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May 15, 2013

Mass evacuation in Bangladesh and Myanmar ahead of Tropical Cyclone Mahasen

May 14, 2013

Quantum computer outperforms regular PC

A series of tests between a regular PC and a commercially available quantum computer showed great potential of the quantum machine, leaving the PC trailing behind. The difference between classical bits and quantum bits, or qubits is that the latter can take the…

May 06, 2013

Intro to space weather vocabulary video

Heliophysics scientists study energy transformation from one event to the other and which electromagnetic waves create which conditions near Earth. Space weather effects can disrupt satellites in space, so scientists need to understand the system in even more detail.…

May 05, 2013

Is Comet ISON just an ordinary comet?

Well, if you ask the question from the title, most people who are even remotely interested in astronomy and comets will most likely answer – NO - Comet ISON ( Comet C/2012 S1) is not an ordinary comet! In fact, it is a very interesting comet with…

May 03, 2013

The annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks on May 6, 2013

The Eta Aquarid meteors usually provide a solid display at the beginning of May. Few annual meteor showers provide a decent show for the southern hemisphere observers as the Eta Aquarid do. That is because the radiant is very near a Y-shaped asterism in northern…

April 30, 2013

Strong and shallow M 5.9 earthquake struck Azores Islands, Portugal

A strong and shallow earthquake magnitude M 5.9 struck Azores Islands, Portugal on April 30, 2013 at 06:25 UTC. Epicenter was located in between Sao Miguel and Santa Maria islands; 29 km (18 miles) ESE of Furnas, Portugal and 58 km (36 miles) E…

April 27, 2013

Pars aerial rescue robot - rescuing drowning individuals close to coastlines

Pars is an aerial rescue robot designed and built for saving human lives. According to RTS Lab, which designed it, Pars uses new technologies that help guide and navigate it, including sound and image processing, autopilot, artificial intelligence and an…

April 22, 2013

Solar Dynamics Observatory: Three Years of Sun in Three Minutes

In the three years since it first provided images of the sun in the spring of 2010, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has had virtually unbroken coverage of the sun's rise toward solar maximum, the peak of solar activity in its regular 11-year cycle. This video…

April 20, 2013

Earth could enter into dusty meteor shower from Comet ISON's tail

As comet ISON is approaching for its close encounter with the sun in November, 2013, excitement and anticipation are rising. Already being named the potential "Comet of the century" by some, because of the show it might put on for stargazers all over our…

Editors' picks

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May 18, 2013

Natural disasters uprooted more than 32 million people in 2012

May 15, 2013

Fourth major solar flare in 48 hours - X1.2 peaked at 1:47 UTC today

On May 15, 2013 at 1:25 UTC another major solar flare started. The event peaked at 1:47 UTC as an X1.2 solar flare. It was associated with Type II and IV radio emission and a 10cm Radio Burst (Ten Flare) measuring 490 sfu. Type IV emissions occur in…

May 12, 2013

Europe bans bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides: When will America take action?

A major victory for the world's bee populations has been achieved in Europe, where a majority of European Union (EU) member states voted recently to ban the use of bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides across the entire continent for at least two years. In an…

May 10, 2013

World earthquakes visualization map 2012-2013

World Earthquakes Visualization Map shows animation of earthquake activity from January 2012 until May 2013. Worldwide Earthquakes of 2012. All recorded earthquakes greater than magnitude 4.0 are shown for the full year, along with their depths and…

May 09, 2013

Subglacial volcanoes help scientists reveal climate change secrets

When an eruption of the volcano happens below a glacier, a subglacial volcano can be formed. These subglacial volcanoes, called tuyas, can enable scientists to piece together details on how the climate of our planet has changed over the course of its history. The…

May 04, 2013

WMO dubbed last year as disturbing sign of climate change

The World Meteorological Organisation revealed in Statement on the Status of the Global Climate, that during the August to September 2012 melting season, the Arctic’s sea ice cover was just 3.4 million square kilometres (1.32 million square miles). That…

May 02, 2013

Seed diversity under threat – Step closer to destruction of agricultural and horticultural seed diversity in Europe!

