Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the aftermath of devastating floods in the Valencia region of Eastern Spain.&nbsp;



On October 29, 2024, torrential rainfall unleashed nearly a year’s worth of precipitation in just eight hours, leading to catastrophic flash floods that affected a vast area from Málaga to Valencia. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flash-floods-in-valencia">Flash floods in Valencia </h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flash-floods-are-set-to-become-much-more-common-in-the-u-s/">Floodwaters</a> submerged entire neighborhoods and agricultural lands. Many roads and infrastructure were overwhelmed almost instantly, stranding vehicles and prompting widespread evacuations. Water levels rose faster than emergency services could respond.



One resident of Paiporta, near Valencia, told the BBC that when the water started to rise it was "like a tsunami wave."



“In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses,” reported the Associated Press.



More than 200 people were killed and thousands of people were rescued. According to SOS Desaparecidos, as many as 1,300 people remained unaccounted for on Friday, three days after the floods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnitude-of-the-tragedy-nbsp">Magnitude of the tragedy&nbsp;</h2>



Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, said: “The fact that we can’t give a number of the missing persons indicates the magnitude of the tragedy.”&nbsp;



Some areas, including the Spanish town of Alfafar, are completely cut off from communication.&nbsp;



Juan Ramón Adsuara, the mayor of Alfafar, said the aid isn't nearly enough for residents trapped in an "extreme situation."



"There are people living with corpses at home. It's very sad. We are organizing ourselves, but we are running out of everything," Adsuara told reporters. "We go with vans to Valencia, we buy and we come back, but here we are totally forgotten."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-government-warning-was-not-issued-in-time">Government warning was not issued in time</h2>



On Tuesday morning, Spain's meteorological agency Aemet warned that torrential rains were forecast for the region of Valencia, before issuing a&nbsp; "maximum red alert.”



Carlos Mazon, Valencia’s regional president, said the government sent out an SMS alert reserved for the “worst possible scenario.” But according to a report from CNN, that alert was sent hours too late.



“By 5 p.m., Valencia’s emergency services were swamped by hundreds of pleas for help throughout the region,” wrote Atika Shubert, a CNN Senior International Correspondent.



“It was at 8 p.m. that cell phones finally buzzed with the public alert telling residents to stay indoors. Much too little, much too late, even for those downstream of the raging water who might otherwise have had time to prepare.”



The BBC also noted that many people have questioned the timing of the government's warning, which arrived more than 12 hours after Aemet issued its first red alert.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-weather-in-a-warming-climate">Extreme weather in a warming climate</h2>



The deadly floods in Valencia were primarily caused by an extreme weather event that brought record-breaking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-events-are-interconnected-around-the-globe/">rainfall</a>. The intense downpour was fueled by unusually warm Mediterranean Sea temperatures, which increased moisture in the atmosphere and intensified the rainfall.&nbsp;



Climate experts link this phenomenon to climate change, as warmer seas lead to more frequent, severe storms. The combination of heavy rain and the region's limited drainage capacity led to flash flooding, overwhelming local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-floods-its-not-just-about-rainfall/">infrastructure</a>.



Rising ocean temperatures are largely driven by increased greenhouse gases that trap more heat in the atmosphere. Oceans absorb about 90% of this excess heat, leading to warmer waters, especially near the surface.&nbsp;



This warming disrupts marine ecosystems, contributing to coral bleaching and altering habitats for species like fish and marine mammals.



With the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/">climate crisis</a> intensifying, experts warn that warmer ocean temperatures will heighten the risk of rapid, destructive rainfall events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-second-deadliest-flood-in-europe-this-century-nbsp">Second-deadliest flood in Europe this century&nbsp;</h2>



Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the disaster was the second-deadliest flood in Europe this century and that Spain was carrying out its largest deployment of army and security force personnel in peacetime. The country was sending 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police officers to the eastern region of Valencia on Saturday.



Four days after the devastating floods, rescuers are still searching for bodies. Thousands of volunteers are helping to clean up the thick mud that covers streets, homes, and businesses in the hardest-hit towns.&nbsp;



Prime Minister Sanchez responded to people who expressed they feel abandoned with no help or communication in the days following the tragic flooding.



“I am aware the response is not enough, there are problems and severe shortages… towns buried by mud, desperate people searching for their relatives.”



"For those who at this moment are still looking for their loved ones, the whole of Spain weeps with you."



According to <a href="https://www.esa.int/">ESA</a>, the Copernicus Emergency Rapid Mapping Service has been activated to provide satellite imagery that can support rescue and recovery efforts.



Image Credit: USGS, processed by ESA&nbsp;



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Valencia floods: A tragedy fueled by extreme weather

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the aftermath of devastating floods in the Valencia region of Eastern Spain.&nbsp; On October 29, 2024, torrential rainfall unleashed nearly a year’s worth of precipitation in just eight hours, leading to catastrophic flash floods that affected a vast area from Málaga to Valencia.  Flash floods in Valencia Floodwaters submerged entire neighborhoods and agricultural lands. Many roads and infrastructure were overwhelmed almost instantly, stranding vehicles and prompting widespread evacuations. Water levels rose faster...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a brilliant stellar nursery located about 163,000 light-years away.



According to ESA, the image is one of the most photogenic examples of the many stellar nurseries observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope during its 30-year lifetime. 



“The portrait features the giant nebula NGC 2014 and its neighbor NGC 2020 which together form part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-stellar-nursery">What is a stellar nursery?</h2>



Stellar nurseries are regions in space where new stars are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">born</a> - often within vast clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds.&nbsp;



These areas are fascinating because they are cradles of stellar evolution, where gravity causes clumps of gas to collapse, eventually forming protostars.&nbsp;



Over time, the protostars will heat up and start the nuclear fusion process that powers a star.



One of the most well-known stellar nurseries is the Orion Nebula, which is visible to the naked eye and located about 1,350 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-a-stellar-nursery-nbsp">Dynamic nature of a stellar nursery&nbsp;</h2>



Within these nurseries, the balance between gravity and pressure determines the types of stars that form, from massive, luminous stars to smaller, cooler ones like our Sun.&nbsp;



The environment is incredibly dynamic, with powerful winds from young stars shaping the clouds and triggering the birth of even more stars.



