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Astronomy / Space - Earth Sciences - 06.09.2024
Dwarf planet Ceres: Origin in the asteroid belt?
Bright yellow deposits in Consus Crater bear witness to dwarf planet Ceres' cryovolcanic past - and revive the debate about its place of origin. The dwarf planet Ceres has a diameter of almost 1000 kilometres and is located in the asteroid belt. In the television series -The Expanse-, Ceres gained new fame as the main base of the so called -belters-: in this series, which is based on real physics, humans colonize the asteroid belt for mining.
Earth Sciences - Environment - 04.09.2024
Aircraft campaign HALO (AC)³: Researchers investigate cloud movement in the Arctic
Special features of the Arctic climate, such as the strong reflection of the sun's rays on the light-colored snow surface or the low position of the sun, intensify global warming in the Arctic. However, researchers are constantly faced with the challenge of mapping the climatic processes responsible for this in order to make reliable weather forecasts.
Life Sciences - Earth Sciences - 04.09.2024
Northern elephant seals use deep-sea research sonar as dinner bell
Northern elephant seals were repeatedly captured on camera in the deep Pacific Ocean using sonar from an Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) observatory as a dinner bell to forage for their next fish feast, according to a new study led by University of Victoria researchers. The research study published in the peer-reviewed PLOS ONE journal provides a unique, first-ever visual glimpse into the elusive mammal's deep-sea behaviours, with a focus on their sophisticated feeding strategies, prey preferences as well as resting habits.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 04.09.2024
History lesson: Identifying a climate ’tipping point’ for ocean deoxygenation
Massive volcanic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions contributing to an extreme global ocean deoxygenation event over 120 million years ago has modern day implications for understanding a climate warming "tipping point," according to new research published in Nature this week, led by a scientist at Ocean Networks Canada, a University of Victoria initiative.
Earth Sciences - Environment - 02.09.2024
Geoinformatics: Using Artificial Intelligence to Take Better Aim Against Mosquitoes
Satellite and street view images provide basis for more precise evaluation of the environmental conditions that favor the presence of Aedes aegypti The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible worldwide for the spread of infectious diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. To combat the widely transmitted diseases affecting millions, detailed mosquito distribution maps with data on the spatial and temporal spread of populations are of major importance.
Earth Sciences - 29.08.2024
Driving force of the Iceland plume reconsidered
The chemical composition triggers upwelling of mantle currents from Earth's interior / Findings published in "Nature Geoscience" journal Researchers around the world investigate the dynamic processes in Earth's deep interior, hundreds to thousands of kilometers below the surface. These processes drive plate movements and volcanism but still keep many secrets.
Earth Sciences - 29.08.2024
Doughnut-shaped region found inside Earth’s core deepens understanding of planet’s magnetic field
A doughnut-shaped region thousands of kilometres beneath our feet within Earth's liquid core has been discovered by scientists from The Australian National University (ANU), providing new clues about the dynamics of our planet's magnetic field. The structure within Earth's liquid core is found only at low latitudes and sits parallel to the equator.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 29.08.2024
How a salt giant radically reshaped Mediterranean marine biodiversity
First quantification of a major ecological crisis and recovery A new study paves the way to understanding biotic recovery after an ecological crisis in the Mediterranean Sea about 5.5 million years ago. An international team led by Konstantina Agiadi from the University of Vienna has now been able to quantify how marine biota was impacted by the salinization of the Mediterranean: Only 11 percent of the endemic species survived the crisis, and the biodiversity did not recover for at least another 1.7 million years.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 22.08.2024
From clouds to fjords, the Arctic bears witness to climate change
Climate change is particularly intense in the Arctic. To assess its consequences and determine what role this region plays in global warming, two teams of scientists from EPFL have visited the area. One to gain a better understanding of the region's air composition, the other to quantify the greenhouse gases sequestered in Greenland fjords sourced by glacial water.
Astronomy / Space - Earth Sciences - 20.08.2024
Planets contain more water than thought
Most of a planet's water is generally not on its surface but hidden deep in its interior. This affects the potential habitability of distant worlds, as shown by model calculations of researchers at ETH Zurich and Princeton University. We know that the Earth has an iron core surrounded by a mantle of silicate bedrock and water (oceans) on its surface.
Astronomy / Space - Earth Sciences - 19.08.2024
Western researchers help identify origins of Martian meteorites
An international research team has identified the specific origins of most of the Martian meteorites that are now on Earth. They've traced the meteorites to five craters where they were launched off Mars after impact. The craters are located within two volcanic regions on the red planet called Tharsis (the region containing Olympus Mons, the largest shield volcano in the solar system) and Elysium.
Earth Sciences - 16.08.2024
Scientists investigate triggers of explosive volcanic eruptions in lab simulation study
Scientists at The University of Manchester have effectively simulated how bubbles grow in volcanic magma thanks to a novel pressure vessel that can mimic the eruption process in a laboratory setting. With most volcanic activity taking place underground unobserved, for the first time scientists have been able to capture vesiculation kinetics in basaltic magmas in real time.
