Wednesday, March 12News That Matters

Tag: space disasters

NASA Explains Phenomenon Behind Spectacular Auroras Illuminating Earth’s Skies

NASA Explains Phenomenon Behind Spectacular Auroras Illuminating Earth’s Skies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Space
Auroras, the mesmerizing celestial light shows, have once again graced the skies across several regions, captivating spectators with their vibrant hues of pink, green, and purple. This dazzling display, commonly known as the "northern lights," is a result of a powerful solar storm that has swept across the planet. The phenomenon, triggered by eruptions on the Sun, has been elucidated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a recent thread on X (formerly Twitter), shedding light on the intricate interplay between solar activity and Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, solar eruptions manifest in two primary forms: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Solar flares, intense bursts of light, occur when the Sun's magnetic fields undergo abrupt rearrange...
Discovery of Atmospheric Richness on Exoplanet Janssen

Discovery of Atmospheric Richness on Exoplanet Janssen

Breaking News, Environment, Space
For the first time, astronomers have uncovered evidence of a substantial atmosphere surrounding a rocky world beyond our Solar System. Although not suitable for human habitation, this remarkable finding marks a significant advancement in planetary astronomy and our understanding of exoplanetary diversity. The world in question, known as Janssen or 55 Cancri E, is classified as a super-Earth exoplanet. Situated in close proximity to its host star, Janssen's surface is believed to be engulfed in a vast ocean of molten lava, rendering it inhospitable to life as we know it. Janssen orbits a star named Copernicus, or 55 Cancri A, one of the binary pair of dwarf stars located approximately 41 light-years away from Earth. Since its discovery in 2004, astronomers have been captivated by the ...
White Dwarfs’ Mysterious Appetite Unveiled: Recent Research Sheds Light on Their Cosmic Dining Habits

White Dwarfs’ Mysterious Appetite Unveiled: Recent Research Sheds Light on Their Cosmic Dining Habits

Breaking News, Environment, Space
In a groundbreaking revelation, recent research has uncovered the enigmatic behavior of white dwarfs, shedding light on their consumption of nearby planetesimals and the dynamics shaping their evolution. Led by JILA graduate student Tatsuya Akiba, along with JILA Fellow Ann-Marie Madigan and undergraduate student Selah McIntyre, the study offers profound insights into the cosmic phenomena surrounding these stellar remnants. White dwarfs, the celestial remnants of dead stars, have long puzzled astronomers with their perplexing chemical composition. Despite their prevalence in our galaxy, their surface features heavy metal elements that defy conventional stellar behavior. The mystery deepened until recent research uncovered the hidden dynamics behind their unique dietary habits. The "N...
NASA Unveils Immersive Black Hole Simulation: Journey into the Heart of Cosmic Mysteries

NASA Unveils Immersive Black Hole Simulation: Journey into the Heart of Cosmic Mysteries

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
Embark on a mesmerizing voyage into the depths of a black hole, courtesy of a groundbreaking visualization crafted by NASA's astrophysical experts. Led by Jeremy Schnittman from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, in collaboration with scientist Brian Powell, this immersive project offers a tantalizing glimpse into the enigmatic realm of these cosmic behemoths. Powered by the cutting-edge 'Discover supercomputer', NASA's simulation transports viewers on an awe-inspiring odyssey towards the heart of a supermassive black hole, akin to the colossal entity residing at the core of our Milky Way galaxy. From a vantage point 400 million miles away, observers witness the mesmerizing distortions in space-time, a mesmerizing display of cosmic phenomena. Dramatic Distortions and Cosmic Curiosit...
Earth Braces for Impact as Sun Unleashes Consecutive Flare To Threatening Technological Infrastructure

Earth Braces for Impact as Sun Unleashes Consecutive Flare To Threatening Technological Infrastructure

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
In a dramatic display of solar activity, the Sun has unleashed a series of powerful flares, posing potential risks to Earth's technological infrastructure and space exploration efforts. The recent surge in solar eruptions, occurring on consecutive days, has heightened concerns among scientists and space agencies worldwide. The first flare, categorized as an X-class flare, the most intense classification, occurred on May 2, originating from sunspot region AR3663. This eruption, lasting approximately 25 minutes, resulted in shortwave radio blackouts across regions including Australia, Japan, and parts of China. Solar physicist Keith Strong described it as an "impulsive flare," indicative of its sudden and intense nature. Barely a day later, on May 3, another significant eruption was ob...
Solar Flare Triggers Radio Blackouts Across Pacific Region

