Tag

Habitat

All articles tagged with #habitat

space11 hours ago•3 min saved

NASA maps a multi-mission sprint toward a permanent Moon base

NASA unveiled a multi-mission Artemis roadmap to lay the groundwork for a sustained lunar base, featuring uncrewed landers, rovers and drones from Blue Origin, Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, Astrolab and Lunar Outpost, with MoonFall drones (built by Firefly Aerospace) targeting a 2028 launch. The plan aims to establish semi-habitable infrastructure by 2032 and full surface habitats by 2036, while astronauts are expected to land on the Moon in 2028 (potentially twice that year). Whether the timeline holds depends on commercial partners delivering on schedule.

via Gizmodo|

#artemis #habitat #lunar-base

space1 month ago•3 min saved

NASA Plans First Lunar Flammability Tests to Ensure Moon Habitat Safety

NASA plans four solid-fuel burns inside small lunar habitats to test material flammability under partial lunar gravity, evaluating whether Earth-based standards like NASA-STD-6001B apply; measurements will use cameras, radiometers, and an oxygen sensor, with a late-2026 launch goal to inform fire safety for future Moon missions.

via Futurism|

#flammability #habitat #moon

science3 months ago•4 min saved

Sword-horned Spinosaurus reveals inland river hunter, upending coastal predator idea

Paleontologists in Niger announce a new Spinosaurus species, Spinosaurus mirabilis, featuring a 20-inch sword-like horn and a unique jaw arrangement, discovered inland far from the coast. The fossil suggests this fish-eating predator lived in forested river systems and grew to roughly the size of a Tyrannosaurus rex, with a sail-like back, challenging the view that Spinosaurus hunted exclusively in marine environments.

via New York Post|

#dinosaurs #fossils #habitat

environment3 months ago•4 min saved

Elusive Humboldt marten resurfaces in California forests with about 500 individuals remaining

A rediscovered coastal marten (Humboldt marten) in northern California is estimated to number about 500 individuals, occupying roughly 5% of its historic range. Researchers used 135 remote cameras and 285 hair snares over 400 square kilometers to gather data, finding 28 males and 18 females and a density of about one marten per three square kilometers. The species favors complex, high-canopy forests with large trees, snags, and hollow logs. Habitat loss, climate change, and logging threaten its survival, underscoring the need for forest protection and continued monitoring.

via Indian Defence Review|

#coastal-marten #conservation #environment

science4 months ago•1 min saved

Coastal martens mapped: OSU study reveals habitat preferences and a 46-individual snapshot

Oregon State University researchers conducted a three-month study in 2022 in a 150-square-mile coastal area near Klamath to map the coastal marten’s population and habitat using hair-based genetic analysis, identifying 46 martens (28 males, 18 females). Martens favored high-elevation, snow-rich ridges and lower-elevation riparian/coastal forests with complex structure—forests with more than 50% canopy, many large trees, snags, and coarse woody debris. The coastal marten, once ranging from northern Oregon to northern California, declined due to fur trapping; current distribution and demography remain incompletely understood, underscoring the need for further conservation-focused research.

via katu.com|

#climate-change #coastal-marten #forest-structure

science9 months ago•3 min saved

Turtle vs. Tortoise: Key Differences Explained

Turtles are aquatic reptiles with flattened shells and webbed or flipper-like feet, while tortoises are land-dwelling with domed shells and stumpy legs. Most turtles are omnivorous and live in water, whereas tortoises are herbivorous and adapted for terrestrial life, with some exceptions like the pancake tortoise.

via Live Science|

#diet #habitat #science

science11 months ago•3 min saved

The Extinction of 20-Foot Sloths: An Incredible Story

Historically, sloths ranged from small tree-dwellers to massive ground-dwellers up to 20 feet tall, but most of the giant species went extinct around 15,000 years ago, primarily due to human hunting, with habitat changes also influencing their evolution. Today, only smaller, tree-dwelling sloths remain.

via Indian Defence Review|

#evolution #extinction #habitat

environment2 years ago•0 min saved

"Botswana's Elephant Diplomacy: Offering 20,000 Elephants to Germany"

An expert was consulted to determine if Germany could accommodate 20,000 elephants, highlighting the importance of considering wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.

