The configuration of our solar system is remarkably ordered — the eight planets orbit the sun in tight circles within the same sprawling plane. Most of the exoplanets that have been discovered so far follow orbits that are much more erratic. But, now, the first exoplanetary system with regularly aligned orbits similar to those […]
Distant Solar System Found That Is Very Similar To Ours Read More π
Greenland’s surface ice cover has melted over a larger area than at any time in more than 30 years of satellite observations several times this month. Almost the entire ice cover of Greenland, “from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its two-mile-thick center, experienced some degree of melting at its surface,” according to the measurements
Greenland Ice Sheet, Unprecedented 97% Melting Read More π
Researchers have created a free swimming “jellyfish” from inanimate silicone and living cardiac muscle cells, as Michael wrote yesterday. The creation was possible because of recent advances in marine biomechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering. The work was done by researchers from Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The research is
Artificial Jellyfish Created From Heart Muscle Cells And Silicon Polymer Read More π
The BP oil spill, the largest ever oil spill on open water to date, contributed significantly to the historically high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico, says a two-year scientific study released July 19. A variety of other environmental factors contributed. A research team of biologists from several Gulf of Mexico institutions
Dolphin Mass Deaths In The Gulf Of Mexico Due To The BP Oil Spill And Other Factors Read More π
The highest-resolution images ever taken of the Sun’s corona were just released by NASA. The solar corona is the million-degree or so outer atmosphere. The 16-megapixel images, taken in the extreme-ultraviolet wavelength of light, were captured by NASA’s High Resolution Coronal Imager, or Hi-C, which was launched on a sounding rocket on July 11th. The
Solar Corona, Highest Resolution Images Ever Taken Just Released Read More π
Researchers from UCLA have developed a new transparent solar cell that is a significant step towards giving the windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still being transparent. The research team “describes a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible
Solar-Power-Generating Windows Read More π
There has been a significant breakthrough in computational biology, a complete computer model of an organism has been created for the first time. A research team led by Markus Covert, an assistant professor of bioengineering, “used data from more than 900 scientific papers to account for every molecular interaction that takes place in the life
First Complete Computer Model Of An Organism Created Read More π
The gigantic sunspot known as AR1520 released another powerful solar flare early on Thursday July 19th. The solar storm isn’t expected to pose any serious problems to us here on Earth, researchers say. The solar flare erupted from AR 1520 at 1:13 a.m. EDT (0513 GMT) Thursday and peaked about 45 minutes later. The flare
Huge Sunspot Releases Large Solar Flare (VIDEO) Read More π
The leopard in a dramatic new photo turns out to be the same one photographed by a camera trap nearly eight years ago. The photo shows a male leopard dragging a massive gaur (or Indian bison) calf in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The photo was taken by the Indian photographer Vinay S. Kumar, and was
Leopard In Dramatic New Photo Was Also Photographed By A Camera Trap In 2004 Read More π
The earliest spiral galaxy ever seen has just been found by the Hubble Space Telescope. This galaxy appears to have existed billions of years before most other spiral galaxies formed. It was discovered using the Hubble Space Telescope, while taking pictures of around 300 very distant galaxies in the early universe, in a study to
Earliest Spiral Galaxy Ever Found Just Spotted Read More π
There’s a new lightest material in town.Β Aerographite, the new material, is a staggering 75 times lighter than Styrofoam. Aerographite isΒ composed of a network of porous carbon tubes that are three-dimensionally interwoven at the nano and micro level. The wonder material weighs just 0.2 milligrams per cubic centimetre. Notably, despite being 75 times lighter than
New Lightest Material — Aerographite Read More π
An iceberg nearly twice the size of Manhattan has just broken away from the floating end of Petermann Glacier in Greenland. This event was predicted last autumn by researchers. The massive floating ice island is 46 square miles, and just separated from the terminus of one of Greenland’s largest glaciers. “The Petermann Glacier last
Iceberg Nearly Twice The Size Of Manhattan Just Broke Off Of Greenland Glacier Read More π
The Mars rover Curiosity is only 20 days away from landing, but a newly discovered glitch in an aging Mars orbiter means mission controllers may have to wait a little longer than expected to learn whether the landing succeeds or not. The 1-ton Curiosity rover, the centerpiece of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission,