These regions are often illuminated by the light from massive newborn stars - creating stunning, colorful displays. The light reveals the intricate structure of the dust and gas, sculpted by the energy of young stars.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-stellar-nurseries-nbsp">Significance of stellar nurseries&nbsp;</h2>



Stellar nurseries are essential for understanding the early stages of planetary formation, as protoplanetary disks (the material from which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets form</a>) are often found around young stars in these regions.



Stellar nurseries play a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>. They are responsible for the continuous birth of new stars that enrich the interstellar medium with heavier elements. This constant recycling of material is key to the development of future generations of stars and planets.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the study of these regions helps astronomers understand the fundamental processes that govern the life cycles of stars and the overall dynamics of the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-local-group">The Local Group</h2>



The Local Group is a collection of over 80 galaxies that includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Triangulum Galaxy, along with numerous smaller dwarf galaxies. These galaxies are bound together by gravity and span a region roughly 10 million light-years across.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-thin-disk-is-billions-of-years-older-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> and Andromeda are the dominant members, with their respective satellite galaxies orbiting them.&nbsp;



The Local Group is part of a larger structure known as the Virgo Supercluster, and its galaxies are moving toward the gravitational center of the Local Group, contributing to its dynamic nature.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud">Large Magellanic Cloud</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the fourth largest galaxy in the Local Group and can be seen with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



This irregular dwarf galaxy is home to the Tarantula Nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in our cosmic neighborhood.&nbsp;



The Large Magellanic Cloud played a key role in astronomical history, particularly when the supernova SN 1987A was observed, providing valuable insights into stellar evolution.&nbsp;



The LMC's interaction with the Milky Way, along with its own companion, the Small Magellanic Cloud, is believed to influence its shape and star formation activity. Its proximity and unique properties make it a crucial object of study for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-galactic-explosion-provides-clues-about-galaxy-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy evolution</a>, star formation, and the dynamics of interacting galaxies.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and STScI



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Hubble captures a stunning stellar nursery

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Mount Whaleback Iron Ore Mine in Australia. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Mount Whaleback Iron Ore Mine in Western Australia.

According to NASA, a lot of the iron ore found at Whaleback is hematite, which has been the primary iron ore mined in Australia since the 1960s. 

Pure hematite, which contains around 70 percent iron, can range in color from silver to reddish brown. Iron that is extracted from the minerals is commonly used for making steel. 

Overall, Australia has nearly 30 percent of the global supply of iron ore.

The image was captured on July 16, 2020 by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA’s Terra satellite.

The Mount Whaleback deposit was discovered in 1957 by Stan Hilditch but not publicised until 1960, when the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Government of Australia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Australia">Australian Government</a> lifted the embargo on iron ore exports it had put in place because of concerns the mineral was in short supply. The first mine to develop was the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Goldsworthy mine" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldsworthy_mine">Goldsworthy mine</a> in 1965 and a railway line, the <a title="Goldsworthy railway" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldsworthy_railway">Goldsworthy railway</a>, as well as port facilities at Finucane Island were constructed. On 1 June 1966, the first shipment of iron ore from the Pilbara left on board of the Harvey S. Mudd.

<a title="BHP" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BHP">BHP</a>'s operations in Newman date back to 1968, when the Mount Whaleback mine was opened, the biggest single-pit <a title="Open-pit mining" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-pit_mining">Open-pit</a> iron ore mine in the world, developed originally by <a title="United States" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States">United States</a> company <a class="new" title="Bechtel Pacific (page does not exist)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bechtel_Pacific&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1">Bechtel Pacific</a>. The mine is 1.5 kilometres wide, more than five kilometres long and is scheduled to eventually reach a depth of 0.5 kilometres. A new town, Newman, was constructed, as well as a 426 kilometre railway line, the <a title="Mount Newman railway" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Newman_railway">Mount Newman railway</a>. The first train left Newman on 1 January 1969 and the first shipment of Newman ore left port on 1 April 1969 on board of the Osumi Maru. Newman remained a "closed" company town until 1981

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mount Whaleback Iron Ore Mine in Australia

Mount Whaleback Iron Ore Mine in Australia. Today's Image of...

Bolivia's forests are burning with little relief in sight. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> shows smoke streaming from destructive wildfires across the Chiquitano forest of eastern Bolivia. 

Controlled fires are a common seasonal occurrence in the region, but fires are burning out of control this year after persistent drought and a recent heatwave.

<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=satellites&amp;cvid=c326a743b03c49e483fcbcfb1f6e0559&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Satellites</a> have observed fires burning throughout August, September, and October, and the government has declared a state of emergency. 

More than 1.5 million acres have burned in Bolivia, causing widespread damage to crops and grazing lands. Bolivia's forests are burning with little relief in sight

According to NASA, fires have destroyed at least 45,000 hectares of crops, 27,000 hectares of grazing land, and 800 head of cattle in <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/fires-in-santa-cruz-bolivia/">Santa Cruz</a> and Chuquisaca.

The fires will be difficult to contain in the next few weeks, as high temperatures and winds are expected with little rain in the forecast. 

The image was captured on October 9, 2020 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite 

The <a title="Sovereign state" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_state">sovereign state</a> of Bolivia is a <a title="Constitution of Bolivia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Bolivia">constitutionally</a> <a title="Unitary state" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state">unitary state</a>, divided into <a title="Departments of Bolivia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departments_of_Bolivia">nine departments</a>. Its geography varies from the peaks of the <a title="Andes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes">Andes</a> in the West, to the Eastern Lowlands, situated within the <a title="Amazon basin" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_basin">Amazon basin</a>. It is bordered to the north and east by <a title="Brazil" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil">Brazil</a>, to the southeast by <a title="Paraguay" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguay">Paraguay</a>, to the south by <a title="Argentina" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina">Argentina</a>, to the southwest by <a title="Chile" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile">Chile</a>, and to the northwest by <a title="Peru" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru">Peru</a>. One-third of the country is within the <a title="Andes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes">Andean</a> mountain range. With 1,098,581 km2 (424,164 sq mi) of area, Bolivia is the fifth largest country in <a title="South America" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America">South America</a>, after <a title="Brazil" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil">Brazil</a>, <a title="Argentina" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina">Argentina</a>, <a title="Peru" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru">Peru</a>, and <a title="Colombia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia">Colombia</a> (and alongside <a title="Paraguay" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguay">Paraguay</a>,

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bolivia's forests are burning with little relief in sight

Bolivia's forests are burning with little relief in sight. Today's...