Solar Flare Triggers Radio Blackouts Across Pacific Region

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
A recent powerful solar flare originating from sunspot region AR3654 caused widespread radio blackouts across the Pacific region. The eruption, which lasted for 12 minutes on April 30, released near X-class solar flares, the most potent type. Solar flares are associated with sunspots, where magnetic fields are strongest. According to NASA, solar flares occur when powerful magnetic fields in and around the Sun reconnect, releasing magnetic energy that builds up in the solar atmosphere. These flares are classified based on their strength, with X-class flares being the most powerful, followed by M-class, C-class, and B-class flares. The April 30 flare, measuring M9.53, was just below an X-class solar flare, ionizing the upper atmosphere upon hitting Earth. Mariners and ham radio operato...
ISRO Set to Launch INSAT-3DS Satellite for Enhanced Meteorological Observations

ISRO Set to Launch INSAT-3DS Satellite for Enhanced Meteorological Observations

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of its latest meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS, on February 17. Scheduled to be deployed aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV F14), the mission aims to bolster meteorological observations, leading to improved weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities. In a statement released on Thursday, ISRO announced that the GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission is set to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota at 5:30 pm. This mission marks the 16th flight of the GSLV and is intended to place the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Subsequent maneuvers will position the satellite into a Geo-Stationary Orbit. Designed t...
NASA-ISRO Collaboration: NISAR Satellite to Provide Unprecedented Insights into Earth’s Cryosphere

NASA-ISRO Collaboration: NISAR Satellite to Provide Unprecedented Insights into Earth’s Cryosphere

Breaking News, Disasters, Space, Thoughts & Talks
NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are joining forces to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, slated to become a game-changer in monitoring Earth's cryosphere – the frozen surfaces of land and ice. Set to launch in 2024 from southern India, NISAR will offer unparalleled observations, measuring key Earth vital signs related to the health of wetlands, ground deformation caused by volcanoes, and the dynamics of land and sea ice. NISAR's unique capabilities lie in its ability to observe nearly all of the planet's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. This comprehensive coverage will be facilitated by two radar systems: an L-band system with a 10-inch wavelength and an S-band system with a 4-inch wavelength. The L-band is adept at penetrat...
NASA’s Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope Captures 14 Years of the Universe’s Gamma Radiation in Stunning Timelapse

NASA’s Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope Captures 14 Years of the Universe’s Gamma Radiation in Stunning Timelapse

Breaking News, Space, Tech
A timelapse compiled from data collected by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope between August 2008 and August 2022 reveals a captivating view of the Universe’s gamma radiation. Fermi, launched in 2008, has been instrumental in studying gamma radiation sources, including those emanating from supernova remnants, pulsar stars, quasar and blazar galaxies, and other energetic celestial phenomena. Gamma radiation, being the most energetic light in the cosmos, is typically blocked by Earth’s atmosphere, necessitating the deployment of telescopes like Fermi in space to capture this elusive light. The recently released timelapse showcases the diverse sources of gamma radiation observed by Fermi over the course of 14 years. Judy Racusin, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center,...
Scientists Achieve Communicative Exchange with Humpback Whale, Drawing Parallels to Alien Communication

Scientists Achieve Communicative Exchange with Humpback Whale, Drawing Parallels to Alien Communication

Learning & Developments, Space
In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists from UC Davis, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) have achieved a 20-minute communicative exchange with a humpback whale named Twain. The study, published in the journal PeerJ, involved playing a “contact call” into the ocean to see if whales would respond. Contact calls are a form of greeting among whales, used for communication and location signaling. Twain, the humpback whale, exhibited intentional responsiveness to the contact calls, matching intervals and engaging in what scientists describe as a communicative exchange. The researchers sailed off the coast of Alaska, emitting the contact call 36 times at varying intervals, and Twain consistently responded to each call, indicating a level of int...