All articles tagged with #water
A Nature Communications study led by Motohiko Murakami suggests hydrogen from early Earth became chemically bound inside the metallic core as iron hydrides, not as free gas or water. If hydrogen accounts for up to about 0.36% of the core’s mass, this could translate to roughly 45 oceans’ worth of water, implying Earth’s surface water may be just a fraction of a much larger deep-water inventory formed during planet formation.
Scientists used X-ray and neutron CT scans on the Martian meteorite NWA 7034 (Black Beauty) to non-destructively identify hydrogen-rich iron oxyhydroxide clasts (about 0.4% of the rock's volume), which account for roughly 11% of its water content. The findings support the presence of ancient surface water on Mars and demonstrate the value of non-destructive scanning for future Mars Sample Return work, though the mission is currently on hold.
NASA's Curiosity rover photographed a 1-inch coral-shaped rock on Mars, likely formed when mineral-rich fluids moved through bedrock fractures and were later etched by wind. The find adds to evidence that ancient Mars hosted liquid water and helps map how its landscape records environmental changes as Curiosity continues its Gale Crater mission.
A NASA-led study of Apollo-era lunar regolith using triple oxygen isotope analysis finds only a small fraction of Earth's ocean water could have been delivered by meteorites over the past four billion years, challenging the long-held view that late meteorite impacts were the primary source of Earth's oceans.
A Virginia Tech study finds California's water use from 2000 to 2020 was consistently lower than suppliers’ projections, with five-year demand overestimates averaging 25% and 20-year estimates about 74%. The drop in per-capita demand, driven by efficiency programs and landscaping rebates, decouples use from population growth and supports drought resilience, but it also implies forecasts may be too high, potentially raising costs if extra supply or infrastructure is needed. The research highlights ongoing opportunities to save water across residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors and the importance of accurate forecasting for long-term planning.
New high-resolution imagery from Mars orbiters shows delta-like, fan-shaped deposits at the Coprates Chasma end of Valles Marineris, suggesting Mars once supported a vast, Earth-sized ocean in its northern hemisphere, implying long-lasting surface water and potentially connected water systems in the planet’s past.
Scientists successfully observed atomic oxygen in water persisting for tens of microseconds and penetrating hundreds of micrometers, using advanced laser techniques, challenging previous assumptions about its reactivity and transport in liquids, and prompting a reevaluation of existing models.
A large butterfly-shaped impact crater on Mars, created by a low-angle asteroid collision, shows signs of having been influenced by water, providing insights into the planet's watery past and impact history.
NASA's Perseverance rover discovered light-colored, kaolinite-rich rocks on Mars, suggesting the planet once had a tropical, rainy climate with water environments similar to Earth's, raising the possibility that Mars could have supported life in the past.
Researchers have discovered that on Saturn's moon Titan, polar and nonpolar molecules like water and oil can mix through a process called intercalation, challenging the traditional 'like dissolves like' rule in chemistry. This finding suggests the potential for exotic chemical structures and reactions in Titan's environment, which could have implications for understanding prebiotic chemistry and the moon's geology.
The article highlights the increasing pressure on Europe's water resources due to pollution, droughts, and floods, emphasizing the importance of ecosystem protection and better wastewater management through a series of reports and debates by Euronews.
Scientists have created a new phase of ice, called XXI, that forms at room temperature under extreme pressure, revealing the complex variety of water's solid states and potentially explaining the composition of icy moons.
Scientists have discovered a new phase of ice, called ice XXI, formed by rapidly compressing water at room temperature, revealing new insights into ice's diverse crystalline structures and potential implications for understanding icy moons.
Scientists in Japan discovered that when confined to tiny spaces, water can simultaneously exhibit properties of both a solid and a liquid, a state called premelting, especially observed in heavy water within nanostructures, revealing new insights into water's complex behavior and potential applications.
A reanalysis of 1970s Pioneer Venus data suggests Venus's clouds contain mostly water bound in hydrates, challenging the previous belief that they are primarily sulfuric acid, which has significant implications for the possibility of life in Venus's clouds.