Earth Sciences - Chemistry - 14.08.2024
Rocks from Mars’ Jezero Crater, which likely predate life on Earth, contain signs of water
Study: Rocks from Mars' Jezero Crater, which likely predate life on Earth, contain signs of water The presence of organic matter is inconclusive, but the rocks could be scientists' best chance at finding remnants of ancient Martian life. In a new study appearing today in the journal AGU Advances , scientists at MIT and NASA report that seven rock samples collected along the "fan front" of Mars' Jezero Crater contain minerals that are typically formed in water.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 13.08.2024
In years to come, the Arctic Ocean will absorb less CO2 than expected
We humans benefit from the oceans' tremendous capacity to absorb greenhouse gases. Due to the low temperature of the water, the Arctic Ocean absorbs an especially large amount of CO2 in relation to its size. Due in part to climate change, this effect will be less pronounced in the future. A new study released by Universität Hamburg's Cluster of Excellence CLICCS shows how much CO2 is released into the atmosphere in the Arctic Ocean by the erosion of coastal permafrost.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 09.08.2024
Historic fires trapped in Antarctic ice yield key information for climate models
Pollutants preserved in Antarctic ice document historic fires in the Southern Hemisphere, offering a glimpse at how humans have impacted the landscape and providing data that could help scientists understand future climate change. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey tracked fire activity over the past 150 years by measuring carbon monoxide trapped in Antarctic ice.
Earth Sciences - Physics - 09.08.2024
Earth’s mantle may reveal origins of life
Scientists have unearthed the deepest column of marine rock ever extracted from Earth's mantle - the enormous layer below its crust - which could help reveal conditions at the dawn of life. The rock core was extracted from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by an international team on the drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution , and is being analysed by The University of Queensland's Professor Gordon Southam.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 09.08.2024
Mature forests vital in frontline fight against climate change
Older trees have important carbon capture role - countering existing theories that mature woodland has no capacity to respond to elevated carbon dioxide levels Mature forests have a key role to play in the fight against climate change - extracting carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and locking it into new wood, a new study reveals.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 08.08.2024
Millions of years for plants to recover from global warming
Catastrophic volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet millions of years ago shed new light on how plants evolve and regulate climate. Researchers reveal the long-term climate effects of disturbed natural ecosystems - its implications both in geological history and for today. Scientists often seek answers to humanity's most pressing challenges in nature.
Earth Sciences - 08.08.2024
New ways to adapt to extreme heat in the city
As summer temperatures rise, the health risks caused by heat increase. This particularly affects urban areas and cities such as Heidelberg with a high building density and limited green spaces. The heat island effect, which describes the higher temperatures in inner-city areas compared to the surrounding area, leads to an increase in heat-related illnesses, especially among vulnerable population groups such as the elderly, children and people with pre-existing conditions.
Environment - Earth Sciences - 08.08.2024
Drylands: unexpected plant diversity enables adaptation to extreme climates
Three scientists from INRAE, the CNRS and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia have coordinated a large-scale international study involving 120 scientists from 27 countries to understand how the plants found in drylands have adapted to these extreme habitats. For 8 years, the teams collected samples from several hundred selected dryland plots across six continents, enabling the analysis of over 1300 sets of observations of 300+ plant species, a first on this scale.
Earth Sciences - Aug 21
Visiting professor: social geographer Ilse Helbrecht teaches at the renowned Dartmouth College
Visiting professor: social geographer Ilse Helbrecht teaches at the renowned Dartmouth College
Earth Sciences - Aug 5
From Earth to distant worlds: ETH Department is now called Earth and Planetary Sciences
From Earth to distant worlds: ETH Department is now called Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth Sciences - Jul 29
UCalgary prof's research supports launch of Canada's earthquake alert system
UCalgary prof's research supports launch of Canada's earthquake alert system
Earth Sciences - Jul 17
Seismic activity in metro Vancouver mapped out for risk analysis, urban planning
Seismic activity in metro Vancouver mapped out for risk analysis, urban planning
Earth Sciences - Jul 15
Q&A: Helping young readers explore curiosity about rocks through discovery and play
Q&A: Helping young readers explore curiosity about rocks through discovery and play
Earth Sciences - Jul 9
NETTLE: From Mountain Meadows to the Laboratory - Collecting Alpine Plants for Research
NETTLE: From Mountain Meadows to the Laboratory - Collecting Alpine Plants for Research
Astronomy - Jun 13
Watery planets orbiting dead stars may be good candidates for studying life - if they can survive long enough
Watery planets orbiting dead stars may be good candidates for studying life - if they can survive long enough
Earth Sciences - May 28
The CNRS and the FAPESP have signed a Franco-Brazilian collaboration agreement
The CNRS and the FAPESP have signed a Franco-Brazilian collaboration agreement