Atmospheric Scientist
- All
- News
- Videos
-
Earth to Spin Faster on July 22 to Make It One of the Shortest Days in Recorded History
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Earth will complete its rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the usual 24 hours, scientists say. That will make it the second-shortest day ever recorded, just behind July 10, 2025. The trend of shorter days has accelerated since 2020, attributed to factors like the Moon’s position, mass shifts from melting ice, and at...
-
Algae-Grown Bioplastic Passes Mars Pressure Test, Boosting Hopes for Red Planet Habitats
Scientists have successfully grown algae in bioplastic chambers under Mars-like conditions, marking a step toward sustainable habitats for astronauts. The chambers, made from polylactic acid, supported photosynthesis and stabilized liquid water. This breakthrough suggests self-replicating biomaterials could reduce Earth-based resupply, advancing lo...
-
Magnetic Wave Study Detects Lithium in Mercury’s Exosphere for First Time Ever
For the first time, scientists have detected lithium in Mercury’s exosphere using magnetic wave signatures found in MESSENGER spacecraft data. The findings link lithium’s release to meteoroid impacts that vaporise planetary material, offering fresh insight into volatile element delivery. This breakthrough reshapes our understanding of Mercury...
-
Chandra Spots Distant Baby Planet Losing Its Atmosphere Under Intense X-ray Assault
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a rare glimpse of TOI 1227 b, a young, Jupiter-sized exoplanet losing its atmosphere under intense stellar radiation. Just 8 million years old, the planet is shrinking rapidly as X-rays strip away its mass. Scientists warn it may become a barren rocky core in about a billion years.
-
NASA’s Parker Probe Sends Closest-Ever Images from Inside the Sun’s Corona
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a solar milestone by capturing the closest-ever images of the Sun, taken just 3.8 million miles from its surface in December 2024. These WISPR images reveal unprecedented details of the corona, solar wind, and CME collisions. Scientists say this breakthrough will improve our ability to forecast space weather...
-
Uranus Found Emitting Internal Heat, Reviving Hopes for Flagship NASA Mission
Astronomers have discovered that Uranus emits 12% more heat than it receives from sunlight, contradicting past data from Voyager 2. The internal warmth likely comes from leftover energy in the planet’s core, offering clues to its tilt and interior structure. This unexpected heat has intensified calls for a flagship NASA mission to Uranus. Scienti...
-
Dark Dwarfs: New Star-Like Objects May Reveal Nature of Dark Matter
Scientists have proposed a new class of stellar objects called “dark dwarfs,” sub-stellar bodies that may glow faintly from the energy released by annihilating dark matter particles. Found near the galaxy’s core, these objects could hold crucial clues about the elusive nature of dark matter. Powered not by fusion but by WIMP-like particles, d...
-
NASA Astronaut Captures Stunning 'Sprite' Light Show Above Earth's Atmosphere
Sprites are a type of TLE, which create brilliant flashes of light high above powerful thunderstorms and are difficult to observe from the ground.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
-
NASA Study Reveals Correlation Between Earth’s Magnetic Field and Atmospheric Oxygen
According to NASA, changes in Earth’s magnetic field 540 million years ago corresponded with atmospheric oxygen shifts. This finding suggests that Earth’s deep interior may impact surface habitability. Scientists plan further research to trace these connections and their role in life’s origin.
-
'Strange' Planetary System With Unusual Orbit Intrigues Scientists
The planet was formed around four billion years ago and has a frigid atmospheric temperature of just minus 3 degrees Celsius.
-
Earth Will Lose Its Oxygen: Scientists Warn Of A Rapid Countdown
The findings also suggest oxygen may not be a permanent biosignature on habitable planets, impacting the search for extraterrestrial life.
-
Scientists Capture Plasma Streams, Coronal Raindrops in Sharpest-Ever View of Sun’s Corona
For the first time, scientists have captured ultra-detailed footage of the sun’s outer atmosphere, showing coronal rain and a never-before-seen plasma stream. These new images were made possible by adaptive optics that cut through Earth’s atmospheric interference, revealing structures never observed before. The findings could unlock solar myste...
-
Solar Eruptions Are Killing Off SpaceX's Starlink Satellites, NASA Study Reveals
The study found that solar storms cause satellites to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere faster than expected, reducing their lifespan by up to 10 days.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece
Kosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 for Venus, is predicted to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025. Designed to survive harsh conditions, it may land intact. Scientists are tracking it closely, but the risk to humans is low, with most likely impact in oceanic areas.