The EU directives on the marketing of seeds and plant propagating material are currently being reviewed in Brussels. The new regulation threatens rare varieties and farmers’ varieties. Non-commercial varieties are under particular threat of extinction, as the new…

April 30, 2013

May 2013 Skywatching guide

May 2013 brings few interesting sky events. This years Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak on May 6 with expected zenith hourly rate of 55 meteors per hour. We are about to experience annular solar eclipse on May 9/10. Annularity will be visible from…

April 27, 2013

Saturn and Earth line up for an amazing view of the golden planet

If you have any interest in astronomy you have probably seen dozens if not hundreds of breathtaking images of the universe and our Solar System. Those images are usually acquired by some of Earth's best spacecrafts, like Hubble, Cassini, Messenger and others who beam…

Latest headlines

Giant snails potentially carrying meningitis make their way into Texas

May 19, 2013

Giant snails appear to be invading Texas, according to new reports, and some health experts worry that the unusual creatures might begin spreading a disease that could be deadly to humans. As reported by NBC News, a Houston woman recently discovered what is believed to be the first known instance of a particular type of snail species in Texas, the Giant African land snail, which has ignited a firestorm of localized panic over the potential spread of meningitis. The Austin-based Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was the first to hear about the sighting after a woman living in Houston's Briar Forest neighborhood spotted a snail roughly the size of loaf of bread slithering through her backyard garden. The woman snapped a photo of the snail and sent it to authorities, who…

Natural disasters uprooted more than 32 million people in 2012

May 18, 2013

32,4 million people were forced to flee their homes last year due to natural disasters such as floods, storms and earthquakes, according to a report released by Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre on May 13, 2013. According to the report, 98% of those uprooted were displaced by climate- and weather-related events. Climate change is believed to play an increasingly significant role in global disasters. 2012 Special Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that, "disasters associated with climate extremes influence population mobility and relocation, affecting host and origin communities." This map shows internal displacement worldwide in 2012 by state and number of displaced people. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW (Credit:…

Strong earthquake M 6.1 struck near east coast of Honshu, Japan

May 18, 2013

A strong earthquake M 6.1 struck near east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 18, 2013 at 05:48 UTC. Epicenter of the earthquake was located 50 km (31mi) NE of Namie, Japan and 61 km (38mi) ESE of Watari, Japan at coordinates 37.761°N 141.454°E. USGS recorded depth of the earthquake at 41.5 km (25.8 mi) whereas EMSC reported depth at 60 km and same magnitude as USGS. JMA is reporting M 5.9 earthquake at depth of 50 km. According to GDACS, this earthquake can have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability. There are about 3 010 000 people living within 100 km radius of the earthquake. Earthquake intensity map. Credits: USGS Tectonic summary by USGS Seismotectonics of…

G1 (Minor) Geomagnetic Storm in progress - May 18, 2013

May 18, 2013

G1 (Minor) Geomagnetic Storm conditions are now occurring due to the arrival of the CME from May 15, 2013. During G1 Geomagnetic Storm, weak power grid fluctuations can occur, minor impact on satellite operations is possible, aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes and migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels. Planetary K-index reached Kp=5 level. This series of CME's related to AR 1748 had a source region within 30 degrees of the solar limb, which reduces their possibility of arrival to the Earth to around 30%. ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 Threshold Reached: 2013 May 18 0300 UTC Synoptic Period: 0300-0600 UTC Active Warning: Yes NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor SUMMARY: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse Observed: 2013 May…

Tropical Storm Alvin dissipated, new low pressure system is forming

May 18, 2013

Alvin had strengthened to a Tropical Storm on May 15, 2013 and now has weakened and is considered a Post-Tropical Cyclone. With the excessive wind shear and cooler water, the storm has dissipated into just a weak low pressure. According to Tropical Weather Outlook by US National Hurricane Center, an area of low pressure associated with the remnants of Alvin is located about 800 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The system continues to produce a large area of disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. The system has a low 20% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone again during the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestward around 10 mph. Strong upper-level westerly winds are expected to inhibit any significant development. Satellite…

Tropical Cyclone Mahasen weakened and fully dissipated

May 17, 2013

Tropical Cyclone Mahasen fully dissipated after weakening into tropical storm on May 16, 2013. Luckily, its impact was far less damaging than initially expected. Mahasen veered west of its predicted path after dumping heavy rains over bay of Bengal coastal areas. Mahasen hit land with maximum wind speeds of about 100 km/h (62 mph) and quickly weakened. There was no major tidal surge due the low tide in time of Mahasen's landfall. However, many low-lying areas and islands were inundated by a surge during the storm. More than 49,000 thatched houses were destroyed. The cyclone spared major populated areas in Bangladesh, including Chittagong and the seaside resort of Cox's Bazar. By the time Mahasen hit Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, wind speeds…

