A tree planted for every T-shirt purchased. For every bottle of wine. For every swipe of a credit card. Trees planted by countries to meet global pledges and by companies to bolster their sustainability records.

As the climate crisis deepens, businesses and consumers are joining nonprofit groups and governments in a global tree planting boom. Last year saw billions of trees planted in scores of countries around the world. These efforts can be a triple win, providing livelihoods, absorbing and locking away planet-warming carbon dioxide, and improving the health of ecosystems.

But when done poorly, the projects can worsen the very problems they were meant to solve. Planting the wrong trees in the wrong place can actually reduce biodiversity, speeding extinctions and making ecosystems far less resilient.

Addressing biodiversity loss, already a global crisis akin to climate change, is becoming more and more urgent. Extinction rates are surging. An estimated million species are at risk of disappearing, many within decades. And ecosystem collapse doesn’t just threaten animals and plants; it imperils the food and water supplies that humans rely on.

Amid that worsening crisis, companies and countries are increasingly investing in tree planting that carpets large areas with commercial, nonnative species in the name of fighting climate change. These trees sock away carbon but provide little support to the webs of life that once thrived in those areas.

“You’re creating basically a sterile landscape,” said Paul Smith, who runs Botanic Gardens Conservation International, an umbrella group that works to prevent plant extinctions. “If people want to plant trees, let’s also make it a positive for biodiversity.”

There’s a rule of thumb in the tree planting world: One should plant “the right tree in the right place.” Some add, “for the right reason.”

But, according to interviews with a range of players — scientists, policy experts, forestry companies and tree planting organizations — people often disagree on what “right” means. For some, it’s big tree farms for carbon storage and timber. For others, it’s providing fruit trees to small-scale farmers. For others still, it’s allowing native species to regenerate.

The best efforts try to address a range of needs, according to restoration experts, but it can be hard to reconcile competing interests.

“It’s kind of the Wild West,” said Forrest Fleischman, a professor of environmental policy at the University of Minnesota.

‘Harm in the Name of Doing Good’

There is not enough land on Earth to tackle climate change with trees alone, but if paired with drastic cuts in fossil fuels, trees can be an important natural solution. They absorb carbon dioxide through pores in their leaves and stash it away in their branches and trunks (though trees also release carbon when they burn or rot). That ability to collect CO2 is why forests are often called carbon sinks.

In Central Africa, TotalEnergies, the French oil and gas giant, has announced plans to plant trees on 40,000 hectares in the Republic of Congo. The project — on the Batéké Plateau, a rolling mosaic of grasses and wooded savanna with patches of denser forests — would sequester more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide over 20 years, according to the company.

“Total is committing to the development of natural carbon sinks in Africa,” said Nicolas Terraz, who was then Total’s senior vice president for Africa, exploration and production, in a company news release on the project in 2021. “These activities build on the priority initiatives taken by the group to avoid and reduce emissions, in line with its ambition to get to net zero by 2050.”

To achieve net zero, companies must remove at least as much carbon from the air as they release. Many, like TotalEnergies, are turning to trees for help with that. On the Batéké Plateau, an acacia species from Australia, intended for selective logging, will cover a large area.

The project, part of a Congolese government program to expand forest cover and increase carbon storage, would create jobs, the company said, and ultimately broaden the ecosystem’s biodiversity as local species are allowed to grow in over decades.

But scientists warn that the plan may be an example of one of the worst kinds of forestation efforts: planting trees where they would not naturally occur. These projects can devastate biodiversity, threaten water supplies and even increase temperatures because, in some cases, trees absorb heat that grasslands — or, in other parts of the world, snow — would have reflected.

“We don’t want to cause harm in the name of doing good,” said Bethanie Walder, executive director of the Society for Ecological Restoration, a global nonprofit.

The Batéké Plateau is one of the least-studied ecosystems in Africa, according to Paula Nieto Quintano, an environmental scientist who has focused on the region. “Its importance for local livelihoods, its ecology and ecosystem functions are poorly understood,” Nieto said.

Those who study forest restoration emphasize that trees are not a cure-all.

“I fear that many corporations and governments are seeing this as an easy way out,” said Robin Chazdon, a professor of tropical forest restoration at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. “They don’t necessarily have to work as hard to reduce their emissions because they can just say, ‘Oh, we’re offsetting that by planting trees’.”

‘There Have Been Bad Actors’

All trees store carbon, but their other benefits vary widely depending on the species and where it’s planted.

Eucalyptus, for instance, grows fast and straight, making it a lucrative lumber product. Native to Australia and a few islands to the north, its leaves feed koalas, which evolved to tolerate a potent poison they contain. But in Africa and South America — where the trees are widely grown for timber, fuel and, increasingly, carbon storage — they provide far less value to wildlife. They are also blamed for depleting water and worsening wildfires.

Experts acknowledge that forest restoration and carbon sequestration are complex, and that commercial species have a role to play. People need timber, a renewable product with a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel. They need paper and fuel for cooking.

Planting fast-growing species for harvest can sometimes help preserve surrounding native forests. And, by strategically adding native species, tree farms can help biodiversity by creating wildlife corridors to link disconnected habitat areas.

“This restoration movement can’t happen without the private sector,” said Michael Becker, head of communications at 1t.org, a group created by the World Economic Forum to push for the conservation and growth of 1 trillion trees with help from private investment. “Historically, there have been bad actors, but we need to bring them into the fold and doing the right thing.”

A challenge is that helping biodiversity doesn’t offer the financial return of carbon storage or timber markets.

Many governments have set standards for reforestation efforts, but they often provide broad leeway.

In Wales, one of the most deforested countries in Europe, the government is offering incentives for tree planting. But growers need only include 25% native species to qualify for government subsidies. In Kenya and Brazil, rows of eucalyptus grow on land that was once ecologically rich forest and savanna. In Peru, a company called Reforesta Perú is planting trees on degraded Amazonian land, but it’s increasingly using cloned eucalyptus and teak, intended for export.

Investors prefer them because they bring better prices, said Enrique Toledo, general manager of Reforesta Perú. “They are well-known species internationally and there is an unsatisfied demand for wood.”

When researchers from University College London and the University of Edinburgh evaluated national commitments toward reforestation and restoration, they found that 45% involved “planting vast monocultures of trees as profitable enterprises.”

‘The Same Species All Over the World’

When businesses promise to plant a tree for every purchase of a given product, they typically do so via nonprofit groups that work with communities around the world. The support may reforest after wildfires or provide fruit and nut trees to farmers. But even these projects can compromise biodiversity.

The planet is home to nearly 60,000 tree species. A third are threatened with extinction, mainly from agriculture, grazing and exploitation. But globally, only a tiny fraction of species are widely planted, according to tree planting groups and scientists.

“They’re planting the same species all over the world,” said Meredith Martin, an assistant professor of forestry at North Carolina State University who found that nonprofit tree planting efforts in the tropics tend to prioritize the livelihood needs of people over biodiversity or carbon storage. Over time, she said, these efforts risk reducing biodiversity in forests.

Nonprofit tree planting groups often say they plant nonnative species because local communities ask for them. But deeper engagement can yield a different story, said Susan Chomba, who oversees forest restoration and conservation in Africa for the World Resources Institute, a global research nonprofit group. When given the chance to consider what they want to accomplish on their land, farmers will recall, for instance, that when they had more trees, they also had streams, she said. They want the water back.

“Then you say, ‘In your traditional, local knowledge, what kind of tree species are suitable for returning water into the ecosystem?’” Chomba continued. “They will give you a whole range of indigenous tree species.”

A major hurdle is lack of supply at local seed banks, which tend to be dominated by popular commercial species. Some groups overcome this problem by paying people to collect seeds from nearby forests.

Another solution, experts say, is to let forests come back on their own. If the area is only lightly degraded or sits near existing forest, a method called natural regeneration can be cheaper and more effective. Simply fencing off certain areas from grazing will often allow trees to return, with both carbon sequestration and biodiversity built in.

“Nature knows much more than we do,” Chazdon said.

A tree planted for every T-shirt purchased. For every bottle of wine. For every swipe of a credit card. Trees planted by countries to meet global pledges and by companies to bolster their sustainability records.