The strongest solar flare of the summer, an X1.4-class flare, just erupted on July 12th. It was the second X-class solar flare in just one week. It peaked at 12:52 p.m. EDT (1652 GMT) on the 12th. The massive X-class flare included a powerful coronal mass ejection. The CME, a mass of charged solar plasma
X-Class Solar Flare Released A CME Headed Towards Earth (VIDEO) Read More π
Lemurs are the world’s most endangered mammals, an International Union for Conservation of Nature conference has found. Lemurs are a very diverse group of primates endemic to Madagascar. An IUCN workshop met this week in Madagascar in order to discuss the Earth’s 103 remaining lemur species — conservation efforts there have been deteriorating the
Lemurs Are The World's Most Threatened Mammal, Study Says Read More π
Two female snow leopards and their cubs have been located and filmed for the first time in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains. This is the first known video taken of a mother with cubs in the wild. The work was done by researchers from the organization Panthera, which focuses on wild cat conservation, and the Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard With Cubs Filmed For The First Time Read More π
The recent discovery of a new moon around Pluto has now raised the number of confirmed moons up to five. The newly discovered moon is estimated to be around 6 to 15 miles across, and of an irregular shape. It follows a circular orbit with a 58,000-mile-diameter around Pluto. And it is thought to be
New Moon Discovered Around Pluto Read More π
The dens of two female snow leopards and their cubs have been located for the first time in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains. This is the first known video taken of a mother and cubs. The research was done by scientists from Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization, and the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT). The snow
Snow Leopard Mother And Cubs Seen In Den For First Time Read More π
A new, fifth moon has been discovered orbiting around the dwarf planet Pluto. The discovery was made by a team of researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope. The moon is estimated to be around 6 to 15 miles across, and of an irregular shape. It follows a circular orbit with a 58,000-mile-diameter around Pluto,
Pluto's Fifth Moon Discovered By Hubble Read More π
White LEDs that can be printed and manufactured directly on paper have been developed by researcher Gul Amin from LinkΓΆping University. With the development of this new technology, applications as diverse as luminous curtains, bright wallpaper that functions as lighting, self-lit books, etc., are possible. Gul Amin, in his doctoral thesis at the Physical
White LED Lighting Grows Directly On Paper Read More π
Migratory animals utilize the Earthβs magnetic field in order to find their way across large distances. The exact biological source for this ability has previously been unknown, but according to new research it’s been located. The ‘internal compass needles’ for the perception of the field has been found to be a group of specialized
Migratory Animals Use Magnetic Cells To Navigate Read More π
For the first time, researchers have located where the sounds made by the aurora borealis are created. The sounds that accompany the Northern Lights have long been described in folktales and by wilderness wanderers, but confirmation of their existence has been hard to come by. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland located exactly where the
Sounds Of The Northern Lights (VIDEO) Read More π
On the global scale, 2011 was the coolest year since 2008, but temperatures were still considerably above the 30 year average, according to the 2011 State of the Climate report released online today by NOAA. “The peer-reviewed report, issued in coordination with the American Meteorological Society (AMS), was compiled by 378 scientists from 48 countries
Extreme Weather Linked To Climate Change Read More π
Auroral sounds have, for the first time, been confirmed to exist. The sounds accompanying the Northern Lights have long been described in folktales and by wilderness wanderers, but evidence until now has been scarce. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland have also located where the sounds associated with the lights are created, they are formed
Sounds Of The Aurora Borealis Confirmed Read More π
This video filmed from the International Space Station is really striking. This is the view that the astronauts living there see everyday. It’s definitely worth a watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip2ZGND1I9Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player The video was put together by Tomislav SafundΕΎiΔ, “described on his Vimeo page as an 18-year-old who enjoys photography and video editing, composed ‘This is Our Planet’
Amazing Video Of The Earth Filmed From The ISS (VIDEO) Read More π
Research on the development of a robot that can walk like a human was just published on July 6th in the Journal of Neural Engineering. As a quick overview: “A robotic set of legs that is able to fully model walking, in a biologically accurate manner, has been produced by a group of US researchers.”
