Gaia - Planetary Perspectives Archives - Page 35 of 40

A dolomite sample from the Cambrian Muav formation as seen through a microscope. Multiple generations of mineral-growth can be seen. In the study we used a laser-ablation system to sample specific mineral fabrics and measure their U- and Pb compositions. -- Uri Ryb

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ancient Earth’s Ocean Oxygenation Timeline Revealed

by Keith CowingApril 5, 2024April 5, 2024

New study introduces a pioneering application of dolomite U-Pb geochronology, shedding new light on the evolution of ancient marine environments. By uncovering discrepancies in dolomite samples U-Pb ratios, the team […]

An artist generated image illustrating possible futures in policy and research due to human modifications of the atmospheric water cycle. -- credit: Patrick Keys and Fabio Comin

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Press Release, Science Fiction, Societal Issues

Researchers Envision Sci-fi Worlds Involving Changes To Earth’s Atmospheric Water Cycle

by Keith CowingApril 5, 2024

Human activity is changing the way water flows between the Earth and atmosphere in complex ways and with likely long-lasting consequences that are hard to picture.

Fish community on a reef offshore of Hawaii Island. CREDIT Lauren Freeman, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Moon, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Moonlight-driven Biological Choruses In Hawaiian Coral Reefs

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2024November 16, 2024

Editor’s note: Our world is more or less a double planet. Our large Moon creates significant tidal forces that drive much of the way that our oceans circulate and mix. […]

A Schematic for viral participations in key MMP steps via encoding seven AMGs that exclusively participate in MMP. Viruses encoded seven AMGs (fwdF, fae, frhB, cofE, cofF, mtrA, and pmoC; as colored in purple text) to impact the key steps in both methane production and oxidation. The methanogenesis pathway from CO2 to methane is indicated by orange arrows. More information for 17 additional AMGs that could potentially participate in both MMP and other types of metabolism pathways is provided in Supplementary Figs. S1, S2, and Data 5. -- Nature Communications

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Microbial Viruses Act As Secret Drivers Of Planetary Climate Change

by Keith CowingMarch 3, 2024March 3, 2024

In a new study, scientists have discovered that viruses that infect microbes contribute to climate change by playing a key role in cycling methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through the […]

Part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Credit: NASA

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Orbital Biosignature Survey: Satellites Unveil The Size And Nature Of The World’s Coral Reefs

by Keith CowingFebruary 29, 2024February 29, 2024

University of Queensland-led research has shown there is more coral reef area across the globe than previously thought, with detailed satellite mapping helping to conserve these vital ecosystems.

Using the MS Farm, the Bremen researchers sampled the seabed around Spitsbergen several times and at different times of the year. (© F. Aspetsberger/Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Iceworld Ecology: Bacteria In Earth’s Arctic Seabed Are Active All Year Round

by Keith CowingFebruary 29, 2024February 29, 2024

The Arctic is cold and hostile to life, yet it is home to a large number of microorganisms whose activity has a significant impact on life on our planet.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Life, Its Definition, Origin, Evolution, and Four-dimensional Hierarchical Structure, Biosystems

by Keith CowingFebruary 29, 2024September 18, 2025

The main unique features of biological systems are reviewed, and four necessary and sufficient attributes of life are formulated, based on the ideas of Ervin Bauer.

Astronomy & Telescopes, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Science Fiction, Status Report

Stellar Cartography: Using A Forest As A Neutrino Detector

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2024February 19, 2024

The primary challenge in detecting ultrahigh energy (UHE) neutrinos with energies exceeding 1016 eV is to instrument a large enough volume to detect the extremely low flux, which falls as […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Cryobiology, Extinction events, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Icy Worlds, Press Release

Global Deep Freeze Periods During Snowball Earth Events

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2024February 19, 2024

A Yale-led research team has picked a side in the “Snowball Earth” debate over the possible cause of planet-wide deep freeze events that occurred in the distant past.

During the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum recorded in marine sediments, nitrogen isotopes and body size of microfossils reveal an increase in the oxygenation of the tropical ocean. The magnifier shows the foraminifera fossils. International Ocean Discovery Program and Simone Moretti

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Searching For Clues In The History Book Of Earth’s Oceans

by Keith CowingFebruary 16, 2024February 16, 2024

Oxygen is fundamental to sustaining life on Earth. The ocean gets its oxygen from its uppermost layers in contact with the atmosphere. As our planet continues to warm, the ocean […]

Gaia – Planetary Perspectives

Ancient Earth’s Ocean Oxygenation Timeline Revealed

Researchers Envision Sci-fi Worlds Involving Changes To Earth’s Atmospheric Water Cycle

Moonlight-driven Biological Choruses In Hawaiian Coral Reefs

Microbial Viruses Act As Secret Drivers Of Planetary Climate Change

Orbital Biosignature Survey: Satellites Unveil The Size And Nature Of The World’s Coral Reefs

Iceworld Ecology: Bacteria In Earth’s Arctic Seabed Are Active All Year Round

Life, Its Definition, Origin, Evolution, and Four-dimensional Hierarchical Structure, Biosystems

Stellar Cartography: Using A Forest As A Neutrino Detector

Global Deep Freeze Periods During Snowball Earth Events

Searching For Clues In The History Book Of Earth’s Oceans

ALMA Reveals Planetary Formation Structures In Small Disks

Compatible Comma-Free Codes and the Origin of the Genetic Code

Simulations Of The Evolving Ozone Layer: Implications For The Early Earth, Exoplanets, And The Search For Life

VUV And mid-UV Photoabsorption Cross Sections Of Thin Films Of Glycine And Alanine: Application To Their Photochemistry In The Solar System

A Review Of The Geochemical Environment at Selk Crater on Titan: Applications to Dragonfly