Lava fountaining at Pavlof volcano, Alaska

May 17, 2013

According to AVO (Alaska Volcano Observatory) Pavlof volcano continues to erupt. Lava fountaining at the summit has been observed and photographed, and a continuous ash, steam, and gas cloud generated by the activity extends downwind from the volcano for 50 to 100 km at an altitude of about 6 km (20,000 ft) above sea level. This natural-color satellite image, collected by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite, shows Pavlof on May 16, 2013. A brown ash plume blew from the summit towards the southeast, and gray ash from earlier explosions covered the snow on the volcano’s upper slopes. To the northeast, additional ash rose from an ongoing lava flow. (NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data…

Earth watching satellite Proba-V opens its eyes to map land cover and vegetation growth across the entire planet

May 17, 2013

European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched its Proba-V satellite on May 7, 2013 aboard a Vega rocked. This new earth watching satellite was deployed into its Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit at 820 km altitude just 55 minutes after launch. According to ESA, the satellite is now in good health. The satellite’s vegetation imager was switched on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 in time to get a glimpse of France’s coast along the Bay of Biscay and the lush interior. The data were then sent down to ESA’s Redu centre in Belgium. Vital uses of Proba-V data include day-by-day tracking of extreme weather, alerting authorities to crop failures, monitoring inland water resources and tracing the steady spread of deserts and deforestation. Less than a…

Health is directly linked to the gut: Eleven things that destroy the beneficial probiotic bacteria living inside us

May 17, 2013

More and more data is piling up all the time about the importance of maintaining probiotic "good" bacteria in our bodies as we strive for vibrant, holistic health. Friendly bacteria provide incredible benefits to the entire body, not only in the arena of digestive health. Probiotic bacteria have the ability to keep harmful pathogenic, disease-causing bacteria from growing unchecked. Good probiotics also assist the body in assimilating nutrients and producing important enzymes for digestion. They help increase the bioavailability of vitamins, beneficial fatty acids, lactase and calcium. Additional benefits include the neutralization of toxins, the normalization of bowel movements, keeping cholesterol levels in check, countering allergies, preventing uninhibited yeast and…

Another moderate solar flare M3.2 from Region 1748, CME detected

May 17, 2013

Moderate solar flare measuring M3.2 erupted from Region 1748 on May 17, 2013 peaking at 08:57 UTC. A type II and IV radio emissions were associated with the event. Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the Sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms. It seems Earth will feel some of Sun's material from this flare. Slight CME impact is forecasted late on May 19th. Additionally, a 10cm radio burst measuring 450 sfu was recorded. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications. This is second M-class…

Earth and Moon pelted by meteors - Impact causes bright explosion on the Moon

May 17, 2013

A meteor with estimated weight of 40 kg, approximately 0.3 - 0.4 meters wide, and traveling at speed of 90 123 km/h hit the lunar surface in Mare Imbrium on March 17, 2013. The resulting explosion packed as much punch as 5 tons of TNT. "It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we've ever seen before", said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Anyone looking at the Moon at the moment of impact could have seen the explosion without a telescope. For about one second, the impact site was glowing like a 4th magnitude star. Ron Suggs, an analyst at the Marshall Space Flight Center, was the first to notice the impact in a digital video recorded by one of the monitoring program's 14-inch telescopes. …

Moderate M1.3 solar flare from Region 1748. Slight chance for minor geomagnetic storming today

May 17, 2013

Active Region 1748 erupted with moderate solar flare measuring M1.3 at 21:53 UTC on May 16, 2013. This was another noticeable activity from this region after 4 X-class flares erupted on May 13/14. (X1.7 and X2.8 on May 13th, X3.2 and X1.2 on May 14th) This region has Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration and is rotating toward the center of the solar disk into a more geoeffective position. Any future eruption would likely be Earth directed. NOAA SWPC forecasters estimated 75% chance for M-class event today, and 50% chance for an X-class. Solar activity is expected to be high with a chance for X-class flares May 17 - 19. Coronal Mass Ejection from May 15th X1.2 solar flare might present a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field today.…

