Earth

• Two recent NASA-funded studies have revealed how ancient events in the Sun's history influenced the development of Earth's unique climate. • The research suggests that these solar events may have been the primary drivers behind previously unexplained climatic shifts on our planet. • This discovery is significant because it highlights the profound, long-term impact the Sun's evolution has on planetary habitability and atmospheric stability.

• An image of an orange-tailed marsh dart damselfly peering through a leaf has been named the winner of the 2026 BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology image competition. • The competition highlights the intersection of art and science, featuring 11 stunning images that celebrate Earth's biodiversity and the researchers who study it. • The collection showcases diverse subjects ranging from intricate tree bark and cuttlefish to the experience of conducting scientific research by moonlight.

• Scientists have discovered that Earth-based microbes may be capable of surviving the extreme and harsh conditions of the lunar surface. • Research indicates that human activity, such as bootprints or rover treads, could create localized habitable zones for these microorganisms. • This finding is significant as it highlights the risk of forward contamination, where Earth life could inadvertently compromise the biological integrity of other celestial bodies.

• NASA announced on Wednesday that a $30 million mission to rescue the Swift space telescope has failed after the rescue spacecraft became uncontrollable. • The unprecedented operation attempted to use a specialized robot to relocate the telescope and extend its operational lifespan. • The failure is significant as it leaves the Swift telescope without a recovery option, meaning it is now destined to fall back to Earth.

• Astronomers have discovered a "mega-Earth," a massive rocky planet approximately 23 times more massive than Earth. • Unlike typical planets of this size, which usually develop thick gaseous envelopes, this planet has remained predominantly rocky. • The discovery challenges current planetary formation models regarding the threshold at which a planet becomes a gas giant.

• China increased its exports of yttrium to the United States in July, providing critical relief to U.S. aerospace firms facing supply chain pressures. • This surge occurs despite persistent trade tensions and existing export controls imposed by the Chinese government on strategic minerals. • In contrast, Japan has been largely cut off from exports of yttrium, terbium, gallium, and dysprosium following a diplomatic dispute in November.

Searchers dig through collapsed buildings and debris after 7.7 magnitude quake killed at least 47 peopleRescue crews dug through collapsed buildings and landslide debris in eastern Indonesia on Sunday as they searched for bodies and possible survivors a day after a powerful earthquake killed at least 47 people, injured more than 100 and displaced thousands.At least 24 people died in Manggarai regency and 17 in neighbouring East Manggarai, with additional fatalities reported in Sikka, Ngada and Ende regencies, the national disaster management agency said. Rescuers were still searching for people feared buried beneath landslides triggered by the quake across six regencies on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in Muslim-majority Indonesia. Continue reading...

• Indonesian officials have lifted a tsunami warning following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia. • The warning was initially issued because the earthquake was shallow, increasing the risk of displaced water causing coastal surges. • This event highlights the region's extreme vulnerability to seismic activity, as Indonesia sits on the "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates frequently collide.

Quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10km early on Saturday morningA powerful 7.7-magnitude quake has struck off the coast of Indonesia, the US Geological Survey said. No immediate casualties or damage were reported.The quake hit Indonesia’s Flores region with a depth of 10km at 5:58am on Saturday Indonesia time. It’s epicentre was 68km (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Continue reading...

• NASA officially debunked a viral conspiracy theory on Wednesday, Aug. 12, claiming that Earth is losing its gravity. • The agency specifically pushed back against claims regarding a "Project Anchor," a supposed secret billion-dollar initiative designed to help humans survive a gravitational anomaly. • This clarification matters as it addresses misinformation spreading through social media that suggests a global existential threat.

Buildings collapse and more than 470 people hurt in 7.4-magnitude quake. Plus, in such a vast universe why is there no sign of aliens?Good morning. More than 130 people died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in main cities, including Cali and Pereira.The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.34am local time on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. It was felt in neighbouring Venezuela, still reeling from a deadly double earthquake on 24 June. The quake killed at least 132 people and more than 570 were injured as of Monday afternoon, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, which coordinates cities across the country.How has the government responded? In a national address, Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, said: “The ⁠national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is ​needed. The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble. Colombia has a president whose heart aches for his people and who will do everything in his power to help them in the most difficult moments.” Continue reading...

• A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, killing at least 111 people and shaking major cities including Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín. • The UN humanitarian agency reports severe infrastructure damage, including 61 collapsed buildings, 77 destroyed homes, and 1,684 damaged residences. • The disaster disrupted critical water and electricity services and forced the total shutdown of five airports and four strategic roads in western Colombia.

• On August 8, 1977, the Soviet Union's Salyut 5 space station re-entered and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. • Salyut 5 was a key component of the Almaz program, a highly secretive military initiative focused on space-based reconnaissance. • The station's mission highlighted the Cold War era's strategic competition between the U.S. and USSR to establish military intelligence capabilities in orbit.

More than a dozen buildings collapsed in aftermath of earthquake, which has also prompted evacuationsA powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, shaking the South American nation and neighbouring Ecuador and causing people to evacuate homes and buildings.At least 20 ⁠buildings ⁠collapsed in ​an earthquake on ⁠Monday in the ⁠Colombian ​city ‌of ‌Cali, with people ‌trapped inside, mayor Alejandro Eder said. The city ‌has requested teams ​from Bogota and ⁠Medellin to ​aid in rescue ​efforts, ​he added. Continue reading...

