Tag

Aerosols

All articles tagged with #aerosols

astronomy10 days ago•64 min saved

Methane, aerosols and a warm nightside on a planet circling a white dwarf

JWST/NIRSpec PRISM transmission spectra of WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet transiting a nearby white dwarf, reveal methane and other hydrocarbons, a scattering aerosol haze, and a nightside thermal emission. The atmosphere is metal-rich (CH4 at a few percent to ~7–20% in retrievals) with an opaque cloud deck near 100 mbar, and the planet’s nightside temperature is about 390–412 K, much warmer than the 160 K equilibrium expected for this system. Mass is constrained to ~4.3–10.9 Jupiter masses. The data imply a reheating event during migration into the white dwarf phase, most consistent with high-eccentricity migration and tidal circularization rather than common-envelope evolution, offering a rare window into the fate of giant planets around Sun-like stars after stellar death.

via Nature|

#aerosols #astronomy #exoplanet-atmosphere

science15 days ago•4 min saved

PACE Expands Fire Insight with Hyperspectral Eyes on Smoke and Burn Scars

NASA's PACE satellite, launched in 2024, uses hyperspectral imaging and polarimetry to monitor vegetation health, burn scars, and smoke plumes, helping scientists improve wildfire risk models and track smoke transport globally.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#aerosols #hyperspectral #pace-mission

space-exploration20 days ago•99 min saved

Mars Terraforming: Scientists Map a Long-Term Plan to Warm the Red Planet

Space scientists have published a blueprint for warming Mars as a potential first step toward terraforming, exploring approaches like aerosol dispersion and solid-state greenhouse membranes. The plan emphasizes a modular, long‑term campaign, outlines costs and risks, and calls for more data (subsurface ice maps, climate monitoring, and Mars sample return) before any large‑scale effort, while noting the proposal does not claim warming Mars is inherently desirable.

via Space|

#aerosols #astrobiology #atmosphere

science-health1 month ago•6 min saved

High-Rrise Ventilation Shaped COVID Spread, Study Finds

A 2020 outbreak in Santander’s seven-story building was likely driven by shared bathroom ventilation ducts, with virus-laden aerosols moving between vertically connected apartments. Researchers sequenced viruses to confirm links, monitored air flow and CO2 levels, and found infections only in units connected via the same shaft; blocked vents appeared protective. The findings underscore the risk of shared infrastructure in multi-unit housing and echo past scenarios like Amoy Gardens, prompting proactive ventilation safeguards in buildings.

via CIDRAP|

#aerosols #covid-19 #high-rise

earth-science2 months ago•8 min saved

PACE Opens a Multispectral Window on Earth’s Oceans, Atmosphere and Life

NASA’s PACE satellite uses hyperspectral imaging and polarimeters to monitor Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land—tracking dust and wildfire smoke plumes, mapping three-dimensional cloud structure, identifying ship-induced cloud effects, and detecting phytoplankton types (including diatoms) and blooms such as cyanobacteria in the Great Lakes and Karenia off Australia. These data help warn water managers, support emergency response, and deepen climate and ocean ecosystem understanding, while Artemis II imagery showcases Earth from space.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#aerosols #earth-science #harmful-algal-bloom

health5 months ago•16 min saved

Why a few people spread flu far: biology, speech, and the air we share

New research shows that flu outbreaks are often driven by a small minority of people whose high viral loads, particle types, and behaviors—like loud speech and heavy breathing—combine with environmental factors (dry air, poor ventilation) to boost transmission. Factors such as stage of infection, lung capacity, mucus properties, and social context determine who becomes a superspreader, suggesting that biology and behavior together shape who—and where—an outbreak escalates.

via BBC|

#aerosols #droplets #health

health5 months ago•23 min saved

Toilet Plumes Meet Your Toothbrush: What Actually Reduces Microbes

Flushing toilets creates toilet plumes that spread aerosols in the bathroom, and toothbrushes can collect these droplets and harbor biofilms. Studies show common brushes in communal bathrooms carry fecal bacteria, though oral microbes from the user can outcompete some contaminants; closing the lid doesn’t fully prevent spread and covers can trap moisture, promoting other pathogens. The recommended defenses are chemical disinfection or soaking, regular toothbrush replacement, and keeping brushes far from the toilet (ideally in a drying cabinet). Upgrading to vacuum toilets would help, but for now the goal is reducing cross-contamination rather than achieving sterility.

