Al Gore crusades against global warming Nov 12, 2009
Overall, he said, he is optimistic about the future, even though 90 million tons of pollution is being spewed into the Earth's atmosphere every day, the Arctic tundra is melting and the world's forests are disappearing at a rate of an acre every second. "Everywhere I travel in the world, I find a rising wave of awareness of the nature of this crisis, and a rising determination by the people to be a part of the solution," Gore said. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Did a Time-Traveling Bird Sabotage the Hadron Collider? Nov 11, 2009
Particle collisions of an energy equivalent to those planned in the LHC occur when high-energy cosmic rays collide with the earth's atmosphere. What's more, some scientists believe that the Tevatron accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (or Fermilab) near Chicago has already created Higgs bosons without incident; the Fermilab scientists are now refining data from their collisions to prove the Higgs' existence. (Time.com)
Climate Models Don't Tell The Full Story Nov 11, 2009
Many climate models are based on gradual changes, for example the concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere, or changes in the solar radiation that enters the atmosphere. According to Ziegler, this means that important factors may be overlooked. (Science Daily)
The Hidden Cost of Internal Competition Nov 11, 2009
Ozone benefits us by reducing the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays outside the Earth's atmosphere. But inside the atmosphere, ozone wreaks havoc by creating air pollution and damaging our lungs. (BusinessWeek)
Japan eyes solar station in space Nov 9, 2009
But Japan's boldest plan to date is the Space Solar Power System (SSPS), in which arrays of photovoltaic dishes several square kilometres (square miles) in size would hover in geostationary orbit outside the Earth's atmosphere. "Since solar power is a clean and inexhaustible energy source, we believe that this system will be able to help solve the problems of energy shortage and global warming," researchers at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of the project participants, wrote in a report. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Can they make a space elevator? Nov 7, 2009
They've built a three-story high prototype of an elevator tower that would rise roughly 13 miles (20 kilometers) -- high enough to escape most of the earth's atmosphere. "At 20 kilometers, you still have gravity; you're not in orbit," Quine said. (CNN)
Can Closing the Ozone Hole Also Help Combat Climate Change? Nov 6, 2009
Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse culprit in , most scientists agree, but CO2 itself, and a handful of other substances, are now being promoted as good alternatives to commonly used refrigerants that threaten Earth's atmosphere and climate. To understand this paradoxical turn of events, it helps to recall the 1980s, when the world's governments banded together to fix the Antarctic , a continent-size gap in the atmospheric layer that protects human beings, among other living things, from... (Scientific American)
Exploding stars shoot out cosmic rays Nov 3, 2009
Cosmic rays, mostly protons, smack into Earth's atmosphere from our own galaxy with the force of a 98-mile-per-hour fastball. About 12 million light-years away, M82, the "Cigar Galaxy", likely has a density of cosmic rays 500 times higher than the Milky Way (one light-year is about 5. (USA Today -- Tech)
Origin Of Cosmic Rays: VERITAS Telescopes Help Solve 100-year-old Mystery Nov 3, 2009
Astronomers have devised ingenious methods for detecting cosmic rays that hit Earth's atmosphere. However, detecting cosmic rays from a distance requires much more effort. (Science Daily)
Japanese freighter makes re-entry Nov 2, 2009
Japan's new space freighter has burned up in the Earth's atmosphere after completing its mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) carried 4. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
First Japanese Cargo Ship Leaves Space Station Oct 31, 2009
It is due to fire its thrusters on Sunday in order to begin an intentional death plunge into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. "We'd like to thank everybody across the planet for this beautiful vehicle," NASA astronaut Nicole Stott radioed Mission Control as HTV-1 left the station's vicinity. (Fox News)
Climate change glossary Oct 31, 2009
Unlike greenhouse gases, which trap infrared radiation that is already in the Earth's atmosphere, these particles absorb all wavelengths of sunlight and then re-emit this energy as infrared radiation. Boxer-Kerry bill The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, now in the US Senate, also known as Waxman-Markey from 2007-2009 as it passed through the House of Representatives. (BBC News -- Europe)