The Moraleda Channel in the Patagonian Andes. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut’s view of the Moraleda Channel in the northern Patagonian Andes. This region consists of diverse landscapes, including rivers, lakes, and glacial fjords.

Melimoyu is the large, ice-capped volcano located northeast of the Moraleda Channel, and is part of Chile’s national park system.

According to NASA, the land and water in this photo were entirely covered by ice roughly 25,000 years ago during the last glacial maximum. As massive glaciers retreated, they created interconnected fjords and channels. 

The image was captured on March 25,2020 by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station.

Along their length, the Andes are split into several ranges, separated by intermediate <a title="Depression (geology)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(geology)">depressions</a>. The Andes are the location of several high <a title="Plateau" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plateau">plateaus</a>—some of which host major cities such as <a title="Quito" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quito">Quito</a>, <a title="Bogotá" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogot%C3%A1">Bogotá</a>, <a title="Cali" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cali">Cali</a>, <a title="Arequipa" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arequipa">Arequipa</a>, <a title="Medellín" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medell%C3%ADn">Medellín</a>, <a title="Bucaramanga" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucaramanga">Bucaramanga</a>, <a title="Sucre" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucre">Sucre</a>, <a title="Mérida, Mérida" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9rida,_M%C3%A9rida">Mérida</a> and <a title="La Paz" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz">La Paz</a>. The <a title="Altiplano" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altiplano">Altiplano plateau</a> is the world's second-highest after the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Tibetan plateau" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_plateau">Tibetan plateau</a>. These ranges are in turn grouped into three major divisions based on climate: the <a title="Tropical Andes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Andes">Tropical Andes</a>, the <a title="Dry Andes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Andes">Dry Andes</a>, and the <a title="Wet Andes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_Andes">Wet Andes</a>.

The Andes Mountains are the highest mountain range outside Asia. The highest mountain outside Asia, Argentina's Mount <a title="Aconcagua" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconcagua">Aconcagua</a>, rises to an elevation of about 6,961 m (22,838 ft) above sea level. The <a class="mw-redirect" title="Summit (topography)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summit_(topography)">peak</a> of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Chimborazo (volcano)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimborazo_(volcano)">Chimborazo</a> in the Ecuadorian Andes is farther from the Earth's center than any other location on the Earth's surface, due to the <a title="Equatorial bulge" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_bulge">equatorial bulge</a> resulting from the <a title="Earth's rotation" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_rotation">Earth's rotation</a>. The world's highest <a title="Volcano" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano">volcanoes</a> are in the Andes, including <a title="Ojos del Salado" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojos_del_Salado">Ojos del Salado</a> on the Chile-Argentina border, which rises to 6,893 m (22,615 ft).

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Moraleda Channel in the Patagonian Andes

The Moraleda Channel in the Patagonian Andes. Today's Image of...

Spirals Are In This Season

Hubble captures a spiral galaxy in high resolution. Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a> features a remarkably detailed view of the spiral galaxy NGC 5643 in the constellation of Lupus. 

The stunning photo was made possible through nine hours of observation obtained by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, combined with the instrument's high resolution and clarity.

According to the ESA, the spiral galaxy is about 60 million light years away from Earth and recently hosted a supernova event in which a white dwarf gained so much mass from a companion star that it became unstable and exploded. 

A galaxy is a <a class="mw-redirect" title="Gravitation" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitation">gravitationally</a> bound system of <a title="Star" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star">stars</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Stellar remnant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_remnant">stellar remnants</a>, <a title="Interstellar medium" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_medium">interstellar gas</a>, <a title="Cosmic dust" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_dust">dust</a>, and <a title="Dark matter" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter">dark matter</a>. The word galaxy is derived from the <a title="Ancient Greek" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek">Greek</a> galaxias (γαλαξίας), literally "milky", a reference to the <a title="Milky Way" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way">Milky Way</a>. Galaxies range in size from <a title="Dwarf galaxy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_galaxy">dwarfs</a> with just a few hundred million (108) stars to <a title="IC 1101" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_1101">giants</a> with one hundred <a title="Orders of magnitude (numbers)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders_of_magnitude_(numbers)#1012">trillion</a> (1014) stars, each orbiting its galaxy's <a title="Center of mass" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_mass">center of mass</a>.

Galaxies are categorized according to their visual <a class="mw-redirect" title="Morphology (astronomy)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(astronomy)">morphology</a> as <a title="Elliptical galaxy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_galaxy">elliptical</a>, <a title="Spiral galaxy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_galaxy">spiral</a>, or <a title="Irregular galaxy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregular_galaxy">irregular</a>. Many galaxies are thought to have <a title="Supermassive black hole" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermassive_black_hole">supermassive black holes</a> at their centers. The Milky Way's central black hole, known as <a title="Sagittarius A*" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*">Sagittarius A*</a>, has a mass four million times greater than the <a title="Sun" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun">Sun</a>.As of March 2016, <a title="GN-z11" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GN-z11">GN-z11</a> is the oldest and most distant observed galaxy with a <a class="mw-redirect" title="Comoving distance" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoving_distance">comoving distance</a> of 32 billion <a class="mw-redirect" title="Light-years" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-years">light-years</a> from Earth, and observed as it existed just 400 million years after the <a title="Big Bang" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang">Big Bang</a>.

Image Credit: ESA 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hubble captures a spiral galaxy in high resolution

Hubble captures a spiral galaxy in high resolution. Today's Image...

Sea ice retreat reveals brilliant colors in the Laptev Sea. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Laptev Sea on the Siberia coast, where the sea ice vanished months before the Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent for 2020.

As a result, the colorful combination of dissolved organic matter and sediments highlight currents and eddies across the Laptev Sea. 