via ZME Science|

#aerosols #bacteria #disinfection

science6 months ago•4 min saved

NASA Data Shows Earth Is Darkening and Experiencing Increased Heat Imbalance Due to Clouds

Recent research shows that Earth's increasing heat is mainly due to changes in cloud behavior and surface warming, rather than reductions in air pollution or aerosols, highlighting the importance of natural climate variability in global warming.

via Earth.com|

#aerosols #air-pollution #climate-change

science9 months ago•3 min saved

NASA Reports Significant Decline in Earth's Sunlight Reflection Over Two Decades

A study shows that Earth's reflectivity has declined over 20 years, with the northern hemisphere experiencing a net loss of solar energy due to reduced snow and ice cover and fewer aerosols, while the southern hemisphere's reflectivity has increased due to natural aerosol events, impacting climate dynamics.

via Indian Defence Review|

#aerosols #climate-change #earth

health1 year ago•1 min saved

Can Closing the Toilet Lid Reduce Disease Transmission?

A Japanese research team led by Takashi Fukuda at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of closing toilet lids in preventing disease spread. Using a water-saving Japanese toilet, they found that closing the lid reduced aerosol generation to a quarter of that with the lid open, though some particles still escaped. Virus samples placed in the bowl showed minimal risk of infection from surfaces like toilet seats or walls. The team recommends closing the lid, standing 15 cm away when flushing, and cleaning nearby walls regularly.

via The Mainichi|

#aerosols #covid-19 #health

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Oceans' Sulfur Emissions Play Key Role in Climate Cooling

Researchers have quantified global emissions of methanethiol, a sulfur gas from marine life, revealing it cools the climate more than previously thought, especially over the Southern Ocean. This discovery, led by scientists from ICM-CSIC and IQF-CSIC, highlights the significant role of sulfur aerosols in climate regulation and improves climate models by addressing a gap in understanding the cooling effects of oceanic emissions. The study suggests that methanethiol emissions increase known marine sulfur emissions by 25%, enhancing the accuracy of climate predictions.

via Phys.org|

#aerosols #climate-change #methanethiol

science-and-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

EarthCARE Mission Launched to Study Clouds' Impact on Climate

A complex satellite, developed over several decades, has been launched to study the impact of clouds and aerosols on future climate patterns.

via CNN|

#aerosols #climate-change #clouds

spacescience2 years ago•3 min saved

"NASA's PACE Mission: Observing Earth's Invisible Universe from Space"

NASA has launched the PACE mission to study microscopic plankton and aerosols from space, aiming to understand their impact on the planet's climate. The mission will use advanced instruments to observe phytoplankton and aerosols, which play crucial roles in ocean ecosystems and atmospheric processes. The data collected will enhance knowledge of the ocean's influence on the climate cycle and aid in improving climate models. Additionally, the research may support potential strategies for carbon dioxide absorption and address concerns related to geoengineering.

via The Verge|

#aerosols #climate-change #nasa

climate-change2 years ago•5 min saved

Study predicts rise in extreme weather events by 2050 due to carbon neutrality

A study published in Nature Communications warns that achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 may lead to an increase in extreme weather events by that same year. The research highlights the negative impact of declining atmospheric aerosols on global climate, exacerbating the occurrence of extreme weather more than changes in greenhouse gases or the tropospheric ozone layer. The study emphasizes the need to find sustainable solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and associated pollutants to mitigate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of global warming.

via Phys.org|

#aerosols #carbon-neutrality #climate-change

science-and-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

Space Debris: A Silent Threat to Earth's Atmosphere

A new study reveals that the Earth's upper atmosphere is being contaminated by metal pollution from space junk that burns up upon reentry. This unexpected level of contamination, which is expected to increase in the future, could have unknown effects on our planet's atmosphere. Researchers discovered high levels of metallic elements, including rare earth metals used in technological components, in the stratosphere. The main source of pollution is believed to be rocket boosters ejected by rockets and falling satellites. The study highlights the need to understand the implications of these metals in the atmosphere.

via Livescience.com|

#aerosols #atmosphere #environmental-impact