Opening Up A Colorful Cosmic Jewel Box Oct 30, 2009
(May 5, 2008) The Earth's atmosphere is a gigantic prism that disperses sunlight. In the most ideal atmospheric conditions, such as those found regularly above Cerro Paranal, this will lead to the appearance of. (Science Daily)
Evidence found on oxygen production in oceans long before GOE Oct 30, 2009
4 billion years ago, the Earth's atmosphere underwent a dramatic change when oxygen levels rose sharply. Called the "Great Oxidation Event," the oxygen spike marks the transformation from an oxygen-poor atmosphere to an oxygen-rich one, thus paved the way for complex life to develop on the planet. (Xinhuanet, China)
Our view: Cleaner shipping Oct 30, 2009
Global shipping belches significant amounts of these harmful chemicals into the Earth's atmosphere. They foul the air in U.S. ports and far inland, contribute to respiratory and other diseases and accelerate global warming. (Anchorage Daily News)
Space junk threat delays spaceships departure Oct 30, 2009
The spacecraft is due to undock Friday with nearly 1,600 pounds (728 kg) of trash and then plunge into the Earth's atmosphere on Sunday to be intentionally destroyed over the Pacific Ocean. 2009 Space. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Asteroid explosion was a whopper for Earth Oct 30, 2009
Chapman of the Southwest Research Institute said he was not aware that the object was seen before it plowed into Earth's atmosphere ... A second question is whether it was detected by military satellites that monitor bright flashes in the Earth's atmosphere for defense and security purposes. (MSNBC -- Technology)
NASA Launches Ares I-X Rocket Oct 29, 2009
The boosters fell back down to reenter Earth's atmosphere, parachuting into the Atlantic Ocean for recovery. The simulated upper stage and crew capsule continued without commands from NASA up to 28 miles (45 kilometers) above Earth's surface before falling back through the atmosphere and crashing into the Atlantic. (National Geographic)
Japanese destroyer intercepts test missile off Kauai Oct 28, 2009
JS Myoko guided a SM-3 missile to intercept the separating medium range ballistic missile target outside the Earth's atmosphere ... JS Myoko guided a SM-3 missile to intercept the separating medium range ballistic missile target outside the Earth's atmosphere. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Volcanoes Played Pivotal Role In Ancient Ice Age, Mass Extinction Oct 27, 2009
As the exposed rock weathered, chemical reactions pulled carbon from Earth's atmosphere, causing a global cooling which ultimately killed two-thirds of all species on the planet ... 3, 2007) A switch from predominantly undersea volcanoes to a mix of undersea and terrestrial ones shifted the Earth's atmosphere from devoid of oxygen to one with free oxygen, according to geologists ... 14, 2009) The link between declining carbon dioxide levels in the earth's atmosphere and the formation of the... (Science Daily)
NASA's Ares I-X: Why Launch Empty $450-Million Rocket? Oct 27, 2009
At two minutes into the Ares I-X flight, the first stage will separate at about 130,000 feet (3,962 meters) and fall back down to reenter Earth's atmosphere, parachuting into the Atlantic Ocean for recovery. The simulated upper stage and crew capsule will continue uncontrolled up to 28 miles (45 kilometers) above Earth's surface before falling back through the atmosphere and crashing into the Atlantic. (National Geographic)
'A Fiery Peace in a Cold War,' by Neil Sheehan Oct 26, 2009
If the United States could develop missiles that could be hurled beyond the Earth's atmosphere on a parabolic trajectory and then land less than an hour later, they would have the "ultimate weapon," the greatest deterrent precisely because there could be no defense. But first he had to bypass Gen. Curtis LeMay, the architect of the firebombing campaign that had incinerated urban Japan in the last war. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Activists in S.F. rally against climate change Oct 26, 2009
org, which draws its name from 350 parts per million - the amount of carbon dioxide that some scientists say the Earth's atmosphere can safely handle. The current level is about 390 parts per million and expected to rise. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Weird News)
Detailed roster Oct 25, 2009
Neon is rare on Earth, found in the Earth's atmosphere at 1 part in 65,000 (by volume). It glows a reddish orange, just like the "Brazilian Blur" when he's at the top of his game. (AZCentral -- Sports)
NASA's Secret Space Plane Oct 24, 2009
Artist concept of the X-37 advanced technology flight demonstrator re-entering Earth's atmosphere. You would think that an unpiloted space plane built to rocket spaceward from Florida atop an Atlas booster, circle the planet for an extended time, then land on autopilot on a California runway would be big news. (Fox News)