via POLITICO Europe|

#elephants #environment #expert-opinion

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

"NASA Seeks Volunteers for Yearlong Mars Simulation Mission"

NASA is seeking volunteers for its yearlong simulated Mars mission, CHAPEA 2, starting in spring 2025, where four crew members will live in a 3D-printed habitat in Houston to simulate life on Mars. Applicants must be US citizens aged 30-55 with a master’s degree in a STEM field, English proficiency, and professional experience, and the mission involves habitat maintenance, crop growing, and simulated spacewalks. The first mission is currently underway, and applications are open until April 2.

via Engadget|

#chapea-2 #habitat #mars-simulation

animals2 years ago•4 min saved

"Uncovering the Groundhog Day Phenomenon: From Climate History to Strange Celebrations"

Groundhogs, including Punxsutawney Phil, are more than just weather predictors on Groundhog Day. They are true hibernators, with a reduced metabolism and lowered body temperature during winter dormancy. Emerging in February, not to see their shadow, but to find a mate, groundhogs have intricate burrow systems for protection. Despite their solitary nature, they can be territorial and aggressive, and their extensive burrows can cause damage to gardens and agricultural crops.

via USA TODAY|

#animals #behavior #groundhogs

marine-biology2 years ago•3 min saved

Unusual Coexistence: Sharks Thrive in Australian Sponge Habitats

Researchers in Australia have made an unexpected discovery of banded sand catsharks, a small shark species, living inside sponges. The sharks, which are vulnerable to predation by larger sharks and fish, may use the sponges as a hiding place during the day to avoid becoming prey themselves. The researchers found as many as 30 sharks packed into a single sponge and suspect that the sponges may benefit from the sharks' presence by having protection from small fish or invertebrates that would otherwise feed on them. Further investigation is needed to understand the full extent of this behavior and its implications.

via The New York Times|

#banded-sand-catshark #habitat #marine-biology

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

Living on Mars: Volunteers Begin Year-Long Stay in NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat

Four volunteers have moved into Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat designed by BIG for NASA's CHAPEA program. The volunteers, consisting of a research scientist, an engineer, a science officer, and a medical officer, will spend one year living and working inside the structure to evaluate its feasibility for long-duration missions to Mars. The simulation will help NASA gather data on cognitive and physical performance, resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors. The habitat was 3D-printed by Icon and is located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

via Core77.com|

#3d-printing #habitat #mars

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Shark jaw shapes reveal habitat-driven evolution.

An international research team led by the University of Vienna investigated how the jaw shape of sharks has changed over the course of evolution. They conclude that in the most widespread shark species, the jaws show relatively little variation in shape over millions of years; most variable jaws were found for deep-sea sharks. The results illustrate the importance of prey, level in the marine webs and habitat in relation to jaw shape diversity among shark species.

via Phys.org|

#evolution #habitat #jaw-morphology

science-and-technology3 years ago•4 min saved

Ants Make Surprising Appearances in Unexpected Places.

The American Museum of Natural History has created a new exhibit of half a million leafcutter ants, which took six years to develop. The ants were slow to adjust to their new home, failing to harvest enough leaves to sustain their fungal gardens. The museum designed a sprawling, open exhibit made from lab-tested, “ant-approved” materials, from braided stainless steel to old-fashioned Legos. The team stocked the foraging area with blackberry bramble and filled the surrounding moat with water to help keep the ants contained. The ants have finally completed the entire route and even began winding their way across an elevated maze detour.

via The New York Times|

#agriculture #american-museum-of-natural-history #habitat

science-and-technology3 years ago•4 min saved

"NASA's Year-Long Mars Habitat Simulation Prepares for First 'Astronauts'"

NASA has unveiled a simulated Mars environment where four non-astronaut volunteers will live for one year to help the agency prepare for sending humans to the planet. The 160-square-meter habitat, built using 3D printing technology, will recreate environmental pressures that future visitors to Mars could face. The volunteers will take part in many different activities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic work, caring for the habitat, exercising and planting crops. The habitat is part of a NASA program known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) and is expected to include a total of three simulated environments.

via VOA Learning English|

#habitat #mars #nasa