Categories
Planet Earth Physics

The mass of Earth [Scientists used neutrinos to measure]

While scanning the interior of Earth using neutrinos, a team of scientists from Spain also used these subatomic particles to measure the mass of Earth. Their result is in agreement with the current best estimate, which was measured using the value of the gravitational constant (G).

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Global Warming Climate Planet Earth

We are heading for a New Cretaceous, not for a new normal

A lazy buzz phrase – ‘Is this the new normal?’ – has been doing the rounds as extreme climate events have been piling up over the past year. To which the riposte should be: it’s worse than that – we’re on the road to even more frequent, more extreme events than we saw this year.

We have known since the 1980s what’s in store for us. Action taken then to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2005 might have restricted the global temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. But nothing was done, and the welter of climate data mounting since then only confirms and refines the original predictions. So where are we now?

Categories
Animals Life on Earth

Animal claws comparison: which animal has the biggest claws?

The chart below compares some wild animals’ claws (including the Siberian tiger, African lion, Jaguar, Cougar, Grizzly bear, Harpy eagle, and Polar bear).

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Earth from Space Planet Earth Space Exploration

The Secrets behind Earth’s Multi-colored Airglow (video)

Even we could remove the effects of the moonlight, starlight and diffused sunlight from the far side, the Earth’s night sky would never be totally dark. This phenomenon is known as Airglow (also called nightglow). Airglow is a faint emission of light by Earth’s atmosphere (or any planetary atmosphere).

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Planet Earth Astronomy Places

50 Interesting Facts About Earth

One of the most surprising facts about the Earth is how we easily forget that what an amazing and interesting planet we live on. As Carl Sagan pointed out, “It’s home, it’s us”. It is the only known planet to support an atmosphere with free oxygen, liquid water on the surface, and, perhaps this is the most important amazing, life. Here are 50 interesting facts about Earth.

Categories
Geology Mountains

Mount Etna is sliding into the sea

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano (also one of the most active volcanoes in the world) is sliding into the Ionian Sea at rates of centimeters per year. If part of it falls into the sea, it could create horrible mega-tsunamis that would devastate the eastern Mediterranean shores.

Categories
Space Exploration Environment Oceans Planet Earth

Point Nemo [The Spacecraft Graveyard!]

In the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, there’s a location called “Point Nemo”. It’s not a place where humans live, in fact, there is no land there: not an island, not even a small rock. It is actually the remotest place from any human civilization you can find on Earth. It lies at least 2,688 km (1,670 mi) from the nearest land. It is also called the “Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility” (see notes 1).

Categories
Astrobiology Astronomy Earth from Space Life on Earth Plants Prehistoric Space Exploration

Earth can be a model for detecting vegetation on exoplanets

Back in December 1990, during its flyby of Earth, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, which studied the planet Jupiter and its moons, as well as several other Solar System bodies, pointed its instruments towards Earth, at the urging of Carl Sagan. And, it has found evidence of life on our planet. This can be a key to detecting vegetation on exoplanets – which is key to a possible intelligent extraterrestrial life.

In a paper published in Nature, researchers wrote “The Galileo spacecraft found evidence of abundant gaseous oxygen, a widely distributed surface pigment with a sharp absorption edge in the red part of the visible spectrum, and atmospheric methane in extreme thermodynamic disequilibrium. Together, these are strongly suggestive of life on Earth.”

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Planet Earth Geology

Structure of Earth

The universe is shrouded in mystery, and part of this mystery involves our own little planet. Although there have been countless research, the scientists and experts have only been able to barely scratch the surface (both figuratively and literally) in the case of planet earth.

However, the studies in Seismology have allowed us to gather sufficient information about the Earth and its structure. The planet comprises several layers, which have their own attributes, and composition. So let’s dive in further to discover some enlightening aspects.

Categories
Earth from Space Environment Planet Earth Space Exploration

10 Best Earth Quotes

Earth, our beautiful blue planet. It is the third planet from the Sun, but above all, it is our home, the only astronomical object known to harbor life. Here are the top 10 best Earth quotes.