The natural-color image was captured on September 10, 2020 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. Sea ice retreat reveals brilliant colors in the Laptev Sea. The sea shores were inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous tribes of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Yukaghirs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukaghirs">Yukaghirs</a> and then <a title="Evens" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evens">Evens</a> and <a title="Evenks" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evenks">Evenks</a>, which were engaged in fishing,

The sea is named after the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Russian explorers" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_explorers">Russian explorers</a> <a title="Dmitry Laptev" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Laptev">Dmitry Laptev</a> and <a title="Khariton Laptev" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khariton_Laptev">Khariton Laptev</a>; formerly, it had been known under various names, the last being Nordenskiöld Sea (Russian: мо́ре Норденшёльда), after explorer <a title="Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Erik_Nordenski%C3%B6ld">Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld</a>. The sea has a severe climate with temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) over more than nine months per year, low water <a title="Salinity" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinity">salinity</a>, scarcity of flora, fauna and human population, and low depths (mostly less than 50 meters). It is frozen most of the time, though generally clear in August and September.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sea ice retreat reveals brilliant colors in the Laptev Sea

Sea ice retreat reveals brilliant colors in the Laptev Sea....

Wave clouds over the Pacific Ocean Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features  a series of undulating cloud bands, or wave clouds, over the Pacific Ocean near Baja California.

According to NASA, wave clouds are the product of atmospheric gravity waves that typically form when something forces a mass of air upward. 

The image was captured on October 4, 2020 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east. At 165,250,000 square kilometers (63,800,000 square miles) in the area (as defined with a southern Antarctic border), this largest division of the World Ocean—and, in turn, the hydrosphere—covers about 46% of Earth's water surface and about 32% of its total surface area, making it larger than all of Earth's land area combined (148,000,000 square kilometers). The centers of both the Water Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are in the Pacific Ocean. Ocean circulation (caused by the Coriolis effect) subdivides it into two largely independent volumes of water, which meet at the equator

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wave clouds over the Pacific Ocean

Wave clouds over the Pacific Ocean Today's Image of the...

Dust plume stretches hundreds of miles across the Persian Gulf. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Persian Gulf during the summer dust-storm season in July of 2020.

According to NASA, the photo gives the wide context of the storm as strong winds raised a dust plume hundreds of miles long. Dust plume stretches hundreds of miles across the Persian Gulf

The image was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as it lingered over southern Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Dust plume stretches hundreds of miles across the Persian Gulf.

The Persian Gulf  is a <a title="Mediterranean sea (oceanography)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_sea_(oceanography)">mediterranean sea</a> in <a title="Western Asia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Asia">Western Asia</a>. The body of water is an extension of the <a title="Indian Ocean" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean">Indian Ocean</a> (<a title="Gulf of Oman" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Oman">Gulf of Oman</a>) through the <a title="Strait of Hormuz" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a> and lies between <a title="Iran" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran">Iran</a> to the northeast and the <a title="Arabian Peninsula" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Peninsula">Arabian Peninsula</a> to the southwest.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf#cite_note-unstats.un.org-1">[1]</a> The <a title="Shatt al-Arab" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatt_al-Arab">Shatt al-Arab</a> <a title="River delta" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta">river delta</a> forms the northwest shoreline.

The body of water is historically and internationally known as the "Persian Gulf". Some <a title="Arab League" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_League">Arab governments</a> refer to it as the "Arabian Gulf" (<a class="mw-redirect" title="Arabic language" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language">Arabic</a>: اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ‎, <a title="Romanization of Arabic" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Arabic">romanized</a>: Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī) or "The Gulf". The name "Gulf of Iran (Persian Gulf)" is used by the <a title="International Hydrographic Organization" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Hydrographic_Organization">International Hydrographic Organization</a>.

The Persian Gulf was a battlefield of the 1980–1988 <a title="Iran–Iraq War" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War">Iran–Iraq War</a>, in which each side attacked the other's <a title="Oil tanker" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_tanker">oil tankers</a>. It is the namesake of the 1991 <a title="Gulf War" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War">Gulf War</a>, the largely air- and land-based conflict that followed <a title="Iraq" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq">Iraq</a>'s invasion of <a title="Kuwait" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait">Kuwait</a>.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dust plume stretches hundreds of miles across the Persian Gulf

Dust plume stretches hundreds of miles across the Persian Gulf....

Shark Bay is home to some of the oldest lifeforms on Earth. Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Shark Bay, Australia, which is home to 28 different shark species.

Shark Bay contains the largest beds of seagrasses in the world. Scientists estimate that around eight million tons of leaf material grows every year across the underwater seagrass meadows. Shark Bay is home to some of the oldest lifeforms on Earth

The bay is also home to endangered green and loggerhead turtles, as well as some of the oldest lifeforms on Earth.

The islands, peninsulas, and waters of Shark Bay cover more than 9,000 square miles. 

The image was captured on September 30, 2020 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.

Shark Bay (<a title="Malgana language" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malgana_language">Malgana</a>: Gutharraguda, "two waters") is a <a title="World Heritage Site" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site">World Heritage Site</a> in the <a title="Gascoyne" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gascoyne">Gascoyne</a> region of <a title="Western Australia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Australia">Western Australia</a>. The 23,000-square-kilometre (8,900 sq mi)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_Bay#cite_note-1">[1]</a> area is located approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of <a title="Perth" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth">Perth</a>, on the westernmost point of the Australian continent. <a title="UNESCO" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO">UNESCO</a>'s official listing of Shark Bay as a World Heritage Site reads:
<dl>
 	<dd>Shark Bay’s waters, islands and peninsulas....have a number of exceptional natural features, including one of the largest and most diverse <a title="Seagrass" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seagrass">seagrass</a> beds in the world. However it is for its <a title="Stromatolite" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite">stromatolites</a> (colonies of microbial mats that form hard, dome-shaped deposits which are said to be the oldest life forms on earth), that the property is most renowned. The property is also famous for its rich marine life including a large population of <a title="Dugong" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong">dugongs</a>, and provides a refuge for a number of other globally threatened species</dd>
</dl>
Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Shark Bay is home to some of the oldest lifeforms on Earth

Shark Bay is home to some of the oldest lifeforms...

Dna,Spiral,,Life,Blueprint.,Double,Helix,Structure,,Genetic,Science,Symbol,

Evolution has always been seen as a complex, random, and unpredictable process, shaping life on Earth in ways we could hardly anticipate. 



