Latest news with #Earth.com
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
7 creatures that change colour; here's why they do it
When it comes to survival, blending in can be the best strategy. But animals that change colour don't just do it to hide, they also do it to communicate, control body temperature, and even impress potential mates. Here are seven fascinating creatures that change colour, and the science behind their transformations: Crab Spiders Also known as flower spiders, crab spiders can switch between white and yellow to camouflage themselves while lying in wait for prey on flowers. According to WIRED magazine, this colour change doesn't necessarily improve their hunting success. The true reason for their transformation remains uncertain, though researchers believe it may serve multiple purposes beyond ambush. Cyanea Octopus This octopus is a master of disguise. Using specialised skin cells called chromatophores, it can rapidly change colour to blend into its environment, avoid predators, or communicate. According to the National Geographic, these changes are controlled by the nervous system, allowing the octopus to react instantly to its surroundings. Cuttlefish Cuttlefish are perhaps the most versatile colour-changers in the sea. As per the National Geographic, Cuttlefish, too, are known for rapidly changing colour and texture using chromatophores. What's more impressive is that they can do this in near-total darkness, mimicking the hue, contrast, and texture of their surroundings to evade predators and catch unsuspecting prey. Chameleon According to WIRED magazine, chameleons change colour for thermoregulation and communication rather than camouflage contrary to popular belief. They modify their skin pigmentation to either absorb or reflect heat, and this helps with temperature control. Moreover, shifts in colour communicate messages to other chameleons, indicating dominance or readiness to mate. Golden Tortoise Beetle This shiny beetle can go from gleaming gold to dull brown or red in seconds, and this, when it feels threatened. The shift happens due to changes in fluid within the beetle's wing covers, which alter how light reflects off them. This sudden transformation may deter predators by signalling that the beetle is either toxic or simply not worth eating. Pacific Tree Frog These small amphibians can change from green to brown – and back – over hours or days. According to their ability to adapt to different background hues, brightness levels, and temperatures helps them camouflage and avoid predators. It's a slow but effective shift for survival. Flounders These flatfish are ocean-floor chameleons. They can rapidly adjust their skin's colour and pattern using chromatophores to match sand, rocks, or coral. This camouflage not only helps them avoid predators but also enables them to ambush prey with startling efficiency.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Rare Cosmic Event: Supermassive Black Hole Wakes Up After 20-Year Slumber, Stuns Astronomers
In a groundbreaking observation, astronomers have witnessed a galaxy, SDSS1335+0728, dramatically "turn on the lights" after a 20-year slumber, marking the first real-time observation of a massive black hole awakening. The galaxy SDSS1335+0728, located approximately 300 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, began exhibiting dramatic changes in brightness in late 2019, as detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility. Its core, powered by a black hole one million times the Sun's mass, began radiating intense light across ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths, and by February 2024, it emitted X-rays, signalling unprecedented activity. This phenomenon, detailed in Astronomy & Astrophysics, suggests the black hole started feasting on surrounding gas, transforming the galaxy into one with an active galactic nucleus (AGN). According to researchers utilised data from multiple observatories, including the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, to monitor the galaxy's transformation. "Imagine you've been observing a distant galaxy for years, and it always seemed calm and inactive. Suddenly, its core starts showing dramatic changes in brightness, unlike any typical event we've seen before," said Paula Sanchez Saez, an astronomer at ESO in Germany and lead author of the study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. This event marks the first real-time observation of a black hole transitioning from a quiescent to an active state, providing invaluable insights into the behaviour of these cosmic giants. Co-author Claudio Ricci noted that such "giant monsters" typically remain dormant and invisible, making this a rare glimpse into black hole activation. Alternative explanations, like a prolonged tidal disruption event where a star is shredded by the black hole, are being explored, but the sustained brightness over years sets this apart from typical flares, which fade within months. Profound Implications This observation could refine models of black hole growth and galaxy evolution, offering clues about how these cosmic giants influence star formation. Researchers are using advanced telescopes, like the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, to gather more data, hoping to confirm whether this is a new class of outburst or a slow tidal event. Each scenario would require revising models of black hole accretion and the frequency of black hole awakenings in the present-day universe. "Regardless of the nature of the variations, this galaxy provides valuable information on how black holes grow and evolve. We expect that instruments such as MUSE on the VLT and those on the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope will be key to understanding why the galaxy is brightening," Sanchez Saez added.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning after discovering concerning trend taking place in Arctic: 'The next step is to apply these insights'