Robots That Can Walk, Manipulate Objects, Learn Language, Draw, Etc, (VIDEOS) Read More π
Life on Mars, and the possible evidence of extinct life there, may be detectable at much shallower depths beneath the Martian surface than was originally thought, according to new research. If this is true, it will greatly improve the likelihood that NASA’s newest Mars rover, Curiosity, will find evidence of life. Curiosity is scheduled
Life On Mars May Be Detectable Much Closer To The Surface Than Previously Thought Read More π
The largest rover ever launched to explore an alien planet is only one month away from landing on Mars. NASA’s very large rover, Curiosity, is headed towards its scheduled late-night landing on Mars, which will be on Aug. 5 PDT (early Aug. 6 EDT). “At 1 ton, Curiosity is the largest rover ever aimed at
Mars Rover Curiosity Is One Month Away From Landing Read More π
A robotic set of legs that is able to fully model walking, in a biologically accurate manner, has been produced by a group of US researchers. The remarkably human-like walking gait was produced by simplifying the neural architecture, musculoskeletal architecture and sensory feedback pathways of humans, and building them into the robot. The biological accuracy
Robot Developed That Can Walk Like A Human (VIDEO) Read More π
Extreme hypersonic flight, taking place at Mach 20 (i.e., 20 times the speed of sound), would enable travel anywhere in the world, in under an hour. It’s an area of research where there remain significant blocks to scientific advancement. The research and development done by DARPA in stealth technology during the 1970s and 1980s
U.S. Beginning New Phase Of Hypersonic Jet Plane Development Read More π
Solar thermal power is, for the most part, unrestricted by materials availability, according to new research from the Chalmers University of Technology. There are still a few minor issues left, though, such as finding a replacement for the silver in mirrors. With growing international export restrictions on rare earth metals, and diminishing availability, the
Solar Thermal Power Is Unrestricted By Materials Availabilty Read More π
Every year, in the North Atlantic Ocean, there occurs what’s known as the North Atlantic Bloom. It has caused an immense number of phytoplankton bursting into existence. The seawater first turns green, and then whitish, as a progression of different species bloom. What’s the cause of this enormous bloom? Previously it had been known
New Trigger For North Atlantic Phytoplankton Blooms Discovered Read More π
The strongest solar flare of the summer, so far, erupted from the sun on Friday, July 6. It’s the latest in a run of powerful solar storms this week. The solar storm happened just after 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) and was observed to be a class X1.1 solar flare.Β X-class flares are the strongest
Strongest Solar Flare Of The Summer Just Occured Read More π
In a surprise finding, researchers have discovered that the whirlpools, or eddies, that swirl across the the North Atlantic are able to sustain phytoplankton blooms in the ocean’s shallower waters long before the longer days of spring start. During a recent expedition to the North Atlantic Ocean, researchers from the University of Washington, who
Phytoplankton Blooms In North Atlantic Caused By Eddies, Not Sunlight Read More π
A newly completed image from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rough terrain around the outcrop where the Opportunity rover spent its most recent Martian winter sleeping. The photo captures everything — from fresh rover tracks, to an impact crater billions of years old. The image is viewable
Martian Panorama, New Photograph From Mars Read More π
An international team of researchers has just discovered that aerosols even from comparatively small volcanic eruptions can make it into the high atmosphere when assisted by weather systems such as monsoons. Once in the high atmosphere, aerosols are capable of affecting global temperatures for a short time. If they don’t make into into the
Aerosols From Small Volcanic Eruptions Can Influence Global Climate Read More π
An extraordinary amount of dust around a nearby star has disappeared over a period of only a few years, a cosmic blink of an eye. “It’s like the classic magician’s trick — now you see it, now you don’t,” said Carl Melis, a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Diego and lead author of the
Astronomers Witness Cosmic Vanishing Act Read More π