Fewer Americans Believe in Global Warming Oct 23, 2009
The Earth's atmosphere is about 78% nitogen and 21% oxygen, and these gases are relatively transparent to infrared radiation ... While you sit there, and while the temperature starts to rise, and as you start to sweat a little, think about how a thin piece of glass seems to be much better at trapping heat than 100 miles of Earth's atmosphere. (CBS News)
Galilean Nights onSaturday at visitor center Oct 23, 2009
Throughout this year several Visitor Center program topics involved aspects of the earth's atmosphere. One event gave children the opportunity to build and fly kites. (Grants Cibola County Beacon, NM)
> read more Oct 21, 2009
Like the Eta Aquarids, the Orionids tend to be faint and swift only the Leonids hit Earth's atmosphere faster and they often leave briefly glowing trains. The shower is actually a complex of several components with different maxima spread over several days. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Extreme billionaires Oct 21, 2009
His nascent commercial orbital travel company, Virgin Galactic, will start carrying passengers out of Earth's atmosphere for $USD200,000 per ticket in 2011. Total flight time: 2. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Twinkle twinkle little space junk Oct 19, 2009
James Stirton found a 57cm wide, 20kg chunk of rocket on his property near Charleville in south-western Queensland after it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia and burnt up. "I was just riding along on my bike and it was beside the road, beside a track out in the paddock," Mr Stirton told AAP.. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Climate concerns turn citys smell into cash Oct 18, 2009
That market could prove lucrative for projects that reduce methane, which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere. What else would bill change. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Q&A: The Copenhagen climate summit Oct 18, 2009
This produces carbon dioxide (CO2), which - added to the CO2 present naturally in the Earth's atmosphere - acts as a kind of blanket, trapping more of the Sun's energy and warming the Earth's surface. Deforestation and processes that release other greenhouse gases such as methane also contribute. (BBC News -- Science)
Maldives Set for Undersea Cabinet Confab Oct 17, 2009
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are blamed for causing global warming by trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere. Wealthy nations want broad emissions cuts from all countries, while poorer ones say industrialized countries should carry most of the burden. (Newsmax)
Small asteroid will fly by Earth tonight Oct 17, 2009
"If it's typical density, it would create a 4 kiloton explosion in the Earth's atmosphere if it were to hit, which of course it won't," said Don Yeomans, manager of the Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL. "You'd expect an object of this size to fly within the orbit of the moon every few days or so.". Most simply aren't spotted. (MSNBC -- Technology)
FIREBALL PICTURE: Meteor Explodes Over the Netherlands Oct 16, 2009
The object was most likely a rogue that disintegrated shortly after hitting Earth's atmosphere, say experts, who speculate that pieces of the meteor may have landed in the North Sea (). "Indeed it was a huge event," said , of the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute at the University of Groningen. (National Geographic)
Circus Founder Calls His Trip to Space a Success Oct 14, 2009
The one-time stilt-walker and fire-eater said Tuesday that he experienced only one scary moment during the landing, as the Soyuz capsule re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Laliberte returned to Earth Sunday with Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and NASA astronaut Michael Barratt. (Newsmax)
'Nuclear threat' to power grids Oct 14, 2009
Experts fear that a missile-launched nuclear bomb exploded above the earth's atmosphere could cause a catastrophe. They told the British government that high-altitude electromagnetic pulses could lead to an "economic shutdown". (BBC News -- Africa)
Buzz Aldrin: A different kind of moon race Oct 13, 2009
The greatest need is inside Earth's atmosphere and not outside of it. Posted 10:46 PM on 10/12/2009 00004000 I'm a fan of this user 185 fans. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Gravity-mapping satellite to help predict climate Oct 13, 2009
Although the satellite is known formally as GOCE, the agency also refers to it as the "Formula 1 of satellites." This sleek, 17-foot bundle of sensors currently barrels along at an altitude of 158 miles in the extreme upper limits of Earth's atmosphere. GOCE launched on March 17, but maneuvering the $515 million satellite into position has eaten up half a year's time. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Spacecraft with Circus Tycoon Lands Safely Oct 12, 2009