An alarming new study warns that disturbing climate markers in the Arctic might become part of the region's permanently altered climate state within 25 years. Unusual weather recorded in the Arctic may soon become the new normal for the sensitive region, which has been experiencing accelerated warming. The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than Earth's average, a phenomenon known as "Arctic Amplification." A recent study cautions that changes observed in the Arctic could reach a critical tipping point by the middle of this century. "In the rapidly warming and wetting Arctic, the time of emergence (ToE) of a new climate state occurs when trends of climate indicators are large enough to surpass the strong natural climate fluctuations in the Arctic," the study published in Nature Briefing: Anthropocene states. "Most regions of the Arctic are close to a new climate state (for temperature and sea ice), with wide-ranging and possibly irreversible consequences for vulnerable Arctic ecosystems and human activities." "We were excited to see that we were able to estimate ToE in a consistent and robust way. The next step is to apply these insights in society, policy, and ecology," said Richard Bintanja, professor of climate and environmental change at the University of Groningen and co-author of the study, per The study's scientists analyzed changes in sea ice thickness, freeze and thaw patterns, and changes in temperatures in the Arctic. Thicker ice can be a natural buffer protecting shorelines from erosion by storms that, in many cases, are now supercharged by our warming world. As the Arctic warms, the ice thins, leaving coastal areas that Indigenous groups depend on for catching fish vulnerable. Accelerated Arctic warming is affecting human health in multiple ways, as wildfires and melting permafrost put regional communities at increased risk. "Geographic isolation, lack of health infrastructure, and poverty can make healthcare disparities worse between rural and urban Alaskans," according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency. "Climate change makes these factors worse and can directly affect health through events like floods. Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts and can face institutional barriers to getting funding and resources to adapt." Curbing the emissions of heat-trapping gases by transitioning to renewable energy sources will help cool off the planet. A team of scientists from Germany and Korea recently made some promising discoveries that could pave the way for "artificial photosynthesis," a new type of clean energy. Adding solar panels to your home is a cost-effective way to reduce your environmental footprint. Paired with battery storage, they can also boost your home's resilience to extreme weather. EnergySage provides a free tool to connect you with trusted local installers and help cut costs. Starting conversations with friends and family about urgent climate issues — such as eye-opening trends in the Arctic — can help raise awareness and inspire action. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Asteroid Vesta may be the last remaining fragment of a planet destroyed billions of years ago, according to scientists
Source: Asteroid Vesta , once thought to be a protoplanet that had been left behind in its formation, is now the subject of a groundbreaking investigation of what may be a remnant of a far larger planet that was present in the early solar system. New research, spearheaded by scientists at Michigan State University and published in Nature Astronomy in April 2025, challenges previous assumptions about Vesta being an embryonic planet, made based on observations from NASA's 2012 Dawn mission. The research instead suggests that Vesta may have been ejected from another, now-extinct planet in a massive collision some 4.5 billion years ago. Asteroid Vesta reveals surprising new insights about its structure The new research contradicts the old hypothesis that Vesta is an undifferentiated embryonic planet. Seth Jacobson, the lead author at Michigan State University, explained that the new data indicate the interior of Vesta is not in accordance with the fully differentiated planet model. This is an unusual interpretation of planetary science as it contradicts past research that suggested that Vesta might possess a dense metal core—a characteristic of differentiated planetary bodies. The research conclusions are based on precise gravity data obtained from the radio Doppler signals bounced back by the Dawn spacecraft. Using advanced calibration techniques, scientists found no sign of the metal-rich core that earlier research had indicated. The lack of core differentiation suggests that Vesta never existed as a fully formed planet. Instead, the evidence is for a scenario where Vesta is a fragment of a larger, older planet that was shattered in a gigantic collision billions of years ago. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Prince William & Kate Met Princess Diana's Secret Daughter. Plays Star Undo Vesta's volcanic features raise questions about its geologic origins However, Vesta's surface remains a mystery. The asteroid features evidence of volcanism, including a basaltic surface typical of bodies that have differentiated to a significant geological degree. But the absence of a differentiated interior calls into question the mechanism responsible for this activity. Jacobson assumes that Vesta could have experienced volcanic activity without complete differentiation, and this would mean that it retains some internal homogeneity that contradicts the earlier prediction for a planet-sized body. The study results offer a new explanation of the geologic features of Vesta. The volcano-formed surface of the asteroid may not be the result of a shared process of planetary evolution . Instead, Jacobson and co-workers propose that Vesta was created from a cataclysmic planetary impact-generated debris. According to this hypothesis, Vesta could have been created from a fully differentiated planet whose fragments now occupy the asteroid belt . Vesta's surprising features redefine planetary evolution This idea also paves the way for a broader theory: Vesta is merely one asteroid that is the product of such an impact. Other asteroids in the solar system could also be the remains of larger, disintegrated planets. This could be supported by future scans for gravity by NASA's Psyche mission and the European Space Agency's Hera mission, which are scheduled to find out more about asteroids and what planetary remains are made of. Vesta's makeup would imply a shared origin with Earth or other early planetary bodies. If that is the case, it would be a revolutionary break in asteroid science. Vesta's own features, such as its volcanic crust and lack of heavy core, contradict conventional thinking and imply that it might have had an earlier life in a more extensive planetary system, like early Earth or other terrestrial planets. What is Vesta Vesta is the second largest body in the asteroid belt and represents close to 9% of the total mass of all the asteroids in the belt. The only body smaller than it is Ceres, the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt, which is a dwarf planet. It was discovered by German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers in 1807. It was believed to be a piece of a planet that had been destroyed. It was the fourth to be discovered, and it was named by German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss after the Roman goddess of home and hearth. From July 2011 to September 2012, NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta, accumulating critical data before heading to dwarf planet Ceres. Vesta is almost spherical and almost counted as a dwarf planet. Vesta is different from most other asteroids in that it is differentiated, i.e., it possesses a core, mantle, and crust, just like the terrestrial planets. Its surface exhibits the largest range of brightness of any solid solar system object, with dark spots believed to be residue of ancient asteroid impacts, and brighter areas made of native rocks. Also Read | Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to interact with students live from the ISS this June and conduct five additional experiments with NASA
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers develop next-gen tool that could help protect critical waterways: 'Highlights the importance of early intervention'
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities recently published a study in the journal Scientific Data proposing the use of remote sensing technology to detect plastic in freshwater rivers. According to The Ocean Cleanup, rivers are the primary source of plastic pollution in our oceans. River currents transport plastic waste downriver into estuaries, where they empty into the ocean. Due to this troubling pipeline, the researchers decided to focus their investigation on river pollution, the source of the issue. Led by Ph.D. candidate and research assistant Mohammadali Olyaei, the study manipulated electromagnetic wavelengths to pinpoint various types of plastic debris among other freshwater materials, such as driftwood, seaweed, and natural sediment. The team used the Mississippi River as its experimental base, per which allowed researchers to test their theories in "real river conditions." Ocean plastic pollution, which has increased since the influx of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, poses a threat not only to marine ecosystems and coral reefs but also to humans. When plastic trash breaks down, microplastics contaminate the water and the seafood we eat. While marine researchers and cleanup crews have been aware of the plastic problem for years, remote sensing technology could eliminate much of the time, labor, and money required in traditional water sampling methods. The UMN team focused on detecting plastic in river water, but author Sanjana Gajbhiye noted that remote sensing "also lays the foundation for deploying technologies, like drones, for cleanup efforts." The UMN scientists anticipate expanding their research beyond the northern Mississippi River to examine larger river systems and curb the spread of plastic pollution. "The research highlights the importance of early intervention in freshwater systems to prevent plastics from spreading uncontrollably," Gajbhiye wrote. When uncontrolled, the degradation of ocean plastic into microplastics poses a range of health risks, from cancer to reproductive damage. The UMN team may have made great strides in reducing the amount of river plastic that reaches the ocean, but to eliminate plastic waste altogether, businesses and individuals need to make sustainable choices on land. Choosing plastic-free options, supporting recycling businesses, and repurposing your plastic trash — from old lids to plastic bags — can contribute to a safer, cleaner environment. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
