Latest news with #EarthObservatory
CNA
26-05-2025
- CNA
Singapore Oceanarium, formerly known as SEA Aquarium, to open on Jul 23
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Oceanarium - previously known as SEA Aquarium - will open to the public on Jul 23 after a three-month facelift. The new attraction in Sentosa is three times larger, with 22 zones that promise an immersive experience for visitors. "More than just a new name, Singapore Oceanarium represents a bold transformation into a world-class ocean institute that inspires deeper knowledge, love and action for our oceans," Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in a media release on Monday (May 26). The thematic zones include Ocean Wonders, home to one of the world's largest kreisel habitats, housing thousands of moon jellies, as well as Singapore's Coast, which features mangrove-inspired landscapes and interactive habitats that spotlight native biodiversity. In Ancient Waters and Conquering Land, visitors will be able to see life-sized prehistoric animals and living fossils that trace the story of evolution. The Spirit of Exploration exhibit houses Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a ninth-century Arabian dhow. Next to the Singapore Oceanarium is a research and learning centre that aims to further education, marine research and conservation, in partnership with academic institutions. These include a five-year applied research collaboration with the National University of Singapore and a two-year research collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore at Nanyang Technological University on climate resilience and marine conservation, said RWS. "Singapore Oceanarium represents the next frontier for marine education and sustainability," said CEO of RWS Tan Hee Teck. "We have created not just a destination, but a catalyst for change, a place where curiosity transforms into knowledge, and knowledge into real action." Vice President of the Singapore Oceanarium Lam Xue Ying said the transformation from SEA Aquarium to a "purpose-driven institute" has been years in the making. "We are dedicated to inspiring a new generation of ocean stewards by taking ocean education and interactive storytelling to the next level, through naturalistic habitats and immersive technology," she added.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists achieve breakthrough solution to decades-long issue with virtually limitless energy device: 'Charting a path'
While nuclear fusion technology would prove a promising energy source with zero carbon pollution and minimal radioactive waste if successfully commercialized, scientists are still struggling to navigate its financial and technical roadblocks. On that front, researchers at California's TAE Technologies have made significant strides in reducing the cost and complexity of fusion technology without compromising on its extraordinary efficiency. Ordinarily, fusion requires engineers to generate plasma at extremely high temperatures and to confine the energy released, often with Field-Reversed Configuration technology, TAE explained in a release. The FRC tech produces its own internal magnetic field to yield up to 100 times more energy than a typical tokamak reactor and makes hydrogen-boron fuel — "the cleanest, safest, and most sustainable option for the planet," noted the release — more viable. Unfortunately, plasma formation using the FRC has so far proven both costly and unstable. TAE Technologies' solution, published in the journal Nature Communications, involves injecting neutral particle beams into the company's new advanced particle accelerator "Norm" to heat and stabilize an FRC plasma. The engineers' findings have the potential to "[reduce] the machine's size, complexity and cost by up to 50% and [optimize] for economic competitiveness and commercial viability," the release continued. As demands for global energy production continue to rise under our growing populations and industrial developments, moving away from dirty energy becomes increasingly important to avert environmental catastrophe. Burning fuels like coal and oil releases carbon pollution into our atmosphere — 36.8 billion tonnes in 2023, and still rising, according to NASA's Earth Observatory — and traps heat on our planet. The ripple effects of rising temperatures include more intense extreme weather events and threats to our food and crop supply. Fusion technology supplies massive amounts of power without any reliance on fuel-burning, and without the radioactive waste problem that afflicts today's fission-based technology. Should the U.S. invest more in battery innovations? Absolutely Depends on the project We're investing enough We should invest less Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Commercializing fusion technology may not only limit the climate impact of energy generation, but it could also slash utility costs for the average individual by enabling power companies to more easily and efficiently keep up with demand. TAE's "Norm" development, for instance, may "[chart] a path for streamlined devices that directly addresses the commercially critical metrics of cost, efficiency, and reliability," theorized Michl Binderbauer, CEO of TAE Technologies. "This milestone significantly accelerates TAE's path to commercial hydrogen-boron fusion that will deliver a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source for generations to come," Binderbauer added. "Norm" is set to precede TAE's next reactor prototype, "Copernicus," which TAE engineers anticipate will demonstrate fusion as a viable energy source before 2030. As TAE continues to research and refine its technology, TAE's first full-fledged nuclear fusion power plant, known as "Da Vinci," will hopefully come online in the early 2030s. 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.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Heavy dusting of 'pineapple powder' paints Hawaii's volcanoes white
