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India.com
25-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
Not Palm Jumeirah Islands, Burj Khalifa or Great Wall of China, real human-made marvel visible from space is...
Not Palm Jumeirah Islands, Burj Khalifa or Great Wall of China, real human-made marvel visible from space is… Most people believed that mega man-made structures, such as the Great Wall of China or the pyramids, could be visible from space. However, satellite images and astronauts have debunked this belief and termed it a myth. On the contrary, a structure in Spain, covered by plastic greenhouses, reflects light that can be visible from orbit. It is located near the El Ejido in Almeria. The area is known as 'Mar de Plastico' or 'plastic sea.' Mar de Plastico The 40,000 hectares area is network of greenhouses that forms a glittering patchwork which can be spot from the space. As per American space agency NASA (NASA Earth Observatory), this white roof made of plastic reflects sunrays like a mirror, making it visible from space. During an interview in 2007, Spanish astronaut and former Minister of Science Pedro Duque informed that he was able to see the greenhouses from the International Space Station. This area produces veggies like – tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. These vegetables are supplied to European supermarkets throughout the colder months.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
Great Wall of China, pyramids of Egypt are not visible from space, only human construction visible from space is..., it's located in....
El Ejido of Spain- Wikipedia image El Ejido, Spain: We all have heard since our childhood that Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Gaza are visible from space, but let us tell you that all of these stories were myth. Instead, a new research has indicated that it's the greenhouse complex of El Ejido, Spain — also called the 'Sea of Plastic'. Here are all the details you need to know about El Ejido, Spain and why its visible from space. El Ejido area of Spain visible from space? It has been reported that the El Ejido of Spain can be seen from space due to its reflective white plastic covering. The El Ejido area is located in Almería, southeastern Spain. It is an area 40,000 hectares (150+ square miles) of greenhouses which was transformed from a barren, wind-blown region in the 1950s to a global agricultural hub where vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons are grown in massive numbers. Moreover, US' NASA and Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque have also confirmed that these greenhouses of Spain are visible from space as the white plastic reflects sunlight. The report has also noted that white plastic reflects sunlight also causes a cooling effect in the area, which is very unlike because the surrounding regions have been warm over decades. Story behind El Ejido area of Spain The El Ejido area of Spain underwent marked economic growth due to intensive greenhouse farming that was done in the area and as a result of the significant economic growth, population witnessed a significant increase in a few years. Signifying the geographical significance of the place, the NASA Earth Observatory had also released satellite images which had shown the reflection of El Ejido. As mentioned earlier, the white plastic roofs of the greenhouses reflect a substantial amount of sunlight, which makes the area cooler than the respective areas.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts uncover chilling new signs of collapse in iconic gulf waters: 'It may be high early in the season and then decline'
A trend of shrinking ice coverage in the Gulf of St. Lawrence might signal long-term problems that could lead to extreme weather events. Sea ice spreads across the Arctic Ocean and neighboring bodies of water each winter. According to an article by NASA Earth Observatory and posted to SciTechDaily, ice formation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near eastern Canada is more uncertain these days. Based on data from 1981 to 2010, ice usually started forming in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in December and peaked by late February. However, that's not the case anymore. There has been a lot of variation with the ice in the gulf more recently, according to Walt Meier, a sea ice expert at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. "Some years, it may be high early in the season and then decline," Meier said, per NASA Earth Observatory. "Other years, it can be quite low and then shoot up as late as March." Numbers from NSIDC show the Gulf's ice coverage was below average in February and remained that way through mid-March. The numbers from 2024 were even lower. Experts noted that low ice allows the water to absorb more energy from the Sun and warm up faster. That means marine navigation and fishing in the region could be impacted. The shift in sea ice coverage will also affect certain marine mammals like seals, which depend on ice for birthing their pups. Scientists found that the Arctic ice peak this year was the lowest it's been in more than 40 years. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Arctic sea ice has been declining at a rate of nearly 13% per decade. The Arctic could be completely without ice by 2040 if temperatures continue to rise. One of the benefits of Arctic ice is that it stores methane, a planet-warming gas that contributes to air pollution. When the ice thaws, methane is released into the atmosphere. Melting ice can ultimately lead to extreme weather events like polar vortices and intense heat waves, per the WWF. The loss of sea ice also contributes to rising sea levels that put coastal communities at risk and disrupt our food systems. While extreme weather events have always happened, experts have found that the human-induced climate crisis supercharges extreme weather events, making them more powerful and dangerous. 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. Experts have issued warnings about severe weather events moving forward. While there have been technological developments to help predict certain disasters, the best way to prevent extreme weather events is to take action at home. Many everyday human activities contribute to the warming of the planet. Adjusting behaviors that negatively impact the environment can help mitigate critical climate issues. That includes using less polluting methods of transportation and reducing energy consumption. 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.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
