New Atlas

Space Audio available

Mystery of methane and water on Mars deepens with first-year results of Trace Gas Orbiter

Michael Irving April 10, 2019

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has made a map of the distribution of watery minerals in the Martian surface, studied how the global dust storm affected the atmosphere, and intriguingly found very little methane, which calls into question the results of a study just last week.

An illustration of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter analyzing the atmosphere of Mars

Space Audio available

Curiosity and Mars Express sniff out source of Martian methane

Michael Irving April 1, 2019

The mystery of methane on Mars has been wafting around for decades. Now, using data gathered by the ESA's Mars Express orbiter and NASA's Curiosity rover on the ground, a new study has not only confirmed that the gas is there, but identified its likely source.

The Mars Express orbiter and Curiosity rover have worked together to pinpoint the source of Martian ...

Science Audio available

Blowing hot CO2 bubbles to purify wastewater

Michael Irving March 24, 2019

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra have tested a new method for sterilizing water using hot bubbles of carbon dioxide, which they've found to be both effective and efficient.

A new device uses hot bubbles of carbon dioxide to kill viruses and bacteria in water

Environment Audio available

Scientists use liquid metals to turn carbon dioxide gas back into coal

Michael Irving February 26, 2019

Capturing carbon from the air and sequestering it is emerging as a viable strategy, and now scientists have developed a new method to turn CO2 gas back into solid coal, that can then be buried, or even used for electronic components.

Researchers have developed a new way to turn captured carbon dioxide gas into solid "coal"

Energy Audio available

Largest ever continuous oil and gas resource found in the United States

David Szondy December 9, 2018

The US Department of the Interior has announced the discovery of the largest continuous oil and gas field ever found, estimated to contain 46.3 billion barrels of oil, 281 trillion ft³ of natural gas, and 20 billion barrels of natural gas liquids.

Some 46.3 billion barrels of oil, 281 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 20 billion ...

Space

Astronomers image 40-light-year-wide space donut

Michael Irving February 15, 2018

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory in Chile have imaged a very active black hole at the center of spiral galaxy M77, which is apparently feasting on the universe’s largest donut.

An artist's rendition of the gigantic donut of gas that surrounds the supermassive black hole at ...

Science

Gut gases measured by ingestible capsule reveal entirely new immune mechanism

Rich Haridy January 8, 2018

An innovative ingestible capsule, designed to measure gases inside the gut, has just passed phase one human trials. The swallowable sensor could reframe how gastrointestinal disorders are diagnosed as well as offering a new insight into the activity of crucial bacteria in our gut microbiome.

These swallowable capsules will allow doctors the ability to measure gas levels inside a patient's stomach ...

Space

Wave twice the size of the Milky Way found sweeping through the Perseus cluster

Michael Irving May 2, 2017

Scientists believe they’ve spotted the biggest wave ever discovered. This is a tad bigger than anything you’d find on Earth: this wave is roiling through an extremely hot gas cloud in the Perseus cluster and stretches 200,000 light-years across, meaning it’s twice the size of the Milky Way galaxy.

In the bottom left of this X-ray image of the Perseus galaxy cluster, a bay-shaped structure ...

Science

There might be an ocean of hydrogen gas underneath the ocean

Danny Gallagher July 21, 2016

A Duke University study suggests that serpentinized rocks underneath the ocean floor may hold the key to finding an abundant and free hydrogen resource.

The formation of serpentinized rocks beneath the ocean may produce an abundant, free source of hydrogen

Robotics

Japan's Sakura No. 2 robot won't spark gas explosions

David Szondy July 12, 2016

To help prevent emergencies from becoming disasters, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT) have unveiled Sakura 2 – a remotely-operated, mobile, anti-explosive robot for use in gas-filled environments where a spark or heat source could set off an explosion or fire.

The robot uses positive pressure and a gas-tight hull to keep explosive gases away from the ...