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK FACTS Where is it? Big Island, Hawaii [19.6103680, -155.4898339] What's in the photo? Snow covering the summit of Mauna Loa Which satellite took the photo? Landsat 8 When was it taken? Feb. 6, 2021 Striking satellite photos snapped in 2021 show the volcanic peaks of Hawaii's Big Island covered with a thick dusting of snow, also known by locals as "pineapple powder," following one of the island's most extreme snowfalls in recent history. The first image (see above) shows the most extensive snow coverage on Mauna Loa, a 13,681-foot-tall (4,170 meters) volcano near the center of the Big Island. The second image (below) shows a slightly smaller white patch on Mauna Kea, a 13,796-foot-tall (4,205 m) peak located around 25 miles (40 kilometers) further north. Both images were taken on the same day. Mauna Loa is still active and most recently erupted between November and December 2022, according to the Global Volcanism Program. Mauna Kea, meanwhile, is dormant and has not erupted for at least 4,600 years. Hawaiian snow is more common than most people realize, and both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea often receive at least a light dusting every year. However, 2021 was an extreme case. When the photo was taken, the combined snow covering both peaks reached the second-highest amount for this time of the year since records began in 2001, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. At the peak of the preceding snowstorm, up to 2 feet (0.6 m) fell at the summit of both volcanoes in a single day. Related: See all the best images of Earth from space Local reports revealed that several islanders traded in their surfboards for snowboards and skis, and braved the trip up Mauna Kea to partake in some rare snow sports as soon as the roads were cleared. Hawaiian snow is often linked to a weather phenomenon referred to as Kona low, according to the Earth Observatory. This is where winds shift from the typical northeast direction and start blowing from the southwest, or "Kona" side, drawing moisture from the tropical Pacific, which turns into rain and snow as it rises up the mountains' slopes. Snow is most likely to occur between October and April, and both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea experience an average of 20 days of snow cover every year, according to the Lyman Museum, based in the Big Island town of Hilo. On rare occasions, snow has also fallen on the volcanoes as late as June, according to The Weather Channel. However, the pineapple powder may not be as common in the future. Recent research revealed that human-caused climate change will likely make snow much less likely in Hawaii as rising sea surface temperatures make Kona low less likely to occur, according to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM). MORE EARTH FROM SPACE —Pair of 'glowing' lava lakes spotted on Africa's most active volcanoes as they erupt simultaneously —Erupting 'sharkcano' spits out a giant underwater plume in Oceania —'Shining anus' volcano in Tonga coughs up cloud of smoke during recent eruption "Unfortunately, the projections suggest that future average winter snowfall will be 10 times less than present day amounts, virtually erasing all snow cover," Chunxi Zhang, an atmospheric modeling specialist at the International Pacific Research Center in Hawaii, said in a UHM statement. In Hawaiian mythology, Mauna Kea is home to the snow goddess Poli'ahu, who had a fierce rivalry with Pele — the goddess of fire and volcanoes, for which the rare glass-like structures that form at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano are named. In one story, Poli'ahu defeated Pele in a sledding race, which caused the latter to unleash a series of major volcanic eruptions in anger, according to the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials urge caution as extreme sandstorm sends over 3,500 to hospitals: '[Turned] the sky a strange orange'
We've witnessed decaying air quality under drought conditions, but a recent devastating sandstorm across central and southern Iraq took things to another level. The episode is only the latest in a series of similar extreme weather events. Before this, a storm just as severe overtook Baghdad in December. The sandstorm grounded flights and sent over 3,500 people to hospitals in mid-April due to respiratory damage from dust particles. The extreme conditions have "[forced] almost all but emergency workers to stay indoors," noted The New York Times. Following a week of abnormally high temperatures and years of frequent drought, weather stations captured strong gusts from the west and northwest that culminated in a powerful dust storm that "[turned] the sky a strange orange." According to NASA's Earth Observatory, Iraqi sandstorms tend to take place during the late spring and summer, although in recent years, offseason storms have become more common. The United Nations attributes the increase in Iraq's sandstorms to water shortages and overpopulation compounded by an overheating planet, labeling Iraq "the fifth-most vulnerable country to climate breakdown." Iraq isn't the only country where worldwide climate change manifests in weather patterns. Parts of Africa, China, and even the U.S. have experienced similar dust storms. Japan and California recently suffered wildfires. In addition to hospitalizing thousands and interfering with regular work-life cycles, the Iraqi sandstorm gestures toward a greater trend of land and air degradation as a result of climate change. As rising temperatures deplete the Earth's water sources and make agricultural land more arid, our global food supply falls under threat. "Three-quarters of Earth's land became permanently drier in the last three decades," the United Nations reported in 2024. The article established a link between rising greenhouse gas emissions and expanding "drylands" around the world. Our growing human population may soon struggle to sustain itself upon crop land that's increasingly desertified. