University of Hawaii

A huge iceberg seen from the window of a NASA research plane off the coast of West Antarctica

Environment

Melting icebergs could play significant role in slowing down warming

Researchers from the US and South Korea have run climate simulations that include the “iceberg effect” and found that melting icebergs could play a significant role in slowing warming in the Southern Hemisphere.

An artist's rendition of an asteroid swinging past Earth

Space

Long-missing, potentially dangerous asteroid finally rediscovered – and it won't hit Earth

Of all the things you don’t want to lose, an asteroid with a chance of striking Earth is pretty high up the list. A potentially dangerous space rock called 2006 QV89 has been missing in action for 13 years, but now astronomers have finally found it, and ruled out an impact within the next century.

This simulated image shows a cube slice of the "cosmic web" structure that permeates the cosmos, with blue and white representing galaxies and the darker sections representing voids with very little matter

Space

Map of nothing: Astronomers size up the vast void next door to the Milky Way

Our home galaxy is right on the border of a void so vast it’s hard to picture. To get a better idea of its shape and size, a team of astronomers has mapped out the edges of this extragalactic emptiness, and calculated just how much gravitational influence it has on the Milky Way.

By searching seawater samples for DNA, scientists can tell how many living corals are present on reefs

Biology

Waterborne DNA provides a picture of coral reef health

In these times of coral reef die-offs, it's vitally important to monitor the abundance and variety of corals on the reefs that remain. This is currently performed visually by scuba divers, but there may soon be a quicker, cheaper and easier method – just check the water for coral DNA.

Distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right) as detected by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument

Space

Scientists find definitive evidence of water on the Moon

A NASA team has found definitive evidence of water ice at the poles of the Moon. Using data from NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper aboard the Indian Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, the new discovery indicates that not only is water present on the Moon, but it is readily accessible from the surface.

One of the long-range AUVs cruises beneath the surface during field trials in Hawaii

Marine

Next-gen autonomous subs set to study microbes

At least half of the oxygen in our atmosphere is created by ocean microbes, which also form the basis of marine food webs that support global fisheries. Scientists are now attempting to better understand the microorganisms, utilizing a new type of autonomous underwater vehicle.

A/2017 U1 is most likely of interstellar origin

Space

Just passing through: First ever detection of visiting "interstellar object"

An object originating from outside the Solar System has been detected passing through the Sun's real estate. Temporarily designated as A/2017 U1, the extrasolar asteroid or comet was recorded after approaching from interstellar space and heading out again on a parabolic trajectory.

Dr. Ku'ulei Rodgers conducting a coral bleaching survey

Environment

Hawaiian marine preserve hit by coral bleaching

For many people, coral bleaching may seem like one of those things that's only happening in distant lands. The truth is, however, that's no longer the case. A recent study has recorded significant coral bleaching in what is likely Hawaii's most popular snorkelling area.

New computer simulations have questioned the existence of dark energy, a so-far theoretical force that is said to be driving the expansion of the universe

Science

Simulation suggests 68 percent of the universe may not actually exist

The Lambda Cold Dark Matter model suggests that 68 percent of the universe is made up of dark energy. But a new study has questioned whether dark energy exists, citing simulations that found that accounting for the structure of the cosmos, the gap in the theory, which dark energy fills, vanishes.

Astronomers have publicly released a treasure trove of data gathered over four years by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii

Space

Map of the entire visible universe released to the public

In 2010, equipped with the biggest astronomical camera in the world, the Pan-STARRS1 telescope began scanning the sky in different wavelengths of light. Now all 2 petabytes of data gathered will become available to the public.

The HI-SEAS habitat is situated about 8,000 mi high in an abandoned quarry on the slopes of Hawaii's Maona Loa

Space

One Big Question: What were the biggest surprises from living in a simulated Martian habitat for a full year?

As part of our regular weekly feature, New Atlas asked two of the HI-SEAS mission participants what their biggest positive and negative surprises were from living in close quarters with other people for a full year in an effort to see what early human life might be like on Mars.

A team of six scientists has emerged from a yearlong simulation of life on Mars

Space

Year-long Mars mission simulation comes to an end

A team of scientists have re-entered normal life on Earth after spending a year simulating life on Mars. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) research project set out to study the psychological effects of isolated, confined space missions on astronauts.