Lifeboat Foundation

What processes are responsible for dust storms on Mars? This is what a study presented today at the American Geophysical Union 2024 Fall Meeting hopes to address as a pair of researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) investigated the causes behind the massive dust storms on Mars, which periodically grow large enough to engulf the entire planet. This study holds the potential to help researchers predict dust storms on Mars, which could help current and future robotic missions survive these calamities, along with future human crews to the Red Planet.

“Dust storms have a significant effect on rovers and landers on Mars, not to mention what will happen during future crewed missions to Mars,” said Heshani Pieris, who is a PhD Candidate in planetary science at CU Boulder and lead author of the study. “This dust is very light and sticks to everything.”

For the study, the researchers examined 15 (Earth) years of data obtained from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) to ascertain the processes responsible for kickstarting dust storms. After analyzing countless datasets of Martian surface temperatures, the researchers found that 68 percent of large dust storms on Mars resulted from spikes in surface temperatures during periods of increased sunlight through Mars’ thin atmosphere.

The sun continues its hurling out solar flares. On Sunday, it hurled out an X-class solar flare, the strongest type of solar flare, signalling its dynamic nature. The dramatic eruption originated from sunspot region 3,912, peaking at 4:06 AM. EST (0906 GMT) on December 8. Accompanying the flare was a coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive outpouring of magnetic fields and plasma from the sun’s atmosphere.

While CMEs, also known as solar storms, can cause geomagnetic disturbances and spark vibrant auroras when they interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, experts predict only mild effects from this event. According to Space Weather physicist Tamitha Skov, Earth may experience a glancing blow from the CME.

Continue reading “Watch: X-Class Solar Flare Erupt On Sun’s Surface Causing Radio Blackout In Africa” »

The Extremely Large Telescope is currently under construction, with the most recent milestones including progress made with building the dome, central structure and the base for the primary mirror.

That ordinary smartphone in your pocket could be a powerful tool for investigating outer space. In a new study, researchers at Google and CU Boulder have transformed millions of Android phones across the globe into a fleet of nimble scientific instruments—generating one of the most detailed maps to date of the uppermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

The group’s findings, published Nov. 13 in the journal Nature, might help to improve the accuracy of GPS technology worldwide several-fold. The research was led by Brian Williams of Google Research and included Jade Morton, professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder.

“These phones can literally fit in your palm,” Morton said. “But through crowdsourcing, we can use them to change the way we understand the space environment.”

Researchers have discovered that old elliptical galaxies can form from intense star formation in early galaxy cores.

This finding, derived from data analyzed by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, shows that these spheroidal galaxies, often considered static and inert, were once dynamic regions of intense star formation during the cosmic noon. This transformative view on galaxy evolution helps clarify the processes behind the formation of the universe’s most massive galaxies.

Groundbreaking Discovery in Galaxy Formation.

A team of Indian astronomers has made a fascinating discovery that could change how we think about how planets are born. The team, led by Liton Majumdar from the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Odisha, studied a unique triple-star system called GG Tau A, located 489 light-years away from Earth, as mentioned in the latest report by India Today.

Discovering liquid water oceans inside the moons of Uranus would transform our thinking about the range of possibilities for where life could exist.

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have made significant discoveries within the Spiderweb protocluster, revealing the formation of new galaxies and challenging previous theories about gravitational interactions.

The infrared capabilities of Webb allowed for the observation of previously obscured galaxies, enhancing our understanding of galaxy assembly in one of the largest structures of the universe during its adolescent phase.

Understanding galaxy formation in early universe.

Starlab Space, the designated successor to the International Space Station, is coming to the Innovation Park in Dübendorf ZH. The private US company is one of the big players in space travel.