Researchers have observed a very fast drop in infrared emissions from the Sun-like star TYC 8241 2652. This rapid drop may be an indication that the circumstellar disk of dusty debris, from which planets form, has experienced a very drastic (and, as of now, unknown) event. In observations made in 2009 by researchers from
Rapid Disappearance Of Pre-Planetary Dust Disk Challenges Theories Read More π
Bat populations in North America are currently being decimated by a fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome. The deadliness of this fungus may greatly depend on how social the bats are during hibernation, according to new research from the University of California, Santa Cruz. “Species that hibernate in dense clusters even as their populations
White-Nose Syndrome Mortality Is Highest In Bats That Are More Social Read More π
The fossil of a previously unknown species of dinosaur has been discovered in the chalk beds of the Franconian Jura, and it shows very clear traces of fluffy plumage. The discovery brings up an interesting question — were all dinosaurs feathered? The new discovery is helping to change our perception of how predatory dinosaurs
Feathered Dinosaurs May Have Been The Norm, Fossil Discovery Suggests Read More π
One of the main obstacles in the way of a practical quantum computer has been removed. Researchers were recently able to create quantum bits (qubits) and store information on them for nearly two seconds at room temperature. The majority of the other current systems used rely on very complex and costly equipment that traps
Quantum Computing At Room-Temperature, Quantum Bits Store Data For Nearly Two Seconds Read More π
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, will be holding a news seminar the morning of July 4 in order to announce new results from the ATLAS and CMS experiments. Based at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) these two experiments are searching for the elusive Higgs boson particle. Both of the research teams are
Higgs Boson, Understanding The Buzz Read More π
A fossil of a previously unknown species of feathered dinosaur has been discovered in southern Germany. The discovery is further changing our perception of how predatory dinosaurs looked, Sciurumimus albersdoerferi is the first evidence that we have, that theropod dinosaurs, which are not closely related to birds, were feathered. “This is a surprising find from
Predatory Dinosaurs All Had Feathers, New Discovery Suggests Read More π
Researchers working at the La Corona site in Guatemala have found a 1,300-year-old Maya inscription referencing the so-called “end date” of the Maya calendar, December 21, 2012; this is only the second known reference to this date. This discovery is one of the most important hieroglyphic discoveries in the past couple of decades. The
Maya Calendar Ending In 2012, New Inscription Discovered Read More π
A 20,000-year-old pottery fragment has been found in Xianrendong Cave, Jiangxi Province in China. This is the oldest pottery yet found — it’s at least 2000-3000 years older than any pottery previously found in the world. The researchers say that it was likely used for steaming or boiling food, or possibly to brew alcoholic
20,000-Year-Old Pottery Found In China Read More π
On Saturday night, ‘time’ will stand still for one second, as a ‘leap second’ is added to the regular 60-second minute. The atomic clocks we use to measure time are extremely accurate, but the Earth’s rotation isn’t, so periodically, we readjust the International Atomic Time to better match ‘noon’ with the time of the
'Leap Second' Saturday Night Will Make A 61-Second Minute (VIDEO) Read More π
Over the past 90 years, the breeding programs of the commercial tomato industry have slowly resulted in the bland supermarket tomatoes of today. But now, in new research, one of the genes responsible for that change in the levels of sugars, carbohydrates, and carotenoids in tomatoes has been discovered. This gene is one of the
Tomatoes Lost Their Flavor Because Of Commercial Selection For Uniform Color Read More π
Dinosaurs were likely warm-blooded, according to a new study done on living mammals. One of the only lines of evidence suggesting that dinosaurs may have been cold-blooded has been completely dismantled by the new research. The work was done by researchers from the Institut CatalΓ de Paleontologia (ICP) and Universitat AutΓ²noma de Barcelona (UAB), and
Dinosaurs Were Likely Warm-Blooded Read More π