Reports of collapsed and severely damaged buildings in several major cities, including Cali and PereiraColombia earthquake live – latest updatesA powerful earthquake has struck western Colombia, with reports of collapsed and severely damaged buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira.The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that a 7.4 magnitude earthquake had struck at 7.34 am local time (13.34 BST) on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. It was also felt in neighbouring Venezuela. Continue reading...

• A massive asteroid is projected to swing through near-Earth space in April 2029, according to findings published in The Planetary Science Journal. • While the asteroid is expected to just miss Earth, scientists are concerned that the close encounter could still lead to major consequences. • This event is significant because it represents a rare opportunity for researchers to study a large celestial body at such close proximity.

• An international research team led by the University of Birmingham discovered a previously unknown natural process that significantly increases cloud-forming particles in the Arctic atmosphere. • Published in Nature Geoscience, the study provides the first real-world evidence that the intersection of sea ice and the open ocean serves as a major source of these particles. • This discovery is critical because the Arctic has warmed three times faster than the global average over the last 40 years, making it highly sensitive to atmospheric changes.

• NASA has updated the ROSES-25 A.1 Earth Science Research Overview to require that all proposals requesting high-end computing, networking, and storage resources explicitly include associated costs. • This requirement ensures that the critical infrastructure needed for processing complex Earth science data is properly budgeted and accounted for during the proposal phase. • The update highlights the essential role of high-performance computing in enabling advanced research and data analysis for NASA's scientific missions.

• Large quantities of space debris are unpredictably re-entering Earth's atmosphere every week, resulting in flaming metal fragments crashing into residential homes, farms, and parking lots. • The phenomenon highlights a critical lack of accountability regarding who is legally responsible for the debris and who must pay for the resulting property damage. • This trend underscores the growing danger of orbital congestion as more satellites and rocket stages are launched, increasing the risk of uncontrolled descents.

• A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Egypt on August 2, with tremors felt across the border in Israel. • In separate diplomatic developments, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with US President Donald Trump to emphasize the need for talks to prevent the conflict with Iran from escalating. • The Israeli Navy is scheduled to conduct military drills off the coast, while American Airlines announced it will not resume flights to Israel before March 27.

At least 21 injured and more than 250 evacuated in strongest quake to hit southern Italian region in 40 yearsAt least 21 people have been injured after a 4.7-magnitude earthquake rocked a region near Naples, in southern Italy.The quake, which occurred at 7.46pm on Friday night, caused power outages, disrupted public transport and damaged buildings and a pier in Campi Flegrei, the site of Europe’s largest volcanic crater. Continue reading...

• Approximately one ton of space debris unpredictably re-enters Earth's atmosphere every week, with flaming metal fragments frequently crashing into residential areas, farms, and parking lots. • The phenomenon highlights a critical lack of accountability regarding who is legally responsible for the debris and who pays for the resulting property damage. • This issue matters as the increasing volume of orbital junk poses growing risks to people on the ground and the safety of future space missions.

• A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck the Nashik region of Maharashtra, India, according to reports from The Times of India. • Separately, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone and missile campaign, specifically targeting Russian oil facilities. • Ukraine is utilizing domestically developed weaponry to disrupt Russian energy infrastructure and economic capabilities.

• Keith Cooper reviews the new book *It’s (Just) Rocket Science: Exploring Physics Through Spaceflight Missions* written by Trisha Muro. • Muro was inspired to write the text after a former high-school student dropped her physics course in search of "story physics," prompting her to bridge the gap between theory and narrative. • The book aims to make complex physics concepts more accessible and engaging by framing them through the lens of real-world spaceflight missions.

Soldiers and emergency workers are combing through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivorsThe death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday has risen to 17, as the search for trapped survivors inside a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses in the country’s south-west continues.The magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu has injured at least 62, the prefectural government said. That number has steadily grown, fanning fears it will rise. Continue reading...

• A fragile war pause remains in effect, though Donald Trump has threatened to destroy "Pickaxe Mountain" if a diplomatic deal is not reached. • Mediators report that the United States and Iran are close to resurrecting a previously failed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) deal. • U.S. forces successfully blocked an attempted surprise attack by Iranian forces, as reported by Catherine Salgado.

Rescuers pulling people from the wreckage in southern Japan in a haunting repeat of disaster that struck 10 years ago‘Race against time’: Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missing“There was a voice coming from the collapsed house, and I could see a hand,” Tomohide Nagata, a volunteer firefighter, told the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun. “One of our senior members crawled in and pulled him out. He was bleeding from the head, but I’m so glad he survived.”Nagata had heard a noise coming from one completely flattened home in the rural town of Hikawa, close to the epicentre of Tuesday’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Japan. The town was one of the areas hardest hit, with numerous older houses collapsing. Terrified of the ongoing aftershocks, many residents spent Tuesday night in their cars outside Hikawa’s town hall, where staff distributed food and drinks. Continue reading...

• NASA's Accelerating Earth Solutions (AES) initiative is working to integrate Earth-observing satellite measurements more effectively into decision-making processes. • Recent astronomical findings include a 500-million-year decline in star formation within the Andromeda galaxy as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope. • Other key missions highlighted include the Parker Solar Probe's historic flight through the Sun's corona and the Juno spacecraft's ongoing study of Jupiter since 2016.