But what if there's more order to it than chaos? That's exactly what a team of scientists is suggesting in a new study.



This research, led by Professor James McInerney and Dr. Alan Beavan from the School of Life Sciences at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Nottingham</a>, hints that evolution might not be as random as we've long thought.



Their research could have big implications for tackling issues like antibiotic resistance, diseases, and even climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-genes-and-the-pangenome">Evolution, genes, and the pangenome</h2>



So, what's this all about? The team analyzed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meet-the-pangenome-the-clearest-snapshot-ever-taken-of-human-genomic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the pangenome</a> -- the complete set of genes within a species -- to see if evolution follows any predictable paths. 



They wanted to know: Is evolution just a series of accidents, or is there a pattern influenced by a genome's history?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-pangenome">What is the pangenome?</h2>



In simple terms, the pangenome is the complete set of all genes found within a species. 



It includes every gene present in all the different strains or individuals, covering both the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-dna-secrets-revealed-by-genomic-time-machine-and-transposable-elements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common genes</a> shared by everyone (the core genome) and the unique ones found only in some (the accessory genome). 



So even though individual members might have different genetic makeups, the pangenome represents the full genetic diversity that the species has.



Analyzing the pangenome allows researchers to identify which genes are essential for survival and which ones offer specific advantages, opening up possibilities for new medical and environmental applications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-computing-power-required">Big computing power required</h2>



The team used a machine learning approach called <a href="https://www.ibm.com/topics/random-forest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Random Forest</a> to sift through a massive dataset of 2,500 complete genomes from a single bacterial species. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-machine-learning-can-help-us-protect-chimpanzees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Machine learning</a> algorithms like this are great at finding patterns that might be too complex or subtle for humans to detect on their own. 



This wasn't a quick job -- it took several hundred thousand hours of computer processing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-and-gene-families">Evolution and "gene families"</h2>



First up, they created "gene families" from each gene in every genome. "In this way, we could compare like-with-like across the genomes," explained Dr. Maria Rosa Domingo-Sananes from <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nottingham Trent University</a>.



Once they had these families sorted out, they focused on the genes and gene families inside the genomes.



"We found that some gene families never turned up in a genome when a particular other gene family was already there," said Dr. Domingo-Sananes. 



"And on other occasions, some genes were very much dependent on a different gene family being present."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-gene-ecosystem-driving-evolution">Hidden gene ecosystem driving evolution</h2>



In other words, they discovered an invisible ecosystem where genes either get along or clash with each other, making <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-may-be-the-biggest-roadblock-to-solving-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution unpredictable</a>.



"These interactions between genes make aspects of evolution somewhat predictable and furthermore, we now have a tool that allows us to make those predictions," added Dr. Domingo-Sananes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-paradigm-shift">A paradigm shift</h2>



Professor McInerney, the lead author of the study, is excited about the possibilities, to say the least. 



"The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/missing-law-of-nature-explains-the-evolution-of-everything-that-exists-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">implications of this research</a> are nothing short of revolutionary," he said. 



"By demonstrating that evolution is not as random as we once thought, we've opened the door to an array of possibilities in synthetic biology, medicine, and environmental science."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-applications">Real-world applications</h2>



This research isn't just about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snails-defy-death-and-revive-through-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">understanding evolution</a> for curiosity's sake. It has real-world implications that could affect our lives in significant ways.



But how could this affect us in practical terms? 



"From this work, we can begin to explore which genes 'support' an antibiotic resistance gene, for example," Dr. Beaven explained.



"Therefore, if we are trying to eliminate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/umbrella-toxin-discovery-may-help-human-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic resistance</a>, we can target not just the focal gene, but we can also target its supporting genes."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-antibiotic-resistance">Fighting antibiotic resistance</h2>



This approach could be a game-changer in the fight against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistance-increasing-enterococci-looming-global-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic-resistant bacteria</a>. 



By understanding the network of genes that work together, scientists could develop more effective treatments.



"We can use this approach to synthesize new kinds of genetic constructs that could be used to develop new drugs or vaccines," Dr. Beavan continued. 



"Knowing what we now know has opened the door to a whole host of other discoveries."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-climate-change">Implications for climate change</h2>



The study's insights might also help in the fight against climate change. 



By engineering microorganisms that can capture carbon or break down pollutants, we could develop new tools to reduce our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-changes-in-diet-can-greatly-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental footprint</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advancing-personalized-medicine-0">Advancing personalized medicine</h2>



The predictability of gene interactions could also revolutionize <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-microbiome-trillions-of-bacteria-unique-like-your-fingerprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personalized medicine</a>. 



Imagine doctors being able to predict how a disease might progress in your body based on your genetic makeup, or which treatments would be most effective for you. 



This research could bring us one step closer to that reality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-gene-manipulation-and-the-future">Evolution, gene manipulation, and the future</h2>



To sum it all up, this new research is shaking up how we think about evolution. Instead of seeing it as a series of random events, the study suggests there's a level of predictability influenced by gene families and genetic history. 



This is obviously a very big deal for many other reasons besides the fact that it upends everything we thought we knew about evolution since Charles Darwin burst onto the scene. 



This discovery means that we might be able to anticipate and even guide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finch-beaks-and-bird-songs-a-new-story-of-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary changes</a> in ways we never thought possible.



The practical applications are vast. From developing new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance to engineering organisms that can help fight climate change, the possibilities are exciting. 



The idea that we can target not just harmful genes but also their "supporting cast" opens up new avenues in medicine and environmental science.



Overall, this study invites us to rethink some fundamental assumptions about life and evolution. It's not just about chance anymore; there's a pattern and order we can tap into. 



As we learn more, who knows what other doors might open? It's an exciting time to be alive, and an exciting time to be a scientist.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2304934120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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New evolution discovery is being called "nothing short of revolutionary"

Evolution has always been seen as a complex, random, and...

Where did planets come from? This question has intrigued skywatchers and astronomers for many years.



In the 18th century, Immanuel Kant and Pierre-Simon Laplace proposed that planets were born from a disk of dust and gas surrounding the nascent Sun.