A tree planted for every T-shirt purchased. For every bottle of wine. For every swipe of a credit card. Trees planted by countries to meet global pledges and by companies to bolster their sustainability records. As the climate crisis deepens, businesses and consumers are joining nonprofit groups and governments in a global tree planting boom. Last year saw billions of trees planted in scores of countries around the world. These efforts can be a triple win, providing livelihoods, absorbing and locking away planet-warming carbon dioxide, and improving the health of ecosystems. But when done poorly, the projects can worsen the very problems they were meant to solve. Planting the wrong trees in the wrong place can actually reduce biodiversity, speeding extinctions and making ecosystems far less resilient. Addressing biodiversity loss, already a global crisis akin to climate change, is becoming more and more urgent. Extinction rates are surging. An estimated million species are at risk of disappearing, many within decades. And ecosystem collapse doesn’t just threaten animals and plants; it imperils the food and water supplies that humans rely on. Amid that worsening crisis, companies and countries are increasingly investing in tree planting that carpets large areas with commercial, nonnative species in the name of fighting climate change. These trees sock away carbon but provide little support to the webs of life that once thrived in those areas. “You’re creating basically a sterile landscape,” said Paul Smith, who runs Botanic Gardens Conservation International, an umbrella group that works to prevent plant extinctions. “If people want to plant trees, let’s also make it a positive for biodiversity.” There’s a rule of thumb in the tree planting world: One should plant “the right tree in the right place.” Some add, “for the right reason.” But, according to interviews with a range of players — scientists, policy experts, forestry companies and tree planting organizations — people often disagree on what “right” means. For some, it’s big tree farms for carbon storage and timber. For others, it’s providing fruit trees to small-scale farmers. For others still, it’s allowing native species to regenerate. The best efforts try to address a range of needs, according to restoration experts, but it can be hard to reconcile competing interests. “It’s kind of the Wild West,” said Forrest Fleischman, a professor of environmental policy at the University of Minnesota. ‘Harm in the Name of Doing Good’ There is not enough land on Earth to tackle climate change with trees alone, but if paired with drastic cuts in fossil fuels, trees can be an important natural solution. They absorb carbon dioxide through pores in their leaves and stash it away in their branches and trunks (though trees also release carbon when they burn or rot). That ability to collect CO2 is why forests are often called carbon sinks. In Central Africa, TotalEnergies, the French oil and gas giant, has announced plans to plant trees on 40,000 hectares in the Republic of Congo. The project — on the Batéké Plateau, a rolling mosaic of grasses and wooded savanna with patches of denser forests — would sequester more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide over 20 years, according to the company. “Total is committing to the development of natural carbon sinks in Africa,” said Nicolas Terraz, who was then Total’s senior vice president for Africa, exploration and production, in a company news release on the project in 2021. “These activities build on the priority initiatives taken by the group to avoid and reduce emissions, in line with its ambition to get to net zero by 2050.” To achieve net zero, companies must remove at least as much carbon from the air as they release. Many, like TotalEnergies, are turning to trees for help with that. On the Batéké Plateau, an acacia species from Australia, intended for selective logging, will cover a large area. The project, part of a Congolese government program to expand forest cover and increase carbon storage, would create jobs, the company said, and ultimately broaden the ecosystem’s biodiversity as local species are allowed to grow in over decades. But scientists warn that the plan may be an example of one of the worst kinds of forestation efforts: planting trees where they would not naturally occur. These projects can devastate biodiversity, threaten water supplies and even increase temperatures because, in some cases, trees absorb heat that grasslands — or, in other parts of the world, snow — would have reflected. “We don’t want to cause harm in the name of doing good,” said Bethanie Walder, executive director of the Society for Ecological Restoration, a global nonprofit. The Batéké Plateau is one of the least-studied ecosystems in Africa, according to Paula Nieto Quintano, an environmental scientist who has focused on the region. “Its importance for local livelihoods, its ecology and ecosystem functions are poorly understood,” Nieto said. Those who study forest restoration emphasize that trees are not a cure-all. “I fear that many corporations and governments are seeing this as an easy way out,” said Robin Chazdon, a professor of tropical forest restoration at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. “They don’t necessarily have to work as hard to reduce their emissions because they can just say, ‘Oh, we’re offsetting that by planting trees’.” ‘There Have Been Bad Actors’ All trees store carbon, but their other benefits vary widely depending on the species and where it’s planted. Eucalyptus, for instance, grows fast and straight, making it a lucrative lumber product. Native to Australia and a few islands to the north, its leaves feed koalas, which evolved to tolerate a potent poison they contain. But in Africa and South America — where the trees are widely grown for timber, fuel and, increasingly, carbon storage — they provide far less value to wildlife. They are also blamed for depleting water and worsening wildfires. Experts acknowledge that forest restoration and carbon sequestration are complex, and that commercial species have a role to play. People need timber, a renewable product with a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel. They need paper and fuel for cooking. Planting fast-growing species for harvest can sometimes help preserve surrounding native forests. And, by strategically adding native species, tree farms can help biodiversity by creating wildlife corridors to link disconnected habitat areas. “This restoration movement can’t happen without the private sector,” said Michael Becker, head of communications at 1t.org, a group created by the World Economic Forum to push for the conservation and growth of 1 trillion trees with help from private investment. “Historically, there have been bad actors, but we need to bring them into the fold and doing the right thing.” A challenge is that helping biodiversity doesn’t offer the financial return of carbon storage or timber markets. Many governments have set standards for reforestation efforts, but they often provide broad leeway. In Wales, one of the most deforested countries in Europe, the government is offering incentives for tree planting. But growers need only include 25% native species to qualify for government subsidies. In Kenya and Brazil, rows of eucalyptus grow on land that was once ecologically rich forest and savanna. In Peru, a company called Reforesta Perú is planting trees on degraded Amazonian land, but it’s increasingly using cloned eucalyptus and teak, intended for export. Investors prefer them because they bring better prices, said Enrique Toledo, general manager of Reforesta Perú. “They are well-known species internationally and there is an unsatisfied demand for wood.” When researchers from University College London and the University of Edinburgh evaluated national commitments toward reforestation and restoration, they found that 45% involved “planting vast monocultures of trees as profitable enterprises.” ‘The Same Species All Over the World’ When businesses promise to plant a tree for every purchase of a given product, they typically do so via nonprofit groups that work with communities around the world. The support may reforest after wildfires or provide fruit and nut trees to farmers. But even these projects can compromise biodiversity. The planet is home to nearly 60,000 tree species. A third are threatened with extinction, mainly from agriculture, grazing and exploitation. But globally, only a tiny fraction of species are widely planted, according to tree planting groups and scientists. “They’re planting the same species all over the world,” said Meredith Martin, an assistant professor of forestry at North Carolina State University who found that nonprofit tree planting efforts in the tropics tend to prioritize the livelihood needs of people over biodiversity or carbon storage. Over time, she said, these efforts risk reducing biodiversity in forests. Nonprofit tree planting groups often say they plant nonnative species because local communities ask for them. But deeper engagement can yield a different story, said Susan Chomba, who oversees forest restoration and conservation in Africa for the World Resources Institute, a global research nonprofit group. When given the chance to consider what they want to accomplish on their land, farmers will recall, for instance, that when they had more trees, they also had streams, she said. They want the water back. “Then you say, ‘In your traditional, local knowledge, what kind of tree species are suitable for returning water into the ecosystem?’” Chomba continued. “They will give you a whole range of indigenous tree species.” A major hurdle is lack of supply at local seed banks, which tend to be dominated by popular commercial species. Some groups overcome this problem by paying people to collect seeds from nearby forests. Another solution, experts say, is to let forests come back on their own. If the area is only lightly degraded or sits near existing forest, a method called natural regeneration can be cheaper and more effective. Simply fencing off certain areas from grazing will often allow trees to return, with both carbon sequestration and biodiversity built in. “Nature knows much more than we do,” Chazdon said.

Tree planting is booming. Here's how that could help, or harm, the planet.

Astronomers have a bold new theory to explain how Earth transformed itself from a fiery, carbon-clouded ball of rocks into a planet capable of sustaining life.

The research, published in Nature, has been conducted by Yale University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

The theory covers Earth’s earliest years and involves “weird” rocks that interacted with seawater in just the right way to nudge biological matter into existence.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-has-space-business-has-become-the-final-profitable-frontier-452928" hreflang="en">Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier?</a>

“This period is the most enigmatic time in Earth history,” said Jun Korenaga, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Yale and co-author of a new study.

Most scientists believe that Earth began with an atmosphere much like that of the planet Venus. Its skies were filled with carbon dioxide,&nbsp;more than 100,000 times the current level of atmospheric carbon,&nbsp;and Earth’s surface temperature would have exceeded 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Biological life would have been unable to form, much less survive, under such conditions, scientists agree.

"Somehow, a massive amount of atmospheric carbon had to be removed," says planetary scientist Yoshinori Miyazaki, who is now working at the California Institute of Technology.

“Because there is no rock record preserved from the early Earth, we set out to build a theoretical model for the very early Earth from scratch.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-u-turn-scientists-say-black-hole-on-our-cosmic-doorstep-does-not-exist-458308" hreflang="en">In a U-turn, scientists say black hole on our cosmic doorstep does not exist</a>

Miyazaki and Korenaga combined aspects of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and atmospheric physics to build their model. Eventually, they settled on a pretty bold proposition: early Earth was covered with rocks that do not currently exist on Earth.

“These rocks would have been enriched in a mineral called pyroxene, and they likely had a dark greenish color,” Miyazaki said. “More importantly, they were extremely enriched in magnesium, with a concentration level seldom observed in present-day rocks.”

Miyazaki said magnesium-rich minerals react with carbon dioxide to produce carbonates, thereby playing a key role in sequestering atmospheric carbon.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-only-chance-in-catastrophe-astronomers-are-developing-ingenious-system-to-pulverise-asteroids-458293" hreflang="en">'Earth's only chance in catastrophe': Astronomers are developing ingenious system to pulverise asteroids</a>

The researchers suggest that as the molten Earth started to solidify, its hydrated, wet mantle, the planet’s 3,000-kilometres-thick rocky layer, convected vigorously. The combination of a wet mantle and high-magnesium pyroxenites dramatically sped up the process of pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere.

In fact, the researchers said the rate of atmospheric carbon sequestration would have been more than 10 times faster than would be possible with a mantle of modern-day rocks, requiring a mere 160 million years.

“As an added bonus, these ‘weird’ rocks on the early Earth would readily react with seawater to generate a large flux of hydrogen, which is widely believed to be essential for the creation of biomolecules,” Korenaga said.

The effect would be similar to a rare type of modern, deep-sea thermal vent, called the Lost City hydrothermal field, located in the Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;

The Lost City hydrothermal field’s abiotic production of hydrogen and methane has made it a prime location for investigating the origin of life on Earth.