Landsat Data Continuity Mission: The Long Swath

May 16, 2013

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) reached its final altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles) on April 12, 2013. One week later, the satellite’s natural-color imager scanned a swath of land 185-kilometers wide and 9,000 kilometers long (120 by 6,000 miles). LDCM recorded path stretching from Russia to South Africa - the mosaic assembled by 56 still images into a seamless, flyover view of what LDCM saw on April 19, 2013. Orbiting at 16,800 mph (27,000 kph), LDCM made this flight in slightly more than 20 minutes. The animation moves faster, covering 5,665 miles (9,117 kilometers) in nearly 16 minutes. You would have to be moving about 21,930 mph (35,290 kph) to get a similar view — only slightly slower than the Apollo astronauts who entered…

Tropical Storm Alvin marks the beginning of 2013 eastern Pacific hurricane season

May 16, 2013

May 15th marked the start of the 2013 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, and right from the start, the first tropical depression and subsequent tropical storm of the season has formed. Tropical Storm Alvin, off the coast of Mexico, is the first named storm of the 2013 eastern Pacific hurricane season. Unstable weather pattern crossed into the eastern Pacific Ocean waters west of Panama and south of Mexico to become better organized system. Tropical Depression 1-E (TD1E) formed early on May 15 and by the end of the day it strengthened into Tropical Storm Alvin, fueled by warm ocean water and light wind shear. Total precipitable water animation (Credit: MIMIC/TPW/CIMSS) According to latest public advisory issued by US National…

First global topographic map of Titan, a world much like Earth

May 16, 2013

Scientists have created the first global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan giving researchers a valuable tool for learning more about one of the most Earth-like and interesting worlds in the solar system. The map was just published as part of a paper in the journal Icarus. Titan is Saturn's largest moon - with a radius of about 1,600 miles (2,574 kilometers), it's bigger than planet Mercury - and is the second-largest moon in the solar system. Scientists care about Titan because it's the only moon in the solar system known to have clouds, surface liquids and a mysterious, thick atmosphere. The cold atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, like Earth's, but the organic compound methane on Titan acts the way water vapor does on Earth, forming clouds and falling…

Active volcanoes in the world: May 8 - May 14, 2013

May 15, 2013

This week, 8 volcanoes had new activity, whereas ongoing activity was also reported for 8 volcanoes. This report covers active volcanoes in the world recorded from May 8 – May 14, 2013 based on Smithsonian/USGS criteria. New activity/unrest: | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Copahue, Central Chile-Argentina border | Dieng Volcanic Complex, Central Java (Indonesia) | Guntur, Western Java (Indonesia) | Mayon, Luzon | Pavlof, Alaska Peninsula | Popocatépetl, México | Tungurahua, Ecuador Ongoing activity: | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Kizimen, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Paluweh, Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia) | Reventador, Ecuador | Sabancaya, Perú | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Tolbachik, Central Kamchatka…

Mass evacuation in Bangladesh and Myanmar ahead of Tropical Cyclone Mahasen

May 15, 2013

Tropical Cyclone Mahasen (01B) is now centered several hundred miles south of Kolkata, India, and will impact areas from northeastern India to Bangladesh and Myanmar over the next few days. The system is about to enter into an area of warm sea surface temperatures and lower wind shear which will intensified the cyclone and give it opportunity to become even better organized. Landfall is expected to occur on May 16, 2013 with most forecast models putting the path between Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Maungdaw (Myanmar). On May 13, 2013 the Suomi NPP satellite caught an interesting glimpse of the storm as it moved off the eastern coast of India. The VIIRS Day-Night Band was able to resolve lightning flashes towards the center of the storm, along with…

Increased volcanic activity at Popocatepetl volcano

May 15, 2013

Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico has plumed steam for days, alerting authorities to prepare for possible evacuations. According to CENAPRED (Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres) at 6:46 UTC on May 15, 2013 there was an explosion that produced incandescent fragments throwing them around the volcano reaching distances up to 1.5 kilometers from the crater, while also generating a plume of ash more than 3 kilometers high which winds scattered northeast. An episode of spasmodic tremor followed, accompanied by incandescent fragments thrown at distances up to 500m on the northeast slope, and ash emission which winds carry northeast. Webcam screenshots of activity on May 15, 2013 (Credit: Tlamacas/CENAPRED) During an aerial survey flight by CENAPRED on the…

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