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In Iraq, per The New York Times, most of the hospitalized have been treated and released, and face masks and stay-at-home recommendations have done wonders to protect the remaining population from the brunt of the sandstorm. More generally, the U.N. recommends investing in water security and developing responsible land use techniques to mitigate desertification. First and foremost, however, reducing our global planet-warming pollution is key to holistically combating increasing global temperatures in the coming years. Conserving water, cutting down on household waste, and opting for clean-energy appliances can all be good places to start. 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.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Glowing' lava lakes spotted on Africa's most active volcanoes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK FACTS Where is it? Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyiragongo, Congo [-1.46079851, 29.22711414] What's in the photo? Infrared images of lava lakes that emerged during simultaneous volcanic eruptions Which satellite took the photo? Landsat 8 When was it taken? June 30, 2014 This striking, false-color satellite image shows the intense heat coming from a pair of lava lakes that emerged on simultaneously erupting volcanoes in Congo. The neighboring peaks are among Africa's most active — and deadly — volcanoes. Mount Nyamuragira (top of image) and Mount Nyiragongo (bottom of image) are roughly 6 miles (10 kilometers) apart and are located just north of the city of Goma, which is home to more than 1 million people. Nyamuragira is a dome-shaped shield volcano that stands up to 10,033 feet (3,058 meters) tall, while Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano, with a steep cone that towers up to 11,385 feet (3,470 m) above ground level. The satellite photo was taken a few weeks after Nyamuragira began erupting for the first time since March 2012. This eruption ceased in May 2016, but the volcano has since had two more eruptions: from November 2016 to May 2017, and again in April 2018, which is still ongoing. Meanwhile, Nyiragongo has been continuously erupting since May 2002. Related: See all the best images of Earth from space Sizeable lava lakes were spotted at the summits of both volcanoes during the simultaneous eruptions. The lava lake at Nyiragongo is particularly interesting because stratovolcanoes do not normally support these features. At various points over the last two decades, this fiery pool has been the biggest lava lake on Earth, according to a 2021 study. The image was captured in infrared, which makes the lava lakes appear to glow red and gives the surrounding vegetation a bright green coloration, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo both formed around 12,000 years ago during a period of increased activity along the Kameronze fault line, which lies directly between the two volcanoes, according to the 2021 study. As a result, their activity is partially linked, despite being separate entities. The volcanoes are highly active and have jointly erupted around 60 times since 1900. Together, the pair is believed to be responsible for around 40% of Africa's recorded volcanic eruptions. And some of their most recent outbursts have been particularly intense. Nyamuragira is the more active of the two volcanoes and has frequently spawned smaller, temporary volcanoes on its flank. The most recent was "Murara," a cinder cone that emerged between 1976 and 1977. The mountain is also surrounded by old lava flows that spilled down its slopes (and are visible in the satellite photo). In November 2011, a 1,300-foot-tall (400 m) fountain of lava shot out of the erupting volcano, according to local reports. This is believed to have been the largest single outburst there for at least a century. However, Nyiragongo is the closest to Goma and, therefore, the more dangerous of the pair. When lava flows spill down the volcano's steep slopes, they can reach high speeds, giving locals little warning. MORE EARTH FROM SPACE —Lava bleeds down iguana-infested volcano as it spits out toxic gas —Italy's 'ticking time bomb' plays peek-a-boo through a mysterious hole in the clouds —'Lake of clouds' appears between volcanic nesting dolls in Russia via rare mirror-like phenomenon In January 1977, the volcano unleashed the fastest lava flow in recorded history, reaching speeds of up to 62 mph (100 km/h), which killed around 2,000 people in Goma and the surrounding areas, according to Guinness World Records. In January 2002, a similar eruption killed around 250 people and caused extensive damage to homes, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless and triggering a refugee crisis, according to Britannica. The most recent incident occurred in May 2021, when at least 31 people died, according to CNN. However, in this case, several deaths resulted from traffic collisions as people attempted to evacuate the area.