“Our theory has the potential to address not just how Earth became habitable, but also why life emerged on it,” Korenaga added.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Astronomers have a bold new theory to explain how Earth transformed itself from a fiery, carbon-clouded ball of rocks into a planet capable of sustaining life. The research, published in Nature, has been conducted by Yale University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Astronomers have a bold new theory to explain how Earth transformed itself from a fiery, carbon-clouded ball of rocks into a planet capable of sustaining life. The research, published in Nature, has been conducted by Yale University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The theory covers Earth’s earliest years and involves “weird” rocks that interacted with seawater in just the right way to nudge biological matter into existence. Also see | Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier? “This period is the most enigmatic time in Earth history,” said Jun Korenaga, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Yale and co-author of a new study. Most scientists believe that Earth began with an atmosphere much like that of the planet Venus. Its skies were filled with carbon dioxide, more than 100,000 times the current level of atmospheric carbon, and Earth’s surface temperature would have exceeded 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Biological life would have been unable to form, much less survive, under such conditions, scientists agree. "Somehow, a massive amount of atmospheric carbon had to be removed," says planetary scientist Yoshinori Miyazaki, who is now working at the California Institute of Technology. “Because there is no rock record preserved from the early Earth, we set out to build a theoretical model for the very early Earth from scratch.” Also read | In a U-turn, scientists say black hole on our cosmic doorstep does not exist Miyazaki and Korenaga combined aspects of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and atmospheric physics to build their model. Eventually, they settled on a pretty bold proposition: early Earth was covered with rocks that do not currently exist on Earth. “These rocks would have been enriched in a mineral called pyroxene, and they likely had a dark greenish color,” Miyazaki said. “More importantly, they were extremely enriched in magnesium, with a concentration level seldom observed in present-day rocks.” Miyazaki said magnesium-rich minerals react with carbon dioxide to produce carbonates, thereby playing a key role in sequestering atmospheric carbon. Also read | 'Earth's only chance in catastrophe': Astronomers are developing ingenious system to pulverise asteroids The researchers suggest that as the molten Earth started to solidify, its hydrated, wet mantle, the planet’s 3,000-kilometres-thick rocky layer, convected vigorously. The combination of a wet mantle and high-magnesium pyroxenites dramatically sped up the process of pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere. In fact, the researchers said the rate of atmospheric carbon sequestration would have been more than 10 times faster than would be possible with a mantle of modern-day rocks, requiring a mere 160 million years. “As an added bonus, these ‘weird’ rocks on the early Earth would readily react with seawater to generate a large flux of hydrogen, which is widely believed to be essential for the creation of biomolecules,” Korenaga said. The effect would be similar to a rare type of modern, deep-sea thermal vent, called the Lost City hydrothermal field, located in the Atlantic Ocean. The Lost City hydrothermal field’s abiotic production of hydrogen and methane has made it a prime location for investigating the origin of life on Earth. “Our theory has the potential to address not just how Earth became habitable, but also why life emerged on it,” Korenaga added. (With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers have a new theory on how former 'fireball' Earth became habitable

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The glacial Lake Missoula outburst floods are among the largest known floods on Earth. Dozens of these floods scoured the landscapes of eastern Washington during the last Ice Age, almost 18 thousand years ago, forming what is known as the Channeled Scabland.&nbsp;

In this study, researchers have explored how changes in topography due to the solid Earth’s response to ice sheet loading and unloading influenced the history of mega flood routing over the Channeled Scabland. They found that the deformation of the Earth’s crust played an important role in directing the erosion of the Channeled Scabland.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-chart-milky-ways-dramatic-history-in-new-map-454668" hreflang="en">Astronomers chart Milky Way's dramatic history in new map</a>

"We used relatively simple, yet plausible, numerical experiments to test whether glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) could have had a substantial impact on flood routing and erosion for two major scabland tracts, Cheney-Palouse and Telford-Crab Creek," write the authors of the study.

"To this end, we modeled GIA to reconstruct the topography of the Channeled Scabland at different times during the period of Ice Age flooding."

"People have been looking at high water marks and trying to reconstruct the size of these floods, but all of the estimates are based on looking at the present-day topography," said lead author Tamara Pico, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-hidden-passageway-beneath-panama-through-which-wind-from-earths-middle-layer-blows-440199">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists discover hidden passageway beneath Panama through which wind from Earth's middle layer blows</a>

"GIA caused crustal deformation in the Channeled Scabland with rates up to 10 millimeters per year, orders of magnitude above regional tectonic uplift rates and, therefore, may have influenced flood routing," note the authors.&nbsp;

"The course of ancient, glacial outburst floods was likely influenced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), and reconstructing these events informs our understanding of how floods shape landscapes on Earth and Mars," they added.&nbsp;

"When you are there in person, it's crazy to think about the scale of the floods needed to carve those canyons, which are now dry," says Pico.&nbsp;

"Scientists were not the first people to look at this," she says. "People may even have been there to witness these floods." 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The glacial Lake Missoula outburst floods are among the largest known floods on Earth. Dozens of these floods scoured the landscapes of eastern Washington during the last Ice Age, almost 18 thousand years ago, forming what is known as the Channeled Scabland. In this study, researchers have explored how changes in topography due to the solid Earth’s response to ice sheet loading and unloading influenced the history of mega flood routing over the Channeled Scabland. They found that the deformation of the Earth’s crust played an important role in directing the erosion of the Channeled Scabland. Also read | Astronomers chart Milky Way's dramatic history in new map "We used relatively simple, yet plausible, numerical experiments to test whether glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) could have had a substantial impact on flood routing and erosion for two major scabland tracts, Cheney-Palouse and Telford-Crab Creek," write the authors of the study. "To this end, we modeled GIA to reconstruct the topography of the Channeled Scabland at different times during the period of Ice Age flooding." "People have been looking at high water marks and trying to reconstruct the size of these floods, but all of the estimates are based on looking at the present-day topography," said lead author Tamara Pico, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Also read | Scientists discover hidden passageway beneath Panama through which wind from Earth's middle layer blows "GIA caused crustal deformation in the Channeled Scabland with rates up to 10 millimeters per year, orders of magnitude above regional tectonic uplift rates and, therefore, may have influenced flood routing," note the authors. "The course of ancient, glacial outburst floods was likely influenced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), and reconstructing these events informs our understanding of how floods shape landscapes on Earth and Mars," they added. "When you are there in person, it's crazy to think about the scale of the floods needed to carve those canyons, which are now dry," says Pico. "Scientists were not the first people to look at this," she says. "People may even have been there to witness these floods." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning. This space debris, travelling at very high speeds can also be dangerous for astronauts aboard International Space Station (ISS). With thousands of planned satellite launches, space debris is going to be a major issue creating potential impediments in humankind's spacefaring aspirations.

In what can be called a unique approach to manage the problem of space debris, the European Space Agency (ESA) has set up a laser station in Spain. The Izana-1 laser ranging station set up in Tenerife, Spain will make use of the laser to move space debris away.

The station will be part of European Optical Nucleus Network, which will be the first optical communications network. Lasers from this network will not just shine light on the space debris but will be able to gently nudge them in a different orbit around the Earth. They may come in handy to avoid collision between piece of space junk and a multimillion dollar satellite.

The staion, its lasers and telescopes have undergone months of testing till now. The station will be upgraded in next two years, making it perform the functions that are expected of it.

The ESA is planning to set up several of such stations across the continent.

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning.

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning. This space debris, travelling at very high speeds can also be dangerous for astronauts aboard International Space Station (ISS). With thousands of planned satellite launches, space debris is going to be a major issue creating potential impediments in humankind's spacefaring aspirations. In what can be called a unique approach to manage the problem of space debris, the European Space Agency (ESA) has set up a laser station in Spain. The Izana-1 laser ranging station set up in Tenerife, Spain will make use of the laser to move space debris away. The station will be part of European Optical Nucleus Network, which will be the first optical communications network. Lasers from this network will not just shine light on the space debris but will be able to gently nudge them in a different orbit around the Earth. They may come in handy to avoid collision between piece of space junk and a multimillion dollar satellite. The staion, its lasers and telescopes have undergone months of testing till now. The station will be upgraded in next two years, making it perform the functions that are expected of it. The ESA is planning to set up several of such stations across the continent.

Soon, a laser fired from Earth may move space debris away

Find out things that the World Wildlife Fund recommended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Non-vegetarians, will you make changes to save Earth?

&nbsp;As per NASA's asteroid tracker, this Valentines day, three asteroids will make a "close approach" to Earth, and one of them is almost as huge as the iconic Arc De Triomphe. It is expected to be 154 feet wide.&nbsp;

Named 2022 CF3, the largest comet will shoot past our planet during the early hours of February 14.&nbsp;

The largest asteroid in the trio will move past the earth at a distance of 1.5 million miles. It reportedly is travelling at just under 9,000 miles per hour.

None of these asteroids are termed as large rocks. Also, none of these are expected to collide with Earth.

The other two rocks have been named 2020 DF and 2022 CF1.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/58-feet-high-rogue-wave-recorded-off-coast-of-vancouver-island-says-study-452859">Also read |&nbsp;58-feet-high rogue wave recorded off coast of Vancouver Island, says study</a>

Asteroid 2020 DF is believed to come 933,000 miles away from Earth.

Earlier in January, a kilometre-sized asteroid flew past Earth.&nbsp;

The estimates by the NASA asteroid tracker confirm NASA's previous projections, which stated that the Earth would be safe from asteroid strikes within the next 100 years.&nbsp;

However, if the Earth had not been so fortunate, the consequences could have been disastrous.

As per NASA's asteroid tracker, this Valentines day, three asteroids will make a "close approach" to Earth, and one of them is almost as huge as the iconic Arc De Triomphe.

