Our Planet

Machimosaurus rex: a giant prehistoric crocodile discovered in the Sahara

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 13, 2016
No Comments on Machimosaurus rex: a giant prehistoric crocodile discovered in the Sahara

The Sahara desert, with its endless stretches of sand and searing heat, may not be the first place you’d expect to find a prehistoric sea monster. But that’s exactly where National Geographic grantee Federico Fanti and his team of paleontologists made an astonishing discovery: the remains of a massive marine crocodile named Machimosaurus rex.

With estimated lengths of up to 30 feet (9.14 meters) and razor-sharp teeth, M. rex was a true apex predator of the Late Jurassic seas. Fanti and his colleagues pieced together the crocodile’s fossilized bones, unlocking clues about its anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary history. This groundbreaking research sheds new light on the ancient ecosystems of North Africa and the fascinating creatures that roamed them millions of years ago.

Life on Earth Environment Geology

Anthropocene: The New Geological Era, According to Scientists

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 10, 2016
No Comments on Anthropocene: The New Geological Era, According to Scientists

The Earth in the night from space — The Earth in the night, from the International Space Station (ISS).

Our planet is experiencing a new geological era, according to a growing number of scientists. The Anthropocene, as it is being called, marks the first time in Earth’s history that human activities have had a significant and lasting impact on the planet’s ecosystems, geology, and climate. The term “Anthropocene” is derived from the Greek words “anthropos,” meaning human, and “kainos,” meaning new, to reflect the idea that humans are the driving force behind this new epoch. While the idea of the Anthropocene is still a subject of debate among some scientists, the concept has gained widespread acceptance and is viewed as a call to action to address the environmental challenges that our planet faces today.

Earth from Space Places Space Exploration

10 Most Beautiful Earth Images Taken From the International Space Station in 2015

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date January 3, 2016
No Comments on 10 Most Beautiful Earth Images Taken From the International Space Station in 2015

Nile at Night from International Space Station (September 22, 2015) — NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, recently past the halfway mark of his one-year mission to the International Space Station, photographed the Nile River during a nighttime flyover on Sept. 22, 2015. Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) wrote, "Day 179. The #Nile at night is a beautiful sight for these sore eyes. Good night from @space_station! #YearInSpace."

The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth since 1998, providing scientists and astronauts with a unique vantage point to observe and study our planet. In addition to its scientific mission, the ISS has also captured some of the most breathtaking images of Earth from space. In this article, we will take a look at the 10 most beautiful Earth images taken from the ISS in 2015. From stunning views of the Northern Lights to majestic mountain ranges and turquoise waters, these images remind us of the incredible beauty of our planet and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

Global Warming Climate Oceans

Here’s what Earth would look like if all the ice melted

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date December 17, 2015
No Comments on Here’s what Earth would look like if all the ice melted

Our planet is getting warmer every year, and the horrible fact is, global warming is accelerating. As a natural result, the glaciers are melting at an increasing speed. What if all the Earth’s ice melted?

Almost 10% of the world’s land surface is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. The amount of water locked up in ice and snow is only about 1.7 percent of all water on Earth (332,500,000 cubic miles, or 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers), but the majority of total freshwater on Earth, about 68.7%, is held in ice caps and glaciers. And if all land ice melted the seas would rise about 70 meters (about 230 feet).

What if all this ice melted? What would Earth look like? Alex Kuzoian of Business Insider prepared a video showing the effects of the global melting, and if it happens, “this would dramatically reshape the continents and drown many of the world’s major cities.”

Climate Places Planet Earth

Hottest and Coldest places on Earth

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date December 11, 2015
1 Comment on Hottest and Coldest places on Earth

Earth has a mild climate that is conducive to supporting life, with most regions experiencing temperatures that are not too extreme. However, there are also areas that have incredibly hot or cold temperatures. From the blistering heat of the world’s deserts to the bone-chilling cold of the polar regions, our planet offers a wide range of environments. Here are the hottest and coldest places on Earth and what makes them unique.