This theory was based on the observation that all planets revolve around the Sun in the same plane and share a common direction of orbit. The scientists compared this particular trait to a record spinning on a phonograph.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planets-around-young-stars">Planets around young stars</h2>



It was only after two centuries that the theory was backed up with compelling evidence. When <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/infrared-astronomical-satellite-iras/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IRAS</a> (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) captured the curious excess of infrared light from the dust around the star Vega, it supported the idea of disks forming around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">young stars</a>.



But as we continue to dig deeper and explore further, we stumble upon new surprises. When astronomers from the University of Arizona decided to aim for a closer look at the Vega system using the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, they discovered something intriguing.



It appears the Vega disk is phenomenally smooth. The characteristic churning and plowing seen in other stellar disks, usually caused by planets, is absent here. 



In fact, the Vega disk seems almost as flat as a pancake, showing no evidence of any planets. This challenges our previous understanding and calls for a reassessment of the variety of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rogue-star-zoomed-by-our-solar-system-disrupted-planetary-orbits-stretched-edges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planetary systems</a>.



"Our observations of Vega surprise us at every turn, and force us to rethink our understanding of exoplanetary systems," said study lead author Kate Su.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tale-of-two-stars">Tale of two stars</h2>



Fomalhaut is a star similar to Vega in terms of distance, age, and temperature. Yet, their systems show stark architectural differences. Fomalhaut has three debris belts, indicating the potential presence of planets that could be regulating the dust into rings.



"Given the physical similarity between the stars of Vega and Fomalhaut, why does Fomalhaut seem to have been able to form planets and Vega didn't?" said George Rieke of the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>, a member of the research team.



"What's the difference? Did the circumstellar environment, or the star itself, create that difference? What's puzzling is that the same physics is at work in both," added study co-author Schuyler Wolff.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-of-vega-star-system">History of Vega star system</h2>



Vega was the first star that hinted at the possibility of life-bearing planets - a theory proposed by Immanuel Kant in 1775.



Many decades later, in 1984, NASA's IRAS detected an excess of warm dust around Vega, interpreted as a shell or disk of dust. Subsequent observations with telescopes confirmed this fact but couldn't lend any significant details.



"The Hubble and Webb observations together provide so much more detail that they are telling us something completely new about the Vega system that nobody knew before," said Rieke. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-re-evaluating-planet-formation">Re-evaluating planet formation</h2>



The unexpected discovery of Vega's serene disk indicates that astronomers should reconsider <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/t-coronae-borealis-nova-explosion-nearby-star-light-up-earths-skies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prevailing theories</a> of planet formation.



Traditionally, the chaotic churning of circumstellar disks, with their evident gaps and structures, has been indicative of planetary forces at work - shepherding dust and gas into ordered arrangements.



Yet, Vega's lack of these hallmarks suggests alternative mechanisms might govern system development in some stars. Could magnetic fields, stellar winds, or even the initial density and composition of the protoplanetary disk play a more pivotal role than previously imagined? 



Further investigations into Vega and similar systems could improve our understanding of the diverse pathways <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-asteroid-collision-detected-in-nearby-star-system-beta-pictoris/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planetary systems</a> might take, challenging conventional wisdom and broadening our cosmic perspective.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



Stars like Vega and Fomalhaut have profound implications for astrobiology, particularly in the quest to identify potentially habitable exoplanets. The presence or absence of planets within these systems influences the potential for life-sustaining environments.



If systems can evolve with little or no planetary formation disturbances, as Vega suggests, we may need to redefine the criteria used to search for habitable worlds. 



The serene disk of Vega, devoid of planetary influences, prompts questions about habitability outer limits and whether lifeless planets might yet harbor conditions capable of fostering life in nontraditional habitats. 



This new vista in planetary science reshapes not just our celestial maps, but potentially the very parameters of life itself in the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discoveries-beyond-stars-like-vega">Discoveries beyond stars like Vega</h2>



The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a> has been churning out revolutionary discoveries and enhancing our understanding of the universe for over three decades now. 



However, it isn't the only tool to accomplish this Herculean task. Hubble, managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and supported by Lockheed Martin Space, continues its exploration, while the James Webb Space Telescope is also making giant strides.



Webb, an international collaboration led by NASA in partnership with the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>) and Canadian Space Agency, surveys our solar system, investigates distant worlds, and probes mysterious structures and origins of our universe.



<a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.24042" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.23636" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">papers</a>&nbsp;from the Arizona team will be published in&nbsp;<a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, S. Wolff (University of Arizona)



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Vega star system discovery forces us to rethink planet formation

Where did planets come from? This question has intrigued skywatchers...

Mars and its tantalizing mysteries have spurred many space missions, each one revealing something new and compelling. NASA's Perseverance rover has been a prolific source of remarkable discoveries surrounding Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos. 



One such spectacle happened on September 30, 2024. From its unique vantage point, Perseverance captured Phobos <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun_Phobos-moon_transit_Perseverance-rover-photo_2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sliding right in front of the Sun</a>.



"From its perch on the western wall of Mars’ Jezero Crater, NASA’s Perseverance rover recently spied a 'googly eye' peering down from space. The pupil in this celestial gaze is the Martian moon Phobos, and the iris is our Sun," said <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-captures-googly-eye-during-solar-eclipse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phobos-eclipses-the-sun">Phobos eclipses the Sun</h2>



Phobos is a rather unassuming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-perseverance-rover-now-uses-ai-search-minerals-life-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celestial body</a> when you consider the company it keeps -- sharing Mars' orbit with its twin moon, Deimos. These two moons are the least massive in the solar system.



Despite its size, Phobos has a rather significant role. It casts its shadow right across the Martian surface as it orbits the planet. 



This happens because Phobos orbits exceptionally close to Mars -- closer than any moon to its parent planet in our solar system. 



This close proximity results in swift orbits, each complete revolution around Mars taking merely 7.6 hours.



And it was during one of these quick orbits that <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perseverance</a> caught the eclipse as Phobos transited across the Sun.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="dDkrA9ZzPX-3971698-12187" type="single"]</div>



Perseverance, equipped with its Mastcam-Z, documented the Martian landscape in detail and captured the fleeting yet awe-inspiring event of Phobos crossing the Sun. 