As per NASA's asteroid tracker, this Valentines day, three asteroids will make a "close approach" to Earth, and one of them is almost as huge as the iconic Arc De Triomphe. It is expected to be 154 feet wide. Named 2022 CF3, the largest comet will shoot past our planet during the early hours of February 14. The largest asteroid in the trio will move past the earth at a distance of 1.5 million miles. It reportedly is travelling at just under 9,000 miles per hour. None of these asteroids are termed as large rocks. Also, none of these are expected to collide with Earth. The other two rocks have been named 2020 DF and 2022 CF1. Also read | 58-feet-high rogue wave recorded off coast of Vancouver Island, says study Asteroid 2020 DF is believed to come 933,000 miles away from Earth. Earlier in January, a kilometre-sized asteroid flew past Earth. The estimates by the NASA asteroid tracker confirm NASA's previous projections, which stated that the Earth would be safe from asteroid strikes within the next 100 years. However, if the Earth had not been so fortunate, the consequences could have been disastrous.

Arc De Triomphe-sized asteroid to pass by Earth on Valentine's day; two more rocks to accompany it

NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to make a rocket to bring first Mars rock samples to Earth in 2030s. The US space agency, in its statement on Monday, NASA said that the &nbsp;"small, lightweight rocket" will be the first to take off from another planet, bringing back "rock, sediment and atmospheric samples from the surface of the Red Planet."

NASA's Perseverance Rover has been collecting samples from various Martian areas since landing on Earth's neighbor a year ago.

Goal of the mission is to find traces of ancient life on Mars. But the samples need to be analyzed in labs on Earth as more sophisticated tests on the samples are only possible on Earth.

The samples will be gathered and then launched back to Earth in a complex operation in which the Lockheed Martin rocket will be a key element.&nbsp;

The contract for this "Mars Ascent Vehicle" has a potential value of $194 million, according to NASA.

"The pieces are coming together to bring home the first samples from another planet. Once on Earth, they can be studied by state-of-the-art tools too complex to transport into space," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA headquarters in Washington.

According to the space agency's plans, a mission will be launched in 2026 at the earliest to send the mini-rocket to Mars, carrying another rover responsible for collecting the samples left behind by Perseverance.&nbsp;

Once the samples are placed in the rocket, it will take off and put them in orbit around Mars. They will then be captured by another vessel sent there to complete the final leg of the journey back to Earth.&nbsp;

This last vessel, as well as the rover that will recover the samples, are being developed under the direction of the European Space Agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to make a rocket to bring first Mars rock samples to Earth in 2030s. The US space agency, in its statement on Monday, NASA said that the "small, lightweight rocket" will be the first to take off from another planet, bringing back "rock, sediment and atmospheric samples from the surface of the Red Planet.

NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to make a rocket to bring first Mars rock samples to Earth in 2030s. The US space agency, in its statement on Monday, NASA said that the "small, lightweight rocket" will be the first to take off from another planet, bringing back "rock, sediment and atmospheric samples from the surface of the Red Planet." NASA's Perseverance Rover has been collecting samples from various Martian areas since landing on Earth's neighbor a year ago. Goal of the mission is to find traces of ancient life on Mars. But the samples need to be analyzed in labs on Earth as more sophisticated tests on the samples are only possible on Earth. The samples will be gathered and then launched back to Earth in a complex operation in which the Lockheed Martin rocket will be a key element. The contract for this "Mars Ascent Vehicle" has a potential value of $194 million, according to NASA. "The pieces are coming together to bring home the first samples from another planet. Once on Earth, they can be studied by state-of-the-art tools too complex to transport into space," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA headquarters in Washington. According to the space agency's plans, a mission will be launched in 2026 at the earliest to send the mini-rocket to Mars, carrying another rover responsible for collecting the samples left behind by Perseverance. Once the samples are placed in the rocket, it will take off and put them in orbit around Mars. They will then be captured by another vessel sent there to complete the final leg of the journey back to Earth. This last vessel, as well as the rover that will recover the samples, are being developed under the direction of the European Space Agency. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA awards Lockheed Martin contract to bring back Mars samples to Earth

Moon is not just a pretty thing in the night. It influences tides and has effects that help the perpetuation of life on Earth. Because it's a junior member in its partnership with Earth, it's often easy to overlook our only natural satellite when we gaze into space.

But now, a study says that ability of a planet to form a moon may be associated with the habitability of the planet.

Moon had formed due to a cataclysmic collision between nascent Earth and a Mars-sized planet called Theia. The unimaginably catastrophic collision resulted in ejection of large amount of material in space around Earth. Some of this material was vapourised while remaining started revolving around the Earth in form of several moonlets. In time, these moonlets joined together to form the Moon as it is today.

Scientists from the University of Rochester say that whether a moon would form after collision&nbsp;between two planets depends on their size. If planets a certain times larger than Earth collide, then probability of Moon formation is very less. This is because a collision between these planets vapourises almost all of the material ejected as a result of the collision. The vapour, though ejected in space around the planet experiences a drag and moonlets formed due to such material fall&nbsp;on the planet. Thus a moon is not formed.

Earth's Moon has a great effect on things on our planet. It controls tides. Due to the large size of the Moon, it controls size of day on Earth. It stabilises Earth's axis of rotation. It also stabilises Earth's mild climate.

Moon is not just a pretty thing in the night. It influences tides and has effects that help the perpetuation of life on Earth. Because it's a junior member in its partnership with Earth, it's often easy to overlook our only natural satellite when we gaze into space.

Moon is not just a pretty thing in the night. It influences tides and has effects that help the perpetuation of life on Earth. Because it's a junior member in its partnership with Earth, it's often easy to overlook our only natural satellite when we gaze into space. But now, a study says that ability of a planet to form a moon may be associated with the habitability of the planet. Moon had formed due to a cataclysmic collision between nascent Earth and a Mars-sized planet called Theia. The unimaginably catastrophic collision resulted in ejection of large amount of material in space around Earth. Some of this material was vapourised while remaining started revolving around the Earth in form of several moonlets. In time, these moonlets joined together to form the Moon as it is today. Scientists from the University of Rochester say that whether a moon would form after collision between two planets depends on their size. If planets a certain times larger than Earth collide, then probability of Moon formation is very less. This is because a collision between these planets vapourises almost all of the material ejected as a result of the collision. The vapour, though ejected in space around the planet experiences a drag and moonlets formed due to such material fall on the planet. Thus a moon is not formed. Earth's Moon has a great effect on things on our planet. It controls tides. Due to the large size of the Moon, it controls size of day on Earth. It stabilises Earth's axis of rotation. It also stabilises Earth's mild climate.

Ability of planet to form moon affects its habitability: Study

The moon is essential to the functioning of Earth; as it controls the length of the day and ocean tides, which affect life cycles on our planet. Additionally, the moon makes the Earth's climate more stable by stabilising its spin axis, which provides an ideal environment in which life can develop.&nbsp;

According to a recent study, a moon could also be an advantageous feature in harbouring life on other planets.

The journal 'Nature Communications' published the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28063-8">study</a>.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-researchers-claim-to-have-discovered-a-godsend-antibody-that-can-defeat-omicron-450057" hreflang="en">Chinese researchers claim to have discovered a 'godsend' antibody that can defeat Omicron</a>

Earth's moon is unique among planets in that it is large compared to the size of the Earth; its radius is larger than a quarter of Earth's radius, a much bigger ratio than most moons to their planets.

Prof. Miki Nakajima, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester, was intrigued by the distinction.&nbsp;

She and her colleagues from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona examined moon formations in the study that she led and concluded that only certain types of planets can produce moons that are large relative to their host planets.

"By understanding moon formations, we have a better constraint on what to look for when searching for Earth-like planets," Nakajima said. "We expect that exomoons [moons orbiting planets outside our solar system] should be everywhere, but so far we haven't confirmed any. Our constraints will be helpful for future observations.

"Many scientists have historically believed Earth's large moon was generated by a collision between proto-Earth--Earth at its early stages of development--and a large, Mars-sized impactor, approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The collision resulted in the formation of a partially vaporized disk around Earth, which eventually formed into the moon."

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Nakajima and her colleagues conducted computer simulations with a number of hypothetical rocky planets and ice planets of varying masses in order to determine whether other planets can form similar large moons.

The team hoped to identify whether the simulated impacts would lead to partially vaporized disks, much like the disk that formed Earth's moon.

The researchers found that rocky planets larger than six times the mass of Earth (6M) and icy planets larger than one Earth mass (1M) produced fully vaporized disks as opposed to partially vaporized disks, and these fully vaporized disks cannot produce fractionally large moons.

"We found that if the planet is too massive, these impacts produce completely vapour disks because impacts between massive planets are generally more energetic than those between small planets," Nakajima said.

Over time, a vaporized disk cools down and liquid moonlets emerge as the building blocks of a moon.&nbsp; 
While a fully vaporized disk creates a strong gas drag from the vapour, causing the moonlets to fall very quickly onto the planet. By contrast, if a disk is partially vaporized, moonlets do not experience such a strong gas drag.

"As a result, we conclude that a completely vapour disk is not capable of forming fractionally large moons," Nakajima said. "Planetary masses need to be smaller than those thresholds we identified in order to produce such moons."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Top 10 plastic polluters in the world

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-top-10-plastic-polluters-in-the-world-449981/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The constraints Nakajima and her colleagues outline are vital for astronomers looking for exoplanets and possible exomoons; researchers have yet to find a moon orbiting a planet beyond the solar system.

It is hoped that this research will help them identify where to start.

As Nakajima said: "The exoplanet search has typically been focused on planets larger than six earth masses. We are proposing that instead, we should look at smaller planets because they are probably better candidates to host fractionally large moons."