Laliberte returned with Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, re-entering the Earth's atmosphere several hours after their capsule left the International Space Station. Valery Lyndin, spokesman for Russian mission control, said the capsule drifted by parachute to Earth at 10:32 a.m. local time. (Time.com)
Springtime opportunism Oct 12, 2009
These include population kinetics, influx of radiocarbon into earth's atmosphere, absence of meteorites from the geologic column, and decay of earth's magnetic field. - There is no gradualism in the fossil record, no intermediate types. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Fossilized algae used to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide Oct 12, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The level of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere has not been this high for at least 1. 5 million years, a new study suggests. (Xinhuanet, China)
Cirque boss returns from space Oct 12, 2009
Laliberte returned with Russian cosmonaut and astronaut , re-entering the Earth's atmosphere several hours after their capsule left the International Space Station. Valery Lyndin, spokesman for Russian mission control, said the capsule drifted by parachute to Earth at 10:32 a.m. local time. (USA Today -- Tech)
How pollution might just save the planet Oct 12, 2009
Not for tinkering with the Earth's atmosphere, but for re-engineering Mars ... Whenever there is a large eruption, many tonnes of sulphates are ejected into the Earth's atmosphere. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Red-nosed circus billionaire returns to Earth Oct 11, 2009
Padalka was first to emerge from the capsule, which was charred on re-entry to Earth's atmosphere. He drank a cup of tea and took a bite from an enormous apple presented to him. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Moon data good Oct 10, 2009
Gennady Paldaka, Michael Barratt and Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte will bid adieu to crewmates at 5:30 p.m. and depart the outpost in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at 8:45 p.m. The spacecraft will reenter Earth's atmosphere about 11:15 p.m. and land in central Kazakhstan at 12:31 a.m. Sunday. What's next. (Florida Today)
Canadian Astronomers Capture Spectacular Meteor Footage And Images Oct 9, 2009
They suggest that pieces of the comet may have survived their fiery passage through the Earth's atmosphere. . (Science Daily)
Proposal: $500 million gigantic space gun could launch half-ton (almost) payloads Oct 8, 2009
Hunter acknowledges that the projectile would be slowed by its passage through Earth's atmosphere. But he says drag would be minimal on a , causing it to slow by only half a kilometre per second. (Harper's Magazine)
Arctic Sea Ice Recovers Slightly In 2009, Remains On Downward Trend Oct 7, 2009
The consensus of scientists is that the shrinking Arctic sea ice is tied to warming temperatures caused by an increase in human-produced greenhouse gases being pumped into Earth's atmosphere, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Sea surface temperatures in the Arctic this season remained higher than normal, but slightly lower than the past two years, according to data from University of Washington Senior Oceanographer Mike Steele. (Science Daily)
Volcanoes Wiped Out All Forests 250 Million Years Ago Oct 7, 2009
On a global scale, human activity is altering the balance of gases in Earth's atmosphere "faster than anything we see in the geological record," Sephton added. In addition, the drop in species diversity today mirrors the early stages of the Permian event. (National Geographic)
Do Dust Particles Curb Climate Change? Oct 7, 2009
Greenhouse gases that heat up the earth's atmosphere have their adversaries: dust particles suspended in the atmosphere which are known as aerosols. They arise naturally, for example when wind blows up desert dust, and through human activities. (Science Daily)
Livestock Can Help Rangelands Recover From Fires Oct 6, 2009
The results suggest that rising CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere may be contributing to. . (Science Daily)
Cosmic Rays Affect Atmospheric Aerosols, Clouds Oct 6, 2009
The evidence from the aftermath of the Forbush decreases, as scrutinized by the Danish team, gives aerosol experts valuable information about the formation and fate of small aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere. Although capable of affecting sunlight after five days, the growing aerosols would not yet be large enough to collect water droplets. (Science Daily)
Scientists create 'artificial ionosphere' using radio waves Oct 5, 2009
