How Environmentally Friendly Are “Green” Fireworks?
Fireworks are used in celebrations around the world, including Independence Day in the U.S., the Lantern Festival in China and the Diwali Festival in India….
Atmospheric Science
COVID-19: Ozone Proved to Be Highly Efficient in Effective in Disinfecting Coronavirus
Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 remains active on aerosols and surfaces for between several hours and several days, depending on the nature of the surface…
42,000-Year-Old Trees Enable Accurate Analysis of Earth’s Last Magnetic Field Reversal
Radiocarbon measurements on the remains of 42,000-year-old New Zealand kauri trees provide the basis for better calibration of geological archives of this period. The last…
Ocean Warming Predicted to Amplify Tropical Rainfall Extremes
Ocean warming predicted to cause a twofold increase in amplitude of rainfall fluctuations over the tropical Pacific. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most…
Study Shows Life From Earth Could Temporarily Survive on Mars
Study shows sending microbes to Earth’s stratosphere, to test their endurance to Martian conditions, can reveal their potential use and threats to space travel. Some…
Unexpected Decrease in Ammonia Emissions in China Due to COVID-19 Lockdowns
Most Chinese working in the cities return to work today after a 7-day national holiday of Spring Festival. The annual Spring Festival, which is also…
Mars Bioreactor Atmos: Biotech Fit for the Red Planet
New method for growing cyanobacteria under Mars-like conditions. NASA, in collaboration with other leading space agencies, aims to send its first human missions to Mars…
Analyzing Dust Storm Sequences on Mars
Dust storms are one of the defining features of the Martian atmosphere. They range from microscale dust devils to global events, and greatly impact the…
NASA Satellites Improve the Accuracy of Forests’ Impacts on the Global Carbon Budget
Scientists have created a new method for measuring carbon fluctuations in forests; it is expected to improve the accuracy of global carbon estimates. Using ground,…
New Global “Wind Atlas” Propels Sustainable Energy for All Parts of the World
Wind energy scientists at Cornell University have released a new global wind atlas – a digital compendium filled with documented extreme wind speeds for all…
Better Understanding Aerosols and the Reasons Behind Arctic Amplified Warming
It’s clear that rising greenhouse gas emissions are the main driver of global warming. But on a regional level, several other factors are at play….
Iodine Oxoacids Formed in Oceans Have Major Impact on Climate and Human Health
Molecular iodine, a major emission from the ocean, can quickly convert to iodic oxoacids even under weak daylight conditions. These oxoacids lead rapidly to aerosol…
COVID-19 Lockdowns Caused Cleaner Air – And Warmed the Planet
Research shows reductions in aerosol emissions had slight, temporary warming impact. The lockdowns and reduced societal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic affected emissions of…
Potentially Damaging Surface Ozone Levels Rose in COVID Lockdown
Less traffic in first lockdown reduced air pollution but caused potentially damaging surface ozone levels to rise. Less traffic on the roads during the first…
Purported Phosphine – An Indicator of Life – On Venus More Likely to Be Ordinary Sulfur Dioxide
In September, a team led by astronomers in the United Kingdom announced that they had detected the chemical phosphine in the thick clouds of Venus….
Urban Greenery Contributes More to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Than Researchers Anticipated
A new study tracing the sources of carbon dioxide, the most significant human-generated greenhouse gas, reveals the unexpectedly large influence of vegetation in urban environments….
Airplanes Could Save Fuel, Time and Emissions by Better Surfing the Wind
Redirecting transatlantic flights to take better advantage of favorable winds at altitude could save fuel, time, and emissions. Airlines could save fuel and reduce emissions…
Explosive Past of Arizona’s Sunset Crater Eruption May Inform Threats of Similar Volcanoes Today
Around A.D. 1085, along the southern rim of Northern Arizona’s elevated Colorado Plateau, a volcano erupted, forever changing ancient Puebloan fortunes and all nearby life….