(With inputs from agencies)

The moon is essential to the functioning of Earth; as it controls the length of the day and ocean tides, which affect life cycles on our planet. Additionally, the moon makes the Earth's climate more stable by stabilising its spin axis, which provides an ideal environment in which life can develop.

The moon is essential to the functioning of Earth; as it controls the length of the day and ocean tides, which affect life cycles on our planet. Additionally, the moon makes the Earth's climate more stable by stabilising its spin axis, which provides an ideal environment in which life can develop. According to a recent study, a moon could also be an advantageous feature in harbouring life on other planets. The journal 'Nature Communications' published the study. Also read | Chinese researchers claim to have discovered a 'godsend' antibody that can defeat Omicron Earth's moon is unique among planets in that it is large compared to the size of the Earth; its radius is larger than a quarter of Earth's radius, a much bigger ratio than most moons to their planets. Prof. Miki Nakajima, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester, was intrigued by the distinction. She and her colleagues from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona examined moon formations in the study that she led and concluded that only certain types of planets can produce moons that are large relative to their host planets. "By understanding moon formations, we have a better constraint on what to look for when searching for Earth-like planets," Nakajima said. "We expect that exomoons [moons orbiting planets outside our solar system] should be everywhere, but so far we haven't confirmed any. Our constraints will be helpful for future observations. "Many scientists have historically believed Earth's large moon was generated by a collision between proto-Earth--Earth at its early stages of development--and a large, Mars-sized impactor, approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The collision resulted in the formation of a partially vaporized disk around Earth, which eventually formed into the moon." Also read | More and more companies opting for robots. Are Robots taking over the workforce? Nakajima and her colleagues conducted computer simulations with a number of hypothetical rocky planets and ice planets of varying masses in order to determine whether other planets can form similar large moons. The team hoped to identify whether the simulated impacts would lead to partially vaporized disks, much like the disk that formed Earth's moon. The researchers found that rocky planets larger than six times the mass of Earth (6M) and icy planets larger than one Earth mass (1M) produced fully vaporized disks as opposed to partially vaporized disks, and these fully vaporized disks cannot produce fractionally large moons. "We found that if the planet is too massive, these impacts produce completely vapour disks because impacts between massive planets are generally more energetic than those between small planets," Nakajima said. Over time, a vaporized disk cools down and liquid moonlets emerge as the building blocks of a moon. While a fully vaporized disk creates a strong gas drag from the vapour, causing the moonlets to fall very quickly onto the planet. By contrast, if a disk is partially vaporized, moonlets do not experience such a strong gas drag. "As a result, we conclude that a completely vapour disk is not capable of forming fractionally large moons," Nakajima said. "Planetary masses need to be smaller than those thresholds we identified in order to produce such moons." Watch | Gravitas: Top 10 plastic polluters in the world The constraints Nakajima and her colleagues outline are vital for astronomers looking for exoplanets and possible exomoons; researchers have yet to find a moon orbiting a planet beyond the solar system. It is hoped that this research will help them identify where to start. As Nakajima said: "The exoplanet search has typically been focused on planets larger than six earth masses. We are proposing that instead, we should look at smaller planets because they are probably better candidates to host fractionally large moons." (With inputs from agencies)

'How life began': Study explains how a moon helps create life on a planet

Astronomers have discovered a new Trojan asteroid 2020 XL5 sharing Earth's orbit and has been estimated to hang around for at least 4000 years before zipping off to parts elsewhere.

New Trojan asteroid discovered sharing Earth's orbit, estimated to hang around for at least 4000 yrs

Initially planned for January 27th launch, SpaceX Falcon-9 two-stage rocket finally launches the Italian Cosmo-SkyMed satellite on Monday.

After a delay, SpaceX successfully launches Italian Cosmo-SkyMed satellite

Earth from space or a beautiful painting? These pictures will mesmerise you

Scientists have identified an interesting similarity between the Earth and an exoplanet WASP-189b.

Astronomers have discovered more than 4,400&nbsp;exoplanets.&nbsp;Some have been large gas planets akin to Jupiter.

Others have been smaller, rocky Earth-like worlds, the kind considered candidates for harboring life, but currently available scientific instruments tell us little about their atmospheres.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-evidence-of-an-extreme-solar-tsunami-deep-within-earths-ice-448784" hreflang="en">Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice</a>

The atmosphere of Earth is not a uniform envelope but consists of distinct layers that each have characteristic properties.&nbsp;

The lowest layer spans from sea level beyond the highest mountain peaks, for example,&nbsp;the troposphere&nbsp;contains most of the water vapour and is thus the layer in which most weather phenomena occur. The layer above it,&nbsp;the stratosphere – is the one that contains the famous ozone layer that shields us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

The research shows for the first time that the atmosphere of one of the most extreme known planets may have similarly distinct layers as well – albeit with very different characteristics.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-hundreds-of-complex-mysterious-strands-at-the-heart-of-the-milky-way-448248" hreflang="en">Scientists find hundreds of complex, mysterious strands at the heart of the Milky Way</a>

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bern and the University of Geneva as well as the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

WASP-189b is a planet outside our own solar system, located 322 light-years from Earth. The planet is 20 times closer to its host star than Earth is to the Sun and has a daytime temperature of 3200 degrees Celsius as per extensive observations with the CHEOPS space telescope.

“We measured the light coming from the planet’s host star and passing through the planet’s atmosphere. The gases in its atmosphere absorb some of the starlight, similar to Ozone absorbing some of the sunlight in Earth’s atmosphere, and thereby leave their characteristic ‘fingerprint’. With the help of HARPS, we were able to identify the corresponding substances”, the lead author of the study and doctoral student at Lund University, Bibiana Prinoth, explains.&nbsp;

One particularly interesting substance the team found is a gas containing titanium: titanium oxide. While titanium oxide is very scarce on Earth, it could play an important role in the atmosphere of WASP-189b – similar to that of ozone in Earth’s atmosphere.&nbsp;

“Titanium oxide absorbs short wave radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation. Its detection could therefore indicate a layer in the atmosphere of WASP-189b that interacts with the stellar irradiation similarly to how the Ozone layer does on Earth”, study co-author Kevin Heng, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Bern and a member of the NCCR PlanetS, explains.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Scientists have identified an interesting similarity between the Earth and an exoplanet WASP-189b. Astronomers have discovered more than 4,400 exoplanets. Some have been large gas planets akin to Jupiter.

Scientists have identified an interesting similarity between the Earth and an exoplanet WASP-189b. Astronomers have discovered more than 4,400 exoplanets. Some have been large gas planets akin to Jupiter. Others have been smaller, rocky Earth-like worlds, the kind considered candidates for harboring life, but currently available scientific instruments tell us little about their atmospheres. Also read | Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice The atmosphere of Earth is not a uniform envelope but consists of distinct layers that each have characteristic properties. The lowest layer spans from sea level beyond the highest mountain peaks, for example, the troposphere contains most of the water vapour and is thus the layer in which most weather phenomena occur. The layer above it, the stratosphere – is the one that contains the famous ozone layer that shields us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. The research shows for the first time that the atmosphere of one of the most extreme known planets may have similarly distinct layers as well – albeit with very different characteristics. Also read | Scientists find hundreds of complex, mysterious strands at the heart of the Milky Way The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bern and the University of Geneva as well as the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. WASP-189b is a planet outside our own solar system, located 322 light-years from Earth. The planet is 20 times closer to its host star than Earth is to the Sun and has a daytime temperature of 3200 degrees Celsius as per extensive observations with the CHEOPS space telescope. “We measured the light coming from the planet’s host star and passing through the planet’s atmosphere. The gases in its atmosphere absorb some of the starlight, similar to Ozone absorbing some of the sunlight in Earth’s atmosphere, and thereby leave their characteristic ‘fingerprint’. With the help of HARPS, we were able to identify the corresponding substances”, the lead author of the study and doctoral student at Lund University, Bibiana Prinoth, explains. One particularly interesting substance the team found is a gas containing titanium: titanium oxide. While titanium oxide is very scarce on Earth, it could play an important role in the atmosphere of WASP-189b – similar to that of ozone in Earth’s atmosphere. “Titanium oxide absorbs short wave radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation. Its detection could therefore indicate a layer in the atmosphere of WASP-189b that interacts with the stellar irradiation similarly to how the Ozone layer does on Earth”, study co-author Kevin Heng, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Bern and a member of the NCCR PlanetS, explains. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists identify interesting similarity between this exoplanet and Earth

An asteroid, which is bigger than world’s tallest building, will pass ‘near’ Earth on February 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;

There is absolutely no need to worry as the Asteroid 7482, which is near-Earth object, is "very well-known and has been studied for decades" by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/planet-killer-asteroid-passes-near-earth-track-it-live-here-445708" hreflang="en">Planet-killer asteroid passes near Earth. Track it live here</a>

An object, which comes within 30 million miles of Earth, gets classified as a near-Earth object. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It is also known as 1194 PC1 in NASA's asteroid database. NASA said, "Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-catches-glimpse-of-sun-emitting-mid-level-solar-flare-will-it-harm-us-446463" hreflang="en">NASA catches glimpse of Sun emitting mid-level solar flare. Will it harm us?</a>

Dr Susanna Kohler of American Astronomical Society, said, "One of the really cool things about a close-passing rock, like Asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1) is being able to watch as it soars past. &nbsp;

"There are a tonnes of asteroids and comets out there, but the majority are so far away that we can’t see their motion in real-time. The fact that this one’s coming so close provides a unique opportunity to actually watch it move across the sky," added Kohler. &nbsp;

"There are lots of observatories that will be live-streaming the event on the internet as Asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1) passes," Kohler further added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An asteroid, which is bigger than world’s tallest building, will pass ‘near’ Earth on February 1. There is absolutely no need to worry as the Asteroid 7482, which is near-Earth object, is "very well-known and has been studied for decades" by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