LONDON: An experiment that fires powerful radio waves into the sky has created a patch of 'artificial ionosphere', mimicking the uppermost portion of Earth's atmosphere. According to a report in Nature News, the experiment is called the 'High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program' (HAARP), near Gakona, Alaska. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Probes' moon dives 'all about the water' Oct 4, 2009
Instead of floating away as space junk and eventually burning up in Earth's atmosphere, the rocket's Centaur upper stage remained hitched to the LCROSS satellite. The spacecraft has been dragging the rocket segment around the Earth, roughly like a Volkswagen Beetle towing a school bus. (Florida Today)
"Super Typhoon" Bears Down On Philippines Oct 3, 2009
Or maybe those are only a product of man-made global warming, not the natural climate change we are seeing that has occured since the formation of Earth's atmosphere. Add a comment. (CBS News)
Who Says It's a Picnic Up There? Oct 3, 2009
"We have to keep the size to an optimum to ensure basic comforts while conforming to a system that protects humans on board from radiation." A bigger size demands greater protection against the high temperatures produced by friction as the vehicle comes hurtling down after re-entering the earth's atmosphere. 00004000 Taking the orbital vehicle to space will be India's own 49-metre-tall , three-stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which was launched successfully four out of five... (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Dust storm a boon for boffins Oct 3, 2009
Algae are also known to absorb as much as 40 per cent of carbon dioxide from the earth's atmosphere, leading some scientists to speculate climate change could be mitigated by dumping iron into the world's oceans. Bloomberg. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Domain chains fall away Oct 3, 2009
They cause "air showers" of secondary particles when they hit the Earth's atmosphere and can pose a threat to astronauts and orbiting satellites but not to people at ground level. The cause of the cosmic spike is the current solar minimum, a decrease in solar activity which began in 2007 and continues today. (Asia Times Online)
Heart of a galaxy emits gamma rays Oct 3, 2009
This so called Cherenkov radiation is emitted by showers of particles created when high-energy gamma quanta collide with molecules in Earth's atmosphere. H.E.S.S. stands for High Energy Stereoscopic System and has been in operation since the beginning of 2004. (EurekAlert!)
York native, astronaut Chris Cassidy shares thoughts on space travel with local crowds Oct 2, 2009
"According to NASA's Web site, "The crew completed the construction of the KIBO Japanese Experiment Module, installed scientific experiments on its Exposed Facility and delivered critical spare parts and replacement batteries to the orbital complex, in addition to transferring 24,638 pounds of hardware and 1,225 pounds of water to the station" during its mission. The mission took place from July 15 to July 31.Jan Cassidy introduced her son at the meeting, marveling at the fact that she was... (Seacoast New Hampshire)
October 2009 Geology and GSA Today highlights Oct 2, 2009
5 billion years ago also happens to be about the time that oxygen slowly started building up in Earth's atmosphere. They demonstrate that, because of the way U behaves, the increase in atmospheric oxygen would have led to U being dissolved out of rocks, forming concentrated U deposits. (EurekAlert!)
It's raining pebbles on recently discovered exoplanet Oct 1, 2009
COROT-7b's atmosphere has none of the volatile elements or compounds that make up Earth's atmosphere, such as water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. "The only atmosphere this object has is produced from vapour arising from hot molten silicates in a lava lake or lava ocean," Fegley said. (India Times, India)
Letter: Don't be fooled by recent ‘greenwashing' ad Oct 1, 2009
They neglect to say that the high concentration of CO2 in the air today 380 parts per million has transformed the earth's atmosphere and is currently causing the rise of acidity in the world's oceans, harming the natural equilibrium of exchange of gases between the water and the atmosphere. Since the start of the industrial revolution, humans have burned enough coal, oil and gas to produce some additional 250 billion metric tons of carbon. (Montana Standard, MT)
Pebble Rain: Exoplanet Has Bizarre Atmosphere Oct 1, 2009
Perhaps because they were cooked off, COROT-7b's atmosphere has none of the volatile elements or compounds that make up Earth's atmosphere, such as water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide ... Why is there oxygen on a dead planet, when it didn't show up in Earth's atmosphere until 2. (Science Daily)