NASA Image Reveals Boston Feature That's 'One of Only Three in the World'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASA Earth Observatory has unveiled a new image of Boston Harbor's drumlin islands, highlighting these rare geological formations—one of only three worldwide—that were carved out by glaciers more than 20,000 years ago. Captured by the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager on 19 July 2024, the photograph shows an aerial view of the harbor, and the 34 islands and peninsulas that form the National and State park, drawing attention to its historical and cultural importance. The space agency explains that during the Wisconsin Glaciation—which began between 100,000–75,000 years ago and ended about 11,000 years ago—a massive ice sheet, more than one mile thick in places, entirely covered the land that is now occupied by the small islands. As the icy coat melted away, it left behind piles of sediment and glacial debris in hundreds of elongated, streamlined hills known as drumlins, which were later partially submerged by rising sea levels and turned into tiny islands. Today, several of these drumlin islands make up part of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, which works to preserve many distinctive geological, historical, and natural resources in the area. Aerial view of the Boston Harbour drumlins shared by NASA. Aerial view of the Boston Harbour drumlins shared by NASA. NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat 8 - OLI According to NASA, these little glacial islands are the only partially submerged drumlin field in North America and one of only three in the world. A similar example can be spotted in Clew Bay, Ireland. According to local folklore, there are about 365 drumlin islands in the Irish site, one for every day of the year. Studying the formation of these islands has given scientists new insights into the role that glaciers have played in shaping many existing land-forms. Jasper Knight, a geoscientist at the University of Witwatersrand, in South Africa, told NASA back in 2016: "Previous ideas of slow, steady advance, or retreat, really don't hold. Glaciers are dynamic." Only four of the Boston Harbor drumlin islands, Deer Island, Nut Island, World's End and Webb Memorial, are accessible by car, while four others, including Spectacle Island, Georges Island, Peddocks Island and Thompson Island are served by seasonal ferries, and several more are accessible by private boat. The drumlin islands feature diverse ecosystems including salt marshes, sandy beaches, sea-grass beds, tidal pools, mudflats, grasslands and hardwood forests—alongside a wide range of wild animals and marine life, including mussels, barnacles and dozens of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. They also boast several historical landmarks, including the Boston Lights, America's oldest operating lighthouse, located on Little Brewster Island, open since 1716, and Fort Warren, a civil-war-era fortress on Georges Island. The fort was used as a prison for confederate officers and government officials during the civil war, and it's known for housing confederate vice president Alexander Stephens. Another major historical landmark is Long Wharf, opened in the 1720s, which once served as a hub for Boston's maritime trade, and is now used by recreational boats. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about glacial landforms? Let us know via science@
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pics show grim reality of devastating floods
Footage from NASA's Earth Observatory has shown the widespread and ongoing flooding affecting Queensland's Channel Country that has ballooned twice the size of Victoria. Triggered by heavy rainfall throughout March, some regions of the state have been inundated with more than a year's worth of rain in the span of one week, leaving small towns submerged and land decimated by extreme flooding. The NASA false-colour imagery shows the impact of the devastating floodwaters between the start and end of March, with Cooper Creek, near the town of Windorah, becoming inundated with intense rain. Images of the widespread damage were first captured by the Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager on March 5, then later by the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager on March 29. 'In this false-colour image, water appears dark and light blue, bare ground is brown, and vegetation is bright green,' the NASA Earth Observatory website explained. In the week ending March 29, up to 400mm of rain smashed pockets of the state, resulting in some of the highest rain totals in more than 50 years. Leaving a path of destruction, the intense flooding smashed the outback region, leaving residents stranded while they waited for the water levels to recede. In Thargomindah, located in the Shire of Bulloo, the town's temporary levee burst, and 200 residents were forced to sleep in their cars at the town's airstrip. 'It takes long time for (flood levels) to go away, but it is receding,' Alex Edwards, who farms between Quilpie and Thargomindah, told 9News. 'I just feel sorry for those people up the river. 'There's been some devastation and what I've seen, there's fences, there's dams, there's people's livelihoods just been washed down in a matter of days.' While most farmers are yet to survey the damage caused by the intense rainfall and flooding, there has been an estimated 100,000 livestock and animals either missing or dead from the floods. More rain is forecast to be on the way, though the majority of the wet weather will move away from the Channel Country towards the east and the tropics. 'In eastern Queensland, showers and storms have streamed through again in the last 24 hours,' Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said. 'We'll continue to see showers and storms mainly in central and tropical Queensland.' The Bureau of Meteorology has issued major flood warnings for the Cape, Diamantina, Flinders, Georgina, Paroo, Thomson, Barcoo and Warrego rivers. A major flood warning has been issued for the Bulloo river, which was experiencing water levels 'well above' the 1974 records, the bureau said. The floodwater is expected to drain towards Lake Eyre, about 600km southwest of Windorah, over the coming weeks.