An asteroid, which is bigger than world’s tallest building, will pass ‘near’ Earth on February 1. There is absolutely no need to worry as the Asteroid 7482, which is near-Earth object, is "very well-known and has been studied for decades" by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Also Read: Planet-killer asteroid passes near Earth. Track it live here An object, which comes within 30 million miles of Earth, gets classified as a near-Earth object. It is also known as 1194 PC1 in NASA's asteroid database. NASA said, "Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away." Also Read: NASA catches glimpse of Sun emitting mid-level solar flare. Will it harm us? Dr Susanna Kohler of American Astronomical Society, said, "One of the really cool things about a close-passing rock, like Asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1) is being able to watch as it soars past. "There are a tonnes of asteroids and comets out there, but the majority are so far away that we can’t see their motion in real-time. The fact that this one’s coming so close provides a unique opportunity to actually watch it move across the sky," added Kohler. "There are lots of observatories that will be live-streaming the event on the internet as Asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1) passes," Kohler further added. (With inputs from agencies)

Huge asteroid to pass ‘near’ Earth on February 1. Should we worry? Look up to find out   

The James Webb Space Telescope meant to 'Unfold the Universe' and give an unprecedented glimpse into the universe has reached its orbital destination around a million miles (1.5 million kilometres) away from planet Earth, NASA informed.&nbsp;

The US space agency further stated that almost a month after the launch, the telescope fired its thrusters to arrive at its designated spot in orbit around the sun.&nbsp;

At around 2:00pm Eastern Time, the telescope fired its onboard thrusters for nearly five minutes (297 seconds) to complete the final postlaunch course correction to its trajectory.&nbsp;

The latest process has inserted Webb toward its final orbit around the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2, where it is believed that it will have a wide view of the cosmos.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/weekend-special-will-scientists-reveal-the-secret-behind-presence-of-alien-life-in-universe-446732">Will scientists reveal the secret behind presence of alien life in universe?</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🏠 Home, home on Lagrange! We successfully completed our burn to start <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASAWebb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASAWebb</a> on its orbit of the 2nd Lagrange point (L2), about a million miles (1.5 million km) from Earth. It will orbit the Sun, in line with Earth, as it orbits L2. <a href="https://t.co/bsIU3vccAj">https://t.co/bsIU3vccAj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnfoldTheUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnfoldTheUniverse</a> <a href="https://t.co/WDhuANEP5h">pic.twitter.com/WDhuANEP5h</a>
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1485695028622209032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"Webb, welcome home!" said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Congratulations to the team for all of their hard work ensuring Webb's safe arrival at L2 today. We're one step closer to uncovering the mysteries of the universe. And I can’t wait to see Webb's first new views of the universe this summer!" he added.&nbsp;

What's next?

NASA informed that now engineers will begin the sophisticated three-month process of aligning the telescope's optics to nearly nanometer precision. &nbsp;

It is expected that it will take months of work to prepare Webb for its astronomical debut.&nbsp;

After Webb's primary mirror segments and secondary mirror have been deployed from their launch positions. The 18 segments of its principal mirror now need to be aligned to achieve the mirror's proper focus, a process that will take three months to complete.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-astronomers-identify-mysterious-particles-in-primordial-soup-447255">In a first, astronomers identify mysterious particles in 'primordial soup'</a>

"During the past month, JWST has achieved amazing success and is a tribute to all the folks who spent many years and even decades to ensure mission success," said Bill Ochs, Webb project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.&nbsp;

"We are now on the verge of aligning the mirrors, instrument activation and commissioning, and the start of wondrous and astonishing discoveries," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The James Webb Space Telescope meant to 'Unfold the Universe' and give an unprecedented glimpse into the universe has reached its orbital destination around a million miles (1.

The James Webb Space Telescope meant to 'Unfold the Universe' and give an unprecedented glimpse into the universe has reached its orbital destination around a million miles (1.5 million kilometres) away from planet Earth, NASA informed. The US space agency further stated that almost a month after the launch, the telescope fired its thrusters to arrive at its designated spot in orbit around the sun. At around 2:00pm Eastern Time, the telescope fired its onboard thrusters for nearly five minutes (297 seconds) to complete the final postlaunch course correction to its trajectory. The latest process has inserted Webb toward its final orbit around the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2, where it is believed that it will have a wide view of the cosmos. ALSO READ | Will scientists reveal the secret behind presence of alien life in universe? 🏠 Home, home on Lagrange! We successfully completed our burn to start #NASAWebb on its orbit of the 2nd Lagrange point (L2), about a million miles (1.5 million km) from Earth. It will orbit the Sun, in line with Earth, as it orbits L2. https://t.co/bsIU3vccAj #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/WDhuANEP5h — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) January 24, 2022 × "Webb, welcome home!" said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Congratulations to the team for all of their hard work ensuring Webb's safe arrival at L2 today. We're one step closer to uncovering the mysteries of the universe. And I can’t wait to see Webb's first new views of the universe this summer!" he added. What's next? NASA informed that now engineers will begin the sophisticated three-month process of aligning the telescope's optics to nearly nanometer precision. It is expected that it will take months of work to prepare Webb for its astronomical debut. After Webb's primary mirror segments and secondary mirror have been deployed from their launch positions. The 18 segments of its principal mirror now need to be aligned to achieve the mirror's proper focus, a process that will take three months to complete. ALSO READ | In a first, astronomers identify mysterious particles in 'primordial soup' "During the past month, JWST has achieved amazing success and is a tribute to all the folks who spent many years and even decades to ensure mission success," said Bill Ochs, Webb project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "We are now on the verge of aligning the mirrors, instrument activation and commissioning, and the start of wondrous and astonishing discoveries," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

What's next after NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reaches final destination, a million miles from Earth?

A recent study led by the University of Hawaii states that earth is going through its sixth mass extinction. There have been five mass extinctions so far. However, all of those were caused by natural phenomena. This time, it is being caused entirely by humans.&nbsp;

The process of extinction is not new to earth. It has been going on since the 16th century. The study further highlights that earth could have already lost about 7.5 and 13 per cent of its total species since then.&nbsp;

"Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the sixth mass extinction," the study read.&nbsp;

As a part of the study, the team of researchers analysed molluscs, which happens to be the second-largest phylum in numbers of known species. According to the IUCN Red List data, molluscs have suffered a higher rate of extinction than birds and mammals.&nbsp;

Invertebrates, however, constitute about 95 per cent of known animal species.

Therefore, it is important to include them in the biodiversity extinction estimate, researchers argue.&nbsp;

The study also countered the views presented by some of the researchers. The head of the research, Robert Cowie, said that the Red list is biased as it leaves out most invertebrates. "Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction,” the study read.&nbsp;

The study further urged the scientists to unite and do everything to stop the extinction of species.&nbsp;

A recent study led by the University of Hawaii states that earth is going through its sixth mass extinction. There have been five mass extinctions so far. However, all of those were caused by natural phenomena.

A recent study led by the University of Hawaii states that earth is going through its sixth mass extinction. There have been five mass extinctions so far. However, all of those were caused by natural phenomena. This time, it is being caused entirely by humans. The process of extinction is not new to earth. It has been going on since the 16th century. The study further highlights that earth could have already lost about 7.5 and 13 per cent of its total species since then. "Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the sixth mass extinction," the study read. As a part of the study, the team of researchers analysed molluscs, which happens to be the second-largest phylum in numbers of known species. According to the IUCN Red List data, molluscs have suffered a higher rate of extinction than birds and mammals. Invertebrates, however, constitute about 95 per cent of known animal species. Therefore, it is important to include them in the biodiversity extinction estimate, researchers argue. The study also countered the views presented by some of the researchers. The head of the research, Robert Cowie, said that the Red list is biased as it leaves out most invertebrates. "Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction,” the study read. The study further urged the scientists to unite and do everything to stop the extinction of species.

Earth is witnessing its sixth mass extinction, humans to be blamed: Study

If a research is to be believed, the Earth’s interior seems to be cooling down faster than expected. It may follow the footsteps of rocky planets Mercury and Mars. &nbsp;

The study, which has been carried out by ETH Professor Motohiko Murakami and his colleagues from Carnegie Institution for Science, has been published in the 'Earth and Planetary Science Letters Journal'. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-potato-in-space-in-unique-discovery-oblong-shaped-planet-found-444593" hreflang="en">A potato in space? In unique discovery, oblong-shaped planet found</a>

These experts have developed a measurement system, which enables to measure the thermal conductivity of bridgmanite in the laboratory. It is done under the pressure and temperature conditions that prevail inside the Earth. &nbsp;

It suggested that the heat flow from the core into the mantle is also more than what was thought previously. The greater heat flow increases mantle convection and spikes the cooling of the Earth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It also causes plate tectonics to decelerate faster than expected based on previous heat conduction values. The tectonics are responsible for the convective motions of the mantle. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/gorilla-in-space-filmmaker-shares-clip-where-astronaut-chases-colleague-in-primate-suit-at-iss-443871" hreflang="en">Gorilla in space? Filmmaker shares clip where astronaut chases colleague in primate suit at ISS</a>

These changes seem to be leading to the cooling down of the planet, said the researchers. &nbsp;

"Our results could give us a new perspective on the evolution of the Earth's dynamics. They suggest that Earth, like the other rocky planets Mercury and Mars, is cooling and becoming inactive much faster than expected," Murakami explained. &nbsp;

"We still don't know enough about these kinds of events to pin down their timing," he said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

If a research is to be believed, the Earth’s interior seems to be cooling down faster than expected. It may follow the footsteps of rocky planets Mercury and Mars.

