Jaguar (scientific name: Panthera onca) is a big cat and one of the five species in the Panthera genus (the others are Lion, tiger, leopard, and snow leopard). It is the most feared predator in the Americas. Here are 20 amazing jaguar facts.
Continue reading “Top 20 Facts about Jaguar”Earth’s atmosphere is leaking and NASA is sending rockets to understand how
Earth’s atmosphere is leaking: around 90 tonnes of material escapes and streams out into space from our planet’s upper atmosphere every single day.
To understand this escape, NASA launches rockets into space. The space agency also sends scientists to a tiny Arctic town named Ny-Ålesund (English: New Alesund) on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway. Because understanding this atmospheric escape on Earth can benefit us in many ways – from predicting which exoplanets might be habitable, to piecing together how Mars became the desolate, exposed planet it is today.
Continue reading “Earth’s atmosphere is leaking and NASA is sending rockets to understand how”Martian Scenic Overlook by Curiosity
An amazing video by NASA titled “Curiosity at Martian Scenic Overlook”. Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada gives a descriptive tour of the Mars rover’s view in Gale Crater which is 154 kilometers (96 miles) in diameter and estimated to be about 3.5-3.8 billion years old. It is created by an impactor. The crater is also probably a dry lake (once filled with water – probably billions of years ago).
Continue reading “Martian Scenic Overlook by Curiosity”Aurora touches sunrise – amazing video
A short but amazing video showing both an aurora and sunrise from the International Space Station (ISS), published by the NASA Johnson channel.
Continue reading “Aurora touches sunrise – amazing video”Beluga whale filmed playing “fetch”
A beluga whale has been filmed playing “fetch” with South African rugby fans using an official 2019 Rugby World Cup ball near the Arctic Pole.
In the video published on Facebook by Alon Kowen, a group of South African rugby fans can be seen throwing a 2019 Rugby World Cup ball out into the ocean. The cute and friendly whale chases the ball and returns it to the men on the boat.
Continue reading “Beluga whale filmed playing “fetch””Diver saves a whale shark trapped in a commercial fishing line
In a video published by the Smithsonian channel, a diver stumbles across a whale shark trapped in a commercial fishing line in a marine sanctuary that bans fishing and frees him by cutting the rope. The giant fish lies still while the rope is cut. The footage also shows the scale of a whale shark vs a human.
Continue reading “Diver saves a whale shark trapped in a commercial fishing line”Here’s why Mars is cold despite having an atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide
Mars, often referred to as the Red Planet, boasts an atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide, a gas typically associated with warmth-inducing greenhouse effects on Earth. Yet, anyone expecting balmy temperatures on Mars would be in for a chilly surprise. Despite its CO₂-rich atmosphere, Mars remains an icy desert with temperatures often plummeting far below freezing. The paradoxical nature of a cold planet blanketed by a gas known for trapping heat sparks curiosity and demands an explanation. In this article, we’ll delve into the multifaceted reasons behind Mars’ frigid climate, revealing the intriguing interplay of astrophysical, geological, and atmospheric factors that keep our neighboring planet cold.
Continue reading “Here’s why Mars is cold despite having an atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide”Forget the Anthropocene: we’ve entered the synthetic age
One fact about our time is becoming increasingly well-known. No matter how far you travel, no matter in which direction you point, there is nowhere on Earth that remains free from the traces of human activity. The chemical and biological signatures of our species are everywhere. Transported around the globe by fierce atmospheric winds, relentless ocean currents, and the capacious cargo-holds of millions of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, nowhere on Earth is free from humanity’s imprint. Pristine nature has permanently blinked out of existence.
Continue reading “Forget the Anthropocene: we’ve entered the synthetic age”Botswana: Birthplace of Modern Humans
The question of where the evolutionary cradle of modern humans lies has long intrigued scientists and historians. The East African Great Rift Valley has traditionally been viewed as the most likely birthplace. However, revolutionary research conducted recently presents a compelling alternative.
This groundbreaking study utilizes DNA evidence to trace back the origins of mankind to a prehistoric wetland known as Makgadikgadi-Okavango, located south of the Great Zambezi River. This finding significantly shifts the focus of anthropological inquiry from East Africa to Southern Africa.
In a landmark study published in the prestigious journal Nature, it was revealed that the earliest population of H. sapiens sapiens, our direct ancestors, emerged approximately 200,000 years ago in an area that encompasses parts of what is now modern-day Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
The research unraveled a hitherto unappreciated chapter of human history, infusing fresh life into the story of human evolution. This revelation underscores the intricate tapestry of the human lineage and affirms the complexities underlying our understanding of human evolution.
Continue reading “Botswana: Birthplace of Modern Humans”Apollo 12 and its destination (Moon) in the same photo
NASA has published a beautiful photo of Apollo 12 at the launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39. This historic image, taken on October 28, 1969 (50 years ago) frames the Apollo 12 spacecraft atop the mighty Saturn V rocket and its destination, the Moon, in a single photo.
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