Travel Geography Places

Around the World in Eighty Days [Jules Verne]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date November 22, 2015
No Comments on Around the World in Eighty Days [Jules Verne]

The map of Jules Verne's Around the Wold in Eighty Days — The map of Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. It is a classic adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, published in 1873. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager (roughly £1.6 million today) set by his friends at the Reform Club. It is one of Verne's most acclaimed works. Photo: wikipedia

When I was a child, one of my favorite books was (and still is) Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. Published in 1873, the novel tells the story of Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, and his newly employed French valet Passepartout.

Life on Earth Animals Geology Planet Earth Prehistoric

If Earth’s lifetime was the distance from LA to New York City

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date November 21, 2015
No Comments on If Earth’s lifetime was the distance from LA to New York City

Earth life time from LA to NYC — To put Earth's age into a perspective, Alex Kuzoian of Business insider prepared a beautiful video: you can watch Earth's life span as the distance from Los Angeles to New York City. Along the trip we see the formation of our Moon, the beginning of the life, the evolving of the multi-cellular organisms, and the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. Probably the most interesting part is that modern humans only evolved 175 meters (570 feet) from the finishing line of this journey.

Our old planet, the Earth is 4.54 billion years old. In fact, the human mind can no longer make any sense of large numbers like that. Numbers like 1, 2, 14, 20, 50 are all quantities that we encounter quite frequently in our daily lives. And our brain evolved to conceptualize numbers like that: our ancestors saw two lions; they hunted five deer in one hunting party, the population of their tribe was 20, etc…

But when the numbers are getting big, i.e. 1,000; 10,000… the problem begins: these numbers become increasingly difficult to conceptualize. Now, what happens when we try to conceptualize quantities like billions, like the Earth’s age? We can’t actually rationalize the immensity of such a big number. Because we haven’t a model of 4.54 billion that’s been compressed into something recognizable to the human mind.

Animals Life on Earth

Hybrid Big Cats [Ligers, Tigons, and more, with photos and videos!]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date November 17, 2015
2 Comments on Hybrid Big Cats [Ligers, Tigons, and more, with photos and videos!]

Four of the five species of the big cats (the Panthera genus – lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard), the exception being the snow leopard can hybridize with each other to produce numerous hybrids. In fact, most of these animals’ habitats do not overlap, for example, lions live in Africa and tigers in Asia. However, hybrid big cats can be born by accident in captivity.

Climate Geography Places Planet Earth

Top 10 driest places on Earth

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date November 9, 2015
No Comments on Top 10 driest places on Earth

The Earth is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from lush tropical rainforests to snow-capped mountains. However, there are also places on our planet where rainfall is extremely scarce and the land is bone-dry. In this article, we will explore the top 10 driest places on Earth, from deserts to the harsh terrains of polar regions, and learn about the unique conditions that make them so arid. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of extreme dryness.

Oceans Geography Places Planet Earth

How Deep is the Ocean? The Average and Maximum Depths of the Oceans

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date October 30, 2015
No Comments on How Deep is the Ocean? The Average and Maximum Depths of the Oceans

Ocean depth zones infographic, vector illustration labeled diagram — Discovering the Depths: A Visual Guide to the Layers of the Ocean. This image showcases the varying levels of the ocean, from the sunlit surface to the completely dark hadal zone, the deepest region of the ocean, lying within oceanic trenches. Each layer is home to unique ecosystems and geological features, with temperatures and pressures that challenge even the hardiest of creatures. The deepest point of the Earth's oceans lies at 36,069.55 feet ± 131.234 feet (10,994 meters ± 40 meters). It is the maximum-known depth of the Mariana Trench (the Challenger Deep). Understanding these depths is crucial for mapping the ocean floor, monitoring climate change, and developing sustainable fishing practices. Image source: Deposit Photos

The Earth’s oceans are vast and largely unexplored, covering over 70% of the planet’s surface. Despite our limited knowledge of the depths below, scientists have been able to determine both the average and maximum depths of the oceans through a variety of methods. Understanding these depths is crucial for a range of scientific and practical purposes, from predicting oceanic currents to exploring the mysteries of deep-sea life.