If a research is to be believed, the Earth’s interior seems to be cooling down faster than expected. It may follow the footsteps of rocky planets Mercury and Mars. The study, which has been carried out by ETH Professor Motohiko Murakami and his colleagues from Carnegie Institution for Science, has been published in the 'Earth and Planetary Science Letters Journal'. Also Read: A potato in space? In unique discovery, oblong-shaped planet found These experts have developed a measurement system, which enables to measure the thermal conductivity of bridgmanite in the laboratory. It is done under the pressure and temperature conditions that prevail inside the Earth. It suggested that the heat flow from the core into the mantle is also more than what was thought previously. The greater heat flow increases mantle convection and spikes the cooling of the Earth. It also causes plate tectonics to decelerate faster than expected based on previous heat conduction values. The tectonics are responsible for the convective motions of the mantle. Also Read: Gorilla in space? Filmmaker shares clip where astronaut chases colleague in primate suit at ISS These changes seem to be leading to the cooling down of the planet, said the researchers. "Our results could give us a new perspective on the evolution of the Earth's dynamics. They suggest that Earth, like the other rocky planets Mercury and Mars, is cooling and becoming inactive much faster than expected," Murakami explained. "We still don't know enough about these kinds of events to pin down their timing," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth's interior cooling faster than expected, says research. What will happen next?

Is there life on Mars?&nbsp;To investigate the possibility of life beyond Earth, scientists are looking forward to a giant leap for the human race with maybe a trip to the Red Planet. But's it (of course) has multiple challenges.&nbsp;

New research suggests that having enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells for the journey could present a challenge.&nbsp;

Not just the astronauts, the researchers have said that even the space tourists may have to stay home if they are at risk for anaemia, or red blood cell deficiency.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-there-life-on-mars-study-of-decades-old-meteorite-casts-doubt-on-presence-of-life-on-the-planet-444601">Study of decades-old meteorite casts doubt on presence of life on the planet</a>

What is space anaemia?&nbsp;

The research mentioned that astronauts are known to experience "space anaemia" but it was believed to be temporary. Now, the research tells that anaemia is instead a primary effect of going to space.&nbsp;

It was termed as a "15-day ailment" in a&nbsp;NASA study.&nbsp;

Doctors attributed it to the destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis, resulting from fluid shifts as astronauts' bodies accommodated to weightlessness and again as they re-accommodated to gravity.&nbsp;

How will it challenge the&nbsp;astronauts?

Dr Guy Trudel of the University of Ottawa, who led a study of 14 astronauts funded by the Canadian Space Agency said weighed in with valuable inputs on the subject.&nbsp;

During the study, Trudel's team found astronauts' bodies destroyed three&nbsp;million red blood cells every second during the six months they were at the International Space Station.&nbsp;

It is important to note that on average, the body destroys - and replaces - nearly two million red blood cells per second.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-potato-in-space-in-unique-discovery-oblong-shaped-planet-found-444593">A potato in space? In unique discovery, oblong-shaped planet found</a>

Trudel told&nbsp;Reuters on Thursday (January 13), "We thought we knew about space anemia, and we did not. We had assumed that this was a very quick phenomenon of adaptation and nothing was going on. And now we're discovering that's not the case. Space has a primary specific effect on red blood cell regulation."&nbsp;

During the study, Trudel posed crucial questions like how long can the body manage to constantly produce 50% more red cells? What if an astronaut is injured and bleeding?

<blockquote>
"There is a knowledge gap here that we need to fill in terms of the mechanism, in terms of the countermeasures, in terms also of the the planning of the mission. So will we need some blood products or artificial blood products on board of the mission to Mars, given the fact that there is destruction ongoing? Would we need iron supplements at one point if we can't recycle all of the iron to make new red blood cells and so on?" Trudel said.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

The research also revealed that having fewer red blood cells in space isn't a problem when your body is weightless but when landing on earth, and potentially on other planets, anaemia could affect astronauts' energy, endurance and strength.

A year after returning home, the astronauts' red blood cells had not completely returned to pre-flight levels, his team reported on Friday (January 14) in Nature Medicine.

(inputs from agencies)

Is there life on Mars? To investigate the possibility of life beyond Earth, scientists are looking forward to a giant leap for the human race with maybe a trip to the Red Planet.

Is there life on Mars? To investigate the possibility of life beyond Earth, scientists are looking forward to a giant leap for the human race with maybe a trip to the Red Planet. But's it (of course) has multiple challenges. New research suggests that having enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells for the journey could present a challenge. Not just the astronauts, the researchers have said that even the space tourists may have to stay home if they are at risk for anaemia, or red blood cell deficiency. ALSO READ | Study of decades-old meteorite casts doubt on presence of life on the planet What is space anaemia? The research mentioned that astronauts are known to experience "space anaemia" but it was believed to be temporary. Now, the research tells that anaemia is instead a primary effect of going to space. It was termed as a "15-day ailment" in a NASA study. Doctors attributed it to the destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis, resulting from fluid shifts as astronauts' bodies accommodated to weightlessness and again as they re-accommodated to gravity. How will it challenge the astronauts? Dr Guy Trudel of the University of Ottawa, who led a study of 14 astronauts funded by the Canadian Space Agency said weighed in with valuable inputs on the subject. During the study, Trudel's team found astronauts' bodies destroyed three million red blood cells every second during the six months they were at the International Space Station. It is important to note that on average, the body destroys - and replaces - nearly two million red blood cells per second. ALSO READ | A potato in space? In unique discovery, oblong-shaped planet found Trudel told Reuters on Thursday (January 13), "We thought we knew about space anemia, and we did not. We had assumed that this was a very quick phenomenon of adaptation and nothing was going on. And now we're discovering that's not the case. Space has a primary specific effect on red blood cell regulation." During the study, Trudel posed crucial questions like how long can the body manage to constantly produce 50% more red cells? What if an astronaut is injured and bleeding? "There is a knowledge gap here that we need to fill in terms of the mechanism, in terms of the countermeasures, in terms also of the the planning of the mission. So will we need some blood products or artificial blood products on board of the mission to Mars, given the fact that there is destruction ongoing? Would we need iron supplements at one point if we can't recycle all of the iron to make new red blood cells and so on?" Trudel said. The research also revealed that having fewer red blood cells in space isn't a problem when your body is weightless but when landing on earth, and potentially on other planets, anaemia could affect astronauts' energy, endurance and strength. A year after returning home, the astronauts' red blood cells had not completely returned to pre-flight levels, his team reported on Friday (January 14) in Nature Medicine. (inputs from agencies)

What is space anaemia? Research tells how it could challenge astronauts during space missions

Space is a dangerous place, courtesy asteroids. No, we are not kidding, ask the dinosaurs if you can. &nbsp;&nbsp;

An asteroid has the potential to cause destruction of species or complete planet. Well, it can also quietly pass by or burn on the entry through atmosphere. &nbsp;&nbsp;

However, you must look up to see what really happens. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-is-milky-way-galaxys-latest-collision-443672" hreflang="en">This is Milky Way galaxy's latest collision</a>

An around 104-metre-wide asteroid is passing near Earth on Tuesday (January 11), a report said. &nbsp; &nbsp;

The rock has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”, as per the report of the Mirror. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;It’s time to ‘look up’: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth

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It will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth. The rock has been named Asteroid 2013 YD48 by NASA and seems to be bigger than the iconic Big Ben. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-astronomers-watch-a-dying-star-explode-in-real-time-442861" hreflang="en">In a first, astronomers watch a dying star explode in real time</a>

Although it will miss Earth by a long distance, it’s actually not that much in terms of space. &nbsp; &nbsp;

NASA seems to classify any object that passes within 120 million miles of Earth as a Near-Earth Object (NEO). It is done as even a slight change in the trajectory due to an obstruction can prove fatal for Earth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Numerous scientists spend hours every day to track thousands of such rocks to know more about universe and take timely action if Earth is in danger. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Space is a dangerous place, courtesy asteroids. No, we are not kidding, ask the dinosaurs if you can. An asteroid has the potential to cause destruction of species or complete planet.

Space is a dangerous place, courtesy asteroids. No, we are not kidding, ask the dinosaurs if you can. An asteroid has the potential to cause destruction of species or complete planet. Well, it can also quietly pass by or burn on the entry through atmosphere. However, you must look up to see what really happens. Also Read: This is Milky Way galaxy's latest collision An around 104-metre-wide asteroid is passing near Earth on Tuesday (January 11), a report said. The rock has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”, as per the report of the Mirror. Watch: It’s time to ‘look up’: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth × It will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth. The rock has been named Asteroid 2013 YD48 by NASA and seems to be bigger than the iconic Big Ben. Also Read: In a first, astronomers watch a dying star explode in real time Although it will miss Earth by a long distance, it’s actually not that much in terms of space. NASA seems to classify any object that passes within 120 million miles of Earth as a Near-Earth Object (NEO). It is done as even a slight change in the trajectory due to an obstruction can prove fatal for Earth. Numerous scientists spend hours every day to track thousands of such rocks to know more about universe and take timely action if Earth is in danger. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Look Up’ before it’s too late: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth

A 104-metre-wide asteroid, which will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth, is going to pass near the planet. The asteroid has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”. The rock, which seems to be bigger than the iconic Big Ben, has been named Asteroid 2013 YD48 by NASA.

