Origins of Earth’s Meteorites Discovered
Throughout history, the Earth has been hit continuously by meteorites, the origins of which had largely been unknown. Recently, that’s changed. Scientists in 2024 have worked out where the majority have come from, with surprising results.
Hope for the Great Barrier Reef
For most coral reefs along the coast of Queensland, climate change is an existential threat. As the temperature increases, coral bleaching begins, and the bright and colourful underwater world slowly fades to black and white. The Great Barrier Reef houses thousands of fish, marine mammals, and algae. But as marine temperature rises, coral bleaching intensifies, and our marine wildlife heads toward grave danger.
Greenland Ice Sheet is Thinning Rapidly
The Greenland Ice Sheet, along with the Antarctic Ice Sheet, is one of the largest ice masses on Earth. It is the largest in the Northern Hemisphere, covering nearly 80% of Greenland’s land area and spanning over 1.7 million square kilometers. However, this ice sheet is rapidly thinning, alarming scientists.
Dengue Cases Increase with Global Temperatures
Across the globe, nations are experiencing a dramatic increase in dengue incidence, with over fourteen million cases and ten thousand deaths worldwide in 2024. The swell of infections has been linked to climate change and is predicted to increase further as global temperatures continue to rise.
Parts of the Great Barrier Reef Are Outlasting Others Through Coral Bleaching Events
The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of Queensland and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Climate change has caused mass coral bleaching, which has threatened this hotspot of biodiversity. Bleaching ultimately harms every organism living in the reef ecosystem, from the coral themselves to fish species that call the Great Barrier Reef home.
CSIRO Opens a Flexible Solar Panel Printing Facility
November 2024 saw the opening of CSIRO’s new facility that prints solar panels. The Printed Photovoltaic Facility is in Clayton, Victoria, and cost $6.8 million. With this new infrastructure, CSIRO aims to create new industry opportunities and meet the growing demand for renewable energy.
Majority of Earth’s Meteorites Linked to Three Asteroid Families
An international team of scientists from France, Germany, and the Czech Republic discovered last October that the majority of Earth’s meteorites originate from just three asteroid families in the main asteroid belt. This finding has solved a decades-old mystery about the origins of meteorites.
What Happens When Tropical Cyclones Collide? Scientists Investigate Rare Phenomenon
Last December, two German marine scientists published a groundbreaking study on the merger of Tropical Cyclones Seroja and Odette in the Indian Ocean, which resulted in an unexpected cooling effect on ocean temperatures. This rare event demonstrated that even relatively weak tropical cyclones can significantly alter ocean conditions, potentially reshaping climate forecasting.
Greenland’s Ice Sheet Melting Faster, Raising Sea Level Risks
Scientists at Northumbria University in the UK have confirmed that Greenland’s ice sheet is melting at an alarming rate, with ice loss accelerating fivefold over the past thirteen years. Their research, published last December, used the first joint satellite measurements to track ice thinning, revealing serious implications for rising global sea levels.
World’s Oldest Alphabet Unearthed in Syria: A Groundbreaking Rewrite of History
Last November, an international team of archaeologists discovered the world’s oldest alphabet on a 4,400-year-old clay cylinder in a Syrian tomb. The find, dating to the Early Bronze Age, reshaping the history of written language as it predates all known alphabetic scripts by five centuries.