Despite its small size, the moon partially obscured our star, creating an impactful and mesmerizing visual effect. 



But, rather than just a beautiful cosmic spectacle, it allowed scientists a unique opportunity to explore deeper into the workings of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-finds-best-evidence-yet-life-on-mars-cheyava-falls-rock/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martian system</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactions-between-a-planet-and-its-moon">Interactions between a planet and its moon</h2>



By capturing spectacular visuals like the Phobos transit, Perseverance holds significant scientific value.



By observing these occurrences over time and comparing images and videos of earlier Phobos transits, scientists can get a better understanding of the moon's evolving orbit. 



The experts discovered that Phobos is gradually moving closer to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-samples-bunsen-peak-rock-jezero-crater-martian-lake/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>. In about 50 million years, it is expected either to collide into Mars or disintegrate.



Studying these developments helps scientists comprehend the long-term gravitational interactions between a planet and its moon, contributing to our understanding of planetary evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-perseverance-rover-mission">Perseverance rover mission</h2>



The Perseverance mission goes beyond observing mesmerizing eclipses. The rover's primary objective is astrobiology, actively searching for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. 



It studies Mars' geology and climate. The rover analyzes Martian rock formations, serving as a crucial link in understanding Mars's past when the planet's conditions could have been suitable for life.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/sun_phobos-moon_transit_perseverance-rover-photo_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun_Phobos-moon_transit_Perseverance-rover-photo_1s.webp" alt="NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture the silhouette of Phobos, one of the two Martian moons, as it passed in front of the Sun on Feb. 8, 2024, the 1,056th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This is one of several transits of Phobos that NASA's Mars rovers have captured. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1949097"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture the silhouette of Phobos, one of the two Martian moons, as it passed in front of the Sun on Feb. 8, 2024, the 1,056th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This is one of several transits of Phobos that NASA's Mars rovers have captured. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



But that's not all. Perseverance is also responsible for collecting rock and soil samples from the Martian surface for future analysis back on Earth. It's a part of a mission being developed in partnership with the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>).



Once these materials are transported back home, scientists can perform meticulous laboratory experiments not feasible with the rover's onboard instruments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-imaging-the-sun-s-eclipse-with-phobos">Imaging the Sun's eclipse with Phobos</h2>



The Mastcam-Z on Perseverance was instrumental in capturing the stunning image of Phobos crossing the Sun.



This advanced imaging system was developed collectively by <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State Uni</a><a href="https://www.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">v</a><a href="https://www.asu.edu/">ersity</a>, <a href="https://www.msss.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malin Space Science Systems</a>, and the <a href="https://nbi.ku.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Niels Bohr Institute</a>.



The camera holds a vital position in making space exploration relatable by capturing visually captivating events that inspire public engagement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nasa-s-vision-moon-to-mars">NASA's vision: Moon to Mars</h2>



The Perseverance mission forms a part of NASA's broader exploration strategy, "Moon to Mars."



The rover is not merely bound by scientific objectives but is also laying the groundwork for future space travel. 



Perseverance tests out new technology that could be beneficial for future astronauts, such as systems that could generate oxygen from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-begins-steep-climb-up-martian-crater-rim-jezero-crater/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martian</a> atmosphere.



The footage of the Martian moon as it eclipses the Sun is a reminder of the vastness and the wonders of space exploration. 



As Perseverance reveals the secrets of Mars, it helps us learn about our universe and brings us closer to visiting the Red Planet.



Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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Mars' moon Phobos captured eclipsing the Sun from the Martian surface by Perseverance rover

Mars and its tantalizing mysteries have spurred many space missions,...

Marine heatwaves are posing a new threat to the ocean’s delicate balance, affecting even its tiniest yet most vital inhabitants - phytoplankton.



These microscopic algae provide food for countless marine species and play a crucial role in regulating our planet’s climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phytoplankton-heroes-of-the-ocean">Phytoplankton: Heroes of the ocean</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-heatwaves-have-complex-effects-on-phytoplankton-food-web/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phytoplankton</a> are the unsung heroes of our oceans, working behind the scenes to keep marine ecosystems thriving. 



Though invisible to the naked eye, these microscopic algae are constantly at work, producing organic carbon through photosynthesis and supporting nearly every level of the marine food web. 



They also play a vital role in the ocean's carbon cycle, contributing significantly to the regulation of Earth’s climate.



Spring has traditionally been their peak season. As winter fades, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean’s depths rise to the surface, sparking an explosion of growth known as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton bloom</a>. 



But now, a recent study suggests that these essential phytoplankton blooms are facing serious and potentially long-lasting threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marine-heatwaves-disrupt-spring-blooms">Marine heatwaves disrupt spring blooms</h2>



The study was conducted by experts at the <a href="https://www.ricercamarina.cnr.it/en/ismar.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy</a> (CNR-ISMAR) as part of ESA’s CAREHeat project.



The researchers examined phytoplankton blooms in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. They found that marine heatwaves, periods of prolonged unusually warm seawater, have been disrupting the timing and intensity of these essential spring phytoplankton blooms.



Winter marine heatwaves are particularly menacing as they intensify the stratification of ocean water. In other words, they prevent nutrients from the deep-sea layers from mixing with surface waters.



The warmer water can lead to a significant reduction in the phytoplankton's carbon biomass - up to 70% during the spring bloom. This drastic reduction means there are fewer nutrients available, leading to a change in the balance of the marine food web.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-across-the-food-chain">Ripple effects across the food chain</h2>



"We observed that intense winter marine heatwaves delay the timing of phytoplankton blooms. This shift causes a mismatch in the availability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zooplankton-are-rapidly-escalating-the-threat-of-nanoplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zooplankton</a>, which rely on these blooms for food, potentially affecting fish and other marine species that depend on zooplankton," explained study co-author Emanuele Organelli.



Moreover, severe marine heatwaves can also impact an ecosystem's ability to sequester carbon, which is crucial for global climate regulation. 



If these disruptions continue, the balance of marine biodiversity could be thrown off, impacting both local habitats and global processes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-marine-heatwaves-and-ocean-health">Tracking marine heatwaves and ocean health</h2>



To better understand and address this growing problem, the researchers turned to technology. They used sea surface temperature data from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI) and various satellite platforms, like the Copernicus Sentinel-3’s Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer.



