chicken … Read more
The year 2023 was marked by extraordinary heat, forest fires and weather disasters. In the US, an unprecedented heat wave gripped much of Texas and the Southwest, with highs well above 37.8 degrees Celsius throughout July. Historic rains in April flooded Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with 2 feet of rain in 24 hours. A wave of … Read more
About 400,000 years ago, large parts of Greenland were ice-free. The rugged tundra basked in the sun’s rays on the island’s northwestern highlands. There is evidence that a forest of spruce trees, buzzing with insects, covered the southern part of Greenland. Global sea level was then much higher, between 6 and 12 meters above current … Read more
Abdoulaye Diabate suffered a life-threatening bout of malaria when he was just five years old. Diabate barely survived the mosquito-borne disease, but cousins aged three and four were not so lucky. Diabate, who is now head of medical entomology and parasitology at the Burkina Faso Research Institute in Health Sciences, is developing an innovative technique … Read more
Nearly three years ago, NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars as part of a decades-long effort to investigate whether the now barren planet once hosted life. Jezero crater once housed a large lake and a river delta. The size of a car Perseverance, equipped with advanced cameras and scientific instruments, has so far spent its … Read more