Studies show movements of continents speeding up after slow 'middle age'
Paris (SPX) Jun 19, 2014 -
Two studies show that the movement rate of plates carrying the Earth's crust may not be constant over time. This could provide a new explanation for the patterns observed in the speed of evolution and has implications for the interpretation of climate models. The work was presented at Goldschmidt 2014, the premier geochemistry conference taking place in Sacramento, California, USA.
The Ear ...
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Japan robot firm showcases thought-controlled suits
Kawasaki, Japan (AFP) June 18, 2014 -
A Japanese robot-maker on Wednesday showed off suits that the wearer can control just by thinking, as it said it was linking up with an industrial city promoting innovation.
Cyberdyne founder Yoshiyuki Sankai said he was allying with Kawasaki, a city south of Tokyo, to explore ways to expand real-life applications for his robo-suits, which are often used for physical therapy.
"We want to ...
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Melting and refreezing of deep Greenland ice speeds flow to sea
New York NY (SPX) Jun 19, 2014 -
Beneath the barren whiteness of Greenland, a mysterious world has popped into view. Using ice-penetrating radar, researchers have discovered ragged blocks of ice as tall as city skyscrapers and as wide as the island of Manhattan at the very bottom of the ice sheet, apparently formed as water beneath the ice refreezes and warps the surrounding ice upwards.
The newly revealed forms may help ...
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MIPT Develops Unique Greenhouse Gas Meter
Moscow, Russia (SPX) Jun 19, 2014 -
MIPT's Laboratory for the Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres has come up with a high-resolution meter to gauge the concentration of gases in the atmosphere with unparalleled precision. The infrared spectrum radiometer is described in an article recently published in the journal Optics Express.
The paper, authored by Alexander Rodin, Artem Klimchuk, Alexander Nadezhdinsky, Dmitry Churban ...
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New NASA Space Observatory to Study Carbon Conundrums
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jun 13, 2014 -
NASA's first spacecraft dedicated to measuring carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere is in final preparations for a July 1 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission will provide a more complete, global picture of the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide, as well as their "sinks," the natural ocean and land processes by ...
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Monitoring climate change from space
Paris (ESA) Jun 16, 2014 -
How do measurements from satellites flying above Earth provide essential information on the effects of climate change on our planet? Scientific and political organisations considered the question in London.
Held at the Royal Society, the 'Space: the new view on climate change' event focused on climate change monitoring by satellites and the achievements of ESA's Climate Change Initiative. ...
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New evidence for oceans of water deep in the Earth
Chicago IL (SPX) Jun 13, 2014 -
Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of New Mexico report evidence for potentially oceans worth of water deep beneath the United States. Though not in the familiar liquid form - the ingredients for water are bound up in rock deep in the Earth's mantle - the discovery may represent the planet's largest water reservoir.
The presence of liquid water on the surface is ...
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