-
Earth to Spin Faster on July 22 to Make It One of the Shortest Days in Recorded History
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Earth will complete its rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the usual 24 hours, scientists say. That will make it the second-shortest day ever recorded, just behind July 10, 2025. The trend of shorter days has accelerated since 2020, attributed to factors like the Moon’s position, mass shifts from melting ice, and at...
-
Algae-Grown Bioplastic Passes Mars Pressure Test, Boosting Hopes for Red Planet Habitats
Scientists have successfully grown algae in bioplastic chambers under Mars-like conditions, marking a step toward sustainable habitats for astronauts. The chambers, made from polylactic acid, supported photosynthesis and stabilized liquid water. This breakthrough suggests self-replicating biomaterials could reduce Earth-based resupply, advancing lo...
-
Magnetic Wave Study Detects Lithium in Mercury’s Exosphere for First Time Ever
For the first time, scientists have detected lithium in Mercury’s exosphere using magnetic wave signatures found in MESSENGER spacecraft data. The findings link lithium’s release to meteoroid impacts that vaporise planetary material, offering fresh insight into volatile element delivery. This breakthrough reshapes our understanding of Mercury...
-
Chandra Spots Distant Baby Planet Losing Its Atmosphere Under Intense X-ray Assault
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a rare glimpse of TOI 1227 b, a young, Jupiter-sized exoplanet losing its atmosphere under intense stellar radiation. Just 8 million years old, the planet is shrinking rapidly as X-rays strip away its mass. Scientists warn it may become a barren rocky core in about a billion years.
-
NASA’s Parker Probe Sends Closest-Ever Images from Inside the Sun’s Corona
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a solar milestone by capturing the closest-ever images of the Sun, taken just 3.8 million miles from its surface in December 2024. These WISPR images reveal unprecedented details of the corona, solar wind, and CME collisions. Scientists say this breakthrough will improve our ability to forecast space weather...
-
Uranus Found Emitting Internal Heat, Reviving Hopes for Flagship NASA Mission
Astronomers have discovered that Uranus emits 12% more heat than it receives from sunlight, contradicting past data from Voyager 2. The internal warmth likely comes from leftover energy in the planet’s core, offering clues to its tilt and interior structure. This unexpected heat has intensified calls for a flagship NASA mission to Uranus. Scienti...
-
Dark Dwarfs: New Star-Like Objects May Reveal Nature of Dark Matter
Scientists have proposed a new class of stellar objects called “dark dwarfs,” sub-stellar bodies that may glow faintly from the energy released by annihilating dark matter particles. Found near the galaxy’s core, these objects could hold crucial clues about the elusive nature of dark matter. Powered not by fusion but by WIMP-like particles, d...
-
NASA Astronaut Captures Stunning 'Sprite' Light Show Above Earth's Atmosphere
Sprites are a type of TLE, which create brilliant flashes of light high above powerful thunderstorms and are difficult to observe from the ground.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
-
NASA Study Reveals Correlation Between Earth’s Magnetic Field and Atmospheric Oxygen
According to NASA, changes in Earth’s magnetic field 540 million years ago corresponded with atmospheric oxygen shifts. This finding suggests that Earth’s deep interior may impact surface habitability. Scientists plan further research to trace these connections and their role in life’s origin.
-
'Strange' Planetary System With Unusual Orbit Intrigues Scientists
The planet was formed around four billion years ago and has a frigid atmospheric temperature of just minus 3 degrees Celsius.
-
Earth Will Lose Its Oxygen: Scientists Warn Of A Rapid Countdown
The findings also suggest oxygen may not be a permanent biosignature on habitable planets, impacting the search for extraterrestrial life.
-
Scientists Capture Plasma Streams, Coronal Raindrops in Sharpest-Ever View of Sun’s Corona
For the first time, scientists have captured ultra-detailed footage of the sun’s outer atmosphere, showing coronal rain and a never-before-seen plasma stream. These new images were made possible by adaptive optics that cut through Earth’s atmospheric interference, revealing structures never observed before. The findings could unlock solar myste...
-
Solar Eruptions Are Killing Off SpaceX's Starlink Satellites, NASA Study Reveals
The study found that solar storms cause satellites to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere faster than expected, reducing their lifespan by up to 10 days.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece
Kosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 for Venus, is predicted to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025. Designed to survive harsh conditions, it may land intact. Scientists are tracking it closely, but the risk to humans is low, with most likely impact in oceanic areas.