It’s time to ‘look up’: Witness building-sized asteroid pass near Earth

An out-of-control Russian Angara A5 heavy-lift rocket stage made an uncontrolled re-entry back to Earth on Wednesday (Jan 5) and media reports have stated that it landed in the Pacific Ocean. On December 27, scientists had conducted a third launch of its new heavy-class Angara rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia. Russian state-run TASS news agency had mentioned that the aim was to test a new upper-stage rocket, called the Persei booster, for the first time. Space agency Roscosmos had congratulated the military-space forces and the entire Russian space industry and called the launch "successful". However, the launcher was prevented from reaching higher than low-Earth orbit after the booster suffered engine failure, as per reports.

Failed Russian rocket part fell on Earth, is there any danger?

A new study has revealed that possible chemical leftovers from the Earth's creation still lingering deep within our planet.

The study, published in Nature Geoscience, has been conducted by the University of Utah.

Researchers used radar waves for a better understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and seismic waves for navigation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-publish-most-detailed-map-to-date-of-black-holes-442056" hreflang="en">Astronomers publish most detailed map to date of black holes</a>

Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Scientists have debated whether plate tectonics was taking place early in Earth’s history or merely in the second half of its history.

Down near the core, there are zones where seismic waves slow to a crawl. New research from the University of Utah finds that these enigmatic and descriptively-named ultra-low velocity zones are surprisingly layered.&nbsp;

The study's model suggests that it’s possible some of these zones are leftovers from the processes that shaped the early Earth—remnants of incomplete mixing like clumps of flour in the bottom of a bowl of batter.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-a-blast-the-rush-of-amateur-astronauts-420637" hreflang="en">What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts</a>

“Of all of the features we know about in the deep mantle, ultra-low velocity zones represent what are probably the most extreme,” says Michael S. Thorne, associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics.&nbsp;

“Indeed, these are some of the most extreme features found anywhere in the planet.”

Scientists initially thought that these zones were areas where the mantle was partially melted, and might be the source of magma for so-called “hot spot” volcanic regions like Iceland.

“But most of the things we call ultra-low velocity zones don’t appear to be located beneath hot spot volcanoes,” Thorne says, “so that cannot be the whole story.”

The study is based on the hypothesis that the ultra-low velocity zones may be regions made of different rocks than the rest of the mantle—and that their composition may hearken back to the early Earth.

The intense heat of the planet immediately after it formed means any initial water would have quickly evaporated and scientists believe the oceans emerged around 8 million years later.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new study has revealed that possible chemical leftovers from the Earth's creation still lingering deep within our planet. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, has been conducted by the University of Utah.

A new study has revealed that possible chemical leftovers from the Earth's creation still lingering deep within our planet. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, has been conducted by the University of Utah. Researchers used radar waves for a better understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and seismic waves for navigation. Also read | Astronomers publish most detailed map to date of black holes Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Scientists have debated whether plate tectonics was taking place early in Earth’s history or merely in the second half of its history. Down near the core, there are zones where seismic waves slow to a crawl. New research from the University of Utah finds that these enigmatic and descriptively-named ultra-low velocity zones are surprisingly layered. The study's model suggests that it’s possible some of these zones are leftovers from the processes that shaped the early Earth—remnants of incomplete mixing like clumps of flour in the bottom of a bowl of batter. Also see | What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts “Of all of the features we know about in the deep mantle, ultra-low velocity zones represent what are probably the most extreme,” says Michael S. Thorne, associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. “Indeed, these are some of the most extreme features found anywhere in the planet.” Scientists initially thought that these zones were areas where the mantle was partially melted, and might be the source of magma for so-called “hot spot” volcanic regions like Iceland. “But most of the things we call ultra-low velocity zones don’t appear to be located beneath hot spot volcanoes,” Thorne says, “so that cannot be the whole story.” The study is based on the hypothesis that the ultra-low velocity zones may be regions made of different rocks than the rest of the mantle—and that their composition may hearken back to the early Earth. The intense heat of the planet immediately after it formed means any initial water would have quickly evaporated and scientists believe the oceans emerged around 8 million years later. (With inputs from agencies)

Chemical leftovers from Earth's creation still lingering deep within our planet: Study

A huge a kilometer-sized asteroid will fly past Earth later this month, according to NASA's asteroid tracker, marking the first flyby of an asteroid of this scale in 2022. &nbsp;

If an asteroid collided with Earth, it could cause a global disaster, but this is fortunately unlikely.

This asteroid, designated 7482 (1994 PC1), is expected to have a diameter of at least 1 kilometre and a width of up to 1.3 kilometres.

That's more than four times the size of the Eiffel Tower and 3.5 times the size of the Empire State Building in New York City.&nbsp;

The asteroid is classified as an Apollo-class asteroid, which means that its orbit is broader than Earth's and that its orbital path around the Sun may cross our planet's.

Furthermore, NASA has classified it as a potentially hazardous asteroid.&nbsp;

An impact, on the other hand, is exceedingly unlikely.

According to NASA's projections, 7482 (1994 PC1) will approach Earth on January 18 at a distance of roughly 1.98 million kilometres.

The Earth's distance from the moon is around 384,000 kilometres, which is more than five times less.

This confirms NASA's previous projections, which stated that the Earth would be safe from asteroid strikes within the next 100 years.&nbsp;

However, if the Earth had not been so fortunate, the consequences could have been disastrous.

According to a study from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science's Davidson Institute of Science, an asteroid with a diameter of more than 140 metres would release an amount of energy a thousand times greater than the first atomic bomb if it collided with Earth.

Something even bigger, like the asteroid Apophis, which is almost 300 metres wide, might wipe out an entire continent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A huge a kilometer-sized asteroid will fly past Earth later this month, according to NASA's asteroid tracker, marking the first flyby of an asteroid of this scale in 2022.

A huge a kilometer-sized asteroid will fly past Earth later this month, according to NASA's asteroid tracker, marking the first flyby of an asteroid of this scale in 2022. If an asteroid collided with Earth, it could cause a global disaster, but this is fortunately unlikely. This asteroid, designated 7482 (1994 PC1), is expected to have a diameter of at least 1 kilometre and a width of up to 1.3 kilometres. That's more than four times the size of the Eiffel Tower and 3.5 times the size of the Empire State Building in New York City. The asteroid is classified as an Apollo-class asteroid, which means that its orbit is broader than Earth's and that its orbital path around the Sun may cross our planet's. Furthermore, NASA has classified it as a potentially hazardous asteroid. An impact, on the other hand, is exceedingly unlikely. According to NASA's projections, 7482 (1994 PC1) will approach Earth on January 18 at a distance of roughly 1.98 million kilometres. The Earth's distance from the moon is around 384,000 kilometres, which is more than five times less. This confirms NASA's previous projections, which stated that the Earth would be safe from asteroid strikes within the next 100 years. However, if the Earth had not been so fortunate, the consequences could have been disastrous. According to a study from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science's Davidson Institute of Science, an asteroid with a diameter of more than 140 metres would release an amount of energy a thousand times greater than the first atomic bomb if it collided with Earth. Something even bigger, like the asteroid Apophis, which is almost 300 metres wide, might wipe out an entire continent. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid the size of golden gate bridge to pass by earth on January 18

An around 104-metre-wide asteroid is set to pass near Earth on January 11, a report said. &nbsp;

The asteroid, which will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth, has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”, the Mirror reported. &nbsp;

The rock, which has been named Asteroid 2013 YD48 by NASA, seems to be bigger than the iconic Big Ben. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-deploys-pallets-crucial-process-begins-440922" hreflang="en">James Webb Space Telescope deploys pallets, crucial process begins</a>

Although it will miss Earth by a long distance, it’s actually not that much in terms of space. &nbsp;

NASA seems to classify any object that passes within 120 million miles of Earth as a Near-Earth Object (NEO). &nbsp;

Even tiny changes in the trajectories due to any obstruction can prove fatal for Earth. &nbsp;

Numerous scientists spend hours every day to track thousands of such rocks to know more about universe and take timely action if Earth is in danger. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-capture-an-erupting-black-hole-12-million-light-years-from-earth-440799" hreflang="en">Astronomers capture an erupting black hole 12 million light-years from Earth</a>

This is not the only asteroid&nbsp;to come closer to Earth in coming weeks. &nbsp;

A 7-m-wide asteroid, which has been named 2014 YE15, will pass by on January 6. It will be 4.6 million miles from Earth.

And on January 7, an asteroid named 2020 AP1, which is only 4-m-wide, will pass near Earth by being around 1.08 million miles from it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An around 104-metre-wide asteroid is set to pass near Earth on January 11, a report said. The asteroid, which will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth, has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”, the Mirror reported.

An around 104-metre-wide asteroid is set to pass near Earth on January 11, a report said. The asteroid, which will be within 3.48 million miles of Earth, has been labelled as a “potentially hazardous object”, the Mirror reported. The rock, which has been named Asteroid 2013 YD48 by NASA, seems to be bigger than the iconic Big Ben. Also Read: James Webb Space Telescope deploys pallets, crucial process begins Although it will miss Earth by a long distance, it’s actually not that much in terms of space. NASA seems to classify any object that passes within 120 million miles of Earth as a Near-Earth Object (NEO). Even tiny changes in the trajectories due to any obstruction can prove fatal for Earth. Numerous scientists spend hours every day to track thousands of such rocks to know more about universe and take timely action if Earth is in danger. Also Read: Astronomers capture an erupting black hole 12 million light-years from Earth This is not the only asteroid to come closer to Earth in coming weeks. A 7-m-wide asteroid, which has been named 2014 YE15, will pass by on January 6. It will be 4.6 million miles from Earth. And on January 7, an asteroid named 2020 AP1, which is only 4-m-wide, will pass near Earth by being around 1.08 million miles from it. (With inputs from agencies)

Catch ultimate glimpse: 104-m-wide asteroid set to pass near Earth on January 11

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