Sci-tech
Hurricane Douglas, the strongest storm on the planet, moves toward Hawaii
The hurricane center said additional strengthening is expected over the next day or two and Douglas may develop into a Category 3 or higher storm. A major hurricane is any storm ranked category 3 - winds 111 to 129 miles per hour - or stronger. [Full Article...]
Earth's atmosphere more sensitive to CO2 emissions than thought
Commissioned by the World Climate Research Program, the global study was led by Australian climate scientist and Professor Steven Sherwood from the University of New South Wales. Its findings show that doubling would trigger 2.6 to 4.1 degrees Celsius in average warming above pre-industrial levels, putting the lowest rise more than one degree above scientists' previous estimated range of 1.5-4.5... [Full Article...]
Researchers Identify Massive Exoplanets Orbiting A Star Similar To The Sun
In this case, scientists were specifically scanning nearby sun-like stars to see if any of them had visible exoplanets . The specialists said that more research is expected to decide if extra planets spin around the 17-million-year-old star to make it significantly progressively like our own Solar System. [Full Article...]
Comet NEOWISE Spotted From Bermuda
The space agency said Comet NEOWISE was the brightest comet to come into view of earth since Hale-Bopp in March 1997, which was encouraging news to backyard astronomers who were disappointed by the faintness of Halley's Comet in 1986, or Kohoutek, which was barely visible to anyone except the final Skylab space station crew in the winter of 1973. [Full Article...]
Good Vibes Only: Earth is Vibrating Less Thanks to Coronavirus Lockdowns
In the 20th and 21st centuries, seismic noise has gradually increased as economies and populations expanded, making it hard for scientists to tease apart the different signals and hear natural phenomena that were being masked by human vibrations. [Full Article...]
NY issues largest ever renewable energy solicitation
That's the largest renewable energy solicitation in the U.S. Last year, NY solicited 1,700 megawatts of offshore wind. The investments will include $400 million in public and private funding. "[It] really represents New York's strong commitment to using renewable energy as a tool for our economic rebuilding". Combined, these land-based and offshore wind clean energy projects would generate up ... [Full Article...]
Coronavirus lockdowns hushed seismic noise around the world
The paper is published today in Science . Everyday human activity - from our involvement in industrial processes and construction projects to our raucous outbursts at football stadiums - generates vibrations in the earth that are recorded as a near-continuous stream of high-frequency seismic waves. [Full Article...]
Spectacular view of Comet NEOWISE in SW Montana
The comet's tail is a byproduct of the solar wind burning off the icy material from the comet head or rock. Since NASA says this comet takes approximately 6,800 years to complete its journey around the sun, it won't be visible again in our lifetime. [Full Article...]