Scientists find meteorite that came from innermost asteroid belt between Mars and JupiterSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a very rare finding, scientists have discovered an unusual kind of meteorite in the Western Australian desert and have uncovered that it came from the innermost main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Meteorites are the only surviving physical record of the formation of our Solar System.
Methane under permafrost could speed up global warming 20-foldSeptember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Melting permafrost in arctic regions, triggered by global warming, will release underground methane. Once released, methane would speed up global warming by trapping the earths heat radiation about 20 times more efficiently than the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
Rapid destruction of methane makes Martian environment too hostile to support lifeAugust 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has concluded that if there's any life on Mars, it's not likely to exist on or just below the planet's surface because rapid destruction of methane would make the Red Planet's environment too hostile to support life. The discovery of rich plumes of methane on Mars earlier this year fed theories that the planet could host underground colonies of microorganisms.
Scientists identify lake shorelines on MarsAugust 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of scientists, using images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on board NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, have reported direct evidence of lake shorelines in the Shalbatana Vallis in Mars. Scientists generally believe that warm, wet conditions existed on Mars until only about 3.7 billion years ago.
Ultrafast destruction of methane may end any possibility of life in MarsAugust 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - New calculations suggest that methane gas on Mars may be destroyed 600 times faster than it is on Earth, and possibly in as little as one hour, which is bad news for scientists hoping to find life on the Red Planet. If so, whatever process is responsible for the destruction of methane, may be wiping out other organic molecules, which are necessary for life as we know it.
Mars shares many similarities with EarthJuly 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Parts of Mars resemble places on Earth, including its landscape, history of water, soil and even its weather, says a study. Mark Lemmon, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, long involved with Mars missions, says last year's Phoenix Mars Lander mission keeps revealing secrets about the planet, answering some questions but raising other big ones.
Scientists say new images reveal evidence of ancient lake on Martian surfaceJune 18th, 2009 New images show evidence of ancient Martian lakeLOS ANGELES — New images suggest Mars had a sizable lake on its surface billions of years ago, further evidence that the planet had a watery past. Images snapped by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a 30-mile-long canyon where researchers believe water once flowed and apparent beach remnants surrounding a basin.
Meteor bombardment 4 bln yrs ago may have made Earth more habitableJune 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has suggested that large bombardments of meteorites approximately four billion years ago could have helped to make the early Earth and Mars more habitable for life by modifying their atmospheres. When a meteorite enters a planet's atmosphere, extreme heat causes some of the minerals and organic matter on its outer crust to be released as water and carbon dioxide (CO2) before it breaks up and hits the ground.
Rivers might have flowed recently on MarsMay 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has indicated that rivers might have flowed recently on the planet Mars. The study has found some serious valleys carved by rivers within the last billion years, which is much sooner than most similar findings.
Scientists develop formula to reduce methane gas in cattleMay 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - University of Alberta researchers have developed a formula to reduce methane gas in cattle, which is a threat to the environment. By developing equations that balance starch, sugar, cellulose, ash, fat and other elements of feed, a Canada-wide team of scientists has given beef producers the tools to lessen the methane gas their cattle produce by as much as 25 per cent.
New electrical device can turn CO2 into biofuelApril 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers in the US have made a new electrical device that could improve fuel cell technology by turning carbon dioxide (CO2) into methane, a potential biofuel. According to a report in ABC News, the technique won't combat global warming directly, since both CO2 and methane are potent greenhouse gases, but it could help store alternative energies such as wind and solar more efficiently.
Wetlands likely source of methane from warming event 11,600 years agoApril 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research by an international team of scientists has determined that an expansion of wetlands and not a large-scale melting of frozen methane deposits is the likely cause of a spike in atmospheric methane gas that took place some 11,600 years ago. The international research team was led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC (University of California) San Diego.
Microbes can produce abundant source of methane as fuelMarch 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A tiny microbe that converts carbon dioxide and water to methane with a bit of solar or wind power, can be a new energy source, according to a team of Penn State engineers. Methane is preferred over hydrogen because a large portion of the US infrastructure is already set up to easily transport and deliver methane.
Scientists identify microbe that turns (CO2) and water directly to methaneMarch 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, a team of Penn State engineers has identified a tiny microbe that can take electricity and directly convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water to methane, producing a portable energy source with a potentially neutral carbon footprint. "We were studying making hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cells and we kept getting all this methane," said Bruce E.
Fish oils can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cowsMarch 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, researchers from University College Dublin have achieved a reduction in the amount of methane released by cattle, by including 2 percent fish oil in the diet of the animals. The benefits to animals of omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils have been well documented - helping the heart and circulatory system, improving meat quality and reducing methane emissions.
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