This allowed the experts to track and categorize heatwave events in the Mediterranean from 2012 to 2022.



"Ongoing satellite monitoring by ESA is crucial for tracking and addressing these growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-heatwaves-escalate-coral-bleaching-threats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threats</a> to marine biodiversity," said ESA scientist Marie-Helene Rio.



"The increasing frequency of marine heatwaves may further compromise vital ocean services, such as fisheries and the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon – processes that are key to both marine ecosystems and global climate stability.”



These tiny marine allies need our help, and monitoring of marine heatwaves could be our first step towards preventing a potentially catastrophic ripple effect through marine ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-marine-ecosystems">Implications for marine ecosystems</h2>



Marine heatwaves don’t just affect phytoplankton - they disrupt entire ocean ecosystems. 



As these tiny algae struggle to bloom, animals higher up in the food chain, like fish, seabirds, and even marine mammals, may find less food. The food shortage can lead to shifts in where species live and how they interact. 



For coastal communities, this disruption also hits close to home. Many rely on fishing to support their families, and fewer fish could mean a harder life for these communities.



With phytoplankton absorbing less <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-may-flip-plankton-into-carbon-emitters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> due to heatwaves, there’s also a risk that climate change could speed up even more.



By keeping a close eye on marine heatwaves, scientists hope to protect our oceans. Their work will help guide efforts to protect sensitive areas and to develop new strategies to tackle climate change.



Image Credit: Copernicus Sentinel data (2024), processed by ESA



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How marine heatwaves impact ocean health

Marine heatwaves are posing a new threat to the ocean’s...

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly shook things up, changing our daily routines and lifestyles, including our means of transportation.



With mask mandates and lockdowns, many of us bid farewell to our daily commutes, while countries restricted international travel to curb the virus's spread. 



Four and a half years on, we are learning to coexist with the virus and starting to understand the impact of pandemic-related changes.



A recent study investigated how the pandemic reshaped energy consumption in the transportation sector across Europe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-post-pandemic-shifts-in-transportation">Post-pandemic shifts in transportation </h2>



The study was led by Helena Patiño, a PhD student from the <a href="https://www.uoc.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universitat Oberta de Catalunya</a> (UOC). The research sheds light on the transportation transition during and after the pandemic.



The team examined how changing travel habits have affected energy consumption and emissions.



"Overall, Europeans have reduced car use since the pandemic, but have flown much more frequently," said Patiño. 



"However, trends vary considerably between countries. Some have resumed previous transport patterns, while others have managed to maintain a moderate reduction in transport use."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-sustainable-transportation">The future of sustainable transportation</h2>



Transportation, heavily reliant on nonrenewable energy sources, contributes about 37% of our global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-hidden-carbon-footprint-of-long-distance-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> dioxide (CO2) emissions, the primary greenhouse gas. 



Therefore, altering our travel behavior is critical to global climate strategies, like the European scheme for a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030.



"Achieving lasting changes in people's behavior is not easy," said Patiño. "Governments should support environmentally friendly transport options, such as bicycles and electric cars, and lead campaigns to change behavior, so that sustainable transport is not just an option, but the preferred choice for everyone."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-studies-from-different-countries">Case studies from different countries</h2>



Post-lockdown transport habits across Europe have displayed a contrasting recovery. In countries like Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the impact has been less pronounced with only minor shifts in car and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flying-has-never-been-safer-and-continues-to-improve/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plane use</a>.



On the other hand, countries with stricter government regulations such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain saw a significant surge in travel post-lockdown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transport-policies-and-behavioral-changes">Transport policies and behavioral changes</h2>



Interestingly, some countries managed to maintain changes brought on by the pandemic. Sweden, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, for instance, saw lasting effects. 



"Sweden already had a relatively high percentage of remote workers before the pandemic, but the number has continued to grow since then. Furthermore, since 2010, the country has been promoting outdoor leisure activities, facilitating access to places of natural beauty and promoting outdoor exercise," noted Patiño. 



"Denmark, in turn, has continued to invest in cycling infrastructure and electric bicycles. A recent survey found that Copenhagen residents are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cycling-could-dramatically-cut-carbon-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cycling</a> to work more than before the pandemic."



While it's unlikely a uniform shift towards less travel will occur across Europe, as per Patiño, the experiences of these three countries offer insights into how robust transport and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-countries-are-lagging-behind-in-the-shift-to-green-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy policies</a> can help sustain behavioral changes and reduce CO2 emissions, reshaping the future of mobility.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reinventing-urban-spaces-for-sustainable-transit">Reinventing urban spaces for sustainable transit</h2>



The transformation of travel habits during the pandemic has opened doors to reimagining urban spaces to better support sustainable transit. 



European cities are increasingly prioritizing infrastructure that favors low-carbon transport, such as dedicated cycling lanes, pedestrian-friendly areas, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biden-lays-out-plan-for-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric vehicle charging stations</a>. 



Urban planners now have the opportunity to encourage greener modes of transportation by redesigning cities around sustainable travel. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-initiatives-for-sustainable-transportation">Initiatives for sustainable transportation </h2>



Cities like Paris, with its "15-minute city" model, aim to reduce reliance on cars by ensuring that residents can access most of their daily needs within a short walk or bike ride.



These initiatives are critical for a sustainable future as they encourage a shift from car dependency to more environmentally friendly alternatives. 



The success of such urban redesigns can serve as a blueprint for other cities aiming to curb emissions while promoting healthier, more resilient communities. 



With proper policies and infrastructure, Europe could set a global example for post-pandemic mobility that aligns with climate goals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead-for-sustainable-mobility">The road ahead for sustainable mobility</h2>



As Europe continues to adapt to new mobility trends, the challenge lies in making these sustainable shifts permanent. 



Policymakers and urban planners are now focused on reinforcing eco-friendly practices, from expanding public transport networks to promoting zero-emission zones in major cities. 



By embracing these changes, Europe has the potential to lead a global movement towards greener, more resilient urban transport systems that meet both environmental and community needs.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421524002246?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Energy Policy</a>.



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Did the pandemic change our transportation habits?

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly shook things up, changing our daily...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...