Atmosphere

Astronomers and researchers have been in constant search for finding life on other celestial bodies. A team of scientists earlier pointed at the possibility of the existence of life in the clouds of Venus. In 2020, scientists revealed that they had found phosphine gas in the cloud of Venus, sparking speculation about the possibility of life on the planet. Other scientists also explored the chemistry of the evening star and suggested that life on Venus may have developed a sulphur-based metabolism. However, the claims have…

The tsunami produced by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption at the start of 2022 hit multiple countries in Oceania, Asia, North America, and South America, with waves up to 15 meters (49 feet) in some locations – the devastating consequence of a volcanic shockwave that broke records.  A new study has now revealed the mechanism that scientists think may have caused the tsunami to travel so far and with such force – a phenomenon known as acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs), a particularly long type of sound wave that can…

A new and thorough analysis of the chemistry of clouds on Venus has revealed none of the biomarkers indicative of airborne, sulfur-metabolizing life.For now, that means the question of detectable life in the clouds of Venus is pretty much answered. Until we get new information, it's likely to remain that way. The complex chemistry of the upper Venusian atmosphere simply cannot be explained by the presence of life as we know it.  After a team of scientists controversially announced that they had found phosphine gas in the…

Researchers have just discovered a previously unknown process that makes sense of the 'secret decisions' plants make when releasing carbon back into the atmosphere."We found that plants control their respiration in a way we did not expect, they control how much of the carbon from photosynthesis they keep to build biomass by using a metabolic channel," University of Western Australia plant biochemist Harvey Millar told ScienceAlert.  "This happens right as the step before they decide to burn a compound called pyruvate to…

Jupiter is composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. The amounts of each closely conform to the theoretical quantities in the primordial solar nebula.But it also contains other heavier elements, which astronomers call metals. Even though metals are a small component of Jupiter, their presence and distribution tell astronomers a lot.  According to a new study, Jupiter's metal content and distribution mean that the planet ate a lot of rocky planetesimals in its youth.Ever since NASA's Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter…

By now, few people question the reality that humans are altering Earth's climate. The real question is: How quickly can we halt, even reverse, the damage?Part of the answer to this question lies in the concept of 'committed warming,' also known as 'pipeline warming.'  It refers to future increases in global temperatures that will be caused by greenhouse gases that have already been emitted. In other words, if the clean energy transition happened overnight, how much warming would still ensue?Earth's energy budget is out…

A new video from SpinLaunch shows you exactly what it looks like to be launched into the Earth’s atmosphere at over 1,000 miles per hour. The video is just under a minute long, and it’s astonishing to watch as SpinLaunch literally throws its payload into the atmosphere. New SpinLaunch video launches viewers into the air at over 1,000 MPH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEVD9k2GLXk SpinLaunch designed its system to slingshot small spacecraft and satellites into a low-Earth orbit. The company hopes to use…

NASA has big plans to explore Venus within the next 10 years. Last week, the space agency shared details about its Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) probe. The probe is scheduled to launch in June of 2029. NASA hopes to have it in position to enter the atmosphere by June of 2031. DAVINCI will explore Venus’ surface like never before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETm-hildOo4 To say that NASA has a lot of big plans for the next 10 years would be an…

Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in May were 50 percent higher than during the pre-industrial era, reaching levels not seen on Earth for about 4 million years, the main US climate agency said on Friday.  Global warming caused by humans, particularly through the production of electricity using fossil fuels, transport, the production of cement, or even deforestation, is responsible for the new high, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.May is usually the month with the highest…

NASA’s DAVINCI mission will study the origin, evolution, and present state of Venus in unprecedented detail from near the top of the clouds to the planet’s surface. The mission’s goal is to help answer longstanding questions about our neighboring planet, especially whether Venus was ever wet and habitable like Earth. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterLast year, NASA selected the DAVINCI mission as part of its Discovery program. It will investigate the origin, evolution, and present state of <span…