Tag

Earths Atmosphere

All articles tagged with #earths atmosphere

science16 hours ago

Earth’s Air Reaches the Moon Again, Hinting at Lunar Habitats

A University of Rochester study published in December 2025 found that solar winds continue to ferry particles from Earth’s atmosphere to the Moon, where they accumulate in the lunar regolith. This could make the Moon a time capsule of Earth's atmospheric history and, importantly, provide the building blocks for breathable air for future lunar settlements—though challenges like radiation and resource extraction remain before colonization is feasible.

science24 days ago

Earth's Atmosphere Is Leaking to the Moon, Revealing a Hidden Connection

Scientists have discovered that Earth's magnetic field allows atmospheric particles to escape and be deposited on the Moon, turning lunar soil into a record of Earth's ancient atmosphere. This process occurs as the Moon passes through Earth's magnetotail, where charged particles from Earth's upper atmosphere are guided onto the lunar surface, providing valuable insights into Earth's atmospheric history and the dynamics of planetary magnetospheres.

science7 months ago

Critical Oxygen Levels Threaten Earth's Life

Scientists predict that in about a billion years, Earth's atmosphere will revert to a methane-rich, low-oxygen state similar to before the Great Oxidation Event, which will likely end most oxygen-dependent life forms, although microbial life may persist. This future deoxygenation is driven by decreasing CO2 levels and increasing solar heat, with implications for understanding planetary habitability and searching for extraterrestrial life.

science1 year ago

"Unveiling the Mysteries: Scientists' Goals for US Total Solar Eclipse"

Scientists are gearing up to study the upcoming total solar eclipse in the US, hoping to gather data on the sun's atmosphere, Earth's ionosphere, animal behaviors, and human reactions. The eclipse, occurring near the peak of the sun's 11-year cycle, presents a rare opportunity to observe the sun's corona and its effects on Earth's upper atmosphere. Researchers also aim to study animal behaviors and human reactions, including the potential impact on political divisions, while engaging citizen scientists in various projects to capture the event's sights and sounds.

astronomy1 year ago

"Adapting to Earth's Atmosphere: Ground-Based Astronomers' Techniques"

Ground-based astronomers are overcoming Earth's atmosphere by using large, powerful telescopes placed in optimal locations and employing adaptive optics. Adaptive optics systems compensate for atmospheric distortion by creating artificial guide stars and using deformable mirrors to un-distort incoming light. This technology has allowed ground-based telescopes to outperform space-based telescopes in imaging quality, making ground-based astronomy a cost-effective and superior option for high-quality astronomical imaging.

science-and-astronomy1 year ago

"Insights from the 2024 Solar Eclipse: Lessons for Earth and Beyond"

On April 8, a rare total solar eclipse will be visible in Mexico, the eastern US, and Newfoundland, Canada, providing scientists with an opportunity to study its effects on Earth's surface, atmosphere, ionosphere, and the sun. Projects include documenting changes in animal behavior and sounds, measuring temperature and cloud data, studying atmospheric gravity waves, and observing the sun's outer edge and corona. Citizen scientists can participate in various projects to help gather valuable data during this once-in-a-lifetime event.

space1 year ago

"Retired ISS Batteries Plunge to Earth: 5800 Pounds of Space Junk Reentry"

A 5,800-pound object, known as Exposed Pallet 9 (EP9), containing old Nickel-Hydrogen batteries was jettisoned from the International Space Station in March 2021 and re-entered Earth's atmosphere today, falling over the Gulf of Mexico between Cancun and Cuba. The object, with the approximate mass of a large SUV, was tracked by a satellite tracker and was predicted to re-enter in two-to-four years. The re-entry was within the expected window, and the majority of space objects re-enter the atmosphere in a natural way, with most fragments burning up before reaching the ground.

space1 year ago

"Space Capsule's Hypersonic Reentry: Amazing Footage Reveals Blistering Return to Earth"

Varda Space Industries releases stunning footage of its W-1 capsule hurtling toward Earth at speeds of greater than Mach 25, showcasing the forces of Earth’s atmosphere and the spacecraft's special heat shield. The uncrewed capsule, which landed at the Utah Test and Training Range, carried crystals of an antiviral drug cultivated in space as part of Varda's efforts to become a leader in off-Earth manufacturing. The company highlights the unique benefits of processing materials in microgravity. NASA also successfully brought back a capsule containing samples gathered from an asteroid, marking a first for the space agency.

space-exploration1 year ago

"Space Capsule's Spectacular Return to Earth: A Sci-Fi Masterpiece"

Varda Space Industries shares stunning footage of its space capsule reentering Earth's atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound after an eight-month-long mission to grow crystals of an antiviral drug in microgravity, overcoming regulatory hurdles for its return. The video showcases the capsule peacefully floating in space, heating up with magenta hues giving way to orange and red, and finally dipping into lush cloud cover, resembling a scene from a sci-fi film.

science1 year ago

"Unexplained Disappearance: Earth's Atmosphere Depleted of Xenon"

Earth's atmosphere is missing a significant amount of xenon, a noble gas that typically does not react with other elements. Scientists have proposed various theories, including xenon being trapped in Earth's core, degassing into space, or being dissolved in perovskite in the mantle. Recent research suggests that a substantial amount of xenon may have been carried off into space early in Earth's history, leaving behind trace levels dissolved in perovskite. This mystery also raises questions about the xenon levels on Mars and the potential role of perovskite in trapping the gas.